Warnings

Bella

There was only an half an hour left in gym class by the time I got there. I seriously didn't understand the whole point of blaming me, it was EJ's fault. He provoked it. Not me or Mike. But Mrs. Cullen seemed just as angry with us both.

Edward Masen is already ruining my senior year.

As I pulled up my gym shorts, the sound of tap-tap-tapping on the hard cement floor alerted me that I wasn't alone in the locker room anymore.

I grabbed my gym shirt and clutched it to my chest when Roxanne Avila came into view.

Fuck!

"It seems like today is my lucky day," she smiled, staring down at me like a cheetah ready to attack.

Her lips curled up into a wicked grin as she stepped forward. "You know, I always wondered what color bra Isabella Swan wore. Pink. How fitting, I bet it was as expensive as your dye job."

I wanted to step back. Actually I wanted to run but that wouldn't have helped. She probably would have followed.

"You don't want to talk about this," I told her while pulling my shirt over my head. "You want to kick my ass."

"When a slut moves in on my man," she sneered. "I get territorial."

"I don't want your man, Roxanne. I got my own."

"Oh, shut up. Girls like you want everyone, just so you can have them when you decide you want them." As she was talking, she was getting more pissed off. "I heard you talking shit about me. You think you'll all that, Miss High and Mighty. Just cause EJ shows you attention don't think he wants you, its all for your looks. Let's see how much he'll want you with a busted lip and a black eye. "

I tuned out looking at her at Roxanne walking towards me. Looking at her I could tell she knew the importance of keeping the image I held, while she didn't care what happened to her.

"Answer me!" she yelled.

I guess I must have missed the question because I don't know what I'm supposed to answer.

The consequences of me coming home bruised and having been in a fight would ruin my mother and caused to much damage to keep under control. She'll be furious and blame everything on me for not preventing it. I hope to God she doesn't start talking about sending Aaron away again.

When stressful stuff happens, my parents start talking about sending Aaron away. As if sending him away will magically solve all of the Swan's problems.

Sending me away might be better.

"Don't you think coach would come looking for me soon? Do want to get suspended?" I know, lame question. But it's all about buying time.

She chuckles a dark one, "You think I give a shit if I get suspended?"

Not really, but it was worth a try.

Instead of cowering against my locker, I stand tall. Roxanne tries to push my shoulder, but I manage to swat her arm away.

I'm about to get in my first fight. A fight I'm going to lose. My heart feels like it's about to come out my ass.

My whole life I've avoided things like this, but this time I can't avoid this. I have no choice.

I wonder if I can pull the fire alarm to avoid this, I've seen it work in movies.

But unfortunately I don't see one of those little red boxes.

"Roxanne leave her alone."

We turn around to the sound of a girl's voice. It's Alice. A non friend. A non friend who probably just saved my face.

"Ally, stay out of my business," Roxy growls.

Ally comes towards us, her black hair spiked in different angles. She's so small, I'm more afraid of her getting hurt than myself. "Don't fuck with her, Roxy."

"And, why not?" She asked feigning confusion. "Because you think you're BFF's with rich bitch here now that you both wave stupid ass pom-poms together?"

Ally put her hand on her hips and pursed her lips. "You're mad at EJ, that's why you're acting like a bitch."

At the mention of EJ, Roxanne visibly tensed up. Her body went rigid. "Shut up Ally, you don't know anything."

"I'm his best friend," she smirked. "I know everything."

"Oh yeah, how so?"

I felt stupid standing behind them awkwardly. Roxanne turns her fury on Ally and begins yelling in what I think is Spanish.

But Ally doesn't back off, "Roxy, we're in AMERICA. Speak English."

"Look, Alice" Roxy sneered. "Hop off and let me handle mine."

"No!" she growled right back. "Fuck with her and you fuck with me. And how do you expect to get EJ back if you fight his best friend?"

Alice might be small but she's standing up to Roxanne. And she's holding her own, I can tell by the way Roxy is backing off.

"Is there a party and you didn't invite the rest of the class?" Coach appears behind Alice.

"Nope," Roxy smiles innocently. "We're just having a little chat."

"Well, then, I suggest you chat after school instead of during class. Miss Swan and Miss Brandon, join the rest of the class in the gym. Miss Avila, go to where you're supposed to be."

Coach walked back into the gym and left us alone in silence. Ally and Roxy held an intense stare before Roxy turned towards me.

Pointing a red painted claw at me she nearly growled, "Stay away from him. Or next time Ally won't be here to save you."

Then walks out the locker room, but not before making Alice move out the way for her pass.

"Thanks," I softly say to Ally.

"It's no problem," she smiled. "That was kind of fun."

"Fun?" I ask dumbfounded.

"Yeah," she laughed. "I've been dying to tell her off since her and EJ broke up. I should be thanking you."

"Well," I smiled. "You're welcome."

"You know," she bounced, appearing next to me with her arm around my waist. "I know I said we couldn't be friends but I think we could."

Her smile faded a little when I guess she realized who she was talking to. "Sorry. I know you probably don't hang with people from the 'ghetto'." She used air quotes.

I pulled her back as we walked through the doors leading towards the gym. Alice was beautiful from her multiple piercings to her duel-colored hair, her tattoo and her kind eyes. "I think we can be great friends."

She turned serious for a moment, "Just don't start coming around BK. I got a rep to protect." She smiled and burst out laughing.

Yeah this was the start of a good friendship.

Edward

"You almost done with the Honda? It's time to close up," my boss Enrique says to me. I work at his auto body shop everyday after school, to help my mom pay rent, to get away from the Bloods for awhile, and because I'm damn good at fixing cars.

Covered in grease and oil, I roll out from under the Civic. "I'll be done in a sec."

"Good, cause the guys been on my ass for the past three days."

I tighten the last bolt and walk over to him, wiping my dirty hands on a shop cloth. "Can I have a favor?"

"Shoot."

"Can I have a day off next week? There's this chem project at school," I explain the whole project, "and we're supposed to meet up with our partners."

"Mrs. Cullen as in Esme Platt Cullen, is still teaching?" he laughs out loud.

"Yeah, you know her?"

He nods his head chuckling, "She taught at my high school for a few years. You'd think her parents were parole officers the way she loves discipline. You don't forget a nightmare like Cullen. But I'm sure having Isabella Swan as a partner - "

"How did you hear about her?" I asked confused.

"Marcus came by yesterday and told me about the rich bitch that's your partner. He's jealous you got a hot partner with long legs and big..." Enrique moves his hands over his chest. "Well, you know."

"Yeah, I know." I smirked, just thinking about them makes me hot, "What about taking Thursday off?"

"No problem." Enrique clears his throat. "You know, the Rick asked about you yesterday."

Rick, the guy you runs our district's Blood from the inside. "Sometimes I hate," I stumbled over my words. "This."

"You're stuck in it," He sighs. "Like the rest of us. Never let anyone hear you question your commitment. If he suspects you disloyal you'll become the enemy so fast, you're head will spin. You're a smart kid, EJ. Play it safe."

Enrique is an OG – Original Gangster – because he has proven himself to the Bloods a long time ago. Moved up in the ranks. He paid his dues, so now he can sit back a watch the younger members in the front lines. According to him, I've just gotten my feet wet and I have along time to go before Jasper and I get OG status.

"Smart?" I laughed. "I bet my bike I could get the rich girl to sleep with me."

"Fuck!" he laughed. "Forget everything I said. You my friend are a dumbass. Girls like them don't go for guys like us. And soon you're going to be a dumbass without a ride."

Fuck my cockiness, I'm beginning to think he's right. How the fuck did I ever think I could lure the very beautiful, very rich Bella Swan into my very poor, very dark life?

A horn beeps loudly in front of the garage.

Enrique presses the button to raise the door.

Richie's car comes screeching in. "Close the door," he orders. "The cops are following."

Enrique slams his fist back down on the button, "What the hell did you do." He turns off all the lights in the shop too.

Roxanne is here, in the back seat. Big surprise there.

Her eyes are bloodshot. From drugs or alcohol, one of them.

And she's been messing around with whoever is back there with her, because I know all to well what she looks like when she's been messing around.

"Raul tried to smoke a Latin King," Roxy slurs. "But he's got shit aim."

"Bitch," Raul yells turning towards her. "You try shooting a moving target when Richie is driving."

"Shit guys, shut up!" These are the first words out of Jason's mouth, the guy who's in the back seat with Roxy. "The cops might be outside."

Everyone ducks as the police shine a flashlight through the windows. I crouch behind a tool drawer, holding my breathe. If these idiots get me locked up, I'll kill them myself. The last thing I need is attempted murder on my record. I've been able to refrain from getting arrested, but one day my luck might run out.

Enrique faces saddens me, it shows exactly what he's thinking, I've finally saved enough to open my shop and four high school punks are going to ruin it.

The cops jiggle the door and after a minute or so give up and drive away.

"Shit," Richie gasps. "That was close."

"Too close," Enrique's face composes itself. "Wait ten then get out of here and stay out of trouble."

Roxy steps out the car, well more like trips, "Hi EJ. I missed you tonight."

I look behind her straight at Jason, "Yeah sure looks like you missed me."

"Jason? Oh, I don't like him," she coos, coming closer. "I'm still waiting for you to come back to me."

"Not gonna happen."

"Is it because of your stupid chem partner," she sneered, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look at her.

"Bella," I growled, pulling her hands away. "Has nothing to do with you and me. I hear you've been talking shit to her. Threatening her."

"Did Ally tell you that?" her eyes narrowed.

I couldn't explain it but when Ally came to me and told me what happened in the locker room, I had this over powering urge to protect her.

"Just back off," I say ignoring her question. "or you'll have a lot more to deal with than a bitter ex-boyfriend."

"Are you bitter, EJ?" she smiled. "Because you don't act bitter. You act like you don't give two shits about me."

She's right. After I found her sleeping around, it took me a while to get over it, get over her. I wonder what the other guys were giving her that I couldn't.

"I used to give two shits," I smiled sweetly. "But now I don't."

"Fuck you Edward."

I tense at the mention of my given name, she knows I hate that. "Go suck a nut bitch."

"Lover's spat?" Richie muses from the hood of his car.

Simultaneously, we both answer, "Shut up Richie!"

Roxy whips around and heads back into the back seat, pulling Jason's face to hers and starts a heated make-out session.

Richie grimaces, "We're out dude, open the door."

Enrique pushes the button and Raul opens the passenger door, "You coming EJ?" I lift my eyebrow in question. "Jazz is fighting this King tonight in Cooper park. We need you, you know King's never shoot the fair."

Jazz never told me about a fight. He probably knew I'll try to talk him out of it.

Sometimes my best friend is an idiot, all I know is Ally better not be there, "I'm in." I jump into the front seat, leaving Raul in the back with the love birds.

We slow down a block before the park. The tension is so thick I can taste it. Where is Jasper? He's a good fighter but everyone has lost a battle at some point, even me.

It's dark already. Pitch black, and I can see shadows moving, making my hair stand on end. Everything looks menacing, even the trees blowing in the wind. During the day Cooper park looks like any other park, except the Blood graffiti on the handball court. Marking this park as our territory.

"There he is," I whisper-shout, pointing to the two silhouettes a few feet from the swings. I can tell its Jazz because of the half crouched stance he takes. He looks like a lion, ready to pounce.

As one pushes the other, I jump out of the still moving car because walking down the street are five more Kings. I push away the thought that we could possibly die tonight and thank God that Jazz left Ally home.

I rush towards Jazz and the King before the rest of his friends reach him. Jasper of course is putting up an awesome fight, but the other guy is like worming his way out of Jazz's grasp. I roughly grab the hood of the King fighting my friend. I pull him up and deck him so hard.

Before he's able to stand and face me, I glare at Jazz.

"I can take him, EJ." Jazz groans.

"Him," I say pointing at King on the floor. "But not them."

Now that I have a closer look, I realize these guys are new. All fresh members. Full of vodka, ego, and pride. New members I can take, as long as they shoot the fair.

Richie, Raul, Roxy, and Jason stand next to me. I have to admit we're an intimidating bunch, even Roxy. She can hold her own in a fight, even against a dude. Her nails are downright deadly.

The guy I pulled off Jazz stands and points up to me, "You are dead."

"Listen short stuff, go back to your turf and leave this place to us."

Short stuff points to my friend, "he stole my steering wheel."

I look over at Jazz, knowing it had to be something stupid like that to get his ass in a fucking fight. He doesn't even have a car.

When I glance back at short stuff, I notice he now has a switchblade in his hand. And it's aiming right at me.

After I fight these kings. I'm killing my best friend.

Hit the little green button!
Its makes me happy!