Disclaimer I do not own The Tribe, they belong to Cloud 9 and Raymond Thompson. I'm just a lowly author who's borrowing them for my plot.
Synopsis: Jay has left Ebony for Amber and May has finally come to the realization that the only one for Pride is Salene. When an older man enters Ebony's life, turning the lives of those around her upside down.
This story takes place in an alternate universe, without the virus having ever happened. This is mainly a Slebony fic, but that's not entirely what this story is about. Please Read & Review.
Chapter One: Love life and Low-lives
"Who's great idea was it again to come to this place?... Oh yeah it was your's Ebony." Shouted May over the sound of the rock band on stage.
"Listen, we show up here. Find ourselves a few guys, and then you are over Pride, and I am over Jay. Besides, it's not that bad. I mean sure it's a little dingy and it reeks of smoke..." Ebony argued before she was cut off by May.
"A little dingy?! That is the understatement of the century. This place, it's just gross. I mean look at that... did I really need to see that?" May said motioning to the large man who was puking into the corner. Both girls shuddered at the sight.
"Well come on... lets just play a round of pool then. If you aren't so keen on mixing with these...people." Ebony walked away from the doorway where the two girls had taken refuge towards the three pool tables set up in the center of the club with May reluctantly following.
As soon as they grabbed a table for their own game, Ebony tossed her leather jacket on to a chair. She had a pair of tight fitting jeans on, with a black halter top that dipped rather low. Her blonde braids were in a pony-tail but that didn't stop them from spilling over her shoulders with her movements. May followed suit tossing her coat on top of Ebony's. May was dressed similarly to her friend, wearing a pair of jeans and a black beater.
Ebony lined up to break, her dark eyes concentrating on that white ball as if nothing else in the room existed. However, right before she took the shot, she felt a strong arm snake about her waist. Causing her to scratch and attempt to wriggle her way out of the man's grasp.
"Hey, come off it, what do you think your playing at?" Ebony said as the man wouldn't let go. May had dropped her stick on the table and went to the aid of her friend. But it was clear that this guy wasn't going to let her go, and that May would probably only injure herself in the process. He was tall and muscular and the stench of whisky followed him like an ominous cloud.
"Yeah, let her go creep!" May shouted at him mustering up some courage.
"I just think we could have a good time, girlie." The man whispered into Ebony's ear. She tensed up and became nauseous before landing a quick elbow to his groin.
"I wouldn't spend anytime with you freak, even if you were the last person on earth." Ebony shouted back at him as she made a b-line for her jacket. The man was enraged but he stalked off to find his friends before the bouncer came over.
"Ok, so maybe you were right about these low-lives. Let's just go home before he tries to make a comeback." Ebony said still feeling the disgusting weight of the man upon her frame.
"Right..." May said taking her jacket under one arm as they slipped out of the club. The street was packed with people and various cars littered the sides. May looked helplessly back and forth down the row, unable to remember where she left her car.
"Ok, so did you park down that way... or up that way?" Ebony said taking in a gulp of fresh air.
"I think...we parked that way...I mean I'm pretty sure..." May said as the two girls began to walk down the sidewalk. Ebony shoved her hands in her pockets, as she kept her eyes peeled for May's Eclipse. They found it ten minutes later, parked near a café on 4th street. May clicked the button on her key chain unlocking the car.
"Do you want to go back to my place or your's? Actually now that I think about it, wasn't that girl... Gel Harrison, or something throwing a party tonight?" May opened her door but paused as she noticed Ebony wasn't paying attention.
"Look, I think I just need to clear my head...fresh air or something. I think I'll walk home...I mean it's not that far." Ebony adjusted her stance so that her weight was no longer on her pained right foot.
"Well...alright. But be careful...and call me when you get home." May shut her door and waved by through the window before negotiating her car away from the others and driving off towards her own house. Ebony watched as the Eclipse made it's way out of her sight before continuing down the road towards her own home.
It was taking her forever to make her way down the lit streets, taking the safe-route as Siva had used to call it. However, the temperature was dropping and her legs were aching from walking the extra-distance. Then she remembered that she could save herself at least another twenty minutes by heading through the alleyway on Cornell Blvd.
When she came to it, she found it cast in shadow. The only light guiding her way down the path, was the street light on the other side which was reflected down the elongated puddle in the middle of the alley. She took a deep breath before turning down it, the sound of her boots on the pavement echoing between the buildings. Then she heard it, the sound of at least two other people behind her. Slowly she turned her head to see the man from before, and another man who was smoking a cigarette.
"Hey girlie...Thought that was pretty cute didn't you... elbowing me in front of all of those people." He said advancing on her. Ebony began to run down the alley, but the stiletto heels of her boots, made it impossible to outrun them. Soon they overtook her and pushed her up against the wall. The other man then drew a switchblade from his pocket and pressed it to her throat; devious grin spreading across face.
"You see, I don't like people who think they have the right to say no to me. I don't like it at all..." He ran a finger over Ebony's jaw.
"Leave me alone!" She screamed with all her might but that just made the blade press harder into her flesh.
"No we won't be having any of that. You are going to cooperate with me or else..." He said as his finger made it way down her neck towards her chest.
"Or else what?" Said another man's voice from behind them before he knocked the man with the knife hard into the brick wall, rendering him unconscious. Before his friend could take a swing at Ebony's rescuer, he nailed him in the ribs sending him doubling over in pain.
"Come on..." The man said grabbing Ebony's arm and running with her to the end of the alleyway where there was a motorcycle parked with it's engine still running. The man hopped on to it and grabbed the helmet from the back and handed it to her.
"Here put this on." He ordered and she obeyed blindly. She swung her leg over the side of the bike and wrapped her arms about his waist. Then the bike took off peeling out down the street quickly. They rode for about 15 minutes before they stopped outside a decent looking apartment building . Ebony slid the helmet from her head, brushing back a few stray braids that had been jostled during the encounter.
"Thanks..." She said breathlessly. As she got off the bike and the man did the same.
"It's no trouble...Why were you wandering the alleys at night anyways? Cornell is a bad part of town, not fit for a girl like you." He said looking at her through dark eyes. Ebony realized he was quite handsome, with shaggy black hair and the appearance of a five o'clock shadow on his chin.
"I just thought I'd save myself an extra twenty-minute walk. Didn't count on those creeps following me out of the club." She said shuddering.
"Well, they have a fondness for Manchester Academy girls..." He said with a slight smile.
"How did you know I went to Manchester?" She said with a questioning tone. She hadn't mentioned being from Manchester to anyone that evening, it was odd that a complete stranger would know she went there.
"My brother Josh goes there. I've seen you around before." The man replied looking her up and down. Ebony smiled at this, so maybe the night wasn't a loss after all.
"Josh?...Oh you mean Mega. So that would make you Slade right?" She said as she bit her lower lip hoping that her guess was correct.
"The one and only. And you are Ebony Williams..." He said coming slightly closer to her.
She let out a slight huff and wet her lips before speaking.
"Yep I am. So, you said you've seen me around before. Did you like what you saw?" She said arching her brows at him. Clearly she was shamelessly flirting, it's what she did best and it was what she was known for. But her comment only had him laugh and give her a look of confusion.
"To be honest, I couldn't say. Now, you can't stay the evening with me. Not that you'd want to, and I'm not letting you out alone on those streets again. So where to?" He averted her question better than most had ever managed to.
Ebony realized that a guy his age probably wanted nothing to do with her, she was after all his brother's age. Also, Mega and her weren't exactly the best of friends. She dropped her act and became more relaxed.
"Yeah, can you take me to my friend's... umm the address is... "Ebony paused trying to recall the address of the party that May was going to. "480 Stone brook lane." She then slipped the helmet back on her head and got back on to the motorbike.
Slade felt her arms wrap about his waist and he smiled, "As you wish." They took off once more, the wind rushing past them as they zig-zagged about. She had never been on a motorcycle before tonight, but she was loving the rush. She gripped him tighter and rested her head on his shoulder.
Soon they pulled up on to Gel's road. The houses were large and fancy, with landscaped gardens much like Ebony's. Gel's house was the last one on the cull-de-sac. Tons of cars were outside, and up on her driveway. People who were out on the lawn turned to look as the sound of a large bike drew closer. Due to the size of the motorcycle, he actually managed to get her up the long driveway pretty close to the house. Ebony got off the bike, and took off the helmet before handing it to Slade.
"Seems like there is a bit of a party going on 'ere." He said sarcastically. Ebony smirked at him and shifted her weight.
"Wanna come inside?" She suggested with a coy smile. Slade debated going in for a moment before shaking his head no.
"Sorry, I'd rather not... crowds aren't my thing." He responded looking at her with wide eyes.
"Well, then I guess this is goodbye. Thanks again.." Ebony replied. She had hoped he'd stay. But she knew he wouldn't before she even asked him.
"This isn't goodbye, more like goodnight. I'll see ya around, Ebony Williams." He put his helmet on and turned his bike around before speeding out of the area. Ebony was lost in her thoughts, so lost that she didn't even acknowledge the crowd of people wondering who that was that Ebony showed up with, including Jay.