the bitch and the prick

who' afraid of the big bad prick?

Shade is the name, being a prick is the game.

Yup! My name is shade, short for Shadow Gutierrez. 17 years old. Not a bad boy but the bad boy.

I am half carioca (from Rio de Janeiro) and half american. Tanned skin, jet black hair, hazel eyes with long black lashes, lean and muscular body. I am the tall, dark and handsome type. I know it. I heard it many times. But physical attributes were just a wrapper to the package. What am i inside is what i am proud of.

I am new in this school, Velmonte Academy but not new in town. I was born and almost grew up in this small town with my dad and sister. My mom left us when I was 4 and Blaze 3. I cant remember her face. And all her pictures were thrown by my dad but we really didn't care. She left and went to someone's arm not considering her own children. Blaze, dad and I were living together until dad needed to work abroad, in Germany, during my middle school. So blaze and I went to avozinho and avozinha (grandpa and grandma) in Rio de Janeiro. That's where i learned all the things that i needed to learn in order for me and my sis to survive. The thing that i am proud of.

When I was 13 I joined my cousin's gang. A gang who taught me everything. They taught me the good, the bad and the worst of this world. How good a life can be using money. How bad it can be using vices. And how worst it can be to me and my own monster.

I tried every vices; from alcohol, smokes, drugs and girls. I tasted them all. And know what, they were good while your in the moment but after the effect, life still dull. But still i used and experienced them all. I also went to juvenile detention-- twice for petty reason, gang war. The highlight of my life in Rio was gaining my gang tattoo and being a full pledge youngest member of my gang, fighting with them.

"Are you sure you want to learn how to kick some ass?" My cousin rogelio, who was 5 years older than me asked.

"No, i want to learn how to kick all asses" I said. And because i worked as a porter in a warehouse before, my physique is quite impressive.

Our gang members chuckled "yeah right. Babaca (jerk)" rogelio said "but you will not fight unless I'm with you."

"Whatever you said mamae! (Mom)" I answered rolling my eyes.

"Promise that to me, shade"he said seriously. Rogelio wasn't just a cousin to me, he was like my brother. Our big brother. He kept us. Secured us. Protected us.

"Yes i promise" i answered raising my right hand before crossing it to my heart. I would like to annoy him more but i dont want him to be pissed and just forget my fighting lessons so i just gave in.

So rogelio taught me everything about fighting, defense and offense. Fighting using hand to hand combat. Using knife. And using gun.

Until last week when he was killed because of gang war. They were ambushed by our enemy on the way home. I was in school that time so fortunately or unfortunately im not with them. And my grandparents was so scared. So they decided to ship us, blaze and i, back here in this small-boring town.

But what rogelio left me is more than on how to fight but the reason why to fight.

Fight for money. Fight for vices. Fight for fun. Fight for friends. Fight for my family. Fight for the people i loved. Fight to survive. Fight for myself.

I didn't turn down a fight in Rio before so i wont turn it down now.

So beware. Who's gonna be afraid of this big bad prick?...