Chapter 29

Finally, it was the last day before winter break. Nudge and Gazzy were even more hyper than usual on the bus ride to school.

"My teacher says we're having a Christmas party!" Gazzy exclaimed, bouncing up and down in his seat.

"Well, we're having a gift exchange!" Nudge replied, clutching a red and green paper-wrapped box in her arms. She'd apparently put a bunch of jewelry in there. Some boy was probably going to end up receiving that. The thought made me laugh.

"What are you guys doing in class today?" she continued. "I bet you'll get something really cool from your Secret Santa!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. Right." I'd received a pencil every single day as a Secret Santa gift. Whoever was picking those out didn't have very good taste in gifts, I guess.

"Maybe you'll have a party too!" Gazzy yelled, grinning.

Nope.

"Clear off your desks and take out a writing utensil," Mrs. Jenkins announced. "We are taking a test."

Everyone groaned. "Test?" I protested to Fang. "What test?"

"The test we were supposed to be studying for for two weeks?" he replied with a shrug.

Of course. Just my luck – I'd never heard anything about a test.

I sighed, pulling out one of my brand new pencils. Maybe my Secret Santa was trying to give me a hint about the test. Yeah, right.

Mrs. Jenkins handed tests out to everyone. "You may begin," she said, and I frowned. Iggy just put his head down on the desk – Mrs. Jenkins always tested him orally, during recess or lunch.

I looked at the first question. What was the importance of the Boston Tea Party?

I grimaced. Of course it was another stupid question about that dumb tea party.

In the blank under the question, I wrote, Nothing. Then I moved onto the next question.

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

Hmm. I wasn't sure, so I just wrote, A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.

Why was George Washington chosen as the first president?

I wrote, Because his name is George and there are lots of people named George who are president.

The whole test went like this until I got to the multiple choice. Then I just gave up and bubbled in every answer as C. Well, I had to get some of them correct, right?

Setting my pencil down, I held my test out to Mrs. Jenkins as she walked by. She looked at me with a confused expression.

"Maxine, you're already done?" She looked at the clock. "We just started the test ten minutes ago."

I rolled my eyes. "I told you, my name is Max. And yes, I am done."

Mrs. Jenkins arched an eyebrow. "I don't tolerate rudeness in my classroom, Maxine. Do you want to visit the principal again?"

I smirked. "Oh, yeah. You know it," I replied, sarcastically.

I guess Mrs. Jenkins didn't understand sarcasm because she replied, "Maxine, kindly report to the office."

~~::~~

"Hello, Max," the office lady said when I walked in. "Mrs. Ruiz will be right with you."

I sighed, slumping down in the bench where I always had to sit. Mrs. Ruiz, the new principal, definitely wasn't evil. Although, of course, that didn't mean I liked visiting her all the time.

Then I suddenly remembered I hadn't gotten Iggy a Secret Santa gift. And it was the last day before break!

I looked around the office, trying to see what I could possibly turn into a last-second gift. Some pens with our school's name on it?

Nope. Iggy couldn't even write.

I peered into the trashcan. Just some scraps of paper. Iggy definitely wouldn't want that.

The secretary called, "Max, Mrs. Ruiz will see you now."

When I stood up to go in, that was when I saw the perfect gift. A jar of candy canes, decorated with a big red bow, sat right next to the secretary's desk. When she saw me looking in her direction, she half-smiled.

"Yes, Max?"

"Uh…" I trailed off. "Um, n-nothing!" I stuttered, then practically ran into Mrs. Ruiz's office.

"Hello, Maxine," Mrs. Ruiz said without looking up from her paperwork. For a principal, she was fairly young-looking, probably in her early thirties, with dark brown hair and usually calm brown eyes. Yes, basically the opposite of Mr. Robin, who was a creepy old man. "Please come in."

I did, but only stood in the doorway. "Mrs. Ruiz, I have something very important I have to do!"

"Max, please sit down," Mrs. Ruiz replied, ignoring me.

I glared at her, but she didn't catch it. "But it's very important!"

"Yes?" she responded, looking up as I fell into the seat in front of her desk. "What is this very important thing you must do, Max?"

"Well…" I trailed off again. "You see, our class is doing Secret Santas! And the person I was supposed to get a gift for….well, I didn't get them one!"

"Mhmm," she murmured.

"Well, the first day, I made him cookies. Really badly burnt cookies. And then I…um, got him a rat. And then some cupcakes. But today I don't have anything to give him!"

"Hmm." Mrs. Ruiz looked up. "That's a problem."

"I know that!" I practically yelled in an annoyed tone.

Mrs. Ruiz shook her head. "Max, please pipe down. You're going to give me a headache."

I rolled my eyes, leaning back in my seat and crossing my arms over my chest. "Mrs. Jenkins sent me here so you could lecture me. Go ahead. Lecture away."

"Max, it sounds like you have a problem on your hands," Mrs. Ruiz replied, ignoring me yet again.

I made my eyes wide. "No, really? Is it the fact that I'm sitting in the principal's office?"

"Max, do you really want a lecture?" Mrs. Ruiz asked, and I shook my head. She nodded. "That's what I thought."

I frowned. "So then what am I doing sitting here?"

Mrs. Ruiz looked at me. "As I said, you've got a problem. And as your principal, I'm here to help you."

I bit my tongue, trying to keep a snide remark from popping out of my mouth. "I don't want your help."

Mrs. Ruiz laughed, and I gave her a weird look. "If you want to have a gift for your friend, you'll take my help."

I sighed. "Fine. Just tell me what it is we're going to do."

~~::~~

"Are you finished with that note yet?" Mrs. Ruiz asked, arranging the candy canes in the jar.

I looked up. "Yeah!" For a principal, Mrs. Ruiz was surprisingly….tolerable.

She'd told me to write a note, from the heart. Deep emotional feelings weren't exactly Max-like, but I did the best I could. Finally, I had written a note that said….well, you'll find out later.

And no, it wasn't romantic poetry! Jeez.

"Thanks, Mrs. Ruiz," I said, clutching the jar and the note tightly, not wanting to drop anything. "Um, thanks for everything."

Mrs. Ruiz smiled. "Anytime you need help, I'm here."

As I turned to walk towards my classroom, I thought to myself, No thanks. After all, I couldn't trust anyone outside of my flock – my family. Trusting anyone else was just too risky.

I made my way towards the front of the room, where my seat was. Iggy was sitting there, talking to Fang.

"Um, hi. Can I interrupt?" I asked from behind them.

Iggy turned to grin at me. "Duh!"

"Here," I said suddenly. "This is from your Secret Santa."

I handed him the jar, and he frowned. "What's in it?"

"Candy canes," I replied with a grin. Fang arched an eyebrow, as if to say, Where'd you get that? I just shrugged.

"Cool!" Iggy said. "Tell my Secret Santa I said thanks."

I bit my lip, then broke out into another smile, not able to contain the secret any longer. "Dummy. I am your Secret Santa."

"Really?" Iggy asked, his smile getting even bigger. "I guess I should have known from the burnt cookies. I mean, you burn everything!"

"Hey!" I protested, hitting him in the arm. He just laughed, then reached for the piece of paper. "What's this?"

Of course. Iggy couldn't read. In my rush to find a present for Iggy, I'd neglected to tell Mrs. Ruiz that Iggy was blind, and had just written a note at her orders.

I laughed. "Nothing. Nothing, really."

Iggy arched an eyebrow. "Nothing?"

I smiled. "Nope. Besides, I have a better present for you." Slowly, I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Right in the front of the class, I might add.

~~::~~

"You ever going to tell me what that note says?" Iggy whispered on the bus later that day, holding my hand.

I grinned. "Eh, it's all mushy stuff I'd never say. You don't want to hear me say that kind of stuff."

Iggy grinned back. "I think I like the tough Max better. The one who's a great leader and friend."

"Ooh! I see you guys did some romantic stuff!" Nudge yelled, popping out from behind the seat.

I rolled my eyes. "Nudge, what are you talking about?"

"Friends don't hold friends' hands," Nudge pointed out.

"Nope," Iggy said, squeezing my hand. "They don't." I looked over at him in surprise. He was grinning.

"You guys are so busted when I tell Jeb!" she yelled.

I laughed. "Whatever."

Well, dear reader, I guess you're wondering what the note said.

I guess that's just too bad for you.