Page 20 of My Brother's Bad Best Friend

Lizzie

The drive isn’t long, but it feels good to be in a car with the top down. For some reason, I don’t have my usual freak-out with Jonas driving, maybe because he takes it easy and maybe because the wind whipping through my hair actually feels nice for once. I don’t feel trapped in a steel death box like I normally do, at least.

He parks and we step out, walking toward a large, concrete area with smooth, rolling hills, boxy railings, and a pool-like area. “Welcome to Linda Vista,” Jonas says as he confidently walks toward the skate park.

I’ve seen these parks all over San Diego. It’s a big skateboarding town, although I never really hung around anyone that skated, except for Jonas back before Ezra was kicked out. Ezra never took it up, probably because he’s the least athletic person in the world.

I feel totally out of place as I follow Jonas, and that feeling only intensifies as he says hey to every single person there. Some of the guys look intimidating, and some look like any other normal dude, but they all seem to know Jonas by name. He nods to some and greets others, shaking hands, but he doesn’t bother introducing me.

We walk toward a boxy structure on the other side of a suspended walkway. “Who are all those guys?” I ask him, glancing back.

“Just people I used to know,” he says a little vaguely.

As we come under the walkway, this small guy suddenly detaches himself from a group and comes over, his board in his hands. “Jonas!” he shouts and waves his board. “Hey man, what’s up?”

Jonas cracks a little smile for this guy. “What up, Mouse?”

“Not much, man.” At first, I think Mouse is just short, but it takes me a second to realize that he’s young, maybe sixteen at most. His skin isn’t great, slightly pimpled and uneven, but he’s got bright blue eyes and a huge smile for Jonas, which is actually pretty endearing.

“Didn’t know you were coming down today,” he says. “Don and the guys are over there.” He gestures in the direction we were walking.

“Thanks, man. Drop anything good today?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it.” Mouse puts his board behind his head, flexing his back a little. “Joey’s filming some stuff, I’m hoping we can get a tape together.”

“Good shit,” Jonas says, and starts to move on, but Mouse gets in his way.

“Listen, man, listen, I need a favor.”

“No favors,” Jonas says. I walk alongside Jonas, watching the big guy as he tries to get away from Mouse. I can tell that Jonas likes the younger skater, but clearly he doesn’t want to get wrapped up in a conversation.

“Just, come on, hear me out,” Mouse’s voice lowers. “I hear you can hook me up.”

Jonas stops walking and I nearly stumble into him. “What’s that now?” he asks.

“You know, like, with some weed.”

Jonas stares at Mouse and I’m pretty sure the young kid might wither away and die. He looks like he’s sweating bullets now, his gray t-shirt darker under the arms, or maybe that’s just my imagination.

“Come by the shop if you want to buy weed,” Jonas finally says. “I don’t deal that shit anymore.”

“But, come on, man. You know I’m underage.”

Jonas shrugs. “Not my problem. I’m not about to risk my fucking income selling some kid weed, right?”

Mouse finally nods, backing up a step, his eyes wide and nervous. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Of course not.”

“Go make that tape, Mouse. Stick to what you’re good at.”

“Yeah, okay, Jonas. Thanks anyway, man.” He turns and runs off, rejoining the group he left.

Jonas sighs and walks on. I hurry to catch him again. “The rumors are true, huh?” I ask him.

He looks at me. “What rumors?”

“You’re a big, bad drug dealer.”

He grins a little bit. “Used to be, at least. Sold to every damn skater in the city. Didn’t care about age back then. But now that’s it’s legal.” He grins even more. “I’m going legit.”

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