Incident Bile

Incident Bile

Chapter One; Where it began.


Theres always at least that one person in a crowd of people you can't help but look at. It might be their strangely colored hair, or the large multi-colored spikes of hair jutting off their head. It could be the bright vibrant colors emitting from the clothes they wear, or possibly you just happen to notice them and get a weird feeling in your gut. Usually, people choose to be %u201Cdifferent.%u201D Only there are always those few who are just different by nature. They always get stares, even if they blend in with the shadows they walk in. Uppers are stupid in that way. They think that just because they have homes and go to work and go to school that just maybe us Lowers are less intelligent then them. They assume we don't realize they exist, and think that we're just oblivious to everything. If some people got their head out of their asses, maybe Incident Bile would have never happened. And that is where my story begins.


A cigarette butt had hit the ground, which caused a hooded figure to glare up at the owner of the burning stick. Sharpie looked down and gave Bud the shrug, which basically said, %u201CI can't break the habit.%u201D I watched from the across the alley as Bud sighed and shook his head, causing the black mess on his head to cover even more of his face. I heard a muffled cry come from beside me and looked to see a girl hugging her knees probably tight enough to decapitate someone. Rancor was the youngest, and the newest. Rim popped out of nowhere and tugged on the quivering girl's sleeve, whispering softly to her. Rim's the only one she'd talk to. We usually refer to the two of them as R&R. I guess it has to do with age difference. We were guessing she's only around fourteen to fifteen. Sixteen would be pushing it. Rim's sixteen, but sometimes we'd wonder. Rim smiled and pushed the long locks of plum hair out of her face while she laughed. Sharpie's convinced it's her real hair color, and we're with him. It hasn't shown any signs of fading yet and it's been at least four months.
Almost in unison, our stomachs growled bitterly. I got to my feet and helped Bud up. After he dusted his tattered jeans and threw on his zip up hoodie, Sharpie buttoned his white work shirt all the way and ran his fingers all the way through his oil black hair. I wish he'd cut the rat tail he's growing, but I don't think he realized it was there. %u201CHurry up, would you?%u201D Sharpie kicked at a bag on the ally floor. The two kids scampered to their feet and shuffled after us.
%u201CI must know how you keep your hair so purple!%u201D
Rim always complained his streaks of green came out too often. My golden brown hair had a cerulean blue color stained at the tips, so I never really worried. Rancor just smiled to him and spoke softly.
%u201CIt must just have been a good brand.%u201D
Something about her voice bothered me but Bud had broken my thoughts after he nudged me with his elbow. I had forgotten what my job was. Parting from the group, I traveled to the other side of the street.
After at least twenty minutes of picking and spotting the right people, I had manged to get eight dollars. I was just glad I didn't have to actually mug someone this time. The day was nice and cool. Not cold enough to need four hoodies, but not hot enough to walk around in a tank top. It was the way we liked it. I caught up with the gang and Sharpie's eyes glinted happily. %u201CThis means we can buy enough food for all of us, and I can use the remaining three dollars for a cigarette or two!%u201D Bud gave Sharpie a cold glare and took the money from my hands.
%u201CUnlike you, we're starving. We don't sleep with random people just for a meal or drugs you know.%u201D
%u201CWell I'm sorry people like me. Unlike you, Scarface.%u201D
Bud's whole body tensed and his left eye, his only visible eye, got that extremely cold feeling. R&R got real quiet and both of them quickly hid behind me. I could feel them shaking through my patchwork zip up. Even though Bud wasn't nearly as tall as Sharpie, it still seemed Bud was the bigger man when he went right up to Sharpie and nailed him in the chest. Sharpie gawked awkwardly, not quite sure how to respond. As he was about to throw something he believed was a punch, I jumped between them.
%u201CStop it you ass-wipes!%u201D
Rim grabbed Bud and gingerly pulled the fuming boy back. I grabbed Sharpie's wrists so he couldn't run away or try to hit me and reeled him into me.
%u201CYou of all people should know not to call him that! I can't believe you!%u201D
I really couldn't. They had been friends before I had even ever seen them hangin' on the streets. %u201CI'm sorry,%u201D he muttered as he broke his wrists free from my grasp. Bud snarled to himself then adjusted his jacket on his shoulders. After returning me the money, he glimpsed into the glass window. He checked to make sure the right side of his face was completely covered by his smoky black hair. Most Upper teenagers think he's trying to be %u201Cemo%u201D or %u201Cscene%u201D or some shit like that. They could never even have guessed the secrets he's been hiding.

We went up a couple blocks and I noticed Sharpie and Bud were slowing their pace.
%u201CI bet I could beat you both to McDonald's!%u201D It was just a block away, but it gave the two time to talk. Rancor's face lit up and Rim pouted but they both got ready.
%u201COn your mark...get set...%u201D I caught a look over my shoulder and Bud smiled faintly to me as a thank you. %u201CGo!%u201D And the three of us took off. Rancor is faster then any of us, even though I'm sure we've done more running for our lives then her. Rim had mentioned something about how she used to play sports, but I didn't think it matter. Rancor had beaten us pretty badly, and I ended up giving Rim a Cop Ride.

In the restaurant we got a few looks from people, but we ignored them like they ignore us when they see us aimlessly wandering. After ordering food for the whole gang, I was left with a dollar and forty-two cents. R&R were laughing as they played with the free toy they had received from the meal. Sharpie and Bud entered and placed themselves down across from each other. Sharpie got caught up in trying to figure out what the toy was as Bud and I exchanged words.
%u201CSo, how'd it go?%u201D
%u201CCan't quite say.%u201D
%u201CI guess the question is, are you still mad at each other?%u201D
%u201CWe're both breathing, aren't we?%u201D
%u201C...Nicely placed.%u201D
%u201CHe didn't really mean what he said. He's just a bit edgy lately.%u201D
%u201CI noticed.%u201D
The conversation died and I munched on my fries, when I realized the conversation was all but dead. I looked into Bud's eye, and realized I had missed something major. Bud's attention had shifted to Sharpie who was arguing with R&R who got to play with the toy. Bud leaned forward and whispered in my ear. I pulled back slightly.
%u201CAre you sure?%u201D
%u201CHe wouldn't lie, not to me.%u201D
%u201CJesus Christ. What are we going to do?%u201D
My voice must have gone that notch too high, because Sharpie let Rancor have the toy and was sitting next to me. His arm laced around my shoulder and he pulled me in like he was hugging me. I knew this position all too well. When Rim came around, we hadn't trusted him with everything yet. So we made up small motions to hide or cover the real motives.
R&R were too busy giggling to themselves to notice, but with them we were never too sure. Sharpie laid his forehead on my shoulder and his voice dropped to a notch above not even speaking.
%u201CMir, I have HIV.%u201D