Thunder: Back Through the Rain-Chapter 8

By MyNameIsCAL

---Iggy's POV---

"I'm tired of being stuck home. Let's go out today," Max said.

I yawned. "Alright, what about the others?"

"Well they can stay home. Besides Fang needs company," Max answered.

I hesitated. "Alright, fine."

---Fang's POV---

Iggy was going to the mall with Max. I wondered if it was jealousy making me mad or maybe I was just angry at myself.

"We'll be back in a few hours," Iggy promised. "I won't last very long, being blind and all."

He was trying to make a joke, but I didn't feel like laughing. My no response made Iggy give me an uneasy look.

"Go, make sure Max is happy," I finally told him.

He nodded and left me in my room, alone drowning in my own pain.

---Iggy's POV---

Mom dropped Max and I off at the mall. It's crowded since it's the weekend. Max dragged me around, holding me hand going from store to store. If I didn't know any better, I'd say this was some kind of bipolar depression episode. I just happened to be catching the high part instead of the usual low.

"Mmm we should bake cookies when we get home," Max said. "I'm hungry. Let's get lunch."

She took my hand and pulled me through a crowd. I bumped into a few people and muttered apologies as I passed. Max's sporadic behavior made me worry. I wondered how Fang was doing at home. As much as he would hate to admit, Fang needed to get out too. I made a mental note to take Fang out once he was comfortable walking with crutches.

"You should make cookies with Ella," I told Max. "I'm sure she'd like that."

"Yeah, we should," Max agreed. Something told me I was going to end up making cookies with them too. Fang wouldn't be happy, but at this rate, it didn't seem like I had a choice.

---Fang's POV---

"Where did Iggy go?"

I leaned on my crutch, gripping it tightly. "He went to the mall with Max."

Ella raised an eyebrow. She pulled out a chair for me and I sat down slowly, trying not to bend my knee.

"Are you hungry? I can warm up leftovers," Ella offered.

I shook my head. "Nah, I just wanted to get out of my room. Don't feel obligated to stay here."

She shrugged. "Not like I have anything better to do."

Gazzy entered the kitchen. He was looking for Iggy.

"He'll be back soon," Ella assured Gazzy.

After standing there for a minute, Gazzy sat down next to me. "You haven't been talking to Max lately."

I leaned onto the table. I knew it wouldn't be long before someone noticed. Ella looked at me, waiting for an answer. This was partly my fault. Now, looking back, this was all very petty, but at the time, I was angry. I was never going to be the same. Yet Max had sacrificed her own life for me and I had repaid her with what seemed like hatred. It was too late to go back. The damage was done and neither of us was going to end up the same way.

"Well, Fang," Ella urged.

I stared at the floor, and then at my leg.

"You're mad at her," Gazzy answered for me. "You're mad because it was her fault you got hurt again, even though she risked her life for you."

"We could have avoided all of this if she never agreed to do what she did in the first place," I shot back.

Gazzy stood. "I thought we were supposed to be a family. You're an idiot, Fang."

I watched him walk out. Ella still sat there. Out of all people, besides Iggy, she should understand this the most. I expected her to get up and leave after a while.

"You should forgive her." Ella spoke slowly.

I shook my head. "It's too late for that."

---Max's POV---

We get home from the mall to find Ella and Fang sitting in the kitchen. Fang doesn't look happy.

"Hi," Fang muttered.

"Hey," I heard myself say.

And that's the first time I talked to Fang.

---Iggy's POV---

There was an awkward silence for a while.

"Well I'm going to my room," Fang finally said.

Max didn't say anything until Fang finished exiting the kitchen. She convinced Ella to make cookies with her.

"Iggy." Gazzy came in. "Can I talk to you?"

I followed him out of the kitchen. Ella could keep an eye on Max. I felt like Fang and Max had become little children that needed to be watched at every moment.

We stopped in the sitting room. Angel and Nudge were in here too. What had Gazzy told them? They weren't supposed to find about this. At least not Nudge and Gazzy. Angel could read minds, she was a different story.

"Tell us why Max and Fang won't talk to each other?" Gazzy demanded.

I sat down on the couch. "Fang is mad at Max."

"But she saved him!" Nudge exclaimed.

"It's the pain that gets to him," I replied.

"That's dumb. He should be grateful towards Max," Gazzy thought out loud.

I sighed. "I think Max is mad at him too. But neither of them should be mad at each other. I think they just need some time apart."

There was silence.

"Are we ever going to go back after Itex?" Nudge questioned.

"I don't know." But I really don't want to tell them yes. Even if Fang and Max weren't on the best terms with each other, nothing would stop either of them from defeating Itex. They would work together to do that too. None of us could bring Itex down alone.

And maybe Itex was the key to everything. For everything bad and good.

Sorry for the late update. More action to come soon. Thanks for reading.