A/N:Okay, DO NOT FREAK OUT! I've had this chapter sitting in my doc. box for the longest time. So I've decided to upload it until my beta gives me back the real chapter. Btw, it's in Gabrielle's POV so please don't curse me if it's horrible. Hale will be on his way soon enough! I promise! Thanks to Rionabelle for convincing me to post this! You rock! And this was my first beta-ed chapter!

SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS A SCENE FROM UNCOMMON CRIMINALS

SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS A SCENE FROM UNCOMMON CRIMINALS
SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS A SCENE FROM UNCOMMON CRIMINALS

SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS A SCENE FROM UNCOMMON CRIMINALS

SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS A SCENE FROM UNCOMMON CRIMINALS

SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS A SCENE FROM UNCOMMON CRIMINALS!


Gabrielle's POV

I watched as Kat exited the kitchen of the Brownstone. She was so oblivious sometimes it was ridiculous. I glanced back at Hale, who was glaring at the newspaper, as if it had personally insulted him.

I sighed, knowing that I had to go fix this mess before it became a problem to everyone else.

I walked into the room that had once belonged to my mother and aunt. It wasn't a particularly nice room, but it was special to Kat and I. Stepping inside was like stepping away from the harsh world of thieves that was dominated by men.

It was a girly room, filled with flowers, lace, and tons of pink: the walls, the curtains, the beds, and even the carpet!

And I loved it.

I stared at Kat, as I leaned against the door of our mom's room. She was clutching her mother's pillow, and staring at the ceiling, probably thinking about the Cleopatra Emerald.

"So, Hale..."

I walked to the matching twin bed and I laid down atop a pillow with the embroidered name of Irina on it.

"What about him?" asked Kat looking at me curiously.

"What's going on with you two?" I asked, while staring at my pink toenails. I really needed a pedicure...I wonder if I could get one before the job...

"Nothing," replied Kat too quickly. I raised my perfectly arched eyebrow at her, but she didn't notice.

"Yeah, and why is that exactly? I thought you two were getting all relationshipy. But now you're gone half of the time and he's...angry" I said matter-of-factly.

"No, he's not."

"Yes, he is," I laughed. Was she always this clueless about guys? Or only about Hale? "He doesn't like you going off, doing these jobs on your own." Kat opened her mouth, but I didn't give her a chance to speak. "And he's not the only one."

No matter how much I did not want it to be true, I really missed Kat's company. And with guys hanging around you 24/7, you miss girl time with your cousin.

Kat turned around, trying to ignore me, but I just crossed over to her bed, and sat on her mattress.

"So why are you doing it?" I asked, while contemplating the ends of my strawberry-blonde hair. I didn't see any split ends so I was relatively happy.

"I...They're easy jobs Gabrielle," Kat said, stumbling over her words.

"Maybe in the beginning, but Rio wasn't easy."

That caught her off guard, "How do you know about Rio?"

"Everyone knows about Rio. Everyone would have helped," I told her, examining a hangnail on my thumb that was driving me crazy.

"I didn't need any help," Kat said stiffly. I glanced back at her and noted her use of the word need. I started to realize that she just didn't want any help. Although, I have no clue why...

"And what about Moscow?" I went on, "Maybe you didn't need help, but whenever you start going up against the KGB, you should probably get some—just in case. So the question is...why didn't you?" I was really, genuinely curious why Kitty Kat would refuse our help. The crew was good.

"Gabrielle, I'm—"

Suddenly it hit me like a lightning bolt.

"Drunk!" I exclaimed, bolting upright.

"I've never been drunk in my life," Kat protested, her cerulean eyes flashing. But I only laughed giddily. I had finally cracked this case.

"Oh, you're heist-drunk, Kitty Kat. And you have been since the Henley." I explained for both of our understanding. It was all starting to make sense.

"Tell me you didn't feel a rush when we carried those paintings out of the museum's front door...Tell me there wasn't a high when you swiped a Cézanne under the noses of half the KGB...No wonder you aren't taking Hale with you." I shook my head, trying to clear my jumbling thoughts; "Sometimes boys are far easier to dear with when they're on the other side of the world."

"Hale and I aren't..." Kat trailed off, unsure how to respond to my ramble. "You don't know what you're talking about, Gabrielle." Oh dear Kitty Kat, why are you in denial?

In that one sentence, my realization was confirmed.

Kat was drunk.

I shook my head, insulted by Kat's statement, "Yeah. I do. Our world is built on adrenaline and getting away with it. Different cities, different names. It's a far simpler life to lead when there's no one around to tell you when you're being stupid. Believe me dear cousin" –I stood up and stretched, still disgusted with myself from my past mistake—"I know better than anyone." It all made sense now, and I understood completely.

Kat gazed at me— trying to figure my thoughts out-but I wouldn't let her know what I was thinking.

"Look Gabrielle. These are my jobs—my call. There's nothing in it for anyone—no paycheck—so there's no sense in asking anyone else to take the risk. I'm not on some kind of bender here."

"Sure," I replied nodding slowly, "and six months ago, you went off to the Colgan School and swore you were never going to steal again." I crossed the room and plopped on Irina's bed, wondering what kind of conversations her and Nadia had in this room. "You're off the wagon, Kitty Kat. And the least you can do is admit it."

Kat rolled over and stared at the ceiling again, "Hale...how mad is he?" she asked cautiously, as if she didn't want to hear the answer. One of these days, she and Hale would get together, and until then I would have to watch (painfully) as they slowly came together.

I stared at my cousin, wondering how much of her mind was occupied with thoughts of boys. And I said the statement that was running around in my mind for a long time, "For a genius thief, you really are a stupid girl, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I am."


A/N: *sigh* not the best ending, but that's how it was in the book. So did you love Gabrielle's POV? Did you hate it? Let me know (Because I was this close to NOT posting it) !
Oh, and the next chapter will be Hale's POV and it will be the scene where Kat's screaming "I kissed you!" Many people voted for that one...So stay alert! And review until my beta gets back to me!
BTW! Aren't you guys super glad that Hale one AGAIN during the YA Sisterhood Crush Tournament? HA! IN YO' FACE FOUR! :P (Btw if you have no idea what I'm talking about, please go to this link: ya - sisterhood. blogspot. com/ p /summer - crushin - tournament. html just without the spaces!)