My Best friends Cousin

Middle School

Placing the photo frame down back in its original spot the redhead moved to the next photo frame, smiling at the fond memories the photograph held.

•••

Middle school was a whole new adventure for the two best friends as they tried to find themselves and somehow try and fit in.

Cheryl had bright red hair so it wasn't very hard for people to notice her, thankfully the young girl managed to make some friends quickly.

She was shy around people she didn't know but she did always try to make new friends, not a best friend though she already had one of those.

Unfortunately for Jacy things were not as easy, he was a quiet kid and wouldn't really go out of his way to speak, opting to spend his time alone.

Cheryl remembered her first day at elementary school when she met the shy little boy sat in the sand box by himself.

Only now at recess he wasn't alone, he had Cheryl, they didn't have classes together though something the pair weren't too happy about but they had to get used to it.

There was one week in particular where Cheryl wasn't at school because she was sick with the flu and this was the first time Jacy found himself in trouble with another boy at school, Reggie Mantle.

It was recess on Monday when Jacy heard the boy yelling over to him.

'Hey freak! Why are you at this school? Shouldn't you be on the Southside?'.

'Wha...what?' Jacy stuttered, he didn't like confrontation and he definitely wasn't a fighter.

Reggie stepped closer to the boy who was so much smaller than him.

'Go back to the Southside scum!' Reggie pushed the smaller boy back as hard as he could causing the smaller boy to fall flat on his back.

Reggie and all of his friends started laughing as they pointed their fingers at Jacy and called him names.

Tears started forming in the smaller boys eyes as he picked himself up of the ground and ran in the opposite direction to the boys bathroom spending the remainder of recess crying.

•••

The bullying continued for another two years, always out of sight of teachers and fellow students.

Jacy never told anyone about the torment he had to endure every day.

From the spit balls fired into the back of his head to throwing him in the trash can head first, he kept it to himself, not even telling his best friend.

Reggie knew the Topaz name and he knew who Jacy's family were, his family was a long blood line of serpents, a notorious gang that were situated on the south side of riverdale.

They wore black leather jackets with a striking snake on the back, Jacy had no idea his family were involved in anything gang related.

Jacy knew that many members of his family liked to wear the same leather jackets and ride motorcycles but he never gave it much thought.

He had heard people call his uncle the king but he just thought it was a cool nickname.

Jacy's fathers younger brother had taken the serpent thrown instead of him, the older brother didn't want to be in the gang, he had other plans for his life.

He wanted to go to college, marry his high school sweetheart and start a family. That's just what he did, he moved to the north side with his beautiful wife and started his own little family.