READY, AIM... FIRE

The Phone Call

Travis POV

"Nothing, nothing, and more nothing!"

Looking at the clock watching the red hand tick, no word from the big boss.... No word on the big deal we have going on with the neighboring crew...

"WHAT THE FUCK!" Is all that comes to my mind, but I feel the familiar bUzzing of my cell. I pull it out of my back pocket and see that it's my truancy officer. I internally groan. What could he want?

"Hello." I said in the sweetest voice possible.

"Travis Miller! You need to get your priorities straight." Mr. Santos yelled at me.

"What are you talking about? I've been going to school."

"Don't try lying to me. I know you haven't and if you keep it up you'll be expelled and have to move schools." He sounded really serious.

Then it hit me. I've been kicked out of every high school in the city. If I get expelled I'll have to move and I can't leave my gang.

"Travis. Are you listening?" Mr. Santos took me from my thoughts.

"Yes I'm listening. I understand. Ill be at school tomorrow. Don't worry."

"No. You have to go to school everyday. Not just for tomorrow. If you go to school everyday and keep up your grades for a month and show me you can be responsible, I'll leave you alone. You're going to be 18 in a few weeks. I have to know I'll be able to trust you enough to know you'll finish these last few months of high school without me."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll do it. Stop worrying so much." I hung up before he could say anything.

I thought long and hard about this. The going to school part is easy. It's the getting good grades that's hard. I mean, if you ask me anything to do with money or guns I'm your guy. But, school... Nope.

I walked out to the living room where some of the members were watching TV and goofing off. I figured I could ask them about my problem.

I sat on the arm of one of the couches next to my best friend Tyler. I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed.

"What's wrong buddy?" Tyler asks me.

"I have a problem. Mr. Santos told me I have to start going to school everyday and getting good grades or he's gonna send me to a new school in another city." Everyone got quiet.

"But you can't run the gang from another town." Matt said.

"I know that. So I need you guys to help me" I told them.

"You know we're barely passing our classes. We can't help." Aaron said.

"Oh I got it!" Tyler said snapping his fingers. I swear I saw a light bulb come on above his head. "What if you asked that really smart girl in school to tutor you.?"

"That's actually not a bad idea. It could work." Alex said.

I thought about it for a second. It actually isn't a bad idea. "Didn't she like skip a grade or something?" I asked unsure.

"Yeah. I think her name is Mia or something like that." Tyler said.

"It's Mya you nimrod." Matt said. "She's not bad looking either."

"Ha! She's a complete nerd!" Arron said.

"No she's a cute nerd." Alex said back.

I rolled my eyes at them. Aaron and Alex are twins and they're constantly fighting over the stupidest things.

"I don't care what she looks like. As long as she helps me." I told them. "I'm gonna ask tomorrow."

I got a bunch of nods and mumbled "ok" as I left. I layed down in bed and thought about how I was gonna ask her. I remembered I have Math with her so I'll just ask her then.

I closed my eyes and thought of passing my classes and graduating so I could freely run my gang without handing to worry about school.