Chapter Nine

Angel and Gazzy started High School the year after Iggy, Nudge, Fang and myself. We had all agreed to meet each other at the front of the school. We walked in together and showed the twins where they needed to go, and meet the other year sevens and there teachers. We were all so excited. We were determined to make that year better then our last.

We hung out together every recess and lunch time at school in 'the spot' as we use to refer to it. We would all go and sit on the steps at the old front entrance to the science block. It was a place where no one else went, since the science block was rebuilt years before we started High School. Every now and then a teacher would come up and tell us we were out of bounds, or we'd have to fight for our territory when other kids tried to take our spot.

That year new changes came and challenged our unity, but not between us, but by out-sides joining the group. Nudge got her first boyfriend the week before the school holidays started, and we went away on our camping trip. Nudge had invited him to join us. Which caused a whole lot of trouble.

His name was Daniel Andrews. He was in the stadium having P.E at the same time as Nudge and I. Daniel was in the year above us. He was one of those popular boys that was good at all sports, but played up in class and was constantly getting into trouble. I didn't like him. I thought he was argent. But I didn't tell Nudge that...well, not at first.

Age Fourteen

"I can't wait for tomorrow." Nudge was saying as we sat eating our lunches. I took another bite of my Vegemite and cheese sandwich.

"We'll have to do our scavenger hunt, I have big plans on how we're going to win." Nudge said. "We do have our secret weapon Ella." She added.

I smiled at this through a mouth full of food. "I'll tell her you said that. She'll be thrilled." Nudge smiled and rolled her eyes probably at me being unladylike.

"Not so secret anymore." Gazzy said grinning. I rolled my eye's.

Although Ella is the youngest and smallest, she is still athlete and a vital member of our team. She was our eye's and ears. She was great at sneaking up on people and getting information for us. As you can probably tell, we take our competitions far to seriously.

"So what time are we agreeing to meet tomorrow morning, at Fang's house?" Angel asked as she pushed her golden ringlets over her should and lent back on her elbows.

"What about six? I want to leave early to make the most of the day." I say.

"No way. That's way to early. I say nine." Nudge protests. She's never been a morning person.

"Come on Nudge. The earlier we go the better." I answer.

"I agree with Nudge." Angel said.

"Okay, why don't we make it seven thirty?" Gazzy asks. "A compromise."

"Fine." Nudge says with a sigh.

"Come on it'll be fun. And you'll have your lover boy there with you." Iggy said. I think Iggy might even dislike Daniel more then I do. I laugh and Iggy grins in my direction.

"Your right." Nudge said ignoring us. "Which reminds me." Nudge says looking the her mobile. "I said I would meet up with him ten minutes before the bell goes. I'll see you guys later. Max I'll meet you at the lockers and we'll walk to P.E together."

"Okay, no worries." I say giving her a wave. The others say their byes as well. Nudge smiles at us all before walking off. I watch as she walks, eventually disappearing around the corner. Nudge walks with such a confidence. As if she's just willing people to watch her.

"Who else hates the idea of Daniel Andrews coming on our camping trip?" Iggy asks once Nudge was out of ears range.

"Oh, me! I mean what is she thinking?" Said Angel sitting up straight again.

"I know. She should have asked us first." Gazzy agreed he through his lunch rapper and it landed in the bin. He let out a little cheer.

"What would have we done? Said he can't come? Then Nudge would have cracked it and not come herself. We'll just have to put up with him for one week." Fang said. I smiled at him, chocking an eye brow. "What?" He asks smirking.

"I say we do a little savatarg. You know, the old spiders and snakes in the sleeping bag trick." Iggy said.

"Been there done that. We need to think bigger." Gazzy said. Iggy nodded his head seriously.

"Hold your horses guys. The guy hasn't done anything to us. He's a tool, sure. But it's one thing to hate him behind his back." I said that last part with a little laugh. "Its another to play tricks on him."

"You'll be eating those words while camping with Daniel Andrews." Iggy joked.

"He'll never what to hang out with us again." Angel said.

"Exactly." Iggy said laughing. "It's all in the name of fun. Come on Max. You of all people should want in on the fun. I've been on the other end of one of your pranks. It wasn't fun." He said.

I rolled my eyes. "You deserved it."

"I put your bra in the fridge. You set me on fire!" He protested.

"How many times do I have to say it was an accident?" I asked. The bell rang, signally time to get to class. Iggy stood up first shaking his head but smiling. "I've gotta go. I have a bus to catch." He said. Iggy was going on an excursion for science. They are going to Science works in the City of Melbourne. We had all gone to science works in Grade Six. It's the coolest place. It has this space exhibition, where you sit in these chairs that lean back and the ceiling is a screen which shows the solar system.

"I'll walk you to the bus." Said Angel. She walked over to Iggy and touched the back of his hand, he held onto the edge of her shirt, on her side above her hip. "See you guys tomorrow!" She said excitedly.

"Well I better get going as well. I need to meet Nudge." I stand up and dust off my skirt.

"Yeah, see you guys tomorrow. Bright and early." I say. I begin walking.

"Wait up Max. I'll walk with you." Fang calls, out grabbing my elbow. Gazzy starts off towards the year seven lockers, but not before sharing a smile with Angel who's looking over her shoulder walking with Iggy. Gazzy grins at me. I glare at him warningly.

"What's up?" I ask after a moment.

"Not much, how have you been?"

"I...I've been fine." I answer instantly uncomfortable with this conversation.

"Really?" He looks at me intensely. "How are things at home?"

I am about to answer, fine as well, but Fang can always tell when I'm lying. "Not the best. I hardly see Dad. He's always at work, or says he's at work and is really at the pub."

"And what about Ella?"

"Things are good with Ella. We actually talked the other night about Mum." I say. We have began walking back towards the locker's.

"That's good."

"Yeah." I say with a little laugh. I know, I'm an laugh when I'm uncomfortable kind of gal. He turns his head to look at me, before turning his attention to the direction we're walking in again.

"It's been tough. There's this massive whole where Mum us to be, and we don't know what to do. I hate just pretending nothings wrong, like Dad likes to do. But you wouldn't understand-"

"What's that suppose to mean?" Fang asked annoyed.

"Your family are perfect."

"I hate it when you say that!"

"Why? It's the truth!"

"You don't know what your talking about, Max."

"What do you mean?"

"Everything isn't as it seems!" He practically yelled. A group of boys that are walking passed all turned their heads to look at us.

"Trouble in paradise." One of them calls out. The others laugh.

"Keep Walking!" Fang yells at them. They walked off quickly.

"Is there something I don't know?" I ask confused yet getting concerned.

"There's lots you don't know Max-"

"Max." Nudge called from across the corridor from my locker at her own. Daniel is next to her leaning against the locker next to her's. I hadn't even realized we had got to the locker's. Fang gives me one last soul searching look before going to his locker which is only a couple lockers up from mine.

I opened my locker and pulled out my bag, and stuff in it the books I need to take home for my holiday home work- which by the way is a stupid thing, come on, work for the holidays? I shut the door and walked over to Nudge.

Ella and I are sleeping over at Nudge's house tonight. That way we can get her out of bed in the morning, and go to Fang's house together.

"Hey." I say to her. I try smiling at Daniel but it feels forced.

"I've gotta get my stuff for sport, I'll see you later Babe. Bye Max." Daniel says over his shoulder as he goes to the Year Nine locker's.

"Babe." I mimic under my breath.

"Bye... hey, what's wrong? Why are you frowning?" She asks me dismissing Daniel with a wave.

"Fang's acting weird."

"He's got a lot going on." Nudge says.

"Do you know what it is?" I ask shocked.

"Yeah... but I promised I wouldn't say anything."

"Nudge!"

"I promised. You need to talk to him yourself." She said. I dropped the conversation... for now.