.
This chapter contains a passage about a sexual assault.
Please read at your own discretion.
Chapter 12 - Do as I say. Not what I do.
Mid-November 1995 - Third Street Church - Saints Row.
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
When you were eight and you had bad traits
You go to school and learn the golden rule
So why are you acting like a bloody fool?
If you get hot, you must get cool
It had become more than a habit, almost a ritual, and every day the young boys in purple gathered at 78 Richens Lane, just around the corner from Third Street.
For many of the young Saints, the church had become a refuge, where they could find other boys who were similar to them, people to talk to and a little human warmth that they sorely missed in their daily lives.
With the same dress code and common values, the Saints were naturally bound together by a code of honor even more important than the justice of men. Blood and tragedy brought them together, that was a fact.
As he often did, Jack would rush to Saints Row after class to hear Julius's words about society, the problems of the neighborhood, and how to bring respect to the streets by getting rid of enemy gangs as much as possible. Julius' speech captivated the boys who followed his precepts as if he were a guru. Most of them would have given their lives for him, in the name of the cause the Third Street Saints were fighting for.
Jack was not to be outdone, he admired Julius who seemed to give everything to give the youth of Saints Row the safe and secure youth that none of them had. He was the only one fighting for them.
The only one.
But was Julius Little really that altruistic?
The boys had no doubt about it.
That afternoon, Julius was true to form and tried to make his boys aware of the problems in the ghetto. He warned them about gratuitous violence against what he called civilians, about drug prevention, but most of all, about the protection of young people, especially girls, who are the number one victims of insecurity in Saints Row.
- Hey, can I sit next to you? asked a young boy to Jack.
- Yeah, sure, man," he replied, taking off his bag which was taking up space.
- Thanks.
Jack turned to the young man. He was quite cute, and couldn't have been much older than his age. He was a boy with light brown hair and big brown eyes. His face was still quite boyish and definitely gave him a youthful look as well as a nice one.
- Weren't you with us at the massage parlor with Troy?
- Yes, I was! My name is Skylar Meijen, I'm also part of Johnny's band, we've worked together before!
- Oh, yes, we have! Sorry, I'm Jack Saint.
- Don't worry, I know! We talk about you a lot.
- We do? Jack was surprised.
- Yeah, Johnny's all over you. To make fun of him, we keep teasing him that he has a crush on you.
- I like Johnny, but not that much.
- Yeah I guess not! We've made a lot of progress on the VK thing thanks to you two. We're almost out of here.
- We've been doing a lot of work, yeah. But hey, we're not done yet. As long as that bitch Tanya Winters is up, the fight ain't over.
- It's only a matter of time now. At least, we think so.
- May God hear you," Jack said with a wink.
Julius made big eyes at the boys to indicate that they were talking a little too loudly, and caught in the act, they stopped dead.
- Damn it, it's almost six o'clock already," sighed Skylar. Damn, and I still have homework to do for tomorrow.
- What grade are you in?
- 12th grade.
- Seriously? Me too!
- Oh, yeah? I've never seen you at school though. And yet, I see Dee-Dee every day, isn't she your girl?
- Yeah, but I don't go to Saints Row High School, I go to Sunnyvale," explained Jack.
- Oh yeah, right! That's a hell of a long way from here.
- Yeah, I commute a lot. But I'm too lazy to go back there.
- Where do you live?
- I'm a boarder at the high school, I came by streetcar too...
- Then come to my place!
- What for? Jack was surprised.
- We'll motivate each other for our homework and you can stay for lunch if you want.
Jack was surprised at the sudden closeness, but Skylar seemed deeply kind and he felt like trusting him, so he agreed.
No sooner had Julius' speech ended than the two boys slipped away into the night to the building where Skylar lived. He lived on Saints Row too, in the same kind of apartment as Johnny and the Tyler sisters. It was big, gloomy, crowded, with smashed mailboxes and a stench of rancid piss from the lobby. Several kids were sitting smoking on the stairs and barely pushed themselves out of the way to let the boys through.
- What a bunch of assholes," Jack huffed.
- Yeah, but they're not that bad, don't worry.
- Reassure me, you don't live upstairs?
- No, on the third floor!
A young girl of about twelve years old came down the stairs, wrapped in a big jacket, and she was happily insulted when she passed by the youngsters.
- You dirty whore! yelled one of the guys.
- They're pissed off, the guys in your building," Jack said to his friend.
- Yeah, they're too hard.
- Why are they yelling at the kid?
- I don't know, she's got a bad reputation," replied Skylar, not really interested.
- So young already?
- I don't know.
With the help of his key, Skylar entered his apartment where a huge pitbull dog jumped on him. Jack stood transfixed, hoping the beast wouldn't jump on him.
- Anouk? Are you there? Skylar asked. Down, Siska! Naughty girl!
- Your dog won't do anything to me...? Jack asked cautiously.
- It's my sister's dog and don't worry, she's nice.
- Your sister or the dog?
- Both," laughed Skylar.
A beautiful young woman greeted the two boys. She was tall, blonde, had long legs and was scantily clad.
- Sky! You could have told me that you came with a friend! She reproached him by trying to hide a little.
- Well, you don't have to walk around here naked. It's Jack, a friend. Anouk, my sister.
- Excuse my stupid little brother, I'm Anouk, Skylar's big sister.
- Uh, hello ma'am," Jack stammered.
- Isn't Mom here? Skylar asked.
- No, she's sleeping... Well, if you know what I mean.
- Okay, good... Jack and I are going to do our homework.
Skylar dragged Jack by the hand, since he was still blocked in front of the beautiful Anouk that he looked at with a smile a little silly. He was dragged into a small room where there were two beds.
- You sleep with your sister? Jack hoped.
- Nah, it's my big brother's bed. Anouk doesn't normally live here. She just came back temporarily because her boyfriend hit her again. It happens a lot, she yells that she's leaving him, she comes back here and then she forgives him. It works like that on a loop.
- She doesn't hold a grudge.
- She's just way too nice to this jerk. But then again, she's got it in her blood apparently...
Jack allowed himself to sit on Skylar's bed. Its sheets were blue and represented cartoon characters. The contrast between Skylar's banger life and his still childlike side amused Jack. Most of the Saints were in a similar sort of delirium, halfway between innocence and the harshness of reality.
Finally, Skylar offered a cigarette to his friend, who gladly accepted, and they began to work on their respective courses. The teaching at Saints Row seemed so easy to Jack, compared to what Sunnyvale High School had to offer, that he felt like he didn't have the same level of study as his friend at all.
- Damn, you're pretty good," said Skylar, impressed. Thank you, I really didn't think we'd finish so quickly!
- It's late, I'm going to have to go back to the dorm.
- Don't you want to sleep here instead? It's cold outside and we don't have class tomorrow.
- Your brother will be happy to see me in his bed.
- Oh, don't beat yourself up about it. He won't be coming home for at least five years!
- Why not? Is he in the army?
- He's in jail.
- Oh. Okay," said Jack, surprised. So, you live here with your parents, your brother when he's not in jail, and your sister when no one's hitting her?
- Actually, my dad is in jail, and sometimes... My mom is too... It's usually Anouk who takes care of me," Skylar answered, embarrassed.
The two boys looked at each other with a hint of embarrassment.
- Okay," said Jack, breaking the silence. Well, my dad's in jail too, I know what it's like.
- What's he in for?
- Violence, stuff like that," said Jack after a moment's thought. What about your parents?
- Drugs... My father sold, my mother shot up... My brother took over, you know what I mean...
The terribly mundane life of a soulless neighborhood.
- If you're still ok, I'll crash here.
- Cool!
- SKY! said a female voice through the door. Can you take the dog out before we eat, please?
- YES OK! he shouted from his bed. Do you mind if we take a quick look around?
Jack was ok, and with Siska, the two boys went for a walk in the streets of Saints Row. At least, the presence of the big dog reassured Jack a little, who hated going out at night in the row. The already crappy atmosphere of the day gave way to a new population at night. People, looking for money and drugs, who turned in a very derogatory way on the young boys.
- Do you understand why I don't want my sister to be the one to take the dog out alone at night?
- I don't have a sister, but I can imagine why.
- The chicks here are systematically fucked up. And respectable girls don't go out when it gets dark.
- Not even to walk their dog?
- Yes, of course. But you know what I mean.
Jack understood that he was lucky to be a man in this kind of place, even if he was exposed to other worries. But at least, he was not sexually embarrassed all the time, it was already not bad ...
Anouk served the boys at the table by putting in front of a plate full of mashed potatoes, cabbage and a huge sausage. Jack stopped for a moment in front of this very substantial dish that he had never tasted in his life.
- What is it? he asked, sniffing discreetly.
- Stampott," answered Anouk.
- What the ... ?
- It is a traditional dish of our country! You have never tasted it?
- Not at all, you are of which origin ?
- Dutch!
- It's Holland...? Jack hesitated.
- That's it!
Anouk filled a fourth plate that she took outside the kitchen.
- Damn, it's good, but it's fat!
- We're going to sleep well with this! Skylar laughed.
- I'll admit that the cabbage plaster is a little bit scary for the atmosphere of the night.
Skylar burst out laughing. He hadn't thought of that and promised to leave the window open tonight.
Finally, in this strange family, Jack could see how Anouk and her little brother were bonded and probably the only ones who could rely on each other. Anouk was a real mother to Skylar and on top of that, she had this natural mothering side that appealed to young Jack, who was always looking for a suitable mothering role model. For a moment, he devoured the young woman with his eyes, so much so that Skylar had to elbow him out of his musings.
- You and your sister have a great relationship," Jack said as he undressed and got into bed.
- If it wasn't for Anouk, I'd be in foster care or something. She's always taken care of me, she's the woman in my life. She's more important than anyone else, including my mother.
- And besides, she's pretty damn hot.
- Watch your mouth," challenged Skylar, throwing a pillow in his face.
- Oh no, I don't have any sweatpants to sleep in," said Jack. I left my stuffs at Julius', that makes shit.
- You can sleep in your pants, don't worry, I'm not looking.
- Do you have a pair of sweatpants or pajamas I can borrow?
- Are you afraid of being cold?
- I don't like to sleep half naked.
- Oh? said Skylar. Yes, don't worry, I must have this.
- Oh, thank you!
This relief seemed almost suspicious to Skylar, but he didn't ask more questions. Rummaging through his closet, he found a pair of gray, somewhat shapeless sweatpants that Jack happily grabbed. The two boys had a last smoke by the window and went to bed.
- How long have you been at the Saints? Jack asked as he crawled under his comforter.
- I was canonized this summer.
- Why did you join them?
Skylar was surprised but found a legitimate answer.
- Julius and Troy's speech sounded right to me. I don't have much of a future here... And my dream would be to get my sister and I to safety. Maybe in a different city, anyway, my goal is to get out of here.
- Same for me... As soon as it's possible, I'll take control of my life.
- What do you mean by that?
- It's not going well with my mother and stepfather, but it's either that or the home. And I'm sick of always obeying adults who don't give a damn about me, I want to live my own life, to have my own rules you know. And above all, I don't want this permanent feeling of insecurity anymore.
- I'm the same way... I just want to live in peace.
Jack turned over in bed and enjoyed the fresh air coming in through the window.
- Tell me Jack... Have you been with any girls since the trip to Wong's? Skylar asked shyly.
- I have a girlfriend.
- Oh yeah, right, I'm an idiot.
Skylar remained silent, and Jack soon realized the true meaning of his question.
- I haven't had sex with a girl since. We haven't done anything with my girl yet.
- Really?
- There's no shortage of desire, but between classes, boarding school, the Saints, well... It's a bit complicated!
- I guess so.
- Do you have a girlfriend?
- No ... Before that, guys said that chicks feel the virginity of guys and that they are not interested, but now that I'm not a virgin, I don't attract them anymore ! I don't know why, I probably have a problem with girls.
- You don't have a problem, I'm sure.
- I hope not... Sometimes it scares me," Skylar admitted.
The boys chatted for a while about the charm of ladies, and eventually fell asleep after talking far too late.
Skylar was nice. He was just a young man from the row who wanted to get away from all that misery. He was neither violent nor bloodthirsty, he just wanted a normal life with his sister in order to have a job one day that would allow him to get by without following his parents' path. He had simple dreams, measured ambitions and knew that the Saints were only a temporary stepping stone in his life.
Exhausted, the two boys eventually fell asleep but were soon awakened by screams from the floor above.
Jack was startled and Skylar barely opened his eyes.
- Sky ... There's a girl screaming ...
- It's the neighbor...
- She's getting killed now, isn't she?
- No, don't worry, they're always yelling... It's the twelve year old girl we met this afternoon. Her uncle is crazy, he's probably still drunk and acting crazy. Honestly, it's always like that, we're used to it.
The young woman's screams caught Jack's attention, and he wasn't particularly accustomed to witnessing scenes of ordinary violence. After all, he had lived most of his life in boarding schools where silence was the rule... Sure, in his parents' house, it often happened that Daria the neighbor yelled at her sons or that passers-by argued in the adjacent streets, but never in a systematic way with such chilling screams. Skylar turned over in his bed and fell back to sleep, no more disturbed than that. Eventually the screams died down and only the barking of dogs broke the silence of the neighborhood.
Unable to sleep, Jack got up and headed for the bathroom so he could make a detour to the bathroom. But as he pushed the door open, he came upon Anouk, who was showering. He remained confused, his mouth open and his eyes wide without knowing what to do. He was as embarrassed as subjugated by the naked body of the young woman. Her skin was very white, almost milky, and her curves were obviously perfect for Jack's teenage eyes. Her breasts looked so soft ... She hid by reflex, before reconsidering the situation.
- I'm... Sorry! Jack stammered, really embarrassed.
- Do you want to join me...? proposed Anouk.
The young Jack was totally destabilized. Anouk was ten years older than him, but she probably didn't realize it. She probably figured he was almost eighteen, like Skylar. He had probably caught her eye, but he was way older than his age and really handsome.
Jack stiffened as much as his cock, but his body and brain refused to believe such an opportunity, so he remained stoic in the doorway.
- ANOUK," bellowed a voice behind him. TURN OFF THE FUCKING LIGHT!
Jack turned around and saw a large woman lying on an unmade bed, sprawled out in front of the TV screen. The floor was littered with empty beer cans. So this was Skylar and Anouk's mother ... A living wreck, soaked in alcohol and substances ...
This vision disturbed Jack who obediently closed the door for fear of waking the monster and went back to bed without really knowing if he had just dreamed.
He nevertheless went to bed with a little regret! But Dee-Dee probably wouldn't have appreciated it, so Jack took Skylar's mother's intervention as a sign of karma.
But... He'd had a hell of a touch and wasn't a little proud of it!
The next morning came quickly, and Jack didn't feel particularly rested, between the noises in the neighborhood and his overactive imagination. Skylar, on the other hand, didn't seem particularly disturbed and slept with a light snore. He was rather cute and almost looked innocent.
Jack dressed quickly and was drawn to the kitchen where a good smell was emanating. Anouk was already up and preparing breakfast for the two boys.
- Good morning, Jack," she exclaimed when she saw the teenager. Did you sleep well?
- Good morning, yes I did, thank you.
- Sit down, I was just preparing breakfast.
Jack took his place at the table, a little embarrassed. Anouk did not make any reference to their fortuitous meeting of this night, so much so that he wondered if he had not dreamed.
- Would you like some coffee?
- Yes, thank you.
- You can have something else, I know that at your age, we don't necessarily like it.
- My age and I have always liked coffee," replied Jack, seeing what she was getting at.
Anouk gave him a small defiant smile before putting a steaming cup in his hand and taking it.
- I know you and Sky are part of that neighborhood gang, Anouk said suddenly.
- Hum, yeah. All the kids on Saints Row are in it," Jack lied.
Anouk pulled up a chair and sat down opposite Jack.
- Tell me Skylar isn't doing anything illegal or dangerous.
- Not that I know of ... No.
- He's a nice boy who wouldn't hurt a fly. But he's sensitive and fragile and very impressionable. I don't want anything to happen to him.
- Uh yeah... But I don't see what that has to do with me.
- He's my little brother, I could never stand anything happening to him. You know what I mean? He has to stay on the straight and narrow.
- We're not criminals...
- So keep it that way, I insist.
- Hi everyone," interrupted Skylar, half-awake.
- Ah Sky! Did you sleep well? His sister asked him with a smile.
She rushed on him to kiss him and serve him. Anouk was really with the care for her brother whom she regarded really like a child, whereas it had already seventeen years. But she still saw him as a puny little boy.
This little Saint who had already killed and who frequented prostitutes. If the sibling found out about this...
Later that day, the two Saints motivated themselves to join their fellow Saints at the church, looking for new things to do. But when they arrived in front of the building, a policeman blocked their way.
- What's wrong? Jack asked.
- Where are you young men from? asked the cop.
- From the third floor, I live here. What's going on? Said Skylar.
- Did you hear anything strange last night?
- No, not more than usual.
- No crying children?
- Nope, nothing.
- Is there a pregnant woman living in this building?
- I don't know," said Skylar, not really willing to answer.
The policeman turned to Jack.
- I don't live here, I just came to sleep at my friend's place last night.
- Alone?
- Uh... Yeah.
- And you didn't hear anything strange last night?
Jack hesitated, but he didn't feel like explaining himself for hours at the police station... Especially since apart from the screams - which seemed usual - he hadn't heard anything.
- No, I was sleeping, I didn't hear anything, why?
- Okay...
- Can we go out? Skylar said impatiently.
The policeman turned to his colleague who nodded that he didn't care.
- If something comes back to you, don't hesitate, insisted the policeman by shifting to let them pass.
Without trying too hard to explain, Skylar pulled Jack by the sleeve to leave in a hurry. When they left the building, many policemen were gathered in front of a crowd of curious passers-by. An area had been secured with a yellow line indicating that it should not be crossed.
- Holy crap, was there a murder or what? said Jack, challenged.
- It's weird, but for sure, it's another dead crackhead in a garbage can.
- Maybe... C'mon, who cares?
The two boys went to the church where other Saints were already squatting early in the morning. Most of them were not doing anything with their lives, and they were content to be there, with no real meaning to their lives. Fortunately, Nassim was at the ready to commandeer the laziest of them to try to do something with them, at least, if he couldn't make them into great men, he would teach them to spend their time intelligently and to see something other than this rotten ghetto.
- Sky, I'll leave you to it, I'm going to see Troy. Thanks for the night, it was cool, I really hope we do it again.
- Anytime, buddy, it was fun.
- And give your sister a kiss for me!
- No way, asshole.
The two boys giggled before joining their assigned group.
- Hey Troy," Jack said to his superior.
- Hey kiddy.
- Troy, you know everything about everything, do you know what happened in the neighborhood last night?
- There's always a lot going on. Muggings, robberies, rapes, the usual, why ?
- I slept over at Skylar's last night and this morning there was a whole armada of cops in front of his building.
- Oh yeah, I know about that.
- And what happened ?
- They found a dead baby in a trash can.
Jack paused.
- A baby?
- Yeah, probably some chick who gave birth in secret and got rid of the kid. That kind of thing happens all the time.
- Does it? Surprised the young man.
- You don't know that the girls here are classified in only two categories: The good girls and the whores. And the guys in the neighborhood know very well who they're dealing with in general. That's how a lot of little girls end up pregnant without wanting to be.
- Well ... They just don't have to sleep ...
- Oh yeah, it's so simple," said Troy, rolling his eyes. You're lucky to be born here with a dick, believe me.
- The link?
- The link, you little shit, is that you guys behave badly with girls.
- What do you mean "you"? It seems I didn't do anything!
- That's an interesting choice of words, "It seems". Damn, that's amazing. That's exactly what I blame you all for. A little "whore" to a girl who's not dressed up enough for you, a strong look or a too insistent proposal, it never seems to be a problem to you guys. And yet, here, rape and sexual assault are a real plague.
- I didn't assault anyone, you're sick!
- I'm not going to congratulate you, it's just normal!
- I'm not asking you anything, why are you warming up to me?
Troy pulled himself together.
- I'm nervous, I wasn't aiming at you, kid. But this violence towards the girls in the neighborhood worries me. You have to take care of them, respect them. I see too many girls falling apart because of shit. I'm not naive, it was bad enough when I was young...
- Something wrong, Troy? Julius asked as he joined his captain.
- The cops found another dead baby in a trash can this morning," Jack explained.
- Ah... A sad life for that child, God rest his soul.
- Big deal," Troy huffed.
- It's not our fault," said Julius.
- Nah, we didn't have anything to do with it, but Jul, I thought maybe we could educate our guys on this.
- About?
- Contraception, women, how to deal with them, the fact that pregnant girls is a real community problem.
- I don't know if that's very relevant...
- Excuse me? And how is it not? Jul, it's important that our guys don't use rape as a weapon of war.
- If other gangs are using it on our girls, I don't see why...
- Nope! Troy cut him off. It's a fucking plague! There are too many innocent girls paying way too much money for free. If you want to save our youth, you have to educate everyone, and that starts with protecting our women.
- Well... Guys don't touch good girls," Jack defended himself.
- And what exactly is a good girl, Jack?
- Well... A nice girl. One who doesn't tease guys, or whatever...
Troy looked back at Julius in disappointment.
- Please. You hear that?
- Maybe it's important that we actually talk about this... Julius decreed.
- Amen, finally something that makes sense! said Troy, relieved.
- I'll think about it, you're right. Just yesterday, I had little Brianna from the Mission Beach watch group come to me crying because the guys touched her a little too much for her taste.
- Yeah, they totally molested her, yes.
- Don't exaggerate either, they pushed her around a little bit... But you're right, our girls shouldn't be afraid to go out on our streets, and our boys should be there to protect their women. I still remember when I was young, the little girl who lived on the floor above my apartment was raped by her uncle who got her pregnant. She was only thirteen years old and she already had that whore label on her back even though she hadn't done anything.
- And that's probably the same kind of story that happened to the woman who threw her baby away at Skylar's house.
- It's creepy... Jack admits.
- I'll think about it," Julius promised. We'll make sure none of our girls are abused on our watch anymore.
A smile flashed across Troy's face, just before he raised a cigarette to his lips. Julius wouldn't be able to perform miracles, but if he could channel his Saints, it would be a promise of a better fate. Troy was not fooled, but he was confident for the future.
But while waiting for the holy words, the Saints went back to their usual activities. With his group, Jack patrolled the neighborhood for most of the day as the pseudo-militia. There was no sign of the Vice Kings today. Their rout had probably calmed them down for a while, and so the young Saints spent their time smoking and drinking heavily on the dilapidated playgrounds.
- Boy, it's cold out here," Kendrick grumbled, rolling a joint.
- Fuck yeah, it's getting colder and colder," admitted Suge, rubbing his arms.
- Should we take the streetcar home? I'm too lazy to walk," said Jack.
- Yeah, I'm lazy too. Let's get out of here.
The Saints, all dressed in purple, went to the nearest stop and without a ticket they got on the streetcar. There were not too many people that evening, but the group effect obliged the Saints to make everyone uncomfortable by talking too loudly and smoking in the trams. There were only eight of them, but they seemed to be twice as many. The people were annoyed and most of them subtly tried to change cars because the Saints had become so uncomfortable.
They thought they were the kings of the world and didn't care about disturbing others. If anyone dared to make the slightest complaint, they were put in their place. Gangs had a bad reputation, and no one wanted to get shot for looking at them. The car emptied at a rapid pace and Suge strutted between the rows. At the back of the train was a young girl, who had done her best not to be seen by this gang of overexcited boys.
- Oh, what do I see! exclaimed Suge.
He whistled to his companions, and they all sat down next to or behind the young woman's seat, where they turned to lean over her. She was stunned and held a book tightly against her, for protection.
- Hi," said Kendrick, sitting on the right of the young woman.
- You can say hello eh, insisted Suge, sitting on her left.
- Hello ... She said, afraid.
- You read what? He asked, snatching the book from her hands.
The girl tried to defend herself but alone with eight big boys, she changed her mind and did not try anything.
- Yeah, yeah," Suge sighed as he turned the pages, uninspired.
- And what are you doing alone on the streetcar? Diego asked.
As she hesitated to answer, Suge became impatient.
- But you're not polite! We're just asking you a question!
- I'm going to my father's.
- Where does he live?
- In downtown...
- Ah, but we're going out to Saints Row! We will be able to make the way together of the blow, decreed Kendrick by passing his arm around the shoulders of the young woman who felt very uncomfortable.
She was totally stuck, between Kendrick and Suge stuck against her, Jack, Johnny and Skylar who were drinking on the back seat, but on their knees, leaning over her, Jayceon, Diego and AceBone in front of her who were smoking. She was terrified, but dared not say anything. Little by little, the carriage emptied again, until there were only two men left, the girl and the eight Saints.
- What is your name?
- Julia ...
- And how old are you?
- Twenty-seven...
- Twenty-seven! You don't fucking look it," said Kendrick.
- Damn, you look like you're sixteen," Jack added.
- She's kidding us, you're not twenty-seven.
- I do... I just look young, that's all.
- Fuck, I wish I had a fresh chick like that," said Diego.
- She's messing with us guys! That's for sure! insisted Kendrick.
- I swear you that not...
- Well, prove it.
The young woman remained stupefied. She reluctantly took out her identity card and already imagined that when she saw her wallet, they would have the good idea to rob her. Suge snatched the card out of her hand and threw it at his colleagues in front of him.
- That's not the kind of evidence we want.
- I don't have anything else and ...
- No, don't worry, we know very well how to find out if you're telling the truth.
- How? She was rightly concerned.
- By gravity!
The girl did not understand more than the young Saints, who looked at each other with a questioning air.
- What do you mean? Jayceon asked, curious.
- Well, it's very simple! Around thirty years old, women's breasts fall down. If hers are hyper firm, it will mean that she lied to us, decreed Suge, with a worrying smile.
- What... ? She said in fear.
- Oh yeah, excellent proof ! enthused Kendrick.
- Show us your breasts and we'll believe you.
- We're going too far here, guys ... interposed Skylar.
- Shut the fuck up, Sky, we all know you're a fag, you obviously can't understand! Diego insisted.
- No, he's right, it sucks," Johnny agreed with Skylar.
- But come on, it's nothing, it's just to see if she's not fucking with us, Suge insisted.
- Come on, show us your tits! Insisted in chorus several Saints.
An old man got up from his seat and walked towards the boys.
- Young men, calm down or I'll call the police," he threatened them.
- The what? said Suge. But what's wrong with you, the fucking white knight?
- We're not doing anything here," Diego defended himself.
- You're bothering this young lady.
- She's a friend, shut up, we didn't ask you anything!
- Miss, the man insisted courageously. Do you need help?
- She doesn't need help, she's my girl! Kendrick lied, holding her by the shoulders.
- Okay, fine, I'll call the police.
The old man went towards the emergency alarm before Suge ran over him and tackled him to the ground. With Diego's help, they beat him up and threw him out at the next stop, threatening to kill him if he opened his mouth.
- You guys are full of shit," Johnny sighed.
- He was going to turn us in to the cops!
Diego was sorely lacking in rationality when he heard the word "police" and took it personally, whatever the reason...
- Well then, is she going to show us her boobs or not! Resumed Kendrick who had not moved.
Trembling, the young woman understood that she would never have peace, that they were dangerous and violent and tears in the eyes, opened her blouse by hoping that they would be satisfied to just look at. She found herself in her bra in front of her crowd of gloating aggressors.
- Come on, the bra, the bra! Suge shouted, very drunk.
The other Saints were not very fresh either and most of them did not even realize that they were behaving like less than nothing.
Julia, took off her bra while trembling and found herself topless in front of the boys, ashamed and panicked.
- Ah well, here it is! It was just that that we wanted to see! Damn, you've got quite a pair of boobs," Suge rejoiced.
- You've seen, now leave me alone, please," implored Julia.
- Get dressed, it's okay, said Johnny, who didn't like the whole thing.
- Nah, nah, wait, we have some checking to do first! snickered Kendrick gruffly.
- I agree with Johnny, it's okay, let's get out of here, says Jayceon.
- Let's check it out first! We finish what we started and then she can leave! Suge shouted.
- Don't rape me, I beg you... Julia articulated with difficulty.
- If you let us touch your tits, we won't rape you, I promise, Kendrick promised.
- Is it good, deal? Said Suge as if it was consensual.
Julia nodded, her eyes filled with tears and consented under duress to let herself be touched. She immediately felt the hands of Kendrick and Suge, stuck to her, each grabbing a breast.
- You have a boyfriend? Kendrick asked.
- Yes ...
- Fucking hell, the bastard must be enjoying himself so much. Do you jerk him off between your tits sometimes?
- No...
- What a waste. Does that tell you to...
- Stop it Kendrick damn it! Stopped him Johnny.
- She's willing!
- She didn't consent to anything! She said yes because you guys are assholes who force it! That's it, leave her alone now, this has gone too far. And the rest of you, you don't say a damn thing, it pisses me off!
Johnny had a nonchalant temperament and it was rare that he got angry. He would have to feel insulted or feel a deep injustice to do so. But in reality, the inactivity of his homies was mostly due to their high blood alcohol content. Jack was already struggling to stay awake and AceBone was struggling to keep from throwing up.
- Johnny's right, this has gone too far, I don't support it, it's pathetic," Skylar added.
- Skylar, the day you touch a chick's boobs is not going to happen," Suge sneered.
- I already slept with a chick, what are you talking about?
- You're gay Sky. You only dream about the day you get a dick in your ass.
- That's bullshit.
- Maybe you already have, by the way. Didn't you sleep with Playa last night? You go well together! He must have done a good job on your ass.
- You're crazy, I'm not a fag," Jack woke up at the mention of his name.
- You didn't sleep together maybe? Suge insisted heavily.
- Slept yeah! Not in the same bed either, what's with your insinuations?
- You know Playa... The rumors...
- Damn you, are you a faggot? Diego asked.
- Of course I'm not! I have a girlfriend, I remind you!
- Then prove it," challenged Kendrick petty.
- You want me to screw my girl in front of you, you fucking pervert?
- Nah, I don't give a fuck about your biatch. Come here, and eat this bitch's tits," he said, pointing at Julia.
- You're sick, I don't do that.
- He prefers to swallow the balls, you see, decreed Suge, sure of himself.
- Skylar and Playa the fags! chanted the two boys stupidly.
Being homosexual in such an environment was neither harmless nor without consequences and if Jack had never questioned his sexual orientation, he took it as an insult. Jack got up to stand in front of Julia who looked at him with fear. He stifled first a burp of the back of his hand, proof if it was, that he was not quite in the best possible conditions, before leaning towards her.
- Faggot ... Faggot ... whispered Kendrick to put some oil on the fire.
Then, without thinking, Jack plunged his head between the breasts of the young woman then strongly sucked her nipples, under the applause and the cries of his colleagues. Only Johnny, Skylar and Jayceon did not approve.
Jack didn't know what he was doing, his head was spinning too much, but he liked it. He kissed the breasts of Julia, who pushed a languorous sigh. Totally taken in his dash, he laid down the young woman on the red and dilapidated seats of the streetcar and wallowed on her. Disconcerted, in a slightly surreal situation, Julia closed her eyes and grabbed Jack by the hair to direct him.
- Look how much she loves it! said Diego.
- You see she was willing, added Suge. Damn, she must have a wet pussy by now.
Suge moved his hand towards the girl's crotch and she stiffened and pushed him away immediately.
- No...!
- What, no? Suge said. Stop your drama, you did not want to be touched and now, we hear you squeaking like a bitch. Swear that you don't wet yourself.
- No!" said Julia, in panic.
She tried to free herself from Jack's embrace by pushing him and he recovered a little. He got up and realized what he had done when he saw Suge and Kendrick trying to spread the legs of the young woman.
- Wow... What are you guys doing? Emerged Jack.
- That's enough now! Said Jayceon interposing himself.
- Shut up, what's wrong with you? Rises Kendrick.
- There is that you make it wrong! Carried away Skylar.
The boys started to heat up and clans started to form, led by Johnny on one side and Suge on the other. Insults began to fly and shoving ensued, creating a monstrous hubbub in the streetcar.
- You're all mentally retarded people who can't get chicks! reproached Jayceon.
- Women, we respect them! Johnny chanted.
- She agreed, we had a deal," Suge defended himself.
- It's not a deal, it's just disgusting!
Julia took the opportunity to get dressed with the clumsy help of Jack. He helped her up and pulled her by the hand when the streetcar stopped. He put her outside, so that she could escape the boys.
- I apologize ... He said awkwardly.
The doors of the streetcar were closed, in front of Julia who looked one last time at her aggressor.
- But damn, why you let her go! Kendrick got angry.
- We did it wrong! Jack realized.
- YOU did," corrected Suge.
- You're all disgusting in person," said Jayceon. This will be repeated to Julius, be sure of it.
- You dirty snitch, a real son of a coward.
- I'd rather be a son of a coward than a son of a bitch!
- But come on, she was just a random chick, who gives a shit?
- You guys are shit, that's all," Johnny concluded, looking at them with disdain.
- You guys are so fucking fragile. You play thugs all day long and now it's time for the precious.
- Johnny's fucking right... We shouldn't touch the chicks... Jack admits.
- He said after he had pawed it like a starving man.
Jack pulled his hair up, not proud of it.
- My head hurts...
- Oh poor thing," laughed Kendrick.
- You guys are assholes, I wouldn't have touched her if you hadn't been so hard on me.
- You're in the same boat as them to me," Jayceon said. I'm disappointed in you Jack.
- But ...
But Jayceon was right and Jack was unforgivable even though his last action probably saved Julia from ending up raped...
The boys argued again until the streetcar arrived in Saints Row, where they forgot about AceBone, who was asleep and took a complete tour of the city and got a fine when a ticket collector woke him up to check his ticket.
When they arrived at the church, Jayceon went to tell Julius everything and the boys were summoned immediately. They were put on their knees and immediately slapped by their leader, without distinction. Those who had not moved were as guilty as the aggressors, and even if Suge and Kendrick were clearly the investigators, the deplorable behavior of the others was not worthy.
Julius gave them a memorable dressing down and called Troy to back up his speech. They were called names, from the little shit to the bastard, and they all stared at the ground in shame.
- Can you imagine if it was your sister or your girlfriend," Troy insisted.
- Your behavior will not go unpunished. You are a disgrace to the Saints and I don't want to hear any more stories like that in my ranks," Julius shouted. I forbid you to touch the women of the neighborhood we are supposed to protect! What are you thinking? I know you're young and feisty, but we don't assault women in the street. But my God... I'm so disappointed in you...
- We just wanted to have fun... We wouldn't have raped her... Suge argued.
- She must have thought it was hilarious," Troy sighed. If she presses charges, it'll be a pain in the ass.
- I didn't touch her," Diego defended himself.
- But you were there! And you let it happen! Said Julius, with a glare.
- Guys, I know that the group effect has something to do with it, because I'm convinced that alone you wouldn't have gotten this far, but damn it, you have to pull each other up," Troy explained. None of you have been up to the task.
- We know..." said Jack.
- Well, you're finding that out way too late, kid!" Said Julius. I don't want to hear this kind of story in the row again. Not you! Not the Saints! You'd better be blameless for the next few times, otherwise it's going to be very bad for you all, I guarantee it. Now get out, all of you! I don't want to see any of you fucking idiots.
The boys stood up in shame and walked out of Julius' office.
- Skylar, wait a minute," Troy called out.
- Yes?
- Brenda, in your building, you know?
- Brenda? Steph's sister?
- No idea, she's a black kid who lives above you.
- Yeah, I can see who she is. Why?
- Well, she's the mother of the dead baby. She gave birth the night the kid was found. She did it in her bathroom, by herself.
- What, Brenda?
- Yeah.
- But she's twelve years old!
- Yeah. She's at the police station, she says she was raped by a bunch of neighborhood kids and got pregnant out of the blue. Poor kid, she's going to be charged with murder as a result.
- Damn, she's so nice Brenda! said Skylar, shocked.
- Yeah, man. And now her life is ruined.
Skylar and Jack looked at each other, equally shocked. The screams that night... It was that poor kid who was giving birth...
Brenda was a child, so she didn't fit into the famous categories of "good" girls or "whores. She was just a victim, probably just like Julia that night...
For the next two days, Jack was very concerned about what he had done and was terribly angry at himself for not stepping in for Brenda and for giving in to the group pressure with Julia.
Troy and Julius were right. Peace in the neighborhood began with respect for its residents, the women and children, who were even more fragile.
So, as night fell, Jack felt the need to talk to Julius and allowed himself to enter his office, knowing that there was no brief at that hour.
Julius, was in the company of two very young girls, who were most likely performing oral sex on him under his office table.
- Oh... Jack! Julius said in a very uncomfortable situation. Is there a problem?
The look on his protégé's face was worth all the talk in the world.
Julius didn't even believe in his own principles after all...