------JOHN C---------CH. 3--------HAWK RIDGE IS FOR LOVERS

For the first time since I was 18, there was peace. The worlds darkest hour, just became my finest. Even Loc seemed to be a little nicer and sympathetic. I guess the Hoods just came to LA and took to worst of us and shoved it in our faced and with them gone, everything was alright. I could say that life couldn't be better that right now. The leaf of the city shone, and as it did, the sun burned it down. What was joy, after about 2 months, became hate, and pain. I was out with my friend Mount, in the Countryside town of Montgomery, when I saw something horrible. I tried to quench the trauma, but it was getting to half of me. There was Smoke, and Denis. The 2 I thought where my homies. I knew them since I was 5. I grew up with them. I saw them with the Hoods and the police. Smoke shot a family member. They were killing WSF members away from the city. A tear came down my face. I swallowed hard…

"Im sorry holmes." Mount told me, trying to be supportive. I heard rumors from my peers and I went through some shit. I realized that they came here every Saturday. Sorry if I did the wrong thing dude.

"No homie. You did the right thing. I need to tell Lo…" I gasped in shock.

"Oh shit! Mount get your best homies and meet me up in Hawk Ridge. We seriously need to get out of here! I need to save Loc!!" I screamed as I dashed out of the car. I ran for the nearest transportation. A motorbike. I elbowed the driver and sped off as fast as I could. I tried calling Loc on my cell phone but there was no answer. I drove as fast as I could. There was the freeway, and a truck blocking it. I quickly dodged the truck and made a jump for the worst onto the freeway. I skidded on the burning ashfalt until I drifted into position and sped off.

"Shit!!! Ok… I need to think…" I thought to myself.

"Wer'e going to Hawk Ridge. Stay low… Ahah! My mom has friends in New York that should remember me. We'll go there." I continued.

I dodged the oncoming traffic as if it was nothing, but I knew every single car that passed by me was a challenge of life or death. However, I knew I had to save Loc. Better to try than to die without Loc. I drifted right off the freeway and into a street. I found a shortcut in an alley. I was almost at home. I turned the street and ran down to the end of it. That's when I saw it…

The whole street, atleast where the gang lived, was destroyed. Loc's car was there, destroyed. His house, and my house. But Denis's and Smoke's were fine. It was obvious they did this. I fell to the ground as I thought to myself how Denis and Smoke could do this to me and Loc. We all used to be so tight. We'd do everything together.

I called Loc again. I was happy to heard him pick up. He was alive, and perfectly fine.

"Loc! Listen homie! Smoke and Denis turned on us! They with the Hoods and Cops. They tried to kill us by blowing ur cribs! We need to head to Hawk Ridge and stay low! Trust me!" I screamed through the cell phone hoping that Loc would understand.

"Well… A'ight. Where to meet?"

"Come to West Street as quick as you can. Bring a capable car, it's gonna' be a long trip!" I answered him and hung up. I quickly found some cover and waited for Loc. I finall saw his car come in.

"Holly shit holmes! Our houses got totally messed, yet, Denis's and Smoke's are fine! Even Riders, down the street got blown. I think you where right JC. Let's roll!"

"A'ight Loc. Quick. I have a really bad feeling. I'll explain everything as we go." I just hoped Loc would understand. As we drove to Hawk Ridge, I explained everything to him. How I saw Smoke and Denis with the Hoods and Cops doing a deal and killing family members in Montgomery. Also how Mount heard a rumor. It was a long drive. As I drove, I felt as if m life was empty. Everything felt wrong.

"Aw shit. I don't feel good." I complained.

"Here, homie. I'll drive."

"A'ight. Keep going up this highway." I pulled up on the side of the road. I feltnauseous, and my stomach was probably trying to kill me. It made me feel more sick, seeing two teens French kissing on the side of the road. I felt as if I WAS going to pass out, and that I did. I woke up in Hawk Ridge. Loc woke me up.

"Haha! You slept al the way. Were here!" Loc poured water into my face. It felt frozen cold.

"Damn, Loc. Oh shit!" I wope the water off with my shirt.

"Listen Loc. We need to rent a house out here. Were gonna' stay down for a while and then… Just chill… After a few days, we gonna head over to San Diego. Get a plane ride to New York. Live with my moms friends."

"Ok John. Why are you doing all of this shit. It's two people. So what if they betrayed us? We have the family you know."

"Loc! This might not seem like a lot, but they have a lot on their side. We'll join a gang, get some respect, then start a gang. After a bit, we'll head back to home. We just need to rest from LA. Trust me. When I was a kid I went there. Remember? Trust me bro!"

"Well… Alright…"

A few days passed by in Hawk Ridge. I spent a lot of the time thinking about everything that happened in this past while. Especially with the latest event. I just didn't understand how this could all come in play. I started thinking backwards. What if, this was all a trap from the beginning. What if they were Hoods or Cops and they were fucking with my mind, gaining my trust, then trying to blow my fucking heart right out of my chest. I sat beside a wall on the grass, thinking about this. Every single bad emotion I knew was what I felt. I couldn't think. I hit my heard hard on the concrete to focus myself. The blood rushed out like an ocean and the pain was intense. I thought back to life as a kid. It seemed so free. So easy. Now I know life ain't like that.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! We need to get the fuck outta' here! Dammit! LOC! WERE LEAVING! NOW!" I screamed at the top of my lungs walking towards the car. I got in, slaming the door behind me. I dropped my head on the steering wheel, crying, trying not to. I raised my head and started driving, South, directly to San Diego.

"Where going to New York."

When we arrived at the San Diego airport, I got out of the car, parking it in the parking area. I ran over to the terminal and purchased a ticket. The waiting line was pretty long. Then came security. That line was shorter. Only about 20 minutes. I waited impatiently until I came up to the security guard. I put my bags on the scanner. They scanned fine. I didn't have any guns, drugs, or illegal items. I knew it would make trouble.

"Alright Mr. John Carlsons. Your safe to go." The guard told me as he handed me my bag. He scanned Loc.

"Alright Mr. Arnold Carlsons. Your good to go…"

Yes, Loc is my brother. We've been trying to hide it, and just our blood-line family knows. We keep it private. We would be too embarrassed to tell anyone.