Hello people! I should be updating this story pretty regularly since I have the plot completely hammered down in my head. Now, you know how there's something around twenty people that are just called Tribe? I've taken some and given them names, but I need four more. So please review and offer suggestions. Happy Reading!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot! And Rachel!
Hair
Chapter 2
The Tribe
Claude moved towards Berger and Sheila where they quietly stood by the air-mattress where Rachel lay. She had not stirred since a day ago, when she'd shown them how sarcastic she could be and told them what had happened. According to Sheila, the long sleep was probably from blood loss, but Berger wasn't sure. "She'll be okay," Claude murmured as he gazed at the sleeping girl. "Yeah, I know," Berger's voice was unconvinced. "What if she never recovers?" "Of course I'll recover, Banana-Berger." Weakly, Rachel struggled to support herself on the tree. Blearily, she gazed up at Berger and smiled tiredly. "You've been asleep for a whole day." Rachel shrugged, "After all that blood, I'm not surprised." "Has this..." Claude swallowed hard. "Happened before?" Berger finished. Rachel shifted her gaze and didn't answer. "I'll take that as a yes," Sheila looked sick. "How can they do this to you?" Claude asked. Rachel looked sad and sighed, "I don't know, Clau-di-o." She turned it into a sing-song rhyme as Claude glared at her for the nickname. Rachel only laughed, then doubled over gasping in pain. "Note to self," She muttered. "Don't laugh with bruised ribs." She glanced up and caught Berger's worried gaze. "I'm fine. I just forgot that bruised ribs lead to pain." Sheila shifted, uncomfortable with the mention of the injuries, especially since she thought she might know Nicholas and Justin. Zak she wasn't sure about but her parents had used to have friends and they had a son called Nicholas. He'd be their age by now.
Rachel struggled back into an upright position and gingerly attempted to stand. "Are you sure that's a good idea, Rachel?" Claude's voice was cautious but Rachel didn't answer. She leaned forward a bit and took one step. Immediately, she crashed to the ground and hissed in pain as her bruised ribs made harsh contact with the grass. She pulled herself up again and this time, Claude and Berger supported her and she didn't crash. Humiliated, Rachel pushed the boys away and then fell to the floor as soon as she attempted a step. She looked ready to scream in frustration and she started to force herself up again. "Stop." Sheila's voice was commanding and she would not take no for an answer. Rachel glared at Sheila from her own curled up spot on the earth. "Why?" Her voice was like ice. "Because you're obviously not strong enough yet." Claude had joined on Sheila's behalf and Berger agreed with them both. She looked up at them, torn. It was apparent that she was unused to receiving care from anyone. "Come on, get back on the mattress." Claude coaxed, holding out his hand to her. Warily, Rachel took it and allowed herself to be pulled up and gently replaced on the bed. "So... Do you guys just live here alone or what?" Rachel's question seemed to confuse Berger. Gently, Sheila nudged him and murmured something in his ear. Immediately, his face smoothed back into as smile. "No, we don't live here alone." Berger gazed at her and then asked, "Do you want to meet them?" Rachel didn't hesitate long, "Sure!"
Berger howled, communicating that he needed the Tribe next to him. A few minutes later, an answering howl echoed out of the trees. "Woof," Claude grinned. Then there was a wild, insane-sounding scream. "Nikki," Sheila groaned. Minutes later, the entire group burst into the miniature clearing. "Okay, people we have a visitor!" The Tribe calmed slightly but some seemed to have a permanent crazy look in their eye. "One at a time please!" Rachel said from her half sitting position on the mattress. The first that came forward had dirty blond hair about to his shoulders and a fur thing over both shoulders. "I'm Neil, but call me Woof." He then howled and Rachel winced backward slightly. "I'm Rachel." And Woof grinned before moving aside. "I'm Hud," The tall black man said easily as Rachel inclined her head. "I'm Dionne," She was still one of the few with a faintly crazy look in her eye. "Er... Sorry about her, she's kind of high." Said a black-haired innocent looking girl. Rachel laughed and grimaced fleetingly. "Oh, I'm Crissy. Dionne'll be nicer when she's not as high." Crissy did a quick mocking of a curtsey and moved aside. "I'm Jeanie," Said a pregnant, young, woman with brown hair. "Hi." Rachel looked at the baby bump with a question in her blue eyes. Jeanie grimaced. "The guy's not someone you want to meet, trust me." Rachel nodded and looked towards the next two people. They were obviously twins and they were high on something. They had black hair and glazed green eyes. One of them was giggling nonstop and the other spinning slightly on the spot. Sheila groaned. "Well, these two lunatics are Dawn and Nikki and they're almost always high." In a quieter voice she explained. "They had a triplet, Jack. He got drafted and was killed." Rachel winced in sympathy and gently, Woof and Hud guided the wrecked twosome away. Rachel gazed after them with a wistful look. "What's wrong Rachel?" Berger asked. Rachel sighed, "I had a brother too, but he went the same route." Jeanie gently reached out and touched the blonde's shoulder in sympathy. Rachel gave her a half-smile in thanks for it. A rather short dark haired teen stepped forward but unlike most of the Tribe, he wasn't smiling. "I'm Treck." His voice was quiet and he seemed rather shy. Rachel smiled at him kindly and he hesitantly returned the smile before stepping aside. The last person had dark brown, almost black eyes and black hair. She seemed to be very easy-going overall. "I'm Lexi," Her smile seemed infectious and Rachel couldn't resist grinning back. "That's my Tribe!" Berger announced and jumped forward again. "What do you think Rachel? Gonna join us?" Claude asked.
For a long moment, Rachel didn't answer. Her blue gaze flitted over the entire group before she hesitantly nodded. "Okay," She looked at them all again for a moment. "Oh but, um..." She blushed a bit. "No sex?" Claude asked with amusement. Rachel nodded and glanced at him with relief. "Yeah," She examined her fingertips. "I just-" She swallowed. "I just want a family." She looked at them again. "That's all. Just a family." "Then we'll give you a family, Rachel," Jeanie's voice was soft and gentle as she touched her shoulder. Rachel smiled for a moment then she frowned. "How many of you are still going to school?" Berger blinked at the sudden question but raised his hand along with Claude, Sheila, Crissy, Treck, and Lexi. "Are you all attending school on Monday, tomorrow?" Berger shifted guiltily and the others avoided her blue gaze. "You WILL attend right?" Seeing her gaze flicker with rage everyone gave a quick nod. Rachel smirked slightly then leaned back into the pillows and closed her eyes, indicating the conversation finished
"Okay, who is she?" Woof asked as soon as it appeared that Rachel was asleep. "She's someone who goes to my high school," Berger looked at her for a moment. "She came here badly wounded and reminded me of a promise I made to her a long time ago, when she beat Nicholas up for crashing one of the rallies." "Do you know her?" This question was from Dionne, who clearly wasn't as high as she had seemed to be. Berger shook his head. "Not well. Then again, I don't think anyone knew her well." "Why?" Jeanie asked. Berger shrugged, "I'm not sure. It seemed like whenever you wanted to talk to her, she wasn't there, or she was there but you didn't know what to say. She was, probably still is, good at vanishing when she had to." He smirked for a moment then told them the story about Nicholas calling Rachel a bitch. Most of the Tribe began to howl with laughter at Rachel's nerve and wit. "And that's not even the best part!" "What's the best part?" Claude asked, humoring his best friend. "Nicholas couldn't find her for three days afterward. I heard him griping about it at lunch." "What happened three days afterward?" Treck asked softly. "She confronted him about calling some girl a bookworm. She defended the loners. All of them. Even me." Berger's voice was uncharacteristically sad. "What happened?" Hud sounded very cautious. "It's easier to show you." Sheila said softly before pulling up the sleeping Rachel's sleeve and exposing the disgusting scar on her arm. Cries of outrage and disgust echoed around the clearing as soon as everyone managed to read the words, Hippie Lover. "Shush!" Jeanie said as Rachel stirred slightly. Immediately, everyone fell silent. "Who would DO this?" Woof whispered, sounding like he would have far rather been shouting. "I'm guessing Zak did it. He was the only one with a knife and he was the biggest opposition to the rallies." Berger was staring at the scar, sad and angry that someone would do this to another human being. Like Claude said, it was almost unimaginable. And it was because of him. All because of his stupid little rallies. "Stop." The firm voice broke him out of his thoughts. "But-" "No Berger. You promised her that you would not blame yourself." Berger gazed at Sheila, for a moment. "Do you blame me?" Sheila shook her head. "It was her choice to step between the loners and the bullies. You had no part." "Yeah Banana-Berger." Claude had put an arm around his shoulders and grinned at him. "Besides," He added. "She'll be fine." "Alright." Berger smiled at them then left the small clearing so they could have fun without waking their new friend up. Crissy had already firmly planted herself by Rachel's mattress, indicating that she would watch her. When Berger looked around, he saw that Dawn and Nikki had collapsed near a tree and were both snoring. Jeanie quietly fetched a blanket and tucked the twins in. At last, the rest of the Tribe left, content in the knowledge that their tribe-mates, new and old, were under Crissy's care and protection.
Thank you for reading! I would appreciate any review because I'm not sure if I'm doing these people in character. Next chapter should be out soon.