I woke up on Christina's couch on Saturday morning because I heard knocking on her front door. I stretched out my legs and stood up. The apartment was silent. Lacie lay on the other couch and Gemma, Alex, and Christina lay on mattresses on the living room floor. I stepped over them and to the door and opened it, rubbing my eyes.
The door swung open and I took a step back. On the porch was a tall, broad-shouldered older boy in a leather jacket and jeans. His icy eyes and chiseled features were familiar in my mind. He was the boy who had gotten us in the alley on that night. Behind him stood a shorter, stocky tan boy and a tough looking girl. I took an immediate step back and tried to close the door quickly. The boy stuck his foot out and stopped the door. I let out a little scared yelp.
"It's fine, Elle." His voice was strangely calm. "I want to talk."
"To me?" I bit my lip.
"To you, and your friends."
I was about to close the door when I realized Christina had come up behind me. "What's the matter?" She asked coldly. "What do you want?"
"What?" He asked, laughing roughly. "Can't some old friends have a conversation?"
Christina gave him a wary look, making it clear that we were far from friends.
"Come on, Christina. Let me in." His voice dropped to a more serious note. I stepped out of the way and let him and the two others pass by me and walk into the small kitchen. Alex, Lacie, and Gemma were standing there already, looking confused and guarded.
"Sit down, then." Christina said, gesturing to the kitchen chairs. He shook his head, leaning against the sink. It was strange to see a tough gang member in a leather jacket standing in Christina's bright kitchen on a Saturday morning.
"Christina." He smiled.
"Tony?" She asked, crossing her arms. I remembered his name now. He was Tony Davis. He was friends with Danny Frazier.
"I think we all know why I'm here." He said, still smiling coldly.
"We didn't kill that girl." Lacie said sharply.
"So you keep claiming." He stepped forward. "Here's the thing. You don't fool me. I know what you did. Admit it. Confess, and we won't have any more trouble. And if you don't? You know what we are capable of."
"We're plenty capable ourselves." Alex cut in.
"Of what? Playing with blades? Yeah, Alex, I know." He gave her a wry smile. "Are you still denying it?"
"We aren't guilty of anything." I said finally.
"Is that your final word?" He asked.
"Yes." Christina said decisively. "Leave, Tony. Take your friends, get out of my house, and go back to your side of town." Christina recrossed her arms and gestured to the door.
He got up, expressionless, and walked to the door. His friends walked outside ahead of him and before leaving, he turned back and leaned in towards Christina. His eyes darted from her to the four of us behind her. "I know you're lying." He said breathily. His eyes were blazing. "And you should know that we will make your lives a living hell."
He turned and left, letting the screen door slam behind him. Christina got up and locked the door before going to sit at the table, rubbing her temples with her hands.
We stood around the kitchen in silence. I leaned against the refrigerator. I felt like there was a lead weight buried in my chest. Fear crept through me. I hate violence. I hate fights. The Columbus gang terrifies me. Back when I was twelve, some Columbus guys, including a boy named Danny Frazier, jumped me in an alley, and it was the most terrifying night of my life. I don't like to talk about it. And for almost eleven months after it happened, I didn't. I just stopped talking, because what happened to me back in that alley was a lot worse than being punched or kicked or cut up. I know what the Columbus gang is capable of. They're not just tough, they're cruel and harsh and violent. And I'm scared, because now this is war.
