Break Time

Pineapples, Olives and Extra Cheese

Gazzy rang the doorbell hesitantly. The boys knew if they didn't phrase everything right, this girl would slam the door in their faces. She could also turn out to be some crazy scientist who would try to trap them and bring them back to The School. They were hoping for the best. Fang had told them everything he could about her, which wasn't much.

The girl's name was Jess. She was a tree-hugging, animal lover (surprise, surprise), and her family was rich. You could tell by the fact that she had a two story vacation house in the middle of the woods, and her parents had left her for two weeks. She was fourteen, and she'd followed the blog from the very beginning. That was all they knew, and they had found her just the same.

Fang groaned quietly. He had ended up crushed by a giant pine back in the forest, and no one could tell what was wrong with him. Attempting to fly had only proven that Iggy could carry his full body weight for fifty-seven miles without stopping. They couldn't hide their wings either in case they'd need a quick escape. Long story short: if this girl had any sense, she'd know exactly who they were.

Hearing the door creak open, Iggy stood up straight while Fang stiffened and Gazzy sucked in a breath. "You're actually here," he heard an awestruck female voice say. The door slid open farther, letting a cool breeze out into the day. "Come in." All three shuffled forward uncomfortably. With Fang injured and resting on him, Iggy had to navigate his surroundings by himself.

"Her house is huge," Gazzy said. They walked forward a few steps and to the left. "Living room," he mumbled to Iggy.

"I'm Jess, by the way. Jess Lorgne. I'll get some water. It looks like someone has gone and hurt himself," her voice rang out as her footsteps faded away.

"Information," Iggy requested once he could tell she was out of earshot.

"She lives in a two-story house. It looks like the whole thing is made of glass on the outside. There's an office to the right, and it looks like a huge kitchen back-" Gazzy began before he was cut off.

"Tan, average height, long reddish-brown hair, and dark eyes with long lashes," Fang supplied. Iggy nodded; she sounded pretty. "But I wouldn't get too attached. Give us a day or two and we're gone."

"Do you have to go so soon?" Jess asked. The boys jumped. "So which one of you is which?"

"I'm the Gasman, but you can call me Gazzy. And this is Fang," Gazzy introduced.

"Gazzy, Fang," she repeated while nodding. "And you must be Iggy." She placed a hand on his shoulder lightly. "This is probably weird for you guys-I know it's weird for me-but feel free to stay as long as you need to."

"Staying isn't really on the agenda," Fang said. Moving to make room, Iggy patted the empty space next to him on the sofa. He felt her leg brush his as she sat. Gazzy was sitting next to Fang, who was next to Iggy, who sat in between him and Jess.

"Of course not. That's what I expected. When I expected you to come at all that is." She turned toward the make-shift flock. "Fang, can I check out your wings? They're bent at a weird angle."

"Fine," he sighed, shifting to give her a better view. Iggy felt her stand, walk forward, and catch her foot on his sneaker. His heart fluttered when she grabbed his leg to balance herself

"Sorry."

"No problem," Iggy replied automatically. He would have reached out to steady her if he'd known where she was. The weight of the couch shifted and little and he guessed she had sat down again.

"Take off your shirt," she commanded.

"What?" Fang asked. You could hear the leather shifting from his shoulders already.