New York

Chapter 10

I laid the towel onto the hot sand and sat down. I watched as Tyler sprinted into the water. The corners of my mouth lift up in a small smile as I watched Tyler wade in the water. I feel a presence behind me and look up to see Toby watching Tyler as well as he stood behind me. His face shows frustration and pain play like a movie across his features. I ponder the thought of asking him if he is okay but as the thought crosses my mind a final time, he bends down and rubs sunscreen on my shoulders in a massage. The thought flies out of my mind as his hands take away all of the stress. I listen as he sighs and continues his assault on my shoulders.

"You know, I've never seen him so strung out on a girl before. It's kind of frustrating yet satisfying at the same time. Even as little kids he loved you, but he also knew you were going to change him. He knew you wouldn't put up with his attitude and you would put him back in line, so he left. He knew from a young age what the gang world was like. His father made sure of that. He was doing drug runs by the age of five. He knew how to tell if a man was going to attack him by the age of three. I know he won't share this with you so that's why I'm doing it."

I listening silently as he continued, "He told his father he had to leave cause he could feel himself wanting to please you. His father sent him to live his mother. His father wasn't able to leave due to running his gang. Tyler had nothing to do with the business for a while and that is when his father went haywire. He lost control and too many people owed him. Instead of threatening them, he invaded their homes and shot them on spot..."

The banging on the door continued to get louder and louder as my mother pushed me into her bedroom. The gun shot was heard as soon as we rushed through the bedroom door and the tears welded up in her eyes. I knew then, I was without a father. The tears sprouted from my eyes and streamed down my cheeks. I felt my mother's hand push on my small back and gently push me into the closet. She whispered for me to be quite and to not make a sound. She kissed my forehead and told me she loved me. I watched her figure retreat. I huddled in the corner.

"He wouldn't leave unless he was positive there were no witnesses. He didn't even care if there was a child. Tyler spent 10 years with his mother but the moment he turned 10, he was getting involved with the gang again. I watched as he would cuss and throw things around cause his father was getting to reckless. Tyler started getting in trouble and turned into someone he never wanted to be. He started having sex with several girls and getting into drugs and alcohol. He went off the deep end. He started getting better when he moved back to his father's house for a while but he had a warrant for his arrest in Brooklyn. He was running from it, but clearly he was caught. He spent two years in jail. When he got out, he found you. He's doing so much better now. He actually smiles."

A small smile graces my face but the thought of Tyler's father possibly murdering my parents doesn't settle well with in my stomach. It feels like a bubbling sensation that is slowly making its way up, and the vile rises in my throat. I glance at Tyler who was now walking towards us. I give him a small smile and Toby stops rubbing my shoulders. He moves over to my side and sits down on his own towel.

"What are you two talking about?" Tyler sits in front of me and pulls me to him.

"Nothing." Toby sings and smirks knowing Tyler would be curious afterwards. Toby leans back and rests on his elbows. He continues to smirk as he looks upwards towards the clouds and closes his eyes letting the sun shine down on his face. Tyler narrows his eyes and I study his face as confusion and worry fight to take over his features. His eye swim as he watches Toby grin and act like what was just said didn't cause me to act distant. I concentrate on Tyler's arms wrapped around me and the warmth the sun provides instead of going into depth over Tyler's father. Toby shoots up and jumps to his feet. I watch with wide eyes and my body tenses.

"Lets go get in the water, Luka!" Toby suggests. His eyes hopeful and mischief swims in them. He holds out his hand for me to take and I slowly, cautiously, place my hand inside of his. He pulls me to my feet and quickly yet gently grabs me by my waist and tosses me over his shoulder. I squeal in surprise and wrap my arms around his waist. He takes off sprinting towards the water and I close my eyes tightly. The cool water engulfs me the moment Toby feels like it was deep enough for it to cover my body.

I resurfaced and Toby was laughing like a madman. I narrowed my little blue eyes but a small smile slipped across my face. Toby stopped laughing when he realized I was just staring at him.

"What?" He asks and slowly backs away from me.

"That wasn't very nice Toby." I grin and start to follow his movements. Toby holds out his hand to try to stop me. I watch as Tyler joins our fun and stands behind Toby without him realizing he was there. Toby backs into Tyler and spins around, his back facing me. I jump onto his back and wrap my arms and legs around his body. His foot falls getting careless as he spins trying to get me off. He trips over his own foot and falls face first into the water and I go under once again, but this time it was intentional. I resurface as Toby comes gasping out of the water also. I cross my arms and pop my hip out as the water reaches my mid thighs.

"You are a traitor!" Toby points a finger at Tyler and glares.

Tyler raises and eyebrow before replying, "No, I think the traitor here is you."

Toby stops and gulps. We exchange looks knowing what Tyler was referring to, his father.

*U:E瘑Z