No Saints

Chapter One

They say that beginnings are hard.

Not for us.

Running away from the hood with Colson was the best decision I ever made.

Never mind the money.

For now.

"So what would you want to be starting from now?", Colson said with a girn.

"What do you mean?"

"Ya'know, the new life, new you bullshit"

He crinkled his nose, making me laugh.

"Camille"

He looked at me dead serious as we both looked intently on each others eyes.

I can't take it, I burst into laughters.

"Aww, come on Cams! Let's create a new life unlike what we left behind."

I was hesitant.

" But the new me won't change what I've done".

"So am I."

He clutched my hands and kissed it,

"I mean, you could be a body builder for all I care", he grinned, making me grin as well.

"Yeah, and you could teach ballroom dancing to old people, y'know", I added making the both of us laugh a bit more.

"He hugged me, " "let's enroll for the semester. I want to continue my studies"

I sighed in return.

"You could continue your last year in high school. Imma bust a couple of jobs  to support the both of us", he added.

"No more hustlin' around?" I asked, almost pleading.

He kissed the top of my forehead, assuring me.

"Everything for you", he murmured.

It's not the answer that I wanted but it was enough to not make me worry anymore. That's so typically Colson.

Colson and I went way far back. We grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same schools and interacted with the same people. We were both good for nothing, a juvie, social rats, heck we've been called whatever word you're thinking. I can't even deny those words no matter how hurtful those were. You see, I didn't just sold my own flesh to the devil, there was also a time when I even enjoyed it that I decided to just stop going to school. After all, the institution didn't help me anyway and would just rather condemn me.

But I don't want to be the person i'll regret to be..

Then there's Colson. Two years ahead of me, never knew his father. His mom raised him just like how I tried to raise my family, so he knows how things work and its setbacks.

We both know too well that it won't be enough. Soon, he became acquainted with the local Chicanos, made him their errand boy, not even saying a word even if they call him their white trash. Colson might have a strong exterior but I knew it hurt.

_Flashback_

It was almost dark in the middle of autumn. The junior local baseball team just won and went home, we stayed behind.

"I should've been there", the 13 year old Colson said as he tightened his fist into a ball.

"But do you think they will win if you're there?" I replied, teasing him.

He glared at me," Have you even see me pitch woman?"

I laughed so hard as I clutched my stomach.
Skillwise, I don't doubt him. He's one of the best, just not one of the richest. That's the thing right there.

"I know you'll be the best baseball player there is", I beamed at him sincerely.

_End of Flashback_

Later that night, we found a small apartment in the suburbs, near Colson's aunt. His mom knew we were going and directed us to her.

Unlike in the hood where most people were Latinos, here it's almost as if I was the only latina.

Aunt May helped us find an apartment and contact the school nearby so I could enroll.

I'm already 21, so I'm basically an adult now. I didn't need any parental supervisons so it's a good thing.  Colson in the other hand enrolled for the coming semester in the nearby state college just four blocks away from my school.

Starting again feels like a breath of fresh air.

A clean slate.