I know I haven't updated in like a million months but to be honest, I quit. I thought my writing was terrible and that no one liked my story. It took reading through the comments to realize that people did like my story. Shout out to the person who commented in April because when I saw that I was extremely surprised. "Wow people are still reading my story?!" went through my head. Somehow I was motivated to write this chapter and I was really passionate about it. I hope y'all like it and I'm sorry I left y'all hanging for so long.

Max POV

I blushed as I walked into the room. Everyone had their eyes on me.

Especially Fang.

"Holy shit" I heard him mutter under his breath.

Nudge cleared her throat trying to end the awkward silence that was present in the room. "Okay shall we go get our party on?"

I didn't think this was a good idea. The thought of meeting Fang's elderly grandmother gave me anxiety. That and the fact Nudge had mentioned something about Itex. I tried to not act surprised when she blurted that out but I'm pretty sure Fang saw my eyes widen with concern.

I stared down at my toes in the flowery sandals and tried to remember the last time I went to a party with friends. The thought of that made me dizzy for some reason. I've never been to an actual fancy party I thought. Heck I didn't even own a party dress and here comes Angel and Nudge with 10 party dresses in their hands. The closest I've been to a party are sleepovers with B and Anabel but they were always at my house. B said that her parents were too busy and Anabel said she had family problems.

"Look," I reluctantly started, "I really like that y'all want me to come with you but I can't. It's not right" I paused and continued "It's your grandmother's birthday and that seems more like a family event to me. I don't belong there. I belong here with my brothers. I hope you understand."

I shifted the jacket on my shoulders covering my wings. Because the dress was a strapless it showed the tips of my wings so I had to tell Nudge that I was just extremely cold.

I slowly glanced up and saw Fang with what it appeared to be hurt look on his face. He quickly shook his head and his normal frown returned.

"Oh Max, if only you could see how beautiful you really looked right now. I respect your decision and I understand why you're choosing not to go. If I were in your shoes I would probably do the same thing." Angel said as if she meant every word of it.

"I'm not even in my own shoes. I wouldn't be caught dead in these monstrosities." I almost said. I bit my tongue to keep the sassiness and sarcasticness from spilling out.

I watched as Fang, Nudge, and Angel stepped out and started headed down the hall. None of them looked back. I turned my body toward brother number two and said "I'm going to go get cleaned up and then when I get back I want to talk about something."

He nodded weakly as I walked to the nearest ladies restroom. There I scrubbed all of the glitter and makeup off my face. I peeled the dress off of my tall body structure and hung it back up on the clothes hanger. Standing in my unmatched sports bra and panties I heard the one sink and toilet bathroom door open. I didn't have time to try to cover myself up or shut the door. I watched in horror as a blond boy stood at the entrance to the bathroom.

"Holy shit I am so sorry!" He said trying to close the door. My heart was beating so hard in my chest I was certain he could hear it from outside the bathroom.

After the door was shut and locked I quickly threw my hoodie on and jumped into my jeans. I grabbed the dress and hurried out of the bathroom as fast as my legs could take me. Unfortunately I was stopped by the same blond boy.

"I am so sorry for what just happened. I got confused looking for the elevator and didn't read the ladies restroom sign."

I could feel my face redden and my ear go warm. "It's fine" I choked out on the verge of tears from all of the stress that been going on in my life. Iggy, school, Fang and his family, the mentioning of Itex, now this.

Blond held out his hand and said, "I'm Dylan"

I stared at his hand until he dropped it. He laughed like it was a joke and ran his fingers through his blond hair. He waited for me to respond with my name but I just stared at him with the dress in my arms.

"And you are?" He asked impatiently clearly showing he wanted to know my name. That just made me want to tell him my name even less.

"Okay then not much of a talker I see. You from the area? Seeing a relative here or...?"

Again I didn't say a word. I rubbed my left eye with my free hand and started back toward Gazzy.

"So that's it? I don't even know your name and your just gonna walk off?"

I didn't say anything as I walked.

I heard him shout right as I reached the opened door to the waiting room , "I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other real soon girl. Just you wait. Then I'll find out your name."

My whole body was shaking when I stepped into the room.

I lay the dress down on the couch closest to the door and sat right across from Gazzy.

"Did you hear nudge?" I said quietly, scared someone would hear us, "She said something about Itex"

Gazzy sat up and asked with concern in his eyes "Do you think they know? I saw Fang give her one of your shut-up-or-I'll-hurt-you looks after she said that."

"I don't know. I really don't know. Everything is just so confusing right now."

Gazzy's silence showed that he agreed with me and that he was thinking.

" Maybe they are like us Max. Maybe they have wings too."

I stared at him, bewildered by that thought. There was no one like us. No one who knew our secret.

"No." I answered swiftly hoping to stop this thought from forming and getting bigger.

"Think about it. New family moves in, oldest is pretty mysterious, middle never shuts up, and youngest acts all innocent. They have a big yard with plenty of room for taking off and they've all never had their backs seen."

"You're acting crazy." I told him. he was delusional. But now that the thought was in my head I couldn't get it out. At the sleepover Fang slept with his shirt on. Luckily for us Gazzy and Iggy were sleeping on their backs with their wings drawn in. Because they were shirtless, their wings could've been stretched out and our cover would have been blown. I let my guard down that one time and allowed my friends to almost find out about the wings. Fortunately Gazzy woke up first and he woke Iggy and they both threw their shirts on quick before Fang saw.

"Yeah the sleepover was a close one." Gazzy said out loud as if he had read my mind.

I nodded weakly and stretched my body out on the worn leather couch. I crossed my ankles and put my hands together under my head. I intently watched the ceiling as If I were waiting for it to do something.

"Iggy is going to be done soon" I heard mom say as she walked into the room.

I didn't say anything. not about that Dylan kid or Fang's family and Itex or Gazzy's suspicions.

"In fact if I'm allowed to say this it has been exactly 2 hours since the operation started meaning the doctors are probably cleaning things up right now. and that also means Iggy has been moved to his new room just down the hall from here." I slowly sat up. "He's asking for y'all."

I heard Gazzy shift his body on the sofa. I looked over and saw he was standing. "Where is he?" He asked frantically.

"3 doors down on the left side." Mom replied.

before she could get another word out Gazzy sprinted out of the room, sending couch cushions everywhere in the process.

Mom chuckled quietly as I stood up. She grabbed my hand and together we walked to Iggy's room.

Right as mom and I walked in and shut the door I heard Gazzy ask loudly "What the hell is wrong with his eyes?! You said they were being removed but I clearly see them in his head!"

Then Gazzy proceeded to punching the wall next to the bed causing a giant hole to form and pictures to fall off.

"Gazzy," I started to say but he was seething with rage. I had never seen him this angry.

"Gazzy," I tried again but he cut me off.

"No shut up this is so fucking unfair! Why did it have to happen to our fucking family. Why not the neighbor's little girl or the teen mom's first son?! Why us?!"

I could see he needed to punch something again but Mom stopped him.

"Gazzy honey please calm down." Mom said in her most calming voice

Gazzy looked at her with tears in his eyes. He looked so pained.

"It's fate." I heard a familiar voice say.

I turned toward the hospital bed. there I saw Iggy lying under the pale white covers. The bandages that were once covering his eyes were now in Gazzy's clenched fists.

"It's fate," he repeated "this happened for a reason and I plan to see what that reason is."

I don't know if he purposely said that he planned to "see" that reason but I didn't feel like asking.

Gazzy slowly unclenched his fist and dropped the crumbled bandages. He then proceeded into silently crying and leaning his head on Mom's shoulder.

I looked at the window as if I were looking into the distance and slowly let the word "fate" escape my chapped lips.

QOTC: do you like my story

AOTC: well i mean i have to like my own story so yeah sure

remember to stay swaggy and peace out :)