Our MC is just starting out in life, but thus far, is unimpressed. He's still in high school and having trouble finding himself in a world where everyone around him feels like they have it all together. This leaves him confused more often than not, at the interactions and motivations involving other people. Things will heat up bit by bit along the way. All characters mentioned are over the age of eighteen. This is a work of fiction.
The fair did NOT go over smoothly, but it was pretty fun.
I took the bus to get there, since my dad was going to get his friend. When I first arrived, the other prospects were waiting for me and together we set up a sizable booth before any of the actual members got there. They arranged their bikes in a row and before long, sticky fingered kids were climbing all over them making me wince thinking of the cleanup job I was going to have.
Most everyone that came by was friendly, as the tag alongs and old ladies served up free brownies and muffins for the community. We had a donations jar out for anyone who wanted to give a little back. My job was to fetch whatever the women needed as the members of the MC tailgated.
After a few hours I got the text I was expecting from my dad asking where I was, so I left it vague and just told him over by the motorcycles. He arrived not long after with a former teacher of mine from middle school. I was polite, but internally screaming at my dad for going after a woman I knew. Hell she was one of my first crushes. He wanted to know what I was doing there when Rhett walked up and shook his hand.
My dad's eyes went wide for a second when Rhett told him I was a prospect. He turned to me, still holding on to Rhett's outstretched hand. "You're what now?"
Rhett gave him a pat on the back and surprised the hell out of me by calling my dad by name. I was pretty sure I hadn't mentioned it. "Awe come on Marcus. He's old enough."
Dad looked at him and smiled. "Where the hell does the time go?"
I don't think I was the only one confused, as my former teacher was furrowing her brow as well. Just then there was a commotion, as Trash bounded up and wrapped my dad in a big bear hug. "Marcus!"
My dad let the man pick him up for a second before grumbling. "Put me down Trash. It's good to see you too."
Okay now I was really confused. My dad knew these guys? He looked over at me once he was back on his feet. "We're off Riley." He said taking my teacher's hand. "Don't be out too late."
"Huh?" I asked.
"We'll talk later. Guys, it was good to see you but I'm off. I'll fill him in later so probably best to leave it for now."
Rhett shook his hand, "Always a pleasure Marcus. You know where to find us."
Just like that, he walked off. Rhett shrugged at me before I could get my bearings and then he walked off too.
I threw my hands up in frustration and went back to work still unable to process what had just happened.
Probably thirty minutes later I heard Trash barking at someone. I turned to see a few of my friends gathered around his bike, parked intentionally off to the side and away from all the passers by. I made a beeline towards them as Trash grabbed Brett by the collar and hauled him off of the bike's seat. Matt looked like he was stepping up to defend Brett as Bianca and Michelle clutched hands and took a step back. "NOBODY TOUCHES MY FUCKING BIKE!!"
I jumped between them and stared Trash in the eye. "Hey! I've got this!" I probably should've been a bit more amicable to Trash in that moment, but a couple booths down I saw two local police looking in this direction. "Parole! Man. It's fine. They didn't know."
Trash butted his forehead against mine, pretty hard, but then walked back to his seat without another word. I turned to see my friends all gawking at me like a dick was coming out of my forehead. "What?" I asked.
Matt grinned. "Coolest dude I know man."
Brett wasn't happy though. He slapped my hand away as I tried to help him up.
"So what then dude? You see a bike on its own and figure you can just hop on? It's clearly out of the way for a reason man."
"Like I was supposed to know." Brett replied.
"It's just against the rules man. Don't touch what ain't yours." I noticed Bianca giving me a flirty grin as I scolded Brett. She and Michelle were whispering together.
Brett was still dusting himself off when Heather Sinclaire and Pete noticed us. They walked over and she joined the girls in their quiet dialog.
I helped Brett get some twigs off his shoulder. "Look man, you didn't know and that's cool." I caught Pete grabbing at Heather's ass and her hand brushing him away. It fired me up a bit. "But now that you do, you should know that the MC is big on restitution."
"What?" He asked.
I glanced over my shoulder at Rhett. He nodded. "Restitution. Righting a wrong. Paying what's due. Get it? I'm not trying to be an asshole here but Trash isn't going to let this slide man."
Matt looked at me like I was insane. Pete tried grabbing at Heather only to be brushed aside again. Michelle had a confused look and Bianca looked like she was salivating.
Brett caught on. "So what? You're shaking me down?" He asked, getting closer and standing up straighter. Neither of us was exactly tall, but he had a good three inches and twenty pounds or so on me.
I locked eyes with him, still reeling over the fact that he went after Bianca knowing I had a thing for her, and the way he seemed to shove it down my throat by carrying on in public with her. Then I remembered what he'd done to Heather as well. I looked over at her to see her hand slapping at Pete's once again. "I'm trying to help you here Brett. Do something to show these guys you're sorry and it's over. Otherwise I'd look over my shoulder if I were you."
His eyes narrowed as he leaned closer. "Is that a threat?"
"Just trying to warn you." I growled, not even sure when things had gotten this intense.
"Problem here boys?" I heard from behind Brett.
We both looked and saw the two officers I had noticed earlier.
Rhett called out from behind the tent to do some damage control. "No problem Sarge. You know teenagers. They're just puffing out their feathers. Kid knows not to cause trouble. Don't you?"
I took a step back from Brett as he smirked. "Sure thing Rhett. Sorry for the misunderstanding officer." I wanted to wipe that smug look right off his face.
Matt shrugged at me as he and the others followed Brett back towards the carnival. Rhett placed a hand on my shoulder. "Ya did good Kid. Knowing when to step up is almost as important as knowing when to back down. Looks like you've got both covered."
I nodded and started to get back to work, still seething, when a thought occurred to me. "Hey Rhett, what's the plan for him now then? Trash gonna let it go?"
Trash answered for him. "Nah Kid. I think not. He'll get somethin' for it. You know what he drives?" I nodded. "Then I expect you'll figure somethin' out. Right? Fixin' this is on YOU."
A few hours later, after the sun had gone down, I sat waiting for Brett on the hood of his daddy's challenger. He was fuming when he saw me. "What the FUCK Riley?" Seeing him get worked up really warmed my heart.
He stormed over, ready to pummel me, dropping his arm from Bianca's shoulder and leaving Matt behind with the girls.
I held my hand up at him. "Restitution Brett. We're square now. You sat where you didn't belong, now I did too."
He looked over at Matt, who just shrugged, before facing me again. This time donning that same smug look from earlier. "Ya know, I kind of get it. The whole restitution thing. But fuck no Riley, we're not square."
