Chapter 32- One Scratch And You're Dead

When I get home, I see Trina with a bag. She says, "We're staying at my parent's house tonight. Let's go," tossing the bag at me.

"I'll be right back; I need something from my room," I reply, and she sighs.

I run upstairs to my bedroom, grab my hairbrush, makeup, and clothes for school in the morning, and pack my bag.

Trina says, "You drive your car, and I'll drive mine." I nod in agreement.

I open the back door of my car and toss in the bags.

Trina drives off, leaving me behind. I roll my eyes; my aunt and uncle live an hour away from us and thirty minutes from my school.

One hour later

I pull up in front of my aunt and uncle's blue two-story house. They adopted Trina when she was eight years old.

My aunt stands at the door as I get out.

"Wow, Anastasia, you look great! Taking notes from Trina?" she comments.

I shake my head.

Aunt Vanessa, my mom's younger sister, has blue eyes like my mom and black hair. She's a housewife. My uncle, Liam, has brown hair and black eyes and works in an office.

I walk into the kitchen and smell my aunt's famous lasagna. My stomach grumbles, and she chuckles, "Someone's hungry."

I sit by the island and wait for my food, then receive a text from Justin.

Jerk: The boys and I are causing mischief tonight. Want to join?

Me: Sure, what time?

Jerk: Be at my house by 7. Wear black pants; we have the black tops and masks.

Me: Okay, see you then.

My aunt hands me a plate of lasagna, which I devour, then let out a loud burp.

Trina scolds, "Didn't your father teach you table manners?"

I shake my head. "No, we rarely eat out."

She sighs, "Then I can't take you out tonight; you'd embarrass me."

"I have plans already, so you don't need to worry about me," I reply.

After finishing my meal, I head upstairs.

Their house has five bedrooms, two bathrooms, no TVs in the bedrooms, just in the living room, and a backyard.

I open the guest room and step inside, appreciating the view and internet access.

I toss my bags on the bed, grab my iPod, and throw myself on the bed, putting on my headphones to listen to 5 Seconds of Summer, Taylor Swift, One Direction, and Justin Bieber.

*********

7:00 PM

I arrive at Justin's house and knock on the door. Jordan opens it and says, "She's finally here," pulling me inside and shutting the door.

All the boys are in the kitchen, wearing black pants and black T-shirts. Justin tosses me a T-shirt, and I put it on. Carlos jokes, "Let's go rob a bank," and I stare at him.

Justin laughs, "He's just joking, Anne. We're not doing anything stupid to get caught."

I have my camera with me and say, "Let's take a picture for our friend album."

They agree, and we gather on the couch, with me in the middle, for a photo.

Justin checks the time and says, "Time to go. Grab the paint gun and spray paint, Jay."

We leave.

Luke says, "Ana, I'll drive your car with Jordan, Jacob, and Kyle. You go with Justin and Carlos to explain the plan."

I hand him the keys, warning, "One scratch, and you're dead." He turns pale and throws the keys to Jordan.

I get into the front seat of Justin's vehicle.

Jordan and Carlos join us, and Justin starts the black BMW.

He explains, "We're going to the city to spray paint in the alleys and on police cars when they're not around."

Carlos adds, "The paint guns are for the police officers. We'll hide in bushes and shoot at them. Jordan's with me, you're with Justin, Jacob's with Kyle, and Luke's our lookout and driver."

This is going to be fun.

**

We park on a dark street and get out. Everyone puts on masks, grabs their weapons, walkie-talkies, and spray paint.

Justin takes my hand, and we run down the block and turn the corner.

We reach our first alley by a busy street.

Justin says, "Write 'the new gang and fancy too.'" I nod.

I climb onto a dumpster and spray the words, while Justin works on the opposite wall.

I giggle when he writes, "The cops are no match for us."

"Are you sure about that?" I ask.

He nods, helps me down, and smiles at me.

"Let's go," I say.

___

Justin's POV

When Anne's hand touches mine, my heartbeat quickens. She's the smartest, prettiest, and shyest girl I've ever met—my best friend for life and my backup.

This morning, I noticed how great she looked.

Is it wrong to admire a girl you never had a chance with?

I suggest, "Let's find an abandoned police car."

Jordan says, "I know just the place. Follow me."

In ten minutes, we reach a high fence with police cars inside.

Jordan says, "No guards or cameras, just sirens if you lean against the cars."

Jacob adds, "We've done this a million times; trust Jordan."

That's what worries me—trusting Jordan. Last year, we almost got caught because of him.

He climbs over the fence, and we help Anne up, followed by the others. Luke stays behind to watch for anyone coming.

"Hi Anne, this one looks brand new. Let's give them a warm welcome," I say, and she smirks, grabbing the spray paint.

Twenty minutes later

We finish with all the cars and head back to the other side. We go to a dark park, and Kyle prank calls the police.

"Yes, I'd like to report a break-in at the bank across from the park," he says before hanging up and throwing a stone at the bank window to set off the alarm. Within five minutes, the police arrive, and we get into position.

Anne and I are perched in a tree, ready to strike. I whisper to her, "Aim at the one by the window."

She does, and exclaims, "Bulls-eye!" I smirk and fire two shots at a policeman.

He panics, shouting, "I've been shot!"

Anne laughs as most of the police are already splattered with paint.

Luke warns over the walkie-talkie, "They're searching the area; be careful, over."

Anne grips my arm, frightened, as an officer with a flashlight stands right below us. Just as he's about to look up, someone knocks him out, and Anne gasps.

Jordan calls up, "What are you waiting for? We need to go now!"

Anne and I climb down, and we all sprint for our lives with the police on our heels. I haven't had this much fun in a long time, with Anne holding my hand as we race into the night.

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