Chapter 26
" If he annoys me, I'll personally beat the motherfucker "
Rochelle Quinn's POV:
"Who's stupid idea was it to skateboard 5 miles?" Keegan groaned as he finally sat down, holding the skateboard to the side.
"The same person who ran the entire five miles in half the time it took you to skate it." I rolled my eyes and sat down next to him, making sure my hood was pulled up.
People walked past us as we sat on the sidewalk, not even sparing us a second glance.
Just how I like it.
"Why are we here, Rock?" Keegan gazed around us, examining the state of the people on the streets.
It wasn't his normal setting, but he didn't seem as uncomfortable as I thought he would.
"I'm meeting Jesse in two hours so we're going to meet an old friend."
"QUINN."
"And there it is." I spun around just in time to catch Sky as he went to hit me and hug me at the same time.
"You stupid boy." I spoke as I jabbed his ribs, grinning as he jumped away from the pretend attack.
"I'll be able to take you on one day." He said proudly, as though he actually believed himself.
His grin turned into a scowl as he noticed Keegan sat next to me. "What's Goldie doing here? Is he lost?"
"He's alright, Sky, probably the best of them." I shrugged even though Sky sent Keeg a sharp glare.
"I didn't agree to meet up for you to spend time with a freak."
Keegan shied away from me and Sky but I still up, tensing my arms. "It's not up for debate. He's staying."
"Or what?" He challenges, the corners of his lips turning up sinisterly.
"Or I'll get sent back to the Shithole for teaching you that my opinion is more educated than yours." I don't know whether it was the hidden threat in my eyes, or the seriousness of my stance. But he backed down, nodding his head at Keegan.
"If he annoys me, I'll personally beat the motherfucker."
"If he annoys you, then I'll help."
*|*
A couple of hours later and Sky was on Keegan's back as he attempted to skate up a ramp.
It was safe to say that they would both have some form of injury's tomorrow.
"Again! Keegan, bend down, you're too tall!" Sky tried jumping on Keegan's back again, despite the fact he fell every time he attempted.
"Keeg." I pulled his arm away from Sky for a moment, lowering my voice. "I'm gonna go meet Jess, will you be okay with Sky or do you want me to stay? I know you're not used to being round here but he will look after you, nothing bad will happen."
He smiled up at me, showing the cheeky grin that I had gotten so accustomed to seeing. "Yeah, Rock, I don't think he wants to stab me yet and he already said that we're gonna have a race home. I'll be fine."
"Good." I patted his shoulder awkwardly, taking a couple of steps back. "I'll see you in a bit."
Running away from the park, I pulled up my hood and quickly stuffed my hands into my pocket, preparing myself for the street corners and hidden spots where I knew the dealers and murderers lay.
I attempted to pass by the alley as fast as I could but even a few seconds here felt like a lifetime. I desperately tried not to look anywhere other than my feet because the last thing I would risk doing is making eye contact with any of the boys I noticed standing recklessly at the end of the alley, in case of any of them recognised me.
"You in a hurry, baby?" One of the boys said, slurring his words slightly. A part of me wanted to shrink away at that moment, suddenly feeling the vulnerability that I hadn't felt in years.
Most people in the South knew what happened in the home.
Most people knew who I was. The weak and the strong side.
I speed up even more, pretending as if they weren't here. I only had a few feet to get out of these alleys, but I knew that without a doubt, I'd have to walk past them. A couple of hands try to grab my shoulders and a face leaned closer to mine as I stilled instantly at the contact.
"You don't have to rush off so fast, Sweetheart." His cool voice sends shivers down my spine, like little spiders clawing their way into my skin.
I tried to shove his filthy hands but I couldn't without showing that I could fight him off, and the last thing I wanted to do was fight.
That would just cause more issues within itself.
His fingers dug into my skin, no doubt leaving bruises on my arm.
"Get away from me." I hissed as coldly as possible, still trying to keep my face away from them. I couldn't let them see who I was.
"I'd rather not, Sweetie. I need a bit of fun." I can practically hear the smirk in his voice, and I try to push him away but it didn't seem to work.
I heard the other boys surrounding me, eliminating any chance of escape. I felt trapped- confined. I could easily take on any of these motherfuckers and win but I didn't want to risk showing my identity, if word got around that I was back then they'd be trouble.
"What the fuck are you bitches doing?" The foreignly familiar voice said, moving closer to us. At that sentence, I moved my head up slightly and stared into the new arrivals eyes.
Recognition flashed in them instantly.
He clenched his jaw, and looked at the group of people while glaring at the obvious leader, "You need to let go of her and leave. Now."
"Why?" The cold voice spat back as soon as the words left Zach's mouth. My fingers twitched with the urge to hit but I clenched my fists together instead, refusing to give into the anger trying to fuel my system.
"Because if you don't leave right now, I can guarantee that The Black Diamonds will kill you."
And there it was.
The Black Diamonds.
The name that caused every person in the South to shake in their sleep. To run into their homes at night.
The name that taught us how to fear.
And the name that taught me how to live.
My fingers unconsciously skimmed over the tattoo on my opposite finger.
The man gulped at the name, before silently gesturing for his little bitches to follow his lead as he left.
"You didn't need to do that." I always seemed to have a hard time of showing gratitude, but luckily Zach knew that.
"Yeah yeah, you're welcome." He rolled his eyes at me amusedly, "You've really changed in just a couple of years."
"Yeah I know." I pulled my hood up tighter, making sure it wouldn't fall down. "You didn't tell anyone about that did you?"
He glanced into my eyes before tearing them away, "You know I wouldn't do that."
Of course I knew.
When I had to pick one person to come pick me up from Juvie, I picked Zach.
Not because I knew he wouldn't tell anybody.
Or because I knew I was a target.
But because Juvie fucked me up just as much as Jail fucked his Dad up.
He knew how scared I was to leave, he knew how much things had changed for me.
I went from this innocent kid to a criminal in just a few years.
And Zach always knew that, and he always supported me.
Because he knew exactly how I felt; He knew about the immortal guilt that clouded our minds day after day.
He knew what it was like to kill a person.
***
Well the penny has dropped! Let me know what you're all thinking!
Thank you for reading this chapter!