Luna Winters

Secrets

"W-w-what?! You won't tell anyone... right? Please say you won't! I need to be here and if people find out who I am t-then I'm ruined! T-they will come for m-me and then I won't have a life!" I kept rambling for twenty minutes before he cut in. "Calm down. I'm not going to tell anyone. And who is after you?" I sighed a breath of relief. "I-I can't tell you..." He looked disappointed. "I'm sorry. It's just too personal..." He showed an understanding face. "How about if you tell me, I will tell you my biggest secret?" Could I trust him? He could be working for James... o-or my parents... Please let this work... I can't go back. Not now. Not ever. I took a deep breath in "fine... but you first." He tried to look for any sort of lie on my face but found none.

He came up to my ear and whispered. "I'm in a gang..." I looked at him curiously. "I already guessed that... "I responded. "WHAT?! HOW?!" He was practically having a nervous breakdown. "Chill... I've known quite a few gangs and gang members in my old life, oh shit." I forced a laugh. "Old life?" Now it was my turn to tell. Here goes nothing. "Follow me... it's too open here. We need to go somewhere more private." He nodded as we hopped on our bikes. He followed me to my apartment. I took out my key and unlocked the door. He followed me in and shut the door. "Now. What old life?" It would feel food to get it off my chest.

"I-I-I..." deep breaths. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Breathe Luna. Breathe. "I-I lived with my parents my whole life. They were abusive. Very much so, that I became numb to any beatings. That's why I'm such a good fighter. Because I'm numb. Street fighting and racing became my escape as a kid... until I became the number one. One day seemed no different. I woke up, snuck out to go to school, guys would try to get in my pants, I seduced him right then and there, embarrassed the shit out of him, left to go to class, after school I went to the south end of town to change into my fighting clothes, go to a fight house, have the champ for that night want to get on my pants, me win the fight, get paid, go home, try to sneak to my bedroom, but then the light turned on... a-and..." I couldn't keep going before breaking down. I slumped down to the cold floor and buried my face between my knees.

But to my surprise Jake sat right next to me on the floor and wrapped his arms around me engulfing me in a hug. It felt odd to be in a hug after so long. I can't remember the last time I was in a hug. I calmed down pretty quick and continued. "The light turned on and I saw my parents on the couch next to a really tall guy. They just started talking but then made it short. They said that I was going to be married and then the chair next to them turned to show a guy maybe two years older then me. I couldn't handle it so I blew up with insults and ways to say no. I ran to my room and packed two bags one with belongings and the second with my winners money. I jumped out of my window, ran to my bike, and drove south then north so they couldn't track me." Jake held onto me tighter. I looked up to him to see his eyes filled with anger. I don't blame him. 

"By any chance do you remember what his name was?" "His name was James... Why?" He was deep in thought. "What about his last name?" "It's , um, let me think.... Golding?" Jake looked more pissed then ever. Why? What was so terrible about this Golding fellow that made Jake think he knew him. "What's going through that head of yours?" "Golding is a gang... He is the leader." ...WHAT?! Why would a gang leader want to marry me? I'm not valuable. I'm not special. Why? "He is an opposing gang. But he's number two while we are number one. But why would he want to marry you?" We both sat there for what seemed like hours trying to figure out his motive.

"Any Ideas?" I asked. "Nothing... I got nothing. What about you?" I just shook my head. It didn't make any sense. I was just a normal girl. He is a gang leader. Nothing adds up. While he was trying to  figure it out, I finished making dinner. We ate at the table and just talked about 'normal' things. He was surprisingly a good guy. He is an only child for all he knows. He left his parents a while back and came here. He joined a gang because he had no where else to go. His parents were drunkards and divorced. His last name is Taylor. And that's about all I know. We finished dinner and cleaned up.

"I should get going... we've got school tomorrow anyway." He said rubbing the back of his neck."heh... Yea..." He turned to the door "actually could you stay here tonight. I have a spare bedroom... I get it of it's too weird." He turned back and smiled. "I would love to..."