What seemed like only a few minutes later, I woke up to sunlight streaming through the wind…and into my face. Ugh.
"Someone…turn…turn it down," I mumbled, and buried my head in the pillow. Wait. Wasn't the pillow I fell asleep on last night furry? This pillow was definitely not furry. I rolled over, and found Ella, Nudge, and Angel on various cots and sleeping bags around the room. Their faces lit up when they saw I was awake. Although… Ella's and Nudge's faces were a "lit up" in a more… evil way. Whatever… They could do whatever… just let me sleep in…(Reason number 27 why Max would not make a conventional parent.)
"Enjoy your rest, Max?" Ella asked me slyly.
I yawned. "What do you mean?"
Ella grinned sneakily. "Oh, just wondering. Di-"
"Oh, I can't take it anymore!" Nudge cried. " Max, it was the cutest thing I'd ever seen! Ella said not to tell you right away, but I can't help it, it's just soo cute!"
Whoa.
Too much perkiness. Too early in the morning.
"What are you
talking about, Nudge?" I asked, a little more awake now. And a
little more suspicious. "Ella…"
Ella rolled her eyes. "Fine. We'll tell you. But on one condition."
"What?" I asked warily.
Ella grinned. "You have to thank him."
Whaaat? Oh, whatever. I just wanted to know what's going on.
"Fine."
Ella and Nudge burst into fits of triumphant giggles, and Angel smiled, well, angelically up at me. Uh oh. Never a good combination.
"Will you just tell me already?" I growled impatiently.
Ella winked at Nudge, then rolled her eyes at me. It's always good to know you're appreciated…
"Okay," she finally began. "So you took a shower and went to bed, right?" She waited for me to nod, then continued. "The bed you fell asleep in was… drumroll please… Fang's bed!" Fang has a furry pillow? Was what my subconscious was wondering while I closed my eyes, not liking the sound of this. So that wasn't a dream… "So—here's the really cute part—Fang picked you up and carried you bridal-style into this room, and laid you down in this bed and tucked you in!" I buried my face in my hands. Oh, great. I would never live this down. "Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?" Yes, it is, but I'd never admit to any one…. "Max?" Gahh…
"Max!"
"What!"
Ella eyed me closely. "Hmm… Never mind. You should get dressed and head down to breakfast."
As I was headed out the door, she called, "Oh, and Max! Don't forget! You still have to thank him!"
Oh, that girl is so dead…