"No."

You reply bluntly.

"And you shouldn't be in it either man. The hell is wrong with you?"

You say, your voice getting louder. Ian at this points backs away a step, and seems a bit afraid.

"You're fucking smart man. Why the hell would you throw that away by being in a gang? You won't -"

You yell, then you suddenly stop. 'You won't go anywhere in life', is what you were about to say, but then it dawns on you that that is exactly what happens. He joins you, doing nothing with his life, as a stock boy. Your anger subsides, and your breathing normalizes, but Ian still keeps his distance.

"I...I'm sorry."

You say in a dejected tone, apologizing. You contemplate saying more, but decide against it. Slowly, you open the office door and exit the room.

"I'll see you later."

You say. Ian doesn't say anything in return, nor does he try to stop you. You leave the abandoned warehouse and wander around town for the rest of the day, wondering what you can do to help Ian.

Along the way you run into a group of girls, wearing a uniform you recognize as the one from the school your sister goes to. They laugh obnoxiously and talk about some other girl in their class. You sigh loudly, annoyed by their interruption of your thought process, but continue walking rather than confront them.

By the end of the day, you return home, hungry and without any real solution to how to help Ian. You've concluded that there's nothing you can really do to talk him out of being in the gang. Although you think you probably should have asked him why he's in it before leaving. You eat dinner and go to bed, your mom and sister blissfully ignorant of your day out. You glance at your alarm clock before dozing off, happy that tomorrow is Saturday.

You wake up early

Remembering your mother's words, you quickly spring to life early in the morning, and prepare to take your sister to school. Though, all that really involves is you walking a few blocks with her. Although you should have your license at this age (and after a quick check you confirm you do), your mother has the only vehicle, so driving your sister is out of the question. After getting ready you exit your door to find Tina standing there, her fist seemingly prepared to knock. An awkward moment of silence follows as you look at her, contemplating why you two never talk in the future.

"We...have to go soon."

She manages to say, looking down at the ground to avoid eye contact. Why the hell does it seem like she's afraid? It annoys you, but you try to ignore it. Your own sister, afraid of you.

"Yeah, let's go."

You say, walking past her and towards the door. Come to think of it, you moved around a few times while you were a child, and a good portion of it was due to her. Even though Ian is your best friend, now and in the future, you had only become friends with him a year ago at this point in time. You had lived here before, years ago when you were a child, but you had to moved because of your father's work. You moved back eventually, but it was only due to Tina getting accepted into the private school she's currently attending.

Finally ready, the two of you exit the house and begin the walk towards her school. It's done mainly in silence, and as you get closer to the school, she seems to unconsciously move closer to you, distancing herself again whenever you notice. It always annoyed you how quiet and shy she seemed to be. Once at the school's large and elegant gates, you stop.

"There, have fun at school."

You say, as you begin to walk away.

"U-um..."

You hear a small voice say behind you as you go to walk.

"Can you pick me up after...after school...?"

You hear your sister request. Turning to her you sigh.

"Why?"

You ask in an obviously annoyed tone. Tina nervously moves back as she clutches her bag.

"Just because..."

You agree to pick her up

You look at Tina then at your surroundings. You don't really have much else to do later today, so you might as well pick her up, you decide.

"Fine, I'll see you after you're done then."

Tina, oddly enough, smiles in response. Something you shouldn't find odd at all, but she never seemed to smile from what you remember.

"Thanks, see you after I'm done then!"

She replies, hurrying into the school. You watch her run away and frown. Why does she want you to pick her up anyway? Sighing again, you turn and leave the school, returning back to your home. It's only about a 10 minute walk to the school, which calls into question if walking her to and from it really matters, but the distance means you basically have the entire day to yourself. Which you of course, decide to spend sleeping.

Or rather, you would have spent it sleeping, had you not rudely been awoken at about two by the smashing of fists against your front door. You groan as you exit your bed and move downstairs to answer the door.

"What?"

You ask angrily as you open it, only to find Allison happily standing in front of you. She smiles as you open the door.

"Why hello there, Jacob, or should I say good morning?"

She says cheekily. You open your mouth to retort, but she interrupts you.

"Anyway, I've been out here for a while, so can I come in?"

She continues, you go to reply, but she again interrupts you.

"What do you mean no? Would you really leave a cute girl outside in the cold?"

You stand silently and glare at her as she attempts to make a cute pose.

"...Done?"

"Yep!"