Chapter 1
When I woke up I had a mean headache. Take my advice: Don't gamble and drink with no money. It doesn't work.
I still had on my clothes from the day before, but that was practically normal where I live. The West Side. On the West Side no one cares how you look or smell. As long as you're tough it doesn't matter.
It was Friday, but I was in no mood for school. In fact, I hadn't been in a school mood for most of the week. I'm mean I was 17, and it was my last year. Who cares- wait I take that back. I'll tell you who cares: my older brother, Jack. He can't leave me alone about it. And when I mentioned to him that he had dropped out he just yells more.
As he says it was "for the family". Our folks had been in a car crash a few years back. So he dropped out to get a job to support my sister and me. Next year I'll have to get a job like him, but he won't let me till I graduate.
But Jack is going to kill me for coming in late last night anyway. So I just got to get out of the house before he wakes up.
I got up and looked in the mirror. The one side of my face was cut and bruised. The guy I was gambling with last night had had rings. It hurt, but I'd seen worse. I ran a comb through my dark hair. The hair grease from yesterday was still in it, it would do. I just had on a T-shirt and jeans. It looked kind of cold out, so I grabbed my dad's old leather coat and headed out my door.
Shoot! I should have gotten up earlier. Jack was sitting at the kitchen table, and I could tell he had been waiting for me. Now, one thing with Jack is he never hesitates. He doesn't in a fight and doesn't if he is yelling at me. He slammed his fist in the table and stood up. He was tall and lean but man was he tough.
"Where the hell were you last night?" I didn't even have time to answer, "Did you have anyone with you?"
I slouched and shook my head no. That's another thing. Don't go anywhere alone. Especially if you are like me -skinny and small for my age. You'll get jumped so easily. There are loads of other gangs on the West Side that we aren't to friendly with and there is the East Side. The East Side's I idea of fun in jumping lone West Siders.
"Don't you ever think," he continued shouting," Wait you don't have to answer that. I know you don't- not in school or out of it. You don't use your head, Racetrack!" "You're going to wake Baby," I said, I can never think of anything good to say when I'm being yelled at. I could of said "sorry". It might have helped a little, but I just never think of it.
But it was true. He would wake her up if he didn't stop soon. Baby was our little sister. Well not that little, 15, but the youngest in our gang. Her real name was Audrey, but on the West Side, no one uses their real name. Well, except for Spot Conlon, but no one notices or at least no one says anything. Spot'd slug you real good if you say anything about him. Even if you are in his gang.
"What?" he said acting like I had talked back. Probably just waiting for another reason to yell.
"You'll wake Baby," I repeated, "Look, I'm heading out."
I didn't wait for him to respond. I didn't want to take anymore of him that morning. But I could hear a lot of banging coming from the kitchen. I walked to Baby's room. I always tell her if I'm going somewhere, or at least I try to. It was still dark in her room and she was buried in her cover.
"Baby," I shook her slightly," Baby, I'm going down to Spot's okay?"
She groaned and turned over.
"Can I come?" she asked groggily.
"No, you got to go to school in a couple of minutes."
She just gave me a long "ummm" in response. She loved going to Spot's. She had a thing for him as long as I could remember. Spot loved the attention. I think if he loved anything in the world it was my baby sister and his sister.
Spot wasn't a very loving person. In fact, I think he had a hatred for the whole world. Sure he was loyal and smart. Boy, could that kid use his head. But his parents had kicked him out a about a year ago. That was why we all hung at his place-no adults. He had just gotten out of jail for armed robbery and his parents threw him out. Of course, he took his sister, Sparrow, with him. He couldn't live without her. But after jail he had become colder. And he hadn't started out all warm and fuzzy either. So you had to watch out for Spot Conlon.
By this time I was out of the house and halfway down the block. I had planned on going straight to Spot's everyone from our gang would be there. Well, Jack wouldn't –he had work. Neither would Baby-she had school. So did Sparrow. I liked Sparrow, she was cool. She had just turned 18 and was in her last year in high school, like me. She was good at school, but she didn't like it either. She wanted to go on the stage. But Spot wanted her to graduate. I swear I don't know what is up with him and Jack.
I decided not to go straight there. I wanted to pick up Crutchy. Crutchy was my best bud. We digged each other, you know, we understood. Crutchy was taller than me, but hey so was everyone. He was skinnier than me though. Me and him were 17 and he should have been in school. But I knew he wouldn't be there. He went even less than I did.
It was just cause he knew no one would care either way. If he weren't in the gang no one would give a hoot at all about Crutchy. His parents didn't care. They barely even noticed him. When they did it was only so his mom could yell and his dad could hit him. He always looked kind of scared and jumpy from living with them. That's why we called him Crutchy. He always had some new injury from his pop.
So I headed toward the park. Him and me had brought an old couch we'd found, out there. He slept there most days now. Ever since his dad had gotten him a good sprained ankle. Sure enough, there he was all huddled up with only a jacket. I threw myself on the end of the couch and laughed when he sprang up from the jolt.
He looked around wildly but calmed when he saw me, "Oh. Hey, Race." "Hey, bud, didn't mean to scare you," I laughed.
"Nah, I'm fine. How's it going," He settled back into the couch.
I lay down next to him, "Man, I got into another fight with Jack. I don't know what I've been doing, but he just can't stop yelling at me."
"Yea," he said nodding. And that was all I needed, see we understood.
"Well, anyway, I was planning on heading to Spot's," He nodded in agreement, he never disagreed very often. When he did he didn't say so; he did he best to be quite. So I got up and helped him up; his ankle still hurt him a bit. We started walked toward Spot's as a red Mustang pulled up. We both knew it wasn't anyone from the West Side. We all had rusted, soup-up cars. It slowed to a stop. Four East Siders got out. I would have run, but Crutchy couldn't with his bad ankle and I couldn't just leave him. I stepped in front of him and said the first dumb thing that came to my mind.
"This ain't your territory," I told you I don't do well with words under pressure. And that only made them laugh.
They started to circle us and the one that seemed to be the leader said, "Oh yea, and what are you Westies going to do about it." The East Side always called us that. We just thought it sounded stupid, but we all heard it enough it know it was an insult. The three guys behind him snickered.
Then I did the stupidest thing ever. I couldn't think of a thing to say, so I spit at him. It landed right on his shoe. It got scarily silent. I mean I think I even heard Crutchy stop breathing. And they jumped on us.
I could feel the punches surrounding me. I was fighting back as best I could but from what I could tell all four guys were hitting me. Then I heard some yells and the guys got up. They all ran back to the Mustang and drove away.
I opened my eyes and looked around. Well actually I opened my eye and looked around- the other one was starting to swell. Spot was standing over me helping me up. Kid Blink was standing where the car had been shoving his switchblade into his back pocket-so that was why they had run so fast. Milkshake, Kid's girlfriend, was leaning on a tree lighting a cigarette.
Kid Blink headed toward me with a huge grin on his face, "You okay, kid?" he asked as he patted my back. It kind of hurt but I didn't want them to know it. "Yea, I'll be fine. Where's Crutchy? Is he okay?" I was worried.
"Oh yea," said Blink cheerfully," he's sitting behind you, lounging." Blink was a funny guy. He was real nice and was always grinning. We called him Kid Blink cause at this rumble once this guy had hit him so hard he went blind in one eye. So he always wore his hair kind of slanted so it covered it.
I turned to see Crutchy getting up, he winced when he stepped on his foot, "I'm sorry, man. I just couldn't get up. They pushed me down and it hurt my ankle again. Then they all went for you."
"It's okay, Crutch. I know" And I did. I was glad Crutchy was okay, "Where did you guys come from anyway?"
Spot answered, "Well we were all heading down to Tibby's. We were going to get Milkshake here, well a milkshake." He grinned and put a cigarette in his mouth, "But what were you guys doing out here by yourselves. And, Race, does Jack know you ain't in school."
Geez, a guy can't get a break, "We were heading to your place," I said defensively, "Hey, Milkshake, can I get a cigarette."
"Sure," she handed me one smiling. She was real nice too. Always funny and sweet. I pulled a lighter out of my pocket. As soon as I took the first puff my nerves calmed.
"Ok, lets go down to Tibby's," I said as I wiped some blood from my lip. Everyone nodded and we headed towards town.
...*... Ok I hope everyone likes this first chapter. It's a little long...or at least that's the way it feels to me. So everyone review and tell me what you think.
Just a general shout out to ducks-go-quack-,ershey, va-finest-harley, and Padfootismyhero: Thanks so much for being happy with what I did to all your characters. And thanks for saying my story will be so good. I'm still a little unsure, so you guys got to keep reading and reviewing. It gives me motivation. Seriously, when I got all of your reviews I started dancing around my house singing King of New York. I had it stuck in my head forever. And I clicked my heels...which is a kewlio cuz I am like spastic. Ok, I'm done for today. Chapter 2 coming soon! Enjoy, Cat
When I woke up I had a mean headache. Take my advice: Don't gamble and drink with no money. It doesn't work.
I still had on my clothes from the day before, but that was practically normal where I live. The West Side. On the West Side no one cares how you look or smell. As long as you're tough it doesn't matter.
It was Friday, but I was in no mood for school. In fact, I hadn't been in a school mood for most of the week. I'm mean I was 17, and it was my last year. Who cares- wait I take that back. I'll tell you who cares: my older brother, Jack. He can't leave me alone about it. And when I mentioned to him that he had dropped out he just yells more.
As he says it was "for the family". Our folks had been in a car crash a few years back. So he dropped out to get a job to support my sister and me. Next year I'll have to get a job like him, but he won't let me till I graduate.
But Jack is going to kill me for coming in late last night anyway. So I just got to get out of the house before he wakes up.
I got up and looked in the mirror. The one side of my face was cut and bruised. The guy I was gambling with last night had had rings. It hurt, but I'd seen worse. I ran a comb through my dark hair. The hair grease from yesterday was still in it, it would do. I just had on a T-shirt and jeans. It looked kind of cold out, so I grabbed my dad's old leather coat and headed out my door.
Shoot! I should have gotten up earlier. Jack was sitting at the kitchen table, and I could tell he had been waiting for me. Now, one thing with Jack is he never hesitates. He doesn't in a fight and doesn't if he is yelling at me. He slammed his fist in the table and stood up. He was tall and lean but man was he tough.
"Where the hell were you last night?" I didn't even have time to answer, "Did you have anyone with you?"
I slouched and shook my head no. That's another thing. Don't go anywhere alone. Especially if you are like me -skinny and small for my age. You'll get jumped so easily. There are loads of other gangs on the West Side that we aren't to friendly with and there is the East Side. The East Side's I idea of fun in jumping lone West Siders.
"Don't you ever think," he continued shouting," Wait you don't have to answer that. I know you don't- not in school or out of it. You don't use your head, Racetrack!" "You're going to wake Baby," I said, I can never think of anything good to say when I'm being yelled at. I could of said "sorry". It might have helped a little, but I just never think of it.
But it was true. He would wake her up if he didn't stop soon. Baby was our little sister. Well not that little, 15, but the youngest in our gang. Her real name was Audrey, but on the West Side, no one uses their real name. Well, except for Spot Conlon, but no one notices or at least no one says anything. Spot'd slug you real good if you say anything about him. Even if you are in his gang.
"What?" he said acting like I had talked back. Probably just waiting for another reason to yell.
"You'll wake Baby," I repeated, "Look, I'm heading out."
I didn't wait for him to respond. I didn't want to take anymore of him that morning. But I could hear a lot of banging coming from the kitchen. I walked to Baby's room. I always tell her if I'm going somewhere, or at least I try to. It was still dark in her room and she was buried in her cover.
"Baby," I shook her slightly," Baby, I'm going down to Spot's okay?"
She groaned and turned over.
"Can I come?" she asked groggily.
"No, you got to go to school in a couple of minutes."
She just gave me a long "ummm" in response. She loved going to Spot's. She had a thing for him as long as I could remember. Spot loved the attention. I think if he loved anything in the world it was my baby sister and his sister.
Spot wasn't a very loving person. In fact, I think he had a hatred for the whole world. Sure he was loyal and smart. Boy, could that kid use his head. But his parents had kicked him out a about a year ago. That was why we all hung at his place-no adults. He had just gotten out of jail for armed robbery and his parents threw him out. Of course, he took his sister, Sparrow, with him. He couldn't live without her. But after jail he had become colder. And he hadn't started out all warm and fuzzy either. So you had to watch out for Spot Conlon.
By this time I was out of the house and halfway down the block. I had planned on going straight to Spot's everyone from our gang would be there. Well, Jack wouldn't –he had work. Neither would Baby-she had school. So did Sparrow. I liked Sparrow, she was cool. She had just turned 18 and was in her last year in high school, like me. She was good at school, but she didn't like it either. She wanted to go on the stage. But Spot wanted her to graduate. I swear I don't know what is up with him and Jack.
I decided not to go straight there. I wanted to pick up Crutchy. Crutchy was my best bud. We digged each other, you know, we understood. Crutchy was taller than me, but hey so was everyone. He was skinnier than me though. Me and him were 17 and he should have been in school. But I knew he wouldn't be there. He went even less than I did.
It was just cause he knew no one would care either way. If he weren't in the gang no one would give a hoot at all about Crutchy. His parents didn't care. They barely even noticed him. When they did it was only so his mom could yell and his dad could hit him. He always looked kind of scared and jumpy from living with them. That's why we called him Crutchy. He always had some new injury from his pop.
So I headed toward the park. Him and me had brought an old couch we'd found, out there. He slept there most days now. Ever since his dad had gotten him a good sprained ankle. Sure enough, there he was all huddled up with only a jacket. I threw myself on the end of the couch and laughed when he sprang up from the jolt.
He looked around wildly but calmed when he saw me, "Oh. Hey, Race." "Hey, bud, didn't mean to scare you," I laughed.
"Nah, I'm fine. How's it going," He settled back into the couch.
I lay down next to him, "Man, I got into another fight with Jack. I don't know what I've been doing, but he just can't stop yelling at me."
"Yea," he said nodding. And that was all I needed, see we understood.
"Well, anyway, I was planning on heading to Spot's," He nodded in agreement, he never disagreed very often. When he did he didn't say so; he did he best to be quite. So I got up and helped him up; his ankle still hurt him a bit. We started walked toward Spot's as a red Mustang pulled up. We both knew it wasn't anyone from the West Side. We all had rusted, soup-up cars. It slowed to a stop. Four East Siders got out. I would have run, but Crutchy couldn't with his bad ankle and I couldn't just leave him. I stepped in front of him and said the first dumb thing that came to my mind.
"This ain't your territory," I told you I don't do well with words under pressure. And that only made them laugh.
They started to circle us and the one that seemed to be the leader said, "Oh yea, and what are you Westies going to do about it." The East Side always called us that. We just thought it sounded stupid, but we all heard it enough it know it was an insult. The three guys behind him snickered.
Then I did the stupidest thing ever. I couldn't think of a thing to say, so I spit at him. It landed right on his shoe. It got scarily silent. I mean I think I even heard Crutchy stop breathing. And they jumped on us.
I could feel the punches surrounding me. I was fighting back as best I could but from what I could tell all four guys were hitting me. Then I heard some yells and the guys got up. They all ran back to the Mustang and drove away.
I opened my eyes and looked around. Well actually I opened my eye and looked around- the other one was starting to swell. Spot was standing over me helping me up. Kid Blink was standing where the car had been shoving his switchblade into his back pocket-so that was why they had run so fast. Milkshake, Kid's girlfriend, was leaning on a tree lighting a cigarette.
Kid Blink headed toward me with a huge grin on his face, "You okay, kid?" he asked as he patted my back. It kind of hurt but I didn't want them to know it. "Yea, I'll be fine. Where's Crutchy? Is he okay?" I was worried.
"Oh yea," said Blink cheerfully," he's sitting behind you, lounging." Blink was a funny guy. He was real nice and was always grinning. We called him Kid Blink cause at this rumble once this guy had hit him so hard he went blind in one eye. So he always wore his hair kind of slanted so it covered it.
I turned to see Crutchy getting up, he winced when he stepped on his foot, "I'm sorry, man. I just couldn't get up. They pushed me down and it hurt my ankle again. Then they all went for you."
"It's okay, Crutch. I know" And I did. I was glad Crutchy was okay, "Where did you guys come from anyway?"
Spot answered, "Well we were all heading down to Tibby's. We were going to get Milkshake here, well a milkshake." He grinned and put a cigarette in his mouth, "But what were you guys doing out here by yourselves. And, Race, does Jack know you ain't in school."
Geez, a guy can't get a break, "We were heading to your place," I said defensively, "Hey, Milkshake, can I get a cigarette."
"Sure," she handed me one smiling. She was real nice too. Always funny and sweet. I pulled a lighter out of my pocket. As soon as I took the first puff my nerves calmed.
"Ok, lets go down to Tibby's," I said as I wiped some blood from my lip. Everyone nodded and we headed towards town.
...*... Ok I hope everyone likes this first chapter. It's a little long...or at least that's the way it feels to me. So everyone review and tell me what you think.
Just a general shout out to ducks-go-quack-,ershey, va-finest-harley, and Padfootismyhero: Thanks so much for being happy with what I did to all your characters. And thanks for saying my story will be so good. I'm still a little unsure, so you guys got to keep reading and reviewing. It gives me motivation. Seriously, when I got all of your reviews I started dancing around my house singing King of New York. I had it stuck in my head forever. And I clicked my heels...which is a kewlio cuz I am like spastic. Ok, I'm done for today. Chapter 2 coming soon! Enjoy, Cat