Once again, Nathaniel is in my car, and he doesn’t utter a word. Not like I’m desperate for conversation, but his awkwardness annoys me. At least, I have my cigarettes and I won’t need to order him to buy the wrong brand. He is cute when he makes a mistake. He’s a decent guy besides his faults, he wasn’t terrible to have around as company. I didn’t need to tell him that though, I’m sure he hates my guts already.

“How old are you?” Nathaniel suddenly asked. He’s starting a conversation? That’s a first.

“Me? I’m twenty, turning twenty-one in June.” There was silence after that, “What about you?” Nathaniel was fidgeting slightly.

“I’m eighteen, turning nineteen in September.” Woah, I wasn’t expecting him to be so young. I thought he was the same age as me. I feel like a creep, saying he was cute. Maybe I should back off. On second thought, I can’t. How can I when I was tempted to pinch his cheeks again.

“So, you are a kid?” I teased, with a chuckle. I could feel Nathaniel glare at me, “I’m only playing with you. You do act mature for your age.” Nathaniel frowned and sighed.

“Is that meant to be a compliment?”

“Take it or leave it.” I shrugged. It was meant to be a compliment, dummy.

“I’m not that young. It’s only a two-year difference between us. I expected you to be younger than me.”

“Where did you get that idea? I think I’m very mature.”

“Yeah, in your head,” Nathaniel muttered under his breath. You’re lucky I’m driving, “So, the Luxe Family…what’s that like?” He seemed uncomfortable asking me these questions, but I was happy to entertain him for a while.

“A happy, large one with lots of hostility.” That’s all I could sum it up with. Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and glanced at me.

“What do you mean by hostile?”

“Let’s just say there isn’t a lot of love going around. A lot of rivalry and jealousy,” I remembered last week’s family dinner and Jason’s anger about discussing my Mother’s family. It was depressing. It’s not the greatest feeling when your siblings don’t see you like a real family member and treat you differently.

“Must be tough, trying to live up to your parents’ expectations.” I don’t want to take the conversation there. I have enough going on.

“…Yeah, it is. Anyway…” I started to light up my favourite cigarette, “What about your family? You say you have a sister?”

“Yes, Yasmina. She’s eleven.”

“Can I just ask something? Why are you working in this dangerous industry when you have a little sister to protect?” I wanted to ask him ever since I first met him. To be honest, it was quite an invasive question. If he didn’t want to answer, I understand. Nathaniel took a while to respond, “If you never told me about Yasmina that night at Kingsford Park, I would have killed you. What would happen to her then?” I could see him clench his fists.

“I…don't want to think about that.” He mumbled quietly.

“Even in this job, your life is constantly in danger…”

“I know, but I don’t know what else I can do. It’s hard to look for a job, I have no skills or aspirations. All I want is to find the money…to get us out of Granton. Away from all of this, that’s something I’m happy to risk everything for.”

“Even if you die for it,” I exhaled, “You should tell Yasmina about what you’re doing.”

“No…she has to focus on school. It’s already a challenge trying to distract her from Mom.”

“What’s wrong with your mother?”

“She’s…a drug addict.” What? Why is he pulling his whole family who has a problem with drugs into my world? It wasn’t my place to judge. I was born into this world, and I can’t imagine life any other way. Nathaniel is probably the same, growing up in Granton. God knows what goes down over there every day. Nathaniel kissed his teeth and faced the window, “Why am I telling you all of this anyway?” He muttered to himself.

“It’s nice to open up. Maybe I will open up to you some time.” Maybe it would be therapeutic, “Besides, it was my fault for asking. I wanted to make sure you knew what you’re getting yourself into.”

“You don’t have to remind me. Any second you could blow my brains out. I’m just at your disposal.”

“Hey, why would I unnecessarily kill an attractive guy like you?” I teased. Nathaniel didn’t answer; however, I could see him fidgeting with his leg. I guess that comment stirred him up somehow. Cute.

After a few minutes of asking simple questions and getting along for once, we pulled into the location where the exchange was taking place. An abandoned junkyard on the eastern edge of the city. It was a maze filled to the brim with old, rusty cars, appliances, and abandoned machinery. It was cliché that we had shady deals in a setting such as this; however, no one ever comes out here. So, in a way, it’s perfect for us. That’s what Kieron advised me anyway. So, if anything goes wrong, I’m blaming him for the choice of location.

My Father insisted on coming with me. He is good friends with the client I was meeting tonight. However, after the last time, I wasn’t taking any chances with him getting hurt or worse. We stepped out of the car and I could already see Kieron, Tyrone, and Ken hanging around a pile of broken, smashed microwaves and TVs. Ken was investigating a plasma screen which had a massive dent on the edge.

“Ken, I hope you’re not considering taking that home?” I groaned, walking up to the three of them. Ken chuckled and stepped back.

“No…just curious to see what’s wrong with it?” Ken explained. I could tell he was making it up. I wouldn’t judge him if he took it home. The TV looked like it could work after a few adjustments.

“Boss, you brought ‘him’ along?” Kieron asked, scowling at Nathaniel.

“Yep, he’s having an educational trip on how to not mess with syndicates and their money. Have you got my babies?” Tyrone pulled out a black duffel bag, with my ‘product’ inside, “Perfect, I always have faith in you guys.”

“I haven’t got faith in him,” Kieron muttered, still glaring at Nathaniel. I wrapped my arm around Nathaniel. He flinched but didn’t struggle away as usual.

“What’s wrong with Nathaniel? Everyone deserves a second chance, right?”

“He’s had three chances.”

“I have a name, you know. It’s Nathaniel.”