Gabriel (Book 1)

As Thick As Thieves (Johanna's POV)

March 8th, 2013

Dear diary,

I woke up to the sound of some heavy metal music. It might have been the most unpleasant experience ever!

But it wasn't always that way:

When we were still in high school, my brother moved out of the house because my parents didn't like what he was getting himself into. Ryder got himself an apartment that wasn't close enough for me. I missed my bro way too much! So one morning, as I was late for school, I told my parents that I was going to move in with him. They were devastated! But they couldn't just kick MY BROTHER out! I loved him despite the messed up things he was getting into.

We lived together for about 6months before my parents decided they would rather him be home so when he does show up at 9 o'clock in the morning, or 4 am, they at least know he's safe.

During those 6 months, I would wake up every morning to the sound of heavy metal music or a guitar shredding up the track. I loved it then, I was used to it. It still woke me up at odd hours, but Ryder slept through it all.

"'They're gonna clean up your looks

With all the lies in the books

To make a citizen out of you

Because they sleep with a gun

And keep an eye on you, son

So they can watch all the things you do

Because the drugs never work

They're gonna give you a smirk

Cause they got methods

Of keeping you clean

They're gonna rip up your heads

Your aspirations to shreds

Another cog in the murder machine,'"

Ryder is lying face down on the couch with an ice pack on his ass.

"Do you remember this, Jo?" He asks. I do remember, good times.

"'They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me

They could care less as long as someone'll bleed

So darken your clothes

Or strike a violent pose

Maybe they'll leave you alone

But not me

The boys and girls in the clique

The awful names that they stick

You're never gonna fit in much kid

But if you're troubled and hurt

What you got under your shirt

Will make them pay for the things that they did,'" we start rocking out to the song.

"'Teenagers scare the living shit out of me

They could care less as long as someone'll bleed

So darken your clothes

Or strike a violent pose

Maybe they'll leave you alone

But not me'"

I grab Ryder another ice pack and hand it to him.

"This goes to show you that the butt is not made to handle tattoos."

"Yeah well, it wasn't my best idea."

"Dude! Were you smoking inside the house?"

He yawns and stretches his arms, "Possibly."