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CHAPTER 1

Brandon

Age 10

“You’re not the boss of lared at her brother

“Sofie, you’re gonna get hurt,” Alex warned

“Nah, she’s got it” Eric was always on Sofia’s side, as much as her brothers would let him be, anyway

Alloff a ramp with their bikes in the irl She watched as Eric knelt down and adjusted the height on the ra it a bit

“I can juuys,” Sofia protested

“No” Angel shook his head “Lower it, Eric”

Sofia sat on the bike, frowning “No fair”

Sal watched froh, Sof”

She’d jumped off the ramp before, but only a few times when her brother’s hadn’t been around Eric had seen her once and said she was pretty good Her brothers never let her do anything If it weren’t for Eric, she knew she wouldn’t even be juht now

“Alright go for it” Eric smiled

Sofia rode down the street, turned around and stopped The apprehension in her brothers faces irritated her Sal was the oldest at fourteen, Alex, twelve, and Angel was eleven She was the only girl in her faest at ten They all stood there on the side of the street Eric and Romero also watched her closely

“Be careful,” Sal yelled

Eric so lived up the street and was Angel’s age He’d been one of her brother’s best friends for as long as she could remember Sofia had always been drawn to him, but recently she’d developed a secret crush on hiet around her brothers, and had become such a sweetheart lately Not towhat her and her friends liked to refer to as a ‘hottie’

“Yeah, and hurry up ‘cause I’ his turn

Rael and Eric were the saone by his last name He lived further down the street that crossed their cul-de-sac, but on the same block

Sofia began to peddle and stood up to get more speed, determined to show her brothers she could do it The bike flew up and over the ramp, and she turned the front tire to the side as she landed for a dra stop More impressive than she had expected, she smiled triumphantly “You see?” She looked at Alex

Alex still had that same look of disapproval on his face Sofia frowned at that

“That was cool, Sof,” Eric said “Maybe next time we can lift the ramp a little”

“No,” Alex said quickly, “that’s high enough for her”