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

other just to get revenge, even on the dumbest of things" Zac seemed to nod and smile as I spoke, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"Basically, as you were saying, just watch your back and the others. Being in a gang tends to make you paranoid. You don't ever know when something is going to be shot up or broken into. It makes ya nervous, just last week little Justin had a breakdown. He hated it so much, cried so hard. Can't blame him really... he just... had gone through more than a good chunk of us had. Three different set of parents and then finally gave up in trying to find parents. We took him in after that and since then, we've played as his family." Zac explained, he paused every now and then to check if I was still listening. I noticed he liked talking, if not that, just liked having someone listen to him.

In gangs, I knew people didn't talk much but I also knew that people in them did listen but sometimes didn't care.

I didn't mind really, I liked knowing what I was getting into. I wasn't yet in the gang and so I wanted to see what kinds of people were in there. So far, they seemed like the kind that were worth trusting and understanding. Yes, in a gang you had to have each others backs but that didn't ever mean they had to like doing it. Sometimes, they didn't and would watch from corners as you were 'taught a lesson' and I didn't want that to happen. At times, nobody came out alive from them.

I wanted to live, I was still very young and yes, a gang would make my mom worry but she didn't need to know. I could take the bandana off before I walked in the door or when she was away some where and hide it in a drawer. If she happened to see, well, she wouldn't think about a gang. I tended to wear bandanas. What was the harm, at least in her eyes, that was the question.

I looked up at him as he opened his mouth to talk, nothing came out. I knew he was trying to collect his thoughts. So I spoke up.

"Rough life, being in a gang?" I asked, Zac took a deep breath and held it for a moment. As he slowly let it out he answered, choosing his words carefully.

"Well... yeah, I mean... you're going against other people. Sick, masochistic, psychopaths. Both gangs are, you'll have some that are and some that are just in it because of different circumstances. Some get dragged in and are doomed from the beginning. Like me. That's a different story that I might tell you some time later. Anyways, the Bloods and the Crypts are enemies as everyone knows. Some, as you saw, are dirty fighters, don't care what they're up against they just wanna win. There's no losing for them. There isn't really a 'losing' option for anyone but I mean, if I was in a fight I wouldn't wanna kill them unless they made me have to but some in the gangs, want to see blood and won't stop unless they see it." Zac explained before going on.

"A lot of times innocent people are dragged into it and don't come out alive, it's a shame really. We all got bad reputations for it, the gangs included. Because of sick people, the gangs got labeled and many people don't look at it as serious. Which I can't blame them, drugs, guns, death, suicide, rape, and other terrible things come out of it but not all the time. That's one side, the good side is you get someone to watch your back no matter what, you make friends no matter what with everyone, even if you don't want to you have no choice." Zac looked at the ground as he finished up, losing his track of thought. I'd later learn that he had a mild case of A.D.D.

I shifted my weight before cracking my neck.

"How'd you meet Kyle?" Zac asked, he watched me, the sun blazing bright overhead.

"I was sitting out front of a store, trying to relax, he started talking and we got into a conversation before he got up and walked away" I stated, he nodded slowly.

"That sounds like Kyle, he'll be in the middle of something but once he knows there's nothing else to talk about he won't stick around and try to make things awkward. Another thing good about him." Zac said.

I took a deep breath, much like Zac had done himself before watching him pull a can of dip out of his pocket.

"Want some?" He asked as he started smacking it, sadly, I'd later learn all about chew, too.

"I haven't ever chewed before" I said honestly, bringing my hand up to rub the back of my neck slowly.

"Oh it's not so bad, I got into it about three months ago. Karter doesn't do it and he doesn't like it but he allows me too. When I'm around him though I'm not allowed to. Silly, no? But anyways, you take a bit and put it behind your lip, you can also put it into your mouth and push it there with your tongue. Either way works. Spit whenever you need to" Zac instructed me as I followed the steps, it tasted kind of funny at first but as it stayed in, I started to like it.

We started to walk around town, talking about people he knew and what happened at the places he knew about.

As the day lagged on, I'd slowly learned small pieces about a lot of people, I had learned a lot of peoples names as well. I didn't think I'd ever meet them but if I did; I would be prepared.

He told me which Crypts to especially stay away from, which to watch out for just in case, and which ones weren't so bad to run into. He told me which Crypts came to the town more often than not and the names of the leaders. He spoke about which Crypts had certain problems with which Bloods. A lot less than I thought about but then again, I didn't expect Zac to know so much.

"How did you learn all this?" I asked, his memory was amazing and he was a bouncy type of fella'.

"You learn after so long, I've been in the Bloods for a helluva long time, myself." Zac said. He led me to his house, invited me in.

"I can trust you wont wanna do anything to me or my mother in our sleep, right?" Zac asked teasingly, I chuckled while looking up at him from the bottom of the stairs.

"Oh I dunno, I can't resist butts ya know" I said as jokingly as he did, he laughed and led me into his house. I knew I wouldn't have to worry much about my mom, she knew I could handle myself.

His house wasn't large, a little smaller than mine with blue colored walls, pictures hung along the hallway. Him and another boy were in a lot of them, big smiles as they grew up.

I wondered to myself who this boy was, the one with Zac but I dared not answer. If he was anyone important but not around anymore, I'd feel guilty about asking. It was none of my business what the answer would be, yes it could be simple 'Oh he's at someone's house, you'll meet him later' or it could be a harmful answer, one that brought back memories. 'Horrible, just horrible... he was killed'.

I followed behind him down a hallway, green and silver traced pictures lined the wall, the paper was an elegant blue. I knew then that his mother designed the house, his father, if any had no control. As we neared the living room I could see sets of matching furniture. Each black with a lace towards the bottom.

A loveseat sat in the far right, a double couch a space away from it with a glass, clear coffee table sat in front of it. A wide screen hung on the wall with a D.V.D player built in.

We stood in the entrance to the room, he made a face and rubbed his left arm, a hesitant laugh 'heh-heh'. I stood there, gawking at what stood before me.

"I know... least you'd expect from someone in this area, huh? I always forget about it when I bring someone in, always hope they just accept me for me and not that I have a rich background. It doesn't change who I am or how I look at anyone... You know?" Zac explained, I half liked that he explained everything and I let him finish.

"Yeah... I hear ya... just don't expect this and a butler waiting with a silver platter at my place" I chuckled while glancing at him. He laughed.

"Definitely not bro, definitely not" He smiled and shifted on his feet. He took his shoes off and placed them near the door, I followed suit. He lead me back into the living room where we both sat on the couch next to each other, we glanced up at the t.v. as he grabbed the remote.

"Xbox or just watch something?" He asked, I gave him an expectant glance. The one stating 'Did you really have to ask that'.

"Alright, alright" He got up and grabbed the controller.

As we played, his mother walked in, she was a kind woman with a gorgeous smile. I feel weird for saying such words but in all honesty, there was nothing that could describe it. Her mouth didn't just go up as if she were just greeting you. Her cheeks turned up and her lips parted to show her teeth. Her eyes lit up as she saw me, I glanced up at her not sure what to do.

I think she was glad to see that Zac had a friend over that wasn't black, not being racial of course, but the only ones I had seen all down the streets were of darkened skin. I loved the people I met so far, they were protective in a way with respect for people who didn't wanna harm them; and I wasn't of any threat.

His mother brought a drink for each of us with a sandwich with. He didn't touch his so I was reluctant to myself but damn did that smell good, it taunted me as if it did want to be eaten. Calling out my name in silent whispers. Okay, that's a bit over the top but it smelled great.

I couldn't hold out anymore so I reached down and took it, he didn't seem to care; why would he? I don't know if I was just used to my mother's old fashioned cooking or that this woman really was a chef but I savored every bite.

We played ten more rounds, followed by another and then another. Each of us just trying to prove to that other that we were better. It was all out of fun and games, neither of us had gotten harsh toward each other. I loved it.

He seemed to as well, laughing every time I got him unexpectedly. I shifted in the seat as I glanced around the room.

"Hey, you got a clock?" I asked, not wanting to take out my cell phone.

"Yeah" He said before pressing a button on the VCR player that sat beneath the television.

"Holy