Chapter six- Just can't take anymore

my eyes snapped open two Saturday mornings after the Thanksgiving dinner we had with Chris and Eyeball, and for some reason I felt so tired. I don't know why, but it felt like I hadn't slept in years. I groggily rolled over to face my clock and the time that blinked back caused me to shoot up. It was almost one in the afternoon.

I fell back against the pillows and groaned, I haven't slept in this late since... ever, it was so, unnatural for me. I can't even remember what I did last night that made me so exhausted. It must have been something extremely active because I slept like a log.

I finally decided to haul my lazy butt out of bed so I could get dressed while it was still daylight. I dragged my feet along the hallway and figured Vince was up already, so I didn't bother to look in his room.

Treading down the stairs and into the kitchen, I opened the fridge and peered inside. A jug of milk, half a carton of Orange Juice, and a few cans of beer. How appetizing. I grabbed the O.J and placed it onto the counter then stood on my tip-toes to grab a glass. Being short was very irritating at times.

Walking into the living room, I fell into the seat beside Vince and took a sip of my O.J. I looked over at my brother and gave him a tired smile,

"Mornin'."

He looked at me and gave me a grin, "you're alive."

I stuck my tongue out and turned away from him. The tv screen flicked between cartoons, sports and news and eventually I got bored so I went and put my cup in the sink and headed out the door, yelling to Vince over my shoulder.

It was freezing out and I rubbed my hands together for warmth as I headed towards Chris' house. There was only two weeks until Christmas holidays and we hadn't had one flake of snow. Just cold temperatures and colder wind.

I pulled the neck of my woolen coat together as I walked up the path. When I reached the top step and was about to knock the door opened and Chris stepped out.

"Oh, hey Chris."

He looked surprised, "hey Kay. I was just about to swing by your place."

I grinned at him, "great minds think alike, I guess." I linked arms with him, "c'mon."

He couldn't help but follow me as I tugged him along.

Last winter had been a horrible one, it snowed more than it ever had and boy had it been cold. Because of Chris' financial problems, his family couldn't afford him a winter jacket. So the four of us-Gordie, Vern, Teddy and I- had all pitched in to buy him an oversized wool lined jean jacket that was sure to last him a few years.

The smile that had laced over his lips that Christmas, well, it had been more than worth it.

-

We sat in a booth at the Blue Point, each with a mug of hot chocolate warming our frozen hands. To anyone who didn't know us, they might have thought that we were a couple.

"It's fucking freezing out there," Chris threw into the conversation at random.

I couldn't help but laugh at his facial expression. It looked like he was blaming the steaming mug for the weather. Or he was trying to make it explode with his mind.

"What are you doing?" I snorted.

"Glaring at the cup."

"You look constipated," I suggested. Well that's what he looked like.

"Shut up!" He laughed, throwing a sugar packet at me.

I giggled and threw it back. We were just two kids having fun. So shoot us.

-

We were walking down the street, instead of us walking around the diner we snuck through the back and walked behind the buildings. Chris had told me about Gordie shooting the garbage can before the Ray Brower excursion. I sure got a kick out of that one.

Obviously, Lady Luck was not on our side today because when we turned the corner, we came face to face with Ace and Eyeball.

I felt Chris start to turn around to walk the other way but I pulled on his arm to stop him.

"Aw, it's the happy couple." I watched as Ace's face turn into a sneer. Eyeball taunted his brother by making kissy faces at him.

I looked at Chris and gave him a cautious look, I watched as his eyes narrowed. Then his lips parted to say something.

"We aren't a couple," he growled out.

"Could have fool us," Eyeball chuckled.

"Anything can fool you, Richie," Chris said cooly.

Eyeball's eyes narrowed and he started forward, Chris' shoulders squared and I took this as a sign of danger.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I butted in, my hands flying up as I stepped in between the two brothers.

"Chris, I think that's enough for today. You can finish this battle later."

"Yeah, listen to you girlfriend, Chambers," Ace smirked.

Chris clenched his fist that had been near my waist, "she's not my girlfriend, she's my friend. Nothing more."

I struggled to keep up with his lips and I had a feeling he would go to far. Pressing Ace's buttons was not a good idea.

"You wouldn't even know if you had a friend that was a girl. Considering you use them up then throw them away like a lip, flavourless piece of gum."

I had moved out of the way to see Chris's lips and I paled a little. Ace's features hardened and he swiftly moved towards us. He stopped when he was inches away from Chris.

"I suggest you take that Back, Chambers." Ace's lips barely moved so I had great difficulty figuring that out.

Chris was defiant, he didn't have to say 'no'. His silence was enough. The next thing I knew, Chris was thrown to the ground and Ace was pummelling him. I stared at them, horrified. Chris was trying his hardest to fight back, but he wasn't getting anywhere.

I looked at Eyeball who stood there and watched. He was smirking too.

"Help him!" I cried out.

"Why should I?" Eyeball sneered.

I gaped at him. I couldn't believe him, his own brother was getting beaten and he did nothing.

"He's your brother!"

Eyeball merely shrugged.

I looked back at the two on the ground. Chris barely had any strength left. I gasped when Chris took a fist to the ribs.

"Stop it!" I cried out.

They didn't stop.

"Get off of him!"I cried out again.

Ace didn't even acknowledge me.

"Ace!" I screamed at him, shoving his shoulder.

That got him to look at me.

"Enough." My voice shook, "you're hurting him."

I watched Ace stand and Chris sat up, but struggled all the same. I pulled Chris to his feet, "are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're bleeding!" I gasped when I noticed the trickle of blood from his head.

"It's fine, it doesn't hurt."

I saw him wince.

"What is with you!? And not just you but all of the male species. Why can't you just admit you're hurt? You just got beaten up by Ace Merrill and you 'aren't hurt'? You're bleeding and bruised!"

I turned to face the other two.

"How could you do that to him?" I cried out at Ace, "you're twice his size and much stronger than him. You're nothing but a bully."

I was tired of this rivalry. I was sick to death of having to fix my boys battle wounds. I hated having to see my friends hurt. If it hurts them to obtain the bruises and cuts, what do you think it does to me. I hate seeing them, because they're evidence of violence.

"And you, Eyeball." I spoke again, turning to him, "just standing there watching. Not even helping him? I mean, you're never home so Chris is always taking the heat from your father!"

I glared at them both, "it's absolutely disgusting."

The two cobra boys stared at me and I flushed a little.

"I'm so sick and tired of all the fights, I hate having to play the nurse in all of this. I could thump the both of you because you're acting like a bunch of children! I am not your parent, I can't keep separating you two!"

"Then don't," Ace stated like it was so obvious.

"If I don't you'd kill him because you don't know when to stop. I really, really think you need to learn to accept the fact that there will always be someone who will stand up to you, Ace."

"I'm sick to death of you two always fighting, and not just you two but all of you, it's your gang against my friends. If this is still about Ray Brower, well I have some advice for all of you. GROW UP and GET A LIFE."

I gave them all one final glare then spun on my heel, walking the opposite way I had come.