The pirate wench sauntered over towards her captain. Her skirt was hitched up above the knee on the right side, the red and white stripes rippled as the wind blew past them, her underskirt was thin, and hitched up along with the overskirt. Her skin was dark, of Spanish decent, and yet she still managed to tan. Her corset was tighter than usual, but it extenuated her long body and curves, however, nearly having her breasts pop out of the damn thing was certainly something she had become paranoid about.
“I really mustn’t fight with Sadie again.” She mumbled as she struggled to loosen it herself. Sadie was the only other female aboard this ship and therefore, the one who helped with the feminine aspects of life that she’d never made a point of learning. Growing up around a ship full of men will do that to you. Another gust of wind blew from behind her, tossing her wavy black hair across her hardened face. Pushing her sea swept hair back with a rough hand and resetting the position of her headscarf she noticed the Captain looking unfavourably towards her, or was it out to sea? She continued her leisurely pace towards him. The Captain was a sea hardy man, barely feeling temptation to leave the boat at port, and often making her fetch mistresses from the local bordello. His face was worn with the years of experience that burdened him. His chiselled features and his stone cold expression was nothing but familiar to her. She took to his side and bowed as a man usually would.
“Cap’n” I’m sorry about this mess with your daughter.” She said in a straight tone that had little feeling, or real apologetic meaning.
“I don’t care about that.” He said, still looking disapprovingly out to sea, “The sooner she’s off this boat the better, she’s leaving at next port.”
While this was relatively good news to her, maybe she could finally stop with this ‘lady-like’ business that Sadie continued to press upon her, but she was still surprised, “Why sir?” she asked.
The Captain huffed, “Stop with the formalities please!” and she nodded with relief, “She’s my daughter, but she’s no use here, you’re the son I never had.” It was one of those small; touching moments that usually would have been completed with a hug, but not here.
“Or the daughter you dreamed of having.”
“No.” he shook his head and smirked, “Definitely the son I never had, I can’t stand formality, or this ‘proper’ business she’s been laying on the crew, she’s taught half of them how to waltz for god’s sake!” She laughed in reply.
“Be glad to see the back of her myself.” She added.
The Captain nodded, “I knew you would Vera.” He briefly placed a fatherly arm around her bare shoulders, “Now I’d appreciate it if you took Sadie below deck and gather the crew.”
“What the hell for?”
“Storm’s a brewing, and there’s a small charter ship up ahead and I do believe that we’re low on grog.” He smirked again.
Vera grinned, “Well, no ships to raid means no swag, and no swag means no grog, and we ARE running dangerously low on grog. I’ll alert the crew immediately.” She saluted and jumped the railing, “Look out below!” she yelled as she sailed through the air.
“Look where you’re going!” Sadie screamed.
V rolled her eyes and took her by the arm.
“Hey! What are you doing?! This is no way for a lady to be treated!” she kicked and pulled.
“We’re coming up alongside a ship, and a storm’s brewing, so get below deck and stop arguing!” Vera yelled at her, only to get slapped in the face, “I can understand you hitting the boys on the ship but hitting a girl?”
“Maybe if you acted like one I wouldn’t have.” Sadie retorted in usual childish manner.
“That’s it!” she swept forward, aiming for Sadie’s waist, she felt her buckle in the middle. Vera thanked God that Sadie was light enough to swing across her shoulder, even as she was kicking and screaming, and take her below deck.
“What the-?” one of the crewmembers started.
“Wouldn’t obey orders.” Vera said simply and kept walking, she slung Sadie into a small cabin and locked her in, she could still hear Sadie banging on the door and yelling for help as she climbed the ladder onto the deck.

The rain hit hard and fast as they began to pull alongside the merchant ship, Vera stood in silence as the other crew members prepared to board. She pulled up the other side of her skirt to reveal a long dirk strapped to her thigh she hitched up this side as well, the crew had seen it all before, but any guard or challenger on that other ship would be so distracted that she’d have cut their throats before they had any thought of harming her or rushing off to help their comrades. It was always a good rouse and never failed to serve her. The wind battered against her hair, forcing her to pull it back into a loose ponytail. She stood obediently next to her captain, awaiting orders, or at least, awaiting his permission for her to slaughter the enemy. The crew started the attack on the captain’s orders, and swung across to meet the merchant vessel. Vera was about to step towards the railings when Captain Bones stopped her.
“No, you stay here.” He said, watching the figures struggling on the second ship, they were hard to see in the thick rain, it was hard to tell what was going on.
“Navy!” one of the crew yelled from across the water, this was what they had been waiting for, the Royal Navy often sailed with merchant ships now, to try and stop this sort of thing, but apparently they hadn’t run into this particular ship and crew. But then again, no living naval officer on the high seas had. She was given the nod and she ran to the railings and the nearest rope that would let her travel across the small but vicious gap between the two boats and into the fray. Her plan worked on the first officer to lay his eyes on her, his blood was quickly spilt and she barely took time to indulge in the moment before moving on to her next victim who didn’t fall quite so easily. One by one they fell until the bare minimum crew needed to sail the vessel was left, all the naval soldiers were dead, tossed overboard to the depths that were Davy Jones Locker. The Captain boarded, now that all was safe, it wasn’t so much that he was a coward but he never put more men aboard than was needed.
“You got any grog?” he asked the ship’s captain promptly.
“Second deck, strong hold.” He replied with equal haste.
“Take some salted pork and bread while you’re down there ok boys?” Bones added as the crew cheered and raced toward the stairs that lead below deck. He called to Vera and she swaggered over, her skirt still hitched up around her belt, showing off her legs, which glistened as the sun peaked through the fading clouds. One boy in particular, one with barely any muscle tone and blonde hair, stared at her, mouth open, which, according to Sadie, was incredibly rude.
“Got a problem?” she asked gruffly, startling him.
“Gosh…” he muttered but continued to stare.
“Hey! I asked you a question fishbait!”
“Humaphfft…” he tried to speak, but was obviously tongue tied, she shook her head and started to walk away, he tried again, “thrydhea?” nope, “hryrkghuf…” The captain approached him this time.
“See something you like boy?” he asked in a cautionary tone.
“Yes sir.” He was a tad over enthusiastic for his liking,
“What’s your name boy?”
“Roux.” He answered, “Roux De Lafonte.”
Some of the crew started to return and Vera swung back across to the Dainty Lady. The Captain turned to the last two men, who were carrying nothing.
“Bring this one aboard, apparently he wants to be a pirate.” The two men and the Captain took one look at Roux and laughed heartily, but they still grabbed him by the arms and took him to the edge.
“Take hold of this rope.” One of the men said.
“Really tightly, or you’ll fall.” Said the other.
“Now swing!” they spoke together and pushed him over the rails. He screamed as her soared through the air, letting go as he noted clearing the rails, he then noticed that he was heading straight for that girl he had been staring at on the ship. He crashed into her and knocked her over, she was not amused as she shoved her off of him when the roaring of laughter could be heard from those surrounding them and those on the other boat. She stormed over to the railings and screamed over the water.
“Bloody pirates!” she smirked then turned to then nervous fellow who had an undoable knot in his tongue, she felt sorry for him and offered him a hand up which he took, only to be shocked into being pulled up roughly and nearly losing his balance.
“Sorry.” He muttered and started to shuffle off.
“He speaks!” Vera jeered and smiled.
The boy looked nervous and scuttled off.
“He’s sharing your cabin!” one of the crew mentioned, but she didn’t notice which. She groaned, she didn’t mind sharing her cabin, but the new meat wasn’t her first choice of roommate. The captain approached her.
“We sail for Hussler.” He informed her bluntly, “Let the crew know. We’re dropping my darling daughter off there.”
“In Hussler?” She looked confused, “It’s the most improper place in the Caribbean! It’ll drive her off the deep end.”
The Captain put on a wicked smile; “Maybe she’ll get a taste of her own medicine then. Better let her out of the brig, come to think of it.” A loud yelling from below erupted, mainly screaming Vera’s name.
She winced, “I think, perhaps, that someone already has.”
“Who knew she was there?” the Captain asked, this, even to him, was a crime against…well, the pirates on this ship, his daughter was loose.
“I’m sure the whole crew did sir, and if I didn’t tell ‘em, they would o’ heard her screaming and ran for it.” Vera observed.
They looked at each other and came to the same realization; “Roux!” and Vera took to searching the vessel for some well deserved revenge.

“Land Ho!” Kennit cried from the crow’s nest as the lights of the Hussler township came into view and the sounds of the raucous, rowdy town floated gently across the water. Then, as per usual their arrival in Hussler, the crewmen yelled out ‘land ho!’ as a mark/declaration of how many salty wenches they intended on bothering this visit, most were boasts of course, as half of them didn’t have the money to call upon such pleasurable company, nor the strength. Captain Bones stood idly by the helm, Sadie standing next to him begging for him to let her stay, or at least let her off at a different township. They pulled into port, orders were shouted and Sadie was dragged off. A faint yell reminded Vera of something and she headed abaft and looked over the railings, she chuckled as she watched Roux’s arms flailing. He’d been hung upside-down, left only a few feet above the water so that the waves could slap him around the face every now and again.
“Let me down!” he demanded.
Vera mulled it over for a moment herself and a few of the crew, namely, Wally, Bartholomew and Rick had a silent conversation, and she shrugged, “As you wish Mon Capitaine.” Removed Wally’s cutlass and flicked it against the already straining rope which instantly gave way, letting him crash down into the calm waters of the bay.
“Be glad we didn’t keelhaul ya instead!” Vera yelled before they erupted into a bout of boisterous and riotous laughter that added to the already raucous atmosphere that Hussler provided. The Captain locked himself away into his cabin as per usual with his tankard of rum and the orders of wenches from the brothel, the question was, which one? There was a fair selection this was Hussler after all. Her and the boys swaggered down the docks, the Hector brothers restraining Sadie, as they made their way to land they heard a faint shouting by the shore, followed by coughing and spluttering. Roux crawled his way up the shore.
“That wasn’t fair!” he shouted, “How was I supposed to know not to let her out? It wasn’t fair!!”
Rick answered and managed to encompass the thoughts of the crew, “Pirate.” As if that wasn’t obvious.
Vera stood watching him as the rest of the pirates ran off to fulfil their desires, Roux stumbled around for a moment and looked up at her menacingly, she rolled her eyes at him, “So we’re a seedy, disorderly bunch of scallywags.” She shrugged and sauntered a little further down the dock, “It’s a pirates life.”

She woke to her mother screaming at her to hide. Not knowing what was going on she obeyed and ran into the cupboard. Her mother was crying and screamed as the door was kicked open. Three men came into the room. Two of them grabbed her mother and held her as a third man smashed her across the face. The little girl watched in terror, through the lattice slates in the wardrobe door, as a fourth man entered the room, he was different from the others, he wore fancy, black, Italian shoes and wore suit pants with a matching coat. He mumbled something to the mother that the young girl couldn’t quite catch. He pulled out a gun and held it to her head. The mother cried silently and closed her eyes, the gun went off, the little girl screamed and started to cry herself. The Italian shoes turned towards the cupboard and the girl hushed herself, hoping that she hadn’t been heard. The doors of the closet swung open violently and the girl was dragged out kicking and screaming and sat, just like her mother had in front of the Italian shoes. She wasn’t afraid anymore, this man had just taken away her family, she didn’t care what happened now, and they couldn’t make things worse.
“Should we take care of her boss?” one of the man voices said. The man wearing the leather shoes turned his head to look at him, as if in shock.
“The girl owes us nothing, I wouldn’t hurt an innocent child.” Italian shoes said, and he turned to leave. The other three men looked at her and shrugged their shoulders; the three men left and the girl was left alone. As soon as she heard the front door close she ran out of her room and went to find her father. When she found him, he was in the lounge, with her older brother crouched beside him. Her older brother heard her and motioned for her to come over. As she crept closer she could see her dad slouched against couch, still alive, but barely. She rushed toward him and hugged him tightly; she could feel the tears running down her face, and the blood that started to soak through her clothes.
“Goodnight Mugsy” the girl’s father said softly and then his head went limp. The little girl cried and jumped into her brother’s arms for comfort. They sat there for hours waiting for the cops to arrive, in a tight embrace, unwilling to let go.




Chapter 1

Mugsy sat up in bed, she’d had that dream again, she’d been dreaming of the night of her parent’s death. She had wanted to forget that night, but somehow she had never managed to block it out. Mugsy was 16 and her parents murder happened when she was 6. Her brother, who was 12 years older, had been the one to take care of her after that terrible night. It was the Mafia that had killed her parents. As to which international mafia it was, not even the police were sure the case was never solved. The sunlight hit her eyes as she realized that dawn was breaking. After that night 10 years ago, Mugsy could never sleep in her old room again, so she’d moved to the basement. It wasn’t anything glamorous, but it was dark, quiet and peaceful, everything she wanted in a room. Deciding that she’d never get back to sleep she got up and went upstairs to take a shower.

The cold water spluttered out of the old, rusty showerhead and hit her with a force that made her yelp, let alone the temperature. She tried as hard as she could to dodge the water until it warmed up. After it reached a comfortable temperature she let it run over her body, to her it was the greatest feeling, water rushing over her naked skin. She took the soap from the bowl and rubbed herself over with it, the soap made her feel clean and fresh. As she pulled her hair around her shoulder, a black cross could be seen on the back of her neck, slightly to the left hand side. The water moved over her small breasts, down her wide hips and melted off at her feet. After feeling satisfied that she was clean she turned off the hot shower and stepped out onto the cold tiles of the bathroom floor. The cold air rushed around her as if it was attracted by heat and made her shudder. As quickly as she could she wrapped a towel around herself and moved out of the bathroom door and back down to her room. She pulled off the towel and threw it on her un-made bed. She sauntered over to her chest of drawers and pulled out a pair of tatty, old jeans that were baggy and ragged around the bottoms from being worn so often. Throwing these over her shoulder she started to search for a shirt, she eventually wrestled form her drawers; a torn, loose black top that sunk relatively low in the front. She chucked both of these onto the bed and pulled open her underwear drawer. Out of it she pulled a black lacy bra and a pair of undies. She got dressed in a hurry and started searching under her bed. Mugsy pulled out a couple of notebooks and a couple of textbooks and shoved them into her black saddlebag. She stopped for a moment, thinking that she had forgotten something. It wasn’t anything important, she thought to her self and stood up, she grabbed her keys of the duchess and her wallet from her bedside table. She felt around her neck, it was bear. Mugsy panicked, and looked to her bed and jumped on it, tearing and tossing the covers in search of what she had lost. After 5 minutes of frantic looking she found it, a silver ring on a chain that her father had given her. She sighed with relief and put it on. She slid off the bed, picked up her bag and a jacket that was lying on the floor. She walked casually into the kitchen and picked a piece of toast of the plate her brother was eating from.
“Hey!” he said playfully “that’s my breakfast you’re eating!”
Mugsy looked him up and down him and said, “Like you need it.” and her brother simply smiled at her.
“Off to school then Katishka?” he asked, trying to break the silence. Mugsy had always been her father’s nickname for her, but her brother had always called her ‘Katishka’, that was the name he wanted their parents to call her but the name didn’t go down well for some reason.
“Yes Nik.” She replied, half laughing.
“Have a good day then.”
“I will.” She said as she leant down and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then grabbed another of his toast halves for her walk to school.
“Oh come on!” he yelled as she ran out the door.
“See you later!” she called back.

As she approached the school gate she looked at her watch, 7:30, she walked into the school gate and past some of the other groups and headed straight to the back of the courtyard, ignoring the people who were making little jibes at her and she went. The table she was steering herself towards had two other people sitting there already and they greeted her as she got closer.
“Hey” said a boy with a kind face. He had Jet-black hair and eyes that were even darker.
“Jack” Mugsy acknowledged.
The other boy sitting at the bench said nothing and just looked at her with green eyes that were darker than her own but so beautiful.
“Tom tom, I wish you wouldn’t look at me like that.” She said as she slung her bag off her shoulder and sat down.
“How was I looking at you?” the boy called Tom tom asked her in a playful but slightly offended tone. Mugsy looked at him and studied his face.
“You know how.” She said hoping he wouldn’t keep this up.
“Can I not look at the woman I love?” he asked her in an over dramatic French accent, he was always a drama queen. She couldn’t help but smile, her and Tom had been friends for a long time and he had felt this way about her for a while. She tried to hide the fact that she was smiling, but failed miserably, Tom put his arms around her waist and pulled her into an embrace. They weren’t going out but Mugsy always let him have his fun, within reason of coarse. He pulled her closer and began caressing her neck; she endured it for a while but eventually pushed him off and lay in his arms as some of the other members of the group were arriving. His arms were so comfortable and she always felt secure within them. Tom tom never pushed it with Mugsy, she was the leader of their little group and under no circumstance did you want to be on her bad side. Their group wasn’t the popular group, nor was it the un popular group. This group, was the other group, the group you just don’t mess with, cause they’ll mess with you. Mugsy watched the gate entrance as a new boy she hadn’t seen before entered the grounds, she drew the others’ attention to it and they all watched as the boy met up with someone in the more popular group.
“Maybe we’ve just never noticed him before.” Tom tom said simply, but regretted it as Mugsy gave him a warning look, but she didn’t move from her spot on his lap.
“Or maybe he’s new here. I know everyone from that group, or can recognise them at least.” She said dismissively. Tom ran his fingers through her long curls and mumbled in agreement. Tom noticed the boy looking in Mugsy’s direction, sensing that he might be getting some sort of idea that he had a chance; he leant down and kissed Mugsy. The moment was short lived as she gently pushed him away and asked him why the hell he did that. He was still looking at the boy who had now turned away and said, “Just thought I’d see how you’d react?” Mugsy shook her head but stayed nestled against his chest.

Across the courtyard, Julian watched as a boy kissed the girl he had been looking at, it was obvious that he had no chance and turned back to face his cousin who was going to show him around.
“Who is that girl?” he asked his cousin Michael with intrigue.
“Which girl?” his cousin answered, hoping that Julian hadn’t just pointed where he thought he had.
“That one.” He said pointing “The one with the brown curly hair, the one in that guy’s lap.” Michael groaned as he realized that his cousin was talking about Mugsy and he put his arm around him getting ready to explain that he had more chance of being anal probed by aliens then being with her.
“Do yourself a favour and forget her now.” He said with sympathy.
“Why?” Julian asked.
“That group over there” Michael said, gesturing to the group “is like the mafia, and she is their leader. You do NOT want to mess with her. She has higher protection from her group then the crown jewels.”
“I don’t believe you.” Julian said and started walking in the group’s general direction. Michael watched him for a moment, shook his head and called to some of his mates.
“Steve! Grant!” the two boys looked at Michael “A little back up please!” he called and the two boys nodded and followed behind.

By this time Mugsy had moved off Tom tom’s lap and was sitting beside him, but he still had his arm around her shoulder. Julian walked up and looked at her right in the eye.
“Hey there” he was trying to sound as seductive as possible “I’m Julian, I’m new here”
“I’m aware of that” Mugsy cut in, leaning forward, daring him to look down her loose top.
“Really?” Julian was surprised by this “well them maybe you’d like to—“
“I’m sorry about this” Michael said from behind him.
“Michael” Mugsy said with a smile that chilled him to the bone. “Who is this insolent little twerp?”
“This… is my cousin.” Michael said, treading carefully.
“And why is he here?”
“Well he’s starting at our school today and—“ Michael started
“No. I mean why is he over here? In my area?” She said calmly.
“I tried to stop him I’m sorry.” Michael continued.
“Well make sure you stop him in future ok?” she said, “I wouldn’t want him to have an un-necessary accident, that could easily have been prevented.” She smiled at Michael who looked at his feet.
“Are you threatening me?” Julian interjected. Mugsy looked at him a little taken back “because if you are I’ll—“
“You’ll what?” Mugsy spoke above him “Hurt me?” she laughed, “You couldn’t hurt me.”
“That’s only because you’ve got your thugs hanging around you every minute of every day.” He retorted.
“He’s pushing the line Michael.” She said while looking him deep in the eye and a hint of a sly smile crept across her hard face and she looked away from him. Julian looked at his cousin, disgusted at the sight of Michael submitting to a woman, being pathetic and weak. Michael looked at Julian defeated and called to Steve and Grant to escort Julian back to their group. Julian left without complaint and Michael turned back to look at Mugsy, preparing himself for what could be said. Mugsy waited until Julian was out of earshot before she spoke. Those few minutes were killing him, he never had handled suspension well.
“Michael” Michael looked up at Mugsy “You know that I have tremendous respect for you and your little group.” Michael nodded in answer “But this was unacceptable Mike and I will not put up with it if it continues. Ok?”
“Yes.” He replied and then the group lost interest in him and went back to what they were doing. “Just one question before I go.” The group looked up at him once more. “Is he in any danger?” he queried.
“Not at the moment he isn’t, no.” Mugsy answered, and Michael walked off to talk to his cousin.

“How could you stand there and take that abuse?!” Julian started as Michael reapproached the group.
“You really don’t know who you’re messing with do you?” Michael sniped at him viciously; Julian didn’t answer, “That girl could have you killed!” But Julian just rolled his eyes. “Or at least severely beat you!” Julian looked at his cousin in dismissive disbelief.
“That girl is harmless!” Julian exclaimed “it’s her thugs that make her look tough.”
“You’ll learn soon enough. But I swear if I have to stick up for you next time and she snaps. You are bearing the full brunt of her actions. Are we clear?” Michael threatened. Julian nodded reluctantly and sat down in a huff. From the speaker above them a loud bell rang out.
“What do you have first up this morning?” Michael asked.
“English I think” Julian replied “am I in your class?”
“Nope. I have English last today”
“Do you know of anyone in my class?”
“Yeah, I do actually.” Mike said “Mugsy.”
The bell rung and everyone started to move off to class.
“Come on.” Mike said, standing up “I’ll walk you to class” Julian stood up and followed his cousin Mike into the building.

Michael bid Julian farewell at his classroom door and disappeared into the receding crowd. Julian took a deep breath and opened the door, he walked up to the teacher and notified her that he would be joining her class. As the teacher checked his timetable and gave him the necessary papers that he would need for the lesson Julian looked at what seats were vacant and where everyone was sitting, he noticed a spare seat next to Mugsy and saw his chance.
“Miss.” He said politely and the teacher looked at him “where would you like me to sit?”
The teacher, being a little shocked about the politeness of this boy replied “Well…” she looked around the room, thinking about the best place to put him “Go and sit up next to Rayne, she’ll be able to help you out with this section. She is our best student!” The teacher said with pride.
“Who is Rayne Miss?”
“Rayne?” the teacher asked loudly. To Julian’s surprise Mugsy turned her head and spoke.
“Yes Ms. Vent?”
“Would you please allow…I’m sorry what was your name?” she asked. But Julian didn’t answer; he was in shock, Mugsy? A good student? Intelligent? Something wasn’t right here, someone like her, the group she was in, she shouldn’t be smart.
“Your name?!” the teacher repeated, the whole class was looking at this spectacle, Julian snapped back.
“Julian Miss.” He mumbled realizing what an ass he’d made of himself.
“Julian. Rayne do you mind?” the teacher asked, her voice a little impatient now. Mugsy seemed to think about it for a moment and eventually said that it was ok. Julian moved toward her casually and sat down beside her. They both took out their books and sat quietly until Julian ripped out a piece of paper and wrote something, he folded it up and slid it over to her. She looked at him and picked it up, reluctantly she opened it and read what he had written.
Mugsy or shall I call you Rayne? Hehehe. Listen I’m sorry about this morning I was rude and informal, I just thought you looked really hot that’s all. But I guess that with you having a boyfriend and all I wont bother aye?
Mugsy was confused. What boyfriend? She thought about it and realized that that was why Tom tom had kissed her like that this morning. She laughed to herself and opened her pen to write back but she wasn’t quite as nice as he’d hoped.
Tom tom? He’s not my boyfriend, but you still would have no chance with me. I swear on my parent’s grave that if you keep hitting on me…I will have you beaten…even if I have to do it myself! So back off now…or lose your balls. Your choice.
Julian was horrified and looked to Mugsy who was writing something on a piece of paper. Julian sent her a note back saying that she wouldn’t dare but as soon as he passed it to her, Mugsy’s hand shot up in the air.
“Yes Rayne?” the teacher asked kindly.
“Ms. Vent! This boy is harassing me!” she said
“No I’m not!” Julian argued, “You have no proof of that!”
“Yes I do!” Mugsy replied, “He wrote me a note, which, as I think you’ll agree Miss, is disgusting and vulgar!”
“Show me the note” The teacher demanded and Mugsy passed the note forward. As the teacher read it her face became gradually more horrified.
“Mr. Bailey! Please make your way to the office right now!” the teacher spat. “Wait outside I shall escort you there myself!” Julian stood up, packed his things away and walked to the door, not understanding what was going on, he looked back at Mugsy for one moment and saw her sitting there smiling smugly about what she had accomplished, and this was just a warning. After he left the classroom the teacher approached Mugsy.
“If you would like for me to move him I will do so gladly!” she said aggravated by what she had read.
“No Ms. Vent, it’s ok. I think that this will teach him a lesson, he’ll wise up.” She said, thinking about how she’ll be able to torture him next lesson. The teacher smiled at her.
“You are such an understanding student.” She said, completely unaware about how Rayne had set Julian up.

Julian sat in the principle’s office on an uncomfortable, cold chair that dug into his shoulder blades. Outside he heard a familiar voice, it was his dad. The door opened and his father walked in closing the door behind him, he walked over to his son and pulled up a chair so that he was sitting opposite him. His father sat there and looked at him for a few minutes, not saying a word.
“First day at school and you’re already up for suspension.” His father said with more amusement then disappointment in his voice.
“Yeh. I’m sorry about this dad.”
“Well I just want to know why you did this son. I can understand that you had attractions” he paused “But to write that was completely out of order!”. Julian broke down.
“I don’t even know what I wrote dad! Because I didn’t write it!”
“So you don’t remember writing, and I quote ‘ you are such a sexy mama, what I wouldn’t give to bonk you. Right here right now even.’” Julian’s father said, trying not to laugh but Julian was not amused.
“I never wrote that! Check my handwriting”
“I did…and it looks pretty close…what’s going on here Julz?”
“Ok I’ll admit I had a thing for this girl. But I wouldn’t write something like that, that girl is a danger! She threatened me this morning!”
“Really? Well we’ll see about this!” said his dad as he stood up to leave.
“NO! Dad don’t! If she gets into trouble things could be made bad for me…. besides its only her thugs that are the danger.” Julian pleaded.
“Still. Give me her name. Just in case things get serious ok?”
“ Ok dad. Her name is really Rayne or something, her street name is Mugsy.”
“Sounds very…mobster.”
“I think that’s the point dad.” Julian said, ever surprised at the clueless-ness of parents.
“Well, I think I can get you off the hook this time son. Just try not to provoke her again. Please?” Mark begged.
“Yes dad.” Julian replied, and he picked up his bag. Surely it was lunchtime by now, he walked outside and into the courtyard. Julian moved directly to his cousin, he didn’t even dare to take a side-glance at Mugsy who he could see from the corner of his eye snuggling up to that Tom guy.

The rest of the afternoon was boring, compared to the events of earlier that day. Finally the bell rung to signal the end of the school day and Julian walked outside to meet his cousin by the gate. They lived in opposite directions so they talked briefly about the events of the morning and parted. As Julian walked, he noticed that Mugsy was walking in the same direction but then again so was Tom. After five minutes of watching them walking arm in arm he saw them break apart. Julian stopped to observe them and was hoping that they hadn’t seen him. Tom went in for a kiss, but Mugsy pulled away which made Julian confused about their relationship. Tom walked across the street and waved goodbye to her and Mugsy just kept walking, this was his chance. Slowly, he caught up to Mugsy, getting closer and closer every minute.

Mugsy sensed someone following her so she slowed down, the footsteps behind her slowed too. She sped up and so did the person behind, if it was Tom he would have made his move by now, her hand slid into her pocket and she slipped on her knuckle-duster. She walked normally until she heard the footsteps come closer and closer, until she could feel whomever it was almost breathing down her neck. She spun around quickly and was about to smack her follower in the mouth when she realized who it was and she quickly slid the duster off.
“Oh it’s you,” she said with aggravation “I’m surprised you aren’t suspended after that horrible note you wrote me” putting on her little innocence voice.
“Yeh well I was always good at weaselling out of things.” He replied coolly. Mugsy snickered, turned around and kept walking, but Julian just kept on following. He kept making jibes at her and saying that he could handle anything she threw at him, it made her want to slip her knuckleduster back on to teach the little punk a lesson, but she promised her bro that she’d stay outa trouble after a little run in with the cops over the holidays. It wasn’t anything much, she got involved in a brawl at a pub, she was let off, she wasn’t charged but her brother’s grip on her got a little tighter after that. When she could see the roof of her house she felt so relieved that she wouldn’t have to take this much longer, as she climbed the porch stairs Julian said something.
“Goodnight sweet maiden. May hordes of angels sing the to thy rest! Perhaps I shall see thee tomorrow morning on the way to school?” he probed.
“You’d have to beat the morning sun to catch me my good fellow.” She jested.
“I shall see thee in the morrow.”
“Yeh right.” Mugsy mumbled to herself as she opened the door wishing she had punched him and left him in the street. As Julian watched the door close behind her, he continued the walk home and he promised himself that he would see her tomorrow and serenade her into his arms.