There Goes the Neighborhood
Opening the cedar chest that held all of our best memories from
Childhood, I tried to fight back tears. It was time for me to make my
final decision about a dress. If I wanted to get married around
Christmas. My brothers surrounded me now offering silent support, and
I pulled out the smaller items on the top, cards we'd made as kids,
teeth we'd lost and various other knickknacks our parents had wanted
to preserve over the years. Biting my lips as I reached the bottom,
and pulled out the sealed box that held my Mothers wedding dress, I
looked to Soda who squeezed my shoulder.
"Its okay Lovey, take your time, we're all here for you," He
whispered smiling as I began to open the package with trembling hands.
Pausing as I revealed the white cloth I paused, almost afraid to touch
it.
"She would have wanted you to have it baby, it's why she preserved it
so well," Darry said smiling sadly as he brushed a stray hair away
from my face
"I can remember when you and Soda were born, she was so excited about
having a girl in the family."
"Go try it on sissy," Pony said making me smile. He had grown up so
much over the past years, and I knew wherever they were.
Pony's pov
We couldn't hold back the gasps that escaped when Love shyly made her
way in to the living room, looking like a carbon copy of mom when she
was younger. I had never realized how much she looked like mom until
just then. With her flame red hair, and delicate face.
"How so I look?" She asked eyeing us warily.
"Like Mom," Soda said chocking as we all teared up.
Our parents had been gone for more than two years, but if we were
Really honest without selves we were just now picking up the pieces,
and moving on with our lives. Finally becoming the people they'd
raised us to be. Darry was so much like Dad, taking all the
responsibility on his broad shoulders, and keeping us on the right
track. Soda was like mom with his need for peace in the family, and
lazy grin. He had Dad's never ending supply of energy. I had always
thought Love was more like dad with her bubbly personality, and
humor, but more and more she was becoming like mom; with her gift for
listening to others, witty humor, and beautiful smile.
Tim's Pov
Looking up as the screen door banged shut I frowned at the horrified
expression on Curly's face. Pushing away the bills for the wedding
I'd been looking over I gave him my full attention.
"What's going on Curly?" I asked all ready shoving my arms in to my
leather jacket and heading towards the door.
"The Spiders decided to make their move today," he said pale as I
swore.
"What happened?"
"They're over on the Brumely turf starting a fight, and they aint
playing fair, if you know what I mean."
"Blades?" I asked liking the situation even less.
" And chains, and there's more of them than there are Brumley," he
said making me nod.
There weren't many Brumley boys left it was why they hung so tight
with us these days.
Flipping up the collar I sneered as I put my game face on. We needed to stomp them good, and we needed to stop them now. Best to squash things before they had a chance to damage our rep. The Spiders were bad news, and I didn't want their kind of activity around Tulsa. They had been an all right crew until that asshole Max took over.
"You put a call out to the boys?" I asked knowing Curly knew how to
run things by now considering how often I'd been in and out of jail.
" Yeah, they're all ready on their way."
Hoping in to my Chevy we made the drive in three minutes flat.
Screeching to a halt my mouth fell open at the sight before me. It
was like something out of a movie, hoods everywhere jumping the
Brumely boys. Holding their arms behind their back while they whaled
on them, and struck them across the back with chains. Breathing a
sigh of relief at the sight of my crew arriving just behind me.
"Listen boys, we need to get our point across, that we don't want
them here, and that we're not some gang they can come in and knock
off, these boys are in to some really bad stuff, and I don't want
them roaming around Tulsa, you dig?" I asked shaking my head as I
reached in my back pocket for my blade.
"Use any means necessary to win today, we can't lose face," I said
refusing to think of how Love would react as we all rushed in to the
fray
Bridget POV
Pacing nervously I packed the last of my over night bag before
glancing at myself in the mirror. Darry and I had been going strong
for the past few months, and there was no doubt in my months were
tonight was going to be a defining moment in our relationship. Love
had taken a trip out of town a few hours ago to get some final pieces
for the wedding. She was crazy about her fiancée, but I had yet to
meet him. Partially because I did my best to avoid him. I knew who
Tim Shepard was, and he would sure as hell know who I was, or had
been the moment he laid eyes on me. The boys were all headed over to
Bucks for a party, and it was going to be just me, and Darry. I had
to tell him the truth tonight.
Things had been awesome so far, I mean even my Dad liked him. My
brothers kept their mouths shut which was more than they'd normally
do when I had someone. I think the fact that Darry could probably
take them both had a lot to do with. I'd told my parents I was going
to a party, and probably going to stay over night with Love. Squaring
my shoulders I made my way out of the house. It was now or never. I
mean he hadn't flinched at the fact that my mom was black, so how bad
could what he had to say actually be?
Darry
Nervous I put the last minute touches on the house as I prepared a
dinner for two. I had been with Brig for over 4 months, and I knew
that she was the one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life.
The thought of her with any one else ever made me want to punch a
hole thorough the wall, and that was not like me. I was slow to anger
most times, and pretty laid back, but when it came to Brig everything
was different. I lived for the time we spent together, and I hated
saying goodbye to her at the end of the day. She spent a lot of her
time over at the house, and I normally picked her up from work and
school. At times we did things with her family too. It was nice to
feel like I had parental figure in my life again.
There was something about her mom and dad that reminded me of her
own, and they always looked happy to see me when I stopped by.
Opening the dark blue velvet case once more I smiled at the modest
marquee cut diamond I knew she'd love before slipping it back in to
my pocket. I just hoped she felt the same way. We'd been through a
lot since we started dating. Dealing with the prejudices of other
people when they realized she was mixed, and her run in with the
Soc's. Sometimes she even spent the night here, having gotten really
close with Love. I had called a family meeting a few days ago to let
them know I was going to propose, and they had all gone crazy. They
wanted her to be a part of the family just as much I wanted to marry
her.
"Hi beautiful," I said smiling as I took her over night bag and set
beside the couch.
"Hey Dar," She said wrapping her arms around me as I said a proper
hello with a kiss.
"I hope you're hungry, cause I made us dinner," I said wrapping an
arm around her waist as I led her to the candle lit table.
"Its beautiful baby," She said starring at me with awe.
"You deserve it," I said running a hand across her cheek as I pulled
out her chair.
Brig
I was completely floored by the extravagant display he had created
for me. No one had ever treated me the way he did. Like I was something special to be treasured. He opened doors, pulled out chairs, and threatened any one that stepped out of line with me. I was terrified that once he knew about my past he would never be able to see me the same. I mean he knew I'd had it tough, but I'd never gone in to more detail, and he never pushed me to tell him. He knew I would tell him when the time was right. It looked like now was that time.
Dinner was delicious as usual; he had made my favorite, mince meat
pie. We carried on a light conversation carefully evading the things
we both wanted to say to preserve the moment. As he cleared away the
plates, I actually felt nauseous. He was the best thing that had ever
happened to me, and loosing him would kill me.
"Darry, there's something I need to tell you," I whispered nervous as
he turned his attention.
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about too Brig, you
first," he said smiling that million dollar smile that turned me to
mush.
"Its… its about my life before I came here," I whispered glancing at
the floor.
I knew he had some ideal, he'd seen the scars I still bore on my back, but never said anything.
"Okay sweet heart, take your time," He whispered making me hate myself more for waiting so long to tell him.
He wanted a good girl, someone un touched by the harsh lives we
lived, someone pure, and I was the farthest thing from that. Fighting
back the tears I looked up to lock gazes with him.
"I'm not who you think I am," I whispered launching in to my tale
quickly before I lost my nerve.
Darry's Pov
I felt my stomach clench as I listened to Brig's story. Just the
thought of someone abusing her like that on a daily basis made me see
red. I knew she was scared knowing about her past would change my
feelings for her, but I could care less. So what she had run a crew a
while back, it had nothing to do with who she was now, or what she
wanted to do with her life. Wiping away her tears as she finished
her story , I moved her to sit on my lap.
" Brig none of that matters," I said smiling as she looked up at me
with wide eyes.
" I love you and I know exactly who you are, if I ever see this Max
I'll kill him, but other than that…" I trailed off as I shook my
head and we shared a smile.
" I brought you here tonight to ask you something important," I said
rubbing her back gently as she curled her self up against my chest.
Brig
Still shocked that he had taken everything so well. I let myself
relax in his embrace as I listened to his deep baritone.
"What Dar?" I asked completely lulled in to a false sense of security, until he dropped a bomb.
"Will you become my wife Brigit O' Brien."
"What!" I asked jerking back as I looked up to meet his eyes.
"Will you marry me?" he asked pulling out a ring case as my mouth
dropped open.
"M- Marry… you want to marry me even after everything I just told
you," I whispered crying as he nodded.
"I want you to be mine for good Brig." He said brushing my hair away
from my face.
"B- B B-ut what about kids Dar, can you handle yellow babies, what if
they come out more like my mom."
"Then I'll love them just the same, and have plenty of fun making
them," he said silencing me with his lips on mine.
"Well?" He asked making me smirk, he was never one for patience when
it came to important matters.
"Yes I'll marry you Darrel Shane Curtis JR," I said laughing hysterically as he picked me up, and spun me around.
Ten minutes later out clothes were littering the floor of his
bedroom, and I was seeing a side of Darry I never imagined existed.
Who would have thought him of all people would be so wild?
Darry's POV
Rolling over slowly I watched as Brig eased herself in to a sitting
position.
"You ok?" I asked wincing as she moved stiffly.
"I'll be fine, I'm going to hop in the showers before any one else
gets in there," She said smiling as she pulled one of my shirts over
her head. Watching her movements I paled as I spotted a tattoo of a
spider on her back.
"Brig?"
"Yeah?" She asked standing slowly.
"What was the name of that crew you were telling me about?" I asked
thinking back to recent conversations I'd had with Love about a new
crew causing trouble for Tim.
"The Spiders, why?" She asked taking in my pale expression.
" They're here in town, and giving Tim hell," I whispered suddenly
frightened. If they were here Max would be here, and he didn't sound
like the type to let a grudge go.
"The Spiders are here!" She yelled suddenly panicking as she began to
pace.
"If they find me, He will kill me I know it, he always said he'd kill me before he'd see me with anyone else," She said more to herself, like she had forgotten that I was there.
"Brig, he aint gonna touch you ever again," I said whispering to her
as I stood, and pulled her in to my arms.
"Me and the boys will handle this, I'll go and talk to Tim now."