Living A Dream

Chapter 17

     "Shit man. Sucks." she said after I told her everything that went down. "You must really like this Alex girl if you're willing to get the shit beat out if you."

     "I don't know. She doesn't like me back and I know it. She'll be off with her boyfriend soon enough." I said, letting out a sigh. I was sitting against the wall like she was, both of us facing each other.

     She had a split lip, but other than that she looked pretty good. She seemed like she could be really intimidating though. She and Hope would get along.

     "So why are you here Ash?" I asked, bending my knee and resting my arm on it. I told her why I'm here, now it's her turn.

     "Well, let's just say me and some friends ran into some people who didn't like us all too much. The cops came and everyone ran so I decided to bait them away and I ended up getting caught. Besides the guy that was on the ground unconscious." she said smirking. I don't see why it's something to be proud over.

     "Are you in a gang or something?" I asked curiously. She then smiled and nodded her head.

     "That would be somewhat correct. We're a group of people but we have a specific job." she said, giving me an intense look. "All we have is each other to rely on. Speaking of which, I should be bailed out soon because they can't prove anything other than the fact that I ran away from them. Then I'll be home in no time."

     That sounded nice. I probably won't have anywhere to go. It's not like my mother can get another house along with me in the picture.

     "What if I want in?" I asked her. She looked at me with raised eyebrows. She then let out a laugh.

     "You? Really. Why would you want to join." she said to me, smirking. She's not taking me seriously.

     "I have no where to go once I'm out, if I get out. And like you said. I'd get the shit beat out of me for someone. Even then, I still came out on top. I'm strong, I could be useful." I said, trying not to sound like I was begging.

     She studied me and say there quietly for a few minutes. The sound of the door opening up. A man came and started unlocking her cell. She stood up and started to walk out of her cell.

     "I'll talk with some of my people. You'll know if you're in." she said on her way out. I was now alone and left in the silence.

     I looked around and saw how dull the place really was. Everything was gray looking. Felt like... a prison.

     I saw a ladybug on the floor of my cell. It was just crawling around in circles. I watched it for a while until it stopped.

    I got up and walked to the bars and tugged on them a bit. I fell like a caged animal. I pulled on them harder, not expecting much to happen.

     Getting frustrated, I grabbed a hold of the bars high above my head and pulled myself off the ground. I hung there for a bit and then climbed up the bars so I was at the ceiling.

     The door opened again and I looked at who came through the door. It was Mr. Morgan. I sighed and adjusted my hands so my arms were at an 'L' shape.

     "Tobin? What exactly are you doing?" he said while walking over to be parallel with where I was on the other side. I sighed and looked down at him.

     "Just hanging around." I replied. I crack myself up some times. "Better to hang from the bars then to punch them."

     "Yes well, that you might have to work on that. The anger, I should say, your punches seem to be fine." he said. I shook my head and dropped down to the ground, landing nicely on my feet.

     "What are you doing here?" I asked him. He moved closer to the bars and looked around.

     "The other girl in here is released and someone needed to change the cot sheets." he said quietly. So she got out of here... wow. "Also I need to tell you something."

     "What?" I asked. What could he possibly need to tell me. He's done quite a bit already.

     "Your mother talked to an investigator before you were confronted with the charges and she told him about abuse incidents towards you. There will be more digging but so far you seem to have a good start to getting your charges dropped." he said and then turned to the cell Ashlyn was in. He started to change the sheets.

     "Dropped? So that means I might get out of here soon?" I asked. He turned around and nodded his head. Wow. That would be nice.

     "You'll have to be held overnight though. But if you play your cards right, you should be out tomorrow." he said, still working on the sheets. "I'm assuming you'll be going back home correct?"

     "When I'm out?" I asked him. He turned, nodded in response and then continued. "I don't know honestly. I don't want to go back to that house. It was rough as it was but I don't think my mom will be able to last any longer providing for the two of us."

     "Well, did you ever think about working?" he asked me giving me a look. This guy's funny right.

     "I work two jobs and my mother works three." I stated flatly. I crossed my arms and sighed. He turned and looked at me surprised.

     "Wow... I... I didn't know it was that bad." she said with a sad look. Here comes the pity again. "Well, you could probably get some money out of your father."

     "Yea, because I want to spend more time associated with him. No thanks. It's not worth it." I said sounding annoyed. He finished with the bed and walked out without saying anything else.

     I turned to my own cot and laid down. I was slowly starting to drift off to sleep when I saw something steak across my vision. The little ladybug landed on the wall next to me.

     "Goodnight little bro. Maybe I can take you outside when I finally get out." I said to the little insect. And with that, I let myself sleep.

A/N
Little bug friend.