Better Place

Chapter 1: Bum in the Bronx

-Ash's POV-
xxx

     I lean against a wall alone in the shadows of the alley, humming a song where I am unseen by people. People who avoids the dark alleys of New York, even though it's daytime. New York is no where special to me, its just another concrete wasteland, well at least that's how I see it. I don't live in some building or any other apartments around here. I'm just another bum who happens to be in the Bronx of New York, and I honestly don't care or mind. At least I am not alone. I'm in a gang who are also bums like I am. The gang is family to me, and they depend on me a lot since I am the most wanted thief in New York City, I'm just really good at stealing and lying, it's a habit really. Which is the reason why I'm in the shadows, where I am unnoticed.

The air softly breezes through the alley as my long bangs that covers my left side of the face barely pushes it away. I'm also wearing a long sleeve shirt which has some holes and some old blue jeans that are ripped in some areas and a pair of worn out converse shoes. Like I said, sometimes life to me is pretty much a pain in the neck, so I don't really waste my time caring or worrying much about what I wear or what happens to me. At least I'm comfortable in the moment, as I hum to myself in the dark.

"Yo Ash!" I hear from behind.

I turn around to see the leader of the gang. He had a cigarette between his two fingers as he waves at me with his other free hand.

"Hey what's up Bryke" I walk up to Bryke as he threw away his cigarette.

I go for a hug as I smell the cigarette on him, though I gotten used to the smell being on him all the time, and it's not that I am in a relationship with him, the guy is like 38 years old! I only hug people who are like family to me.

"Goin good, and what bout you girl? What you been doin all by yourself?" Bryke asks putting both his hands into his black saggy shorts.

"Oh you know" I said. "Waiting for the rest of the crew to get here, I just decided to come early"

"Oh" Bryke said. "You can't wait for the next catch huh?" Bryke asks.

"Yup" I smile. "I love tricking people, I get what I want from that" I said with a smirk.

"Alright, I see you" Bryke laughs. "Dang Ash, I'm actually thinkin of you being my most trusted gang member, in fact I think I should make you second in command or soemthin hahaha!" Bryke laughs.

"R-really?" I said a bit surprised.

"Yeah girl" Bryke said. "I mean if it ain't for you, this gang would have died of starvation or somethin, and you did thought up that cool idea too"

It's true. Ever since I joined in the gang, I started getting lots of praises and respect from the gang for my talent of stealing and lying. I get creative and think of new ways of stealing, and thanks to my acting skills which comes from my lying skills, most people see me as just a young innocent girl. That is my advantage, soon my face got out to the authorities and that's basically the whole story of how I ended up being the most wanted thief in New York City.

"I-I'll take it Bryke" I said in confidence.

"Take what?" I hear someone else say down the opposite side of the alley way.

"Rox!" I said as I ran up to my best friend, who has a lollipop stick sticking out on the side of her lip.

She always has the appearance of a rocker girl. She loves to break rules and be a rebel at everything. Fun fact; before I met the rest of the gang, she found me off the streets about 8 years ago. She also has a left lip piercing and has shiny earrings on both her ears, in which I remembered stealing them as a gift for Roxy. Roxy is her real name, she rather be called Rox for short though, and I can relate why she rather be called that way, because it sounds tougher, stronger, intimidating, and better.