So I'm in prison. It's not a big deal; actually, I kind of like it here. When I told that to my bunkmate, Snitch, he looked at me like I was nuts. The truth is, I'd rather be in prison, where they give you a meal and don't beat you up too badly, than out in the "real world", living in fear and starvation. Sure, you're bound to get a few black eyes and bruised ribs when you first come in, I mean, it's only natural, but once you're here awhile, it's like everything's okay. The food tastes like cardboard at first, but you get used to it.
Don't get me wrong; prison isn't exactly the place I wanted to end up. But I'm only in for a couple of months, and it isn't all that bad here. I didn't even mean to get arrested. It's just one of those things that happened. I'm taking this all in as a learning experience.
---
They don't call me "Swifty" for nothin'. I'm the kind of guy who does everything fast. I talk fast, drive fast, think fast. Sometimes I think so fast I can't keep up with myself and I trip all over my words and everything; it's crazy, really crazy. See? I'm doing it now, and I didn't even mean to, you know, it just happens. But anyway, that's kind of why I'm here.
I stole a car. I've been doing it since I was twelve, so it's not that big of a deal. The thing is that I got caught. It was a really nice car, too, so I wanted to see what she could do. Unfortunately, I just couldn't wait until I got out of town. Well, it's not that I was that impatient, I just couldn't, you know?
So I drove it, speeding almost as fast as I could. I didn't even look down at the speedometer. It feels great, I mean, you just gotta love losing control like that. Makes me feel free. But anyway, I ended up crashing into this guy who already lost an eye. He was drunk, but I still got brought into jail because I stole the car. I guess he was a big partier, because he got arrested, too. DUI. He didn't even have a license anymore.
Man, my girlfriend was super-pissed. Taffee was going crazy when I called her from "the big house". She was my one phone call, but I had the feeling that I made the wrong choice with that. But who else could I call?
"Hey, this is Skyler. I can't reach my phone right now, but leave me a message and I'll get back to you!"
"Taffee, uhh... it's me. Please pick up. I ne-" A beeping cut me off.
"Swifty, baby, where are you?" She asked hurriedly.
"...mmm... you're not gonna like this," I replied slowly.
"Just spit it out! What's wrong?!" She was getting impatient.
"I'm-I'm calling from Greenwall," I said quickly, getting the worst over with.
"WHAT? How did you get in prison?"
"Uh... I kinda..."
"Don't tell me you stole another car," she interrupted. I didn't answer right away. "Lucas! I cannot believe this! Well, you deserved to get caught." Like a mother, she only used my real name when she was angry with me.
"You know I had to," I mumbled into the receiver, embarrassed. The guard was watching me, a strange look on his face. He could hear Taffee through the phone, and he was three feet away from me. She sighed.
"Listen, I know things are rough right now," she said quietly. "But you can't just steal a car and start speeding every time something goes wrong." I remained silent for a few moments, and so did she, letting her words sink in.
"I know, I just..." I took a deep breath. "I had to get away. But... I'm scared." My voice sounded so small, so incapable. How could I let myself get into this much trouble? The guard smirked at me. I turned to face the opposite wall. I closed my eyes and envisioned Taffee, sitting in her bedroom, running her fingers through her brown and red-streaked hair.
"Okay, I know," she told me, her voice gentler now. "I don't have any money. And mom won't lend me any."
"Can you ask your brother?" I pleaded. "Please?"
"I can try. How much do you need?"
---
Of course I was scared. I'm only eighteen. And although I've been stealing cars for a long time, it's not like I'm some hardened drug-addict-criminal or anything. Ugh, drugs. I hate them. I hate them, I hate them, I hate them. That's probably what got me into stealing cars and everything in the first place. Actually, I know it is.
Jesse was a scary guy. So how could I not do everything he asked me to? Not only that, he was really intimidating. He was also my older brother. "Okay, little bro, you're gonna go in there and grab that nice yellow Ford for me, okay?" The type and color of the car always changed, but the dialogue was always the same. And I always obeyed. Jesse would take the car from me as soon as I delivered it to him and sell it for some easy money. He always needed money.
Until I told the authorities about what he was up to. Then he needed money all right. Bail money, that is.
For almost as long as I can remember, my big brother has been a drug dealer. Coke, mainly, although he has set up some speed connections when he really needed the cash. But then Jesse got out of jail about a week ago. And he knew I reported him.
"Listen here you little punk," he growled through clenched teeth, slamming me up against the wall. "You thought you'd get me out of your life, didn't you? Huh? Well that's too bad. 'Cause I'm back. And you're gonna pay for what you did to me."
"City, don't do this," I said, on the verge of choking. He banged my head against the wall again, his anger reinforced.
"Don't. Call. Me. City. I will never be 'City' to you again, you got that?" I nodded meekly, and he let me go, throwing me down onto the floor of my bedroom before stalking out of the room, his big burly body swaggering. I had to get out of there. He was going to kill me. I ran to Taffee's house. Her mother answered the door, surprised to see me.
"Hello, Lucas," she said. "I'll get Skyler for you." She disappeared down the hallway, and a moment later, Taffee came out. Her face grew concerned when she saw me.
"Swifty, what's wrong?" She asked after hugging me briefly. I didn't respond for a moment, still trying to catch my breath. "Swifty, tell me. What's the matter?"
"He- he's back." She was confused.
"Who? Who's back?" I gulped.
"Jesse. My brother."
"What? No, I thought he was in prison!" Her mother, who was listening in on our conversation because I was so upset, raised her eyebrows. I ignored her.
"Yeah, well... he got out a week ago. Parole," I replied. "Taffee, he's gonna kill me." Taffee knew about City and how I'd ratted to the cops on him. I avoided her eyes and brushed past her.
"I- I gotta go. I have to get out of here." She stepped towards me.
"Swifty, no. No, it's okay, you can stay here, right Mom?" Her mother didn't know what to do. Let the brother of a convicted drug dealer stay in her house? She nodded, although somewhat reluctantly.
"No, I have to." I looked into Taffee's eyes. "You don't understand how dangerous he is. I have to get out of here. Now. As soon-as soon as possible, now, I can't wait!" I was tripping over my words again. I ran out of her house as fast as I could. To the place I knew. To the car dealership just down the street, where I'd stolen cars from for years.
---
I can't help but like it here in Greenwall. It gives me protection. Protection from my brother. And even though I wrecked into some kid and ended up with a record, it's still okay. It'll always be okay.
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Thanks to Nakaia Aidan-Sun for reviewing! :-)