Chapter Two
I was walking down the sidewalk, over near the 'bad' part of town, as my brother calls it. I ran into Orange. He was with his friend Cola.
"Hi Orange,"I said,"Hi Cola."
Cola waved.
"What are you doing here,"Orange exclaimed.
"What do you mean,"I asked.
"Out here,"he said,"In broad daylight, where someone could see us. Your brother could see us! And if he sees you with me..."
"He doesn't know,"I told him,"He just knows I'm going for a walk. Besides, you know he's crazy!"
"What if he followed you", Orange was looking around suspiciously,"J..just like last time."
Cola pulled out his switchblade. There was fire in his eyes.
"If they come near us again buddy,"Cola said to Orange,"I'll cut them open."
"Please don't hurt him Cola," I begged, "Don't hurt my brother. He's...he's all I have!"
Cola put his blade away. I didn't know I'd started to cry until Orange wiped the tears off my face and hugged me.
"I'm just bluffing,"Cola assured me,"I won't hurt your brother. I'm sorry."
"It's okay,"I said.
I said goodbye to them and walked back home. Cola was the only one of the Soda's who approved of or even knew about our relationship.
When I got home, my brother instantly stood up from the couch.
"Where were you," he asked suspiciously.
"I told you before I left,"I said," Out. On a walk."
"Right...,"he said, still suspicious, "Did you go see the Soda's?"
"Maybe", I said sarcastically.
"I told you to stay away from them",He shouted,"They're no good!"
"They're just people,"I said,"Like you and me! Maybe if you'd got to know them, you'd.."
"They're scum"He interrupted,"And if I see them on this side of town, I'll kill them! I don't care what you say! What would mom say if she saw you with.."
"No", I screamed, "You leave her out of this! Don't you know how pointless fighting is! One of these days, you'll get a taste of your own medicine!"
I went outside, slammed the front door, and sat on the porch. I remembered our parents. Our father had left when I was a year old, so I don't remember him. Our mother died in a car wreck a couple years ago. Don has been taking care of me since he was 18.
My brother walked out the door a little later. He had his car keys and I saw his blade in his pocket. He liked to carry his knife in fights.
"Where are you going", I asked, even though i already knew.
"Out", he said.
I knew he was looking for the Soda's, especially Orange. I knew he'd kill the first one he saw. I decided to run to the park, seeing as the park is a popular hangout spot. The park is between our neighborhood and theirs, so it isn't really claimed. My brother, however, beats up any "greaser" he sees there. His car was gone when I got there, but I saw something lying on the ground. As I walked closer, I saw that it was a person, a kid. I knelt down next to him. His face was bloody.
''Hey,"I said carefully,"Are you okay?"
"Yeah...I guess,"he said quietly.
"Did..."I started,"Did my brother do this to you?"
"Who's your brother," he asked,"Was he driving a red car?"
I nodded. "His name is Don,"I said,"What's your name?"
He told me that his name was Grape and that he was part of the Soda gang.
"He...said something about,"Grape started,"Us staying away from his sister.
"I'm sorry,"I said,"My brother's real violent."
"It's not your fault,"He told me.
"Do you want to go to the hospital or something,"I asked as I helped him up.
"No," he said, "Just take me to Soda's house, I'll be fine."
I put his arm around my shoulder to help him walk. I studied him closely. He had greasy hair. His face was swollen from Don punching him.
"What happened exactly", I asked.
His voice was still a little weak.
"I was sitting on a bench in the park", He started, "When this guy, your brother, in a red car drives up. He gets out and walks towards me, yelling and threatening me, saying I'm on his side of town and to stay away from his sister. I tried telling him that i didn't know his sister,but he wasn't buying it. I really thought I could take him, but he was too strong. After he beat me up, he pulled out a knife and held it against my throat. He said 'stay the hell away from her. you and all of your damn friends!' I shouldn't even be talking to you right now."
He was crying a little.
"Hey, it's all right,"I told him.
Grape directed me to Soda's house. When we got there, Orange and an older guy with long brownish hair and large muscles(who I guessed was Soda), were sitting on the couch. They got up and looked at me.
"Soda,"I asked.
"Yeah,"He said,"Who are you?"
Soda was trying to stare me down. I was used to this because Don did it all to time. I returned the look, even though I was a little bit shorter than him.
"That's not important,"I told him", Grape is hurt!"
"Who did this,"Orange asked, and ran to Grape.
"Don,"I said,"The other gang leader."
Orange and I helped Grape onto the couch. Soda patted Grape's head.
"It'll be okay kid,"Soda said, then looked Orange,"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch!"
"No,"I screamed and shoved him,"Don't you touch him!"
I must have caught him off guard, because he fell over.
"Who the hell are you,"He demanded, as he stood up.
"Don's sister,"I said,"Stephanie."
He took out a switchblade. I gulped and stepped back. He wasn't looking at me, he was looking out the door. He walked past me and toward the door. Soda looked back at Grape and sighed.
"I never should have let you in the gang,"He said,"You're just a kid."
"Where are you going,"Orange asked.
"To get Cola,"Soda said,"And Cherry. We're going after Don!"
Soda slammed the door and left. Orange left the room and came back with a rag for Grape.
"They're going to kill my brother," I said,"He's all I've got left!"
I was crying. Orange hugged me.
"It's okay," He said,"They'll probably just beat him up or something. Your brother's tough... he can handle it."
Grape sat up. He had wiped the blood off his face.
"How do you know each other,"Grape asked.
Orange explained that we were dating.
"Oh. Terrific,"Grape said sarcastically.
"Are you okay,"Orange asked.
"Yeah,"He said,"But my head hurts."
I could see that Grape was still shaken.
"He was wrong,"Grape said,"Soda was wrong. I'm not a kid. I'm just as tough as the rest of you."
"Maybe,"Orange said,"But you know Soda. You're the baby of the group. He's really protective of you."
"Hey,"I interrupted,"I think I should go home, maybe see if Don's there."
"All right,"Orange said,"See you later."
"Bye Orange,"I said,"Bye Grape."
"Goodbye,"Grape said.
When I got home, I didn't see my brother. His car was gone. I called for him, but there was no answer. I was really tired, so I lied down on the couch, but couldn't sleep. I sat up and tried to watch TV. I couldn't watch TV because I was too worried. I decided to go out and look for Don. A couple blocks down the road, I ran into Orange and Grape. Grape looked a lot better. He had a black eye.
"What's wrong,"I asked.
"It's Don,"Orange looked down,"Soda found your brother. Cola, Cherry and him started beating him up. He tried to pull his knife on them and..."
He paused.
"...and Cola stabbed him,"Grape finished.
Orange nodded.
"Where is he,"I demanded.
"At the hospital,"Orange said,"One of his friends, Luke I think, found him not too far from the hospital, and took him there. Cola called and told me. He was.. crying."
"Let's go,"I said.
I followed Orange and Grape to the hospital. When we got there, I saw Cola in the waiting room, wide eyed and shaking. I went to the room my brother was in.
"He's lost a lot of blood,"the doctor said,"He's very weak."
I stood next to Don.
"Stephanie,"Don said weakly.
"Yeah,"I said,"It's me."
"You were right," he said,"about fighting being useless and getting a taste of my own medicine. If I don't make it through this..."
"No,"I interrupted,"You'll be okay! I love you."
He smiled weakly.
"I love you too,"he said.
I kissed his cheek and went back to the waiting room. This can't be real, I thought, it has to be a dream. Yeah, that's right, a dream. A nightmare. At any moment, I'll wake up and be back at home with Don and...
I snapped out of it. Some of Don's friends showed up. They went to see him, then came back into the waiting room and started to argue with Soda and his gang. Cola walked up to me.
"I...I'm so sorry,"he was crying,"I didn't mean to. I just got scared."
I remembered what Cola said earlier "If they come near us again buddy, I'll cut them open", and the fire in his eyes when he'd said it. That fire was gone now, extinguished by tears. I wondered vaguely if the fire was there when he stabbed my brother.
"You said you wouldn't hurt him,"I yelled.
"I know",he said,"I'm sorry...I really didn't mean to"
I knew he genuinely meant it, and he really was sorry, but i was infuriated. I hated him. I slapped him. The room grew quiet.
"We're gonna have a fight,"Soda said,"Our gang against yours."
"No,"I screamed,"Don't you see where fighting has gotten us! My brother could die and all you can think about is fighting!"
I fell to the ground, crying my eyes out. Orange put his arm around me for comfort.
"He can't die,"I cried,"He just can't."
I stood up and walked to Cola.
"If he dies,"I threatened,"You die."
I ran outside and back toward my house. Orange caught up with me.
"Where are you going,"he asked.
"Home,"I told him,"I might leave tomorrow. I don't think I can take it anymore."
"But you can't leave,"he said,"What if your brother comes back and sees you're gone. He'll be worried."
"I won't leave until tomorrow night,"I assured him,"If I even decide to. I need some sleep first."
"Shouldn't you stay with your brother,"he said,"It might be dangerous by yourself."
