Sorry for the long wait, I had to split this chapter into two because there were some drastically different things going on in them.

Thank you guys so much for sticking to my story, I will definitly finish it for you!

Chapter 14: Confessions

"Max . . ." I whispered, my voice coming out all deep and husky. The tone only made me slightly worry. Max shivered in my arms. I pressed against her closer, and leaned my head against her shoulder as I whispered in her ear. She tensed, and held her breath, waiting for me to continue. "I love you,"

Her knife slipped out of her hands, and clattered onto the counter. Max's fist clenched in tight fists. I could almost feel how hard her heart was beating from the pulse by her neck. My arms, which were at top of hers, slowly wrapped themselves around her small waist. Max hung her head.

"Please be my girlfriend," I continued, and slowly proceeded to kiss her cheek. I saw her eyes stretch wide like saucers at the contact and then—tears rolled down her cheek. I lurched back in shock. "W-wait, don't cry! I thought telling you that make you happy," I stammered, I felt like I had the wind knocked out of me.

Max wiped the tears out of her eyes. "I-it's not that, I am happy." She paused to wipe more tears. I bit my lip, a foreboding feeling probed at my senses. Man, I knew I should have been more subtle, more Sauvé, instead I tried to be like Fang. This is what I get. "You pinned me against the onions," She sniffled.

"Huh?" My jaw dropped. I leaned over her shoulder and blushed crimson red. Holy shift, talk about bad timing. When I approached Max, I couldn't bring myself to face her as I confessed, so I pinned her against the kitchen counter. I had no FNICKING idea she was chopping onions! White onions no less, man I'm an idiot. "Umm . . . well this is awkward" I chuckled nervously.

Max giggled, but then her eyes dropped sadly. My heart twisted in my chest in painful way I never experienced before. I almost wanted to check and see if I had an arrow piercing my chest or something. Obviously there was nothing there. I stare at her serene blushing face. It looked very troubled. My heart began to sink; I was going to get rejected.

"Iggy," Max whispered, I snapped out of my daze. "I love you too," She said shyly. I froze, did my ears really hear what I think they just heard. I should be dancing right now right? So why the hell am I standing still like an idiot? Oh yeah, because it looked like Max had more to say. "But I'm not sure if it's the same way you love me. Could you please give me some time?"

And cue sinking of heart. The nervous grin that was previously plastered on my face began to sink. No, I have to play nonchalant, otherwise Max would worry that she hurt me, and agree to be my girlfriend out of guilt. Knowing her, the possibility was strong. I grinned as brightly as I could manage.

"Yeah that's cool, I bet it's a lot to take in anyway," I laughed, but my voice came out all weird. Did she notice? Unfortunately yes. Max leaned forward for a hug. I awkwardly hugged her back, but the moment she eased in, I felt myself easing to her hug. The girl I loved was in my arms at the moment. I couldn't be any happier. Well it's not like she rejected me. I still have a chance. I still have time to make her fall in love with me.

"Can we go back to normal until I let you know?" She asks shyly, still in my arms. I nod, and bury my head into her soft corn silk hair.

"I wouldn't want it any other way,"

"Umm . . . Iggy, I think dinner is burning!"

We ran for the stove and shut it off before the stew could boil over. I looked at Max sighing in relief, our eyes met. We both laughed. It was a bitter sweet moment, my heart hurt but I was gonna live. Besides there was no way possible Max would choosing a brooding guy like Fang.

Crash! Max jumped in freight. "What was that?" She asks. Max and I ran toward the dining room. The remains of a shattered glass plate were scattered around our dining room, Nudge stood in the center, her back facing us.

"Nudge!" Max gasped and ran to her side. She grabbed Nudge's hand's which were aimlessly picking up the glass. They're were tiny gashes and cuts on her hand; blood dripped to the hardwood. Max shook the glass out of her hand, and held Nudge's cheek. "Are you alright? Is your hand in pain?" Max made gestures like she was wiping tears away. I stared at the two, completely baffled. Then reality kicked me in the ass, and I realized. . . NUDGE WAS BLEEDING! I spun on my heals and ran for the first aid kit.

"Band aids, gotta get band aids! Where the fnick is the first aid kit!" I shouted at no one in particular. I shoveled through the wooden cabinets spilling pill bottles and other mundane things that no one ever uses! Why do we have so many pills? Oh yeah, to sedate Total from Diva tantrums. Fnick, that not the point here!

"Iggy," A voice breathed down my neck. I jumped a foot in the air.

"Holy shift, Fang, what'dya want!" I shouted nervously. Fang gave me an incredulous look, which is a lot coming from the emotionless brick wall. Putting that aside, is it just me or have I been easier to sneak up on since I got my sight back?

"Calm down, Nudge's had worse," Fang says calmly. I was fuming at Fang for interrupting my panic, and then I realized how stupid I was acting. Compared to the black eyes, broken ribs, broken bones, eternal starvation, a tiny cut was nothing. What was I freaking out about? Why was I freaking out?

"Right, right, shouldn't you be moping in some corner; what are you doing here anyway?"

"Restocking supplies, your job," Fang looked at me pointedly. I chuckled bashfully. Whoops, I was gonna get punished for that later.

"Hehe, come on Fang, cover for a man will ya?" I asked too hopefully. Fang looked slightly exasperated but seemed to let it sly.

"Help Nudge. I'll ask Max," Fang compromised. I was so happy I almost jumped on his back, almost. "Don't forget your promise to Total,"

"My, my Fangles, aren't you talkative today?"

Fang snorted, "Someone needs their hand held,"

"I do not!" I huffed indignantly. Fang slightly glared and pointed at Nudge who was still bleeding while we were arguing. I looked at him apologetically, but the friken bastard already disappeared. I swear to God, Fang is like a slender man wannabe. But pushing those thoughts aside, I finally found the first aid kit and ran to Nudge's side.

"Max, lemme see it," I ask and kneel down beside the two of them. To my bad luck, I seemed to interrupt something. Nudge was staring Max with cold dark eyes, and Max looked down cast. The air was so tense around the two of them, I felt like I cut it with a knife. "Umm . . . sorry," I say, for some reason it seemed like the right thing to say.

The two snapped out of their revere. Max scrambled away, her lips trembling as she left. What happened to her? I wanted to ask Nudge, but her glare was now aimed towards me. I gulped.

"I d-don't suppose you're looking at me like t-that cuz of your hand?" I stuttered. She grunted and ripped the first aid out of my hands. With one hand she tried to open it. "Nudge, don't be stubborn. Lemme get this for you," I gently pried her hands away. She struggled for a moment, and gave in. Her face was completely hidden by her hair, and her cast down. What the fnick just happened?

"Are you okay?" I ask, dabbing the tiny cuts on her hand.

"I'm fine, just . . ." Nudge says in voice that I never heard her use before. I waited for her to say more, because with Nudge, you can always expect she had more to say. I disinfected her cut, and placed a band aid over it. I wonder why I freaked out earlier, this was nothing compared to what I used to treat the flock for. "confused," she finally whispered.

"Of what?" I ask half heartedly, trying to neatly put the band aids away. Fang was already peeved (He can deny it, but I know him better than that) for being irresponsible enough to forget to restock supplies. Now he and Max were together . . . alone. I gulped suddenly feeling very worried.

"Iggy, are you even listening?" Nudge whispered. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at her apologetically. "You're thinking about Max, aren't you?"

"Wa? What makes you say that?"

"Because you always get this far away look in your eyes when you think about Max. I-I don't understand Iggy," She muttered, her voice steadily rising. "What is it about Max? It's like; all of a sudden she's on this high pedestal. Like she's some kinda goddess. Don't get me wrong, I love Max. And I know you love her. But why would you put her on such a high pedestal? If you really loved Max, she would be your equal. You would love her faults, talents, and all; yet you look at Max with reverence. How can you expect anyone to believe you love her?" She fumed. I glared at Nudge. That was a low blow.

"Who are you to judge my feelings? Why do you care about my feelings towards Max?" I snapped somewhat viciously at her. Nudge glared, and I glared back evenly, until I saw her tears. She cried, and I was responsible for it.

"Because I love you stupid" She shouted, angry tears rolling down her darkened cheeks. I lost my footing and stumbled onto the floor, butt first. Nudge buried her head behind her hands and sobbed as quietly as she could. Nudge . . . loves . . . ME?!

"But Nudge . . ." I whispered trying to find the right words. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know . . . the time just never seemed right," She says, and then her eyes flash as if she has an idea. I know that face anywhere. Sometimes, I feel like I can read Nudge too easily. Nudge reached for my hand and held it tightly. My faced turned into a tomato, guess I can't read her that well, or I could've seen that coming. "Please tell me Iggy. What do you feel about me?" She stared with wide chocolate-hazelnut colored eyes that seemed to twinkle with tears. Her eyes . . . I never noticed, but I felt like I could see the whole world and the whole wide blue sky in the them. I pulled my hand back without thinking.

"W-what I feel? Y-your like a sister to me, yeah," I say trying to convince myself. I hid my trembling mouth behind my hands. I didn't dare look at Nudge's broken eyes.

"Max was like a sister to you too, so I don't see what the problem is," She replied with a slight stubborn, Nudge-like determination. "If you can change the way you look at Max, you can change the way you look at me."

"Nudge . . . do you want me to love you back?" I ask almost uncertain of what she was getting at.

"OF COURSE I DO STUPID!" She shouted throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. "What kinda girl would tell the guy she loves, that she loves him without wanting him to love her back! Why would I bother to try convincing you otherwise if I wanted you to love me instead of Max!"

"Okay, okay, no need to shout at me!" I hmphed; not knowing what else to say. Nudge stared with angry, but determined eyes. My will was starting to break under her eyes.

"Nudge . . . your only fourteen," I tell her gently.

"So were Max and Fang when they started dating, or have you forgotten that Iggy? Did you really forget how Max and Fang need each other like they need air to breathe?"

"I know! Trust me I do." I nearly shouted at her. Nudge flinched backwards. I sighed and took a deep breath. I needed to explain this to Nudge right now, and carefully. "I love her too, Nudge. I love Max with all my heart. I've been in love with her since we were seven. Just before Max began to favor Fang, the three of us were inseparable.

"And you know what? At one point, I did give up on loving her. Because of that she choose Fang. I keep thinking to myself- maybe if I didn't give up on her all those years ago- it would have been me she depended on, and me that she loved back.

"I feel like fate gave me a second chance at winning Max back when we found her in that alley. And when she opened up to me, I began to hope and let myself believe it was okay to love her again. And you know what Nudge? I won't lose her Fang like I did when we were seven." I finished almost vehemently. Nudge looked taken aback. If eyes were the windows to the soul, then I watching Nudge's break into pieces.

I said all I had to say, I stood up, dusted my jeans, and began to walk away. Her arms snatched mine before I could leave. A quiet sob escaped her lips and me freeze where I stood. I waited for her to say something. Just I knew she always would.

"Do . . . do you feel anything for me . . . at all Iggy?" She whispered. I shut my eyes tightly, and yanked my hand out of her grasp. I left her there, collapsed on the dining room floor. Somewhere, deep in my heart, I felt like I was making a mistake. Every nerve in my body was screaming at me to go back. But my head was too stubborn, and my pride was too strong. I found Total sleeping by the door, patiently waiting for me to take him to his sweetheart. Lucky Mutt had a girl/dog to call his sweetheart.

My heart belonged to Max, and only Max. Right?

What do you think? What do you think?

Nudge finally reveals her feelings for Iggy, Iggy is set on Max. Whats gonna happen next?