Gangs

Chapter 19

I get up, put on spandex and a sports bra, then lay back down in bed. My eyes are almost completely closed until someone knocks. I wanna scream at people right now. Shelby laughs and tosses her pillow over my head. I close my eyes try to sleep

Sorry Atom, she is pretending to be asleep

I am not pretending, i'm trying 

Sorry trying to pretend to sleep

Leave me alone

She has got to get up in an hour

Ima, take her alright?

No, she needs to sleep, she has not in over a week

Oh my god, I wanna sleep

            I slide up, throw on a t shirt and jump on Atoms back. He takes me up to his room and throws me down on his king size bed. My eyes are already drooping. He laughs and lays down with his arm wrapped around me…

“Time to get up” Damon shakes me awake; Atoms arms are wrapped around me tightly.

Yes sir

            I slide under his arm and follow Damon down while yawning. He laughs at it but continues without a word. Am I in trouble? Did I sleep in? No suns still not up. We walk into the room and he flips the lights on. My eyes squeeze shut not prepared

Today’s gonna be hell on you kid if you are so tired

            My response is a long yawn. He tosses me a big, long stick and takes one.

Defend yourself and knock me down

            I nod and he swings the stick around into my gut. I gasp for breath; he smiles and swings again. This time I swing mine around to block it. The hit jars me whole body and he uses it to his advantage. He swings his stick around knocking my feet out. I land on my back on the ground… this goes all day into the evening. Finally, I can keep up, but everything hurts, and I can’t do too much more. Daniel heals me and walks me back to my room again. Halfway their Atom stops us.

Leave us

Yes sir

            Atoms frowns at being called sir but ignores it and takes my hand. We walk back up to his room and sit on the couch. I start to nod off as soon as my ass sits down.

Why didn't you wake me?

Damon woke me

When

Maybe 40 min after we got into your room

Damn, sorry

Not your fault

No, I guess not but I can't do anything about it

Just leave it alone alright

I do not know

I am so tired

I can tell your eyes will not stay open

What did you do?

Debrief this morning, then rest

“Lazy” I sorta mumble the word out

Go to sleep

Yes sir

            He punches me softly, but I still wince. It feels like my body is all one big bruise, even though there is nothing there it hurts still. I hear the door open but am too tired to open my eyes.

Got a problem son

She cannot take much more

She can take more than you think Atom, she surprised me

She needs sleep

So, did you but you did it fine

I grew up with it

Are you arguing with me?

She is tired

Maybe I should be more worried about discipline with you

Maybe

            Atom shut up damn. I elbow him in the gut, he rubs my arm. He is going to get hurt.

Wake her up

No

            He rips Atom up and me in the process. I sigh and sit up, no sleep tonight I guess thanks Atom. Damon punches him in the gut, I duck my head to not see it. He laughs at my response then pulls me up. “Get out of here” I look at Atom and he nods for me to go but i'm frozen. Damon pushes me back and I leave. I walk down the stairs slowly and sit down at the bottom, i'm too tired to process this. My head hurts and its cold, but I have no idea if I could find my room right now.  Brandon slides down next to me; I lay down with my head on his lap and he rubs my arm.

Is he beating Atom up?

Ya

You are exhausted

Uh Huh

I’ll take you back

Do not leave me

Never

            He picks me up in his arm and carries me to him and JTs room, soon as he lays me down my eyes close. He sits down on the bed next to me and rubs my arm… Slowly my eyes open, Brandon is passed out next to me sitting up against the wall. Jt is just getting up, he rubs my arm and pulls me up. We leave the room, and he walks me back to mine. Suns still down and people are just getting up to start their chores.

How ya doing

I am ok

Atom?

I do not know

Thats what was wrong

Ya mostly

Go change I’ll wait here

            I nod and walk in quietly; Shelby is still asleep. The closet door makes a quiet squeak as I open it. Today is going to be a long day, isn't it? I change into purple booty shorts and a black tank top that is open all the way on the sides showing my purple sports bra. Match today even my tennis shoes. Jt is outside still waiting. As we walk towards the back room I Dutch braid my hair. Damon meets up halfway, his knuckles bruised and bloody. I squeeze Jts arm and freeze. He rubs my arm waking me up. Damon gestures for both of us to follow. He leads us up the stairs to his little house. He leaves us and I lead Jt to Atoms room. Atom is passed out on the floor covered in blood. I gasp and drop on my knees next to him. JT looks completely frozen in shock. I feel tears run down my face. Jt wakes up and pulls me into him pressing me against him. I clench his shirt trying to calm down but instead soak it with tears. He rubs my back; I feel his arms shaking while they are wrapped around me. Jt lets go off me and lifts him onto the couch. I sit down on the floor next to it and hold his hand. Jt sits down next to me rubbing my arm. How long is Damon going to let us stay? When is he going to come get me? Dammit Atom why did not you shut up last night. Slowly my eyes start to droop again. I feel his hand tighten around mine and jump. Jt jerks up from my movement and Atoms eyes slowly open. He looks in pain, I lay my head back down and breath in relief. It feels like I have been holding it in for forever. “I’ll go find a healer” I nod at Jts words, the steps down stairs let me know he’s gone. Atom pulls me up on the couch next to him wrapping his arms tightly around me. He will not let me go until he is healed. I love him so much. I look up as Damon enters, s**t. Atoms arm tightens more making it hard to breath. I reach my arm around his neck and hold down the pressure point.

I am sorry Atom, I love you