The Nerd

Daddy

I get to the park after what feels like no time. I walked as fast as my little legs could carry, it almost felt like I was walking on air.

I freeze in my spot and look around the dark park.

Should I go, maybe I should just turn around. Who knows who's waiting for me, this man abandon me, took my mother from me and now here I am, doing what he ask.

I push back the thoughts in my head and start my walk into the park.

It was quiet, no one around, only the sound of the slow breeze and the creek of the swings.

"Samantha?" Someone ask, from beside me.

I quickly snap my head in their direction, only to see Jake, "Jake I really don't want to argue with you again I came here to-"

"Meet with someone for your dad." He says, finishing my sentence.

I swallow the lump in my throat and say aggressively, "Mathew. His names Mathew. And he is not my father."

Jake looks down at the ground for a moment, "Right." He mumbles, "Well I'm the one he sent you to meet."

"Why?" I ask, stepping closer to him.

"Also me," Clayton McCall steps out of the darkness and stands by Jake.

I look confusingly at the boys, "What the hell is going on?"

"Well," Jake starts, "We need you."

"We?"

"Um, me, Clayton, the others." He says the last part quietly.

"What?" I ask, stepping closer.

Clayton sighs, and pulls out his cigarettes from his pocket, "The gang." He says, lighting his cigarette.

"Gang?!" I ask, surprisingly.

"Could you try not to say it any louder." Clayton snaps.

"You dads- I mean Mathews gang." Jake says.

"And your in this?" I ask.

"I have no choice."

"What do you mean you have no choice?"

"I'm his son Samantha."

"What?" I ask, quietly.

"I'm your half brother, I've know ever since middle school."

I stare down at the ground, processing everything, "So, so that means when he left me, me and my mother he, he.." I try to say.

"He left y'all for my family." He says, quietly.

I look up at him and gasp, "H-how? How could he, you?" I ask.

"You can't blame me, I was only five."

"He had an affair with your mom."

"Yes your dads a back stabbing man whore," Clayton says, throwing his cigarette butt on the ground and smooshing it under his shoe.  

"And who are you?" I ask, looking at him in disgust.

"Part of your dads gang-"

"Mathews." I say, interrupting him.

He rolls his eyes, "Mathews gang, soon to be yours."

"What, I'm not, don't want a gang."

"Well your dads being threatened for death and has to run and they need the next family member to take over."

"And why can't they use Jake?"

"Well ya see, Jake has a bright future and his dad feels it shouldn't be ruined."

"And I don't?" I ask sarcastically.

"Not in your- Mathews eyes."

"And how would he know he walked out on me."

"Well, also theirs a girl we are up against she runs a gang on the West Side, and we don't fight girls, not into all that woman abuse stuff." He says, pulling out another cigarette. "And you'll only be there for a little bit, not your whole life."

"So he wants me to take over long enough to take the girl down and than walk out like everything's over?"

"After she's down, our gangs done, there's really nothing left for us. But, we won't bow down to her, she killed a bunch of us and for us we're family."

I walk in circles, "Do y'all see me, I can't take down a gang!" I screech.

"You'll have us to protect you." He says, pointing at himself and Jake.

"Not the point."

"Come on, you'll be spoiled like a princess, labeled badass, and will be the center of attention for the guys."

I stop, starring at him, "Ew, and I'm not a slut."

He throws his hands up in defense, "Never said you were."

I pace for a couple minutes longer, "I'll need time to think,"

Clayton sighs,

I give him a stern look, "But, if I do this I want out immediately after, and you are not to smoke those cancer sticks around me."

Clayton takes another drag.

"And what's in it for me?" I ask.

"Your dad has information on what happened to your mom." Jake says.

"Really?"

"Yep." Clayton answers.

I stare at the sky for a few seconds, "I'll think about it."

Clayton finishes off his second cigarette, smashing it beneath his shoe again.

"Let us know by Friday."

"No time limit on thinking, Sir Clayton-" I say, sarcastically.

"Oh, nicknames." He says, with a smirk.

I glare at him, "I'll let you know when I make my decision," I say, walking towards the parks exit.

"Alright then." Jake says.

"How bout the nickname Daddy, I have a good place where that's useful for." Clayton says,

I just shake my head and continue my walk home.