Fight or Flight

Chapter 1: Ace Degenerate

Josette Levesque was resting on the couch in her small apartment, surrounded by boxes yet to be unpacked. She was looking through her new school's website, trying to decide what clubs she wanted to join since summer was almost over. Her focus was interrupted by her mother.

"Chère, can you take the garbage bags out to the bins? I'm still unpacking." Camille Levesque asked, with a gentle French accent.

"Sure, Maman, one sec." Josette lifted her laptop off her legs and grabbed the bags.

She was still new to Reseda Heights, but Josette found the bins pretty easily. She opened the lid and was welcomed by a putrid smell that made her gag in disgust. She quickly threw her two bags in and shut the lid.

"Hey, I'm Miguel," A teenage male voice came from behind her. Josette turned, thinking the tanned boy was talking to her, but he was introducing himself to a scruffy, middle-aged man. Miguel continued, "My family and I just moved into 109."

"Great. More immigrants," said the man. He started to head towards Josette with a few bags of trash and a toolbox in his hands. Most of the trash bags were filled with beer bottles.

Miguel was slightly taken aback. "Actually, we're from Riverside," he replied, "but anyways, I was just wondering if you were having trouble with your water pressure, 'cause I know our sink's being a little weird right now..."

Josette stepped aside as the blond man set his toolbox down and opened the lid, watching the exchange in slight awe of the outgoing boy.

She noticed his beer bottles were about to go in the recycling bin. "Wrong one." She told the man.

At the same time, Miguel said, "Oh, bottles go in the blue bins!"

The man gave the two teens a disgruntled look and threw his bottles into the black bin, slamming the lid.

"Listen, Menudo, and whoever you are," the man spoke to Miguel and Josette. "I've lived in this shit hole for over ten years. The pipes don't work. The fountain's full of piss. The only good thing about being here is that I don't have to talk to anybody. So, nice knowing you two."

The agitated blond picked up his toolbox and promptly walked away.

Miguel watched him leave. "Ok, well... have a nice day... I guess."

As the blond man's car revved and drove away, Miguel turned to Josette. "I'm Miguel, by the way. Diaz. I'm Miguel Diaz." He seemed a little awkward.

Josette laughed, "I know, I heard you guys talking. I'm Josette Levesque, but most people call me Josie."

"Well, nice to meet you, Josie. Are you new around here, too?" Miguel questioned, curious to know more about Josie.

"Yeah, actually," Josie answered, " My mom and I just moved into 103 a few days ago."

Miguel was glad to have another kid his age around the complex. He questioned her more.

"Where are you guys from? I'm guessing your accent's French, so... I'm thinking Europe?"

Josie laughed. "Not that interesting, actually. I was born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada, which is pretty bilingual. French is my first language though."

"No way!" Miguel was a bit shocked. He'd never payed attention to the Canadian provinces in school, but he knew it was somewhere on the East Coast. "How'd you end up all the way here?"

Josie was a bit uncomfortable. "When my dad left a few months ago, my mom wanted to get as far away from there as possible. She's always loved California, and she ended up getting a nursing job at the hospital around here. So, here I am." She shrugged.