Okay, so I have to write this mystery for school and I'm going to die of boredom and impending failure writing it, so I'll probably be a little slower for, like, a few days to a week writing it, kay? Sorry. I'll give you guys a link when I'm done, if you want. I'll probably post it on fictionpress. Anyway, enjoy the story for the time-being and I'll get back to you on my progress.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ella

I'd always had that one dream. The one that every little girl has. Even Max, I'd bet, because she was currently living that dream. The one with that gorgeous boy who loves you for exactly who you are, your perfect wedding, etcetera. With every boy I'd ever liked, I'd imagined our wedding, our cozy little house out in the country, our children running around on the floor. But with Iggy, I don't know. I'd never really thought about it. I'd just sort of…let everything happen without really putting much thought into it

It still hurt to know that I might never have that with him.

Not that I really ever figured I would. When I really put my thoughts into it, it didn't really make sense. Iggy wasn't exactly a Settle-Down-And-Have-A-Family type of guy. He was more of a Screw-Around-And-Hope-It-Works-Out kind of person.

"Ella?" My mom called, breaking though my thoughts. I jumped off the couch automatically.

"Yeah?" I called back.

"I'm going shopping!" she informed me. "Would you like to come?"

"Sure," I called. I needed to go and just get out of the house for a change. I was getting a little stir crazy.

I slid on my shoes and headed out the door. My mom was already waiting for me by the car. I stepped eagerly out the door—

Only to be suddenly drenched by a bucket-full of water. My mother jumped and ran toward me.

"Oh, my goodness! Ella!" she said in a typical Mom tone. "Are you alright? Where did that water come from?"

I waved her off and ran a hand through my soaking hair. "It's fine," I said with a light grin. "I'm fine. I was pretty hot anyway." I laughed and Mom joined me hesitantly.

"Well if you're sure," she said. I smiled again.

"It's fine, really. I'm okay," I said. "You go on without me. I have to go change now, anyway, and I don't want to keep you waiting."

"Well, alright, honey," she said. She turned and headed for the car. "I'll back soon. Go and dry off."

I waved after her. "I'll will, Mom. Drive safe, okay?" Once she started the car and pulled out of the driveway, I headed back into the house. I'd gotten very wet from that little episode.

"Ella?" Iggy said as I passed by the kitchen doorway. I looked inside.

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay? I heard you yell," he said. I grinned.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said for the millionth time. "I just got a little wet."

"Is it raining outside? I don't hear it," he asked, sounding confused. I tried to think of a possible explanation to give to him.

"No," I said finally. "I think one of the kids was upstairs and they must have poured some water out the window. No worries. It was probably just a harmless prank."

"Well, okay," Iggy agreed finally.

"I'm gonna go change, okay?" I called, walking back toward my room. "I'll dry off and then we can work on throwing together dinner, right?"

He said something, but I couldn't hear him. I decided to just let it go and got changed into some dry clothes. It was finally Jeans-And-Sleeves weather, almost Christmas time. Once I was re-dressed in some dry clothes, I headed for the bathroom to blow-dry my hair. That took all of five minutes.

When I was fully dry again, I walked back into the kitchen to meet up with Iggy, only to find that the room was empty. I headed back out and into the living room. He was there, his lanky body sprawled out on the couch, one leg draped over the back of the couch, and one arm resting across his face, plugged into his MP3.

"Nice," I said to myself, laughing quietly. I walked over to him and sat on the arm of the couch by his foot. The motion alerted him of my arrival and he pulled his headphones off. "I thought we were making dinner," I said.

"I already told you, we can't," he said, and I realized that must have been what he'd been saying after I'd left.

"Why was that again?" I asked shyly, feeling like an idiot.

"Because you're mom's out getting the groceries, and until she comes back, we have, like, zero food."

It wasn't surprising that we were out of food again. The flock ate so much that we usually had to go shopping at least three times a week for more food.

"Oh," I said. "Well then, what do you want to do 'til she gets back?"

He smiled coyly and I was suddenly concerned for my well-being. It was never good when he smiled like that.

Thankfully (I guess), Max walked in just then. She was soaking and frazzled-looking. I smiled at her.

"Did the water angels get you, too?" I asked sweetly. Her brow furrowed with confusion.

"The what?" she asked. I opened my mouth to say more, but she interrupted me. "Never mind. The washing machine exploded again. I need you to come fix it."

Ah, life with the flock. Never a dull moment.