brenton's girl

six

My head was pounding like an African drum, but I had school none the less. When Sam and I arrived I didn't see brenton in Spanish, nor at
lunch, but when I went home after the day was over he was waiting by his car.

"Wanna go for ride?" He asked. I nodded and walked to him, I kissed his lips before throwing my book bag in the back seat. "How was your day?"

"We have a new set of words we need to learn for Spanish. You missed a video." I said, Brenton had his hand on the gear shift and I placed mine on top of his, I kissed his bicep, then pulled my hand away. He grabbed it and placed it on the shift, then used it to go into sports mode. "Easy there cowboy."

"I'm only going eighty five." He said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes but looked out the window.

"Where'd you go today?" I asked.

"Brian wanted me to serve someone in Miami."

"Is that where the car came from?" I took my hand away and admired the interior. "It's new."

"It's a wayside car, one of Brian's." I nodded and watched the trees flow by.

"Where're we going?" I questioned. He looked at me and smiled.

"I knew you wouldn't let it be a surprise."

"I dont like surprises." I whined. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand, he kissed my knuckles and smiled at me. "Where're we going?"

"To a park." He said.

"Why?"

"You ask too many questions, Leah." I sighed and slumped in the seat. We continued driving until he stopped in a parking lot. "Come on."

I got out of the car and walked around, he grabbed my hand and we began walking towards the park. "Why're we here?"

"Because i wanted to talk to you."

"We could talk in the car. Or my house. Or yours." I pointed out.

"I want it to be somewhere private." We both sat down and I faced him.

"What's up?"

"You know wayside right?" I nodded and grabbed at his hand, I played with his fingers. "Brian wants me to find this gang, it's a copy of wayside."

"Where at?"

"I'm not sure yet." He said.

"I don't want you to go." I said looking away from him. "Can't you just leave them?"

"No, it's not that simple."

"It could be, though." I argued. "Just say, 'oops sorry not sorry, but I gotta blast.'" I said in a deep voice that was imitating his.

"Is that supposed to be me?" I nodded and he sighed. "You know I can't Leah, it's really not that simple. It's family, you know that."

"What if you make something up?"

"I've never lied to you, so why would I go lying to them?" He asked. "They're family no matter how anyone feels about it."

I let go of his hand and put my hand on my lap. "What if I joined?"

"You're funny."

"I'm serious!" I argued. "I mean maybe I could be helpful."

"It's dangerous Leah, I refuse to put you in that."

"It's too dangerous for me to join?" I questioned.

"Yes."

"Then why's it not too dangerous for you?" I thought I had him, thought he wouldn't be able to answer, but he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer, he grabbed my chin.

"I'm part of the Taylor blood lime, i was literally born into wayside, I grew up fighting and that's what makes it less dangerous for me. I know what the hell im doing."

"You could teach me."

"Yea, i could teach you to fight, to shoot, to use a knife, but I could never teach you to be mentally okay with the shit you're doing." He said.

"I'm not weak, Brenton." I told him. "I know how to get over stuff."

"When you were fourteen you cried for a week because you dropped your hamster and it died." He gave me a look and I looked away. "Do you really think you could handle it if it was your fault that a man lost his life?"

"How can you handle that?" I asked. "You cried when your fish died."

"I was thirteen, obviously I cried. But I was fourteen when I first shot a man. I know how to handle that shit." He said. "You're not joining Leah. Bottom line."

"Fine." Brenton kissed my cheek and took my hand.

"Can you also promise me something?"

"Of course."

"Promise me you won't worry your pretty little head about wayside." He said.

"I don't worry about wayside I said, I worry about you. There's a difference." He rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I can't promise you that though. I'm Leah, I worry."

"Fine." He stood up and I followed behind him. "Just promise me you'll come to me if you do end up worrying."

I nodded and took his hand. "I will."

With that we both got in the car and Brenton began driving again. I turned on the radio, singing along to Chase Atlantic. Brenton would look at me with the goofiest smile, then look back at the road.

The drive seemed quicker when we were driving back to my house. Once we got in the driveway, I saw Tony's car was there, along with my mom and dads.

"You're parents are going to kill me for keeping you out." He said.

"They'll get over it." I said and used my key to unlock the front door, we walked in and then into the living room.

"Fucking hell." My dad said looking at me. "Where were you?"

"Sorry. I had to talk to Leah." Brenton said, my mom smiled and motioned to the sofa where Sam and tony were sitting. They looked just as uncomfortable as I began to feel.

"Have a seat." My mom said. I sat beside Sam and Brenton sat beside me. "We need to talk to all of you." She said.