Dazed & Confused

[2]

     "How would you like to join our gang?" Katrina blurts out. My eyes widen. I blink, trying to process what she just said.
     "What?" I ask, my brows furrowed as I shake my head. What do they mean 'gang'?
    "Join a gang Sam," Brennen pipes up. I look at him, my mouth agape as I listen to them intently.
     "Not a mafia, a gang. Like a street gang." Brennen explains. I shake my head before leaning back into my seat and rubbing my face with my hands.
     "You mean the people who go around and do drive-by shootings? Killing innocents?!" I exclaim, What kind of person do they take me for? I clench my jaw as I look between the two.
     "You don't have to do that Sam. We don't do that. And even if we did, we wouldn't make you. But like Kat said, it might help protect you from the mafia." Brennen states calmly. I groan
     "Fuck protection! The mafia would kill every single one of you guys just to get to me! I'm better off on my own." A feeling of fear and anxious passes me, filling up my chest intoxicatingly. I can't lose another friend. I furrow my brows even more at the thought, there's no memory attached to that thought, just a feeling. What do I mean by that?
     "Sam, we all are willing to take that risk. You're underestimate us. We could learn how to defend ourselves against the mafia, like you did. You just have to teach us." Brennen raises his hand off the steering wheel, talking with his hands while not taking his eyes off the road. I'm no teacher. I barely made it out alive, and I was on the run for six years. They won't make it out nor learn in time. It's a miracle I'm still here. Brennen suddenly sighs, I look up at them, glancing between the two as I wait for one of them to speak again.
     "Just try Sam, please. You don't have to join just try and do this, let us help." Katrina turns around in her seat to look at me. Help made me too comfortable. That's what got me killed. Katrina takes a deep breath, watching me patiently.
     "Just try. Come live with us for now. You can move out later and keep moving on with your life the way you think is best. We can't stop you. And if that's what you want, we won't." Katrina speaks as if she can read my mind. She probably can, in her own way. I sigh and turn my head away before rubbing my face.
     "Fine." I state softly, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. Katrina nods, accepting my answer as she turns back in her seat.
     "Take us home then," Katrina tells Brennen softly. I lean all the way back in my seat, gulping as I rub my face once again. The car then goes silence for the rest of the way home.