I Love A Gang Leader

I Trust You

I open the door and Keith is still there, “You aren’t letting this go are you?” Keith gave me a look and I got my answer, “Ight no it is. What do I have to do to leave me alone and drop it?”

“Go out and talk to me.”

“That’s it?” He nodded and I let out a sigh, “Fine. Let me tell Rowan.”

I turn and walk to his office, knocking on the door hearing a soft ‘come in’, and I popped my head in, “Hey Rowan, I’m going out with Keith.” I left before he could respond and I went back to our room to put on sneakers, my purse, and a sweater.

“Let’s go.” He smiled lightly and turned around walking down the stairs.

Keith led me to the garage, which made me confused, the cars were usually out in the front of the house, but I stayed quiet and followed him. I see a black motorcycle as I enter, and walk closer to it. Keith grabs two helmets and tosses one to me as he gets on starting it up.

“Are you gonna stand there and gawk or get on?” Keith asked, snapping me back into focus.

“Right sorry, nice bike. Fits the whole bad boy personality you’ve created.”

He rolled his eyes. “Thanks. Get on, and hang on tight.” I put my helmet on and wrap my arms around his waist as we sped out of the garage. Everything flew by as we rode and I felt myself smile at the blurriness around me and press myself harder into Keith.

We slow down passing a sign that said Marie Selby Botanical Gardens written into the stone with plants taking over the sign. Keith pulled into a parking spot, taking his helmet off as he shook his head. I’ve said it once before, and I’ll say it again. Keith is hot.

Keith pulled the helmet off my head, “You were taking too long.” I smile and follow after him inside the building. Once inside I saw a ton of people and a ton of plants. Keith tugged on my wrist and I was pulled away from everything.

Keith led me to a room. The first thing I noticed was the sound of water running like a waterfall. There were all types of plants and flowers in this room, there were a lot of bright colors from the flowers that were hanging from the ceiling and some were wrapped around the wooden pillars highlighting a pathway.

Keith lets go of my hand and we walk side by side, we were in a comfortable silence as I took in the sights before me. It was so calming and peaceful in this place.

“We’re not gonna stay in a deafening silence our entire walk?”

“I was waiting to see what you would do. Now talk.”

“When I said Kay, Trent, and I fell asleep in the training room. That was true. When I said Kay was in the training room, that was true. I went to get water to drink and I saw the training room and I saw Kay hitting a wooden dummy, but he was so out of it... He was crying, he was so upset and he wouldn’t stop crying at first. He told me today was the death anniversary of his mother and younger brother.”

“When his house got broken into, by the two robbers?” Keith asked giving me a sideways glance and I nodded, “We know. We’ve all been friends for too long for us not to know everyone’s trauma’s at this point.”

“He made it seem like only Trent and I would know.”

“He told us when he got drunk and Trent made us all swear not to say anything till Kay was ready to tell us, but we know.” I nod slowly, “So there’s no need to lie to us about anything.”

“Does that mean you told everyone about my panic attack?”

“No, I told them that it wasn’t my place. I can’t speak on something I know nothing about.” I pause and look at Keith.

“But you would like to know though. Is that why you dragged me up here?”

“I come up here to get away from the group sometimes. It’s a sanctuary that I created with the botanical gardens. It helps me think and find peace.”

“And stab the ever-living crap out of the pillars when you get upset,” I say walking over and gliding my finger over the marks in the wooden pillars, before looking back at him.

“I was going through a dark moment. I’m past it now.” He said in a monotone voice, but his eyes grew darker, but I didn’t say anything as went to the other pillar and rubbed the markings.

"It was the end of my senior year of high school.” I paused looking over at Keith seeing his face smoothed out as he listened, ”There was this one girl, Carrie Margret, she was really mad that I was no longer the fat and ugly duckling, that everyone gave me their attention.

She was someone I ended up fighting against a lot, but that year would be the last time she ever bothered me. One day she followed me to a park my friends and I were going to. I thought it was a coincidence so I shrugged it off.

I was talking with my friends when my hair started getting pulled and I started getting dragged. I ripped my head from whoever was dragging me. It hurt but it had to be done. I rolled onto my stomach and saw Carrie dropping strands of my hair. I wasn’t in the mood to fight but Carrie wasn’t giving me much choice.

She was kept charging at me and at some point, she got on top of me and began choking me, but I wrapped my hands around her throat and pushed in her jugular notch. She rolled over kneeling trying to catch her breath. I kicked her temple harder than I intended and the back of her head hit a metal pole.

She stayed there unmoving, not breathing, there was blood everywhere. I heard whispers and shocked gasps. I yelled for someone to call for an ambulance. I thought she was going to die. I was terrified. All the blood that surrounded me was Carrie’s. I just stayed there with tears streaming down my face as I looked at my trembling hands I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I started panicking and I passed out.

I came to a few hours later in my own hospital bed. My parents told me that Carrie was fine except for some internal bleeding but she would be fine. I ended up visiting Carrie, making an agreement with her parents. I felt super bad so I would pay for the hospital bill with my own money. Her parents insisted I didn’t have to since it was self-defense, but I caused her to be in the hospital so I felt like it was a responsibility I had to take care of not her parents.

Then one day as I was going to check in on Carrie, her parents were standing outside her room crying and then they told me her injuries were too severe and she died in her sleep. I never forgave myself.

When I was sparring with you I saw Carrie and I grew weak- something ran through me and- and then the other night I remembered Carrie and I panicked. I didn't even realize I was screaming till you came." I said playing with the flowers on the pillar, refusing to look at Keith.

Keith still hadn't said anything to me and I finally looked over at him and he looked like he was thinking of something to say.

"So why'd you bring me to your secret getaway spot?"

"I trust you and you hold some respect or trust for me if you told me about your panic attack, right? So thank you. I brought you here so you have a getaway. I can tell you and Rowan are gonna be argumentative."

“Wow. What else can you tell?” I asked crossing my arms across my chest, before uncrossing them, “There is something else I wanna tell you though.” Keith stopped smiling once he saw my face.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothings wrong per se, but I do know something., ” He raised an eyebrow and I continued, “Something about the Double Dragons.” and then his eyes widened.

“You know about us, the Double Dragons.” it wasn't a question, more of a confirmation, “You knew that Rowan was the leader and still said all that?” I meekly nod, “Oh Shrimp, you're amazing.” He laughed and grabbed my wrist pulling me further into the greenhouse.