Chapter Thirteen: A Fresh Start

FANG'S POV

Moving all of our stuff was a pain in the ass but it was well worth it. The new house is perfect and the view is even better. We spend the next several years playing on the beach, surfing and tanning while nights are spent around a campfire.

Sadly, we have to go back to school in a week, marking our three year anniversary of living here. Three months ago was the three year anniversary of Max's kidnapping. It's crazy thinking about it.

Overall, the mood of the Flock has shifted. We are back to being more happy and carefree. We all talked it over and came to the conclusion that Max would have wanted this. So, we stopped being gloomy and started living life again.

I started a blog, Iggy works at a restaurant after school, Ella and Nudge are growing in popularity at the high school, Gazzy is thriving in middle school while Angel is the smartest one at the elementary school. Everyone is happy with the new environment and friendships that Max is in the back of our minds most days.

I feel guilty for admitting it, but I don't think about her all the time and I'm alright with it. I need to move on, the Flock needs to move on. We have been happier these last three years than we were throughout our short lifetimes.

"Fang!" I hear from downstairs. I sigh, closing my laptop and opening the door.

"What?" I yell down, not feeling like walking down the stairs.

"I'm going into town with a group of school friends! Want to come?"

I hesitate. I don't like being social but I really should get out of the house. "Which friend group?"

There's a pause and I wait. "What the hell do you mean? 'Which friend group'. Fang, we only have one friend group!"

I roll my eyes. "Ig, I have more friends than you so I happen to be a part of more than one friend group."

I hear a frustrated sigh and I smile. "Whatever. It's me, you, Simpson, Jessica and Ivy. That group."

I take a deep breath. "Sure, why not. Let me grab my stuff." I walk back into my room, grabbing my phone and sneakers before exiting and closing the door behind me.

Iggy is waiting at the bottom of the stairs dressed in shorts and a nicer t-shirt. No doubt to impress Jessica. We walk past Ella and Nudge watching tv on the couch and I notice Ella glance at Iggy before looking away disappointed.

Ella has had a crush on Iggy for forever and for a short time, they were a thing until Iggy grew into his teenager self. Ella was only thirteen while Iggy was fifteen so I guess he found it weird dating a middle schooler. I feel bad for Ella. They were good together. But now, Ella is sixteen and Iggy is eighteen. If they give it another shot, I think things can work out. I feel bad for Ella.

We walk out the door and on the front porch, Angel and Gazzy are doing their homework while Dr. M is watering her flowers. She smiles and I wave back.

We head down the road in step with each other. "Where are we meeting the group?"

"At the park. Simpson is treating us all to smoothies. He has some news." I stop walking and Iggy looks at me skeptically.

"Why didn't I hear anything?"

He rolls his eyes and continues walking. "Because you silenced the group chat on your phone, remember?"

I nod, remembering. Maybe I should change my settings. . . After a five minute walk, we enter the park. Everyone is already there, leaning against the giant fountain. They all smile when they see us.

"Yo," Simpson has a huge smile on his face and it's unsettling. Usually he's the moody one in the group second only to me.

"What's the news?" I ask, glancing at everyone in the group. Ivy smiles widely at me which doesn't happen much so I smile back, completely unaware. Iggy gives me a weird look before focusing his gaze on Jessica who is looking at him. I roll my eyes. It's so obvious that they both like each other.

Simpson pats me on the back and starts walking in the direction of the smoothie booth. "Now, now, Fang. Patience. Smoothies first."

We drink our smoothies at a bench near the fountain. Jessica and Iggy deep in conversation, Simpson scrolling through his phone, Ivy glancing at me every five seconds while downing her smoothie and me, knees bouncing nervously while trying not to glare at Ivy. Ivy and I are closest in the group apart from Iggy and I since we are "brothers". Except, the last few months have been awkward and I'm too afraid to talk to her about it.

What if I like her? Max and I never officially broke up so if I was to hook up with Ivy then that would technically be cheating right? Max's biggest thing is cheating and even if she is dead, I can't do that to her. Wait. . . that doesn't make any sense.

I shake my head, sipping on my smoothie and clearing my throat. "So what's the deal, Simpson?" I'm getting impatient and the group knows it.

"Okay, okay. Are you guys ready for my ground breaking news?" We all nod, eager to hear what he has to say. "Okay, so you know how my grandpa is an Admiral in the military?"

"Yes," says Ivy, clearly annoyed. She likes things straight to the point like me. That's one of the qualities I admire about her.

"He invited all of us to come out over Thanksgiving break and see the top secret work he does. He even said that he has a freak that he'd like us to meet."

I raise an eyebrow and glance at Iggy. "'A freak'?"

He only nods, not elaborating. "What do you guys think? He really wants to meet you."

I'm skeptical. "Why does he want to meet us?"

He shrugs and takes another sip of his smoothie. "I was talking to my grandma about you guys -you know how she is- and my grandpa must have overheard. Plus, I think it could be a lot of fun."

"Yeah, sure, why not." says Jessica. We all nod, slightly disappointed with the "ground breaking" news but not letting Simpson take notice. It wasn't really the news we were expecting but we'll go if it will make Simpson happy. We are his only friends so we need to be there for him.

"Alright, well that's all. I have to be going. We are having an early dinner because my grandparents - not the Admiral one- are coming into town for a few days. See you guys later." He throws his unfinished smoothie in the trash before running off.