Me: Tell the nice people who you are.
Iggy: I'm Iggy. And I'm annoyed.
Me: Why? What's wrong?
Iggy: You haven't freaking put ONE chapter in this stupid story from my point of view! Plus, you haven't written ANYTHING in like forever!
Me: I was just about to, and with my finals and junk-
Iggy: Oh suuure. Sure you were.
Me: I swear, I-
Iggy: Obviously she isn't James Paterson, cuz he would have put more of me in here by now. Sheesh.
IGGY'S POINT OF VIEW
I walked home from school, my mind distracted. I thought about Ella and Fang and Max and how complicated everything seemed to be getting.
Ella was safe, for now.
Fang was not. Something had to happen. I'd take the guy out myself, but no one will tell me what their floor plan is like. Talk about in-hospitality.
Max seems trustworthy, but what was with her whole thing with Fang? And why is Fang being all defensive about it?
Two steps, turn ninety degrees, twenty steps forward.
When am I going to see Ella again? Will she be distracted by her worry for Fang?
Why won't Fang do something about all of this? Is he wimping out? He seems almost content, which makes no freaking sense.
Three vertical steps, five steps forward to the door.
I entered the house, putting my keys on the front table four steps from the door. I wasn't expecting Fang or Ella tonight, so I headed up to my room. Twelve stair steps, six steps forward, turn ninety degrees and four steps to the bed. I thumped onto the bed, putting my hands behind my head. I must have been scowling because I got a headache behind my useless eyes.
People loved to ask me about being blind, like it was something to envy.
"How do you use a computer?"
You don't.
"Do you read braille?"
Heck no. With my hypersensitive nerves, I could feel the indents of ink and the depressions of handwriting if the author pushed hard enough. I read a lot slower than before, but I didn't care. I had no intentions of learning braille.
"How do you do your hair?"
With a comb.
"Do you have a cane?"
Yup. I used it only when I was completely new to an area. I could memorize landmarks pretty easily.
"Since you have heightened senses, you must love listening to music now."
I hated it. With music blasting, you can't hear what's going on around you. It's like putting a blanket over your face. You can see the pattern of the blanket, but otherwise you were totally blind.
That was the nice thing about Ella. She didn't ask me stupid questions about blind. She had always known me blind, so it wasn't a huge deal to her. She didn't try to make my injury okay, but she didn't pity me. She brought back the colors I missed, quietly describing them to me. It was a light in the darkness, warm and brilliant. She wasn't stuck up or preppy, but she was human and real.
Dang, I was so whipped.
I grinned to myself, thinking heck, who wouldn't be?
But there were limitations to being without sight. I didn't know what anyone looked like, for one. I could get a visual like I did with Max, but unless I asked I would never know the color of their hair or eyes. I didn't usually care, but sometimes I got curious.
I also couldn't drive. That really sucked. I am willing to walk just about anywhere, but what if I needed to go out of town for something? What if my good for nothing parents actually want to take me with them one day? I'd be helpless.
Then again, that probably wouldn't happen. My parents only sent cards these days. They said things like maybe next time or not now. It had really bothered me at first, but then I realized I was fine without them. They were loud and business like; always on a schedule. I was always left to clean messes I couldn't even see. I broke a few mugs that way, actually.
By myself I would always know where everything was. No one could mess with my system and confuse me. It was better and faster that way. The only people I let in my house were Fang and Ella, possibly Max, if she asked nicely.
Max was sure an odd chick. She was obviously pretty tough, judging by the fight she had with Fang (he described it to me when he got back). She was also like, the boss of her house, with her three or four siblings. She had defended Ella more than once, something I'll never be able to pay her back for, but she also protected Fang, sort of. She was the one who brought him back from the fight, and the one who helped carry him to her house and help him out.
I'm starting to think something went on over there. Fang was acting weird every time she came up. His voice would raise just the tiniest bit and he would give really short answers, even for Fang. It was driving me nuts. Like, either he was totally into her or something was going on. Maybe he was just embarrassed since she had to save his trash so much. Then again, she seemed just as needy with him, from what Ella tells me.
I hadn't really heard of Fang liking anyone since...well, ever. He either didn't want to talk about it, or it just didn't happen. I wasn't sure. The only time we talked girls was when I brought up Ella and Fang threatened to smash my face in if I hurt her (I'm not even kidding; the kid is wacko protective). Actually, sometimes I asked Fang to describe people to me, girls included. Fang didn't like to do it, but he knew it wasn't fair I couldn't see it myself. He would usually comply, using a low, very quiet voice.
I sighed, turning over on my bed and thinking about what I had to do tonight.
Homework?
Check.
Clean house?
Check.
I could try that new recipe for tres leches...
Focus.
Lawn done?
Yup.
Gotten the mail?
Not yet. Should be here by now...
I got up, making my way out of my room the the front door. I opened it and quickly made my way to my mailbox. I knew the mailbox was tilted about ten degrees to the right, which drove me crazy. It was a white mailbox with a dent on the front bottom edge and a red flag on the right side. I felt to the small lip in the top and opened the mailbox. I carefully put my hand inside, feeling around a bit until I found the small stack of paper on the bottom. I pulled it all out and brought it back inside.
I concentrated, running my fingers along the tops to find out who they were from.
Ad...don't care.
Supermarket...don't care.
University for the arts...? What's this?
I opened the letter and felt it, eager to see what it said.
Dear Iggy,
We are happy to inform you we...received your application for our...school. We would also like to ...congratulate you on ...attaining our 'Miller Expo: Most likely to...excel' ...scholarship. If you choose to...accept this honor, we would be happy to...accommodate you. This is a once in a...lifetime ...opportunity for you to get an...education. With your different...handicaps, we would be more than happy to help you adjust with a peer mentor or ...acquaintance for you to help adjust to the campus. We expect to hear from you soon on your...decision to accept or decline your...scholarship.
The rest of the paper was contact information. Scholarship? What scholarship? Then it hit me. After my accident, I had to see the counselor at school once a month to see how well I was coping and/or adjusting. To help me "fulfill my potential and find new meaning in my life", the counselor had insisted I apply to colleges and scholarships they had. I did a few just to say I did them, but I had put special care into the one I sent to UFA or University for the Arts. It had a huge program for training chefs and I figured if I went to school, I was going to do what I planned to make my career.
I hadn't, of course, actually expected to get the scholarship, though...
This was great! I could finally, finally get a start on my goal to become a real chef! I had to tell Ella. I ran to the phone and started punching in her number when I realized something.
UFA was an hour away, at least.
I wouldn't be used to it.
I wouldn't be around Ella.
Worst of all, Ella couldn't hide from her dad here.
She wouldn't be safe.
MAX'S POINT OF VIEW
I yawned, wanting to lay my head down on my desk. It was a warm afternoon and I was exhausted. It felt like a waste to be cooped up at school on such a nice day, but there was nothing I could do. Pesky laws and such suggested I stay in school even if it was horribly boring. The end of the year was coming quick and most teachers were out of lessons or had just given up. I turned over to Fang, who was doodling something in his notebook, his eyes glazed over in thought.
"Fang."
He looked at me, saying nothing.
"Will you wake me when its over?"
He smirked, shrugging as if to say "maybe, if I feel like it."
I yawned again, laying my head in my arms. My head was dizzy with sleep and my eyes felt heavy. My thoughts went almost blank, shifting into little bubbles of thought, none of them making any particular sense or reason. I could feel myself relax, and I loved the feeling.
Suddenly, something cool and weird tickled my neck and I shivered, sitting straight up. I blinked a couple times, adjusting to the light.
"Huh? Wha-?" I managed sleepily. I rubbed my sleepy face and yawned. Fang smirked at me, looking almost surprised.
"It's over."
"Wha's over? You mean-oh!" I whipped my head around and realized we were alone in the classroom since everyone had already left and gone home. I snatched my things and left with Fang, feeling embarrassed.
"Did I really sleep the whole period?"
"Mm-hmm."
"You didn't wake me up?"
"I did."
"Ten minutes after everyone left!"
Fang just shrugged. We went to our lockers and grabbed our backpacks. I was giving Fang and Ella a ride to my place tonight, since Iggy said he had stuff to do. I had taken a week off work to focus on school work, so it worked out fine. We met up with Ella and Iggy who were speaking quietly and silenced themselves as we got closer. Ella was holding onto Iggy's sleeve and she turned him to face us, thought he looked like he'd rather just be alone with Ella.
"Hello Max. How are you?" Ella asked, breaking the awkward tension.
"Good, thanks. You?"
"Fine, thank you. Fang, may I speak with you a moment?" Fang nodded and both he and Ella stepped a few feet away. They often spoke to each other about their dad, so I wasn't surprised. Maybe that was what had gotten to Iggy. He looked a little on edge. We both stood there a minuet, neither of us saying anything to one another. He and I weren't really...friends necessarily, and I didn't want to bother him, but I hated awkward silences.
"So, anything new?"
"Yeah, actually."
"Oh? What's that?"
"Nothing. I mean, I just got some stuff I have to take care of. Today. Yknow."
"Work stuff?"
"I don't have a job right now."
"Ah."
"...I got a scholarship."
"Wow! That's cool. To where?"
"Just some school."
"You gonna take it?"
"I dunno."
Something was up. He hardly seemed excited.
"Is it a crappy school?"
"No."
"Is it a dumb scholarship?"
"No..."
"Then what's up?"
"None of your business!"
"Okay, okay! Sheesh. Don't have to get touchy."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Oh for heaven's sake. Why do people always say that?"
"You wouldn't."
"Oh yeah? Try me."
"Okay, fine. This scholarship is full ride. You know what that means, right? Free. Books, room, food, you name it. To a college that will teach me how to become a chef. A real one, like some weirdo in a big hat and all that. Which is what I wanna do, right? Sounds easy. But I'd be gone for a year in a town that's far and I wouldn't know my way around and I would be gone for a year and I just...-"
"You couldn't protect them anymore."
Iggy sighed, a scowl on his face. He had started pacing and ran a had through his hair before hitting a wall with precision. I had only seen him this upset when he fought those jerks in gym. It was really getting to him.
"You're right." He turned to me, looking confused.
"What?"
"You're right. I don't know what that's like. I've never had to choose between my future and my present. But I do know what it's like to want to protect someone. Even if it meant giving up a lot. I know that. And it totally sucks."
"Yeah, well, there's nothing I can do."
"No, not really. You are pretty much their biggest supporter, one of few. But school is important, and you'll never get a chance like that again."
Iggy scowled harder, glaring at me.
"But," I added softly, "if you went, I promise I'll look out for them."
Iggy's face softened slightly as he considered this. He nodded in my general direction, accepting my proposal or, at least, considering it.
Maybe we were friends after all. Iggy and I were bonded through a secret neither of us were actually a part of. We were the supporters, the ones came in to try and put Fang and Ella back together. Iggy had done it for years on his own, even through his injury. I was new to the role, new to feeling almost responsible for Fang and Ella. Iggy was not only their friend, he was Ella's special friend and the owner of her sanctuary. If Iggy moved away, not only would Fang and Ella need a new place to hide, but they may need more support.
That's right, folks. That would be my responsibility. I'm not saying I wouldn't want to do it or I wouldn't be willing, but it would be difficult. I have siblings, one in particular, who would ask a ton of questions. What would I tell them? The truth? Lie to them? I wasn't sure.
But Fang and Ella's safety meant more to me than a few inconveniences. Of that, I was absolutely sure. I would look out for them, even if meant I had to drag them to my house.
Fang and Ella rejoined us, both of them looking a little distressed.
"What. What's going on?" I asked, curious. "Are ya all right?"
"Absolutely," Ella said sweetly, smiling at me. I wasn't convinced, but I didn't push it.
"Alright, well, we better go. My siblings need a ride soon."
We said our goodbyes to Iggy, Fang and I taking a few steps to give Ella and Iggy a minute.
"Are you gonna tell me what's up or...?"
"Iggy might leave."
"Oh. He told me. Where is it?"
"An hour away."
"Not so far. He could visit on the weekends!"
"He can't drive."
"We can visit on the weekends!"
"I doubt it."
I sighed, leaning near Fang and looking him earnestly in the eye.
"Fang, darling, when someone is trying to cheer you up, it makes things so much easier if you're actually, know, cheered up."
Fang shot me the bird, so I laughed. Of freaking course. The kid was just too darn cool for me. Sheesh. Ella joined us, and we made our way to my truck. Ella sat behind us while Fang sat next to me. When we picked up the kids, Ange sat between Fang and stared quietly at Fang. Nudge and Ella got along pretty well, so they sat together with Gazzy, who got grumpy without his partner in crime. Today, unlike most days, however, Angel wasn't so quiet.
"Hi, I'm Angel," she said, pointing to herself.
"Fang."
"Why is your name Fang? Are you a vampire?"
"Nope."
"That's good, cuz you would die in the sunlight and that wouldn't be good, huh."
"Nope."
"Are you Max's boyfriend?"
I snuck a glance at Fang, smirking. Fang just raised his eyebrows a bit.
"Has Max told you that?"
"No, she said you were an odd boy who she thought was-"
"Alright, Angel, that's enough!" I said, covering her mouth with my hand. Fang smirked at me, raising his eyebrows a bit. My face went red hot, and I glared out to the road. How embarrassing. He must think I've been blabbing to my little sister about him, which I totally haven't! Curse Angel and her ridiculously good observations skills.
When we finally pulled up to my driveway, everyone piled out and went inside. I had given my siblings very strict orders to stay upstairs so Ella, Fang and I could have a chat. Nudge had practically ambushed Ella with questions on the way here, so she was satisfied for the time being. When the kids were all happy and gone, my friends and I sat down in the living room where Fang has lay unconscious not long ago.
"So," I said, looking them in the eye seriously, "Iggy might be leaving."
Fang looked a little angry at the thought. Ella just stared glumly at the floor. Fang and I knew how much she cared about him; we also knew it would be difficult for them to be separated.
"S'just a year," Fang reminded us calmly.
"Perhaps. Iggy says depending on what specific program he takes could make his schooling last four years," Ella replied quietly. She was doing her absolute best to stay as emotionless and rational as possible, I could tell.
The more time I spent with these two the more I was able to recognize their emotions even when they hid them. It took practice, but even the slightest change in their features now set me off. Right now I could tell Ella was a little scared and pretty depressed while Fang was annoyed.
"Okay, well, either way. He won't be far, right? We can still call him and everything, plus he'll have breaks and whatnot."
"Of course, Max."
I could tell Ella didn't believe it. I looked at Fang, gesturing him in a way that meant: do something. He set his hand on his sister's shoulder, looking at her earnestly.
"Ella. You'll be alright."
The words themselves were inconsequential-in fact, it was probably the worst pep talk I'd ever heard-, but for Ella, it was more than enough. She nodded at Fang, smiling weakly at him.
"Uhm, guys?"
They both looked at me.
"With Iggy leaving and whatnot, y'all are gonna need some place to stay." I put my hand up when Ella opened her mouth protest, effectively keeping her from speaking out.
"Yes, hon, I understand you don't want to be rude, and yada yada ya. Well guess what? My mother, Anne? Doesn't care. Ask Fangles here. He knows. My siblings love you guys, even if Angel acts a little weird around you. We have an extra room for Fang and plenty of extra space in both Nudge's and my room for you, Ella. I don't want to hear your 'buts' cuz you know I'm right. Mkay?"
Ella shrugged, helpless. Fang just nodded.
Guess that's it, then? I just practically adopted two more. Go me.