Jack


I don’t steal for fun.

There’s lots of shit I could do for fun.
Kids my age are off sneaking out to parties, getting laid, doing god knows what drugs, and they all easily get away with it because they’re all suffering from teenage angst.

I doubt they appreciate the feeling as much as they should.

Fun just isn’t something you’re supposed to feel when your mother has leukemia.

Let me just make this clear, I’m not complaining. I have better things to do than sit around feeling sorry for myself, and the fucking hell that asshole called ‘God’ put us in.
If there was actually a dude named ‘God’ who is supposed to keep us safe from tragedies like this, than she would’ve never gotten sick.

Good things happen to shitty people, and shitty things happen to good people.

That’s everything I’ve learned throughout all of this.

Like my father, for example, the world’s biggest douche bag on the planet, who we are better off not having around. He is living the high life in Los Angeles in a fucking mansion, rolling in millions of dollars that could use to pay to give Mom a fucking trip to the hospital, but we’re here with our life hanging by a thread.

No matter how poor we are, I could never miss my father.

He abused my beautiful mother for years while she raised me with a smiling face, and the first time that he ever hit me was the day that she packed up our bags and left.
But that meant we would lose everything.

Everything she has ever done has been for me, to keep me safe. She sacrificed everything, her entire life, for me without a falter in her unconditional love for me.

We were already broke enough in the first place.
I was 15 and working for an extra 6 hours at a crappy bowling alley, after a long 8 hour day of high school, while my mom worked full time at a nursing home all the way across town.
We sold our car to pay to rent our tiny apartment, got rid of our cell phones to pay for electricity, and I even had to sell my guitar so we could get groceries.

Then it was just me working, she was too weak to have a job and I was being underpaid because I was so young.

Even after all my mother’s protests about how important my education was, high school had to go. It was a waste of time when I could be earning money for her doctor’s appointments.

Soon after that, I got fired.

It all started when I first turned 16, just with some camera that I managed to shove into my pants at a Target.

I never imagined it going this far back then.

The small device just made me look like I had a boner, which wasn’t as embarrassing as you would think it would be because you did what you had to do for money.
All I had to do was walk outside the store doors the same time as a sketchy looking guy, hold up both of my empty hands to the security that came running over when the alarms went off, and walk off casually while the older guy was searched head to toe.
By the time they would realize that it was me, I would’ve already been out of sight with no traces left behind.

I thought that surely the money I would make from selling that camera would be much more helpful than some kind spending all their savings on a device they would enjoy for a week and get bored of it.

I sold it to someone on the street for 70 bucks, I think they felt bad for me because I looked so young and my clothes looked old, so I earned 30 dollars more than what it was really worth.

That was how I bought groceries for the next few weeks.

Over time it’s just become what I do, but more frequently and more expensive shit now.
I managed to get a few Iphones, a laptop, some painkillers from a cheap pharmacy with shitty security, fancy purses and perfumes, once I managed to get a painting from some art gallery. That’s a funny story.

Not to mention I pick pocket people literally all the time.

I usually resell them to pawn shops, suckers on the street that don’t realize I’m jacking up the original price, some of my buddies that I’ve met along the way.

I have to admit, I’m pretty fucking good at it. I’m rarely ever caught and I always manage to get away.

I’d say I’m pretty lucky, but not lucky enough to have a healthy mother.

I’m not in this to hurt people, or just get rich off the shit that I steal.

I just want my mom to get better.

She’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met, and my best friend.

I’ve been saving to get enough for my mom to go to the hospital and get proper treatment, but that shit is really fucking expensive.

I took a deep breath as I leaned against the concrete wall of the old jewelry store, and pulled out my flashlight from my jacket pocket. Before I turned the corner I looked down and saw the small garden on the edge of the shop, with flowers that were too perfect to be grown there naturally. I bent down and picked up a rock that was cold and dense, a little smaller than the palm of my hand and perfect for in case I needed it.

I shoved the object into my jeans pocket, which was a little hard because they were so tight, and carried on with my plan.

Hesitantly, I peered over the corner so I could see the back door of the shop, spotting a security camera facing forward on the wall. With the push of my thumb the powerful LED flashlight turned on and illuminated the midnight darkness, I pointed it directly at the camera that must’ve been twenty years old.

This shop is old as fuck, but that means it’s security sucks which makes what I’m doing a lot easier. The camera lens was now blind to everything but the piercing white light of the small device. I unzipped my hoodie that was under my leather jacket and threw it over the camera so it would be completely covered, and made my way expertly to the back door.
I’ve passed this place a hundred times when I used to walk to school every morning, plus I’m pretty sure that the dude who owns this place is the father of one of the girls I was friends with in high school.
I know this place inside and out, but this is the first time I’ve ever got the guts to break in and steal jewelry.

I took the two paper clips from my pocket and bent them, and started picking the lock of the door. Within a few minutes it clicked, which signaled it was open.
A rush of adrenaline ran through me as I slowly pushed the door open, leading me to behind the glass counter where the countless amounts of expensive jewelry was kept.

This was too easy.

I walked forward and bent down in front of a display of a sparkling gold watch, that nearly made me start drooling at how much money I could get from that.
As I gazed at something I’ve dreamed of getting my hands on for years now, I spotted something blinking in the corner of my eye.
A tiny red light was turning on and off in the corner of the dim room.

Shit, those fucking silent alarm things.

I didn’t expect a place that has such shitty security on the outside to be well protected from the inside.

I stood up quickly and was surprised to see a middle aged man, dressed in a suit standing in a doorway across the room, holding a knife in his hands.

Seriously? Just a knife? For a jewelry store?

They could afford a silent alarm system but not a gun?

Also, why the hell is he in a suit? What is this douche bag even doing here at 1 in the morning anyway?

I shoved the gold watch into my jacket pocket without bothering to make it not obvious, and held both of my hands up with a roll of my eyes.

“I called the police, stay where you are kid.” the man’s voice was shaking from fear but tried his best to sound firm.

“Shit,” I cursed, annoyed by the inconvenience.

I don’t know why I expected this to be so easy. The rusting shingles on the roof, chipping paint and barely working security camera outside just made me think everything was just as cheap on the inside.

Well everything but the jewelry.

“You think you could just get away with this?” the man chuckled, he started going on about disrespecting people and shit but I totally blocked him out when I started to hear police sirens in the distance.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I’m not actually going to get caught this time am I?

I don’t know what was louder now, the sirens blaring which sounded to be getting closer or my rushed heart beating in my chest.

No. There’s no fucking way I’m going down like this. With this rich, white guy holding a fucking knife as his only source of protection, and the gold watch in my fucking pocket.

I’m gonna make a fucking fortune off of this, I have to get out of here so I can get that money for my mom. She deserves it, she’s given me everything I’ve ever had, the least I can do is help her get better.

“I got away with fucking your celibate daughter in high school. She’s really not as innocent as you thought.” I admitted with a shrug, and I wasn’t lying.

I chuckled as I watched his pale face change into a deep red, thinking of a plan on the spot that I doubt would ever work.

“You WHAT?!?” he screamed, his shocked and outraged voice filled the small store.

I dug one of my hands in my pocket while the other remained up in surrender, and threw the rock that I found from outside at a jewelry case, causing it to shatter.

Fuck, this place really is cheap.

The ear piercingly loud noise easily distracted the man more, he gasped and let his arms fall down to his sides, looking devastated at the damage that had just been done to his store.
I quickly lunged forward and grabbed the knife from his hands, pinning him expertly up against the wall, holding the sharp weapon to this throat.

I hated ever having to do this kinda stuff. I’m not a violent person. I never came into this wanting to hurt anybody, but I had to do what I had to do.

The man’s eyes widened twice their size, and he looked at me in pure shock. He seemed surprised by how what seemed to be just a stupid teenager could ever dare to do something so violent.

The shrill wailing of police sirens and the man’s shaky breathing was all that filled the room, making my heart beat even faster with panic.

“I’m so sorry for this,” I mumbled, looking into his eyes sincerely for a few seconds before lifting the knife away from his throat, and buried the dagger deep into his thigh.

I cringed as he let out an agonizing scream, and fell down to the ground clutching his leg.
It was just to defend myself.

I glanced out the window and saw the oh so familiar sight of red and blue lights flashing just outside. Anybody who wasn’t an idiot would run as fast as they possibly could, and I was going to do that, but I stood there for a few extra seconds.

I debated on shoving my hand into the shattered glass to get more jewelry, but it was practically too late now.

I grabbed the rock that was on the floor, pushed my way through the back door, slamming it shut, jumped up to grab my hoodie from the security camera so they would have as little evidence as possible, and sprinted away.

You get to be really good at running when you’re into this kinda stuff.
All those years of track in middle school and high school really paid off.

I clutched the watch in my jacket pocket, making sure it was still there and let my arms pump interchangeably as my legs carried me as fast as they could possibly go.

I made it to a sidewalk and turned into an alley, but I could still hear the sounds of sirens behind me. The city of Baltimore was like a maze, and I happened to know every inch of it.
I bolted off into another alley, ignoring the creepy ass people that were leaned up on the walls because they were probably to high to even notice me. I crossed the street to go down a completely different road, and ran down yet another alley.

I ran until I forgot my way back home.

I guess I didn’t know Baltimore as well as I thought, because I didn’t even recognize the street I was on

Have I never been here before?

The sound of sirens were completely gone, for now at least. I moved at a much slower pace, trying my best to catch my breath and replay what just happened in my head because it all felt like some kind of dream.

Did I really just get away with that?

Of course, with my luck, I wasn’t off the hook yet.

The dull sound of sirens in the distance returned, obviously they had no idea where I was but I wasn’t going to take any chances.

Even though my legs were numb and my lungs felt like they were going to explode, I managed to find a little strip of shops that looked like the complete opposite of where a robber would be. Perfect.

I stopped at the first place I saw, which had a large red sign that said ‘Brick Oven Pizza Parlor.’

Am I really going to break into a pizza restaurant? Yes.
Am I going to feel guilty about it? Hell no.

My hands glided along the smooth windows, noticing that one was already open slightly on the bottom. They probably forgot to close it all the way because everyone keeps their windows open in the summer, or maybe it was some kind of sign from the universe?
Yeah, they definitely just forgot to close it.

I stuffed my fingers under the window and lifted it up, hoisting my body up and lifted myself into the building. Once my feet landed on the tiled ground I quickly turned around and shut the window, locking it tight and crouching down to peer outside.

My heart lurched as I watched 3 police cars with sirens blaring speed down the main road, completely oblivious that they had passed the criminal they were searching for.
I had just barely missed them, and I bit my lip but couldn’t hold back an overjoyed chuckle.

Damn, those cops are fucking stupid.

I stood back up, knowing that I should probably stay hidden for a few hours until the sun comes up and more people are out, and decided I might as well take a look around.

Adrenaline was pumping through my veins as I gazed at the small but seemingly large restaurant that was only lit up by one of the hanging lights above a booth on, and the dim luminescence of the city. It had a visible kitchen so you could watch the chefs make the pizza, a long bar right in front of it so people could sit down and enjoy their pizza there, and many scattered square tables and booths along the sides.

It looked like an average pizza place, the decor looked a little more modern because they walls were made of a faded red brick with many different kinds of picture frames hung up. There were bulb lights that were usually used for outdoor parties or something strung along the ceiling, so I assumed it would look really nice when it was just getting dark out and all the lights were dimmed.

Damn, I gotta admit this is a pretty nice place.

I was way too busy gazing at the details of this pizza parlor I had just broken into I didn’t even realize that someone had walked up behind me.

“Hi!”

Notes

ooooohh!!! I wonder who it is?!!?

yes yes
i know
i'm writing, YET ANOTHER STORY
and IT'S ANOTHER JALEX ??? WHAT A SUPRISE

IT'S RIDICULOUS
i just have so many ideas and i love writing and well
here ya go

this one will definitely not be updated as much as Baby We're Like a Timebomb or Shut Up and Kiss Me Now but hopefully more than my other stories that I have on here

i am really really excited for this story thoughhhhhhhh :D
it's a lot different than what i'm used to because normally I just write cute fluffy stuff in highschool fics but this is v diffrent

i hope this chapter isn't too terrible, i tried the best i could, and i know that the robbery is very unrealistic and he obviously wouldn't be able to just run away like that without being caught but it's a fanfiction and anythings possible here lmao

okay i gotta stop ranting because i have more stuff to post tonight but i just really hope you guys like this story!

i worked really hard on his chapter and the next chapter thats gonna be posted and it would mean the world to me if you guys left some comments because you all are so sweet and make me so happy :P

OKAY
BYE ILY I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS <3