Tate was waiting for me outside of my classroom. I ignored him and aimlessly walked ahead.

Even if it was true and Jackson, Tate, Josh, and Conner are in a gang, that doesn't explain why they have been following me since lunch.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that they are doing this because of Sal's arrival. Was Sal in a gang to? If so, was it a rival? Are the boys the only ones in this supposed gang?

I felt a headache starting to come on and I groaned aloud.

"You shouldn't be making noises like that in a hallway full of horny teenage boys." A deep voice from behind me. I jumped slightly and put my hand on my chest as if it would help slow down my heart.

Tate gave me a look I couldn't quite understand.

"I couldn't care less about their perverse thoughts. If I screen everything I say and do to see if it could be taken the wrong way, I wouldn't have time to say or do anything." I shrugged.

"You sound prudish."

I clicked my tongue, annoyed. "How is it prudish not to care what people think?"

I don't know how, but Tate always knows just what to say to get a rise out of me.

"Just the way you worded it. Who, under the age of 40, says the word 'perverse'?" Tate scoffed.

"Is 'perverse' too big of a word for you?" I narrowed my eyes at him and picked up my speed. Naturally, he was able to keep up without even trying. "I am not prudish, for your information, Wall-e!"

Tate grabbed my arm bringing me to a unexpected stop. I stumbled towards him. Instead of pushing me away, like I expected him to do, Tate just wrapped his arms around me and pulled me up slightly.

"If you're not prudish, prove it." He whispered, his hot breath fanning my face.

I bit my lip. This is so not a good idea. Without any further thought, I pressed my lips to his. Tate's eyes widened slightly, but after only hesitating for a second, he kissed me back.

Tate kisses like it's his last. His lips pressed hard against mine and his arms tightening even more around me. It would be so easy to just get lost in the passionate kiss, but this is Tate we're talking about.

Mean, annoying, insensitive Tate Marks.

I pulled back first. "How's that for prudish?" I smirked at him.

His arms loosened around me and I stepped away.

As I walked down the hall to my next class, I knew that Tate still trailed behind me. I could feel his eyes staring at me.

I've kissed a few guys, but Tate was definitely the best, not that I will ever tell him that. If he can put so much passion into a meaningless kiss, imagine how much better it would be if he actually cared about anyone but himself.

Not that I would want him to care about me. That would just be weird.

Even so, when I walked through the door to my next class, my lips were still tingling.

*

Marie left school shortly after lunch for a dentist appointment, so at the end of the day, it was just the guys and me.

We all walked over to our usual table in the park. It sounds lame, I know, but no one every comes to the park anymore and it's just a quiet place to sit around and do nothing.

But today, we weren't going to talk about stupid nonsense.

Sal's words have been eating at me all day. If the guys just laugh it off, I'm going to be embarrassed, but I have to ask.

"So, why have you guys been following me? I know it has something to do with Sal." All four of their faces were expressionless.

"Is it bad that we're worried that your delinquent ex will bother you?" The way that Jackson slowly spoke showed that he was picking each word he said carefully.

"Besides that," I waved away his words. "Sal told me that you guys are in a gang."

I held my breath waiting for their laughter, but there was none.

"Are you serious?" I took their silence as a confirmation. "No offense, but that sounds ridiculous."

Josh sighed. "It's complicated, Luna."

"Complicated?" I questioned rhetorically. "Are you selling drugs and vandalizing the underside of bridges? If you guys are hurting people, I'm leaving."

The only thing that I know about gangs are the cliches and stereotypes. I never really cared to find out anything more about them. It's not like I would want to hang around thugs who just cause havoc and commit crimes for the fun of it.

"We can't go into specifics for your safety," Conner began. "but yes, we are in a gang. I can't tell you the name of it, but I will tell you that we are just a small branch that was sent to Jensen High."

"Why?" I decided to get some information before I go unfriending them on Facebook. After all, I really don't have many friends. If I give the guys, I might end up losing Marie. I can't be alone again.

"Why were we sent here? Another thing I can't answer."

Tate was staring at me, watching my expressions intently. Our kiss this afternoon was the furthest thing from my mind.

"Can you be anymore vague?" I snapped. "You won't even tell me if you've hurt people! What the hell did you guys get yourself into?"

I stared at Jackson. My childhood best friend was once the geekiest goodie-two-shoes in our grade. Now, he's in a gang doing god knows what.

"We don't go around harassing old ladies or stealing candy from babies." Tate rolled his eyes.

"So, you do hurt people." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I can't be around that kind of violence and dumb thinking."

"We've been here for months and you never saw any violence." Josh pointed out.

I stood up from the table. "Listen, I won't say anything to Marie as long as you don't do anything to put her in danger, but I can't be any of your friends. I'm going home."

As I was walking away, a hand grabbed my arm. "No."

Big surprise, Tate was the one to challenge me.

"Let go." I glared at him.

"No."

Josh walked up and tugged on Tate's arm. "Tate," He warned.

"Sal is out of lock up and is showing an interest in her. There's no way that we can just ignore that!" Tate loosened his grip.

"He's right, Luna." Josh conceded.

"Fine." I snapped. "Walk me home, Josh, but you are not coming inside."

Tate dropped his grip on my arm and took a step back. I stormed off, knowing that Josh was coming up behind me. Honestly, I'm beyond caring at this minute. If they want to follow my every move, they're wasting their time.

I looked both ways before crossing the street.

"You're a smart guy, Josh. Why are you doing something so stupid?" I said quietly.

I wasn't sure that he even heard me until he answered, "My older brother was the only family I had. My parents are hopeless drunks. My brother was killed a couple years ago. At his funeral, a recruiter approached me and told me that my brother was in a gang. They were his second family and now they are mine. The rest is history, I guess. It's really not an elaborate story. I lost my best friend, the person who raised me, and I was a complete mess. Being a part of something bigger gave me purpose. I would die for any of my brothers."

"You're warped into thinking that they are your family. Josh, I know practically nothing about gangs, but I do know that doing illegal things is going to get you sent to prison. Where will your brothers be then?" I walked up the front steps to my house.

"You are right about one thing, Luna." Josh started backing away.

"And what's that?" Did I actually get through to him?

"You know nothing about gangs."

________________