DEADPINE HILLS

Chapter 1 : Ain't No Rest For The Wicked

''Lydia, are you with me? Did I fuckin' stutter?'' said Penny, sounding very dominant in these lonely woods.

Lydia In such a big shock, holding Charles' basketball uniform. Four friends circled around the little fire, getting rid of what they don't want to be seen. Blood stains all over Lydia and Wolfgar, Bugsy, the silent member of the Leppard, staying calm despite others panic.

''Throw it into the flames, now.'' Penny continued, her hair down, shruging her leather jacket and making sure there's nothing left  from Charles.

With trembling hands, Lydia threw the uniform into the fire pit and watched it turn into ashes. 

Penny's eyes were looking threatening. And this was creeping the others.

''Listen up, losers. From now on, we won't say a word about tonight. Not to others, not to each other. We came to the party, and then we left. Especially you, Bugsy.'' 

Wolfgar, having the biggest dilemma in his life, stuttered. ''B-but what if..they find out? I can't..I didn't even do anything to him. I will talk to Sheriff.''

 He took a few steps back, turned his back to the others and wanted to run as fast as he can in these woods.

But Bugsy was faster. 

''They won't as long as you keep your mouth shut, and I'll make sure you do.'' he said, as he held Wolfgar and pulled him closer, blocking his attempt to run away. And his deep blue eyes were lookin' so serious for a crazy person. He continued,

''You're not going to snitch on us. Just go home, take a shower, get rid of the blood stains. And sleep well, Collins.''

''You're crazy!'' screamed Wolfgar, as  he tried to save his arm that was held firmly by Bugsy. 

''You wanna see real crazy, Collins? Go tell everything to Sheriff, then I'll beat your ass worse than your abusive father could ever imagine.'' finished his words.

John 'Bugsy' Baxter, he was tall, slim, and a straight-faced, mean looking boy. Dark brown hair, blue squinty eyes, a freckle on his left cheek that stands out, and despite all that, a soft voice. But he knew how to intimidate when he had to. 

At that very moment, Wolfgar knew that there was no turning back from this. He was now forced to share a such a delicate, big secret with those people he had never said hi to.

FEW DAYS AGO

Deadpine Hills High, was not a school that you'd wanna attend to everyday, because for school that had strict rules, this school was full of lost kids, kids that break the glasses, that carve their initials or maybe more on the bathroom doors and on their desk, talk back to their teachers, and every day there would be a new fight at the big hall. Most of the fights were started by Penny Titball, and her beloved gang called 'Leppards'.

It might seem like a bunch of bad kids gathering together at first sight, but actually Penny was trying to keep them in the line, because she knew that's what a leader would do. In an empty class, her butt leaned on the teacher's desk, Penny looked at each leppard with a disappointment. When she parted her lips, they knew she was up for no good.

''Which one of you threatened Lydia with a knife?''

The question was simple, but nobody in the gang was brave enough to say it. Bugsy, at the corner of the room, his arms crossed on his chest, knew who exactly was it. It was Jennifer Franco, she had that short temper that most of the times caused her trouble. 

''Say it Jennifer, Penny already knows because Mr. Piglet told her.'' Bugsy said. He was a member, for years. He's been known with his craziness most of the times, but this time he sounded sensible. 

Jennifer widened her eyes, the black make up, was not making her look tough in front of Penny.

''She saw me buying magic pops from Todd, and she got her nose into my business and ever since Todd stopped selling me those. And I hate little nosy bitches like her.'' 

That got a pretty good laugh from Penny, it was hysteric. As she fixed her hair with her fingers, her smile faded in a second.

''You broke the rule, Jennifer. One thing I forbid, for gods sake. Used and bought magic pops, and tried to scare someone over a fucking matter. You're no longer a Leppard, don't let me see you near my gang again.''

Jenny knew, she could not change her mind. Or she did not wanna accept the fact that she was tired of her Miss. Knows It All acts, ''Fine.'' She said as she took her leather jacket off, and the pretty neckless that had the letter L. When she left the classroom, Bugsy was now happy to speak.

''So this is what teenagers do for fun now, Magic Pops.'' 

''Clear as day,'' answered Penny. But this little meeting was interrupted by her boyfriend, Charles the Team Captain of Stallions was at the door as soon as the school ring bell.

''Penny, me and the boys are heading to the Mustang Sally, are you comin'?'' he asked, standing in front of the door. But when he saw the Bugsy, a little smile appeared on his face.

''Oh, I'd love to invite Bugsy too but, I don't know what his reaction would be to a stripper. We don't wanna scare her away. So better come alone.'' he said.

Penny thought watching a little strip show would be actually fun, she liked doing things that were not ethic whatsoever. 

''I guess we'll never know, let's go.'' she said with a little giggle. And joined her boyfriend on that little trip to Mustang Sally. 

'Mustang Sally' Bugsy thought as he was walking at the school's hall, all alone. Once it was a place for teenagers to go have milkshakes, and good burgers. But now it was abondened, and took over by people who do all kinds of shady things. I wonder how was it like, he thought. I wonder if they had really good burgers.

When he saw Lydia in front of her locker, for some reason he felt the need to go talk to her. But that black leather jacket, with a leopard behind it, could spook her.

When Lydia shut the locker's door, the tall boy that she saw was sudden. Gave her a little startle, and she frowned as soon as she realized who it was.

''What, you gonna stab me or something, weirdo?'' she said as she held her books pressed on her chest. 

Bugsy didn't take too much time replying that.

''Hey, cute little frown you got there.'' he smiled. 

Lydia always been a good girl, he knew that. That's why he thought he should apologize. 

''Listen, Jenny is no longer a leppard. I wanted to say she may have presented us in a way that we aren't, so..'' 

He made sure he was showing sincerity. 

'' We don't go around and stab people. I'm sorry. But can I just ask why were you around Todd, when this dealing was taking it's place?'' he asked softly.

''Wow, and who are  you to interrogate me? Some strange lunatic gang member, well that's not good enough.''

She turned her back and started to walk away, a fast as she wants to run away from the truth.

''You know that guy is shady, I'm not sure you're safe around him.'' Bugsy raised his voice, to make sure she hears him. Yet he still managed to sound easy. 

But Lydia was afraid, she knew Bugsy could tell Principal Piglet that she's seeing Todd, the same way she told about Jennifer. But Bugsy was way too stubborn.

This time he yelled louder, his smile even getting bigger. He liked the way how Lydia thought snitching on Leppards would be easy to get away. 

''Well just be safe, don't drink anything unbottled around him! You know where to find me.''  


That day, Penny came home after midnight, as expected. She was even a little bit drunk, but she thought it was worth it because she got to spend a wild night with the boys, and even got to strip.

She thought she could be sneaky but before she made it to stairways, the light turned on by his step father, Jim Collins.

''Young lady, where the hell have you been?'' he said, probably he was drunk too, as usual.

''Don't be funny, Jim. I'm not your daughter, you don't get to ask me where I was and who I was with.'' she said as she took her jacket off.

''Watch that tone when you speak to me.'' he got up, feeling something getting on his nerves.

''Or what? You beat the shit out of me like you do to Wolfgar? I like to see you try, you filthy old man. Don't you say a word to my mother about this.'' 

She did not wait for a response, she went up her room, oblivious to the fact that her step brother wolfgar, listening to them the whole time. But he managed to get back in his room, without being seen. He slowly walked in front of the mirror, moonlight was shining on him. He pulled up his sweater, and just kept his green eyes on the bruises for a good while. He remembered the reason, the reason created a bittersweet smile on his face, but he couldn't help the tears filling up his eyes.

'Don't drink too much, dad. Please.'  

It was about time for Wolfgar to slowly prepare himself to become a man, but this was impossible with a father like this. What would it be like to be as untouchable as Penny, he asked himself. Or what would it be like to have a parent who truly loved him? Hatred was beginning to sweep away every innocent crumb inside this child day by day. There was something he found more painful than being pushed, teased, or beaten.

It was begging your own father for love.