"Hey Cody!" came a voice from behind them. It Made Melissa and Jackson's heart drop. Jackson started slowing down and eventually stopped. There was no turning back now...

"Stay behind me..." Jackson whispered in Melissa's ear and let go of her hand.

"Fuck! Dude I haven't seen you in like what? three four months," one boy said. He seemed to be the leader.

"I've been busy Tommy," Jackson said trying to hide Melissa behind him.

"Yea to busy playing Tarzan," said another boy, the gang laughed but Jackson and Melissa didn't.

"Yea well we gotta go..." Jackson said backing away.

"What don't you wanna stay and chill for a minute? I never thanked you for what you did..." Tommy said with treachery in his eye and a wicked grin on his face.

"Shut up!" Jackson yelled angry. Melissa had never seen Jackson so angry, "if there's anyone to blame, it's Danny... he stabbed Jason not me."

"Yea but if you weren't being a little bitch we wouldn't' have all gotten into a fight," Tommy said, "Ya know...we never really did finish that fight."

"Tom, if we fight again and the cops find us, they'll throw all our asses back in juvie. We're not even suppose to be near each other if we get caught we're all fucked." Jackson said in a serious tone.

"Hey I'm not the one who called the cops, and you weren't either. It was that old dude that used to live across for you remember?" Tommy asked. A few of the guys were all looking at Melissa and she was standing as close as she could behind Jackson. She noticed the guys all looking at her but she tried to keep her eyes low.

"Ya know that old fuck fell down the stairs at his house?" Tommy asked.

"He fell...or you pushed him?" Jackson asked with his almost black eyes now. A few guys laughed after Jackson said that.

"Aw c'mon he was an annoying bastard. By the way, I found our old baseball in his house from when you and I threw it through his window." Tommy said laughing.

"Look, I don't want any trouble, I'm done with you guys..." Jackson said taking Melissa's hand and started walking away.

"What happened to sticking together? What happened to being a family so we can make it in this doggy dog world?" Tommy asked.

"I told you, I'm done with you guys," Jackson said.

"Oh yea, I forgot, you're above us now, cause you're just so awesome with your little girlfriend and you snob school. Who's your girlfriend?" Tommy asked now coming closer. Jackson put himself between them again.

"She's pretty," one of the guys who was looking at her said. All the others agreed.

"Hey baby why don't you ditch this guy and come chill with us?" another asked.

"I cant..." Melissa mumbled when they were all looking at her for an answer.

"Why? Going home to mommy and Daddy in your rich neighborhood?" Tommy asked in a mocking tone.

"Shut the fuck up Tommy, god are you just looking for a fight? Are you trying to get back in juvie?" Jackson demanded.

"No, I just wanted to meet your friend..." Tommy said reaching out for Melisa. Jackson pushed him away and Tommy punched his face. All the others were amused and laughing while Melissa's jaw dropped and was in shock. All the others pushed Melissa out and formed a circle around Jackson and Tommy.

"C'mon Cody...you and I always knew you and I were gonna have to square off someday, so how bout it?" Tommy asked and punched Jackson again in the stomach. More laughs and cries of came for the boys. Now Jackson was on his knees and Tommy was standing over him.

"Ya know Jason was in the hospital for nearly a month? He didn't die but his mom sent him off to live with his grandma in Arizona or something, all thanks to you..." Tommy said coming down to Jackson's level.

"I had nothing to do with it!" Jackson yelled in his face.

"Your criminal record says others wise," Tommy said standing up. Suddenly cop sirens could be heard from a few blocks away.

"Shit! run for it!" Tommy said and he and all the others boys took off running in all directions. Jackson stood up and grabbed Melissa's arm and started running to his car.

"Jackson! Jackson!" Melissa said and he threw her in the passenger seat.

"Just let me get you out of here first!" Jackson yelled. He tried to look conspicuous and he pulled out of the parking lot driving in the opposite direction for the cop sirens. They rode in an uncomfortable silence and the cop sirens became less and less. Jackson's nose was bleeding there was a drop of blood coming out of the corners of his mouth.

"Are you alright?" Melissa asked. She was almost afraid that Cody was going to hurt her now. She was afraid of Jackson, afraid of what he could do. Jackson picked up an old shirt by his feet and started wiping the blood away.

"I'm fine...are you?" he asked looking at her. His eyes were still dark and shady.

Melissa sighed and tried to think of something to say but ended up just saying, "No..."

They didn't talk for the rest of the car ride back. Jackson finally pulled up outside Melissa's house. It didn't' t take long for the door to fling open and Mr. Wu stormed out to Jackson's car with Mrs. Wu behind him. Jackson and Melissa stepped out of the car.

"Dad...dad!" Melissa tried.

"Get in the house now!" Mr. Wu scream at his daughter. Melissa ran to her mothers

"Are you ok sweetie?" She asked looking like she was crying, "I went to the stadium looking for you but I couldn't find you."

"You had us worried sick!" Mr. Wu screamed out, "and you! what are you doing here?"

"uh..." Jackson voice scratched.

"I ran into him at the stadium! I didn't know he was there, he drove me home," Melissa tried to explain.

"Don't you lie to me Melissa!" Mr. Wu said all the veins in his neck seemed like they were about to burst. "You- you stay away from my daughter! I don't want you near her ever! Get out of here!"

As commanded Jackson climbed into his car and peeled out driving off. Mr. Wu stormed back into the house and Mrs. Wu and Melissa followed.

"Melissa!" Mr. Wu yelled, "What has gotten in to you? Going out with a guy like him? He's a convict!"

"You don't even know him!" Melissa yelled back. It felt good, she had never yelled at her parents.

"Melissa this isn't like you! You've never lied, or yelled at us before he came along. Putting those silly fantasies in you head about art and-" Mr. Wu yelled.

"Well what if I don't want to be a doctor or a lawyer? What if I'm so sick and tired of doing what you expect of me all the time and doing what you want? When am I gonna do what I want for once?" Melissa asked now. She was on a roll and she wasn't even crying yet.

"Young lady I am your father and I forbid you from seeing him ever again," Mr. Wu said, "now go to your room!"

Melissa stomped up the steps and slammed the door shut. She tried to cry herself to sleep but it didn't work.