Sorry for the long-ish wait. Mid-terms are coming up/already passed (APUSH down, math and chem left) and I've been studying (cramming) for those, so writing was kinda on the back burner for the past few weeks.

Chapter 20:

Slamming the car door loudly, I turned my back on Mom and crossed my arms. Ella stood in front of me, her hand above her eyes, shading them from the sun. She frowned, catching a glimpse of my face.

"What?" she asked.

Sighing, I moved towards her, dragging my feet with each step, "I don't see why you're making me do this."

She narrowed her eyes, grabbed my wrist a little too firmly, and pulled me away from the curb. Mom honked the horn, and I heard her drive away, leaving me with my unusually moody sister.

"Come on, Max," she said, and we walked. Well, it was more like, she stalked and I reluctantly followed. "You have been moping around all week, ever since you got back from Nudge's house. And besides, it's the summer, I have friends, and school is starting in a month and it would really damage my reputation if you were a loner and had no friends at school."

"What reputation?" I asked. Ella rolled her eyes.

"You think you're so funny," she mumbled, "Fine," she added her voice stronger, stopped walking and dropped my wrist. We were standing in front of some knock-off New York pizza place that resided in the only strip mall in our town.

"I thought maybe you just needed to get you're mind off of the flock. I know you're upset and all, but you really need to just do something. It's driving me crazy. And I've talked about you to my friends, and they really want to meet you, so here's the deal! We are going to eat lunch. And then we are going to see a movie with my friends, you're hopefully future friends. Understand? And if you're just going to be this stubborn for the rest of the day, you can just take off and go home."

I stared at her a moment without saying anything. Usually the only person who bossed me around like that was Fang. And nine out of ten times I didn't listen to him. But as Ella turned and walked though the open door of the restaurant without waiting for my response, I found myself following her.

We sat down at a table without saying anything, and Ella opened up a menu, glancing up at me behind the top of the menu. I stared back at her, still not talking. Finally, she placed it down on the table.

"Sorry," she started, "I usually don't act that way."

I casually picked up the menu she was just reading and shrugged, "It's fine."

"You looked surprised."

I paused before saying, "Only Fang's ever talked to me like that. I wasn't expecting it."

She raised her eyebrows, the tension gone. "Fang, huh?" she said in a sing-song voice, and I rolled my eyes.

"So how's that coming along? Did you confess your undying loving devotion to him yet?" she asked.

"How come every time we go out together we always ended talking about Fang?"

She smiled, as the waitress came to our table. We order, and I played with the silverware she had placed in front of me.

"You look distracted," Ella said, when she left, "Did I strike a chord?" she asked, smiling.

"What?" I asked.

Ella shook her head, "Never mind. I was just wondering how things we doing in your love life."

"It's non-existent," I said, shrugging.

"And I think we should change that," she said.

I rolled my eyes, "I don't need a boyfriend."

"Would you like one?" she asked, smiling, "I could set you up with someone I know."

"Who?" I asked, my voice strong and my eyes narrowed.

She smirked, "Fang. Who else?"

I sighed, "There's nothing going on between us." And that was, sadly, the truth.

"There could be. I think you really like each other. You too would make such an amazing couple. It would be like, the stereotypical boy-next-door story, and you would tell it to your children and they'd be all like 'Aw', and it would be adorable," Ella said, overly animated. I could almost make out flowers blooming around her and see the hearts swirling in front of her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes, "You know, you spend a little too much time in Ella Fantasy Land."

She glared at me, "I'm serious."

"So am I."

"I mean, I'm serious that he really likes you. You should consider it. A relationship with him."

"I have considered it," I said too suddenly.

Her eyes widened in shock, "You have?!"

I sighed, wondering how I could lie myself out of this one. "And it didn't end well," I admitted.

"But that was only your imagination," she said quickly, "And you just admitted to liking him!"

"I did not," I said hotly, "And I don't like him."

"I can tell you're lying," she sang, "You love him. You even admitted it yourself. I was there, remember?"

"When?" I asked, confused.

"You know, that time with the Valium..."

My face darkened and I glared at her, "You will promise never to talk about that again. Understood?"

"It was cute," she said, frowning, "Fang was blushing. I remember."

"Enough," I said, "That was like, a year ago. Things change."

"Not that much."

"Ella Martinez, you should go out for the debate team."

"Things don't change too much. I bet he still likes you. And he kissed you."

It was silent for a moment, as she stared at me. My stomach was growling, and all I wanted was my three slices of sausage and pepperoni pizza with a side of garlic bread. That was all. I was getting annoyed at all of Ella's chatter.

"I'm just saying," Ella went on, "that he doesn't seem like the type to lead on you like that without feeling anything."

"Well, that was then," I said.

"And it's not much different from now," she pointed out.

"Right, unless you count living on the opposite side of the country not much different."

She paused, the brought her drink closer to her, "That's not what I meant."

I sighed, knowing exactly what she meant. I looked down at the table top, wringing my hands together underneath the table. I couldn't believe we were actually talking about this. I hadn't thought people had an opinion in our relationship status.

Or maybe, it was obvious to everyone that I liked him. Ella had a good idea on the situation, and she was getting information from Iggy. And Nudge certainly had a lot to say about it.

But that doesn't mean anything.

"What would you do if he asked you out?" Ella said suddenly, "Like on a date."

I shrugged, "He wouldn't."

She smiled, "What if he did?"

I paused, crinkling my eyebrows together, "But he wouldn't."

"Would you say yes?"

"Ella, can you actually see Fang, Fang, asking me to go out on a date with him?" I asked.

"Yes! I can see him asking you out. You guys would be so good together. And I think he really likes you. I can tell," she said.

I rolled my eyes, "I can't believe we're talking about this."

"You still haven't answered my question!" she said, raising her eyebrows, "Hypothetically, if he was like, sick and had taken Sudafed or something that morning and he asked you out on a date, just one date, would you say yes?"

"Probably not," I admitted.

She stared at me. "Why not?" she asked, outraged.

I shrugged again, "Because. It would end badly."

"How do you know?"

I sighed, "Why does it matter? He would never ask me out anyway. And besides," I said, "I don't like him."

She narrowed her eyes, "You don't know that. And he has kissed you before."

I froze, my hand on the cap of my soda bottle. "What does that have to do with anything?" I asked carefully.

"If a boy kisses you," Ella started, "and it's not just some ridulous joke or dare or something, doesn't that mean that he at least has some interest in you? Especially since this is Fang we're talking about. He just doesn't go around kissing random girls.»

I gritted my teeth, flashbacks from a year ago involuntarily popping up in my head.

Ella caught onto my expression immediately, and she leaned forward, her eyebrows about to reach her hairline, and her eyes about to jump out of her sockets. She looked as though she was about to be granted the secret to the apocalypse.

"What? Who was it? He kissed someone who's not you?" Her voice was so surprised, it was like she had never imagined anyone else with Fang.

"It's not a big deal. It was a while ago," I said, pretending to distract myself with my napkin and silverware.

"Who was it? Did you know her?"

"She was just some girl," I said.

"Are you jealous?" Ella's eyes were wide, as well as her smile.

"No," I said quickly, as her smile grew.

"You sound jealous."

"I'm not," I said strongly, hoping to end this conversation.

"If you were jealous, it would mean that you like him," she said.

"But I don't."

"You do. And he likes you back."

I stayed quiet, glancing up at the clock on the wall, hoping my food would come soon, so I would have something else better to do besides twirling my thumbs and talking to Ella.

Instead, I watched as Ella stuck her finger between her bottle and the paper wrapped around it. She pulled the bottle away, ripping the paper off, and crumbled it into a ball. She wasn't looking at me.

"I just think that he really cares for you," she said, calmer than before, her eyes still on the table. "And he's the only one who really knows you."

I didn't say anything. I stared at my reflection on the napkin container. Of course Fang knew me best, because he was my best friend. Underneath the table, I rubbed my feet together uncomfortably.

"Max," Ella said, and I felt her looking at me, "Why did you let him go, if you really do like him?"

I didn't look up. I didn't say anything. I didn't move.

"I bet he would've stayed here if you said something."

I felt my breath catch, and thought back on all of those times where Fang said that no one was going to leave, and how I had never believed him. If things weren't this way, if no one was forcing us to live separtely, would it still be different?

Would we still be living together? Would Fang still be here?

I was quiet, contemplating these new found questions. He had seemed so sure of himself, but how had he known that no one wanted to go? Everyone had left anyway. He was wrong.

But Nudge had been so upset when I told her we couldn't live in that house we found. Would she have stayed with us, in that house, even if he meant not going to live with her parents? She had seemed so excited, back at the hotel. And out of the entire flock, it was Nudge who had wanted to live with her parents the most, to just be like a normal teenaged girl.

The waitress came back and slid our food on the table in front of us, but suddenly, I was distracted. I looked down and watched as the grease slid of the pizza and seeped onto the paper plate, most likely leaving a trail on the table. Carefully, just for something to do, I picked a piece of pepperoni off of the pizza, and popped in my mouth, slowly chewing. Ella was watching me.

"I bet he misses you."

With both hands, so I wouldn't stranggle her, I picked up the pizza and brought it to my lips. "Could we possibly change the subject?" I said, "You know, like, before I kill you?"

She watched me, before taking a bite of her own lunch, "I just think you're not the type would likes change so much. Sure, you're used to it, the uncertainty, I mean," she said with her mouth full, "And you're not one to make the first move, especially if it means changing your relationship with Fang. You're also not one for feelings. So I just thought you needed motivation."

I glared at her, not saying anything.

"And of course," she smiled slyly, "Fang asked me to bring it up."

I almost dropped my pizza.

"Ok, no he didn't, but he did call last week, after you got back from Nudge's house, and he asked me to watch out for you because you were acting strange. I think he's worried about you," she said.

"He called you?" I asked.

"Well, he called for you, but I picked up."

"Ok," I said, "We are so done talking about this. Capiche?"

Ella frowned but stayed quiet. For a moment anyway.

"What happened when you went to Nudge's?"

I sighed, "Nothing."

"I didn't mean what happened between you and Fang. I meant what happened in general," she said.

"Nothing," I repeated through tight teeth.

"It seemed like you were upset about something when you came back."

"God, Ella, you are almost as bad as Nudge!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you don't shut up. At all," I said, placing a hand on my forehead.

She glanced down at her lunch, and didn't say anything. I sighed and continued eating. I could see her sneaking glances at me, looking up from under her eyelashes. She started playing with her drink again.

"What?" I asked, my tone harsh, dropping my pizza onto the plate.

"I was just trying to help," she said.

"Well stop," I said, "There's really nothing you can do anyway."

"You act like everything is the end of the world," she exaggerated, "You're so dramatic."

"Me?" I asked, "You just completely made up this whole romance thing between me and Fang!"

She gazed at me evenly, "No I didn't. But I wasn't talking about that. You walk around all sorry for yourself, and whenever Mom, or I, or Fang try to help you, you just totally ignore. Not trying to ignite the fire or anything here, but you know, if you really wanted ou guys to stay together you could've done something. Sure, you were up against the government, but weren't you in worse situations before?"

I was silent for a moment, "How did you know that the government was against us?"

She shrugged, "Iggy told me."

I stared at her, not really hungry anymore.

"I can't do anything," I admitted, quietly.

"You act like it's the end of the world. Friends move. It's not that hard to keep in touch." She leaned in across the table, "You have wings. You can fly. And you're telling me that you'll never see them again."

"I never said I that. And it's different."

"How?"

I clasped my hands under the table, "Ella, I can count on my fingers how many people there are that I care about. And five of them just moved away. They weren't just my friends."

"So if they mean so much to you, why aren't you doing anything about it?"

"I'm trying."

She stared at me. "If you say so," she said strongly, leaning back in her chair, "Maybe you should try a little harder."

"Alright. Since you think you know everything," I started, my voice harsh, "how about you tell me what to do."

She shrugged, "Buy a house."

I shook my head back and forth, as Nudge's conversation with me replayed through my head. I couldn't believe this.

"I'm not going to buy a house," I said.

"Ok, not a house. But you should find a meeting place or something. Somewhere you can meet up on the weekends."

I stared at her, knowing what I was going to spend the rest of the summer doing.

"Ella," I started, leaning forward, "You are a genius."

She shrugged, smiling a little, "I know."

Next chapter will be coming up, along with a little poll. Let's see how many people will hate me after I post next chapter's little author's note…