Teenage Troubles (Prequel for Teenage Baby)

Chapter 19 | The captors

Chapter 19 | The captors

Fourteen-year-old Luciano Alain was an embodiment of mischief and rebellion. For the most part, at least.

He broke rules and distorted moral standards just to feel the rush of adrenaline. He skipped classes and overlooked regulations and switched languages mid-conversations so he'd confuse others and amuse himself. Maybe that was despicable, maybe it was a coping mechanism, maybe it was just a facade to veil the depression.

Teachers couldn't handle him and his rowdy behavior. Principals knew that the only way around Lou's head was threatening him like this:

One more mistake and we're calling your brother.

It was the only thing that made Lou settle down. Everyone knew Dominic was the only person he listened to.

Lou could be in the middle of a party, dancing past midnight till he couldn't feel his legs, but if Dom texted him get your ass home it meant Lou was dropping everything and getting his ass home at the instant. If Dom called, it meant Lou was probably dead. A commander and soldier, or maybe a mother and son—their relationship came across as that. Whatever Dominic said, Lou did.

Dominic had always insisted on one glorious rule: never try to smoke or do drugs. Lou had agreed, sworn he'd never touch upon these substances.

But today temptation was strong.

"Come on, Luciano. Just one drag. It won't hurt."

Lou stared at the cigarette caught between his friend's fingers, offered to him. He bit his lip. Dom had warned him and he'd promised.

One drag wouldn't hurt, would it? Just for an idea of what this forbidden substance was, what it tasted like in his mouth. He could try and Dom wouldn't know. Behind the school, no one could see, no one could judge, right?

Right?

Not right. Just as Lou reached forwards, fingers just about plucking the cigarette off the hand outstretched to him, he heard footsteps behind followed by a voice.

"Lou, what do you think you're doing?"

"Shit." Lou watched the boy's eyes widen. If there was something more known across the school than Lou being a mischievous rebel, it was that his brother could break a jaw with one punch.

Dominic had enforced a policy: don't touch Lou.

Everyone knew messing with Lou was a death-wish, particularly what was about to happen to those boys who'd offered him a smoke. Lou reached forwards, pushing the boy back. "Go," he whispered urgently, anxiously glancing back. "My brother's here. Go if you don't want to lose at least half your teeth."

The boy and the rest of the group fled. Lou squeezed his eyes shut and turned around just in time to find Dominic towering in front of him, brow cocked and scrutinizing eyes hard and knowing.

"Hey," Lou greeted awkwardly, fingers fidgeting together.

Dom kept staring. "Open your mouth."

Lou could tell Dom figured he'd been just about to try smoking. "Dom, I promise—"

"Open your mouth."

Command had been set. There was no negotiation. Lou docilely opened his mouth. Dom leant forwards, quickly sniffing for any signs of smoke. He straightened again.

Lou waited for the verdict. Dominic finally said, "You didn't, but you were about to."

"Well..." Lou scratched the back of his neck. "I just was kinda tempted? Just a bit? But I'm pretty sure I would've backed out last minute, because I listen to you—"