The Runaways – Chapter 13
By MyNameIsCAL
-Gazzy's POV-
Fang started to seem less scary and more human now that we were stuck around him. He seemed to be in a lot of pain, and Max, who had apparently saved him, definitely had a thing for Fang who definitely shared the same feelings in return. You could tell he was protective of her. After hours of driving, he kept insisting they pull over so they could switch and she could rest. Of course he was in no condition to do that.
We kept the news on, but so far they were only talking about Iggy missing along with Angel and me. Max said she left a note with her mom explaining things. It wouldn't be long before the news would be talking about her too. I wondered if anyone would miss Fang.
Iggy had taken a liking to Nudge. It didn't seem the stress of our situation reached them as they talked quietly, her head rested against his shoulder. Every now and then you could hear them laugh about something.
"We're stopping to get food," Max announced as we pulled into the parking lot. "What do you all want?"
We rambled what we wanted, one by one, and Max and Fang left us, going inside the restaurant so no one would have to see us.
I wasn't really that hungry, considering I hadn't eaten since yesterday. My stomach had been churning all day though, thinking about how my parents had threatened to kill us, how they had killed Iggy's innocent parents. He seemed to have forgotten about that now, but maybe he was just trying to forget to make things easier for all of us. I wanted to apologize, but I knew bringing it up wasn't a good idea.
Staring out the window, I could see Max and Fang coming back. He had left his crutches in the car, limping heavily now as he struggled to carry the bags of our food. When they got closer, I could hear Max and him arguing.
"You shouldn't be putting weight on it," she scolded.
"I'll be fine," he insisted in a low growl, getting into the car.
He turned and handed us our food.
-Nudge's POV-
I had no idea where we were, but it was nice to finally be out of the car. According to Fang, this was somewhere in the desert, camping grounds where no one would look for us. Iggy and Gazzy were working on starting a fire as we sat around them, finishing up the food. The sunlight was almost gone now, our bodies becoming outlines in the night. As soon as the flame sparked, the fire began to blaze, and for a moment, we all watched it in awe.
Max and Fang came from the car, both of them looking exhausted. He could barely walk, even with his crutches.
"There's a tent in the trunk," he murmured as Max helped him to sit down by the fire. "I'll help you set it up."
She disappeared back to the car and returned with a box, but she started to set it up herself and Fang watched helplessly, a look of distress on his face. After a few minutes, Angel and Gazzy went to help Max.
"Four of us can fit in the tent," Fang said, his voice hoarse. "Two of us in the car. The seats can fold into the floor."
"Why don't you take the car," Iggy offered. "It'll be more comfortable than the ground."
"Alright," Fang agreed, almost reluctantly. "There are blankets and stuff in the trunk too. I'll get them."
He started to get up, but I shook my head and ran off ahead of him, leaving him to slouch back against the bags he was leaning on.
When I came back, the tent was pitched. The others were settling inside already. I got in with the blankets, giving one to Angel and Gazzy, and pulling the other over Iggy and me. Iggy closed the tent and I snuggled against him.
"Goodnight," he whispered.
"Goodnight."
-Gazzy's POV-
Through the tent, I could still see Max and Fang sitting out there by the fire. He was leaned against her, talking in a strained voice, making it hard to make out what he was saying.
"We'll go towards California," Fang said. "Death Valley, we can spend some time there. Or maybe Yellowstone. Camping will be safer than going to hotels. It gives people less of a chance to recognize us."
"Of course," Max agreed quietly.
Their voices seemed to get quieter and quieter, or maybe I was just falling asleep.
"You need rest," Max said, helping Fang up. "C'mon."
And they put out the fire. The last thing I heard were the doors of the car close with a soft thud, then slumber consumed me.
-Nudge's POV-
Fang seemed like he was in a better mood in the morning. The smell of fast food breakfast filled the air. Max and he must have driven out to get us food.
"I don't know if this will do any good," Max said, handing Fang a medicine bottle. "But I took the Advil from my house."
"Thanks," he said, a half smile forming.
We packed up the tent and headed out again on the highway, heading for California, according to Max. Fang had turned the radio off and now had some rock music on.
"Do you ever think that we'll be able to go back to Arizona?" I asked Iggy. "That we'll ever be able to live normal lives?"
Iggy took a moment to think, his pale blue eyes seeming to focus for just a minute, as if he could see the answer. "Perhaps. But we haven't got anyone to go back to in Arizona. Well, Max does."
"Why would she leave her family for us?" I wondered out loud, watching her drive as her fingers tapped out the beat against the steering wheel.
Iggy only shrugged and answered in a matter of fact way. "She came because she felt it would be wrong to let Fang, and to let all of us, go without her help. But mostly, I think she came for Fang. It might not seem like it, but I've heard Fang talk about her and they're quite attached to each other."
I laughed. "You know, that's sorta, I don't know, romantic isn't the right word…"
Iggy laughed, grinning down at me. "Yeah, I know what you mean."