Heterodox (BOOK 2)

Chapter 18

~Vesper~

When MB said to run, we surely didn't linger!

Circe ran like the wind, while I puffed away; trailing behind her and trying to keep my hat from flying off, my slippers slapping the sidewalk. MB catches up quickly with the mob of boys behind yelling curses.

"Why don't we just stand up to them?" Circe inquires, slowing down much to my dismay.

"Nu-uh," I pant, pulling her forward by her collars rim. "Three of us- about nine of them- outnumbered."

"Do we at least have a plan? Should we split up and lose them?"

"Nah." MB's voice is surprisingly level. "Just keep running ahead of me and always turn right at the intersections."

I wonder what he has in mind.

I glance back, noticing that they are a few meters behind and not gaining. Must be their pants slowing them down. We come across a chain-link fence with three leering Pitbulls that look like the only bath they'd take is a blood bath. I notice something though; the chain that is supposed to secure the gate tightly hangs limply loose. It seems like MB notices it too since in a flash he pulls out a chicken bone from his pocket and catches the dogs' attention. When he sees that they are captivated enough, in a matter of seconds, he flings the bone in one of our pursuers' faces and pulls the chain off the entrance.

Sad to say, I didn't get to see what happened but the dogs had lessened the numbers to one. The ringleader. 

(Please note that no idiots or jerks were hurt in the making of this scene. Unfortunately.)

"That was a pretty convenient chicken bone," I comment as we continue our dash.

Circe chuckles. "Getting some real Dora the Explorer vibes from you, MB."

"I was eating chicken earlier. Probably pocketed the bone instead of my cassette player."

"You have a cassette player?!" Circe squeals, excited all of a sudden.

"Yeah. I got it for Christmas."

"YOU'VE GOT SOME NERVE, MILK BOY!" Ringleader interrupts, still mega pissed and running. "YOU GONNA PAY!"

Circe scowls and I glance at MB for a solution. "How are we losing this fool?"

We skid around another corner and that is when MB sees our answer. "Like this," he says smirking before he sprints ahead to an old man further down the sidewalk. The old man stands there whistling with his hands stuffed down his pockets and his white bushy eyebrows and mustache contrasting with his wrinkled, cocoa skin.

"Hey, Pops! How ya doin'?" MB grins forcefully, stopping beside him and pretending to be interested.

"Oh you know, the ordinary, " the old guy responds." Although, arthritis has been a real pain in the-"

"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news..." (Definitely a lie.) We catch up with him just to rest for a second. "...But your grandson is stirring up trouble again."

"AGAIN?"

Just at that moment, Ringleader pops around the corner and we take it as our cue to depart.

His confused retort is what causes us to turn back around. "What the hell? Let go of me, old man!"

"Language, young man!" Pops snaps, gripping Ringleader by the hem of his yellow boxers. "I told you that this habit of yours will get you caught! Underwear is supposed to stay under and unseen, Kooper! Why don't you spend some of yo drug money on a belt and walk with some self-respect?"