The cloud of pink gas twisted and swirled on the wind, drifting away from Rick’s home and across the road. A few moments later a pair of lanky fourteen year-olds, Ethan Peters and Keith McConnell, rode through the vapor on their skateboards. Because both boys were breathing hard, they got quite a lungful of the gas, but neither even noticed, so intent were they on their destination: the city hall parking lot. At this time the lot was empty and the wide open space, abutted by stairs and railings, was a great place to thrash!
It had been more than a month since they’d skated there, as they’d been caught last time by a police officer and warned that they were trespassing. Fear had kept them away, but there was just no better place around to practice their boarding tricks. Together they’d decided to go back tonight.
When they arrived at their destination auburn-haired Ethan and dark-haired Keith were surprised to find themselves energized rather than tired from the long trip. With whoops of pleasure they slid down the railings on their boards, perfectly keeping their balance.
When the red and blue lights flashed, accompanied by the brief whirr of the siren, their resultant emotion was not the frantic fear they would have expected, but was instead intense anger! Didn’t these dumb-ass cops have anything better to do than ruin a good time?
Officer Darren Andrews sighed as he parked and exited his patrol car. He’d given these boys a break last time, but it looked like he’d have to haul them in this time. It would be a pain in the ass for him as well as them, but presumably having their parents come pick them up from jail would finally drive home the message that this wasn’t a playground. Assuming, of course, that these were the same kids.
He looked them up and down as he approached. Same clothing as last time, sneakers, beige cargo shorts, black T-shirts with a rock band name and backward caps. They looked much bigger than Darren remembered, though. Bigger, and considerably BUFFER! They had definitely packed on muscle since Darren had last seen them. Skateboarding must be only a casual hobby; pumping iron was obviously where their real passion lay.
Equally surprising to the officer was their different reaction to being caught. Last time they’d been visibly frightened and eagerly compliant; now they were frowning angrily, their fists clenched and their body language arrogantly defiant. Time to assert some authority here, Darren resolved. When he spoke, however, his tone was more pleading than threatening. “Didn’t I tell you not to come back here?”
“Yeah, you did. Don’t you have anything better to do than be a fucking wet blanket?” Ethan askes, stepping aggressively into the police officer’s personal space, actually forcing him back a step.
“What’s the matter, afraid of the real crooks out there?” Keith taunted, standing side by side with his buddy.
He’d been more than head taller than they were a month ago; now he had only a couple inches on these obvious alpha male adolescents and certainly no weight! Their skintight T-shirts showed every chiseled muscle of their broad, deep chests and their legs were thick as young tree-trunks. And these strapping fourteen year-olds were so manly and assertive, clearly not willing to put up with any of his stupid adult bullshit.
Darren shook his head, trying to clear it. What was he thinking? He was letting the situation get out of hand. He had to remind them who was in charge here.
“I’m going to have to take you in for trespassing,” Darren said, his voice sounding unexpectedly apologetic. This less than firm statement succeeded only in drawing laughter from the physically formidable duo.
“You think you can take us in?” Keith asked with a sneer, the dark-haired powerhouse casually folding his hands behind his head and flexing his intimidatingly large, shirt sleeve-popping biceps in the process.
“Come on, you fucking pussy cop!” Ethan taunted. “Your night stick isn’t even as big as our cocks!”
Darren swallowed. He should have called for back-up when confronting two suspects were armed and dangerous, since Ethan and Keith’s most muscular arms looked very dangerous indeed!