Chapter 2 Baby John's POV

Something was definitely up with Ice. Yesterday he had left Doc's early. We were hanging around, drinking Cokes and eating candy, and I was reading my Superman comics when Velma stormed in screaming something about Ice cheating on her. The girls surrounded her and somehow got the full story and were growling with her. We guys only heard: "I'm going to kill that little slut!"

"Who is 'that little slut' Velma?" A-Rab asked. Velma ignored him and kept up her yelling.

"Ice'll tell us," Tiger told him. "I bet it's a misunderstanding, Ice wouldn't cheat on Velma."

"Why's she so mad about it?" I asked. A-Rab whispered in my ear and I understood. He usually has to explain things to me.

The next day Ice came around Doc's at our usual time. Anybodys was arguing with A-Rab and it, as usual, turned into a fist fight that Ice had to break up. "Calm down, you two." He sighed. Anybodys pulled away and A-Rab scowled. I could've sworn Anybodys and Ice were glancing at each other every once in a while. My eyes were probably playing tricks on me.

They weren't. I went to use the bathroom when I heard someone say Ice's name. I glanced over and threw up a little in my mouth. Ice was kissing Anybodys. No wonder Velma had been so peeved. The gang didn't dig Anybodys. She was an obnoxious tag-along but we put up with her for Ice's sake. He obviously liked her a lot. I went to the bathroom. When I came out A-Rab, Action, and Gee-Tar were asking Ice about Velma's accusation.

"We're not together anymore," Ice told them.

"She said you were cheating one her." Gee-Tar pressed.

Ice shrugged. "I was interested in someone else." Anybodys.

"She was pretty steamed. So who's your new broad?" Tiger jumped in.

"Not telling," Ice replied.

"Is she a PR?" A-Rab asked. A Puerto Rican? Anybodys was red-headed and had freckles.

"Nope,"

"Is she a supermodel?" Action asked. The only thing Anybodys could model is men's clothes or jeans.

"Nope,"

"I know! She's a Puerto Rican supermodel!" Diesel offered. What is Diesel on?

Ice read my mind. "Diesel what are you smoking?"

The gang is stumped. Who could make Velma so steamed? I knew. Graziella and Velma called Anybodys an American Tragedy because of her tomboy look and personality.

"What d'you think, Johnny?" I jump at A-Rab's voice.

I shrug uneasily. I'm never good at keeping secrets. "I actually know," I say softly. The gang is on me in half a second. They demand to know who it is. I tremble in fear of all of them. "I, I think Ice should tell you when he's ready too…"

"C'mon, Baby John, 'fess up!" A-Rab insisted.

"Offa the kid," Ice commands. He pulls me out of my seat. "Talk with me, Baby John."

I'm scared. What's gonna happen to me?

"So you think you know who I cheated on Velma for?" he asks me. I nod. "Who?"

I can barely hear my own voice. "Anybodys,"

He just nods. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I saw you kissing when I was goin' to the loo." I mumble, embarrassed.

"Don't tell the gang, Baby John. I don't want them to know yet."

"You gonna tell 'em eventually?" I ask surprised. Ice nods. He punches my arm lightly. "Stay cool, Baby John."

Ice's POV

I walked back inside of Doc's with Baby John's. "Alright, Jets round out." The guys and Anybodys made a circle. "The Sharks are still around but there's a new PR gang on the West side."

"Lemme guess, the Flowers!" Big Deal snorted.

"Oh gosh, Flowers coming to stomp the Jets!" Action was doubled over with laughter. "Man, I thought the Emeralds was a girly name for a gang!"

I waited for them to stop laughing. "No, they're called the Bears. They look just like the animal."

"Damn, Bears!" Gee-Tar snickered.

"Aw, shaddap, Gee-Tar." I sighed. "They're bigger than Diesel and could bash your skull in if you ain't careful."

"I'm always careful!" A lie on Gee-Tar's part.

"No you ain't, Action's probably more careful than you!" Anybodys sneers. Action and Gee-Tar both lunge at her. She slugs Gee-Tar and I push them away from Anybodys. I give her a short shove. "Cool it, you three. I'm not a babysitter."

"Then let me beat the tar outta 'em!" Anybodys demands.

I lean down so I'm looking into her eyes. "No." Anybodys grumbles and I glare ate her. She stops. Anybodys knows I love her, but I will not take her side in front of the gang. "Alright Jets, be on the lookout for Bears."

"And Sharks!" Snowboy chimes.

"Sharks, and Bears, and Flowers, oh my!" A-Rab trills in a high, girly voice. I roll my eyes. These guys will never learn.

"So whadda you gonna do when your screamin' ex comes around?" Snowboy asks me. I don't answer him. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do about Velma. Anybodys isn't the type of broad who gets mad at you for not dumping your ex like hot tamale but I dunno what makes her tick sometimes.

Velma didn't show up so I stopped worrying. Joyboy, who was watching the door gave a warning whistle.

"Cops?" Diesel leaned over him. "Or PRs?"

"PRs," Joyboy replied nervously. "Sharks, Chino and Pepe,"

Chino was the Shark who shot Tony; Pepe was Bernardo's second in command. "What do they want?" I asked joining Diesel and Joyboy at the door.

"Trouble," Action muttered.

Chino and Pepe walked into Doc's and looked around. "The Sharks have joined the Bears," Chino said after a moment. "They want a rumble."

"So now what are you called?" A-Rab taunts. "The Bear-Sharks?"

"The Shark-Bears?" Joyboy snickers.

"Naw, the Flowers!" Big Deal howls.

"You're leechin' off old gangs right, the Emeralds!" Diesel snorts.

"The Hawks!" Gee-Tar adds.

"The Crud-Heads!" Action dares.

"We're still the Sharks, you Jets." Pepe replies tightly. "Will you agree to the rumble?"

I look around the gang for any negative responses. There are none. I stick out my hand. "Where?"

"In the lot behind the movie house, it has been abandoned for quite a while." Chino replies. "Weapons."

Action jumps in. "All-out skin melee."

Pepe looks at me. I watch the gang. They nod. I shake his hand. "Skin."

"When?" Chino asks.

"After dark, midnight." I reply. They nod and we shake on it.

"See you then, Jets." The Sharks leave.

I turn to look at the gang. "All right, how are we gonna handle this? If all the Sharks and Bears show we'll be way outnumbered."

"We're tough enough! Anyway, it's just skin." Action brags. Anybodys was right about him not thinking.

I look at Anybodys. "Anybodys, I want you to go and scout out where this rumble's gonna be. Also, go and see how many Shark/Bears will be there."

"Right, Daddy-O," Anybodys runs out of Doc's like lightning. I'm not letting her fight in this rumble. I'm not risking her. Boy, she'll have my head when she finds out.