Dirty Work

Chapter 7

Chapter song
Ready To Let Go, by: Cage the Elephants

"Join the West Side red."

The same five words kept repeating themselves in my head for who knows how long. When Niall told me he had a way for me to figure out all the secrets of the West Side I desperately wanted to know, him telling me to join was the last thing I was expecting to hear.

I wouldn't lie and say the thought of living a dangerous life like Zayn wouldn't be interesting, but joining one of the biggest and most dangerous gangs in the city is a bit farther than I'm willing to go.

All I can think about is how worried and on edge I've been these last couple of days, and I'm not even a part of all this shit. Just the thought of how much more danger I would be in if I actually was scares the shit out of me.

I don't know how long it's been since Niall spoke. Ever since the words came out of his mouth, I've stayed quiet. I can't tell if I'm in shock, or if I'm genuinely thinking about his offer. Not that it even was an offer. For all I know, he probably said it to mess with Zayn and I.

Zayn.

Shit. I wonder what Zayn is thinking right now. I'm going to take a wild guess and say Niall is the one in the group who likes to mess around with the others, so this behavior is probably not far off from the shit he says and does day to day. But Zayn has been so consistent on reminding me how much he hates the fact that I'm getting closer and closer to the danger. I can only imagine what Zayn has to say about this.

I look around at everybody else to try and see what everybody is thinking by their body language. Liam is just looking at Niall. Louis looks like he could care less about what Niall just said. Niall looks so fucking smug right now, almost like he knows exactly what he started by his words. Harry's just playing with his rings, and Zayn, Zayn looks like he is going to pop a fucking blood vessel. It's only a matter of time before-

"Niall what the hell! Why the fuck would you even suggest something like that?" Zayn snaps. I knew that was going to happen.

"Suggest what?" Niall asks obliviously. He can't even help himself from laughing. I will admit, I do think Zayn is overreacting a little bit. Yeah what Niall said caught us all off guard, but just because he suggested it doesn't mean I actually have to join the West Side.

"Suggest what." Zayn repeats Niall's words laughing humorlessly.

"Listen man, you don't have to take it so seriously. I was only joking," Niall says while adjusting himself on the couch he's sitting on.

"Well, you know, it might not be such a bad idea," Louis says in the midst of all the tension. My head automatically perks up. What does he mean it's not such a bad idea?

Zayn's head flings towards where Louis is sitting. "Oh come on Louis, you are supposed to be the smart one here. How can you be agreeing with Niall?" Zayn says shaking his head.

"I'm not agreeing with anybody, all I'm saying is it wouldn't hurt to add an addition to the group. Alex has been filled in on the basics, she could be a good fit. She helped us avoid getting shot to death last night," Louis adds. How can he actually be serious. I'm a fucking tattoo artist, not a NASCAR driver. Yeah, I surprised myself last night with the shit I did, but that doesn't mean I'm cut out for this.

"Yeah last night was sick. Still wanting to know how you learned that shit red," Niall responds. I tense up again. Zayn side eyes me a bit. He doesn't know the full story of how I learned my driving skills. Nobody really does. But he knows enough to know that I don't like talking about it.