‘I could slap you right now.’ Of course, he didn't say that aloud because violence isn't the answer; at least not in this situation.

“My brother wouldn't be in jail, he would have graduated, would've gotten a job, would've picked up a sweet chick, got married, had kids, a big ass house, would've been a great damn dad, but no he can do all that in prison for the rest of his life,” Mason argued.

Mason was standing over Zen pointing towards the air while referencing it to Aaron. He knew how to get deep under Zen’s skin. After all, everyone came to him about their problems.

“Jean isn't fit for prison either. He's smart and out of all of us, he would be the one to graduate college. Aaron is my friend too and I care about him like he’s my brother—” Zen was cut off.

“Exactly, you care about him like a brother. You will never know what it's like to be his brother.” Mason corrected.

He was calm or at least seemed like it. Livvik had never seen an argument between two of the most feared gang members in the Jynx. Livvik was also mad about his cousin being in prison but he never really intervenes in the arguments. His uncle taught him to be street-smart. Book smart just wasn't something he was interested in. Livvik was tough emotionally— physically he would only be able to take on two at a time. Which wasn't even average compared to his “brothers.” Livvik sat on the filthy brown couch reminiscing about past times with his brother. The time his brother first came out to him. Livvik was happy that his cousin felt comfortable around him; at least enough to tell him he was bisexual. 

“You guys, this isn't a game. It's real life. We can't sit here and fight, we have got them the hell out of there.” Livvik announced.

Livvik was doing great at holding everything in until he finished his sentence. A tiny tear rolled down the left side of his face. The tear rolling down Livvik’s face pushed on a nerve in Zen’s head. He hates seeing people cry. 

When he was 8 his mom passed away and the night after her funeral he dreamed about a tear rolling down her face even though her body was motionless and empty; He believed it was encouragement from his mom. Unfortunately, his father led him down the wrong path. His mom was always supportive of him being gay. His father hated him for it. He’d say things like he wished Zen would go to hell. Zen was okay with that but his only goal was to make sure his father went first. To make that happen he killed him. That was how he got into the gang. Aaron helped him hide the body, which was discovered and blamed on someone else, and he let him rock with the group. 

“There is nothing we can do,” Mason said, throwing his hand in the air and slamming them back down onto his thighs aggressively. 

Mason only showed his tough and angry behavior towards people from other gangs. Zen stood up out of his seat with a look that no one expected.

“If yall are going to stay here and sit on your ass then do that but I'm going to go get my brothers back,” Zen said.

Zen was hoping they would come along but they both gave him a look. He was hurt but stood by his decision. He left the building stepping over beer bottles, blunt rappers, and clothes. He slammed the squeaky door behind him. Mason and Livvik looked up at each other.

“You're pathetic. Both of you. I can't believe you.” Livvik bashed. He got up and walked out of the door.

Mason picked up an empty beer bottle on the floor and lifted it.

“Shit!” He yelled while slamming the bottle back onto the ground.

The glass shattered all over the floor. He was angry but he still looked over his legs to see if the glass was in his foot. 

‘Why me?Why us?’ He thought. He pressured his hands through the thin brown hair that hung over his forehead.  

All fo them were confused on where all of this started. Things like this had happened before but it never got this bad though. Jean would be disappointed in them all. Jean was like the mom of the group, he wasnt the leader but he made sure that no one went off on each other. Jean always buys food and clothes for everyone. He and Aaroon are the only one’s working. They are also the only ones without a criminal record. Even if they were older than Aaron and Jean, they always looked up to them.

Aaron was the leader of the Jynx. Jean’s father, Harvey, was the leader who passed it onto Aaron. Harvey helped them anytime they were in a sticky situation. He supported his son and Zen and he always welcomed them into his home. Harvey was the only one the gang trusted, the only person outside the group they could depend on.

Aaron thought that Harvey made a mistake making him leader, all he ever did was make plans. Harvey always assured him that he had a purpose and he would soon realize it. Aaron believed the man was just making the wrong decision. All of them had a purpose and only few of them understood it. None of them worried about their future— or at least not until now. They will all realize where this began but for now let me show you…