The Matters of Power

Chapter 39- The Guerra Family [3]

The tension feels suffocating. Here we are, sitting around a table with Swift Cross on one side and the Guerra Family on the other, staring each other down and thinking about how to start off this negotiation. I can't hear Quarter's thoughts as usual; Yan is overcomplicating ideas, the other members are surprising calm but wary, and oddly enough I can't hear the tall man's thoughts either. Why is it I can't hear the thoughts of specific people? Before I can doze off into my questioning, the tall man sighs and leans forward. "Welp, might as well start talking since we did invite you over to talk. Again, sorry about taking so long to be able to talk to y'all, but you have to understand that society outside really doesn't like us." Quarter motions to Yan that he can talk in his place, "Is that because you are a gang that preys on the weak like the Eastside Gang?" "What? No," he seems surprised by that notion, "Why would we even be remotely close to being like those thugs down there? We are a family, not a gang, we are together out of necessity and not out of greed. Every person that lives under the Guerra Family is an unwanted child, a runaway, or someone that has nowhere left to go, including us four." Yan and Quarter are surprised by what he says, but don't reply as he goes on. "Swift Cross, you're also not some gang, are you? You formed to act as a vigilante group that keeps the peace in your area, and have managed to fight and defeat West Anton High's gang and the Eastside Gang, am I wrong?" We shake our heads. "We've been trying to keep up on what you've been up to and since y'all started sniffing around, we tried to avoid conflict until we could get one of your people to act as an intermediary, and from there be able to talk it out."

Yan seems rather impressed by what he says, but I get goosebumps now knowing that they knew the whole time and I was practically played for a fool. From there, they start introductions as the woman stands up. "Hey there. The name's Talia Guerra. I'm considered the 'mother' of the family, as it was my brother and I who formed the foundation of this family." "Hold on, brother?" One of the Swift Cross members chimes in, "You mean to tell me that guy is your brother who also founded this gang? You almost look nothing alike." Clearly annoyed, Talia tries to respond nicely, "You see, we somehow got different results in the genetic lottery from our poor excuses of our parents, so pardon us if we seem to hide something from our faces. The other two, Benson and Jackson, are just like us, abandoned kids who wanted to protect this family at all costs with our skills. Oh, and my brother's name is Oscar." They casually wave at us though they don't seem ready to relax just yet. Despite how intimidating Benson and Jackson look, they think a lot on food rather than how they could beat us up in case something goes wrong, mostly about sweets. The tension seems to loosen now as everyone starts to warm up to each other and we spend the next few minutes talking about the relationship between Swift Cross and the Guerra Family, seeing how they aren't the typical gangs like the others and see that we align each other over an 'official' form of friendship. In the end, the guys and I are able to leave their 'home' rather content with the situation and see that there is a lot that we don't know about them that is worth knowing. Except it takes one of the members to remind us how late it is, and I quickly decide to head on home before Mom and Dad start to worry about me staying out late.

The next morning...

The weather feels so humid outside that I feel like it should be criminal for Texas to be this humid in the spring, but I don't feel comfortable going inside the school and deal with the usual staring and thought reading I would have to endure. I see Julieta walk pass by, giving practically everybody the cold stare, especially at me for some reason, followed by Zeke and his little posse until finally Yan spots and approaches me. "Mornin'. Enjoying the weather?" I see that he tries to be sarcastic, but I can't take him seriously with his forced smile and him wearing shorts. "Yeah, guess so. Aren't you tired from last night?" He shakes his head, as if he was expecting that question, "I'm used to that sleep schedule, since being the right-hand man of Swift Cross demands physical improvement. Has Quarter said anything to you yet?" I say no. "Damn, I thought he did. Anyway, despite the circumstances the Guerra Family has compared to us, we thought it would be fine if we just... left them alone, if you will. I'm not exactly comfortable talking about the idea of abandoned kids who steal for survival, but compared to what we've dealt with before, they appear to be saints." Even though he doesn't say it, I can tell he has sympathy for them even without reading his mind. He clears his throat, "For now, I suggest you do whatever it is you do until we have more details on that other... gang. It's a pain, but they seem to be better at hiding than the Guerra Family if you can believe that. If you can, could you kindly tell Carl about what happened? I didn't want to take him that night because his... reactive nature might have screwed things up, and I know Payton would be onto him since she still is sore about him getting into unnecessary fights.With that," he starts walking away and heads in the direction of the gym area, "don't forget to study!" Classic Yan advice. I sensed Carl trying to sneak behind me and scare me, but barely gets a reaction out of me when he does. "Seriously? You're the first person that doesn't get scared by my surprise attacks! How do you it? Never mind, it doesn't matter." He chuckles at his own failure, "What was Yan talking to you about anyway, if you don't mind?" Seeing as his curiosity isn't gonna go away, I try to explain to him about the events of last night and Yan's suggestion. "Ah, I see," he tries to look smart by doing a thinking pose, "so they aren't your so-called average gang as people make 'em out to be. Still, I guess I can talk to Yan about more if I can, though I'm slightly salty y'all didn't bother asking me to join you. I thought I was good enough to be with ya." I shrug, not knowing what to say.

Just then, I see Fernando join in on the conversation. "Hey guys. What's new?" "Same shit, different day, Fernando." "I told you that you can call me Fern instead of my full name." "Sorry, force of habit." Fernando looks at me, "How about you, Marcus? It's been a while since I asked you." "I'm doing fine, at least we are on the way to finishing this school year. Not much to say." We spend a few minutes chatting it up and having the occasional laugh until we hear the warning bell for us to go to class for the day. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot what seems to be Julieta peeking to look at me at the end of the hallway near my classroom and quickly hides away as soon as our eyes meet.

I didn't even get a faint presence from her where I could have sensed any other peeking eyes just as easily.

What's going on with her all of a sudden?