2 years and 11 months ago……

I've been in here for only a month, talked to no one, looked at no one.

“Look at this, they put a little kid in here” someone behind me said, I looked down at my plate of food.

“Look at me”’he growled. I didn't look I stared blankly at my food ignoring him.

“When I say look at me” he grabbed my shoulder and jerked me around to face him. “You look at me” he finishes I follow the tribal snake swirling around his neck and up, next to his eye. His bald head cover in tribal tattoo. He breath smelled like rotten tomatoes and and his mud brown eyes were filled with anger.

“What you in here for” he says sitting down at the table next to me. I hesitated I just wanted to go unnoticed but that wasn't gonna happen I rested my elbows on my knees and looked at him.

“I killed a man” I said looking right into his eyes he started to chuckle, then laugh all of his men laughed also.

“You want me to believe, that you a 16 year old, killed a man.” He laughed more, I stood up and placed my right hand on the side of his face and pushed him hard against the table.. The position he was in he couldn't move, his goons didn't do anything but stand there and stare.

“Look into my eyes” I whispered he adjusted his eyes to look into mine.

“1 month ago, my mother was murdered. I came home to see her dead body lying dead on the floor. The man who killed her hasn't escaped yet. Imagine the rage I felt when I saw the man with the same 34 magnum that killed my mama in the waistband of his pants.” I pressed his head harder against the table. “You tell me what I could do when I was filled with rage.” I let go of his head and headed out to the court yard, everyone in the cafeteria was watching even the guards.

Present………

”Well your free Guerrero” the guard said I looked at him then back at the prison. I took a deep breath and slowly started to walk down the long road into the countryside. A car horn honked I looked behind me and saw a Chevy heading my way. My Best friend from Elementary school was leaning out the window.

“Zekey!” He yelled I rubbed my forehead remembering how he'd call me that everyday no matter how much I hated it.

“What's up smurf” I said.

“You will not let that go will you” he said as he pulled the car to a stop.

In 5 grade I poured a ton of blue food coloring into Alex's hot tub and when he came out he looked like a smurf

“Only if you stop calling me Zekey” I said

“Mann that's not gonna happen, hop in”

“Why dude?”

“Because I'm taking you home”

“I don't have a home” I said getting in the car.

“I talked to my mom, and you can stay with us.”

“Dude that's nice but I'd only be a burden”

“That sucks moms already expecting us and we have the guest bedroom setup for you.”

“Ok, thanks dude, I'll find my own place soon.” He smiled then did a U-turn heading back towards town and out of the country ride. It was a 2 hour ride from the Prison to his house we stopped for Dairy Queen before we left town.

“I have some extra clothes in the back if you want to change.” Alex said after finishing his ice cream. I looked into the back seat and there was a plastic Walmart bag full of clothes. I set it in my lap and ripped it open I grabbed a white tank top with a jean over long sleeve. I struggled to get the too tight of a sweatshirt off.

“Dude how the fuck did you get tattoos” Alex said looking at the tattoos I have on my body I looked at the roses on my ribs and the knife on my arm.

“Oh haha, 3 months ago my friends cell mate gave me some tattoos”

“I can see that” he said laughing

“We're you like forced to?” He asked glancing at me before looking at the road again.

“Not at all actually it was my idea” I said smirking looking out the window. We still had one more hour till we reached Bend. it's been 3 years since I last seen Bend I couldn't stop but wondering if anyone would remember me.

“Hey dude you ok?” Alex asked when we reached Sisters Oregon.

“Yeah just thinking”

“About what?”

“Does anyone remember me?”

“Yeah dude Chelsi from middle school remembers you, she won't shut up about you coming back.” Just saying you'll probably be attacked by her at school tomorrow.”

“Wait what?.. School!” I looked at him.

“Yeah oh um mom sighted you up at school.”

“Dude I haven't been in school for three years”

“But you did school work in prison” he choked on the word prison.

“Yeah but I don't know if it will be good enough.”

“You'll do just fine” he said I looked out the window and looked at the desert like plain and the million of pine trees. We pulled up into Bend and kept going down highway 20 until it connected with highway 97 he turned onto Parrell Rd and into Knightsbridge neighborhood. Alex drove into a two story house that looked similar to the others.

“Nice house dude” I said looking at it.

“Thanks” he got out of the car and walked around it towards the front door. I followed him holding the shirt I was wearing earlier. Alex walked in the house and yelled out for his mom. She came rushing out from a room.

“Zeke hey it's great to see you” she came over and hugged me. I remembered coming over and stayed the night when my mom was going to be working late.

“Ms. Lane, it's great to see you again”

“Please call me Jennel” she said “Dinner will be ready in about ten” she said and went back to what i was guessing was the kitchen.

“Come on dude i'll show you your room.” I followed him up the stairs and down the hallway the last room on the left was mine. I looked around a bed about hip height from the ground. Set against the front wall and a desk under a window outlooking the neighborhood. There was a stack of clothes on the bed and school supplies on the desk.

“Ill let you change if you want before dinner, those clothes should fit you if not mom will go and return them.” Alex said and left going next door to his room. I shut the door slowly and walked over to the bed. I stripped,out of the sweatpants and the jean jacket and tank top putting on jeans and a red t-shirt.

“Boys!!” Alex mom yelled. I grabbed the brush on the desk and fam it through my hair a few times then walked out of my room and jogged down the stairs.

“Oer here Zeke” his mom said i followed her voice around a corner there was a dining room table and on it was a big bowl of spaghetti and other side dishes i sat down in an empty chair and started filling my plate with food. Alex grabbed the spaghetti bowl before i could laughing do i grabbed the rolls and set two down on my plate. We started eating and his mom and him talked like it was a normal night, I couldn't take it anymore.

“Why are you guys acting like this?” I ask they stop talking and look at me.

“What are you talking about Zeke?” His mom asked.

“You're acting like there's not a murderer sitting at your dining room table!” I said loudly.

“You're not a murderer dude”

“Definition of murderer, someone who murders another person also known as a killer” i stand up looking at them both.

“That man, who killed your mother also killed three other people” Alex's mother said standing up. “His name was Daniel Virvince.” She continued on

“I don't want to know” i said sitting down.

“You're still the same guy i've known my whole life” Alex said

“Thanks dude” i said spinning the spaghetti around on my fork.

“You guys finish eating, you have school tomorrow” Ms. Lane said. Alex and i both groan at the same time. We finished eating dinner and Ms. Lane cleaned up the dining room table Alex and I headed upstairs.

“So you ready for school tomorrow?” He asked

“No, not at all” i said.

“Neither am i” he said and went in his room. I turned around and went to my room sliding under the comforters i layed my head down on the pillow and was surprised on how comfortable it was my eyes slowly started to flicker until i fell asleep.