The halls of Santa Anna High were filled with a torrent of escaping students, unleashed by the toll of the bell.  In the midst of this chaotic sea of brown bodies plodded a lone white figure, his fair skin, golden locks and impressive stature stood in stark opposition to the peers who surrounded him.  In fact, it seemed Tony Anarichio was the only one among them who could not trace his ancestry back to an Aztec warlord.  But in seeming ignorance of this blatant irony, he continued to stroll on, lost in thought until a familiar voice jarred him back into reality.

            "Hey, whitey!  Getja pasty ass ova ‘ere, we've got some **** to settle!"

            " **** off" he replied cogently, turning to face his antagonist.

            After a brief stand-off, the pair could no longer hold their feigned distemper and began to laugh heartily.  The Hispanic youth then approached his good friend, and gave him an affectionate slap to the back.

            "Okay, but seriously, Chico, I've got a favor to ask you."

            Tony let out a brief sigh.

            "I don't know, man.  I can't do this anymore; I think I'm going straight."

            "Is it that skinny ***** of yours that's getting to you?  Come on, it's just one small favor, after all the **** I've done for you, this is the least you could do."

            "I...just"

            He was right, though.  Since they were barely out of grade school, Tony's friend Mirez had always been there to help him survive the cut-throat streets of Santa Anna, and would surely die to protect him.  He knew there would be no way out of it.

            "Alright, what is it?

            "Okay, look, the Rodriquez brothers just got a new shipment in, and some rich bastards from the West Side are buying.  If we pull this off, I promise we'll be set... for a while at least.  Now come on, we're burning daylight!"

            As Tony waited outside in the parking lot, he cringed as he waited for Mirez to pull up in his black ‘89 Taurus.  He hated that old thing.  Every time he sat down in those cracked leather seats, he was committed to one of his buddy's "favors".  Why just last week they had gone to a local convenience store to "run some errands" and wound up involved in a fatal shootout and a 120+ mile an hour chase down the East End Expressway.  He really had not the slightest hope that tonight would turn out any better.

            At last Mirez signaled his arrival with a quick rev of the engine, and Tony reluctantly became his passenger.  The driver dumped the clutch and the duo sped off into the afternoon, with Tony lulled to sleep by the day's heat and the hum of the engine.

            He was awakened with a jolt as the car made an abrupt stop.

            "What was that for?" said Tony groggily.  "Did you spin another rod-"

            "We're here."  Announced Mirez flatly, ignoring his friend's automotive ignorance.

            Standing near the docks was one of the Rodriquez brothers, Manuel or Sam, it didn't matter to Tony.  Both twins could be the same person for all he cared.  Since they spoke not a word of English, Mirez did most of the talking, and before long he had settled on a price and had received the shipment.

            "Come on!"  He called to his drowsy friend.  "We've got to get this loaded."

            Tony stumbled from the car and was stunned at the volume of the goods.

            "Holy ****!  We can-"

            "Yeah, I told ya!" laughed his friend, "But the **** ain't gonna sell itself.  Get your ass in gear, mallito!"

            The pair quickly filled the trunk and before long were headed to the drop-off point.  All the way there, Tony could not help but ponder how such a big deal would change his life.  Maybe he would finally get enough money to get himself out of this hell-hole, attend a good school and actually have a future.  Of course, she would be there.  Ever since he had been dealing in the West Side, there had been one woman who had captured his heart.  A slim, athletic frame, blue eyes, fair skin, dark hair, big-

            Again, Mirez came to a terrifyingly abrupt stop, ending his friend's brief moment of solace.

            "Damn!" He declared "You've got to love these new 13" rotors.  Now my suspens... hey, Hombre, wake up, we're here!"

            Tony looked around the affluent neighborhood.  Suddenly, his heart began to race as he realized where he was. 

"****, dude!  That's her house.  We're parked right across the street!  If she were to walk outside right now she would see me with you... she can't know what I do, it will ruin everything..."

 Turning no mind to the white boy's ramblings, Mirez was engrossed in a map of the area.

"So we turned down West Maple Street, which places them here!"  He pointed a finger right in the direction of the girl's neighbor, the address of his next buyer.  "Hey."  He said suavely.  "Isn't that your *****?  Mirar el tamaño de esos melones! Los exprimiría hasta que hicieran estallar entonces el terraplén cualquier agujero con el queso poner crema."  

" **** you man!  Get your own.  Okay, look, I can't let her see me make this deal.  I'll try and keep her busy for a while.  Once we're out of sight, you can move in."

"Alright, whatever just don't start macking it, or we'll never get out of here."  Mirez lit a joint, in anticipation of a long wait.

When Tony finally got out of the car, he was carrying a small package, his weekly gift.  He would have given it to her that weekend, but now seemed like as good a time as any.  As he approached, he saw her at the mailbox.  Dressed in a modest swimsuit, drops of water still clung to her skin and hair.  The way it gleamed in the sun touched him in ways he couldn't describe.  Not wanting to ruin this breath-taking sight, he was hesitant to call to her.  Before he could though, she noticed him and ran over, her finely-tuned body undulating in a temptuous rhythm.

"Hey!" she said in a genuinely surprised and excited tone.  "I wasn't expecting you here."

"I brought you this."  He said cleverly as he pulled out a package from under his arm.  "It's nothing much, but I think you'll find it...."

She yanked it from his grasp and began tearing at the wrappings.  Tony could not remember what it had been he bought and did not have time to see it, for at that moment, his woman leapt on top of him with a shriek of excitement.  Her momentum knocked him to the ground, and the couple began to tussle with each other.  Yet even this passionate moment could not lift his spirits.  For despite all he had, he was still living a lie, and knew that one day he would have to face up to the consequences of his choices.

Meanwhile, Mirez looked at his watch, and sighed. 

"Any time now," he mumbled to himself as he rolled another.

Just then, a white cargo van came to a screeching halt right across from them.  From within barged several men touting automatic pistols and began spraying the area with lead.

" ****!"  Exclaimed Mirez as he dove behind his car and began to return fire.  Caught completely off guard, Tony barely had time to react before being introduced to the butt end of a rifle, and losing consciousness. 

He was soon awoken by the shouts of his friend.

"Dammit man, get up.  It's those ******* Rodriquez brothers."

"What?  I thought you paid them?"

"Right...look, enough of this chatter they have all our ****...and your woman."

Tony's heart sank.  How could he have let this happen to her.  He should have never-

No, there was no time for thought, now was a time for action.

The two quickly sped off in the Taurus to try and recoup their loss.

"Alright." Said Mirez.  "These douches usually hang out at Chino's on Fifth.  They will probably be in there more doped up than Congress so we'll have a bit of an advantage.  But don't expect it to be easy."

When they arrived at the bar, they caught sight of the brother's distinctive white van and surreptitiously crept over to inspect its contents.  Upon opening the doors they found it completely empty.

" ****!"  Whispered Mirez they're probably wasting all our **** in there and doing God-knows-what to your... let's go"

The pair, now with weapons drawn moved in from behind.  Inside, seated around the bar and pool table were nearly fifteen men, all members of the enemy gang.  In a booth towards the room's center were the two twins themselves.  Nestled between Manuel and Sam was Tony's woman.  They were gently stroking the sobbing girl's face and neck, Tony's anger was building with each touch.

"Enough, I'm going to-"

Mirez was scarcely able to hold back his friend before coming up with a plan.

"Mira!  You running in there like that will do precisely ****.  If you want to get her back, we have to think tactically."

The Latino was now bouncing a smoke grenade in his palm.

"Where did you-?"  Tony did not have time to finish his question, and when the weapon finally discharged, the entire room descended into a state of blinded confusion.   Amidst the shouting and weapon's fire, they were able to retrieve the distraught young woman.  Some of the Rodriquez boys had regained their composure and tried to pursue the escapees.  However, in their altered state of mind they were poor runners and even worse drivers.  All of them were soon left behind.

On the way home no words were said.  Tony simply held his woman tightly against himself and relished in her company.  Of course, their rivals would be back, and he would soon have to own up to her about his life.  But for now all was well, and in this brief respite, soothed by the engine of the old, black '89 Taurus he rested his head against the cracked leather seats and was once again lulled to sleep.  He really hated that car.

Keyword: SHOtime Drugs Dreamer Aztec

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Posted by resistanceisfreedom 2008-05-14 18:19:51 .... good read. i liked the fact that this had action but also had a decent storyline as well. plus, the descriptive writing also added more. nice job + Report this comment

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