Suzie’s House 275 : Bruce

Bruce left his buddies leaning against the wall and walked to the middle of the hall as Gene, Tracy, and Justin got there. He put himself right in front of Gene and puffed out his chest like the bully he was. Weird. Gene was sure Bruce knew better than to get in his face.

It’s not like they were enemies, but they weren’t exactly friends either. Bruce mostly hung out with his gang, and Gene used to always be by himself. They’d traded punches a few years back, so they already knew Gene could whip his ass. Didn’t they?

“Hey,” Bruce said. Then he didn’t say anything else.

“Hey what?”

Justin and Tracy came up on either side and looked all confused at Bruce.

“I don’t have any expectations or anything. What you do with yourself is your affair. Hll, it’s a free country and all.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Gene pushed past. When Bruce acted like that, you knew he was planning on taking something from you.

“Hey! Wait.”

Gene stuck a hand high in the air and waved it around to say good bye. Tracy and Justin caught up quick. Ten more steps and they’d be out the door.

“Gd. You are so pussy whipped.”

“Excuse me?” Tracy whipped around. She had that crazy look in her eye and stuck her jaw out. Wow, was she mad. “What do you mean by that?”

Gene and Justin stopped again, this time watching as Tracy walked up to Bruce all stiff-legged like a cat in a fight. Knowing her, she might punch the guy. Then Gene would have to step in and save her, and maybe remind Bruce who was stronger while he was at it.

“I’m not talking about you,” Bruce said. “I mean ever since Gene started hanging out with Ben he’s lost his edge. He’s turned into a mama’s boy.”

“A what?” Gene moved closer. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He didn’t mean to rise to the bait. It made him look weak.

“I heard about how you two are even brothers now.”

“We are not brothers,” Gene said tightly. “I’m in foster care. Not adopted.”

“Big difference. Point is, you turned into a pansy.” Bruce poked Gene in the chest hard enough to hurt.

“Cut it out.” Oddly enough, it was Justin who said it, and Justin who grabbed Bruce’s hand and twisted it around. “Ow. Let go.”

“Quit picking fights.” Justin shoved him into the wall.

Bruce shoved back, and then it was all fists and yelling. The three guys Bruce hung out with came up and tried to get into it, but all they accomplished was ripping the backpack and jacket off of Justin while Bruce ended up with a bloody nose.

“What are you doing?” Bruce said. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you could be in?”

“I’m a band geek. Who do you think they’ll believe?” Justin pulled a fist back to slam into Bruce’s face, but one of Bruce’s guy grabbed his sleeve. All the punch did was make his shirt rip, and buttons go flying off everywhere. The guy still holding his sleeve ripped the shirt half off. “Crap.”

Justin tried to close it up, but it was too late. Everyone had already seen – a stomach like a washboard, big pecs, even his arms were ripped. Tracy whistled in appreciation.

Gene cleared his throat and gave Tracy a look. Really, whose girlfriend was she supposed to be?

“Well, it’s not like you let me see yours,” Tracy said with a sparkle in her eye.

“Whoah. Um… Hey, buddy. Look,” Bruce stammered. “All I wanted was to join the band.”

“What?” All three, Gene, Tracy, and Justin said.

“What do you play,” Tracy asked like she thought he might actually stand a chance. Scary, because this whole band thing was Tracy’s idea, and if she wanted Bruce to play with them, then Gene might get stuck with him.

“If it’s drums, forget it,” Justin said, putting his chin up and fixing his shirt. “We’ve already got enough drummers.”

“Keyboard. I play keyboard, and turntable.”

Gene’s hopes sank. Tracy had that look in her eye, probably because they didn’t have a keyboard player yet. Sure enough, she said something stupid.

“Care to audition?”

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