The Bad Side

- from a novel I may or may not publish -

"Identity cannot be fabricated."

                             — Doug Cooper

•  •  •

   It was clear I was not welcomed anywhere. With beat up, generic brand of sneakers, a ratty hoodie, and old jeans, it was no wonder.

Not more than a couple hours ago I had arrived at Gerring Academy. It was an elite Catholic school, and it was obvious I didn't belong here. I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I don't remember much of what it was like, since I was really little. My mother had taken care of me until custody was transferred to my grandmother. From there, I somehow landed myself in the streets.

That was when he came into my life.

Isaac was what he went by. No one knew his real name. He took me in, gave me shelter, and in turn I helped him with business. My life from then on became a drug and sex game. I had to sell myself for less than thirty bucks apiece. And then Isaac started snorting crank.

I called it the monster.

Isaac went crazy on it. He started needing more money. Suddenly, my extra cash wasn't enough. He started selling me to random strangers at a dirty motel. I tried not to let it get to me. And then...he tried to rape me.

I had trusted him.

He was all I had.

So I left.

I gathered extra cash, favors, and clothing and escaped Isaac. He would surely be looking for me. So I entered high school under a different image and persona. Drugs, sex, and the streets was all I had ever known. Now I was in Gerring — no friends, no family, a new start. As I wandered the cafeteria, I ignored all the full tables and aimed for a lowkey round table in a corner. I would be alone and the sounds would be drowned out by my music.

My beat up sneaks headed towards the table, my lunch tray feeling extremely heavy in my hands. I avoided all eyes and sat down, glad to be somewhere safe.

Or, at least safer.

"Hey Elliot. What are you doing sitting alone?"

My gaze rose to meet the friendly smile of Gabrial Bishop. He brushed a strand of hair out of his face and placed his tray next to mine.

I cocked a brow.

"Don't you have friends?" I questioned.

Gabe shrugged, opening up his plastic container filled with some sort of macaroni salad. I wrinkled my nose at the aroma of eggs and mayo.

"What?" Gabe asked. "You don't like egg salad?"

I shook my head, covering my nose with my hoodie sleeve. "Eggs make me nauseous. They're horrible."

Gabe laughed. "They're not that bad."

I rolled my eyes and slowly began to breathe out of my mouth to avoid the scent. It was worse than the stench of sex and alcohol. With a snort, I continued to eat in silence, Gabe surprisingly able to keep his mouth shut. I assumed he was one of those chatter boxes who had no filter.

"...so what made you wanna go to Gerring?"

My eyes snapped up, nearly dropping my soda. I glanced down and sighed in relief. None was on my lap.

"What did you say?"

Gabe studied me. "You don't look like you're from this side of Detroit. Why did you decide to move so suddenly here?"

I pursed my lips. After a quick contemplation, I spoke. "I'm from the other side. I wanted a better education."

Gabe frowned. That wasn't the answer he wanted — but that was all I was going to reveal. In the vast blue cafeteria, I couldn't trust any of these elitist folks. They had their own rich people problems. As my lunch mate wiped egg salad off of his mouth, he turned to face me.

"You know that girl, over there?"

I looked towards where Gabe pointed, and saw that he was looking at the girl who I sat next too in Biology. She seemed to be sitting with a group of girls, but was nose-tucked into a book. I couldn't see the title from this far, but I was guessing it was good if she abandoned all her food for it.

After doing another once over, I shrugged. "What about her?"

"That's my twin sister, Gwen."

I looked at him and noticed that they did share the same appearances — small button noses, big blue eyes and the identical pale swoop their hair did over the forehead.

"That's cool."

Gabe sighed. "Yeah. But Gwen is scared to sit next to you. She's...selectively mute."

I took a bite out of my potato chips and muttered, "I didn't do anything so don't blame me, kid."

Gabriel ignored the pieces of chip that spewed from my aperture and put a finger on the bridge of his nasal.

"No," he said, looking at me. "I want you to just hang out of us. You seem pretty okay, and Gwen needs some friends. Those girls she sits with just ignore her."

I noticed, looking closer, that all the girls seemed to covered around her, and when she dared to peep from up out of her book, the one in charge sent her a nasty sneer. I but the inside of my cheek and wondered what the hell Gabe wanted me to do. I doubt little Ms. Shy Away would want to be friends with a rough guy like me. My skin was a dark tan, and callused, unlike the blondes own smooth skin, pale as moonlight. I had a bit of stubble across my jaw. I was more built than all the guys in the school, minus a few footballers.

If he was looking for a friend for his sister, he was looking in the wrong place.

"I don't think Blondie would enjoy my friendship much," I murmured.

Gabe sighed. "Sorry. I shouldn't have expected someone like you to agree."

I choked on my food, sending a glare towards Gabe. My eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean 'someone like me'?"

Gabe smirked, crossing his arms. He was a small guy, easy to take on, but I couldn't dream of hitting him. He had these girlish features that haunted me, and besides, it was my first day.

"I mean, someone who comes from the other side. You people obviously are only in it for yourselves."

My body froze as I registered the words he said. He was baiting me. He wanted me to do it. Through my bubbling anger I couldn't see that. My nostrils flared and I felt a frown pull at the corners of my lips. He insulted me — the big boy who has never survived a day without mommy and daddy's money.

I stood up and pounded on the table with my palm. "Now look here," I growled viciously. "I got into this school because I'm better than those street scum. I'm not selfish. You better take those words back or I'll shove 'em through you backside, you mamas boy."

Gabriel looked surprised at my clenched fists and grinding teeth.

"Look," he said gently. "My sister needs a friend. Sorry for getting you mad but she won't accept help from me directly."

I sat down, crossing my arms. "What's in it for me?"

Gabriel smiled as he saw my body slowly relax into my chair. The storm was over. Only drizzle was left.

"You need a uniform and school books right?"

I nodded cautiously. "What about it?"

"I'll pay for seven uniforms, all your books for this year and the next," he said, giving me an open, sincere gaze.

I sighed and pushed my food away in distaste. I lost all my appetite. He took it away. I thought about his offer. All I had to do was get the blonde piglet to be my friend. Eat lunch with her. Talk to her occasionally. Didn't seem too hard. That's what friends did, I guessed.

"Just be friends with her?" I asked.

Gabe nodded. "Yeah. Be her friend, and I'll provide all you need. Deal?"

—

   I walked back to my apartment, shoulders sagged in relief. The pressure of the school atmosphere was gone, and I could smell the smoke in the air. It wasn't a totally pleasant smell, but it beat the scent of expensive deodorant and perfumes.

I thought over my agreement to the plan Gabe thought of.

Snorting, I shook my head. "If the kid needs a friend, paying for one ain't the way to go 'bout it," I muttered into the empty silence of the downtown Detroit alley. It was a shortcut to my apartment, safety nestled into an abandoned part of the city. Barely any one lived there, and I rented it for mad cheap. I pulled up my hood, feeling soft droplets hit my skin.

I opened my door and pushed my hair back to stick to my scalp as it dripped.

Once I flicked the switch to the light, I nearly fell and screamed. "What the hell are you doing in my house?!" I shrieked.

The figure stepped over to me. I could smell his cologne and smoke.

It was Isaac.

"You never came back," he said looking down at his scuffed shoes. "I need you, Manny."

—

Muhaha! Cliff hanger.

One part left!