Chapter 2 – Because That's The Way It Is

Parties in Chino were a way of life. You could always find one somewhere and chances were you didn't even have to know the person throwing the party…or even know anyone attending the party for that matter. They were always so crowded and full of crashers, it made it easy to blend in and the host was probably drunk, stoned or passed out anyway. In Chino it was even possible to have a party and not have a host. The homeowner would learn about what happened to their home long after the party crowd had vanished.

This was Ryan's fourth party in as many days and even though he was looking forward to spending the night with Trey, he was starting to feel the burn out. The crowded houses, the loud music, the booze, the drugs, the sex in any place you could manage to get it on, it was starting to wear him down. He needed a break.

He forced his way through the overflowing house, pressing his body through the sea of people. When he finally reached the front porch, he was amazed that he wasn't wearing his drink. Stepping onto the lawn he walked over to a pick up truck. He had no idea who's it was, but he lowered the tailgate anyway and took a seat, letting his legs swing to a stop.

Taking a deep breath he looked at the scene around him. Some things never changed. In Chino the parties just got rougher, the guys who hustled just got tougher and each passing day seemed to suck people in deeper and deeper…Ryan included.

"What's with you? You sobering up already?"

Looking up, Ryan smirked at Trey as he hopped up on the tailgate next to Ryan.

"My head is still pounding from last night. I'm just tired I guess."

"Ry, it's only two a.m., it's early by Atwood standards. Are you really tired or are you bored?" Trey asked, looking at his brother hopefully.

Lazily Ryan let his eyes roll in his brother's direction. "Bored," he sighed. "And this guy's serving shit beer. You wanna go shoot some pool or something? Ditch this thing? It's pretty lame."

"Yeah I'm with you man let's go."

The pool hall was dark and cigarette smoke hung in the air like a permanent curtain. Most of the characters that frequented the joint were questionable. They were ex-cons, hustlers, gamblers and alcoholics. Fights broke out so often the bouncers no longer interfered. It was pointless. As odd as the environment was, Ryan loved the pool hall. He loved the control he had there. He loved the game, he loved the stakes and most of all he loved winning. Considering his age, Ryan would have been banned from most pool halls across the country, but not in Chino. In Chino they worked on their own at a young age, teaching them to lie and cheat and steal. Ryan knew the game inside and out and either you were good enough to control the game, or you weren't. In Chino, you were either a mark or a con and Ryan knew he never wanted to be the mark, that's for sure. He'd made a name for himself in the pool hall and the regulars knew to steer clear of him. But if you weren't a local, if you didn't know who Ryan was, beware. Challenging him to a game of pool…let's just say you better just hand the boy your wallet.

Ordering some beers, Trey and Ryan took a seat at the bar and waited for a table to open up. It took some time, but finally the last table in the back was available.

Ryan lit up a cigarette as Trey racked the balls and laid a bet on the table.

"Alright little brother, here's the deal…I only have one bed at my house and the couch sucks. We're gonna go two out of three, loser sleeps on the couch. Deal?" he smirked.

Leaning his pool cue against his body, Ryan took the cigarette out of his mouth and set it on the edge of the pool table, shaking his head the whole time.

"What the hell are you shaking your head for? It's a good bet Ry."

"It's a great bet. I just feel sorry for you."

"What the hell for?"

"Because you're gonna be sleeping on the couch."

"I think you're full of shit! Go ahead. I'll even let you go first. Go ahead…break."

Taking another quick drag off his cigarette, Ryan bent down at the table's edge, lined up his cue and eyed the target. Before unleashing his wrath, he locked eyes with his brother and a sinister smile lit up his face. Returning his attention to the table, he gave the cue a solid shove through his fingers and watched as the balls scattered across the table, sinking three right off the break.

"Fuck!" Trey shook his head at the display in front of him. "Nobody sinks three off the break! Nobody!"

Mocking his brother, "Maybe you'd rather go three out of five?"

Downing the remainder of the beer, Trey slammed the bottle down on the table. "No, no. That's okay. I think three games is going to be painful enough."

Shot after shot the games wore on with Ryan ultimately controlling the table the entire time. When the last shot sunk in the hole, "You little fucker! I can't believe this!"

"Actually, it's little brother…not little fucker," Ryan mocked again, laughing at his big brother's frustration.

"I got news for you, tonight it's all one and the same! God damn I hate that couch! Fuck it, I'll sleep on the floor. You're good man! I had heard things about you but Christ! You're amazing. I can't believe I just got my ass kicked by my baby brother."

"You ready to get out of here?" Ryan asked, still basking in the glow of victory.

"Let's jet man, I'm tired."

At four a.m. the pool hall was still rather crowded and Trey and Ryan had to negotiate their way back to the front from the back room. When they reached the bar again, Ryan stopped.

"Trey…hey…hold up a minute."

"Why, what's up?"

"I need a minute."

"Wait, where are you going man?"

"That yuppy prick owes me money."

"Uh oh," Trey muttered to himself as he watched his brother making a beeline in the direction of the only pool hall patron that looked like he didn't belong in Chino.

Ryan took his time approaching the table where a former mark, known as Tyler, sat. He noticed the mark saw him so he knew the slow walk to the table was causing a world a worry for Tyler.

When Ryan reached the table, "You don't mind if I move this for a minute, do you?" Ryan tormented, pushing the mark's beer mug to the side.

"Um…no…no, no…that's fine," the mark stuttered.

Now that the table was open, Ryan put both hands down and leaned into the boy's face. "I need to talk to you outside for a minute." Ryan could see the fear in his face and it got his adrenaline flowing.

"Oh…well…I…I can't. Not right now," he stalled, signaling to the terrified girl sitting across from him.

"Ah, I see. I can fix that." Standing up, Ryan waved Trey over to the table.

"Someone looks like they've wandered a long way from home," Trey harassed.

"Tyler, Trey. Trey this is Tyler…although you could also call him 'Mark'."

"So what's wrong with Mark?"

"Really, it's Tyler," the clueless boy insisted.

Both Trey and Ryan stared at the boy's show of guts…or rather, stupidity. In this case they seemed to be one and the same.

"Well TYLER here," Ryan emphasized, "needs to go outside and talk some business over with me. We have some loose ends that need tending to…tonight."

"I see," Trey played along.

"But the problem is, his girl over here is a little nervous about being left alone in here. I thought maybe you could keep her company for him while we're…talking."

Nodding, "Well, yes, sometimes we do get some very undesirable people in here," Trey mocked, tongue-in-cheek. As if it were staged, the sound of breaking glass punctuated Trey's comment and a fight broke out just a couple of tables away. Turning his attention back to the girl, "Ack. It's nothing. We'll be fine. You guys go talk, take all the time you need. The little sweetheart and I are gonna kick back a cold one."

"After you," Ryan instructed, his eyes willing the mark forward. As they approached the door, "Don't do anything stupid," Ryan warned. "You're girl is sitting in there all alone. I don't think you'd want her spending the night with Trey and I…guys in Chino only have one use for girls." Ryan's remark caused Tyler's eyes to about bug out of his head with worry. He was suddenly worried about his little 'talk' with

Walking around the side of the building, the mark started rambling. "Ryan it's not what you think. Really. It's not."

"It's not?" Ryan asked, pretending to be surprised.

"No," the mark trembled.

Pretending to think on it, Ryan stepped forward, invading the Tyler's space. "Well let's think about it for a minute. You shot your mouth off, you called me names which was a really bad idea, then you were dumb enough to bet me $50 a game in this very pool hall. We played four games and you lost all four…Yeah I'm not seeing it. From where I stand you owe me two hundred dollars or else."

The mark swallowed hard and stared back at Ryan. Shifting his weight, "I…I don't have it," he stammered while Ryan narrowed his eyes on him.

"Don't have it huh?" Ryan smirked menacingly.

The mark shook his head.

"That's a shame," Ryan stated, pretending to turn away from Tyler. "It could have saved you a lot of trouble."

Without warming, Ryan turned back to Tyler with full forward momentum and sucker punched him right in the stomach, dropping the boy to the pavement.

Clutching his arm to his stomach the boy gasped for air while Ryan crouched down next to him.

"Where's my money?" Ryan pressed.

"(Gasp)…I…(gasp)…can't…(gasp)…breathe…(gasp)…the mark panicked.

"I hate to think what might happen to you when I do it again because I still don't have my money in my hand," Ryan warned.

Still gasping for breath, "I…I…have…it…have it…"

"Oh yeah? Let me guess, you got your allowance in the last five minutes or something?"

"Left…pocket…" the boy gasped.

Reaching into his pocket, Ryan retrieved a wallet and was dumbfounded by the amount of cash he found inside.

"What the hell are you doing walking around Chino with this type of money on you? There's almost four hundred dollars here," Ryan observed, counting the bills. "Well, Tyler, let this be a lesson learned. For stiffing me on a bet you set up, I'm taking all of this. Consider it interest owed for making me wait for it. I'm leaving you thirty dollars so you have enough money to get that girl home. If you don't do anything else right tonight…get her home. As for you and me, your debt is paid but I strongly suggest you stay the hell away from me from now on and that means finding a new place for you and your girl to hang. Got it?"

Tyler nodded as Ryan stood up and put the money in his front pocket. "Get up," Ryan demanded.

Doing as he was told, Tyler struggled to get on his feet. Keeping his arm clutched to his stomach, he remained bent over and avoided eye contact with Ryan who was about to give him some practical advice.

"Don't stand up straight too quickly. I don't want you puking on me."

"I won't man. I'm okay. I'm fi…"

Jumping out of the way in the nick of time, Ryan sighed and shook his head again as the mark tossed an evening's worth of beer intake onto the pavement.

"They never fucking learn," Ryan cursed under his breath. "Let's get one thing straight before I go." Wanting to make his point abundantly clear, Ryan grabbed the mark by the front of his shirt and slammed him up against the brick side of the building.

"We need to make sure you don't get any stupid ideas about revenge or anything. Sure you might get some guys to find me, maybe they'll bust me up, maybe they won't. The important thing to remember is that I'll know they were with you and if that happens, you're gonna wish all I did was punch you in the stomach. I won't go after them. I'll come after you. You understand me?"

Nodding feverishly, the mark had had enough.

"Get you girl and get out of here."

Before Ryan could even blink an eye, Tyler was rushing across the sidewalk and into the bar. Within a minute, he was on his way back out the door dragging his girl behind him. Ryan couldn't help but smirk at the scene.

Trey came out directly afterward with his arms out at his sides, laughing hysterically. "What the hell did you do to him? He's afraid of his own shadow now!"

Ryan shrugged, "That wasn't even fun, I only got to hit him once."

"Come on man, let's get home. The damn sun will be up in another hour."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want you to miss your date with the couch," Ryan teased.

"Keep it up man! Keep it up!"

It was nearly noon when Trey woke up. Drudging down the hallway, he looked in on Ryan who was still sound asleep on the bed. Pausing in the doorway, he put his arm up and leaned on the frame. He remembered how Ryan had gobbled up his meal the day before and it stood to reason he probably hadn't had a decent nights sleep recently either. Deciding it was best to let Ryan sleep as long as necessary, Trey turned back toward the kitchen for some much needed coffee, some aspirin and a cigarette.

Trey was watching some God-awful talk show about paternity tests when Ryan wandered into the living room around two-thirty in the afternoon.

"Hey look who's up," Trey acknowledged.

"Good thing school's out for the summer," Ryan mumbled.

"School?" Trey looked at Ryan, confused by his statement. "I thought you dropped out."

"I go when I feel like it. I'm just so damn tired all the time."

"Too much partying. Why don't you go back to bed man? It's cool. You're not missing anything."

"No," he breathed back. "Gotta run back home for some stuff. Everyone should be gone right now."

"You coming back?" Trey asked, watching his brother drag himself into a standing position. "We could stay in tonight, get you to bed early. You could use the sleep man."

Ryan nodded thankfully. The idea of doing nothing, not going anywhere and getting more sleep appealed to him more than anything in the world at that moment.

"I'll be back later. Couple hours."

With his body tensing, Ryan inserted his key and turned the lock. He cracked the door open enough to listen and see if the house was quiet. AJ's motorcycle was gone and since his Mom walked to work…when she went to work…it appeared the coast was clear.

Throwing his backpack on his shoulder he crossed the threshold and gently closed the front door. It didn't take long before a horribly sour odor got his attention and forced him to grimace. Unfortunately it was a smell that was all too familiar in that house. Chances were high that his Mom was passed out somewhere and close to her would be a puddle of vomit. Walking in the direction of his bedroom, he discovered her on the floor behind the couch, out cold. And, just as he expected, her sickness marked the floor next to her.

Anger rose in the pit of his stomach and he narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm not cleaning up after you this time. Do it your damn self," he scolded at her unconscious form.

Continuing on to his room, Ryan quickly rustled through his dresser for a few necessary things. He froze where he stood when he heard a voice.

"Ryan? Is that you?"

Ryan didn't move. He even willed his pounding heart to be quiet. He refused to allow her the satisfaction of knowing he'd returned, even if only for five minutes. Remaining perfectly still, he listened to her thrashing about and coughing. He closed his eyes and dropped his head knowing what was coming. Sure enough, his mother started heaving again. Ryan was grinding his teeth at the sounds that were filling his ears. He hated this. He hated every second of it.

"Ryan? Are you home? I need you." Her voice was hoarse and pleading. Still, Ryan ignored her. He waited a while longer after the living room fell quiet again, knowing she'd pass out again with time.

Shoving his things in his backpack, he snuck to the doorway of his room and carefully peered around it. Ryan grimaced at the sight of his Mom. Now with an even bigger mess around her, Ryan just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.

Double-checking his pocket to make sure he had his house key, he tiptoed past his Mom and back to the front door. Taking an extra moment to glance through the curtains, he made sure AJ hadn't arrived while he was in the house. With a clear path ahead of him, he delicately turned the doorknob and slipped out of the house.

Sitting down on his bike, he gripped the handlebars tightly and stared at the writing on the bar between his legs. Some days he was so numb to everything that went on around him and some days it seemed to consume him. Today was one of those days he felt everything he wanted to ignore. His Mom had been a train wreck for so long it was almost impossible to remember her as a good person. The alcohol and the drugs turned her into someone barely recognizable to Ryan. Turning his head to the open living room window, he could hear his Mom inside.

"Ryan…Ryan? Where is he?" she sobbed. "Ryan I need you, where are you?"

When the vomiting started again, Ryan turned away and pedaled off as fast as he could. He needed an escape and he knew just the place to go.

When the door opened, Ryan was shocked to be standing face to face with Dina's Mom. Considering the reason behind his visit, all he could do was stare and let his mouth drop open. Luckily, her Mom was about as clueless as his own and she welcomed him in, unassumingly.

"Hi Ryan, come on in. She's in the back room. Dina? Dina, Ryan is here."

Slinking into the room, Dina flirted a smile signaling to Ryan that all had been forgiven for him not showing up the previous night. Not that Ryan owed Dina a thing, but it didn't hurt to keep her happy. In the long run, he knew it was the answer to getting what he wanted from her. Chino girls were just that way.

"We'll be upstairs Mom," Dina conveyed flatly, taking Ryan by the hand and leading him up the stairs.

In the hallway, she pinned him up against the wall and kissed him longingly. Taking his hand, she slid it under her shirt and onto her chest.

"Dina…your Mom…"

"Shhh. Isn't this what you came for? Isn't this what you want?"

Smiling in spite of himself, "It's part of it."

Playing into his needs, Dina ran her hand down the front of Ryan's jeans, his body responding instantly. "I think I found the other part," she teased.

Tugging Ryan forward by the waist of his jeans, they crossed the threshold of her bedroom and she closed the door behind them.

Little over an hour later, just as Ryan was preparing to leave, Dina's bedroom door flew open with her Mother in a panic, rambling something about missing car keys.

Glancing at Ryan, "Oh Ryan. You're all sweaty. Do you have a fever?" she asked, rushing over to feel his forehead. "You really are warm, dear. You should get home and get some medicine."

Ryan's heart was pounding with the fear of being caught but, as usual, the woman was directing her attention to his face rather than his crotch, which still bared his undone jeans, belt hanging and everything. Nonchalantly he tugged his t-shirt down, hiding the evidence of his actions. It was apparent to Ryan where Dina got her 'ditzy-ness' from.

"I just took some medicine. I'll be fine," Ryan explained, sneaking a look at Dina, who flirtingly pretended to have no idea what he was referring to.

"Oh, okay." As quickly as she appeared, she raced back out the bedroom door, still complaining about the missing car keys.

Seizing the moment, Ryan collected himself. Closing his jeans, he gave a scolding look to Dina who was biting her lower lip and watching his hands very closely.

"No," Ryan said flatly.

"But she's leaving for work now," Dina reminded him. "We could…"

"I said no."

Ryan threw a tough look down at the shorter girl. Even though their 'relationship' was what it was, he couldn't help but soften just a bit at the disappointment in her eyes. "Believe me, I'd love to stay but I'm already late. Guy stuff. Thanks for fixing me up," he whispered. Caressing her face, he bent down and kissed her forehead.

"So the medicine is working already?" she giggled, squeezing Ryan around the waist.

Nodding in slow exaggeration, "You always take good care of me. You're the best." One more kiss and a hug before Ryan slapped her on the backside, "Be a good girl. Stay out of trouble."

Dina loved when he teased her like that. "And you?" she asked, smiling.

"If you're asking me to be good or stay out of trouble…you're talking to the wrong guy."

"I had a feeling you'd say that. See ya 'round Ry."

"See ya."

"What's the matter little brother? Don't like my cooking?" Trey joked, trying to get his brother to eat.

"No it's good. It's fine."

"Then why aren't you eating?" He watched Ryan twirl his fork in his food, unwilling to provide an answer. "You saw Mom today, didn't you? That's why you're upset."

Ryan set his fork down and stalled his reply by sipping his beer. He knew he couldn't hide this from Trey. Trey had been through the same thing. He knew how this worked, how it made him feel. Finally he nodded.

"You know it's not your fault Ry. If she doesn't want to get her life together, there's nothing we can do. She's gotta want that for herself."

"I know. But there's more to it than that. Sometimes…sometimes I look at my life and…I can't believe it's my life, you know? Sometimes I just wish I could walk another line, even if it's only for a while."

Trey watched his brother closely. "That's a hard thing to do Ryan. You're asking to change your destiny. People like us Ryan, we're born in little houses and we die in little houses. That's just the way it is."

Ryan thought on those words for a minute, "Maybe that's how you see it, but I don't. I wanna get the hell out of here. I'm not asking for the world I just…I wanna live in a house that doesn't smell like puke. I wanna have a meal or two every day. I want…" frustrated, he let his words disappear. Setting his fork down he slumped back in his chair.

Worried over his brother's passion for something more out of life, Trey thought it was wise to caution him. "I know how you feel man. I do. Just…be careful."

"Careful of what?" Ryan asked, irritated and confused.

"You're in Chino Ryan. Chino doesn't offer hopes and dreams. Hope is a dangerous thing. Makes you want everything you can't have and then crushes you when it doesn't happen. Just be careful what you wish for."

Ryan knew Trey was right. No one ever left Chino and if they did it was for prison or a cemetery. Still, there had to be something. Somehow, someway, when the opportunity was right, Ryan would make his move.

"Alright, so…let's stop thinking so hard," Trey laughed, hoping to change the subject and clear the air. "You've got a dinner to eat, let's go."

"Trey…"

"Ryan, please. I'm worried about you okay? If nothing else, I'm gonna make sure you at least get some meals while you're here so…please, just eat for me."

Shocked at his brother's show of concern, Ryan looked down at his plate and forked up some noodles. Leaning forward again, he put them in his mouth and chewed slowly.

"Life is a wild ride man," Trey explained. "All we can do is hang on and see where it takes us."

Nodding, Ryan put more food in his mouth and continued to finish his dinner.

TBC…

A/N…The phrase "we're born in little houses and we die in little houses" was 'borrowed' from the movie "Two If By Sea". I have no idea who originally wrote it…but it's a damn good sentence and it was fitting for this chapter!

To answer a couple of questions in the reviews, 'Shadows Games' will be short compared to 'Bad Behavior'. I originally planned for about 5 chapters and there are 3 already written. Since 'Shadow Games' was strictly meant to show us how Ryan landed in jail in the first place, we aren't paying too much attention to other things going on in Chino. (At least…not in this story!)! LOL! I want to make sure I keep it believable and for that reason I'm sticking to the main focus…the stolen car. I know folks seem really interested in the sequel and I will do one…still organizing where I want that to go, I just need to get this prequel out of my system first: D

Someone asked about the OC blanket…yeah I'm making one! I make lots of blankets! My 6 year old said "Mama, why don't you make an OC blanket?"…and my brain went…Hmm….! LOL! And thus another project was born! It's coming together nicely and hope to finish it soon. My next one will be a "Finding Nemo" one for my daughter! A Mom's work is never done: D

I also read a post or two from reviewers that were inspired by 'Bad Behavior" to write some stories of their own! Go for it! I'm flattered! Always write from your heart and take your time. Good luck to all: D

Lastly, thanks for the big welcome back! Even though I wasn't gone all that long, it was nice to be missed: D

Enough chatting…back to writing! See y'all in storyland!

Super Chino : D