THE KEY (book one)

|five|

I wake to the sound of knocking on my door. "Ugh!" I groan and cover my face with a pillow attempting to drown out the noise.
"What the hell?" Getting up, I swing my door open in hopes to see my Eli, but unfortunately it's Jai.
"Good morning." He smiles and I slam the door in his face.
"I need to shower don't wait up!"
I yell grabbing my towel and rag. I totally forgot about this escort thing. I quickly jump in the shower washing my hair, and brushing my teeth at the same time. The knocking on the doors starts again.
"I'm coming damn it !" I shout. Quickly washing off I step out of the shower and dry myself. "Give me three... three minutes." I say opening the door and slamming it back in his face. I roll my eyes and throw on an army green sweater, baggy black cargos, and black boots. Walking over to the door I open it and sigh at the sight of him waiting in the hall. He looks down at me with the smug look on his face, and looks me up and down. "Ditching the white tank?" He doesn't even let me try to answer; and reaches down for a kiss but I turn my head away. "Remind me how you got this job again?" I ruffle up his short curls with my hand  and walk pass him.
"Come on Jai...can't wait all day." I say loud enough for him to hear. Sitting on the kitchen table is left over toast with water, and a variety of fruits in a container beside it but my mom's no where in site.
I turn to Jai who is now leaning against the door. "Where's my mother?" I question firmly walking closer to him.
"I don't know. She was't here when I got here, the door was open. " 
That's impossible she wouldn't leave me in the house by myself, let alone leave the door open. Something's up. Is she still pissed from last night.
"Alright lets go." I say opening the door and walking out. Everything is still damp from last nights rain storm. I look up at the grey clouds suffocating the sky, it's gonna rain again. An unexpected chill takes a trip through my body. Something doesn't feel right. "Wow look who got up!" Someone yells I look down to see Eli with a big smile more jumpy than ever. His smile quickly fades though when he sees Jai and the upset look on my face.
I wonder what bothers him more.
"Jai?" He questions but I don't say anything until I get to the bottom of the steps.
"You snitch!" I shove him back.
"Erra I-"
"Shut up." I walk ahead of them both. I couldn't help but realize the change in colors that he's wearing an orange t-shirt with light grey cargos, and black boots.
"Anyway let me guess.." He stops talking to catch up to me and I scoff.
"Go on...guess." I push, and we start walking in the direction to school.
"Well then...you definitely got busted now this guy has to take you to school everyday." He smiles pointing out the obvious and I say nothing.
"Which is weird is that some new policy?" Eli asks rubbing his arm.
"Yea it's called the angry mother policy."
"That and you have been put on community arrest." I stop in my tracks.
"What?"
"Erra you broke into The Pexagon last night. You can't be trusted right now. If I didn't take you some last night it wouldn't be long until those guards showed up. You can't get away with everything."
I'm aware of this. Most of the time at least.
We finally arrive at the front of the school. I check my com for the time; it reads eight.
"It's really early." I state.
"School starts in thirty minutes." Eli says.
"My point exactly."  I honestly hate my first class. I look towards Jai and clean some dirt off that's under his eye.
"You're eyes are turning green." It's rare when his eyes turn green.
"Oh yea?" He pulls me closer.
"Yea."
"Must be the color of my shirt." He sighs and pecks my forehead.
"Yeah."
"Alright lets go!" Eli says a little too loudly. He's being so annoying.
"Alright I'll see you Jai."
"Yea." He's hiding something, I swear I can feel it. "What's wrong Erra?"
"I don't know." It's true I don't know.
I let go of him and walk into school. The hallways are dull just like the sky. I look around at my class mates standing by their lockers, or walking down the hall in clicks or alone. Just like any other day I guess.
"What's wrong?" Eli pulls me out of my thoughts. He has a worried expression on his face.
"You stress too much." I'm projecting.
"On a better note... you know how you sent me that symbol." Eli reminds me.
"Yea." He's about to make my day.
"I did some digging."
"And!" He laughs.
"Relax women...So it's a saw-scaled viper known as the deadliest snake. Mostly seen in coastal city actually...the species I mean. But It's worn by the biggest most ruthless gang in Main City The Vi-."
"The Vipers." What an easy name.
"All I have to do is look them up in the system or ask around if they're so big and I'll have my guy."
"Yea well it's not that easy. He's completely M.I.A. Nobody knows him or is at least will not snitch. Plus you don't even know who exactly your looking for."
Of course.
"Yeah, yeah that's fine, The Vipers is a start."
I wrap my arm around Eli's waist and hug him; my way of saying "Thank you" and we walk to class.