The Wrong Crowd For Her (closed)

[Bevatoria]

"I'm telling you, I really think we'll get a new member tonight." As I leant against the wall of the house on the front lawn, watching my two colleagues lounging with me, one of them inclined his head curiously, the other taking a mindless puff of his cigarette, the smell of it wafting even in this rather dubious area of town where nothing was quite right.

The house was nice for the area, even if this area was clearly not a neighborhood many people wanted to be in. This was our area, under our control, so it was only natural we could control the biggest and nicest house on the block. No mansion, just simply a nice home we'd converted into a communal meeting area for our purposes. A large backyard, open kitchen and living room area, and plenty of....bedrooms upstairs.

"Yeah, that'll be the day." Pedro, a mexican and my right hand man, simply shook his head. "We've only got one newbie, and that guy's got no chance. He's just another dropout looking for a way to stay off the streets." Streets that were dangerous if you were the wrong person, someone in the bad books of who we were. "We've already punted a couple of folks looking for handouts, and I'd hate to have to do that again."

"I think I agree." It was Vince, a man a head bigger then me who could probably break me in half were he so inclined; I was fortunate that our bonds of brotherhood had made him my most trusted ally. I could do anything with him in the room, and he wouldn't bat an eye. "Dude looks like he's got nothing to give us, and I think it's a waste of time to have him here." Several people were going out and about outside in the early evening, mostly guys pounding fists, having conversations about the next run of money, or drugs, or other 'harmless' activities that we engaged in.

You see, we were a gang. Not one of those shoot-em-up mafia types you hear about; that would only draw more attention of the fuzz onto us. But on the semi-legal boundaries of stealing, money laundering, drug running, and whatever other more profitable activities you could find, we were there. And I was the leader of this chapter, Mark Trewke. Tonight wasn't anything special, just another party to gather the folks and their girls (most of who were inside, and who were vastly outnumbered by the guys anyways) to hang out, shoot the shit and discuss business where needed. We hadn't expected much tonight, but I'd invited someone who'd found out about us and expressed interest, even if it was fairly clear he wasn't our type of person.

It was then I caught him out of the corner of my eye, someone clearly with him as I smiled, breaking away from my two homies. "Excuse me, it looks like our potential new member is here." I tried to smile warmly even as the grin was anything but sincere as I walked towards him, eying both him and the person he'd brought with him.

I didn't have much interest in him. But when he'd mentioned a girlfriend, I told him to come, and to bring her if he could. And when I looked her up and down, I knew I'd made the right choice.

I'd told the guys we'd be gaining a member. I just didn't say who, as I met his gaze 'warmly'. "Glad you could make it." My gaze turned to the woman behind him. "And who is this lovely creature...?"

 

[Woe_Foe]

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq331/woefoe/2c94c9af-ba33-46f1-92d4-3cad1692fdb6_zps6190c1c6.jpg


Name: Natalie Smith
Age: 20
Height: 5'9"
Cup size: 38DD
​

"Tom, I don't like this." I said simply, sitting on the passenger seat of an older model Porsche, which was borrowed from an old friend of Tom's. Music was playing in a low volume as we drove by countless streets, the normally beautiful homes of Chicago, along with its magnificent skyscrapers, slowly becoming nothing more than distant landmarks behind us. Tom was going to meet some 'friends' tonight and insisted, for whatever reason it may be, that I show up tonight with him. If knew Tom well enough, which I did due to the few years that we've spent together, that he was going to try to impress somebody. I just didn't know who and given how far in the dumps he has been, I was almost afraid to find out.

Well, you see Tom and I started dating in high school, senior year. We were on different levels academically; I was a bit of a nerd, the type that would get straight As in physics, chemistry and the link. And Tom...well, he was part of the more popular crowds at school and didn't care much of his courses or homework. He ended up just barely getting through the year (thanks to me, I suppose), but decided against going to college like I did, figuring that he didn't need more education in his life. We obviously get our relationship going, but over time I began to see that maybe his decision wasn't the best one. Granted, I know that people could get by without a degree but Tom...well, he always needed a little push in the right direction, which was hard to do when we were apart for most days. More and more, as time went on, I began to notice that well, he was doing nothing with his life and hanging out with all the wrong types of people.

Needless to say, with all this said, I was afraid that he was mingling with criminal folks here in Chicago. Namely to say, gangs.

This fear began to shake me over as we began to slow down in one of the most rundown neighborhoods around the city. I gave Tom a stare and he quickly reassured me:

"Trust me, it's fine. We have nothing to worry about."

I sighed and answered "Yeah, let's just get this over with."

Thankfully, I dressed a little more modestly than I'd like to in such a humid summer today as today. I was a bit of a beach kind of girl, enjoying the sun while I'd wear a two piece, a luxury I had thanks to both how well I was *ahem* endowed and to how well I exercised. Maybe take a few photographs of the scenery before lying down and just enjoying the breeze.

Okay, I'd just think about that the whole night. Anyway, my attire was composed of an off-shoulder black top, a pair of denim jeans and three inch black heels. I still looked dressed to kill, as you can imagine, but didn't feel scandalous around this neighborhood.

We entered a well maintained house, for a place located in such a terrible neighborhood and immediately the smell of cigarette smoke and cheap booze filled the air. Tom, went in first as a man approached us - though he seemed to just glance at Tom for just a second before his eyes met my own. He looked at me up and down, almost as if he was checking me out - which I was sure he was doing - before looking back at my boyfriend and finally saying:

"Glad you could make it."

I smiled, though that quickly faded as he glanced back my way and asked:

"And who is this lovely creature...?"

I tried to act as politely as possible, not only because I was a little worried for my own safety, but because Tom was counting on me for this.

"Hi, I'm Natalie. Tom's girlfriend? Nice to meet you." I answered, reaching my hand towards his, at least for a handshake.

 

[Bevatoria]

"Hi, I'm Natalie. Tom's girlfriend? Nice to meet you." Gallantly, she extended her hand for a shake, as if that was common courtesy. Clad in a tight white shirt and dark cargo shorts, I took in her attire with a nod. She'd look better in less, but we would come to that in due time. Gently I took her hand in mine, kissing the back of her hand gently as if I were a gentleman.

Ha.

"Charmed." At the lack of recognition in her eyes, I turned to Tom with mock astonishment. "You didn't tell her about me? I'm hurt." The smile reappeared on my face as I looked at her again. "My name is Mark. Anyone like you who is close to Tom is a friend of mine." I let her hand go, motioning to the inside of the house. "Come on, I'll show you around."

There wasn't much to see in the house, except for everyone who's suspicous looks quickly got doused when they saw me escorting the two of them, with Pedro and Vince keeping their distance behind. "I got to know Tom some time ago...he was looking for someone to..." I quickly measured Natalie, deciding that I should probably go for less information. It was clear Tom had gotten both of them in way over their heads, and I hoped to show them exactly how much. "...well, I was looking for something, and he said he could provide it." A half truth. "He looks like he'll be a good friend to have."

Ignoring Tom, I placed my hand on Natalie's bare shoulder so that she was walking with me. "So what do you do. Natalie? I know a lot about Tom, but not as much about you..."

 

[Woe_Foe]

"Charmed." he said simply after he kissed the back of my hand, trying to masquerade himself as some sort of gentleman. Honestly, as if anyone could possibly fall for that - this place reeked of sleaziness (amongst other things...). I responded with a smile and nod, almost sighing in relief as he turned to face Tom, despite still holding onto my hand. I thought of pulling mine away but once more, I didn't want to offend anyone in such a dangerous neighborhood (could you imagine?). It didn't take long before his piercing eyes caught mine again, before turning the conversation towards me.

"My name is Mark. Anyone like you who is close to Tom is a friend of mine."
"Right..." I thought to myself. This man was up to something.
"Come on, I'll show you around." he then added, finally letting go of my hand. Thank god; his hand was as rough as a rock.

The house was pretty worn down, at least by downtown Chicago standards and the people in here...well, they seemed extremely odd. Especially the two large fellows following us behind. Just where were we going anyway?

"I got to know Tom some time ago...he was looking for someone to..." Mark said, breaking the bizarre silence enveloping us. I was curious as to what he had to say; obviously, I wanted to know what the hell this get-together was about.

"...well, I was looking for something, and he said he could provide it."

Ugh, I wasn't going to get anything out of him.

"He looks like he'll be a good friend to have."

Yeah, I'm sure...

Suddenly, I became much more alert when I felt a hand go to the bare skin of my right shoulder. Obviously it wasn't Tom and before I knew it, I was essentially forced to move closer to Mark. I gave Tom a worried look for a second, but he essentially gave me that "you're worrying for nothing" sort of glance.

"So what do you do. Natalie? I know a lot about Tom, but not as much about you..."

I pushed aside any worries in my mind right now...

"Well, let's see...I'm a student at the University of Chicago. I'm studying psychology and I pretty much take a lot of photography on my spare time." I said pretty honestly. It wasn't as if I had anything to hide...now let's see if he had to "What about you Mark? I haven't heard anything about you."

 

[Bevatoria]

"Well, let's see...I'm a student at the University of Chicago. I'm studying psychology and I pretty much take a lot of photography on my spare time. What about you Mark? I haven't heard anything about you."

I turned towards her with interest, no longer holding her shoulder. "That's fascinating. What do you like to take photos of? And where? In parks, downtown, on beaches?" Admittedly I was distracted momentarily by the thought of Natalie in a bikini, tanning on the beach, but I wasn't totally ignoring her question. But I wanted to know more about her then her about me.

"I'm a businessman, of sorts." Without seeing him, I knew Vince was rolling his eyes from the rear, as he'd heard that one more times then he could count. "We make trades and do transactions that other people and parties aren't willing or able to make, with things like guns, drugs, money, and many other things...." I saw a look on Natalie's face I expected, and I turned to Tom.

"Did you not tell her about us, Tom?" I shook my head. "You naughty, naughty boy..." With a snap of my fingers, Pedro and Vince were at my side. "How about I explain to Natalie more about your potential 'membership' in the gang, and Pedro and Vince can talk to you..."

With a leering smile, I placed my hand on Natalie's bare shoulder once more, relishing the contact. "You don't mind, do you?" The question was to both of them, even as I looked at Natalie.

 

[Woe_Foe]

"Okay, he's no longer touching me...That's good, okay." I thought to myself when his hand left my shoulder but I was hardly let off the hook it seemed.

"That's fascinating. What do you like to take photos of? And where? In parks, downtown, on beaches?"

Was he pretending to care about my hobby? Wow, I guess that he really wanted Tom to be here. I played along, responding with "All sorts of things, but mostly scenery. I actually spend a lot of time at the beach taking pictures, it's funny that you ask. So...what is it that you do again?" I asked a second time.

"I'm a businessman, of sorts. We make trades and do transactions that other people and parties aren't willing or able to make, with things like guns, drugs, money, and many other things...."

Guns? Drugs? Money?

Oh god, Tom was really meddling with a gang...and brought me to this whole mess! Mark probably read my reaction, seeing as he turned to face him:

"Did you not tell her about us, Tom? You naughty, naughty boy...How about I explain to Natalie more about your potential 'membership' in the gang, and Pedro and Vince can talk to you..."

Now I was getting worried. Just why were they taking Tom away? I was about to protest, but figured that I made things awkward already by revealing that I didn't know anything about this. Still...a gang? Okay, I needed to work my way through this smoothly...

"You don't mind, do you?" Mark asked, his hand once again grasping a bare shoulder of mine.

"No...I guess. Tom's not in trouble, is he?" I had to ask.

 

[Bevatoria]

"No...I guess. Tom's not in trouble, is he?"

My only reply was a small smile as Pedro and Vince pulled Tom into one room, and I pulled Natalie into another one. As soon as the door closed (not locked), I let out a breath, shaking my head.

"Sorry about that." My expression dropped a little as I put on another act that Pedro and Vince had seen before, thankful that they weren't here to see this particular version, though. "You don't seem to approve of what we do, and while I don't agree with your opinion, you do have a right to it." I paced around the room slowly, deliberately not looking at her as if I had no interest in ogling her well curved body. "Nor is it your fault that your boyfriend didn't tell you about who we are, or what we're doing here."

"We hold gatherings like this all of the time, and in this case, we are testing his aptitude for membership. I asked him to bring someone he knew..." A bit of a lie, as I'd asked him to bring his girlfriend if he had one. "..and he chose you." Another sad smile. "Although it's clear he didn't tell you everything."

I paused, letting her take it in (and respond to me) before I continued. "In any case, the final decision won't be Tom's as to whether we accept him for membership or not, but I can tell you right now that his chances aren't good. I did this as a favor, and the more I see of him, the more I think he wouldn't be suitable." This time, I did look at her, meeting her gaze. "And if you don't want him to be here, I will guarantee he won't be."

Which was my plan all along, of course.