Chapter 9
The next day, Sunday, Jack had us all sitting around the living room. Well actually I couldn't sit. I was too strung up at the moment. So I stood behind Crutchy and paced. Next to him sat Spot, with Baby in his lap and his arm around Sparrow. Sparrow was resting her head on his shoulder. It was almost as if they both knew they needed each other with out even talking. Milkshake had her legs tucked under her as she leaned on Kid Blink.
Jack was standing in the middle of the room. I knew what was coming. A preparation speech for tomorrow night. Even the thought of the next night made me feel like puking. I felt someone tug at my jeans. It was Baby.
"Race, sit down you're making me nervous." I nodded and slumped to the floor leaning on the wall.
"Alright," Jack began, "so tomorrow is the big night. We all know that so I wont go into it. But I was told there will be certain rules," he put out a finger for each one he mentioned," 1. There will be no weapons of any kind. 2. No extra guys. That means just us okay? 3. No surprises of any sort. Now..."
But he was interrupted by Blink who scoffed, "Jack, are you serious! You're going to listen to what they say?"
"Well give me a second to finish okay, Blink. As I was saying, now that sounds pretty suspicious to me. So I think the answer to your question, Blink, is HELL NO!
"Tonight I'm going to over to Travis Sparks and I'm going to ask him for some back up guys."
Travis Sparks was the leader of another gang on the West Side. We weren't buddies with them, but we didn't fight either. They would help us. Heck, anyone would help us against the East Side. But Travis Sparks and his guys were tough and mean. They could get the job done.
Jack went on, "I want everyone of us carrying a blade or something tomorrow night."
"Never take it out of my pocket," Spot said and patted his back pocket to prove it.
"Me neither," Kid said. He took it out and opened it. The blade gleamed in the afternoon sunlight coming in through the window.
That is when it really hit me. Seeing the blade gleam so malevolently mad me realize it. This wasn't just a fight in the park. This was going to be a full on rumble. A whole gang against a whole gang. The kind of fight Blink had lost his eye at...
I snapped back into reality as someone shoved something under my nose. I looked down. I was a switchblade. It had black handle with a white line of pearl going down the center; I didn't want to think about where Jack had gotten it. But I did feel proud to be holding such a beautiful weapon. Jack handed a red-handled one to Crutchy and walked back to the center of the room.
"Ok, so you to have something now. That brings me to my next point. Race and Crutchy, I want you two to be careful," I gave him an offended look. "Yes, Race, just be careful ok. Don't take anyone bigger than you. And if you get in trouble call for one of us. Okay?"
Me and Crutchy nodded. I didn't like to admit it but Spot, Blink, and Jack were bigger than me. I could be pretty mean in a fight, but I had never experienced one like this before. Plus, it would just make my life easier to agree with Jack than to start an argument now.
Through all the tension Milkshake managed a little laugh, "And what about us girls, Jack. Not going to tell us to be careful? Come on, I know you're dying to."
But Jack stared at the ground, "I was afraid to bring this up. It's just...I don't think...I don't think you girls should be there. I don't..."
But this time he was interrupted by Sparrow's yell, "WHAT! Jack, you can't do that. I've got to be there." She might have just sounded angry to the untrained ear, but I thought I heard a little hysterical sound come from her as she yelled.
"Well, maybe it would be best that way," Blink said sheepishly. Milkshake slapped him really hard.
"You're agreeing with him!" she turned to Jack, "You can't just kick us out of it. It is just as much our fight as it is yours."
Her and Sparrow were standing by now. To my surprise, so was Baby. Me and Crutchy just stared at them in awe. Kid was rubbing his red, hand- printed cheek.
Jack looked at Baby confused, "Baby?"
"Jack, it just ain't fair. You can't that just not let us fight because we're girls. In fact, you can't do that at all. You don't control our lives for us, Jack. We can do what we want to!"
Jack jaw dropped. I noticed mine had too. Spot stood up in front of all of them.
"Jack," he said, "they are right, you know. You can't control them. I know you just want them to be safe, but it is their choice to make, not yours," Jack closed his mouth but kept staring. Spot then turned to the girls, "That doesn't mean I want you all to fight," Sparrow opened her mouth in protest, but Spot stopped her, "but I won't stop you. Just do me a favor, okay? Stay near either me, Jack, or Blink. Even Race if you can't find one of us."
The girls nodded and smile at their victory. I shouted 'hey!' at Spot's remark, but he just laughed and clapped my back as he sat back down.
Jack talked for a little while longer.
"Ok, so Spot, Blink, Milkshake, Crutchy, and Sparrow, I want you all here tomorrow by 8. Okay?" Jack finished.
"Okay, Jack," said Blink, "but it doesn't start till midnight."
"I know," said Jack and left it at that.
He left the center of the room and went to talk to Spot, "Spot, I want to go home for the night."
"But what about the cops?" asked Spot.
"Ah, well we'll take a chance for tonight. You should be with Sparrow. I don't want her to be alone tonight."
Spot nodded. Him and Jack shook hands and they almost looked stronger just from that simple gesture.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, bud," Jack patted Spot's back.
Spot smirked, "Yea, see you."
Then he put his arm around Sparrow, who gave Jack a quick kiss, and they left. Kid and Milkshake waved and left behind them. I walked Crutchy down the block.
"Well," I said, "looks like I'll see you tomorrow."
Crutchy smile, "Yea, looks like it. Bye."
"Bye."
Then he walked around the corner out of sight. When I got back inside the house Jack turned to Baby and me, "Well then, how about some chocolate cake, guys?"
......
Shout Outs:
Padfootismyhero: oh man, your review makes me sooo happy....glad you really like it...woohoo
Va-finest-harley: ::waves back:: yes 'it' will happen...I mean I'm a romantic too but in a more angst/destruction sort of way...if that makes any since what so ever...;) yea I don't think there's gunna be a sequel......lol...sorry...thanks for reveiwing
Moonlights Sundance: that....review...makes...me...feel...so...special ::tackles you and hugs::....anywho....no sequel...but another story? Oh yea baby...already got the makings of a new one in my head...just need to sort it out...so keep your eyes peeled...luv ya!
Ireland O'Reily: I know she does, I know....and I feel sooo bad!!!!!!....but without here now where would my story be?...and just letting you know WEST SIDE STORY ROCKS MY SEE-THROUGH SOCKS!!! .....i feel pretty, oh so pretty...::hums to herself::
CiCi: it's all right, Spot will be fine ::rubs back while trying to sound sincere:: yup, yup
Ok, so does everyone know what happens next! Say it with me now: BIG FINALE!!!! Oh, the tension is unbearable(. But that also means the story is ending...(. But, that also mean that I will actually finish a story for once(. Hehe, anywho...keep reading and reviewing. Cat
The next day, Sunday, Jack had us all sitting around the living room. Well actually I couldn't sit. I was too strung up at the moment. So I stood behind Crutchy and paced. Next to him sat Spot, with Baby in his lap and his arm around Sparrow. Sparrow was resting her head on his shoulder. It was almost as if they both knew they needed each other with out even talking. Milkshake had her legs tucked under her as she leaned on Kid Blink.
Jack was standing in the middle of the room. I knew what was coming. A preparation speech for tomorrow night. Even the thought of the next night made me feel like puking. I felt someone tug at my jeans. It was Baby.
"Race, sit down you're making me nervous." I nodded and slumped to the floor leaning on the wall.
"Alright," Jack began, "so tomorrow is the big night. We all know that so I wont go into it. But I was told there will be certain rules," he put out a finger for each one he mentioned," 1. There will be no weapons of any kind. 2. No extra guys. That means just us okay? 3. No surprises of any sort. Now..."
But he was interrupted by Blink who scoffed, "Jack, are you serious! You're going to listen to what they say?"
"Well give me a second to finish okay, Blink. As I was saying, now that sounds pretty suspicious to me. So I think the answer to your question, Blink, is HELL NO!
"Tonight I'm going to over to Travis Sparks and I'm going to ask him for some back up guys."
Travis Sparks was the leader of another gang on the West Side. We weren't buddies with them, but we didn't fight either. They would help us. Heck, anyone would help us against the East Side. But Travis Sparks and his guys were tough and mean. They could get the job done.
Jack went on, "I want everyone of us carrying a blade or something tomorrow night."
"Never take it out of my pocket," Spot said and patted his back pocket to prove it.
"Me neither," Kid said. He took it out and opened it. The blade gleamed in the afternoon sunlight coming in through the window.
That is when it really hit me. Seeing the blade gleam so malevolently mad me realize it. This wasn't just a fight in the park. This was going to be a full on rumble. A whole gang against a whole gang. The kind of fight Blink had lost his eye at...
I snapped back into reality as someone shoved something under my nose. I looked down. I was a switchblade. It had black handle with a white line of pearl going down the center; I didn't want to think about where Jack had gotten it. But I did feel proud to be holding such a beautiful weapon. Jack handed a red-handled one to Crutchy and walked back to the center of the room.
"Ok, so you to have something now. That brings me to my next point. Race and Crutchy, I want you two to be careful," I gave him an offended look. "Yes, Race, just be careful ok. Don't take anyone bigger than you. And if you get in trouble call for one of us. Okay?"
Me and Crutchy nodded. I didn't like to admit it but Spot, Blink, and Jack were bigger than me. I could be pretty mean in a fight, but I had never experienced one like this before. Plus, it would just make my life easier to agree with Jack than to start an argument now.
Through all the tension Milkshake managed a little laugh, "And what about us girls, Jack. Not going to tell us to be careful? Come on, I know you're dying to."
But Jack stared at the ground, "I was afraid to bring this up. It's just...I don't think...I don't think you girls should be there. I don't..."
But this time he was interrupted by Sparrow's yell, "WHAT! Jack, you can't do that. I've got to be there." She might have just sounded angry to the untrained ear, but I thought I heard a little hysterical sound come from her as she yelled.
"Well, maybe it would be best that way," Blink said sheepishly. Milkshake slapped him really hard.
"You're agreeing with him!" she turned to Jack, "You can't just kick us out of it. It is just as much our fight as it is yours."
Her and Sparrow were standing by now. To my surprise, so was Baby. Me and Crutchy just stared at them in awe. Kid was rubbing his red, hand- printed cheek.
Jack looked at Baby confused, "Baby?"
"Jack, it just ain't fair. You can't that just not let us fight because we're girls. In fact, you can't do that at all. You don't control our lives for us, Jack. We can do what we want to!"
Jack jaw dropped. I noticed mine had too. Spot stood up in front of all of them.
"Jack," he said, "they are right, you know. You can't control them. I know you just want them to be safe, but it is their choice to make, not yours," Jack closed his mouth but kept staring. Spot then turned to the girls, "That doesn't mean I want you all to fight," Sparrow opened her mouth in protest, but Spot stopped her, "but I won't stop you. Just do me a favor, okay? Stay near either me, Jack, or Blink. Even Race if you can't find one of us."
The girls nodded and smile at their victory. I shouted 'hey!' at Spot's remark, but he just laughed and clapped my back as he sat back down.
Jack talked for a little while longer.
"Ok, so Spot, Blink, Milkshake, Crutchy, and Sparrow, I want you all here tomorrow by 8. Okay?" Jack finished.
"Okay, Jack," said Blink, "but it doesn't start till midnight."
"I know," said Jack and left it at that.
He left the center of the room and went to talk to Spot, "Spot, I want to go home for the night."
"But what about the cops?" asked Spot.
"Ah, well we'll take a chance for tonight. You should be with Sparrow. I don't want her to be alone tonight."
Spot nodded. Him and Jack shook hands and they almost looked stronger just from that simple gesture.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, bud," Jack patted Spot's back.
Spot smirked, "Yea, see you."
Then he put his arm around Sparrow, who gave Jack a quick kiss, and they left. Kid and Milkshake waved and left behind them. I walked Crutchy down the block.
"Well," I said, "looks like I'll see you tomorrow."
Crutchy smile, "Yea, looks like it. Bye."
"Bye."
Then he walked around the corner out of sight. When I got back inside the house Jack turned to Baby and me, "Well then, how about some chocolate cake, guys?"
......
Shout Outs:
Padfootismyhero: oh man, your review makes me sooo happy....glad you really like it...woohoo
Va-finest-harley: ::waves back:: yes 'it' will happen...I mean I'm a romantic too but in a more angst/destruction sort of way...if that makes any since what so ever...;) yea I don't think there's gunna be a sequel......lol...sorry...thanks for reveiwing
Moonlights Sundance: that....review...makes...me...feel...so...special ::tackles you and hugs::....anywho....no sequel...but another story? Oh yea baby...already got the makings of a new one in my head...just need to sort it out...so keep your eyes peeled...luv ya!
Ireland O'Reily: I know she does, I know....and I feel sooo bad!!!!!!....but without here now where would my story be?...and just letting you know WEST SIDE STORY ROCKS MY SEE-THROUGH SOCKS!!! .....i feel pretty, oh so pretty...::hums to herself::
CiCi: it's all right, Spot will be fine ::rubs back while trying to sound sincere:: yup, yup
Ok, so does everyone know what happens next! Say it with me now: BIG FINALE!!!! Oh, the tension is unbearable(. But that also means the story is ending...(. But, that also mean that I will actually finish a story for once(. Hehe, anywho...keep reading and reviewing. Cat