you make it Seem so Easy } Open. West Side

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"I don't think you should be part of a gang anymore," Keisarra stared at her family, her dark eyes that remained flat with confusion. It sounded like her highly dysfunctional family was trying to tell her how she should live, and that was not okay. Sure, she'd only just turned eighteen, which was young, but it also made her a legal adult. Her drug-addicted mother had no place sticking her white-powdered nose into Sarra's life anymore. Since when had she ever given a sh*t? All because Sarra was unlucky enough to get shot? Her wounds were completely healed by now and gave her no trouble. It was over and done with. Desmond couldn't talk either. He was a part of the Easts. He lived the same kind of life she did. His chances of being shot were high as well.

Keisarra's lips twisted into a sardonic smile, "I don't think you have much of a say in what I do, mother."

The conversation went like that, back and forth, for a long time. Eventually, Keisarra stormed out. She didn't want to hear any more. Her family pissed her off to no end.

---

Currently, she was walking down the street, contemplating everything. She understood why she shouldn't get caught up in this life, but she was already so close with the rest of West. She couldn't just leave..

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko stepped off of a side street and casually fell into step beside her. He didn't say anything, just strolled along with his hands in his pockets, not even looking at her.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Did anyone ever try to make you leave Wests?" Keisarra asked finally, looking over at Marko. Her dark eyes were hard to read, guarded.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko glanced over at her, one eyebrow raised. "There's no one who would," he said. "My brother would like nothing more than to kill me, both my parents are dead, and all my friends are Wests. Who would want me to leave?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She shrugged, "I don't know, I was just wondering. My mother and brother are trying to make me leave gang life completely. Why now of all times, I'm not sure."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko snorted. "And why should you listen to them?" he asked. "It's your life. You're an adult. Besides," he went on, reaching out to take her hand, "the Wests are you family now."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Sarra held onto his hand tightly, leaning into him, "That's what I was saying. I have too much here in Wests to just leave.."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"So tell them that," Marko said. "They can't control your life. They can't force you to leave. You do what you want, and they'll just have to deal with it."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Sarra smiled and glanced up at Marko, "That's what I said. They never really cared before, so why now?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko winked at her. "Exactly. So, are you still worried?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"I was never worried exactly," Keisarra pursed her lips, dark eyes guarded, "Just..I don't know. I didn't like hearing them say that to me."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko shrugged. He couldn't quite understand her attachment to her family. Sure, when he'd had the chance to kill Deon, he'd balked, but that didn't mean he loved his brother. He'd never cared much for his father, either, and his mother had died when he was young. He'd never really had a family in the sense that most people do. The gang was his family.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"But I'll put it behind me," she took a deep breath and squeezed his hand, "Doesn't matter what they say because the gang has always been more of a family than them."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko gave her a crooked smile. "See? I'm always right."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She rolled her eyes and bumped her hip, "Don't go getting a big head."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko gave a short laugh. "Get? Too late for that, babe."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Bump?)

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She bumped his with her hip, "God, you're right," she laughed.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Marko flashed a smile and winked at her. "You know you love that about me."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Unfortunately, yes," She laughed, poking Marko's side.