Chapter 28
Unfortunately, the snowy weather didn't last forever.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Nudge muttered the next morning. The snow had melted enough that we had to go back to school today. And unfortunately, I didn't have any idea of what I could get Iggy for a Secret Santa gift.
"I know, right?" Gazzy whined. "What happened to snowball fights? And hot chocolate?"
"Have fun at school!" Jeb said, way too cheerfully. I glared at him as we headed towards the bus stop.
"What am I supposed to do for a Secret Santa gift now?" I whispered to Fang, who shrugged.
I rolled my eyes at him. Some help he was.
"You didn't get a Secret Santa gift for someone?" Iggy asked, concern written all over his face.
I swallowed. No way was he finding out that I was his Secret Santa. "Yeah, but don't worry about it. It's fine."
He shook his head as the bus pulled up and we climbed on. "It's okay, I'll help you find something!"
"Um, no thank you!" I protested, shaking my head vigorously. "It doesn't really matter!"
"Well, okay," Iggy replied, shrugging in defeat as Gazzy pulled him towards the back of the bus.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I guess not." By then, they were already in the back of the bus.
Then I turned to Nudge and started shaking her by the shoulders. "Nudge, help me find a gift!"
"Something romantic!" she sighed dreamily.
I rolled my eyes. "NO!"
"What's this?" Jaz asked, popping up from the other side of the seat. "You forgot to get a gift for your Secret Santa person?"
I jumped. "What the heck were you doing there?"
"Playing hide and seek!" Jaz exclaimed.
I gave her a weird look, like she was a kindergartener and not a fifth-grader. "Um, okay."
"I can help you find a gift," Jaz repeated, beaming.
I exchanged a look with Nudge, who nodded. Frowning, I turned to Jaz. "Fine. How?"
Jaz leaned in and whispered her plan to Nudge and me. Nudge's eyes widened. "No, we can't do that! We'll get in trouble!"
"No, we won't," Jaz declared. "I have my ways."
I arched an eyebrow, considering it. "Okay, fine. We're in."
~~::~~
"Um, guys?" Nudge whispered. "Maybe breaking into the teacher's lounge isn't such a good idea."
"Shhhh!" Jaz hissed, shoving her hand over Nudge's mouth.
I rolled my eyes, waiting for Jaz to tell us the rest of the plan. Apparently, the teachers were having a big Christmas party at lunch today, and there was going to be treats galore. At least, that was what Jaz had told me.
How exactly had Jaz known about this? I wasn't sure I wanted to ask.
"We go in, we grab something, and we get out," Jaz whispered to me.
I crossed my arms over my chest. "That's it? That's your big plan?"
"Hurry, while no one is there!" Nudge urged me, and before I could say anything else to Jaz, she was opening the door.
"We'll keep watch!" she hissed. "Go!"
It was incredibly dark in the teacher's lounge. I mean, we can all see well in dark places – except for Iggy, I guess – but it was way too dark for comfort. Just say there were Erasers in here, for instance.
I shook my head. Nope, that was impossible.
I looked around for any kind of food, but all I saw was a salad. I made a face – Iggy definitely wouldn't want that.
Then I saw it – a huge table filled with food. And right in the middle of the table there was a gigantic plate stacked with the most delicious looking cupcakes I'd ever seen.
I made my way over to the table, grabbing two cupcakes and a paper plate, which I quickly covered with saran wrap. Then I carefully maneuvered my way towards the door.
"Oh, hi, Mrs. Jenkins!" I heard Jaz's voice say from outside the door. I cursed under my breath. Of course it had to be Mrs. Jenkins, out of any teacher in the school.
"Hello, Jasmine," Mrs. Jenkins replied, and the doorknob started to turn. My eyes widened and I backed up from the door.
"Mrs. Jenkins, I'd like to ask you about this one math problem," Jaz began, but Mrs. Jenkins cut her off.
"Jasmine, I am very busy. Perhaps I could assist you at another time. Please excuse me."
"Wait, you can't go in there!" Jaz yelled, but it was too late. The door opened, and light flooded in. I had just enough time to throw myself under a table, clutching the cupcakes under one arm.
From my hiding spot under the table, I saw Mrs. Jenkins walk over to the dessert table. Then she just stopped there.
I accidentally let out a sigh, and she whirled. "Who's there?"
I froze. For an old lady, she had surprisingly good hearing. After she got no response, she turned her back to me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jaz holding the door open, waving frantically at me to get out of there. I didn't hesitate as I scrambled out from under the table and out of the teacher's lounge.
"Run!" I hissed, grabbing Nudge's hand and booking it down the hall with my stolen cupcakes, Jaz struggling to catch up.
When we made it to our classroom, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Max, you were so close to getting caught!" Nudge shrieked, wrapping her arms around my waist in a hug.
I laughed. "I am never breaking into the teacher's lounge ever again."
~~::~~
"This cupcake is so good!" Iggy exclaimed, happily taking a bite.
I smiled. "They look good. I bet your Secret Santa went through a lot to give them to you." I told him. Fang arched an eyebrow at me suspiciously, and I stuck my tongue out at him.
Iggy laughed. "Yeah! They must've taken some cooking classes or something!"
Mrs. Jenkins walked by, then frowned, looking at the cupcakes.
"Is something wrong, Mrs. Jenkins?" I asked innocently, looking up at her.
She shook her head. "No, nothing that concerns you, Maxine. I was just thinking that those cupcakes looked like the ones that I made for the staff Christmas party."
I gulped. Iggy grinned. "My Secret Santa made these for me!"
"Yes, I suppose so," Mrs. Jenkins replied. "It's impossible that they would be the same, of course." Then she turned and walked over to her desk and began grading papers or something boring that teachers like to do.
I caught Jaz's eye and grinned, and she grinned back. Impossible? Not for Maximum Ride.
