Arsonist's Lullaby

Chapter 1 - Jesse

I quickly ducked as an arm swung above my head and dodged a round full fists but stumbled as one managed to get me on my side.

Steadying myself, I dodged another punch and twisted my hip, adding more force as I swung at my opponent, knocking him clean off the floor.

"Ha, beat you again! You're getting too old for this Mark." I smiled rubbing the victory in my coach's face as he groaned lying flat on his back.

Boastfully smiling at the other people training in the gym, I started walking off the ring before I felt a warm hand circle my ankle and with a tug, caused me to fall flat on my face.I groaned in pain as Mark laughed before jumping out of the ring. "Who you calling old, squirt?" He chuckled.

"You still hit like a bitch." I wheezed trying to pick myself back up. Grumbling, I jumped off the ring and made my way towards the lockers before getting stopped by a certain blue eyed blonde. Batting her lashes, she smiled sweetly at me.

"Hey Jesse!"

"Hey mouse." I ruffled her hair walking past her.

"I told you not to call me that." She huffed brushing her hair back into place. I smiled to myself and greeted a couple of people ignoring Casey's babbling from behind me.

"Jesse!" she stomped exasperatedly. I sighed and turned around to face my annoying younger cousin.

"What do you want Casey?"

"Where you seriously igno- never mind, so listen..." Casey's eyes narrowed slightly as she repeated her carefully thought out plan of avoiding a pageant her mother wanted her to compete in. "You gotta help me out Jess." She begged. I made a face knowing I was about to be thrown into something that would only end badly. I opened my mouth to protest but before I even had the chance, Mark came from behind, demanding Casey to go into his office to finish her homework.

"I have to talk to Jesse about something first!" she started to complain until Mark gave her his best "stern father" glare which made him look like a cross between a puffed up frog and an owl. With a sigh, Casey trudged past me and towards her dad's office but not before giving me a look of her own.

"What was she schemeing up this time?" Mark chuckled once Casey closed the door behind her.

"Trying to get out of some pageant." I scoffed. Mark silently shook his head and went to help out one of the other members.

Wiping the sweat of my face, I nodded to a couple of people as I passed and went towards the shower before bumping shoulders with Josh.

"My man Jesse." He grinned with a playful shove which I returned.

"So listen, Kat's birthday is coming up and i'm stumped on what to get her." He frowned plopping into the bench in front of me. I turned on the shower and put a hand in waiting for it to warm up.

"Take her out to watch that movie she won't shut up about." I shrugged.

"The one where the guy dies and the girl can see his ghost?" He frowned. I nodded in return.He rubbed his chin with knuckles before replying. "I guess so. I'll probably get her that necklace she's had her eyes on too."

"Jewelry is a way to a girls heart." I agreed and hopped into the shower as soon as I saw steam beginning to roll around my feet.

"What would you know about a girl's heart?" He laughed, the sound of his locker opening and closing echoing through the walls.

"Enough to know that they don't have one." I yelled with a smile, letting the scalding hot water un-knot the stiff muscles in my back. Closing my eyes I let out another sigh, suddenly feeling exhausted.