Survival of the Toughest

Guns, Infatuations, and Other Events

"Kerry!" Katy grabbed him by the shirt. "What are you and Rick doing here?! Who the hell is home with Mike?!"

"Mike's in the back with Dustin." Kerry grabbed her wrist. "Now let go."

"I can't believe you!" She marched to the backroom door.

A few minutes later, Dustin came out.

"Did Katy follow us or something?" He ran his hand through his hair. "She kinda threw me out of the back room so I guess she's babysitting Mike."

"Why did we even come here?" I asked.

"Well I originally needed to meet up with one of their pillars cause he has something I paid him for. Also there's a party and I guess a pro-wrestling event." Kerry said. "Look for the guy in the silver tracksuit. He's the man."

We spotted him a few minutes later.

I watched Kerry walk over to him then Dustin and I found somewhere to sit down.

Kerry came back a few minutes later with a brown paper bag.

"That better not be drugs." Dustin glared at him.

"No." Kerry shook his head. "It's a gun."

"What the hell do you need a gun for?!" I asked. "You're not even old enough for a damn gun!"

"Look, I roam more than you guys and both of you should know that Harrisburg is no joke. I'm not gonna use this until I absolutely have to."

I was concerned. Kerry bought a gun and illegally at the matter. I don't know how that gang member got ahold of it but he sold it to Kerry.

The next few days I couldn't help but wonder and worry. What could Kerry possibly need with a gun? Did he just want to show off? Was he planning on shooting someone? Was his self defense story the right one?

"Patterson." Mr. McGowan said. "Do something besides stand around like a dumbass."

I realized that I had completely zoned out in the middle of gym class.

"Look at Rick." One of the sixth graders laughed. "We're supposed to look up to people like him but he doesn't set good examples."

"Shut the fuck up, Emily." I stared her down. "Or I'll make your face an example of something."

"Jesus Ricky." Josh came up to me. "Calm down."

"Eh that stupid girl ain't worth it anyway."

Gym class dismissed about ten minutes later and I went on to my last class, Algebra with Mr. Marcus. He seemed nice enough. We got along pretty well as we had common interests. He said that his door was always open to Dustin and myself as he knew that we didn't have it easy.

I was no mathematician but I was fair with numbers so I kept a stable A in that class. Dustin made it in the math field but he needed my help. I didn't mind because he's basically my brother and all, as I've mentioned.

Josh had Algebra with us so we all three sat together and grouped up with projects. We also had that class with Damian's brother and Jen but they both always preferred working alone.

Back to the story, we went through the lesson and had been assigned in class work to but my mind kept wandering to Kerry and the gun all through class and I had some vision-like image in my mind. I could just see Kerry aiming at someone and firing.

"Rick!" Mr. Marcus said. "Your paper."

"Oh." I handed it to him despite having barely a quarter of it done.

"Also." He said. "I'm gonna need to see you after the final bell."

The final bell rang. I tried to hide between Dustin and Josh but Mr. Marcus waved me over.