Who Am I? by Anna Huscha (books for 7th graders .txt) 📖

see. Ya know?" Kyle asked, I half nodded.

Since I had lived here I had seen some things that no one should see and later, I'd learn, were only mild things compared to what I would learn.

"Anyone bother you about the gang shit yet?" Kyle asked, I shook my head no, wondering if he was going to try and get me to join.

"Try and avoid it if you wanna live a carefree life. If you want cheap thrills and all that then just come to me. I'll get ya in. Just warning, the beginning isn't easy" Kyle explained, I nodded. A cheap thrill was always nice but how was being in a gang a 'cheap thrill'?

Once in a gang, the only ways out were moving or dying. I didn't wanna die.

There were other ways but nobody, not even I, recommended that one.

A silence fell upon us for what seemed like a moment but Kyle seemed to notice it. He stood up.

"Well... I'll see ya around, I have things to do and if I don't get 'em done they'll just follow me around" Kyle stated, he didn't wait for any answer, he was gone.

I liked him, no homo of course, I was straight but he didn't push anything onto me and I appreciated that. Being seventeen, I didn't want anything to be forced upon me. I was who I was and nothing was gonna change that.

I got up and started walking around, the day seemed to drag on as I looked for things to do. I wasn't used to it yet and so just aimlessly watched cars as they passed me on the street.

It was then that I took into consideration of joining a gang. It was either that or be bored like this forever. Would I really go through with it?

I figured I'd sleep it off but as I neared the park, something didn't feel right. Nothing felt right. My stomach tightening as I bit my lip, my senses seemed to heighten suddenly as I glanced around.

I tried to pay no attention to it as I walked to the swing-set. You can't get too old for swings. As I slowly swung myself back and forth, not bothering to kick off the ground, I tried to forget the feeling that had just washed over me.

It was subsiding by a little, slowly, but still wouldn't leave. I glanced around, listening carefully, trying to see what my gut seemed to wanna scream out to me.

That's when I heard it, it wasn't loud, muffled in a way but still I heard it. The quieted grunts of a person, being kicked? Punched? Someone was being beaten up that's all I knew. I got up quickly from the swing and walked at a fast pace towards the sounds. Would I be too late?

What was I doing? Saving someone, yes, but how if possible; was I going to save this person? What if there were more than two of 'em? Would I be able to take them all? Would they kill me?

I didn't care at this time, I was fast on my feet and quicker in hand. No puns. I would be able to at least distract them while the guy on the ground, if on the ground, got some rest. I'd trick them and get attention from someone who could help.

I walked at a faster pace, straining to listen to the grunts more. Hoping I wasn't too late. The muffled sounds got louder as I neared the area. I slowed down and became quieter than I had been, watching carefully from behind a bush.

A blood was on the ground, being kicked by two Crypts that didn't seem much bigger than him. They had to be no older than nineteen, if that. They kept taking kicks before they finally stopped, laughing at him. The slightly taller one had corn-rows in his hair, his bandana was folded and worn on his forehead, tattoos displayed across his arms; shown by the white 'wife beater' he wore.

I bit my lip while watching him, he leaned down and yanked the Blood up, staring him in the face. This blood was different, he was white with black hair, he was noticeably skinnier than the two but not unhealthy. He wore tighter pants, a short sleeved shirt and seemed to growl as he was lifted by his hair.

Staring up at the guy, he was on his knees, I only knew shit could go down hill from here as he held him in place. He asked him a question, it was a simple question all-in-all but one that he would refuse to answer.

"Going to give up now?" The Crypt asked, the Blood grinned, spit up into the mans face and said two easy words.

"Hell no" That's when I jumped the one standing behind him, my knee coming clean to his back, he fell down to the ground and groaned. His friend turned around and as he did, my fist collided with his face.

He dropped the kid and held his face, only seconds later he re-cooperated and tried to punch me, I moved to the side and caught his fist.

"Gonna have to be faster than that" I said with a grin, he watched me with a shocked expression as my fist and another went at him. I backed up to notice another Blood standing just in front of the black-haired fella'.

The Crypts, knowing they were being out numbered quickly withdrew and ran away. I chuckled watching them before my expression returned to normal and I watched the man now in front of me.

He analyzed me, his eyes narrowing slightly before he noticeably relaxed.

"You saved him" The man stated, I glanced at the guy just getting off the ground. Later, I would find out who he was.

"It's nothing..." I said, wanting to add more but didn't know what more I could add. If anything.

"More than you think... I saw you, you didn't think twice nor turn away... you saved his ass" The guy crossed his arms across his chest.

"He didn't save me, I wouldn't have died" The guy spit onto the ground while climbing to his feet.

"He stopped your ass from getting repeatedly beaten" The guy said over his shoulder, he had darkened-brown skin, a scar across his cheek with light brown eyes, I watched him, his red bandana wasn't hidden by any hat.

"Ever thought about joining the Bloods?" The man asked, I tilted my head slightly, watching the guy behind him wince as he rubbed his side.

"Well..." I started but didn't finish, he seemed to wait for more but when he knew nothing else came, he spoke.

"My names Karter... With a K... anyways, this behind me is Zac. Since you saved his sorry ass, he'll be the one to show you around our area unless you're familiar with it. We have a place we meet up of course. I'd feel half-retarded if I say a 'hang out'. Anyways, I'll get you in don't worry. I'll bring it up and say you clean out saved a Blood. No doubt you'll get in with ease" Karter explained, I nodded before crossing my arms, grinning slightly at Zac's expression.

"Oh come on! Why me? He didn't save my ass and it's not sorry" He turned, showing us his ass.

"Well maybe something would have entered it if I didn't save it but I'm not going to be the thing entering it... sorry" I said jokingly, Karter laughed, he had a deep laugh.

Zac's face fell and he grunted.

"Everything is against me!" He threw his hands in the air.

"Don't be so dramatic, there, bitch" Karter said with a half-smile.

"So what'cha think. Wanna join?" Karter asked, I looked up at him, he was at least four inches taller.

"Sure, why not?" I asked, he nodded, turning around towards Zac who had crossed his arms.

"Get him used to how things go... don't be such a sourpuss either, whether or not you would have died, he did save you from them" Karter stated the obvious, something that Zac hadn't seemed to take into note. He nodded.

Karter ruffled his hair before walking away, leaving Zac and I alone.

"Formally, I'm Zac Lanten" Zac introduced himself.

"I'm Jason Candon" I said, taking in how he looked. He had a scar on his left cheek, green eyes, and black hair that fell just above his eyes.

"I need a hair cut" He said, noticing me analyzing him.

I nodded, not saying a word.

"Anyways, thanks I guess... I'm not used to someone seeing me getting my ass handed to me. I wouldn't have been so easy to put to the ground if his little butt-buddy didn't suddenly come out from no where and kick me in the back" Zac explained, I nodded. They were dirty fighters; Why didn't that surprise me?

"Karter saw the fight... why didn't he do anything before?" I asked, Zac's face lifted slightly as he looked at me.

"Karter didn't see it any earlier than you did. He has saved me before and he isn't used to someone else doing it. He would'a reacted a lot like you had but he would'a talked. Stopping them in their tracks and walking out acting cool. He has a way with people" Zac explained, I nodded. Karter acted much like an older brother to him.

"So he gets you out of tight situations?" I asked, trying to understand more.

"He watches out for me. I'm the youngest member so far that the gang has ever taken in... so he just makes sure I don't get killed. He's the only one I have left in this world" Zac stopped there, I knew it shouldn't be pressed so I didn't go any further.

"How old are you?" I asked, he looked around my age, maybe a year older. Then again, the abuse could'a shaped him.

"I'm turning eighteen soon" Zac said, watching me.

"How old are you?" He asked.

"I'm seventeen, in a month or so I'll be eighteen too" I said, Zac smiled.

"Finally, a runt like me" He chuckled and I did the same. I noticed his shoulders fall slightly as he stood, with a relaxed expression he stared in towards the town.

"So where you live? Don't live in the Crypts area and just happen to find little 'ol me getting my ass kicked and decide to try and play hero only to find that you'll be screwed, right?" Zac asked while glancing at me.

"No, I live right in the middle of the Bloods, down the street from Kyle Smith." I said, looking at him to see if any sign of recognition hit his face, it'd be sad if there was none.

"Ooh, big ol' Kyle. He's a good guy all-in-all, wise too, ya know?" He spoke, just saying in general, I nodded.

"Only met him for a moment, sounded as if he just wanted someone to talk to" I said, looking back it did seem like he just wanted to get something off of his chest, wasn't sure what though.

"Yeah, he's been through hell and back, that kid but he's hanging in there. He's strong." Zac explained, I nodded.

"It'll happen, being in a gang and all. I don't know how much there is to being in one but one thing I do know is that one gang will do anything to the