IF YOU JUST OPENED TO THIS CHAPTER MAKE SURE YOU READ CHAPTER 23! I UPDATED TWICE IN ONE UPDATE!

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Chapter 24

The knocking on the door was incessant. I groaned and flipped over, looking at my bedside clock.

1:43am.

What the hell.

I rolled out of bed and made my way hazy eyed up the stairs and to the back door. I nearly yanked the door off its hinges in my haste to cut the knocking short.

Nudge fell through the door and knocked into me.

"Nudge? What's wrong?" I demanded, but I'm sure she couldn't hear me over her loud sobbing.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her to the kitchen table, setting her down and then turning on some water for hot chocolate. In my experience, its best to let Nudge get most of her crying out of the way before you try to talk to her, because otherwise you will get nowhere. By the time I'd poured two packets of coco into each mug and added the water her sobs had lessened somewhat.

I handed her a mug and she took it with a muttered thank you before staring down at it, not even attempting to touch it.

"What's wrong Nudge?" I finally whispered.

She sniffled and looked up at me through her tangled curls. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose was running.

"Everything," she whispered.

"That's not true." I said confidently. "Whatever it is it's not as bad as it seems right now."

"Iggy's in a gang." She whispered.

My stomach knotted up. I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath. So this was her reacting to that. Oh god poor Nudge. Poor Iggy.

I said nothing.

"You knew," she whispered. It wasn't a question.

No point in lying. "It's not uncommon in my old neighborhood Nudge. And Iggy's a great guy, gang or no gang."

"But you've heard everything that's been going on with those gangs lately! Iggy could be dangerous!"

"Nudge you've been dating him for over a month. Has he once struck you as dangerous?" I asked seriously. I knew for a fact that he hadn't. She'd told me all of her thoughts about Iggy and I knew she was head over heels for him.

"No," she said somewhat reluctantly.

"Then what's the issue? Whatever he's been doing in the gang doesn't interfere with your relationship. And Iggy is a great guy; there isn't anyone out there like him."

"But its not all up to Iggy." She pointed out.

"Excuse me?"

"Well Iggy said he was in a gang, not that he was in charge of it. So he's not the leader. And whoever is the leader, obviously, calls the shots. He could tell Iggy that we can't be together or not like me and try to get rid of me or something! For us to work out Iggy's gang leader would have to approve and I don't see why he would."

I felt frozen in place. So it was me who stood between Nudges acceptance for Iggy? Oh god what now?

"Everyone likes you, Nudge." I hedged. "There isn't any reason why this person wouldn't be happy for you and Iggy. Don't worry about it."

"How can you say that? Have you met his gang leader before?"

Every damn day.

"I feel like I know the guy really well." I avoided the question. "And I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"Why are you so sure?" she asked dully.

"I've known Iggy forever." I pointed out. "And not once has he never been able to get what he wanted. And he wants you."

She smiled meekly.

"But he lied to me. He didn't tell me from the get go and I don't know if I can trust him after that."

I felt my heart plummet. Not only for Iggy's sake, but for my own.

"Do what you have to do Nudge," I said at last.

"I will," she said with sad determination.

…..

Iggy wouldn't talk to anyone. I'd tried to call him, I'd even shown up at his house Monday afternoon. Gazzy had answered the door and said he was out. He wouldn't talk to Gazzy either apparently. I'd just screwed up both of my best friends lives in one day.

What kind of friend am I? And how can I be a leader if I'm not willing to make sacrifices?

REVIEW! Short, I know, but I'm getting to the point, I swear! NEXT CHAPTER EVERYBODY! REVIEW!

Peace!