Prologue:
When they had reached the beach, Kiara pulled off her shoes, holding them with her hand before rubbing her toes deep itno the depths of the mist, feeling the somewhat damp sand mesh with her soft skin.
Rolling his jeans up, Carlos kicked off his shoes as well, as he himself held them in his hand, following beside Kiara as they both now walked up to where the water began sliding up the sand, wetting their toes.
"I always loved the beach when I was younger." Kiara spoke up, breaking the silence, as Carlos turned his head to look at her, listening intently as she continued. "My dad would take me and Hannah down here all the time when we had nothing to do at home." Licking her lips, Kiara looked out into the horizon. "Hannah hated getting wet, but I loved it. I loved the feeling of the water splashing against me. It felt as those the water was taking me with them, and I felt free."
Rolling his bottom lip into his mouth, Carlos chewed on it as he turned to face Kiara, watching as she spoke about the water. He never really noticed until now, how her blue eyes lit up with a sparkle as she spoke about something that had made her happy. I guess he loved that about her.
Hannah could drown on and on about clothes, shopping and how much her 'girlfriends' would irritate her, but she never dropped them. But Kiara. . . Kiara was different. She was different from most girls. She was special.
And now that she was carrying his child, it made her all the more special to him. They had made life, and it was to either look like him or Kiara, though nonetheless, it was his blood. He helped create something beautiful with someone.
Someone who actually meant something to him.
"What are you looking at?" Kiara questioned as Carlos snapped out of his trance, his eyes falling upon her curious ones.
"You." He breathed out before grasping her neck with his hand and pulling her in for a sweet kiss.
Chapter One:
5 years ago...
WITH KIARA
Kiara continues running across the side of the road untl she collapses, feeling as if shell die if she doesnt get any rest of food; she had been running constantly for more then a day. She breathes in and out as she shut her eyes. Listening to the cars speed across the road. It was so much for an eleven year old to take in, knowing shed never be able to go back home. She heard a call halt to a stop on the side of the road, hearing them rush out and step around her. One of them whispered. "Do you think shes dead?" and another replied. "No, dumbass, shes breathing." Her eyes opened her etes, seeing two people look at her. She slowly sat up."Who are you?"
A broad shouldered boy look at her. "who are YOU?"
"I asked you first." She put her hands on her hips.
"Im Zac, This is Mitchell."
"Hi," the boy shyly responded.
"What do you want?" Her lip quivered.
Her picked up her bag. "Since you OBVIOUSLY have no place to go, why not come to live with us? Its a house, more like a boarding house though."
"Why would I come with you?" She looked at the two older boys like they were crazy.
A boy suddenly walked out the the car. "Mitchell, when are we leaving?"
"JAMES!" Zac shouted, cocking his head to look at the boy. "GET IN THE CAR!"
The boy did what he was told, sliding back into the car,silent.
"You gonna come with or what?" The boy strictly said.
"Il come," she agressed, knowing a time like this wouldnt come again.
"Good,"
WITH CARLOS
Carlos sat in his bedroom, scared from his life. Tightly grasping his pillow, his brother and father had been fighting nonstop for hours.
"Your a father?" The older brother shrieked. "All you do is go and get drunk for gods sake!"
"That is none of your buisness!" Carlos Sr screamed, being in a big gang, he HAD to do things he wasnt proud of.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. What would mom do if she found out her 'perfect' husband was in a gang?" The twenty two year old stormed around the house.
"You wouldnt dare!"
"Watch me." He threatened.
POP!
The sound made Carlos jump. The sound of a gun being fired and the front door slam, scared him. "Dad?" He worriedly called. No answer. Jumping to his feet, the latino boy put his hand on his doorknob; hesitant. "Dad?" He called again. Slowly opening the door, he poked his head through a crack in the door. "DAD?" He called for a third time. Slowly walking into the living room. His eyes widened, seeing his brother on the ground. His chest bleeding. "Antonio!" He screamed, dropping to his knees.
"Carlos..." he coughed, blood spilling in his mouth. "Im...sorry..." his eyes closed. He was dead.
"ANTONIO!" He cried, falling to the ground. Sobbing.
PRESENT DAY;
Carlos walked down the alley, hoody covering his head, struggling to find warmth. It was the middle of October, 20 degrees outside, and yet he had nowhere to go. His hands dug into his pocket, pulling out a switch blade incase of protection. He was in the worst part of the city, knowing the rival gangs would jump him. Walking into a pool hall, he scoffed. Looking at girls that LOOKED like hookers. Living in the Bronx, you never know who anyone is. Taking out a cigarette, he occasionally smoked it.
"Heyy Carlos..." Girls flirtaciously smiled to him as they walked past him. He occasionally nodded back.
"Who's ready for some pool?" Brian, one of Carlos' friend asked. Passing out pool sticks.
"I sure as hell am!" Carlos spat with an attitude. He was the type who didnt take anyone's shit, if you started stuff, you'd be in the hospital.
"Im gonna play!" A "gringa" girl, as Carlos would put it walked up.
"Whats a girl like you doing here?" He looked at her, biting his lip.
"Im gonna play some pool." She stood firm, not afriad of them.
"Mhmmm," he said focusing on the game that was already in session.
Grabbing a stick, She held it firm and Carlos noticed that as she bent down,she had a tattoo on her lower back. A dragon tattoo. A rival gang tattoo.
"Shouldnt you be with YOUR gang?" He looked at her, clenching his fists. He wasnt the type to hit a girl, but if his life was in stake, he'd do it.
"I should, but im not."
Carlos became angry. "You should leave." He ordered, walking closer to her.
"Oh should I?"
"Yes. Want me to help you with that?" He said, gently pushing the girl away from the table.
"You did not just touch me!" She gasped.
"Oh hell I did," he rolled her eyes.
"Your gonna pay."
"Oh am i?" He smirked.
Carlos was angrily pushed out the pool hall but five big guys.
"Ay! Watch where your touching me!" He screamed, pushing the men off of him.
"Dont return here." They threatened.
"Whatever." He scoffed. Turning his head, he walked down the street.
- Two weeks later-
7:00 pm
Kiara and Hannah ran around the house, quickly fixing everything up. "This party is going to be amazing." Hannah smirked.
"I guess,"
"you GUESS?" Hannah shrieked. "Its gonna be the biggest party of the year."
Rolling her eyes, everyone is the boarding house was getting ready for the party.
Taylor walks in the house, seeing all the people. he gets angry. "what are you doing here?"
Demi pouts, "Awh Taylor, i thought it was an invitation
She sees he's annoyed and smirks. "Ill take that as a yes." She quickly links her arms around Carlos and Emily as she walks around the living room. Seeing Kiara and Rose, she scoffs. "Such sluts."
Emily laughs, "Good luck with that. Ima go dance!" She said, excitedly running off.
Carlos pulled away from Demi. Most of the people in the rival gangs were their, and he really did not want to be there. He wasnt used to being in the party scene. His sister had dragged him along with. Walking to a table, he quickly grabbed a beer and chugged it down.
"Heyy youu!" Hannah giggled, walking towards Carlos. Flirtaciously, she grabbed his hand.
Yanking it away, he became annoyed. "Can I help you?" He noticed Kiara in the corner of his eye, talking to Taylor. A guy he hated.
"Hey, you cant be mad at me forever!" She said, pouting.
"You slept with Taylor. Hell yeah ima be mad at you!"
"It didnt mean a thing." She lied halfhearted.
"Bullshit. No can you please excuse me, i have to go...somewhere...away from you." he scoffed, pushing her away.
"Taylor," Kiara said, uncomfortable. The boy was kissing her neck, and she was struggling to push him away. They werent even dating. "Can you please stop?"
Pulling away, the brown eyes boy looked at her. "Why?" He said, evily smiling.
"Your a perv." She said, slapping him. A red mark forming on his cheek.
"You bitch!" He yelled, pulling her hair as he pushed her against the wall. "You wanna slap me!"
"Taylor! Stop!"
"No!" He said, sliding his shirt off his body.
"TAYLOR!" a voice yelled, catching the boy off guard. "WHAT?" he screamed, aggravating. Seeing Carlos he sighed. "Oh shit," he murmured to himself.
"Is this guy messing with you?" He asked Kiara.
"Yeah," she said a bit shocked that he would help her. Considering she got him kicked out the pool hall a few days earlier.
Carlos didnt say a word. Running up to Taylor, he grabbed the boy by the hair, pushing him onto the ground. Clenching his fists, he repeatedly punched the boy in the face, he face getting bloody by each punch.
"STOP!" Kiara screamed, pushing Carlos off of him.