Chapter 2: Christmas Shopping

Oh, Ari is not an Eraser in this story, btw.

Nudge POV:

"Alright guys, time to draw names," Dr. Martinez called. Ella's name had been added into the hat, or in this case, bowl, for the ornament exchange this year. Personally, I really wanted Fang. I reached my hand in and pulled out a slip. It had Gazzy's name on it.

I smiled, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. At least it wouldn't be hard to find an ornament for him. I snuck a peek at Fang, who looked happy with his slip.

Angel, who did Fang get? I asked.

I can't say. She replied. Maybe that meant he got me!

And who got Fang's name?

I said I couldn't tell you! You know the rules. Angel rolled her eyes.

I frowned. Max had a thoughtful look on her face. Along with the ornament exchange, we each got everybody else a present each year. That was the hard part, finding everyone a present. Usually we just got each other gift cards or clothes, things that didn't cost too much.

Dr. M said we could go to town tomorrow to shop. I smiled and skipped back to the room I shared with Angel. Christmas was nine days away. I was just about bouncing out of my skin with excitement. After we were all in our pajamas, we gathered in the living room to watch Elf. Greatest. Movie. Ever.

About halfway through the movie, the doorbell rang.

"Oh, it's probably Jeb. I'll get it," Max's mom said, walking over to the door.

"Hm-wha?" Max asked. She had fallen asleep on Fang's shoulder. I won't lie, I was jealous. My crush on Fang had evolved past simply thinking he was hot. I'll be honest, it could almost be described as a little obsessive.

A little? Angel asked. You have his picture under your pillow.

Angel, shut up. I didn't ask you. I replied, blushing. Luckily, no one could see it.

Dr. M walked in with Jeb behind her. I was surprised to see someone else with him.

"Ari!" I said.

Eight-year-old Ari lifted his brown-haired head and looked at me with eyes that matched Max's. Jeb had revealed that he was Max's father at the same time he had introduced us to Dr. Martinez and Ella. Ari looked over to Max without replying to me, but she had fallen back asleep. Jeb looked at Max sleeping against Fang but didn't comment.

"Ari, come watch the movie with us," Angel said, scooting over to make room for him on the floor. Ari shrugged and sat down in the space she had made next to me and in front of Max. Ari looked pleased, resting his head against his half-sister's knees. Ari had had a crush on Max for the longest time.

After the movie, Max woke up just enough to usher us all to bed. Once she fully realized that she had fallen asleep with her head on Fang's shoulder, her face turned red and she stammered an apology. After a little rearranging, Iggy and Fang were sharing a room, Ari and Gazzy were sharing, Max and Ella were sharing, and Jeb would be in Ella's room. Dr. M and Angel and I stayed in our same rooms.

Guys? It was Max's voice, and I knew Angel was sending her thoughts to us. I heard my "yeah" amongst a chorus of everyone's voices. I did notice Fang's was missing.

Okay, so, I have an idea for Fang's present. She began. You know how he's always complaining about his old iPod?

Fang's iPod was about five years old, and it was a piece of crap. It froze and skipped randomly, and the screen had a weird blue tint to it. Fang loved his iPod, but he wanted a new one desperately. His iPod was the only one so beat up, probably from overuse. He almost never put it down. It was also the oldest.

Well, I was thinking that maybe we could all pitch in a little cash and buy Fang a new iTouch for Christmas. It could be, like, a joint present. Max said. We all agreed. It was always hard to buy Fang gifts because he didn't really want much. This was a win-win situation. Everyone agreed to put in the money they had saved for Fang's gift, and Max would buy it while in town tomorrow. Satisfied, I drifted off to sleep.

Max POV:

I meandered through the Christmas section in Kohl's, looking for a Christmas ornament for Nudge. I had already bought her two new tops for her normal present, one was a purple tank top with a black sequin heart and the other was a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with zebra stripes. I also got Iggy a pair of oven mitts that looked like Mickey Mouse's gloves.

I found a blue and purple ornament with Tinker Bell on it. Perfect. I thought. Nudge loved Tinker Bell.

I left Kohl's and headed over to Bath and Body Works to find something for Ella and Angel. I practically gagged when I walked in. Too many smells. I quickly decided on some Sweet Pea body wash for Angel and Butterfly Flower perfume for Ella. Now all I needed was a gift for Gazzy and Fang.

Since I already knew what I was getting Fang, I went into Target to find something for Gazzy. I walked up and down the aisles in the toy section, then remembered what Gazzy had asked, or begged, for. I turned and headed to the video game aisles. I bought the Gasman Pokemon White Version.

Mom and Jeb provided fifty dollars per gift, so each Flock member (plus Ella) had three hundred dollars to spend on presents. We could keep any extra money for ourselves.

Something caught my eye as I walked to the register. It was a watch, not jewel-encrusted or over the top, but nice just the same. It was analog and had a simple white face with silver hands, and the strap was light purple. I have no idea what I liked so much about it, but I think it was love at first sight. It was also out of my price range, even if it was only forty dollars. I didn't want to spend money on myself right before Christmas, it being the season of giving and all.

I tore myself away and checked out. I also bought some wrapping paper with snowflakes on it and a package of red, green, and gold bows. I fought my way through the crowd at the Apple store to buy Fang his iPod and headed home. Fang was already back. Sadly, so was Iggy, so Fang and I had to keep it professional.

Christmas was just a few days away. I would wrap gifts tomorrow, sneak in some alone time with Fang, drink hot cocoa, spend some alone time with Fang, watch movies, maybe kiss Fang a little more…yeah, I can see this shaping up to be great Christmas.