Prologue
 
 
 
 
Sweat poured down her forehead, the rhythm of the basketball was all she could hear before she drilled the ball into the backboard and then into the basket. She wiped off the sweat with a towel and shook her hair from her forehead. She stood about 5’ 8”, and had dark brown hair with blood red highlights with a butch-boyish haircut. She pulled her vintage Pantera t-shirt from her body that it was now sticking to. That’s when she heard the commotion. She looked up see two security guards wrestling with a woman, who was struggling to fight back. Figuring that the woman needed help, she walked over to them.
“Problem officers?” she asked revealing a deep female voice. ”No please move along, civilian.” The blonde officer said with a grunt. “Really, ‘Cuz you’re wasting your time on her when you could be chasing a vandal or ex- juvie.” she said attempting to lure the officers into a trap that she had already formulated. “Do you have anyone in mind” the dark haired officer responded in a sarcastic manner. “As a matter of fact, I do, surely you recognize me by now.” she said. The officers took a closer look, then looked at each other and simultaneously yelled “Fargis”, and lunged. By the time the officers had realized who she was; she had already stripped both of their utility belts of their contents and was brandishing both nightsticks. “How about a deal? You two let her and me go, and you won’t have to be embarrassed by a kid who has already taken anything you could have used against me and handcuffed to two to the pole behind you.” she said slyly. The officers looked down at their cuffed wrists and grunted in an agreement to her deal. She dropped the nightsticks and gathered up everything that she had taken and left it just out of their reach. She then threw the keys to the handcuffs down into a sewer opening. “Rule #1: Never trust a Fargis.” she said patting the officers on their heads.
She motioned for the woman to follow her. ”Who are you?” She said turning to the woman. “Shane” the woman said anticipating the question. “Conner” she replied taking a look at the Shane. Shane was wearing a light blue top probably with shoulder length sleeves, but was cover by a black jacket that had once been wrinkle free but was now full of wrinkles. Completing the outfits Shane had on black slacks and to match the rest of the outfit black converse with light blue shoe strings. Shane had a hair cut like Conner’s but was longer by a few inches and didn’t have any noticeable highlights. ”Thanks for helping out back there” Shane said pointing back to the guards. “No problem but one question, what are you doing on this side of town?” Conner replied. “How do you know I’m not from this side of town?” Shane asked. “Easy look at your clothes, and the way you act. If you were form here you wouldn’t have gone in to the club before ten p.m. you’re obviously form west L.A. So why are you here?” Conner asked nearing the basket ball court. “I heard a friend of mine was d.j.ing around here.” Shane said sitting on a bench next to the basketball court. “Who’s you’re friend?” Conner asked while easily shooting a three-pointer.” Carmen… Carmen De La Pica Morales.” Shane said shifting into a more comfortable position on the bench.” Never heard of her” Conner said backing up to shoot from half court, then making the basket. ”Hey you want to be on a basketball team with me and some of my friends?” Shane asked leaning forward. “What for?” Conner asked, scooping up her basketball. “Well one of my most recent friends has challenged me to a basketball game.” Shane said recalling the conversation. “I don’t know it depends on if I’m in jail or not” Conner said walking over to the bench. “Well it’s in about three weeks, so just give me a call.” Shane said writing her number on a napkin she found in her jacket pocket. Conner nodded and said she had to leave and left Shane in east L.A. Conner headed back to the orphanage she had called home for nearly 13 years.
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Shane left the basketball court and found where she parked her jeep. She got in and picked up her cell. She dialed Alice’s number. Briing ….briing …” hello?” “Alice? Hey it’s Shane,” ”Oh my God Shane, Big news Papi had finally announced what time the game will be” “That’s great Alice but-” “And her Chart has grown over 1500 people.” “ALICE!” “What?” “Stop talking. I’ve been thinking” “Oh God” “Shut up. I want another kid now that I can’t have Shay legally.” “Well you cold adopt a kid, preferably one that is housebroken” “Alice their not animals, but where’s an orphanage? I’ve never seen one in west L.A. ““Well that’s because the nearest one is in east L.A.” “Okay I’ll check it out tomorrow, Oh, and by the way Carmen isn’t in east L.A.” “Oh well that’s just what I heard, sorry.” ”Well I got to go” “Okay bye.” “Bye” Shane said before clicking the disconnect button as she pulled into the driveway of the house that she shared with her long time friend Jenny. She got out of the car, slamming the door, just as Max came out of the front door. ”Just the chick I was looking for. “He said walking over to Shane. “For what?” Shane asked leaning against the hood of the jeep. “I need to ask you a favor.” Max said fingering his light brown hair, Shane had noticed that it was getting long. “Fine, I’ll cut your hair, go ahead and go to WAX and I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.” Shane said heading to the front door of a house that to a stranger would seem to be a nice family hose with a cool, clam blue with white accents paint job. ”Thanks” Max yelled over his shoulder, heading to his truck. Shane walked into the house and upon entering found Jenny. “How would you feel if I adopted a kid?” Shane said leaning on the couch. ”Depends on if you can still meet your portion of the rent and how old the child is.” Jenny said turning her attention back to her book that she was currently revising. ”All right” Shane said pushing herself up and headed for the kitchen. She reached the refrigerator, opened it and grabbed a beer. She left it unopened until she got to WAX, where she found Max looking at the clothes in the clothes store third of the shop. “Max.” Shane said calling Max over and setting up her hair station. “How much do you want me to cut off?” Shane asked as Max sat down. “Um… one or two inches” Max said looking in a mirror.
******************************************************************************Conner walked into the orphanage, hearing the usual yelling of the caretakers and the playful screaming of the children playing and running amok. “Conner” The owner of the orphanage called. Conner walked into the office and sat on a chair that looked like it was rotten. “Yes Ms. Martin?” Conner asked politely. “Did you handcuff two security guards to a pole?” She asked looking for something on her messy desk. “It was on the news wasn’t it?” Conner asked sheepishly. “ Yes but you got off the hook this time, once again, the news anchor messed up your name so everyone will be on the look for Connor Fags .” She said giving up on her search, “Oh, And Conner, someone is coming to adopt tomorrow, so tell the kids to be good tomorrow.” Conner bit her lip knowing that once again she would see a kid be adopted and she would still be there for an undetermined number of weeks with the building falling apart around here; she nodded and headed for the play room where all the children were. “HEY KIDDOS! ADOPTION TOMORROW SO BE GOOD” Conner yelled. After alerting the kids of the adoption she headed to her room that she shared with three other girls. She climbed into her bead and was soon fast asleep. She awoke to three kids jumping on her bed,” Get off!” Conner said before yawning. The kids jumped off and Conner got out of bed and headed to the restroom. She walked out a few minutes later fully dresses and ready for the adoption meeting. As all the kids pushed and shoved for a chance to be in front of the group that had gathered in the playroom, Conner hung back knowing that a teenager with a rap sheet thicker than house lease form was less appealing than a small angelic child. Ms. Martin walked in followed by the last person expected to ever see again. Behind Ms. Martin was Shane, the woman that Conner had helped the day before. Shane hadn’t noticed her, but Conner knew it was only a matter of time before Shane’s gaze fell upon her. “Conner?” Shane questioned meeting Conner’s gaze. “Hey, long time no see, eh?” Conner said laughing. Shane nodded and turned her gaze to the rest of the children. Within a few minutes Shane had made her choice and nodded to Ms. Martin. They left the room and the children got up and started to play. A few minutes later, they reentered the room and Ms. Martin signaled for Conner. “Yes, Ms. Martin?” Conner asked confused. “Ms. McCutcheon has chosen to adopt you.” Ms. Martin said. “Are… Are you serious?” Conner questioned looking at Shane then Ms. Martin. “Well… Yeah” Shane answered. Conner couldn’t help but smile after 13 years of living pretty much on the streets, finally she had a family and with whom she thought would be one of the coolest guardians. “So you will leave with Ms. McCutcheon in a few minutes. So go gather your belongings, Miss Conner Fargis- McCutcheon.” Ms. Martin said bossing Conner around for one last time. Conner disappeared into the winding the halls of the orphanage only to reemerge with a backpack full of clothes and her basketball. Shane led Conner to her jeep and drove to their house. They walked into the house and Conner met Jenny and Max. “Tomorrow you will meet the rest of our friends” Shane said welcoming Conner into the West Hollywood clique.