The drive to school was a fairly quiet one. While Ella did, on several occasions, attempt to engage Iggy in some riveting conversation that rather might have made Max's ears want to bleed, the idea was not well received. Iggy didn't snap or snarl at her little sister (which only meant Max couldn't slap him), but his grunts and mumbled remarks suggested he wasn't quite in the mood for chats at the moment.

She rather felt he might be stressing over the whole school issue, though Max couldn't figure out why. The worst that would happen, as she saw it, was that he might not make it in. She certainly wouldn't complain under such circumstances. His earlier words came back to her, however. He had run away from his parents – parents who, if he was to be believed, were going to try to get him back.

It stood to reason that if the school caught wind of the situation and decided to side with the parents they might try to call them. It was a rather awful possibility, Max realized. She turned to her mother, mind working faster than she was used to this early in the morning.

"Hey mom, who was it that helped us out enrolling?" As she waited for her mother to merge into another lane before she could answer, Max took a moment to wonder why she was putting so much effort into calming this kid down all the time. Sure he was a birdkid like her and sure that was quite a novelty but still. It was quite the hassle and Max had never really considered herself the maternal or sentimental sort, even given the circumstances. She shrugged it off, deciding it might be a thought for another time.

"Oh, his name is Dr. Carlson," her mother answered mildly, "we went to school together. It was why he let slip the past…few discrepancies in your file, as it is." A thought occurred to her and her mother turned to give Max a firm look and Max frowned. "That does not mean I'll tolerate any such behavior here. Dr. Carlson is a good friend, yes, but that does not mean future allowances will be acceptable under any circumstances. Do you understand, Maximum?" The girl under fire sighed. This, this was why it wasn't a good idea. Throw in a thoughtful comment for the sake of other birdkids and what does it get her? She's back in the birdhouse, so to speak.

"Wasn't planning to, mom." She promised. Max did take note, however, that when she glanced into the passenger side view mirror and caught Iggy leaning against the glass he did seem marginally more at ease. Well, the bugger had had the decency to listen to her, at least.

The rest of the drive there was a silent one as Ella had given up her attempts and everyone else was either too tired or to preoccupied with their thoughts. As it was, Max was the only one that fell asleep before they pulled into Angel's elementary.

"Alright, here you go sweetie," Max's mom got out to open the door for Angel and took the time to straighten her bow and give her a smile and pat on the shoulder. "All ready?" Angel nodded and took off for a nearby girl, calling her name with glee. Seeing all was well her mother stepped back into the car and they were off to the high school.

"Iggy," her mother started gently, with a tone that told Max it was likely a delicate conversation she was privy to. Funny, normally she was tossed into another room for these. "I spoke with Dr. Carlson last night and he…understands the situation." Iggy went a little rigged and Max couldn't help wondering how long he was going to act like every little thing would send him over the edge. "He'd like to talk with you when we get there, to verify a few things." Her mother hesitated, unsure how much to say with Max and Ella there to overhear. "You're a junior, correct?"

"Yeah," Iggy mumbled against the glass and it occurred to Max that staring out a window was a peculiar pastime for a blind guy. Max's mom nodded, possibly having overheard part of their conversation the other day.

"I thought so, after your schedule is settled I'm sure Max won't mind walking you to your classes." Max's brow furrowed as another thought came to mind.

"Uh, not trying to be rude this time, but…" She tilted her head to the side to get a better view of the boy, strawberry locks falling into his face, "how exactly does it work; going to school and being blind and all?" Perhaps he got the question a lot, or perhaps he was just getting used to her rough personality but Iggy's expression was more one of exasperation than offense.

"I've got a good memory," he explained tartly, "I bring an audio tape to class and generally leave it up by the teacher. Obviously I don't take tests the same as everyone else but it's not much different otherwise." The idea of going through math using nothing but her brain and her ears made Max a little nauseous.

"Oh, yes," Her mom hummed thoughtfully, "we'll need to check with Dr. Carlson concerning those arrangements as well, won't me?" The discussion puttered off and with no one interested in reviving it they drove the rest of the way there in silence. When they hit the parking lot the four of them tumbled out (or, at least, Max and Iggy tumbled. Ella and their mother were a bit more graceful exiting).

When Ella went to grab onto Iggy's arm again their mother cut her off with an admonition to head to class before she was late. "I'm sure Max can handle it for a little while." Ella accepted grudgingly and Max didn't really care for the suspicious look she threw her way. Was it really going to escalate to the level of sibling rivalry? She had zero interest in the dude whatsoever. Honestly, what was her sister thinking?

Max, well aware of the fact Iggy needed no assistance, stood nearby but didn't bother grabbing onto his arm as her sister had. "So, where to?" Glancing around the campus she realized she didn't know the layout of the place at all. Her mom gestured for them to follow her and the two set off after the retreating woman. They were a little early Max surmised, glancing around the empty place. They headed into a grungy bricked building and down a few hallways.

When the hallway opened up into a decently sized waiting room Max spied a familiar row off chairs sitting outside a doorway marked with a silver engraved nameplate Dr. Carlson. Max threw herself into the chair closest the door and made herself comfortable. Iggy and her mother followed and waited after her mother knocked on the door. A muffled call for patience came from within the room and a few moment later it swung open.

A middle aged man, probably a few years older than her mother, stepped out and smiled warmly at her mom before glancing first from Iggy to Max. His smile turned into a wry grin.

"A little early in the semester to have found your way into that seat, isn't it Max?" By the tone of his voice, Max was surprised to find she might actually like this guy. She tilted her head from one side to the other before shrugging.

"Know thy self, right?" She said with a false sense of wisdom, "figured I'd get to know the place I'd be spending most of my lunch hours."