Chapter Five: Lunch Truck Beat-down
A.N: I know, its really Gunner based right now, but when we get further into Summer Vacation, around the end of June, beginning of July, we'll be focussing on Anna for a bit then both of them. Deal with it! Also, the lunch truck rap belongs to Eminem and is from 8-Mile. Have fun!
After leaving the pier to find a different form of entertainment, Gun, Cassie, Scott and Anna wandered up the coast, each couple hand in hand. Gun twirled Cassie under his arm and held her close to him, whispering sweet nothings in her ear as she giggled and wrapped her arms over his, holding him close to her. This made Gun all the more seductive as his breath lingered on her neck, causing Goosebumps along her gentle skin.
Anna and Scott watched this whole thing unfold and Scott merely laughed. His girlfriend looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.
"What are you laughing at?" she asked quietly, curling her fingers tighter around his. Scott shook his head and squeezed back.
"Ahh nothing. Just… Derek never treated Cassie like that. He always treated her like she was his property; he owned her and could do what he liked." He turned to Anna and smiled at her. She smiled and cuddled into his arm as they continued their walk towards the plaza.
Windward Plaza was crammed full of kids from Venice Beach High, and some from even further into Los Angeles, even as far as Hollywood. Freddie Jones, known as Anna and Gunner as Funnyman, turned and greeted them when he saw them, bumping knuckles with Gun and hugging Anna tightly for longer than Scott would have liked. The five of them stood out the front of the lunch truck that catered for underprivileged youth, chatting away.
"Yo J," Freddie said to Anna, rubbing her shoulder innocently with the back of his finger. She shivered and giggled, looking at him. It was all innocent fun. Freddie had come out to all of his friends and most of the community that he was Gay, and this hadn't surprised anyone. "Where's Diablo at?"
Anna bit her lip as he said that; Diablo was April, the Devil in Disguise. She and Freddie had been relatively close, even for a white girl and a black boy.
Sensing her hesitation, Freddie hugged her around the shoulders and rubbed them affectionately. "I'll drop the topic." Anna smiled in thanks, just as Gunner let out a disgruntled groan.
Across the ways, standing beside the lunch truck with a tray in his hands, was Mike Damien, also known as D-Mackie. He'd been a rival of both Freddie and Gunner for the longest of time. They both hated him, but he was too busy shutting a Negro girl down to see them.
"I can't believe I'm hearing all this ravin and ranting.
From Vanessa up in here at the New LA stamping.
You need to get your food and take your ass back to work.
You're dreaming if you think them corny ass raps will work.
Look at ya'll freezing out here like dumb fucks,
rapping away for food off this raggedy lunch truck.
Who want what? Who pumped up? To get rolled up.
I spit venom in every direction, soak some up.
Look at this fat ass nigga, sloppy sucker.
You an ugly mother fucker
your pop should've wore a rubber."
Mackie's attention turned from the girl, Vanessa, to Freddie and Gun who had stopped at the front of the crowd.
"Stop rhyming keep your day job Vanessa.
Next time leave that bull shit home on the dresser.
Speaking of dresses take a look at Freddie the fruitcake.
When you travel you probably pack panties in your suitcase.
Made out of lace from Victoria's secret.
If 10 men came in a cup you'd probably drink it."
Freddie glared and went to go smash his face in when Gun stopped him. The younger boy's hand slapped against his Hollywood Undead (their rap band) shirt and shook his head. Freddie was a good rapper, no doubt, but Mike was so much better than he was, even he knew it. So Gun, with his new found confidence, stepped up.
"Ok folks enough with the gay jokes
especially from a gay broke bitch yourself, eh loc?
His style is doo doo.
You've lived here longer then me
and I get paid more than you do.
Dawg, take a seat.
What's this guy standing in line for? He ain't got money to eat."
Like the battle at the pier, everyone burst out laughing as a dark red glow came to Mackie's cheeks. It was true; Mackie had been living in the LA area a lot longer than Gunner, and had been working at a burger king with minimum wages. Gun didn't even work and he had more money than him. Mackie couldn't rap either so there was no point trying.
"Check this out yo yo.
This guy cashed his whole pay check and bought 1 ho ho.
Fucking homo little maggot.
You can't hack it.
Funny's gay ... you're a faggot.
At least he admits it. Don't even risk it.
This guy's starving to death someone get him a biscuit!"
The crowd laughed again and Mackie's eyes widened. He'd been shot down again, but Gunner wasn't finished just yet. Rules of a rap battle are; address everything said. He hadn't done everything yet.
"I don't know what they told you Mackie ...
you must had them corn rolls rolled too tight.
This job you wanna quit but you can't.
You've worked at this plant so long ... you're a plant.
Look at your god dam boots
for Christ sakes they're starting to grow roots."
Mackie looked at his shoes as Gunner continued, grinning.
"On this mic you get faded.
You look like a pissed off rapper who never made it.
Hey why you fucking with gay guy G?
When really you're the one who's got the HIV.
Man I'm done with this clown he's soft.
Fuck it ... I'll let home girl finish you off."
He high-fived Vanessa and put his arm around Cassie who was giggling like mad. Scott and Anna snorted laughter as Gun made a face that said; "Yeah? You just got your ass handed to ya. How do you feel?" Mackie glared but shook his head and headed off before Vanessa could finish him.
"That's called skill," Gun said as he and his friends wound up the path leading away from the pier and the boardwalk.
"Hell yes," Scott said, high-fiving his friend. "You completely destroyed both Derek and that Mackie dude. You so totally rock dude."
Gunner put his arms out a little and bowed his head, all smug like, and this only made the two girls giggle.
Everything was well until Scott's name was yelled over the din of people on the street. Scott turned towards the sound of the voice and caught sight of his slightly younger sister, Penny, running up the street towards him, tears staining her skin. His defenses shot up instantly and he released Anna's hand, pulling away from her.
The youngest Calaway girl turned as he ran, shouting his name after him. He didn't listen and kept running towards his sister.
When he reached her, he dropped to his knees and she curled into his arms, crying her eyes out.
"Penny," he said softly, rubbing the eleven-year-old's back. Penny and Grace had come to visit from their father's house in New Jersey for the beginning of Summer but Scott hadn't had much time for them, so seeing Penny in a fit of tears was completely unexpected. "What's wrong, sissy?"
"Dad's gone crazy!" Was all Penny could say before Scott's rage took over him. His dad. Of course. The asshole had returned for his children and his mother had said no, striking at his father's inflated ego. No one said no to Anthony Levy, not even his ex wife.
Anna put a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder and Penny looked up at her. Anna's face fell; she looked so much like Scott.
"Scottie?" she asked. Scott shook his head and stood, his boofy blood hair shaking as he shook with rage. Cassie and Gunner came up beside Anna and looked at him. Cassie was the first to speak.
"That's not good."
Anna looked between them and saw Scott's fingers curl into a fist. She walked around him and placed her hand on his shoulder, her thumb tracing over his neck. He looked mad with rage. Before it had been lust, now it was rage. Mood swings much? She curled her hand around his neck and forced him to look at her.
"Scott Anthony Levy, you are not going to that house." She knew him well enough to know that's what was on his mind. If Scott Levy wasn't popular, he sure as hell was loyal. The reason she didn't want him to go was because of that; his loyalty would get him killed.
"My father dies if he's touched Gracie or my mom," Scott said flatly and picked up Penny, holding the eleven year old close to him. He looked her in the eye, though she kept rubbing hers to get rid of the tears leaking from them. "You go with Anna and Cass-Cass and you stay with them, okay?"
"But-"
"No buts, Penelope. You stay with Anna and Cassie." Scott stared at his baby sister until she nodded and started chewing on her wrist band as he put her on the ground. As he went to leave, Anna grabbed his arm.
"Scott-"
"I know," he whispered back. He pulled her close by the loops of her black denim skirt and put his arms around her waist. "I'll be careful."
Anna smiled sadly at him before he kissed her goodbye, running off down the street and weaving his way through people, heading towards the ghetto part of Venice Beach.