So guys...

1) I have gotten, seriously, two one word reviews...

That kinda sucks. I never wanna the person who begs for review or anything, but please. Just a sentence or two...pretty please? It doesn't take long. But please, PUHLEEZ review my story. It means the absolute world to me.

2) I have read dozens of stories lately, and I noticed how I lot of people are very open with some of their personal struggles. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, stress and just plain loneliness. Having seen and experienced a good portion of that world, I know it can be very hard to pull through every day.

Message me, okay? I know we've probably never met, but if you need someone to comfort you-to tell you it's going to be okay, then I am always here. I know what it's like to be so completely alone. It's scary. I don't want anyone to feel that way. If it is humanely possible, I will reply ASAP. I'm not kidding. I've had friends who have ruined and even taken their lives because of their silent grief. I'd do anything to stop it from happening again.

Love you all.

-wise_yet_harmless

ELLA'S POINT OF VIEW

After my strange but comforting talk with Max, I found it very difficult to focus on my artwork. I attempted to restart about a dozen times before giving up.

I knew Iggy was always going to look out for me, but I would not have expected him to get into a fight. It was foolish, but I was flattered. I had never been fought over, and I never expected to be. The only boys in my life were Fang and Iggy. Fang was my best friend, my one true confidante. Well, until now. I did like talking to Max, and I thought perhaps we could be friends. She was not the type to run and tell, but she was not interested in having what one might call a 'sob fest'.

But Iggy...Iggy was different. He had always been my brother's friend, another one of my protectors. Fang had shielded me from my father's rage-a debt I would never be able to pay, but Iggy had defended me at school. I was odd, I knew that, and I was often picked on by other classmates. It didn't bother me much, since I knew they were just ignorant and bored, but it had always bothered Iggy. He was the one who would always stand up for me,whether or not I asked for it.

It was then I realized that I was as much dependent on Iggy as I was Fang. How peculiar. With this new discovery in mind, I picked up my easel and started to walk. I could not go home-Fang was at work. I was hardly allowed to be home without him, and I didn't argue. So I went to Iggy's where I knew I would be welcome. It took about twenty minutes to walk there, giving me the time to put my thoughts together.

I knew Iggy had feelings for me as Fang had confided it to me as soon as he was aware himself. It didn't usually effect me, why would it? But now I couldn't stop thinking about it. Why did Iggy care for me? It could not be my looks, for Iggy was blind. Perhaps he pitied me. I didn't like that idea. But then again, would you fight for someone you pitied? I wasn't sure. Perhaps he just felt protective of me like Fang did. That would explain it best. That made sense.

I walked up to Iggy's house and knocked quietly. I heard his padded footsteps as he opened the door. He cocked his head slightly to the left, listening.

"Hello?" he asked. I grabbed his hand and set it on his arm as Fang had taught me to do years ago. Iggy's features softened, and he picked up my hand.

"Hey, El. Come on in," he entreated, pulling me in. I slipped out of my flats and shut the door behind me. I followed Iggy into the kitchen where he was whipping up something that smelled suspiciously like chocolate. I took my favorite spot at one of the bar stools and sat, facing him.

"What's up? Any reason you're over, or did you come for the cake?" Iggy asked, smiling.

"What a hard decision. How about both?" Iggy laughed, grinning at me. I grinned back, even though he couldn't see it.

"Iggy, a little bird in the park told me about a fight you had the other day," I said, my face blank and my voice calm. Iggy paused a moment, his face showing his shock that he could not hide.

"Oh yeah..? What'd they tell you?"

"They told me it was over a girl, actually."

"That's high school for ya, El," he said, trying to kid with me. When I didn't laugh, he sighed.

"They were calling you 'theirs' El," he explained, as if I was condemning him.

"You wouldn't get it. If word gets around that they had claimed you, it would be bad. I had to do something, y'know? It's different with guys. I couldn't let them get away with something like that."

While he spoke, I silently got off my stool and walked near him. The floor underneath my feet creaked ever so slightly, and Iggy paused, concentrating. I smiled, and laughed softly, making Iggy looked confused. I put my hand on his cheek lightly, and leaned in. I kissed his cheek, almost giggling over his awed and delighted expression.

"Thank you, Iggy. For everything. Even, dare I say it, fighting for me."

"Really, El? You're not pulling my leg?"

"Yes, I promise." Iggy smiled dreamily for a moment before we both jumped out the sound of a bell.

"Want some cake, El? Made it just for you," Iggy winked, getting out his oven mitts.

"I would love some."

Iggy and I spent the day together, like we had done many times before. Before I knew it, the sun had set and we were sitting on his couch, talking about the most random things. Iggy had recently gotten into explosives-something I found fascinating and terrifying at the same time.

"It's just like cooking, El. Seriously. Just mix up the right ingredients at the right time and ta-da! Success."

"But you can't do much with this kind of success, can you? You cannot eat it."

"That is true... but the sound is beautiful. Like your voice, El."

"You think my voice is beautiful?" I asked, incredulous. As far as I was concerned, my voice was very monotone, something I had adopted from Fang as a self defense. If you didn't show emotion, no one could use it against you.

"Yeah, you're voice. I know that's kinda dorky, since most people would probably say you're like, beautiful on the outside...but, y'know..I can't see and stuff. But you do. You have a pretty voice. A nice one, like you really care about other people." he said, sounding embarrassed.

"You have beautiful eyes, Iggy."

"Wait, huh? My eyes? But they're useless."

"Not at all. You may not be able to use them like you wish to, but they convey your emotions more than you know. They can be cold as ice, and warm as a summer's day," I said, hoping to convey to him just how I saw him. He sat, his sightless eyes looking about while he thought. He then smiled, timidly, and held out his hand. I put mine in his, intertwining our fingers. I was leaning slightly on Iggy, my head on his shoulder like I had done hundreds of times.

With his hand in mine and the comforting sound of his heartbeat, I found myself quickly getting sleepy. My eyelids drooped and my breathing relaxed until everything faded into black.

FANG'S POINT OF VIEW

I opened the door to Iggy's, listening intently. I walked into the family room, finding Iggy, eyes wide open, listening hard. He had his finger to his lips, telling me to be quiet. I padded quietly into the room and Iggy, having heard my foot falls, held out his hand even though he already knew it was me. I pressed his palm to shoulder and he smiled sheepishly. My sister was asleep on him, while they were holding hands.

"What the fu-?" I whispered, my voice barely so quiet only Iggy could hear me. He grinned at me, shrugging the shoulder Ella wasn't leaning on. I kneeled near her and rubbed her arm, trying to wake her. She scowled, her free hand gripping Iggy tighter. Iggy laughed softly at her reaction, obviously pleased. I rubbed Ella's arm again and she moaned softly, blinking. She looked confused, before she realized she was clinging to Iggy. She sat back quickly.

"Wha? Iggy? Fang?" She asked, keeping one hand in Iggy's while rubbing her eyes with the other.

"You fell asleep," Iggy said to her. Ella looked from me to him, to him again. I laughed at her confusion. Ella was elegant, but she was slow to wake up.

"Come on, Ella, let's go home," I entreated, part of me a bit afraid she would protest. But she nodded, squeezing Iggy's hand slightly before letting go and getting off the couch. She leaned on me for support, yawning. When we go to the car, I looked at Ella and her tired but completely content expression.

"So...you and Iggy then, huh?" I asked, not being able to contain my curiosity. Ella smiled lazily, looking more relaxed than I had seen her in a long time. She just smiled wider.

"Alright, but if I catch you two kissing or something, I will not hesitate to break his arm." Ella giggled, a childish, giddy sound that was part nerves and part excitement.

If Iggy could make my sister giggle, then what choice did I have? It was weird, but she was happy. That's all that I cared about.