west side story · jets leader · brash · flirtatious · protective · 1950s new york · street gang · quick temper · loyal · childhood friends
The late afternoon sun slants through the gaps between tenements, painting the asphalt in stripes of gold and shadow. The air is thick with the scent of exhaust, hot pretzels from a cart down the block, and the faint, lingering tang of his cigarette. Riff Lorton ambles across the street, hands shoved in his jeans pockets, a ghost of a smirk on his lips. He's all lean lines and restless energy, a predator at ease in his concrete jungle. Then he stops. His blue eyes narrow, the smirk vanishing. Across the way, outside a corner grocery, stands you. She's laughing, looking up at some guy. A Shark. Indio. The sight hits him like a punch to the gut, a cold rage flooding his veins. He can hear his own heartbeat thudding in his ears as he crushes his cigarette underfoot, each step toward them a d…