What a friend

Dylan and Owen reached the train station.

“So this is it .” Dylan said.

“Yeah this is where we part. ”

They hugged.

“You take care of yourself you hear? “Dylan let out almost sobbing.

“Don’t get soft we me now. I will you too man. ”

Owen boarded the train and in a few minutes it departed.

Owen sank to his seat. He was so exhausted. He exhaled as his body began relaxing and he started to recollect his thoughts. It had been one hell of day. He still couldn’t believe that they had pulled it off.

He suddenly realised that his bag almost slipped. He nervously glanced at the other passengers. Could they tell that he was carrying loads of cash in his bag? As his eyes met with the others who looked at him in bewilderment he felt they were judging him. He could almost feel it. He felt goosebumps run through his body. Was he too conspicuous? He struggled to brush off the thought.

“Of course they can’t tell and don’t know. ” He reassured himself. He drifted off to what had transpired.

Owen used to be great student. He occasionally topped his class and aced exams until one day he received news that his father had passed away. It tore his soul and the ordeal ripped his heart. The man he looked up to was no more. He sobbed every night and no amount of consolation eased what he was going through.

Soon he started flunking his exams. His mother remarried but it only made things worse despite that Owen’s step father was actually a good man. However, to Owen it felt that it was the biggest betrayal and for that he wouldn’t forgive his mother.

There was a sudden ripple effect. Owen changed from an outstanding and friendly boy to a stark opposite of his former self. It only became worse into his late teen years.

It was on a Monday and Owen didn’t feel like attending class. After all it was on a Monday right. Who even likes Monday? So he decided to take a route he used to pass and didn’t know where it led. He was minding his business when he heard a commotion. When he followed to where it was emanating from he saw it was in an alley .Two guys had ganged up one guy. His back was against the wire fence.

For a brief second their eyes met and it looked as if he was pleading for him to assist him. Owen decided to step on.

“Who the hell are you? ” One asked.

“Get out of here !” The other barked.

While they were still distracted ,the victim punched one of them when his pal wanted to help him Owen charged and punched the other. A fight ensued but Owen and the guy he was assisting were losing so the victim drew a knife and stabbed one of the other guy. He turned and shouted .

“Run! ”

Owen wasn’t sure if he was even talking to him because he had already whizzed past him. Owen followed suite as one of the guy cursed and shouted.

“You will regret this! I swear you will!”

Owen and the guy finally stopped under a bridge to catch their breath.

“Thanks for the assist. “The guy finally spoke out.

“Your welcome if you call that an assist. Since you are the one who actually ended up saving even me! ”

They paused then they burst into laughter.

“I’m Dylan by the way. ”

“ Owen .”

“Why did you come to my rescue? ”

“I don’t know really you just looked like you needed my help. You must have really pissed them off .”

“Well … I owed them some money but I was not planning on paying them back. ”

“Wait so I risked my life on something you actually brought on yourself!” Owen retorted .

“In life you have to be smart. No pain no gain. “Dylan replied.

“Don’t isn’t it better to earn it? ”

“It’s too long and I don’t have the patience. Don’t you think I’ve tried that already? I realised it’s not meant for me. This is the real life the high life. ” He looked at Owen intently to see if he was seeing it as he did.

“It’s all useless to work really hard and die before enjoying the fruits of your labour. I would rather live at the moment. That’s all life is. ” He said as he stared into space for a while.

Owen’s phone began ringing incessantly.

“Mommy’s calling” Dylan teased him even though they were almost the same age.

Indeed it was his mother she was furious. Owen had to pull back the phone because she was screaming on top of her lungs.

“Well if you need me this is my number. ” Dylan said while offering him his, number on a piece of paper and he started walking away.

Owen went back still thinking what he had said. In a way it made sense. Life was all useless. Things happen that we can’t control. Why shouldn’t we break rules and make merry every day?

Back at home, boy did Owen receive a lecture. He later stormed into his room and pondered whether to call Dylan or not. In the end he decided why not.

The following day they met under the bridge where they were. Dylan decided to show him where he stayed. He in introduced him to drugs.

“I don’t think I should do this. “Owen hesitated.

“It’s not like you have anything better to do or do you have to get mommy’s permission first? “Dylan chuckled.

Determined to show he was a man Owen tried it. He felt elevated and was high for hours. Soon Owen would skip classes to hang with Dylan. They would also take alcohol during the night.

At home the arguments only got worse. Owen’s step father scolded him that he had to cut off the bad friends he had because he was certain they were a bad influence. All fell on deaf ears until they wondered what would they have to do to convince him otherwise.

His mother tried pleading but her husband had gotten tired of it.

“He is seventeen, almost a grown man. Soon he will learn that his actions have consequences. He is not a boy to beg. Let him do what he wants to do! ” Her husband told her when they last discussed that matter and told her not to bother him about it again.

Dylan later introduced Owen to his friends. There was Antoine he had brown hair and Hazel eyes he was crippled and was in a wheel chair and there was Simon he had jet black hair. He looked more intimidating than Antoine. Right there and then Owen decided to never get in his way.

“So you are the one we have been hearing about. “Simon said sizing him up. “I expected more .”

“Don’t mind him Owen he just doesn’t like competition. “Dylan reassured him.

“Yeah right like there is any competition with this guy. “Antoine shot back.

Simon felt uneasy. He used to think he was a tough guy but comparing to them he was nothing more do he felt uncomfortable because Antoine was staring eerily at him. Was there something on his face? He wondered but put on his bravest face.

They disclosed to Owen that they are actually robbers! They have been doing their so called operation for a while now but they had a master plan that was to take place soon. That Owen had picked the perfect timing.

This was all a huge whirlwind for Owen to take in and decided he needed to think about it. At home he went straight to his room and thought deeply what he had gotten himself into. Had he gotten too far? How far is too far? Sure he could get out anytime right?

He thought of everything he wanted in life cars, fancy watches, clothes, girls, mansions … the possibilities were endless. Besides his life had gotten boring he didn’t have a social life, he had lost his dad, school was the last option on his mind and he was fed up with the frequent quarrels at home. He wanted to start a fresh, forget everyone and live in his own terms.

He met Dylan and his friends back at their “base ” if you were to call it that. It was, actually a n abandoned paper factory.

Antoine clapped his hands. “I told you he would be back! ”

“I guess people can surprise you! “Simon answered him. Handing him some cash.

“Wait … you two had bet whether I would come or bail? ” Owen asked.

“I didn’t have a shadow of a doubt” Dylan cut in.

After they had briefed each other of the plan to rob off a small bank that had recently opened they started to prepare. The best part was that Dylan had an informant on the inside who would ensure that the cameras would not capture them and that the plan would go smoothly.

Antoine called Owen aside and asked him.

“Why are you here? ”

“I’m here because I want to make it big in life. ”.he responded.

“Don’t give me that nonsense and tell me why you are really here! “He fired back.

Owen told him his story finally.

Antoine listened keenly and once he finished he said.

“Looks to me that you have been running away from your problems instead of facing them. Just be careful with Dylan. ”

Shocked Owen queered. “Isn’t he your leader? Shouldn’t we trust him.? ”

“When he has something in his mind no one can change it. I have been in this “business” more than you and I know him. He won’t hesitate to take you out should you become a thorn on his side or an inconvenience! ”

The warning took Owen by surprise and wondered why he told him all this.

“How did you find yourself here then?” Owen asked.

Antoine told him that he was in Foster care but they treated him badly so he ran and met with Simon along the way they met with Dylan who lead them to this path although they know little of his background.

He also told him that there were others before Owen who were with them but some got killed or arrested. By now Owen was a little skeptical . When he had arrived home he learnt that his step father had been attacked.

He went to the hospital where he met his mother. She was worried sick about both of them.

She told him that a group of men had attacked and left his step father for dead had it not been for a passerby who decided to rush him to the hospital. Owen felt a chill ran down his spine he feigned surprise that the incident was by chance but he knew who they were. He could still hear them saying he would regret it.

He slept albeit with much difficulty since he was stressed with the fact that those people had actually found out who he was. He had also gotten into a fight with his mother claiming she loved his step father more than him.

The following day they went with the plan. Dylan and Simon were to do the heavy work of forcing the tellers to fill the bags while Owen was to be ready with the getaway car. Antoine was to prepare everything back at the base for them to leave because this was there last heist as they wanted to lie low for things to cool off.

Owen drove them to the bank his heart was beating wildly. Dylan and Simon went straight to work. There was some commotion .Owen found himself tapping the steering wheel uneasily. He was beyond nervous .They rushed back shouting for them to go.

The car sped off and that was it. They had did it! They arrived back at the base where they hastily counted what they had and divided the loot.

“I told you he could do it! ”

“We’re rich! ”

“Filthy rich! ”

Owen’s joy knew no bounds he almost cried. So Simon and Antoine would travel together while Dylan was to go alone and later meet up with his inside source at an undisclosed place. Yeah he was very secretive even to his own friends. For Owen he had decided he would run away from home. He felt there was nothing there for him.

Hours later they dispersed. Dylan decided to escort Owen to the train station .It felt too good to be true. This was actually happening! Owen had his doubts at first but they actually pulled it off.

The train arrived while Owen was coming out he was met with red and blue flashing lights.

At that moment he didn’t know what to do. Should he run ? How could they have known? Maybe they were here for another guy … Unfortunately for Owen it was him they were after. He found himself handcuffed. At the back of the police vehicle.

In his mind he was lost in thought. He had made sure to cover his face, in fact they all had. He had not told his parents of what he was doing. The gang that had threatened him surely could not run the risk of contacting the police.

Finally all evidence was pointing to Dylan. He couldn’t have risked them getting caught. Antoine and Simon were too valuable of members to go down he would have fallen too. It was Owen that was the weak link and had to take the bullet for the team.

At the police station officers interrogated him for hours. When he finished they told him that the names he had given did not appear anywhere.

“So they had used false names all along! Well played Dylan well played .”. Owen thought to himself.

In his cell he thought about all the series of events that led him there. What if he had not lost his dad? What if he had not skipped school? What if he had not saved Dylan? What if he had not accepted to meet his friends or cooperate in the heist? What if he had listened to his step father ?

Poor man he had wanted the best for him despite him not being his son. His mother often pleaded with him. He had only brought more problems on top of other problems. Perhaps Antoine or whatever his name is had known the plan and wanted to save him. " Right now they must be laughing to themselves” he thought.

As he cuddled up he began to sob. Owen wanted to take everything back but he couldn’t. Dylan had been a great manipulator all this time but Owen had thought he was his friend.