Tales of the wasteland: The old, new Vegas

Trip Part 4

My head is thumping, my sight is dizzy and my stomach is tight. I drank way too much last night. So much that i don't even know how i got to the mattress on the floor in this dirty, musky smelling room. I didn't talk to the others a lot last night. Sabina and Miles were somewhere, until one of them disappeared and then the other did. It might have been Miles that disappeared first, or Sabina, I don't know. Tyler was somewhere and well... Honey was with Cody.

I just don't get her. She can do some random things sometimes. That things she did with Cody was completely out of the blue; they hadn't spoken, unless it had something to do with the jobs we were doing. I just don't get why she would fall for a guy like him. I mean he isn't the smartest person, nor is he is the most passionate person. I just don't understand why she falls for dipshits that just use her, they don't understand what a beautiful person she really is. Not only appearance wise, but nature wise, and how strong she is. My god is she strong. 

I shake my head. I'm getting so lost in my thoughts of Honey. I have never thought of her like that, i always knew she was a strong person, but I feel rather mad that she was with Cody last night. She doesn't belong to me, but i almost wished she did. Urgh, what am i saying? She doesn't even notice you in that way Trip! God damn it Trip Ace, can't you wake up and see the big picture? Your falling of her and you know it. 

*~* 

I ended up getting to the meeting just on time. Actually, it wasn't a meeting, it was more of a training session. There was a group of about eight Jailbirds standing around in a circle with two fighting in the centre of it. Rigs sits on a tall chair so he can see in the middle. The Jailbirds cheer as the two guys swing fists at each other, hitting the others face with their knuckles causing blood and saliva to go flying. 

Rigs smokes a cigar with dark black shades hiding his eyes. He sure acts like a rich bastard. I guess you get that type of identity when you have so many people that look up to you with such loyalty. He knows no matter what these young boys that are in this camp will never cross him. He is their savour, the person that took them under their wing when no one else could give a shit. I'm not sure if anyone else knows but all the boys here are here because their families never cared. Their families let them starve or get into trouble because they didn't want to look after them, couldn't give two shits. Rigs was the person that offered them a bed and food and a roof over their heads. Offered them a pack, a family that will never leave them, a family that understands them. People that will stick by their sides. And this isn't just any gang, this gang holds the people who help look after this broken town. They are the savours of the slums. 

Rigs jumps down off his chair, flicking the last of his cigar into the dirt. He takes a glance over at the circle and then back to me. "I heard you are quite the drinker." He says to me.

"I guess you could say that." 

He pats my shoulder. "That's alright Trip. It's good to see that your comfortable enough to drink yourself into a coma around us. It shows that you trust us." He says putting everything i did last night into a different perspective. "The boys said they enjoyed having you around. Said that you weren't just a rich bastard." 

"I have never been the type to just stick to the ladder, if that makes any sense." We begun to slowly walk. "What i mean is i've never been that person to stop interaction with someone because they aren't like me." I look over at his face, as we walk to the other side of the circle. "Money is just an object that causes problems, people are the key to happiness." 

"That is why we like you so much." He swiftly replies. At that moment Honey and Tyler come walking up, of course with Cody in front of them. Rigs wolf whistles and the cheering for the fist fighters stops, along with the fighting. 

*~*

Rigs walks before us with Cody standing behind him. I  take a quick glance at Honey who stands beside Tyler, arms crossed and avoiding any eye contact with Cody. Cody does the same. I knew it was just an awkward fling, yet i still get a strong feeling of jealousy.

"Alright. This next job will be a job where you may need to fight." He stops walking in front of Tyler. "First test is to see how you fight. Your first boy." 

*~*

Tyler stands in the middle of the circle, a few feet across for him is Cody. A crowd of people around them shouting and cheering. Honey and I stand side by side in the circle with Rigs sitting behind us in his tall viewing chair. 

"Okay!" Rigs yells. The cheering stops. "Rule number one: No breaking the rules! Number two: No weapons. Number three: No help from the sidelines. That includes no holding down and shoving. And number four: This fight is merely for training, so do not. And i mean not! Do any life threatening, or permanent injury moves!" He sits back in his chair and rests his chin in his hands. "Go." And just like the cheering was off again and the fight was on.

Cody and Tyler walk around in a fighters stance, eye to eye. Then Tyler swiftly leans in to swing a punch at Cody. Cody dodges it, grabbing onto Tyler's arm and twists it. Tyler, out of nowhere, gets his foot in-between Cody's legs and trips him over causing them both to fall down into the dirt. They begin to roll around together fighting each other, trying to hold each other down. 

I suddenly loose interest in the fight and turn to admire Honey. I never thought i would fall for her. This whole time I have never been so love sick. I'm like a puppy. I can't help but daydream of her and I together. She would kiss me sweetly, and i would just sweep her feet. I have to shake my head to get the unlikely dream out of my head.

"Right!" Rigs yells. "I have seen enough from you! Trip." I look up to him, having to put my hand up to block the sun. "Your up boy." I feel the nerves build up. My face goes all red and my heart starts to race. I look at Honey who just watches me walk into the middle of the circle, passing Tyler.

"Watch out." He says to me. I stop, he looks back. "He is a tough one." I feel an air bubble in my throat that i can't swallow. Rigs gives the green light and then we are off.

Cody and I are waltzing a fighters waltz. Eye contact, arms up and slowly stepping around in a small circle. I relies then and their that he isn't waiting for an opening, he is waiting for me to make my move. He needs me to make the first swing to get him going. I come up with a small theory, which is if i were to fake a punch I could get him going but have the upper hand. It's not a very good plan, nor do i believe it will actually work but what's life like without taking chances? 

I take a deep breath and go for it. Quickly putting my arm out and then pulling it right back into my chest, almost punching my self. He dodges it. I then go to give him a real punch. Although i didn't think this far into the plan, everything that i am doing from now on is being made up then and their. I try to hit him in the jaw, and i do. But then he ended up getting the upper hand in the fight by blocking a punch and elbowing me in the noes. I felt my eyes water up as the blow causes blood to slowly fall out of my noes. He goes to put me into a choke hold, but i end up biting his hand causing him to quickly pull away out of instinct. I knee him a few times and punch him. He yet again gets the upper hand in the fight tripping me down and then giving me a few blows into the gut, until Rigs tells him to stop. 

*~*

He jumps down from his chair. I'm still on the ground covered in dirt and with blood on my face, along with a few scratches. Cody stands a few feet away now. Rigs pushes through the crowd and into the circle and stands over men. "I have a lot of work to do on you guys." He puts his arm put to help me up.

"Okay. I guess i'm up next." Honey says stepping into the circle.

"No." Rigs says in a husky voice. 

"Why the hell not?"

"Because. Can't take on Cody and-"

"Bullshit i can't!" She yells. "I could take all of you on. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean i can't fight a man."

"You didn't let me finish. Honey you won't need to fight because your going to be sneaking into the camp."

"What camp?"

"You three follow me." Rigs says walking towards the clubhouse. As we leave the circle the gang start to cheer again as another one of them has jumped into the circle with Cody, ready to fight.