-sighs- I don't really like this part, but enjoy anyways

"Shit" Cube gasped, stepping back "Ruby, can you still skate?"

"I-I think" Ruby stammered as I helped her on her feet "But probably not fast enough to escape them"

"Great" Cube sighed, then started whispering "Garam, carry her for me. On the count of three, we run." I picked her up and settled her on my shoulder, hoping she would be fine.

"One. . .two. . ."

Poison Jam started skating towards us

"Three!" Cube yelled, and we all high-tailed it out of there. Cube's a smart girl for knowing to run, even if it was common knowledge between Rudies that you never cross challenge Poison Jam straight on. That was like standing near Officer Hayashi while he's having one of his weird shooting fits. It was just stupid

Unfortunately, we reached a dead end. And there was no wire or pipes we could reach from there

Fuck, we were definitely screwed now

"Hey, Sugar. Just for the record, I find you attracting" I sighed

"Same here" Sugar sighed as well

"Wait" Cube stepped in front of us all

"What is it girly?" The middle Poison Jam chuckled

"If I go with you, will you leave 99th Street and anyone in it alone?"

"Cube" I was shocked. Why was Cube willingly leaving everyone behind and risk getting raped or killed? Was it. . .because of him? "But they're. . ."

"I don't care" She cut me off "Even if I do die, then I'll be with him"

It was about him. Her best friend, Combo. They had been in a Rudie gang together so long back in Grind Square, but Cube wanted to explore, and moved to Tokyo-to. But a year later, she had received a call from a friend that he had been killed. She was so devastated then, but she was easily able to hide it behind a smile or joke. But, she had sometimes come to me just for a shoulder to cry on, because no one else here could give her that.

We all watched her and Poison Jam leave. And if that moment couldn't get any worse, Soda had to go and rub it in my face

"Aren't you going to even try to stop her? She's your cousin"

"She's Cube. Once she makes up her mind. . ." I started

"There's no changing it" Ruby finished for me, letting herself off of my shoulder "And any Rudie knows that going against Poison Jam directly is stupid" Ruby smiled "We know it may seem cold, but it's just how the street works. You have to sacrifice things you hold close. If you can't handle that, you shouldn't be a Rudie in the first place" with that, Ruby skated off

Sometimes I hated to admit it, but she was right. Those not willingly to loose all they held dear weren't fit for the streets, because the streets weren't easy on anybody.

Soon after that, Soda left. Said he had personal business to attend to (I just think he didn't want to be around here anymore, but that's just me), and I went home with Sugar.

"Sorry about tonight. If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have taken you with me today"

"It's okay. It was kind of fun" Sugar smiled "Well, besides the Poison Jam and the fact that your cousin might get killed" Sugar sighed

"She'll be fine, I would of definitely stopped her if I knew she couldn't handle it. And, Poison Jam does go easy on girls"

"Really?"

"Yeah, at least that's what I heard" I shrugged

"By the way, who was Cube talking about"

"Hmm?"

"She said that if she died, she'd be with 'him'"

"Oh. . .that" I sighed

"Is that a touchy subject? You don't have to tell me if it is"

"Well, it kind of is for her. Her best friend was killed a year after she moved here"

"Really? That must be awful" Sugar's expression turned solemn

"She was pretty devastated, but she wouldn't let it ruin her life"

"One more question. Did you really mean it back there?"

"Most people don't like when they think they're on their death bed" I smiled "And you?"

"Same here" She nodded. We reached the front door of our house and turned our bodies to each other "But I know it'll never work. We're too similar"

"Yeah, and a certain someone who I don't need to name also isn't helping" I smiled

Sugar giggled a little "That too" She smiled, then asked "Best friends for life?"

"Yeah" I nodded

And then she kissed me. I never found out why (and never had the time to ask, as you'll see soon enough), but I had a feeling she needed it, so I didn't even try to stop it. Besides, I was enjoying it a little.

But then I had to stop it when the front door flew open, and my dad was standing in the doorway

Holy shit, he had seen us.

Why does Cube think Combo's dead? We'll find out, later -evil laugh-