Jack from the Row

by Jack Saint

Nathan is a fifteen year old teenager, revolted by the world and its justice. Brilliant, intelligent, cold and taciturn, his destiny is turned upside down when he is accidentally recruited by the Third Street Saints, a street gang that preaches for a better world for the Saints Row ghetto. For the best and especially the worst.

4. 1-3 : The Saints of Third Street

Chapter 3: The Saints of Third Street.

September 18, 1995 - Mission Beach - Saints Row neighborhood.

House of Tamara Whitaker and Nathan Collins.

The weekend could have gone worse, except for the fact that it was taking place in an icy silence. Neither Tamara nor Nathan took a step towards the other and each stayed in his corner.

The teenager spent most of his time perched in his bedroom window watching the streets of his neighborhood while smoking weed to the sound of rap music.

Got no love from the household, I'm out cold

On the streets screamin motherfuckin peace

I got nothin to lose, and somethin to prove, what do I do?

A gunshot rang out in the neighborhood, startling him, and then police sirens took over. The sad and banal daily life of a soulless neighborhood.

He couldn't stay here. He had to get out of there at all costs.

Fortunately, Oliver brought a little joy to this sad and gloomy house.

The little boy followed his big brother around and he was happy to spend time with him. He deeply loved this little 2 year old, to whom he shared half of his blood, as well as a mother who wasn't very present. He had two big blue eyes with which he looked at his big brother with admiration.

Nathan did not like children and although he was very young, he knew that he would not want one as an adult, because he was afraid of repeating the family pattern, but the idea of not seeing his brother again made him suffer greatly.

- I'm going out, Mother," Nathan said.

- Take your brother with you.

- That's what I was going to do, thank you.

Nathan was used to dealing with the boy at home and took the time to dress him with fatherly patience.

- Nathan gone? Oliver asked.

- No, you're coming with me.

- Out?

- Yes, we're going for a little walk, Nathan is taking you, okay? His brother answered, closing his shoes.

The two brothers left the house and walked through the streets of the row, hand in hand.

Nathan had returned to the alley where the altercation had taken place with the young Vice King and the prostitute, but there was no indication that anything dramatic had happened there, except that the city employees were cleaning up the blood with a hose. There was not a single article in the newspaper, and the case was quickly forgotten. By the afternoon, people were walking on the asphalt again, not caring that two souls had disappeared at that very spot.

The indifference of the inhabitants raised questions in the young man's mind, but after all, maybe he was the one who was giving too much importance to the matter.

He ended up going home, without having decided to go back to see the Saints of Third Street who might have found his belongings that had disappeared the day before. He did not feel ready to see them again, although he kept thinking about Julius Little.

When he got home, his mother called out to him from her office, without looking up.

- A Lindsay called for you. I told her you were out.

- Lindsay called me?

- That's what I just told you, right?

- What did she want?

- I don't know, I didn't ask.

- Okay, thanks.

- Is she your girlfriend?

This time she moved her seat back from her desk so she could talk to her son.

- Sort of, yes, Nathan admitted.

- What do you mean "sort of"? It's yes or no.

- Then it's yes.

- Good, at least you are interested in something normal. That's reassuring. I hope you're protecting yourself well.

- Protecting me from what? Nathan asked innocently without thinking.

- My God, Nathan, didn't you learn anything from my story?

- Ah, that kind of protection. I don't know, I don't think about it now.

- You do know how to use a condom, don't you? Didn't someone tell you about contraception?

- I don't think I want to have this discussion with you...

- Nathan. Tamara insisted firmly.

- I've never had sex, Nathan answered embarrassed.

- Have you? Are you still a virgin?

- I don't see how that shocks you at my age.

- At least in one way you are not like your father then. He wasn't chaste for a long time at your age.

- Well good for him, for all that it served him right.

- Are you sleeping here tonight or are you going back to boarding school?

- I'm going back to boarding school I think, I still have some work to finish for tomorrow.

- And you can't do it here? I'm leaving for work in an hour, I thought you were going to take care of Oliver.

- Well, you thought wrong.

- You could make an effort.

- And don't you have a husband? Doesn't that kid have a father? Because that's for sure, it's not me.

Tamara gave him a glare to which he only replied with indifference. He could stay for Oliver, that was not a problem, but he refused to do so on principle. Nathan gathered his few belongings and closed the door to his room without regret. He did not delay and put on his shoes to leave.

- I have the feeling that you are running away from me, Tamara said.

- You hardly talk to me anyway, and I've got work to do I told you.

- If you say so. When are you coming back? Next week? In a month?

- Can you give me some money? Nathan asked without answering her questions.

- Oh, that's right, you don't forget who your mother is. Is it to buy you cigarettes? Drugs?

- Can you or can't you? He said impatiently.

- Or to pay you a prostitute, it wouldn't hurt you to be a little less stupid. You'd cry less.

- No, thank you, the cigarettes and the drug will be enough for me, he answered ironically.

Tamara was unable to communicate with this teenager, whom she knew too little about. As always, Nathan felt scorned, mocked and not listened to. Money was the only interest he had in his mother. Tamara handed him several bills that he did not bother to count and put them in the back pocket of his jeans.

- Is Nathan leaving? Oliver asked, busy eating a piece of bread.

- Yes, big boy, but I'll be back," His big brother said, lifting him up to give him a hug.

The boy laughed and Nathan looked at his little brother, whom he would soon have to say goodbye to, with eyes full of love.

Nathan did not even greet his mother when he left the house and walked to the bus stop that would take him to his boarding school.

He lit a cigarette and walked through his neighborhood, which was still as rotten and full of all kinds of misery. He carefully avoided meeting the eyes of any of the lascars in the streets, for fear of being hassled or shaken down. He was used to it, he regularly got a free beating for a misinterpreted look or for an imaginary tax on a sidewalk he had taken in front of some guys who were all fired up.

He was very happy to have obtained this unhoped-for scholarship that allowed him to go to college, all paid for by America, which saw in him a promising citizen. Thanks to this, he had also obtained a place in the boarding school that adjoined his high school, taking him out of the street and his miserable neighborhood in an almost miraculous way.

He had to get out of there, no matter what, or else he would become like all the other young people of his age, ranging from small-time trafficker to big-time delinquent. He could not see himself surviving on the streets for the rest of his life with a destiny that would lead him to prison, like his father.

Nathan wanted it and he refused to be a victim for the rest of his life.

The sound of screeching tires on the street drew the attention of the people around him. A purple car sped by and disappeared into the distance.

Nathan thought of Johnny and Dex, who couldn't have been much older than him and who could already drive great cars while he had to make do with the crappy bus around the corner. Out of curiosity, he approached the nearby Third Street. There was nothing special about it, except that it housed a dilapidated old church that the Saints had commandeered for their headquarters. It had been a long time since anyone had visited a place of worship in this area. Nathan did not know what he was going to do there, but he approached the place with his heart pounding, hoping to see some familiar faces, but especially Julius, to whom he wanted to ask thousands of questions.

But Nate was stopped in his race by a man, who stuck in his back by putting his hands on his shoulders. His face was too close for the taste of the teenager who felt the pungent smell of alcohol in the man.

- Do not go there kid, it is badly attended by here.

Nate turned around and saw that the man holding him was 40 or 50 years old, and looked more like a human waste on coke than a respectable man.

- Go on, get out of here," the young man said.

- You're too young to be on your own, how old are you kid?

While asking his questions, the man stuck to Nathan and put his hand on the young man's crotch.

- Get the hell out of here, you faggot! The teenager shouted.

- I'll give you 50 bucks if you let me do it.

Before he could answer, they were interrupted by the arrival of a young Chinese woman, with a very hard look. She was wearing purple pants, the color of the Saints.

- Hey, what's wrong with you picking on a kid?

The man let go of Nathan and approached the young woman.

- Hey, you're not bad. Do you want me to enrich your culture by slapping my balls on your ass?

Without batting an eyelid, the young woman grabbed him by his jacket and kneed him in the balls, which sent him to the ground with a scream.

- Not, not especially. She answered.

In an anthology of insults, the man left without asking for his rest. The young woman approached Nathan, who was fascinated by the scene.

- Don't let him do that to you, she advised him.

- I was going to do it.

- Yeah … Sure.

- He just took me by surprise.

- If I had not intervened, it would have taken you quite short. Don't hang around here, the streets aren't safe, especially alone.

- I was going to get out anyway...

While looking for his cigarette pack, Nathan noticed that the man had taken all the money he had in his jeans.

- Oh, no, the fucker! He took my money!

- Sorry to hear that.

- What the hell... How am I going to eat... ?

- Deal with it, I'm not your social worker.

- And I was supposed to take the bus, I don't have anything left.

- Can't your parents give you a few dollars?

- I don't have parents...

- But you live here? By yourself?

Nathan nodded. After all, it was only half a lie, he would soon be alone.

- I was also alone for a long time. I know what it's like. I had to manage very early on without anyone.

Taking pity, the young woman reached into her pocket and pulled out some bills and coins.

- Here, take this. At the time, I would have liked to have been helped a little in case of hard times.

He accepted the money without batting an eye.

- Thank you...

- You're welcome. Listen, my name is Lin, I work for the 3rd Street Saints. If you ever need any help, we might be able to help you if you're good enough.

- If I'm good enough ?

- Yeah, like I said, we're a family, but we're here to work. You never get anything for nothing in life. We're looking for guys who want it, who have balls. See, we're doing business on the street and most importantly, we're trying to put an end to the gang wars to bring peace to the neighborhood.

- You work for Julius?

- That's right, you know him?

- Yes, I met him on Friday.

- He's kind of my spiritual father. That's kind of what everyone here is. They call us his lost boys, which is kind of ironic since we're also chicks, but whatever.

As he remained speechless, Lin quickly lost interest in the young man.

- I think you have a bus to catch.

- Right? Oh yes... I'll go.

- Yeah... That's right," Lin replied doubtfully.

She did not try to find out more and turned away, certain that her positive karma had increased today. Nathan was still confused.

Sitting at the back of his bus, he thought about his life and realized that he didn't really have one, that he just existed and went where he was told to go, and that his daily routine was the same, between his different boarding schools and his studies. He hardly went out, had few friends and was almost condemned to live like this without really deciding his destiny. Worse still, the only person who mattered to him was taken away from him...

He didn't sleep a wink that night at the boarding school.

It was almost 8 o'clock when Nathan arrived on campus. He was greeted by Ty, his good friend since the beginning of high school.

Tyrone Mills was 17 years old and, like his friend, it was his brain power rather than his wealth that opened the doors to this prestigious school. He was of African-American descent and had always fought for the respect he deserved. He, too, had come from a ghetto riddled with crime and poverty, and all he wanted to do was get out of that cursed city. The two young people had come together because of their shared values and they quickly became friends. Ty was a nice guy, hard-working and willing. His panache, never-ending sense of humor and legendary chatty personality made him very popular with his peers and he had a reputation for being reliable, positive and always in a good mood. He was a level-headed guy with a lot of dreams.

He immediately hit it off with Nathan, his roommate at boarding school and classmate, this odd, sarcastic but above all talented and charismatic guy. Ty was always impressed to see him fight hard for any cause he cared about.

Neither of them were very popular with women, however, for reasons they didn't understand. They regularly managed to have girlfriends, but never anything serious, never anything very stimulating. But they put up with it, they had no other choice anyway!

- Yo man! Didn't sleep well? You've got one of those faces!

- Ty, something bad happened this weekend and...

- Hey, did you come without your classes? What about your assignment?" Ty asked him, not paying attention to what his friend was saying.

Nathan couldn't resume his conversation until Lindsay joined them.

- Hi, boys!

- Hi Lindsay, Ty said enthusiastically.

Without the slightest hint of jealousy, Ty was happy that his friend was dating this charming and nice girl. Lindsay placed a kiss on Nathan's cheek, but he did not react as she wanted. Without taking offense, she suggested something else.

- Are you doing anything after school, Nate? Would you like to come to my house to study?

- I don't know right now, Lindsay.

The young girl wasn't expecting this kind of reaction, but she remained calm.

- I'm offering you to come to my place? Did you hear me?

- I can come over if he don't," Ty joked.

Lindsay pushed him with a laugh.

- No, I really need to study with someone who understands math. He's all A-plus. Can I count on you, Nate?

- Yes, okay, I can.

- Well... She said, a little disappointed. What enthusiasm...

The young woman returned to her friends while the two boys continued to walk to their classroom.

- Damn it, man! But you heard her! She wants you to come to her house! Do you understand what that means? She wants you man! She wants your cock, for sure! Ty said, overexcited.

- I'm not in the mood.

- Not in the mood? Ty choked out, throwing his arms up in the air. You're not in the mood to finally got Lindsay Taylor!

- I escaped a gunfight on Friday," Nathan said, still reeling from what he had experienced.

- Are you serious, man? What do you mean? Are you okay?

- No, I'm fine. But a guy robbed me on my way home. It was a street gang that saved me, the 3rd Street Saints.

- I don't know what that is, but it's fucking crazy ! You must have been so freaked out !

- Pretty much yeah... But it's okay. The only thing is I probably left my bag in their car, I need to get it back.

- You should leave it there, you'll only get in trouble, believe me.

Nathan nodded without really believing it. The truth was that he needed to see these guys again, but his friend would have done everything to dissuade him, and rightly so.

The bell rang, a sign that the day's classes were beginning. While the students listened more or less attentively to their teacher, Nathan replayed the weekend. His encounter with Sherry, the guy from the Vice Kings who was about to kill him, the intervention of the 3rd Street Saints, the ensuing shootout that cost Sherry her life and his meeting with Lin. And all this without counting the scathing announcements of his mother, her desire to get rid of him for good with this story of early majority, his own father who didn't think it was interesting to hear from him and the fact that his little brother was now going to live very far from him... It was a lot of emotion all at once for one young man.

- Collins? The teacher interrupted him while he was daydreaming in class, your assignment please.

- I don't have it, Mr. Evans," Nathan replied, annoyed.

- You didn't think it was necessary to do it?

- I did, I just don't have it with me.

Laughter erupted from the back of the classroom.

- I just forgot it, Mr. Evans, Nathan defended himself.

- How convenient, the teacher said without any empathy. Well, it will be much quicker to correct, I'll give you an F. You're off to a good start this year. I was warned that you would be a problem, I can see that it didn't take long.

- It's happening, I did your shitty assignment!

The teacher did not accept this rebellious attitude and gestured to the door without even looking at his student.

- Out, Collins. You'll come back when you've apologized.

- That's right, Nathan said, jumping up from his chair and walking towards the door, while Tyrone looked on in disbelief.

Nathan knew that he had to be careful with his behavior or he would be expelled from the school where he had already had so much trouble being accepted because of his behavior.

Mad with rage, he left the school. He did not care about the remaining classes of the day, he did not feel like attending them. Nathan hung out near the Stilwater harbor, where he smoked cigarettes and watched the crowds come and go.

Stilwater was not a good place to live. It was just a dark place ravaged by violence and drugs. The woman who walked by him was no exception. She looked completely drugged, or maybe drunk, or both. She smelled like sweat from a mile away. Disgusting, like this city. Yet, this girl was not ugly, she could even have been pretty if she had had the chance to be born elsewhere. But she had chosen to follow the curse that hung over Stilwater, the curse of remaining a sub-shit and never being able to escape her fate. Nathan had realized this long ago. He already had many recurring vices, including alcohol, tobacco and soft drugs, and he needed a plan to get out of them, to be respected, to earn money and to live away from it all. He couldn't imagine anything else in his life.

- Don't you have a smoke? A female voice behind him asked.

Nathan turned around and saw a young blond woman, rather pretty, but she was already well loaded even though it was only morning. She looked young, maybe 20 or 21 years old. He gave her his coveted cigarette and she sat down beside him.

- Thank you," she said in her gravelly voice.

She opened the cigarette and mixed it with a bit of weed that she took out of her back pants pocket. She was used to rolling as she did this with impressive dexterity. She lit her joint and looked up at the sky after pulling it.

- This is so good, so much better than sex.

Nathan raised an eyebrow, what a strange girl. He did not have time to answer her, she gave him the joint and he accepted it. Indeed, it made him good immediately.

- I don't have enough money to buy Loa Dust, but honestly, weed is the basis, it's also good.

She didn't let Nathan answer as she was already on another subject.

- Do you go to the high school there? She asked when she saw him in his uniform.

- When I don't get kicked out, yeah.

- Did you get kicked out? she giggled. Badass. You don't have any money to lend me?

- You're a direct kind of girl...

- I'm in trouble right now, that's why.

She seemed to be the kind of girl who was ALWAYS in trouble.

She approached Nathan in a not-so-subtle way until she was very close to him.

- What's your name? She asked without really caring.

- What's yours?

- Samantha.

- The only thing you'll find in my pocket is my bus pass and maybe two dollars, so take your hand out.

Caught in the act of picking his pocket, the girl stood up.

- Okay, okay! But I really need the money, you know.

- I don't have any, Nathan admitted. And I'm not about to get any.

- Are you serious? Are your parents really that bad?

- I think you have the wrong idea about me, I'm from Saints Row.

- Oh, she said disappointed.

She knew then, that she would indeed not get much money from this boy.

- It's a mess, isn't it? There's nothing for us here, she said as if they were best friends.

- That depends on your ambitions, Nathan corrected.

- My ambitions? She repeated. My only ambition is to be happy. I don't see myself as a clothes saleswoman or a saleswoman of any other kind like my mother. Me, I just want to earn some money, get out of here, and live in lust.

- Did you mean luxury? Nathan asked.

- Em … maybe… ? Sam answered surprised, without realizing her mistake. Maybe I should marry a rich old man who is not too shabby, they like young girls, don't they?

- Probably, Nathan answered, not really concerned by the question.

- Can you give me a cigarette, please?

He handed her his property and she thanked him with a wink. She was really cute and Nathan liked her, even though he had no illusions. Younger boys don't interest older girls at that age and she was probably only chatting with him because her height could mislead him about her real age. She lit her cigarette before resuming her almost monologue.

- And then we get bored here. There are too many gang bastards controlling everything and not letting us do anything. Last month I was dating a guy from the Carnales, he was cool, he always had stuff. I fucking miss him, for once I was having fun.

- Did he leave you ?

- Did he? Oh no, no, he got killed. By a rival gang I think. But I'm not surprised, he was really a loser.

Nathan thought that she must not have cared much for her missing boyfriend.

- I'd like to start my own gang, that would be great.

- You have really strange ambitions, especially for a girl.

- What are your ambitions?

- I'd like to either go for a PH.D. in math or go to law school to become a lawyer, something like that. Or why not mayor of Stilwater!

- Cool, we'll keep in touch then, I'm sure you'll be useful.

She managed to make Nathan smile.

- At least you'll have a job, you won't be unemployed with that kind of degree. Do you have a girlfriend?

- You're really too direct as a girl ...

- I don't like wasting time, I want it all, right now. I'm like that. You see, there are guys like you who will take years to get rich, and then there are chicks like me, who want to enjoy now.

- We'd all like to enjoy it now, but it's not that easy.

At that very moment, the two young teens turned around after hearing the sound of a luxury car speeding down the street. The car was blue, probably belonging to a Westside Rollerz who looked far too young to be able to afford one.

- Some people do... Sam sighed.

- You seem really interested in gangs. Is it the bad boy side that attracts you?

- A little, maybe, admitted Sam. These guys are often wild, virile. I find that exciting in a way. The problem is that they don't respect anything, and I don't want to be in this life of destruction, you know? I want positive things, money and sex!

- Then join the police. Well, you probably won't have much money and sex but at least you'll have a good conscience...

- It's dead, I already have a record...

The two teenagers looked at each other in disappointment, with the feeling that they were stuck forever in a life that did not suit them. Nathan handed Sam his pack of cigarettes and she smiled at him before accepting. She sat down next to him and looked at the sea in the distance.

- You seem to be a good man.

- I don't know about that. You are quite strange in any case.

- Oh yes, why? She asked charmingly.

She was really cute. And she had huge breasts, which did not escape the green eyes of the teenager who had difficulty to look at something else.

- I don't know, you're the kind of girl all the guys like, right?

- Does that mean you like me? she smiled.

- Maybe I do.

- I'll tell you a secret. Men like me, so I capitalize on my physical appareance!

- What do you mean? Nathan asked naively.

- I'm not going to make much money with my business school. So I just got hired as a dancer at Teen'ay, do you know it?

- Is that a bar?

- Yes," she said, moving her hands to indicate that it wasn't just that. I dance naked in front of men, they like it and give me a lot of money.

- Really? Like a stripper?

- Well, that's what I am. Do you go to that kind of place ?

- Uh... No, not really.

- Too bad for you. Maybe I could give you a private dance sometime, if we meet again. You're pretty cute, and besides, I'd like to keep you around for when you become mayor.

- You don't lose your head, but why not! Nathan answered, under the charm.

- What's your name?

He did not have time to answer when a shadow covered them. The two teenagers turned around and saw Lindsay, who was clearly not happy to see her boyfriend with another woman.

- I knew I would find you here, she said in annoyance.

Nathan immediately stood up as if he was guilty, he did not want to hurt his girlfriend's feelings.

- Lindsay, this is my friend Sam. Lindsay, my girlfriend.

- Ah... You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend, Sam said simply, making Lindsay feel jealous.

- Were you looking for me?

- We had an appointment, Lindsay sighed, almost grinding her teeth.

He had completely forgotten about it, but any other boy would not have forgotten about such an appointment!

- Yes, of course! I was going to meet you anyway, he lied.

He turned to Sam and greeted her.

- I hope you find your way, Sam, it was nice talking to you.

- Likewise, thanks for the smokes.

- Maybe we'll meet again!

- Or not, Lindsay grumbled.

Nathan smiled at the girl and went to his girlfriend, who was obviously very upset that her boyfriend could arouse interest in girls other than her.

As she had suggested, Lindsay invited Nathan to her home for the first time. Her parents were obviously not present. She invited him to her room and played some music in the background in her little teenage room, which was still halfway between the pastel-colored room of a little girl and the room of a young woman where no one could enter without permission.

They quickly got to work, as agreed, but Lindsay was not very focused, she was usually so studious.

- Don't you care what I say? Nathan asked, as he could see that she was not listening to him.

- You liked the girl from earlier, didn't you?

- Not so much, he lied, well aware that any hint of the truth would be his death warrant.

- Did you want to get her?

- What?

Nathan was not used to this kind of conversation with his friend. She was not a prude, but she was reasonable, careful and did not need to use her charms to please men. Her intelligence appealed to Nate, her body too, of course, but he knew she wasn't ready to try anything with him yet and he respected that without much difficulty. What's more, he was still quite young although increasingly titillated by hormones. But for the moment, his sexuality was limited to a pornographic movie from the 70's that he had seen furtively at the boarding school with other curious boys and of course masturbation which was taking a lot of place in his life now.

- What's wrong with you? Aren't you feeling well?

- Tell me Nate, you have what it takes? Asked she.

- Uh ... for? He asked, surprised.

- To smoke, Lindsay said.

Nathan was a little confused and assured her that he did. He had obviously understood something else, but he did not mind, at least they would be relaxed. He reached into the back pocket of his gray pants and pulled out a small bag of pot. He waved it in front of Lindsay, who was delighted, and mixed a little tobacco with the substance. Once rolled, he passed the joint to Lindsay and lit it. She took the first long drag and lay down in bed to enjoy it. She passed it to her friend, who also lay down and smoked.

- I feel so good here, with you," Lindsay said, stretching.

The girl turned to her boyfriend so that her face was close to his.

- Have you ever had sex with a girl? Lindsay whispered.

- Hum … Nathan hesitated. No.

Lindsay frowned.

- I have never slept with a boy, she said.

Nathan stroked her face. She was a pretty girl, with blue eyes and long brown hair. She was the kind of girl who lived in Sunnyvale, the upscale part of town. She came from a good family and had a bright future, no matter what. Nathan had managed to catch her eye while defending her from a group of onerous high school boys who were bothering her. She had been immediately attracted by his presence, his courage and of course his emerald green eyes, his ultimate argument with the girls. What started as a schoolboy flirtation began to last over time. They had become very attached to each other, each impressed by the other's intelligence.

Nathan kissed the beautiful Lindsay, who let herself be kissed. They hugged for a while and then caressed each other. After a while they started to caress each other. He dared to caress her breasts from under her shirt and Lindsay sighed. He himself was amazed at his boldness and the way the situation turned to his advantage. He was already hard as possible, totally titillated by caresses however still quite chaste. Sure of him, he passed his hand under her skirt and realized that she was already very excited. He was surprised by the consistency of the cyprine of his girlfriend but by dint of hearing the boys of his age shouting everywhere "that the girls wet like sluts", he quickly understood that it must be a normal demonstration of his excitation. However, he regretted his ignorance of the female body... !

- You have already seen a naked woman? Asked she biting her lips.

- Never in real, no.

- Never?

- I'm in a boys' boarding school, Lindsay...

Lindsay laughed and sat up on her knees in front of her friend who didn't know how to react. She lifted her skirt, before pulling down her panties which she removed before lying down again, spreading her thighs slightly.

- Now yes, she said.

Nathan had not expected to reach this level of intimacy with Lindsay today and was a little taken aback, but he knew he had to get his act together quickly before he let his chance slip away. He took off his uniform jacket and lay down on top of her so he could kiss her. He wanted her very much and she could feel it through his pants.

But his attention went first to her chest. Without explaining it to himself, he had always been very attracted by the breasts of the women and in his fantasies still very teenager, he imagined himself very well the head between a generous breast.

Prudently, he raised the blouse of Lindsay who let him make and very quickly, he had the impression to discover a treasure when he realized that her nipples pointed towards him. He touched them with his fingertips and finally was almost disappointed as they seemed identical to those of a man. On the other hand, when he bent down to take one in his mouth and his face almost sank into her breast, he loved the sensation. With one of his free hands, he groped her other and knew definitively that he would love all his life, the women generously endowed by nature.

- I'd like you to do something to me," Lindsay said. The girls and I watched a pornographic movie not long ago... And the guy was licking her, it looked very exciting ...

- Okay, I get it.

He too had seen porn furtively before and knew what she was talking about, though not very familiar with the practice. He placed himself between Lindsay's legs, who was wriggling with anticipation. Nathan had never really seen a woman, except in commercials or in this not very classy porn, but Lindsay seemed very different. She had less hair than the woman in the movie and his face was only a few centimeters away from his girlfriend's intimacy. At first a little hesitant, he didn't know how to go about it and cautiously, he spread her labia with his two index fingers offering him a plunging view on her pussy already well soaked and delicately, he licked her from bottom to top in a slowness which made Lindsay tremble. The taste did not displease him although he found it a little salty or even acid. But the smell had a definite erotic effect on her whole body and Nathan was excited to be able to penetrate this girl who was so open to him. Despite his inexperience, he did his best to push his tongue inside her vagina, then he pushed her clitoris, and the girl sighed, which spoke volumes about the pleasure she was experiencing.

- Higher ... Higher ... Not less strong, she guided him. No, not like that, press harder, yes ... Yes, that's it!

Conscientiously, Nathan followed Lindsay's instructions to the letter, she knew exactly what she wanted. She put her hand on her young lover's head so that she could direct him as she wished, not hesitating to correct his technique. Nathan quickly understood that she was systematically directing him towards her swollen clitoris, which he sucked and licked while pressing his tongue hard on it. He also took the opportunity to drink her whole, swallowing her salty cyprine again and again. Thus, she succeeded in cumming under his strokes of tongue.

- Ah my God! She exclaimed.

Nathan stood up satisfied and wiped himself with the back of his hand.

- That was so good! That was crazy! She added.

The young man became very excited and started to undo his pants, while Lindsay looked on quizzically.

- What are you doing? Asked Lindsay

- What am I doing? Nathan repeated without really understanding.

- I'm not ready, I don't want to go that far.

Nathan stopped dead in his tracks and looked at her with wide, astonished eyes.

- Not ready for what?

- You know...

No, he didn't really know.

- We don't have to go all the way if you don't want to, there's no problem, he agreed, although he was a little disappointed.

- Thank you for being understanding, said Lindsay who readjusted her clothes and put back her panties without paying the slightest attention to her young lover.

- You're not going to leave me like this, are you? Nathan asked and soon realized that she was not very determined.

- I don't want to go too fast.

- Sure … But … I don't know, you could take care of me for a while?

- What do you mean? She pretended not to understand.

- Lindsay... He said impatiently. I'm horny as hell right now, touch me a little... Or suck me, I don't know but don't leave me in the lurch like this.

- Oh no, I already sucked a guy once, it disgusted me.

- What...? Nathan realized, not expecting this.

- He didn't want to please me once he had finished, frankly, that put me off.

Nathan stifled a laugh in his hand.

- What? The girl asked.

- You're getting me all hot, you got what you want and now you're acting like a freak because you've sucked a random fucking badger?

Lindsay readjusted her hair.

- Respect my decision.

This time it was Nathan who ran both hands through her hair and then along her face before realizing something.

- Wait, wait. Who was that guy?

- It doesn't matter, Lindsay answered.

- Yes, it does! When we got together, we talked a little about our experiences, you never told me about this guy, where did he come from?

- Oh Nate!

- Where did he come from ?!

Faced with her friend's insistent, almost threatening look, Lindsay felt cornered.

- At summer camp, this summer. But it was just like that.

- Oh yeah, it was just like that. You cheat on me with the first asshole that comes along, but that's okay, you think it's normal.

- I didn't cheat on you! I wasn't sure if we were together or not, it wasn't easy to reach you during the vacations And then, we just kissed a little, you and I never promised each other anything...

- Ok, I see what kind of dark whore you are.

- Respect me anyway!

- It's you who doesn't respect me. What the fuck was the idea? To test me?

- You're getting angry right now!

- I'm not getting angry! Nathan just got angry.

- Honestly, you guys are all the same. That's all you think about.

- Well, you shouldn't have tried them all then. Damn it, you've turned me off.

Nathan got up from his friend's bed. He felt humiliated once again. He tightened his belt and picked up the jacket he had left on one of the chairs in Lindsay's room. Without turning around, he left the room without saying a word to his friend. He had the feeling that he was never respected, not by her, not by his teacher, not by his parents and not even by anyone on this damn earth. He had almost been murdered and nobody cared. It was becoming unbearable for him to be nobody, to feel like he didn't exist. He had to become someone, to be admired or feared, but people had to react to the mere mention of his name.

Nathan took the bus back to Saints Row. He passed the small alley where Sherry and that awful man had been murdered. Although it had been cleaned up, the asphalt could still be seen stained red. Thinking back, Nathan felt a shiver. But not of fear, but of excitement. He had hoped to see the 3rd Street Saints, but apart from a purple tag with a badly drawn fleur-de-lis on a nearby wall, there was no trace of them.

He thought about what Julius had told him and Nathan walked confidently towards the church on 3rd Street. He wasn't sure what to expect when he got there, but he felt that at that moment he had to change something in his life.

- He remembered Julius' words, "Be part of the solution".

The further Nathan walked towards the church on Third Street, the more he looked in his school uniform from a private high school in Sunnyvale and he could feel the dark eyes on him. Nathan was afraid of being mugged with this kind of clothing. He threw his jacket into a nearby trash can. He would probably get a fight over this, but it did not matter. Rid of the symbol of his prestigious school, he blended in a little more, even if in the neighborhoods, the rigor was to wear the colors of his clan and that to his knowledge, nobody wore gray and white in the area.

As he approached, he came across young boys - the vast majority of them - with purple-tinted clothes. These were the colors of the saints, so he was in the right place. The church was only a few meters away. Nathan did not hesitate for long and with a confident step he approached the church, where a hubbub resounded to him. There was a crowd of young men - all wearing purple - listening to the speech of a man who was captivating his crowd. Nathan easily recognized Julius Little, the man who had saved his life and who had given him his beautiful speech. He also recognized young Johnny, the cheeky Asian boy who acted as a driver. Nathan didn't like him at first sight, he was the kind of guy he couldn't stand, self-confident and snippy, but he did recognize a certain charisma in him.

- My boys, I'm glad to see you more and more," Julius said.

He was surrounded by Dex, the young African-American from the day before, and another older white man with a blond mustache who was smoking cigarette after cigarette.

- Everyone here knows what we have to do," Julius continued. These bastards come in here, they think they're home. I don't care what colors they wear. Rollerz, Carnales, Vice Kings ... Nobody's going to make me freak out walking these streets. We're going to fix this situation, right now.

- Yeah! The young Saints shouted, raising their fists to the sky.

- And we're going to do it with you 3rd Street Saints! All of you here, no matter who you are or where you come from, you don't have to go through this, our clan is going to bring peace to the Row!

- Yeah! The Saints shouted with even more conviction.

- Hey who the hell is this guy? A Saint asked as he turned to Nathan, the only man in the crowd who wasn't wearing purple.

- Who the hell are you, son of a bitch? Another Saint shouted, bringing his face close to Nathan's.

- Well, well," Julius said. Dex, Johnny and I found him, I wanted to know if he wanted to join us. Come here, boy. Let him come closer, boys.

Nathan glared at the Saint who had been looking down on him and walked towards Julius.

- Have you thought about it, boy? Are you ready to join us? Julius asked with some pride.

Although he was a little impressed, Nathan did not show it and nodded his head.

- Julius, if he wants to preach with the saints, he must be canonized, Johnny said with some excitement.

- He's right, Julius, everyone should do it," added Troy, the man who was standing next to Julius.

- That's right. Are you ready, boy? Julius asked.

Without waiting for his answer, Julius pushed Nathan in the back and he stumbled into the middle of the Saints.

- Let me do the honors, guys! Johnny said, holding out his hand to Nathan. Get up, man.

Nathan accepted Johnny's help without fully understanding what it meant to be canonized. As soon as he stood up, Johnny punched him in the nose and he fell backwards. Nathan put his hand to his face and saw that he was bleeding. Johnny strutted triumphantly through the crowd, which had formed a circle. His arms were raised to the sky in celebration, but he did not see Nathan, who jumped on his back and tackled him to the ground. Mad with rage and completely caught up in the screams of the crowd, Nathan beat the crap out of Johnny who was not expecting it at all! Another Saint joined the fight, pulling Nathan by his shirt and making him fall on his back. He had time to get up and jump on his new attacker, who he hit in the nose with a punch. This time, three other boys took part in the fight and beat up Nathan, who was cowering on the ground and being hit by his attackers. Johnny took the opportunity to join in and kicked Nathan in the stomach with some pleasure.

Nathan was completely unprepared and instantly regretted the fact that he had been caught in this ambush and was angry that he had once again made the wrong choice. He was definitely not good for anything.

His salvation was only due to the sound of Julius' voice.

- That's enough, guys! He is well baptized there!

The banging stopped immediately, giving way to outstretched hands, ready to help Nate up.

- Come on, get up, we've all been there," Troy said.

Nate struggled to regain his senses, and his vision was blurred by a blow to his eye, but he recognized a man's firm, strong grip and got to his feet.

- Welcome to your new family, boy," Julius said in a friendly manner, giving him a fatherly pat on the back. From now on, this boy is one of us!

Johnny, his eyebrow arched with blood, approached his rival and offered his hand.

- To the death, buddy. I'm Johnny. I'm a lieutenant here, which means that no matter what happens, you're under my command, got it?

The two boys stared at each other for a long time. They were both as beat up as each other and Nate felt a little pride in that, knowing that he was alone against Johnny and his gang.

- What's your name," Johnny said impatiently. If not, I'll give you one, like …

He didn't really know why, but at that moment Nathan understood that a new life was opening up for him and that he now had a second chance to be reborn.

- Jack.' Nate cut him off.' My name is Jack.

- Okay, Jack," Johnny sighed, rolling his eyes. I'll try to remember your name.

- If not, you can call me the guy who blew out your eyebrow, that's fine too.

- You're a smart guy! Johnny boiled over.

Troy stepped between the two boys and stared at the new guy.

- Damn it, Julius, he's a kid. You shouldn't bring them around like that, they're too young.

- Don't worry, he'll do.

- He'll do the trick, he weighs 50 kilos and he's 15 years old.

- Hey!" Nathan said vexed. You put on a mustache to pretend you're a man, but you're probably the same age as me!

- I don't think so," Troy answered, lighting a cigarette. How old are you, Jack? he asked as he approached the young man.

- 21.

- My ass, yeah. You got an ID so I can check?

- Are you a cop or something? Nate said impatiently.

Troy looked surprised for a moment and gave a nervous laugh.

- Damn it, Julius. He looks as unmanageable as Johnny. I'll let you deal with it, but your kids are driving me crazy.