Oh shit.
“That was part of our deal that I didn’t share what wentdown for it to happen,” she said low, also now visibly seriously pissed.“Itrusted you, Mal.You promised and I trusted that you would tell your mom you’dleft group.”
“She’d be disappointed, Arch.”
Christ, with the way he said that, now Jag felt for the kid.
It took all of two seconds for A to say her next.
“You’re back in group, but I swear to God,” she pointed athim, “you blow it again, I’m going right to your mom.Do you hear me?”
Mal nodded.
“Give me the backpack, J,” she ordered Jagger.
Jagger handed it to her.
She unzipped it, took a big box out of it that had a pictureof a game controller on it, complete with carrying case and other shit (Whoneeded a carrying case for a game controller?What?Did folk take theircontrollers on vacation?).
She handed the backpack to Mal.
“Back to the store, brother, your mom’s not home for atleast an hour.”
Mal nodded to A, swung his head to Jagger, then he lookedback to A.
“Why hasn’t your man been at the store?”he asked.
“Back to the store, Mal,” she demanded.“Now.”
“Whatever,” he replied, but he didn’t move.
“That’s backtalk, not walking back to the store,” shepointed out.
Mal rolled his eyes.
A crossed her arms, still holding the big box in a hand.
“Whatever,” Mal repeated, then started walking out of thealley.
A and Jagger watched him.
But A did it shouting, “And I’m not punk!I’m not anythingbut me!”
Mal said nothing in response before he turned the corner anddisappeared.
When he did, afforded an opportunity he hadn’t had in a verylong time, and not about to waste this one like he did the others, Jagger gotright in her space.
“First, what’s your fuckin’ name?”he asked.
“Archie,” she returned, bellying right up to him in return.
Archie?
“What’syourfuckin’ name?”she asked back.
“Jagger,” he told her.“Your name is Archie?”
“Yes, my name is Archie.Your name is Jagger?”
