Helen: Alright kids, I have two friends coming over today!

Jesse: How come we've never heard of them before?

Helen: We've met not too long ago, but we haven't seen each other for a while.  We met through other friends, before I knew your father. Each of us got busy with their own life and now they would like to get to know you guys.

Jesse: Ok, mom. I'll be back soon.

Helen: Don't be late hun. I want you to meet them.

Jesse leaves the house to play a game of basketball with his friends. When he arrives, he sees his friend Brandon and the others waiting for his arrival.

Brandon: Ready to shoot some hoops?

Jesse: Let's see watcha got!

The friends play a good game of basketball. Until, Shane, a boy on the other team who always wants to start fights because he thinks he's better than everybody else, starts a fight with Jesse.

Jesse: Hey man, just chill.

Shane: Who are you telling to chill? (Pushes Jesse).

Then, Jesse punches him in the nose, and Shane bleeds. And at the same time, two men in a gray SUV stop by, who identify themselves as cops.

First Cop: What do you guys think you're doing? (Pulls Jesse away from Shane).

The second cop takes Shane to a bench and helps him get cleaned up.

Jesse walks away and sits at a different bench. The two cops ask his friends about what happened.

Brandon: He's usually not this aggressive. It's just that.... Shane always thinks he's better than Jesse at everything. So, Jesse wanted to show him who's really better.

The two cops look at Jesse, and ask Brandon: Is he really the best player?

Brandon: You'll see.

Brandon and the two cops watch Jesse as he chugs a cold bottle of water, and pours another one over his head. Then, he throws both bottles, one after the other, into a trash can while standing backwards and not facing it. The cops were surprised they both made it in. He makes it look so easy.

Brandon: Now you know why.

Jesse approaches his friend and the two men.

First Cop: You shouldn't be causing trouble.

Jesse: Things happen.

Second Cop: Apologize to your buddy over here. (For the purpose of embarrassing Jesse).

Jesse: I'm sorry I kicked your ass. (All the others are laughing).

Shane tries to get up, but the cops stop him.

Jesse: I'll see you guys later.

Cops: Don't be causing more trouble.

Jesse walks away.

Later....he hears a car come by. It was the two cops.

First Cop: Where ya headin'? Need a ride?

Jesse: No thanks....I got this.

First Cop: Hey....uh....do you know this address?

Jesse: Hmph.....What....you got a steak out at the big one? (Laughing).

First Cop: Very funny....we're visiting a friend who lives there.

Jesse: So....that's a smartphone in your hand,right?

First Cop: Yeah.

Jesse: And....that's a navigation system in your car.

First Cop: Yeah.

Jesse: That's the oldest trick in the book.

Second Cop: Not anyone can get passed the front gate.

First Cop: This is probably the closest you'll ever get to that house.

Jesse: You never know....I just might walk through that gate today.

Second Cop: Some dreams come true. (Laughing).

First Cop: Yeah....we'll see ya around.

Jesse: Later.

The car quickly drives away leaving the smell of burnt rubber behind.

On his way home, he meets an old friend of his, Bruce.

Jesse: Hey, Bruce. Have you been out of trouble lately?

Bruce: I'm trying. Can't help it.

Bruce is older than Jesse. He can't keep away from taking drugs, or selling them.

He was smoking some of his stuff when Jesse came.

Bruce: Man, I owe a guy a few more pounds.

Jesse: What happened ?

Bruce: I....I gave him less than what he wanted. He payed for the whole thing. He'll soon figure it out, and he'll be coming....and maybe with some friends.

Jesse: I wouldn't wanna see that (both laughing).

A shiny, black car comes by as they were talking.

Bruce identifies the car, and knows who is in it.

Bruce: Shit! It's him. Stay out of sight....you don't need this kind of trouble.

A big man with a red sweater and baggy jeans steps out of the car and walks towards Bruce.

Bruce: Look Rick....there was a mis...

The man punches Bruce before he could finish his sentence.

Rick: Where's my money? (Pulling out a gun from his pocket).

Bruce: I don't have your money with me right now.

Rick: Well, you should've thought about that before you decided to play this game.

You thought I wouldn't figure it out?

It's not the first time you play this game. You've tried it on others before me.

Now you'll know what it's like to finally lose.

Rick shoots Bruce in his shoulder.

Bruce: Ah....listen......I can get you your money.....just give me a chance.

Rick: I wanna teach you to never mess with the big guys.

Bruce: Hold on....I have some money with me.

Bruce slowly reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gun without Rick noticing.

He shoots at Rick, but misses the shot because of his shoulder that's in pain.

Rick instantly shoots Bruce in the chest. Bruce drops his gun from the pain of the bullet that went through his chest.

Rick: You lose.

Rick walks away as Bruce stares at him while he lays on the ground, bleeding.

Jesse had witnessed all that had just happened. Jesse loved Bruce. He wouldn't just watch his friend die, and let the other guy get away with it.

Jesse grabs the gun that Bruce had dropped. He shoots at Rick's back and shoulders multiple times until he falls to the ground.

Jesse couldn't believe what he had just done. He knew that at any second the cops would come.

He remembered Bruce when he heard him moaning in pain. He didn't care about anything except for the fact that his friend is in pain, and maybe dying.

Jesse: Bruce! I know you're in pain, but hang on until the ambulance gets here.

Jesse pulls out his phone to dial 911.

Bruce: Don't....I'd rather die than go to prison. And you.....will be in lots of trouble if you don't leave now. Take the gun and leave.

Jesse: I can't leave you here like this!

They can hear the sound of sirens getting closer. Someone heard the shots being fired and called 911.

Bruce: I'll be fine....just go! This isn't your fight.

Jesse: I'm sorry.

Bruce: Don't be sorry. I'll be......

Jesse takes the gun and runs as fast as he could. He runs until he finds a place to hide the gun. He hides the gun in a cave behind a waterfall. Jesse felt dizzy. He knows he can't go back. He thought for a while.....It was too dark for anyone to see him. He met Bruce in a place where nobody can see them. If he had to see Bruce, they would always meet there, where nobody can see them. He made sure that they never contacted each other through a phone, or any other communication device. They always talked face-to-face.

Jesse realized that there is no way someone could tie him to Bruce, but he didn't feel any better knowing that a friend of his died right in front of his eyes, and that he had killed someone.

He suddenly noticed how late it was, and rushed home. He took a different way home, avoiding the scene and suspicion.

Jesse walks through the front gate. He sees a car that looks familiar to him. Then, he remembered that some of his mom's friends were coming over, and that those friends were the two cops he had seen earlier.

He knew that they were the friends when they showed him the address, but he didn't say anything.

He walks through the door....

Helen: Oh Hun...you're home. These are my friends that I was telling you about. This is my oldest son, Jesse.

Jesse: Nice to meet you. (His hands were shaking, and his face was red).

First Cop: Hi, I'm Joe.

Second Cop: I'm Mike.

Jesse comes over to his mom to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Helen: Honey, you smell weird.

Jesse: Must be all the sweat.....I'll go shower.

Mike and Joe look at each other, doubting that's the smell of sweat.

Jesse remembered that he was standing near Bruce when he was smoking. The smell must have rubbed off on him.

He went upstairs to take a shower.

As he was in the shower, he was remembering everything that had happened earlier. He felt guilty, but Jesse learned how to be strong. He grew up fast.

He had to get things together before he goes back down.

Jesse comes down to join the rest for dinner.

Helen: You smell much better.

Jesse: So, what do you guys work? (Acting like he didn't meet them earlier).

Helen: They're police officers.

Jesse: I would have never guessed that. (Laughing sarcastically).

Joe: There was a shooting that happened on our way here.

Jesse: What happened? (Asking with a red face).

Mike: It was a drug deal gone wrong.

Jesse: Was anyone caught?

Joe: Not yet. (Looking at Jesse, and saying it as if referring to him).

Jesse's face becomes red. Then, he leaves the table.

Jesse: Thanks for dinner, mom.