rianna: *pops up out of nowhere* HEYYYYYYYYY!

iggy: *face palm* uhgggggg!

me: hi. *sits up wincing in pain*

ri: shes in pain! awwww!

me: no im fine.

ri: how are you fine when the road attacked you and a piece of wood on wheels beat ur butt yesterday?

me: because I just am!

iggy: can we just give the nice people the new chapter?

me: that's a good idea. HEERE!

Chapter 30

"Let's go to my room," I mumbled quietly to Iggy after we had finished our Chinese food.

"Okay," he muttered back, getting up and walking to my bedroom.

I followed him and tried to ignore the snicker that came from Fang's direction.

When I walked in, Iggy was lying on his stomach on my bed. I sat down next to him and rubbed the bare spot on his back right below where his wings were tucked in.

"I'll be right back," he whispered getting up and walking out of the room.

I got up, grabbed my phone, and sat back down on the bed just as he walked back in with a notebook and pencil.

"What's that stuff for?" I asked crossing my legs Indian style.

"What do you think it's for?" he held up the notebook revealing a giant label that read: IGGY'S SKETCHBOOK! In the corner of the label, I saw my initials written in purple sharpie with a silver heart around it.

"Writing?" I pondered, pretending I didn't know.

Iggy sat next to me and ruffled my already messy hair with his free hand. "No, you Blondie, it's for sketching."

"Hey! I'm not blonde!" I shouted, pouting, and fixing my hair.

"Suuuure," he mumbled opening the sketchbook to a clean page.

I snatched the book from him and began to flip through it.

He sat beside me and watched as I studied each page efficiently.

On the first page was a light sketch of the cluttered, wood desk in Iggy's room. On the second page was a drawing of the pine tree outside of Iggy's window. On the third was a picture of the forest view from atop the roof. And on the fourth page was a beautiful sketch of…me. It was the one from that morning.

"Do you like it?" Iggy whispered as I ran my fingers softly on the page.

I lifted my head slightly to look at him and nodded. "yes," I whispered back.

He grabbed the notebook and tore the picture out of it. Then he went to my book bag, grabbed my binder, and gently put the drawing in the front of it. He held it up for me to see, "What about now?"

"Now…I love it," I said.

"Good," he muttered lying on my bed.

My mouth widened as a sleepy yawn escaped, making my eyes water.

He patted the spot next to him. "Lay down with me," he told me.

I snuggled next to him and rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He kissed the top of my head and we just laid there together in silence until my phone went off. I sat up and went through my pocket and got it out.

Goodbye…Dylan's text read.

My brow furrowed in confusion as I texted back. what do you mean?

He took a while to text back and by the time I had laid back down with Iggy's arms around me, I had gotten really worried. Would he really try this again? i thought freaking out.

I would rather die than never be able to see you again, Jaleese. He replied after 7 minutes of me mentally spazzing out.

"What'd he say?" Iggy asked trying to read over my shoulder.

I waved him off as I sent my text. Don't do it Dylan. I cant risk almost losing you again. you're my best friend and I will never let anything happen to you.

Then come back.

How do you say no to your best friend for 10 years? Like this…no.

WHY NOT? Dylan demanded in his next message.

Because…Did I ever mention that I'm not good at giving god, logical oreasons? Well yeah, I'm not.

You suck, Ja. Was what I got back.

And why would that be, hmmm?

Because you make it hard to be mad at you…and because you wont come back to say goodbye to your family. I had forgotten that this boy knew just what to say to put me on a guilt trip.

Dmmit, Dyl.

I turned to look at Iggy. "Igs, I have to go back to tell my family goodbye," I simply stated.

"No," he simply replied.

"That wasn't a question," I said standing up and stuffing my phone in my back pocket just as it vibrated.

I walked to my window and opened it, preparing to jump.

Just as I was about to go, I felt a strong hand grasp my wrist. "I'm coming with," Iggy grumbled.

I smiled and jumped out, spreading my chocolate brown wings. I felt like I knew exactly where I was going and I angled my body so that I would fly slightly to the east. In 4 minutes flat, I landed softly in the front yard of my old 2 story house.

The kitchen window, my parents bedroom window, and the game room window were all on and glowing brightly.

"This is it," I mumbled walking up the brick steps and to the front door. "Get ready for a tear fest, babe," I warned Iggy, ringing the doorbell.

From inside I could hear my younger half-brother, Bralen, tell my mom that he would get the door. "Yes?" he asked opening the door. when he looked up and saw me, his pale blue eyes lit up in surprise and happiness and he embraced me. "Ja," he sobbed into my hoodie, "I missed you."

I patted his back and tears began to fall from my eyes and into his brown, curly hair. "I missed you, too, Bubba."

ri: UHG IGGY! OKAY! *stomps out of room...*

dylan: *walks in* whats her problem?

me: *lays back down* iggy said some things to get her to leave...

dylan: dude, what did you say?

iggy: *shrugs* stuff.

dylan: okayyy then...