Disclaimer: I do not own Green Streets Hooligans
The First Scrap
It was obvious to everyone that he didn't belong with them. A little Yank trying to fit in with The Firm. GSE. Green Street Elite. They were almost scary with what seemed like constant knowledge of what everyone else was thinking, and all their insider hints and way to talk.
All the guys Pete was hugging, shaking hands with or introducing to him had at least one visible scar or bruise, and several of them had nearly their entire face covered. Matt wondered why, but already knew better than to ask.
He fought down a yawn. The pressure of having to tell his father about getting expelled from Harvard even if it hadn't been fairly, his long flight and the huge amount of alcohol he'd consumed made him more than drowsy. Right now he wished he was at home with Ben and the babysitter, napping along with his nephew.
At least when he'd downed almost an entire pint in one go it had earned the comment "Now officially Cockney, the boys is." in nothing less than an impressed tone. It was also tiring to try and figure out what everyone was saying, since everyone was talking Cockney Slang.
"Get the fuck up." A voice said and Matt stood up to see Bower, Pete's right-hand man, and a guy he didn't know standing on a table in the crowded pub screaming instead of singing "I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air" the rest of the words was drowned as people around him started questioning his role in the Karate Kid's movies. Matt almost rolled his eyes, to think they actually believed that shit about the movies being based on his exploits, he didn't even know karate!
"'O was your coach then, eh?" Swill questioned, a cigarette hanging from his mouth the entire time.
Matt tried desperately to think of the old fool's name, how long it'd been since he'd watched those films. He tapped his fingers against forehead as to better remember, and finally he said "Myagi!"
"Yeah, Mr. Myagi, for fucks sake!" Swill clapped his back and yammered on about if Mr. Myagi had been paid or not. Pete raised his pint and yelled "To the real Mr. Myagi!" everyone following his gesture, even the one's who hadn't been a part of the conversation and hadn't a clue what they were toasting for.
Matt left for the bathroom after that for a moment's worth of quiet and some cold water in his face, but no sooner than he'd splashed some did Bower come join him in the bathroom, his white sweater hanging lose over his scrawny body and his scarred face frowned in mock "Member of the family, eh?" he questioned as Matt turned to him, confused.
"Pete might be showing you a bit of courtesy" Bower almost spat the word as he walked closer to Matt "You being Shannon's brother and all, but get this straight" his face was now only inches away from Matt's now "We don't … like … outsiders." He pinched Matt's cheek "All right?" with a last drag of his cigarette that he then threw in Matt's direction, he left.
As Matt emerged from the bathroom Pete told him it was time to leave for the match, but as soon as they were all outside in the sharp daylight Matt said "Hey Pete, I'm going to head home. I don't feel so hot." He realized he needed an excuse, and one better than Bower was making him uncomfortable "Jet-lag." He lied.
"Oh fuck off you're not missing the game!" Pete grinned "You're the one who wanted to learn about" he changed his voice to a higher pitch as he mimicked Matt's American way of saying "Soccer." instead of football.
oxo
Once they were all in their seats, watching West Ham United kick the ass of some fucking Zulu team Matt was happy he'd agreed to come to the match. He couldn't help a smile; the energy in stadium could almost be tasted. It was thick as air; it was thrilling.
"Sweet in' it?" Pete said in his British accent.
Suddenly in the middle of the game a man wearing a red vest with the word "Media" written across the back in black started screaming and giving the finger to a bunch of Zulu's out in the audience. It was Bower.
Pete, Dale, actually everyone from the GSE that was there that day was impressed and grinning, clapping and cheering like madmen. Matt was eager to fit in and grinned right along with them, shouting encouragingly at Bower along with everyone else, not realizing what trouble it would later get him into.
Bower was dragged out of the stadium by two other guys. He went out a hero.
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After the game Dale mentioned to Pete something about fifty Zulus coming to West Ham with the tube that very minute. Matt didn't know why, but it seemed to excite everyone.
"Reckon' we'll need Lulu for this, eh Petey?" Keith asked Pete with a grin and a wink that everyone copied. Pete smiled and shook his head "Nah, you know she only comes for the real fun, like the Arsenal meeting last year 'emeber tha'?" Pete countered and everyone started laughing and clapping each other's backs appreciatively.
Matt idly wondered who this Lulu girl was, but before he had the chance to talk everyone started walking towards the tube-station the fifty Zulus would be coming off at and Matt had to tell Pete he was heading back to his sister's and her husband's house before they left.
Pete advised him to stay away from East Ham, and Matt nodded, intend on doing as Pete said. The street was quiet as he walked back towards Bank Station, when suddenly a bottle was thrown in his direction and it smashed to pieces on the brick house next to Matt who immediately started running.
The Zulus that'd apparently been following him ever since the game quickly caught up with him though, and two of them pushed him up against the wall as the third one started shouting at him after Matt desperately had tried to say "I don't want any problems!"
"A fucking Yank!" the Zulu was surprised to hear the American accent "Why is a Yank running with the GSE?!"
Matt said, in all honesty, "I don't know anything about the GSE! I'm a tourist!"
The Zulu spat at his feet "Ever 'eard of a Chelsea Grin?" he questioned before pulling out a credit card from his inner pocket which he then forced into Matt's mouth, that opened wide as the sensitive skin of the corners of his mouth was cut by the raw plastic and the taste of blood filled his mouth.
"I bet The Major gave out his shares of Chelsea Grins back in the good ol' days eh? Back when the GSE" he spat again "Weren't so sloppy as to leave one of their owns behind."
Matt only had a second to ponder about 'The Major' before Pete and the guys appeared as from nowhere and started fighting the Zulus. He heard Pete yell "We don't leave our mates behind!" before he crashed his own head into the Zulu's that fell to the ground.
Blood was trickling down his chin as Matt sought out Pete between the crowds of fighting bodies, and as soon as he'd found him he ran to him, carefully avoiding punching arms and kicking legs. Pete immediately threw his arm around Matt and guided him safely away from the trouble until he joined his mates in the fight.
It wasn't long until every Zulu but one was on the ground, and the one that was still standing made a run for it after punching Ike straight in the face. The GSE followed him around the corner of a building, but by then he'd disappeared.
"I'm too old for this shit." Dave complained as he bend forward, resting his hands on his knees and trying to catch his breath.
"Seriously, I could use a beer and lie-down." He grinned and everyone else started laughing. Ike was driving up in a white wan that moment, and question's about who's round it was once they returned to their pub known as 'The Abbey' was asked while everyone went into the van.
No sooner than they'd started the van did the escaped Zulu return right in front of them before throwing a brick at the front window of the white van, making the glass break, and then fleeing down the nearest alley.
The GSE was out of the van as quick as they'd gotten into it, following the fleeing Zulu down the alley, but unknowingly walking into a trap as thirty more guys was standing in there, waiting for them.
"Right mates." Pete said as they all spread out so no Zulu would be able to run past them. Soon bricks, pieces of wood, bottles and everything within reach were thrown towards the GSE that skilfully avoided it all "Are you crazy, there's fucking thirty of them!" Matt cried as he moved a little backwards, while everyone else was moving forwards.
Why they would stay and fight when they were completely outnumbered was beyond Matt. He shot Pete a pleading look.
"You don't run, not when you're with us … You stand your ground and fight!" Pete said, staring straight forward, not a flash of fear in his dark eyes. Matt did not know yet, just how important those words would become to him.
"Fight!?! I don't know how to fight!" Matt yelled, getting very scared that no one else seemed to want to leave the battleground.
"Just think of someone you hate." Pete yelled back, getting tired with the little Yank pussy, as he dived head first into the battle.
The image of the smug, way too confidant Jeremy Van Holden that'd gotten Matt thrown out of Harvard appeared before him and he found himself running forward with everyone else, but he was soon knocked into the ground. But for once he got up again, and he quickly after felt an almost perverse satisfaction in feeling another man's jaw break beneath his hurting hand, and watching blood being spit out of said man's mouth.
The fight surprisingly ended in favour of the GSE. The Firm. Green Street Elite.
oxo
"What the hell happened to him?!" Steve, Matt's sister's husband, asked as the first thing when Matt returned to their home, Pete in tow and he saw Matt's bloody face.
"Well …" Matt tried to begin, but Steve cut him off, pointing towards his kid brother Pete "I told you one simple thing before the match: no trouble!" Steve's voice roared.
Pete immediately became defensive "'Ey man, it had nothing to do with me. We was just walking home, when suddenly he was jumped! He was lucky we was there!" Pete lied expertly.
"Yeah, you're a real fucking hero, ain't you?" Steve asked while rolling his eyes.
Shannon came down and watched her kid brother covered in blood, being held in the collar by her husband Steve, who was yelling at his own brother "Stop it, stop it!" she yelled, walking in between Steve and Matt, before Steve's temper would get the better of him.
Shannon dragged Steve off to another room to calm him down, glaring at Pete on her way out, clearly blaming him for everything.
Matt let out a long breath when Pete turned to him "Fancy a pint, mate?"
A/N: Okay so as you can see it doesn't follow the movie completely, but pretty much. So you might be pretty damn confused after reading this, but you're actually supposed to, because Matt was pretty damn confused himself his first day with the GSE. A lot of important details will be braided into the next chapter, no worries. So please review!
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