I ducked to the side quickly and they just barely missed hitting my face and probably breaking my nose. I grabbed their arm in a tight grip and stood back up to my full height. Which, sadly, wasn’t much.

                “Well that’s a very rude way to greet someone,” I said with a smirk. “Shut the fuck up new kid. I know you bitches were talking about me,” the bandana kid said. “Not in a bad way EJ! He was just asking who you and Brewer were because Brewer was asking him questions,” Brad said quickly.

                “Who are you?” this EJ kid demanded. “I’m Lionel Barrios. Who are you?” “EJ. Don’t fuck with me Lionel,” he growled.

                I eyed him carefully. It was a lot easier to see him up close. He had long brown hair, parted  and cut so that it hid the bandana over his eye for the most part. He had a long, nasty scar that stretched from his temple, down over his nose, and to his chin. It looked like whatever had given him that must have been painful as fuck. Jesus, it cut right across his face.

                “Staring at something?” he asked, his tone vicious. Trying to make me feel like I was on thin ice. I could see it in his exposed eye. He didn’t just think he was the shit, he knew he was the shit. At least in his own mind he did.

                “Yea. How did you get that scar?” “Lionel, shut the fuck up,” Brad snapped. I grinned. Damn, he was no tougher than this Brewer kid. EJ had him pissing his pants.

                EJ narrowed his exposed eye at me. “You better shut the fuck up before your mouth gets your face broken.” “Oh, I’m scared,” I said sarcastically, the grin still on my face. Fury exploded in his eyes and Brad and Brewer watched nervously. The tension in the air between us was so thick, you could’ve cut it with a knife.

                “Don’t ask questions, you dumbass new kid!” he snapped furiously. “I was just wondering,” I said with a shrug. “It’s hard not to wonder where someone gets a scar that cuts across their entire face.”

                His fist shot out at me again, and I barely managed to stop him from hitting me this time. But I managed to grab his hand and fling it, throwing him off balance. Hell, I could’ve tripped the kid if I had wanted to. But no need to make serious enemies this early in the game.

                I released his arm and prepared myself in case he took another swing, or tried anything else to hurt me. But I kept a grin on my face. Oh, I hadn’t expected to have this much fun here. I enjoyed a good fight, and the chance for my ego to shine through.

                EJ’s face was bright red in fury. “You…you asshole! Don’t fuck with me!” he exploded. I snickered. “Big talk. Look, I just moved here. I’m not interested in making enemies on my first day of being social. I’d rather not have to worry about getting shanked when I don’t even know the streets. You probably play dirty, so just leave me alone. I can give you a million reasons to hate me, and I’m trying to resist. I just don’t want trouble right now,” I said, smirking.

                “Well too damn bad. You fucked with the wrong person,” he growled, and I laughed. “I fucked with the wrong person? Bitch, you fucked with me. I didn’t do shit to you. So I asked who you were, big deal.”

                He towered over me and glared through that one eye. “Listen shrimp, I’ll beat the shit out of you. I don’t like new kids. I especially don’t like new kids with huge egos,” he growled dangerously. I held back another laugh and shrugged. “Hey, whatever man. But just because I’m short, it doesn’t make me weak. So don’t get any preconceived notions. They’ll be your downfall.”

                “Dwarf!” he snapped. “Actually, I’m not a dwarf. I’m just a few inches shorter than your average 17 year old,” I said simply. “You mean your average 7 year old,” he grumbled. I rolled my eyes. “Nice comeback. I think I’m going to go ball my eyes out now that some guy I don’t even know said I was shorter than a 7 year old. Damn, you know how to break a guy.”

                “You’re damn right I do!” EJ snapped. I chuckled. “You have anger issues or something, brah. Chill out.” He continued to glare at me and I shrugged and smirked. “Well, I’m going to go sit down and enjoy a drink. So, bye.”

                “Don’t fuck with me midget,” he growled. I shrugged again, the smirk staying on my face. “Whatever, brah.” My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out and checked the message.

                “Nice phone. Be a shame if someone broke that shit,” EJ said, eyeing it. I laughed. “Go ahead. I don’t even like it. It’s just an iPhone. Break it. I really don’t care,” I said as I slowly typed out a reply with my thumb.

                “Don’t tempt me,” he threatened. “I’m not tempting you. I’m offering you. I honestly don’t give two shits if you break my iPhone. I hate texting on it,” I said, raising an eyebrow and grinning. “So break it.”

                Not that he could. I was too quick for him. I had to be quick. I could only punch with one hand, which put me at a disadvantage. Especially since I tended to get in a lot of fights.

                He was now eyeing me carefully, with those cocky eyes of his. “Going to break it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him again. “You’re not worth it. But if you keep fucking with me, you’ll regret it,” he promised before turning and shoving Brewer roughly. “Let’s go.”

                They walked away from Brad and I, and Brad stared at me like I was already a dead man. “Good luck,” he said with a helpless shrug. “He doesn’t fuck around.” I smirked. “Neither do I.”

                “Just be careful. He might jump you with Brewer and a few other people,” Brad said nervously and I shrugged.”Let him. I can handle myself.” He sighed and shook his head. “Like I said: Good luck.” I laughed and we made our way back over to the table to sit down with the others. I quickly forgot about EJ as I began to drink and talk with the others.