Chapter Nine

It was late, and it was really humid. Sleep wasn't coming to me so I stared up at the ceiling of my room, the blanket tossed on the floor and the sheets tangled around me. I listened quietly to the night sounds, people out on the streets drinking and fighting, Erica tossing in her bed mumbling unknown words in her sleep, the soft tick of the clock over the door way, Dog walking into the bathroom to lay down on the cool tile, all this was common sounds, but the sound that came next sent me flying out of bed.

I hadn't given much mind that Colby hadn't come home, even in his senior year of school he didn't care much about school, but as there was a loud screeching of breaks and a smashing trash can I knew there was something wrong. All the sounds stopped, and all new sounds came. I heard people shouting at each other making demands, the dog rushed to the door barking loudly and panicky, my mother running towards the window and letting out a screech before opening the door… Something was wrong, very wrong. I ran to Erica's bedside to wake her but her gray eyes already glowed in the night and she was flying out the bedroom door dragging me behind her before I knew it.

We ran barefooted down the steps, our feet not even skimming the well used splintered stairs. I slammed into Erica as she exited the apartment building, I was about to scolded her but I froze as well. My brother's prized sports car was parked halfway on the grass, halfway on the street; a trash can laying all the way down the block it was hit with such force. All the gang, except Joe, stood in a half circle around the passenger side door where my mom leaned into dabbing my brothers face, even from where I stood in the darkness how bad his face was beaten. The gang cleared away from the car and my mom jumped in the driver's seat and roared away towards the hospital. The dog whimpered at my side but I was too much in shock to notice anything else.

Steve's black Camaro's engine roared as we raced down the city streets. We were packed in there, Steve in the driver's seat, Chris in the passengers, Donny, Mickey, Erica and I packed in the back. I didn't complain, nobody talked, I was to busy worrying about my brother. Police sirens roared from behind us and I glanced at Steve who whirled the car around, down an alley way, coming out on the other side of town. But his speed didn't break, the car was going faster then I thought it could, faster then I thought Steve dared to run it! The police where lost easily, and in no time the car jerked to a halt, leaving a giant skid mark in front of the hospital. I don't remember if Steve bothered taking the keys out of his car but we where all out of it before it could come to a complete stop.

A nurse made us wait in a waiting room and I was surprised we all listened. As we all sat, each one of us doing something to keep is calm. Erica chewed her bottom lip, I bounced my leg up and down, Donny and Mickey chewed on their nails, Chris fiddle with his pocket, Steve stared ahead beating his fingers against the chair. Erica jabbed me in my ribs, I looked at her with question but she turned to Chris. It was too late for me to understand eye langue so I went back to bounce my leg up and down. She did it again and I followed her eyes to Chris's hands. His knuckles where swollen and there looked to be a reddish coloring on them.

"What happen?" I finally asked, my voice was low and scratchy. All of there eyes came on me, each of them just as worried. It wasn't just a friend they where worrying about, it was their child hood buddy, a family member, and now their gang leader was lying in a hospital bed and I didn't even know why. "A bunch of guys jumped him, Chris happen to come by when they where about to leave." Steve said solemnly. I didn't say anything but let my gaze rest on the door. "He'll be alright." Erica whispered.

It wasn't long before my mother and doctor came out and I went in. Colby sat in the bed, grinning at me. "Hey Hail." he said. I barely recognized him. His face was swollen and around his right eye was bloody and puffy. That was the worse I ever seen my brother beat. "Colby?" I asked, my voice was quiet, like a squeak. "Yea it's me, do I look that bad?" he said motioning me over. I sat at the foot of his bed. "I guess, what happen?" I asked as he hugged me. "Aw, that guy had a dozen friends jump me when I was coming home from Jay's." he said like it was nothing.

"A dozen of em?"

"Yea like eight, all jumped out of their fancy car. You know I woulda beat them if there was four less you know that? Don't go thinking your big brother can't fight k." He said.

"Chris found you?"

"Yea, after seven of em knocked me out the one I fought the other day and Dingo's waltz over and starts hitting on me. Chris knocked him flat against the ally wall, then they all left I guess figuring more of us would pop up, Chris picked me up and put me in my car I don't remember the rest."

"Why weren't you in the car?"

"Chris had it; he was driving home some broad he met in it."

I sighed softly, just happy that he was alright. "Mom took your car and sped you to the hospital… Steve was going so fast brining the gang here, we had the cops on our tail for a second or so but he lost him really quick." I said.

I suddenly wondered if my brother would look any different once the swelling went down, would he still be the best looking greaser in Tulsa or would he be just a regular guy that had his face banged in a little too much. "Hailey." he said softly, bringing me out of my thoughts, "I can't see out of half my right eye." I looked at him, "Should I get the doctor!" I said jumping up. He grabbed my arm, "No Hailey, I'm blind… I won't ever get to see out of it."

I didn't go to school the next day, I didn't get any sleep. The doctor wanted to keep my brother a little longer and since it was already late when all the commotion started, it was around six am when we finally started our way home. My mom drove, every once in a while glancing over to Colby who stared out the window. He acted like nothing had happened, and I decided if he wasn't worried I shouldn't be worried but it didn't work and I was. Would Colby still be able to walk the streets on his own, lead a gang, fight in rumbles, would he be able to do anything he did before?

So a big thing just happened, not tha tbig but yea its big, not the main conflict in the story though... just shows that the Socs and Greaser war isn't getting any better a generation or so down the line... R&R please...