Chapter 26

Jo (my reviewer): . I see you took the time to read all the way to chapter 25. That's good. Thanks.

And seriously, thanks to all of you who read this fanfic. Reviews mean a lot to me. I'd forgotten how fun it was to write. So, here you go. I think I'll update again next week. Fo realz – I won't be lazy. Sound good? Honestly, I doubt this long wait will ever happen again, just cause of how the guilt swallows me:\

"Oh, don't even!" gasped Ella, lifting the lid off of the box. In all of the morning crazytude, we'd forgotten that our dresses were supposed to arrive that day. She picked up a dress and laid it gently out across the couch.

"They're nice," I admitted. Ella slapped the back of my hand.

"Hey! What was that for?" I exclaimed, rubbing my stinging right hand.

"They're more than 'nice. They're… fantastic. I'm so excited!" she squealed. Our matching dresses were dark sapphire, with standard girly accents: poof, ruffles, strapless, sweetheart neckline, and all the rest. I sighed, glad that my ban on pink had come through. That didn't include Angel, who would wear a dress that would be the same color as the rose petals she'd be dropping.

"I wonder how Nelly and Juliette are," sighed Ella suddenly.

"Hopefully Lucas can survive without parental supervision," I laughed. Ella smirked, splashing a handful of packing peanuts in my direction.

"Oh, do you two have a thing going on?" she said playfully.

"Well, don't tell Fang," I whispered in faux secrecy, "but-"

Ella suddenly cracked up, rolling onto her back on the carpet. I raised my eyebrows at her and turned.

Oh. Fang. He returned my eyebrow gesture and held up an envelope, waving it once before he slipped it into his back pocket.

"Don't tell Fang what?" he asked.

"How much I wuv him?" I tried. He sighed dramatically. I stifled a laugh. Fang wasn't the theatrical type.

"Well, if that's your best answer…"

"Wait, what's in the envelope?" asked Ella, stopping her spasms and tilting her head to the side.

"Oh, nothing," Fang shrugged. He turned away. I rolled my eyes and got up to follow him. He seemed a lot better now. Iggy still wasn't totally healed up, but he had the parents on his mind. It was a lot to cope with – even for us. And we were quite the copers.

Back in our room, Fang was still being a total weenie and choosing not to tell me what was in the envelope.

"What, is it from your girlfriend?" I teased.

"Actually, it's from your boyfriend," he said casually, smirking at me over his shoulder. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"No, seriously, who?" I said, reaching for his pocket.

"No, seriously, your boyfriend." He answered, twisting away before I could get it.

"Fang, you are my boyfriend," I rolled my eyes again, sneaking my hand into his back pocket and snatching the envelope.

"Am I?" he said, not realizing I had it. "Doesn't that seem like and overly… normal term?

"Ha!" I said triumphantly, holding it up to the light. "It's from-"

I stopped and squinted at the letters.

"Orchard-comma-Lucas. Really, Fang? Are you that insecure?" I said, biting my lip to keep from giggling.

"Don't be a three-year-old, Max," he rolled his eyes, grabbing it back and putting it on the dresser.

"And to answer your question, yes, it does. What do you want me to call you? My lover?" I said sarcastically. He shrugged.

"It's an improvement."

Okay. Whatever. I slid my nail under the seal and tore it open.

"ELLA, get in here!"

Ella 'yay'-ed and tiptoed into the room.

"Whatsitsaywhatsitsay?" she squealed. I unfolded the paper inside.

Dear Max & Ella,

Well, I guess I decided to write to you guys since I just realized I have absolutely no life. Nelly and Juliette say hi – forcibly. Anyway, speaking of them, Nelly doesn't want me to mention her (she has 'news' that she has to tell you herself) and Juliette keeps trying to get me to ask you if you can find some hawt foreigners for her. Oh, and she wants you to find one for me, too, because she thinks I'm lonely. Please don't. So, how's Rio? I hear those of you of the flying variety are doing, like, a show Friday. We'll be watching it on tv down here. Don't forget to mention us in your speeches.

-Lucas

PS. Ella, I know what you're thinking. No, I can't tell you what happened with Sellwood – unless you want me unable to have children (courtesy of Nelly). Yes, I care enough to realize you won't be on tv. We love you anyway.

"He knows us too well," Ella pouted, crossing her arms and glaring at the 'PS'. I was staring at a different line.

"How in the freaking heck did he know about the show tomorrow?"