Chapter two

Sunshine let the door slam shut behind him. It was childish, he knew, but it still felt damn good. What an asshole. He set off for home, half running, hoping he could burn off some of his anger. He had put up with bigger jerks than that guy. Why was it bothering him so much this time?

Sunshine thoughts turned to his coat as a cold wind wrapped dead leaves around his legs. He had left it at Gerry's, hanging on the back of a chair. Well, there was nothing for it now. He couldn't go back for it, not with any dignity. He would just have to remember to get it from Garry later.

A car slowed down, and Sunshine held his breath until it passed him. This town was so different from Huntington Beach. On any given night he would have passed crowds of people. Lovers on the beach, teenagers having parties, or just people running, like him. But Alexandria? After dark it reminded him of a cheesy western ghost town, minus the tumble weeds and sandstorms. It was just as safe here as Huntington, which wasn't very reassuring, but it seemed so much more lonely after dark.

"Sunshine! Sunshine! I know you hear me Sunshine! Man, slow down!"
Sunshine stopped running, letting his teammate catch up with him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Blue handed Sunshine his beat up leather jacket, and they started walking.

"Nothing."

"Nothing my ass. Since when do you just go storming away from a party for nothing?"

"I pr-"

"And don't give me that bullshit you gave Petey."

Sunshine quirked a smile at the larger football player. "Nothing I want to talk about."

Blue nodded his head in understanding. Sooner or later he'd find out what was wrong.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, Sunshine kicking a can in front of him. Finally his curiosity got the better of him. "So, why'd you leave?"

"Hunh?"

"Why'd you leave. The party."

"Someone had to watch your ass. You weren't even thinking straight enough to grab your coat, man. It's not safe to walk around out here in the dark."

"I've done it plenty of times, Blue." He wasn't about to tell him that he had been scared when he thought he heard someone running after him.

"Then you're damn lucky. A brother could get jumped on a night like this."

Sunshine looked around. 'On any night lately, Blue.' By anyone's standards, this was the wrong side of the tracks. The sidewalks had become uneven, weeds cracking through the chalked hopscotch lines on the sidewalk. The few streetlights that worked buzzed nervously, the faint puddles of light wavering. It wasn't the safest shortcut, but it was the fastest. Sunshine shivered, feeling as if someone had just walked over his grave. Glancing at Blue, he was suddenly glad for the company.

"Man, is it creepy out here."

Something knocked over a trashcan, sending it clattering onto the cement a few yards behind them.

"I was trying not to think about it"

A few minutes later they were out of the worst stretch, on the fringe between The Berg and Hill Crest. Stopping in front of a white, two story house, Blue leaned against the mailbox. "This is my stop. You going to be all right?"

"I only live a block away Blue. I'll be fine. You sure you don't want to walk me home though? Meet the old man?" Sunshine grinned and ducked the swat Blue aimed for his head.

"Nah man, I don't think so. See you tomorrow though, right?"

"Yeah. Hey Blue."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks man."

"Anytime, bro."

Sunshine started walking again, digging into the pocket of his jeans for his house key as Blue walked inside. His dad wouldn't be home for a while yet, his job keeping him away later than usual the past few nights. It didn't bother him, though. He was used to it.

He had just stepped into the safety of the porch light when a hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

"Shit!" Sunshine jerked away, barely catching himself on the step's handrails. The fear that had iced his lungs turned into a burning anger when Randy Smith stepped out of the shadows. Sunshine quickly schooled his _expression into an absolute calm. He had learned long ago, it scared a hell of a lot more people when they couldn't tell exactly how close you were to snapping. "What are you doing here."

"I was just in the neighborhood, figured I'd stop by, see if you're ready to take my advice."

"Just in the neighborhood? You would have had to run halfway across town to get here before me." Sunshine studied the other man. He was trying to look calm, slightly bored, his hands in his pockets. But his toe was tapping nervously, giving him away. Randy was obviously expecting a fight.

"So are you going to quit or not?"

"Or not."

"I'm only going to ask on-"

"What are you so worried about? Afraid you're not good enough to make the cut?" Alright, he had to admit it. That was a little bitchy. But this guy was seriously starting to piss Sunshine off.

"Oh I'll make the cut."

"You sure about that?" That did it. Randy let the façade drop, his face reddening. Sunshine was ready though, and the first swing went wild. He used Randy's forward momentum, grabbing him by the shoulder and jerking the taller boy off balance. Randy fell, but managed to catch the tail of Sunshine's jacket, pulling him down too.

The two boys grappled for the upper hand, slamming into the rocking chairs, and knocking over flower pots stacked near the door. Each giving as many punches as they received. Randy had underestimated his rival, expecting the quarterback to give in under a few veiled threats. The boy wore a necklace for chrissake, how tough could he be? It was a stupid mistake, and if Randy didn't ask fast, it might be one he regretted making.

Randy saw the opportunity. The steps! He just needed to be a little closer. A little more. No, wrong way. There! Sunshine raised his arm to block a blow to the jaw, giving the black boy the freedom he needed. He threw himself to the side sharply, struggling to stay on top as the boys fell down the cement steps. The strategy worked, giving Randy a few precious seconds while Sunshine recovered from the shock of having the other boy's entire weight slam him into the gravel walkway.

Randy straddled Sunshine, raining punches on his vulnerable chest and stomach. Even in the heat of a fight, He knew not to mess up the face more than he had too. Bruises you could hide. But a black eye? That caused way too many questions.

When the boy beneath him stopped trying to fight back, using all his energy to protect himself from the blows instead, Randy knew it was time to put another lesson he learned into effect. Stop while you still have the upper hand.

Levering himself up with a low stone wall he had to jump out of the way as Sunshine tried to pull him down again. Randy sneered at the fallen titan. The sight was just too tempting. He drew back his foot, kicking the other boy in the ribs. "This isn't over!" He vaulted over the wall, running down the street.

Sunshine lay on his back, staring at the old oak branches above him, catching his breath. "This isn't over!" He mimicked. "God, how cliché can you-ahhhshi-" The adrenaline rush was wearing off, the danger past, and Sunshine was just now beginning to appreciate how shitty he really felt. He took a quick mental inventory of the various bumps and bruises. Pounding head, more than likely got that one cracking open a flower pot with his skull. Bloody knuckles. Well that was to be expected. A rock the size of a golf ball digging into his ass. That was going to leave a bruise.

And his ribs. Couldn't forget those. His ribs throbbed, sending angry bolts of pain shooting to the back of his eyelids . Sunshine wasn't sure if ribs were supposed to throb or not, but he was positive it wasn't a good sign.

Grabbing on to the stone wall for balance Sunshine tried to stand up. It wasn't a very good idea. The little bolts became a full fireworks display, complete with flaming screamers. He stayed kneeling on the ground, hunched protectively over his ribs, until he lost track of time.

It was the wind that eventually brought him back, whistling under his jacket, and tugging at his torn shirt.

Sunshine shivered, hissing at the pain the slight movement caused. Unless he wanted to spend the night out here, he would have to get up sometime. But at that moment, a night under the stars was looking pretty good.

He bit his tongue against the pain, standing up slowly, making his way to the steps, He leaned against the banister, trying to catch his breath. How could breathing hurt so much? It took a few minutes, and more than a few muttered profanities to make it to the door.

Luck had finally thrown him a break. The key was in the lock. Thank God, he wasn't sure if he would have been able to pick it up off the floor. He fumbled with the key for a second before the door creaked open. He quickly locked it after him, throwing the key in the basket beside the door. Sunshine paused to catch his breath, leaning against the living room wall. He was suddenly glad his dad hadn't bought that two-story he was looking at when they had first moved here..

Sunshine made his way to his room and sat down gratefully on the edge of his bed. God, he was so tired. He slowly lowered himself down, staring up at the ceiling, belatedly worrying about the mess he was making of his sheets. That could wait, a little bit of dirt wouldn't kill him.

The last thought to cross his mind that night made him snicker, though he had to grit his teeth when his ribs protested. "I only live a block away Blue. I'll be fine. "