The Bad Boy's Secret by Susan Stevens, Jasmine Bowen Page A

restricted to the movie theatre, the mall, or a house party at a friend’s house, nothing more. The regular fist-fights that took place on the train tracks were lacking in his attendance, unless he snuck his way in.
    “I’m hungry,” the youngest said, sliding right up to his big brother as Richard handed over the rest of his sandwich without protest. Despite having gotten up in the middle of the night to work a 12 hour shift, he was always putting his brothers’ needs before his, even if it meant going hungry.
    “There’s a chicken in the oven,” Richard said, shrugging on his leather jacket so that they could get going. Years of construction kept him in top shape, often the biggest and strongest among any gang they encountered. With Richard leading the way, people rarely started fights with them.
    “Chuck, you going to Kevin’s party tonight?” Steve asked, making a grab for the passenger seat just as Shawn did.
    “Of course. Whole damn county is going to be at that party,” Chuck replied, and was about to say more when they were interrupted.
    “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the little teacher’s pet, running home to his little house.”
    Peter knew the voice before he even turned around, and he cringed. Gordon Light and his usual entourage were standing behind them, their fists shoved in their pockets like they didn’t mean any harm, which Peter knew wasn’t true. 7 of them in all, Gordon and his brothers and friends were the richest kids in school, always able to buy their way into whatever they wanted. Whether it was good grades, or admission to a private college, the money never stopped pouring out. Their clothes probably cost more than the house that the boys lived in, and their shoes probably could re-sell for more than the car. However, at the moment, none of that bothered Richard as he moved to the front of the group. They were outnumbered, but he was stronger than at least three of them on his own.
    “You boys got something to say?” he asked, as he pushed Peter back. Chuck straightened up as well, tensing his muscles. He didn’t feel much like fighting after being awake all night, but if he had to, he could throw a mean right hook.
    “What’s it to you, brawny?” Gordon stood his ground. Richard knew that starting a fight on the middle of the school parking lot would mean picking up the boys down the street for the rest of the year. But he was sorely tempted to not care.
    “It’s something to me because that’s my brother that you are messing with. And I don’t see no reason to make fun of him just because you couldn’t read your way out of a paper bag,” Richard replied, clenching his fist. “So why don’t you move along now?”
    “So why don’t you move along now?” Gordon mimicked. “Why don’t you move along, old man?”
    “Seriously?” Chuck growled, taking his place by Richard’s side. “Unless you want to start something you can’t finish, why don’t ya’ll move along?”
    “Richard, I got this,” Peter said, but no one paid any attention to him. On the other side of the car, Steve and Shawn were lost in their own world, jabbering in a language only best friends understood, of half sentences and broken thoughts. They were so used to fights in the school parking lot that didn’t start, it didn’t matter whether they paid attention or not. Richard could probably hold off all seven if he wanted.
    “Yeah, we can start something,” Gordon sneered. “Tomorrow night, meet us by the train tracks. It’s been a long time since you boys had your faces beaten in.”
    “It has been a long time since we beat your faces in,” Chuck agreed. “Not sure I can wait till tomorrow night. How about we start now?” The consequences of him starting the fight in the parking lot were small and pointless.  He wasn’t planning on going back to school any time soon, and the day his parents cared what he was up to was the day pigs flew. It was only the concern for the rest of