I tried not to groan out loud as the bus screeched to a stop right outside the pool hall on Main Street. When I stepped down onto the sidewalk and heard the door close behind me I knew there was no escaping the reality of my situation. It always blows when summer comes to an end but this one seemed harder for some reason. Maybe it's because I'd just spent three months with my Grandma in Mississippi, three glorious, peaceful, restful months. No Eyeball and the Cobras to watch out for and try to talk sense to, no Dad to look after, no little brother to watch over. I felt a twinge of guilt at that last one. Chris was the only one I missed, the only one I really worried about. He wasn't as thick skinned as Eyeball and me and I'd always looked out for him. Maybe a little too much. Dad always said I was turning him into a pussy. But what would he know? His idea of being a real man is out drinking his eighteen year old son. "Still can't hang with your old man eh, Eyeball?" He'd say, laughing while my big brother threw his guts up. I'd grit my teeth and clean up the mess the next day. I flung my duffle bag over my shoulder and cursed under my breath as I headed out of town towards home. The house was probably a complete pig sty after three months. I missed Grandma already.
It usually takes about an hour to walk from the middle of town to our run down farmhouse. I was dreading the walk in this heat so I stuck my thumb out as soon as I passed the city limits. Hitching was illegal in town and the two bit cops around here have nothing better to do than pick on kids that are just trying to get from one place to another. The road was deserted though and I was just about to give up when I heard the hum of an engine headed my way. As soon as I could make out the cherry red pickup barreling down the road I pulled my thumb in and turned around. This one would just be a waste of time. I know that pick up and the guy driving it. He wouldn't give me or anyone I know the time of day. Tyler Sanders was an All American Boy and he had everything an all American boy had, good looks, good grades, unprecedented athletic ability, and parents that are rich as sin. I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't skip a beat when he slowed down next to me. I looked over at him in disbelief and maybe a bit of fear wondering just what the hell he wanted. It was easy to see why all the girls swooned over him, curly black hair the color of coal fell over his forehead just brushing thick dark eyebrows that framed a pair of baby blue eyes, eyes that twinkled when he smiled. They were twinkling now as he smiled at me.
"Sammy Chambers" His rich baritone voice was as smooth as silk.
"Tyler Sanders." I said, not able to think of anything else to say. The silence stretched on as he looked at me as if he were seeing me for the first time. It probably really was the first time he'd ever actually looked at me. I'd be willing to bet on that.
"That looks heavy, wanna lift?" He asked, looking at my duffle bag. It was pretty heavy and I still had quite a hike ahead of me. He could sense my hesitation and added, "It's just a ride Chambers, I won't bite."
"Alright." I tossed my bag into the back and climbed in.
"Unless you want me to, that is." He winked as he threw the truck into gear and hit the gas. The silence was uncomfortable so I tried to make small talk.
"How was your summer?" I asked, looking out at the barren fields.
"Pretty shitty. How about you?" He glanced over at me.
"It was good, I actually like visiting my Grandma. It gives me a break from...everything else." I babble when I'm nervous.
"The summer was good to you in more ways than one, Sammy." I was glad he kept his eyes on the road but I was sure he could feel me blushing in the seat next to him. When I saw the slow smile spread across his face I knew for a fact that he could. The air in the cab of the truck was starting to buzz with an electricity that I recognized and I was filled with a sense of dread. This wouldn't, this couldn't end well.
"The turn off is right up here." I pointed out the dirt road that I lived on.
"Do you wanna get a burger tonight?" He blurted it out so suddenly I knew he'd only just talked himself into asking.
"Shit, Tyler, really?" I ran my hand across my forehead as if the action could help me think straight. There are so many reasons why I shouldn't go out anywhere with Tyler Sanders. Hell, I shouldn't even be sitting in this truck right now. The preps and the hoods in this town have never gotten along. They stick to their side of town, we stick to ours and the bits in between are open battlegrounds. You couldn't get any preppier than Tyler fucking Sanders. And you couldn't get any more hood than a Chambers, unless you threw a Merrill into the mix.
"It's just a burger, Chambers." He flashed me that grin, the one most girls couldn't say no to. But I'm not most girls.
"It's a bad idea, Tyler. It's just asking for trouble." I said, shaking my head as we turned into my driveway.
"I've never known you to run from a little trouble." He nodded towards the four cars belonging to the Cobras parked outside the free standing garage in the middle of the field.
"Better the devil you know." I grinned as I slid out of the truck and slammed the door.
"I gotta give you that one Sam, you know plenty of devils." He looked over as the garage door opened and Ace Merrill stepped out to light a smoke.
"Maybe I'm a devil as well, ever thought about that?" I reached in the back of the truck to grab my bag.
"Hopefully you'll give me a chance to find out for myself. Grab a burger with me tonight?" He wasn't one to give up easily.
"No, Tyler. It would be a waste of time." I took a step towards the house.
"You know I'm gonna keep asking, right?" He yelled to my retreating back.
"It's your time, Sanders, waste it all you like."
I spent the next several hours cleaning the house. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it'd be. I'd have to thank Chris, I knew he'd be the only one to make an effort while I was gone. I was rummaging around the kitchen making a list of what groceries we needed, which was an easy one really, absolutely everything. These boys like to shop about as much as they like to clean. I nearly jumped out of my skin as the back door banged open so hard it sounded like a gunshot. Chris raced in at top speed, not stopping to say 'Hi' not even glancing my way as he rocketed towards his bedroom. About a second later the source of his urgency was revealed. Eyeball was close on his heels and the look on his face was murderous. Here we go, home for less than a day and already all hell's breaking loose. I dropped my list and fell in line right behind Eyeball as he rounded the corner into the hallway. Chris almost made it to his room, he would have too, if Eyeball hadn't dived for his ankle. He hit the ground hard and I heard his breath swoosh out and knew he'd be struggling to suck in a gulp of air.
"Gotcha, you little bastard." I could hear the smile in Eyeball's voice as he jerked Chris to his feet and pinned him to the wall.
"That's what you think." I grabbed a handful of Eyeball's leather Cobra jacket and yanked him as hard I could. He stumbled backwards but didn't loosen his grip on Chris's shirt. I wedged myself in between them, pushing my older brother with all my might while I helped my younger brother slither out of his shirt. He looked at me for a split second before quickly stepping into his room and shutting the door. There was legitimate fear in his eyes and I felt anger begin to pool in the pit of my stomach. I heard the lock click and I was surprised to hear the sound of his dresser being drug across the floor. He was barricading himself in. He's never been this scared of his brother, something went down this summer, something big and I need to find out what.
I rounded on Eyeball, who was glaring at me while holding Chris's shirt in one hand. I don't know if he was panting because he was out of breath or because he was just that angry.
"You need to mind your business." He gave me a shoove and my back hit the wall.
"You need to leave my little brother alone, asshole." I shoved him back and took a swing at his head. He caught my wrist and pinned me to the wall with one hand around my throat. I was dangling about an inch off the ground so I brought my knee up, pushing it into his chest as hard as I could to perch myself up a bit so I wouldn't be hanging by my neck.
"I said, mind your fucking buisness." He pulled me away from the wall a bit just so he could slam me back against it again. I grunted at the impact.
"This is my fucking buisness, dickhead. Now let me go." I croaked as his grip tightened around my vocal cords. Black spots were beginning to appear in my peripheral vision.
"Cool it Rich." Ace didn't even have to raise his voice, Eyeball dropped me like a sack of flour. I would have crumpled to the ground if king Cobra hadn't reached out and grabbed my arm. He wasn't trying to keep me from falling or anything chivalrous like that. Nope, I found myself once again with my back being shoved against the wall. I was starting to get really tired of this little charade so I pushed against him.
"I said cool it." His icy blue eyes bored right into my skull. He was pissed, majorly. So I did what I always did when Ace was in a temper. I froze. The only thing keeping me against that wall were his two fingers pressed gently against my collar bone. But truth be told, that was unnecessary, his anger alone was enough to keep me rooted in place.
"This is family business, Ace." Just because I was scared didn't mean I had the ability to keep my mouth shut. It didn't matter though, he just ignored my comment anyway.
"We've got your sister Christopher. Now get out here and get what's coming to you, unless you want her to take your place." He flipped his toothpick over in his mouth and ginned at me. Man, what I wouldn't give to shove that toothpick right down his smartass throat. I could hear Chris moving his dresser from in front of the door and Ace chuckled, certain that his prey was within reach.
"You stay put Bubba, they aint gonna do shit to me." I'm the only one that ever called him that and I hoped he'd listen to me. I jumped a little when Ace's hand slammed into the wall right by my head.
"There's a lot I could do to you, sweetheart." This was new, I'd seen that look in his eyes before. But I never thought it would be directed towards me.
"Sam?" Chris called out.
"It's okay Bubba, you stay put." I called out, glaring at Ace because I didn't know what else to say or do.
"Come on Ace," Eyeball said nervously, "My dad's gonna wake up soon." Ace ignored him and leaned towards me until his mouth was right next to my ear.
"Your hearts beatin' faster than a runaway rabbit." His breath tickled my ear but I didn't move. I just stood there, straight as a board as my heart pounded faster. It sounded so loud in my ears I was certain Ace could hear it too.
"WHAT IN THE GODDAMN HELL IS ALL THIS RACKET OUT HERE?" The sound of my dad's footsteps pounding through the living room made me and Eyeball jump. Ace stepped back from me so quick you'd think I had just burst into flames.
"Nothing Dad, the boys were just welcoming me home." I said as he rounded the corner into the hallway.
"Shoulda known you was home, Buttercup, the house looks beautiful." Dad wasn't sober but he wasn't too drunk yet either.
"Thanks Pop." I beamed at the compliment.
"We sure missed you around here." He pulled me in for a hug and I used the opportunity to give Ace and Eyeball the finger behind his back. They returned the gesture and I mouthed 'fuck you." just as Dad let me go and turned to face the others.
"I'll have the pickup running by tonight boys, you know what that means." His tone and demeanor had completely changed, it was all about business now. Ace was the one to answer.
"Time to run some Shine." He said with a grin.
"That's it. I'm going out to work on the truck. Eyeball, you go check the stills. Merrill, take Sammy into town to get some groceries. I want spaghetti for supper. After that we'll see how many runs we can make." There was a moment of silence after he finished.
"NOW" Dad barked, making everyone jump into action. Eyeball and Ace headed for the door but I hung back for a minute.
"Hey, Chris." I tapped on his door and he opened it right away. I pulled him to me and held him tight like I did when he was a little kid and had a bad dream.
"I missed you Sam." He said squeezing me hard.
"Easy there, Bubba, you're stronger than you used to be." He loosened his grip.
"Go help Dad with the pickup, he'll enjoy the company and they won't mess with you as long as he's around." I watched as Chris walked across the yard to the garage where Dad was working on his truck. He opened the door and turned to give me a wave, I waved back just as Ace pulled his black Chevy up to the front porch and blocked my view.