First Punch ➟ Kellic

O N E

"Cooper!" someone shouts. "Cooper! Get the fuck up," they add, a pillow being thrown at me. I groan, rolling over and off of my mattress which is set on the floor.

"Fuck off," I groan, rubbing my tired, swollen eyes.

"Someone popped Parker last night."

"What!?" I exclaim, opening my eyes and sitting up.

"Yeah, Boon-dawg found him in the alley with his head on backwards."

"Who the fuck-" I start angrily, getting up and trying to storm out but he puts a hand to my chest.

"Calm down. We know Cameron got 187'd by Bloods so we're planning," Carter tells me. His light brown hair is sticking up all over place and of I weren't in such an intense state of shock and anger I'd probably make fun of him for it. He's my brother, but not by blood. My dad left when I was like four and my mom was a stripper who just...didn't come home one day. I've been on the streets since I was twelve and Carter took me in, the Triads instantly treating me as their own and looking out for me.

"His neck was snapped?" I ask, not understanding. I'd never heard of a gang member taking someone else out like that. "Doesn't sound like Bloods."

Carter thinks for a second before shrugging, "S'the only lead we got."

I sigh, visions of Parker flashing through my mind. We weren't that close, but he stood up for me once.

I was at a gay bar, without any identifying Triad symbols since none of them know I'm gay. Surprise surprise, gangs are pretty homophobic. But that's beside the point, I was wasted and not paying attention to where I was walking. I went down the alleyway towards our home-base when someone jumped me. I yelped, reaching for my switchblade but I was surrounded by four guys. I'm not that strong on my own, but thankfully Parker had been on watch and heard the commotion, coming to my rescue. He shot two of them, the others running off after beating me to a pulp. I owe these guys my life.

"We gotta find whoever did this," I say, feeling determined.

"We will," Carter says to me. "Don't worry, whoever did this will pay." I nod, feeling good that they were starting a plan. "But that's not why I'm here. You need to get to school. Clearly someone's after us, and that's the only safe place for you."

I roll my eyes at his protectiveness, but it makes me smile anyway. We all care so much for each other. I probably wouldn't still be enrolled in school if it weren't for the fact that we have metal detectors at every entrance. I'm taking all bird courses, but at least I have somewhere to go where I know no one around me has a gun.

"Alright, alright. Just get out so I can get dressed." He nods and leaves me alone.

I pull on my usual, a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans. But of course, I can't leave in just that. I grab my yellow bandana, the Triad's identifying colour and tie it around my ankle. The school has strict policies on gang symbols, but no one ever seems to say anything as long as it's around my ankle. I probably wouldn't wear it all, but there have been so many times where even just wearing Triad colours has stopped people from assaulting me; it's just for protection, I'm not a very violent guy.

I rush off to school, stashing my switchblade in my usual hiding spot: a loose brick of the abandoned house down down the road a little. I like to have it on me at all times, but they'd expel me in two seconds when those detectors went off and I can't even run because the doors automatically lock.

I sigh, turning towards my hell of an education centre. I trudge inside, instantly wanting to go home, but Carter's right. Someone's after us and this is the safest place.