The Runaways – Chapter 33

By MyNameIsCAL

-Nudge's POV-

It was different, being back in school. People who had never said anything to me before were suddenly talking to me. I wasn't trailer trash anymore. I had become a celebrity, and it was sort of shocking. I mean, here I was, a month and a half into school already, and people were still talking.

Iggy was back at Max's house. Back at home, I should say. I wished he was here at school, which seemed silly because I'm pretty sure he hated being here. All the people and the crowds. Still, it was different adjusting. At least Gazzy and Angel were at the same school.

But things finally had routine to them. I guess some people got bored with doing the same thing every day, but I felt I had enough adventure, and being boring and normal for a while would be good for me. It was to school in the morning, after eating breakfast cooked by Iggy, then walking home at the end of the day, or sometimes Max would pick me up if Fang was going to the hospital for physical therapy.

Oh, right, Fang. He was alright I guess. His nose was a little more crooked now, and well, don't tell anyone, but I think it actually suited him better. I don't know, that didn't really make any sense, but it was like it showed all the pain he went through. All the pain he was going through. Max worried about him a lot, but he was doing well. That was what Iggy told me anyway.

I made some new friends. If that's what you could call them. I'm not sure I really liked them, but we did homework at lunch together, and worked on class projects, so I thought they were alright. I mean, I still walked down the hallways, seeing people whispering about me as I passed. It was a little disheartening, and it made me wonder if Iggy would be able to hear them even if he couldn't see them.

Today Max was picking me up from school. Fang sat in the passenger seat, looking worn out, but he gave me a small smile, and I gave him one in return. I didn't doubt Fang anymore. He cared about us just as much as he cared about Max.

"Hey, you." Iggy, to my surprise, was sitting in the back.

"Hey, yourself," I laughed.

He gave me a grin. "I got bored at home."

It was only a week ago we had brought Iggy to visit his parents at the cemetery. We got some flowers and laid them down nicely. He stood there, telling us a few stories, maybe what he would have said if he had been there at the funeral. Iggy didn't break down until we got home. But he told me later that there was no point in mourning anymore. They were gone, and he wasn't going to dwell on things that were only going to put him down.

"Fang started walking today," Iggy said after a while. "We're going to celebrate."

"Celebrate?"

Iggy nodded, his hand finding mine. "Fang's quite reluctant, but we're gonna go pick up some stuff. I'm gonna cook us a nice dinner tonight."

"Don't you do that every night?"

He shrugged. "But it's Monday night, so it'll just make the rest of your week seem better."

I leaned against him laughing, Fang rolling his eyes, and Max chuckling as she continued to drive. Tonight, it seemed, was going to be a good one.

-Angel's POV-

"This is a celebration," Iggy raised his glass. "And here's a toast for Fang getting us out of the mess alive, a toast to his first steps, and a toast for us being here all together."

Everyone raised their glasses. Iggy had prepared the most wonderful smelling food. We let him sit at the head of the table, but I think it was mostly because Max preferred to sit right next to Fang. There was something about the two of them. It was cute almost, the way they seemed so perfect for each other.

"Alright, alright, let's eat now," Gazzy finally said. "I'm starving."

We passed the food around. I felt like we had been spoiled with Iggy's amazing cooking ever since we had been here, but this food, well I thought it was the best he ever made so far. There wasn't a bite left to spare when we had finished. Even Fang, whose appetite seemed to dwindle lately, had eaten a lot.

"Dessert?" Iggy questioned. "I've made homemade ice cream with Angel's help."

I gave him a grin and he seemed to sense it because he grinned back. I hopped out of my chair, dragging it with me as I went to the freezer and stood on it to reach the top shelf.

"I've got spoons!" Gazzy tore the drawer open and pulled out a handful, sticking one on his nose as he walked towards us.

"I call not eating with that one," I told him.

"Don't worry, we're gonna use it to serve the ice cream," Gazzy smirked.

I rolled my eyes, taking my seat back to the table. With Nudge's help, Iggy dished out the ice cream, and it was like we were in heaven all over again.

"I never want to buy ice cream again," Max commented.

Iggy seemed very proud of what he had made tonight. "Well, it took a while to make."

It was getting late though. Max started to get the dishes in the dishwasher after we finished. I was getting tired. My parents never let me stay up this late, and we had school tomorrow. One by one we left, and I had a feeling by the end, it would only be Max and Fang left awake. Dr. M had just come home as I was going to my room. She said goodnight to all of us, and headed to her own room. I wondered if she saved any lives today.

Sometime later, after I had already settled in bed, I heard Max and Fang come down the hallway.

"Goodnight, Max," I heard Fang say, the exhaustion noted in his voice.

"Night, Fang."

There was a pause.

"Max?"

"Yes, Fang?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

You know, it's probably a good thing when you can go to sleep smiling. I had to say that I was lucky. Well, all of us were lucky, that we had people like Fang and Max to save us.

Alright, this is really sort of a filler to show how everyone has been adjusting. I'm working out the kinks for the end of this story. Anyway, probably a few more chapters before I reach the end. If there's anything you think I should get to before I end this, just let me know. I'm open to ideas.

Thanks, as always for reading, and for your patience between my updates. I've got some new stories up too, so if you're looking for something new to read, check out We Were Strangers in the Dark or Because I Love You. Once again, thanks for reading. Your reviews are always immensely appreciated, and I don't think I let my readers know that enough.