Friends are Forever.

Friends hugging taken from Google Images.

"Man if you gotta ask, you'll never know." Mike teased Aaryn as they headed to the school parking lot.  Aaryn made his please-tell-me look and Mike started to laugh.  As Mike unlocked his car, his gaze lifted from his keys to the crowd forming just a couple of spaces down from them.
"Aaryn can you stay here?  I am going to go see what is going on." Mike called over his shoulder already heading towards the crowd.  Aaryn opened his mouth to object but just shrugged and got in Mike's truck and cranked the radio.  As Mike worked his way through the crowd, he could hear a man's voice filled with venom and slurred from drinking. Josie! Mike thought pushing his way more forcefully.  He got dirty looks but his thoughts were on seeing if Josie was alright. The sight he saw in front of him sickened him to the core.
"I should have never let you happen.  You were the biggest mistake I have ever made." The man hissed kicking the downed Josie in the stomach.  Josie's face contorted in pain but wouldn't give her father the satisfaction of making her cry out.  She moved out of her father's reach when he finished kicking her and stood on shaky legs that looked like they were just about to give out.
"It's not my fault mother left.  It was your own undoing," The young woman all too coldly replied.  The anger that flashed across her father's face brought a smile to the battered woman's face.  As her father went to attack Josie, Mike stepped in front of Josie and pushed her angered father back.  Mike was fed up with the inaction of the students around him.  To him it seemed they craved the fight before them like a flock of buzzards waiting for the pack of wolves to finish their meal.  When Mike looked back into Josie's eyes, his heart sunk seeing the pain and sorrow in his friend's usually sparkling, light caramel colored eyes.  He clenched his fists and his jaw tightened as he looked back at Josie's father.  The man took a step back seeing the young man in front of him glowering down at him.
"It's time you left." Mike calmly said positioning himself between the monster of a man and the angel of a girl behind him.
"I am not leaving with out her." The man hissed pointing to Josie and took a step closer.  Josie kept looking at Mike wondering how he was able to keep her father at bay.  What Mike did next was burned into Josie's memory.  She had looked away and when she looked back at Mike he had pinned her father to the pavement and had the man's arms pulled tight against his back. She covered her mouth hiding the gasp that escaped her lips.
"You are going to leave now and Josie will be back when you are sober enough to feel this." Mike whispered in the man's ear as he wrenched the man's arm more causing gasps from the people around them.  Josie stared wide eyed at Mike and her father as Mike slowly let him back up and moved over to Josie putting an arm around her protectively.  The man glared at the two friends but got back in his car and drove to their house.
Mike let out a sigh of relief and his arm relaxed around Josie.  She rubbed his hand that was on her shoulder.
"Thank you Mike." She whispered watching the crowd disperse because the fighting had been broken up.
"Your welcome." Mike whispered back kissing the top of her head. "Happy birthday by the way." He said hugging her.  Josie giggled and looked up into his eyes.
"Thank you Mike." She said starting to head to her car.  Mike grabbed her arm gently to stop her. "Why don't you come ride with me and Aaryn?  That way we just have to take one car to my house." He said pulling her towards his truck before she could object.  Josie followed smiling not hiding the relief she felt from Mike saving her.
"Hey Josie.....Ah man. Does this mean I have to get in the back?" Aaryn complained getting ready to move.  Josie and Mike shook their heads.
"I am fine with riding in the back." Josie said getting in the back and touched Aaryn's shoulder. "You get to deal with Mr. Overly Protective." She joked looking at Mike.  Mike looked at them smiling and then started to drive.
"Hey! Someone has to keep you two out of trouble." Mike chuckled and looked back out the window.  Aaryn kissed Josie's hand and Josie leaned back closing her eyes.  When Mike looked in the rear view window to look at her, Josie was laying in the backseat with her hands under her head fast asleep.  He chuckled and poked Aaryn who nodded and then turned the radio down.
"I think I am going to talk to my parents about seeing if Josie could live with us for a while."  Mike said looking at Aaryn who raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure you can handle living with her without totally going crazy?" Aaryn's mouth had the smallest hint of a smile at the corners as he thought of Mike and Josie living together.
Mike nodded. "I think we can handle it....I mean we practically grew up together anyway." He looked back at Josie and smiled to himself. She means the world to me and if anything happened to her... He thought looking back out the window sighing.  Aaryn watched him and touched his arm.
"Dude please don't say you are falling for her," Aaryn pulled his arm back sighing. "I don't know what I am going to do about you."
Mike chuckled looking at him "Why can't I fall for her?"  The question sat in the air between the two guys and the sleeping girl.  "I just want to be able to protect her from that man." His eyes hardened and Aaryn moved closer to his window.
"Hey man I was just joking." He said putting his hands up in submission.
Mike shook his head clearing his mind. "Sorry Aaryn.  I just can't take what he does to her any longer.  Something has to be done before something horrible happens to Josie."  Aaryn nodded and relaxed.
"My stop is just up here." Aaryn said smiling again. "What to catch the game tonight?"
Mike shook his head as he looked back at the sleeping Josie. "Nah....I have some other plans that I have to deal with." Aaryn nodded and rolled his eyes sighing.

Love Hurts.

"Today spells love, merriness, and breakups," Josie muttered as she walked through the crowded halls of East High.  This was the only day if the year that Josie truly despised.  As she walked past couples holding hands, sneaking kisses, or just plain making out, Josie kept thinking about what awaited her at home.  A father that instead of chocolates handed out a lovely array of bruises that she covered up with long sleeves and sunglasses."This is disgusting." She rolled her eyes as she stopped at her locker and pushed a couple out of her way in the process.  They should just get a room.  She thought sighing inwardly.  Josie grabbed her binders and shivered slightly imagining her father's hands hitting her fair skin.  "I don't even get why they created a day that made people who didn't have someone feel lonely and let couples flaunt about that they have someone."
As Josie shut her locker, she was aware of the pair of dark brown eyes watching her movements. She didn't look at Mike as she started to head to her locker.  Mike followed her and matched her stride.
"Well hello to you too," He stated putting an arm around her shoulders playfully.  He felt Josie tense under his arm and wondered why she seemed to flinch at someone's touch.  Josie shrugged his arm off and looked at him.
"Who says I wanted to talk to you?" She asked slightly smiling. Mike was the one person that could take her mind off of her father and what awaited for her at home.  "How are you doing on this horrible day?"
"Just fine.  Got a letter from someone...." He nudged her arm and chuckled. "You wouldn't happen to be that person would you?" He met her gaze with his smiling one.  Josie shook her head.
"I don't believe in those things or love for that matter." She coldly replied looking ahead.  If you love someone you don't beat them.  She thought heading into her class leaving Mike standing in the hall with his mouth hanging open.
Mike shook his head and headed after her. He put a hand on her book causing the girl to lift her eyes to meet his. "What do you mean you don't believe in love?" He half demanded. His eyes searched hers for an answer.  The image he got sent him reeling and he pulled back his hand.
Josie watched him and then looked out the window. "Because my reason's are my own and you need to just stick to your own business." She snapped turning on him. She stood putting her shaking hands on the desk in front of her. "I don't have to tell you a specific reason why!"
Mike walked over and touched her hand. "But I want to help Josie and if..." Josie cut him off with a swift slap to his tanned face.  His eyes widened in surprise.
"Just leave the subject alone Mike." Josie said grabbing her books and moving to another seat. As she set her books down she realized that was the first time she had ever hit anyone, let alone her best friend. When she turned to apologize she had to take a step back from Mike. Josie couldn't meet Mike's gaze with her own.
"Nothing is wrong really." She slowly turned her gaze back to him. She concentrated on the Polo brand on Mike's shirt.  "I just don't want to talk about it." She whispered slowly closing her eyes.  She seemed to shrink in front of Mike's eyes and he pulled her into a big friendly hug.
"If you need a place to stay just ask." Mike whispered into Josie's blue tinged black hair. He rested his head on hers and pulled back after what seemed to be minutes but had been seconds.  He lifted Josie's eyes to meet his own and smiled. "I deserved that slap though.  I was getting a little to personal."
Josie giggled and blushed slightly. "You are like a brother to me Mike and you know how much I love you." She smiled and pulled back adjusting her sweatshirt. She looked around and chuckled. "Mind if I crash at your place tonight?" She whispered low enough for only Mike to hear.  Mike nodded and looked at the time. "Well we better get to our seats before the teacher gets mad at us.......again." He smiled and sat in the desk by Josie.  Who would have thought these two would ever have become friends.  The jock of the high school football team and the girl that kept to herself.
Josie smiled thinking of the last time the two had been sent to detention.  "That was a fun half hour." She whispered poking Mike.  "Even if we almost got suspended for it."
Mike nodded and looked at her. "Are you ever going to let me come over to your house?" He asked raising a dark eyebrow.  Josie lost her smile and looked away. "It's a mess Mike and if you come over I don't want you to think that me and my dad are total slobs." She said balling her small delicate fists.
Mike shook his head and looked back at the clock. "Listen we have 2 minutes before the bell rings.  Can you at least tell me what is bugging you?" He gently pulled her eyes back towards him and looked in her eyes with a brotherly love that meant nothing more that than. She was like a sister to him and him a brother to her.
Josie took a deep breath thinking about if she could even get that off of her chest. It's a lot to keep hidden Josie.  Maybe if you told Mike he would be able to help you. She heard a voice say in her head. She nodded and sighed.
"Mike you won't like what I have to...." The loud ringing drowned out Josie's voice. Mike huffed and silently cursed in his head hating that the bell had to ring right at that moment.  He hated seeing his friend hurt and was hurt that she had never told him. As they turned their attention to the board for class, Josie slipped him a note.  The note read: "Come on over tonight and I will show you what I can't say and that love isn't always flowers, candy, hugs, and kisses." Mike's jaw dropped and he instantly looked at her.  He could see the faint outlines of bruises hidden by makeup on Josie's face.  A face he had always looked at and could never see anything wrong. He reached out to touch her arm but was brought to attention by the teacher speaking.

Fireside Knights

Image from Google Images.

"Something just crawled up my leg!" Julie exclaimed jumping up from her spot beside Jason.  Jason was rolling in the sand laughing.  His fiery red hair blending into the fire surrounded by five close friends and the new guy.
"YOU!!" Julie's abnormally blue eyes, dancing with the fire, narrowed accusingly at Jason. She put her hands on her slender hips and the neat bun her curly dark hair was up in was now messy and a few strands fell into her hair.  She couldn't keep the menacing look on her face long before she joined Jason and everyone else in the group as they laughed.
"I just couldn't resist," Jason said looking up at Julie smiling innocently.  "There is nothing to fear out here. Just come and sit back down by us. I promise to be good." He said winking playfully at the group.  Julie rolled her eyes and instead of sitting by Jason, the guy she had liked since freshman year, she sat by her best friend Neo.  Jason made a puppy dog face watching her as she settled back down onto the cool sand.  His eyes raked over her body.  He had a feeling she liked him and wanted to show off for her.  He noticed a stick not far from them and jumped up grabbing it.
"I hereby challenge everyone on this beach to a duel for the hand of fair lady Julie." He puffed out his chest like a father proud of his son.  Jason strutted around waiting for someone to take up his challenge.  Julie had turned beet red when Jason had called her a fair lady. I am anything but fair. Julie thought giggling as Neo elbowed her when Leonard started to get up. Oh please don't let Leonard win. I wonder what Jason will do to him. I kinda hope he takes it easy on the new guy.
"I will," stammered Leonard.  He was the new guy and knew this group of people were just being nice to him because they had to.  He looked at Julie with sea blue eyes that were usually behind a pair of glasses.  He smiled a small smile to Julie and then looked back at Jason who was staring at him dumbfounded. He should close that big mouth of his before he eats a fly.  He thought chuckling.  Leonard felt every one's eyes on him as he stood there getting another stick.  He brushed the sand off of it.
Julie looked at Jason expecting him to start laughing or say something derogatory to Leonard.  She furrowed her brows in confusion when Jason got a look of pure evil on his angelic face.  Jason looked at Julie and then back at Leonard and shrugged.
"Okay," Jason walked over by Julie as he looked at his stick sword. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Whoever wins gets to take Julie out on a date." He smiled as a look of shock appeared on both Julie's and Leonard's faces.
"Hey. You can't...."Julie was abruptly cut short by Neo's hand covering her mouth.  Her eyes narrowed at Jason and then she looked at Leonard. He was shaking slightly as he met her gaze.  He closed his eyes taking a deep breath that seemed to calm the shaking in the young man's body.  Leonard looked at Jason smiling even bigger.
"And the looser has to be nice to every new person they meet." Leonard's gaze turned to one of hatred for Jason.  I have one chance to get this jerk of a jock to be nice to me and everyone else that isn't "cool".  He thought leveling the twig of a stick towards Jason's chest.  Jason scoffed at Leonard's comment but agreed to the terms.
Leonard let his eyes go to Julie for a second before he lunged at Jason. The sound of cracking sticks brought every one's attention to the two fighting guys.  Julie squeaked and her eyes widened watching them.  Jason had blocked Leonard's attack but barely.  His stick snapped and Leonard backed away smiling at him.
"Looks like I won." Leonard said leaning against his stick as he put the end in the sand.  He was smiling as wide as could be and chuckling slightly.  Julie felt a small smile appear on her rosy red lips as she looked at Leonard. Neo shook her head giggling at the event and Julie.
"No you don't," Jason snapped throwing his stick in the fire causing sparks to fly into the now pitch black night.  He grabbed another stick and in the firelight he looked almost animalistic as he stared at the man in front of him.
Leonard stood straight and brought his stick up in front of him.  He lost the smile staring at the pure hatred in the eyes of the man across from him.  Why does he hate me so much?  He thought preparing for Jason to attack.
"Look Jason. Don't take it so rough. Everyone has their bad days," Leonard said going to put his stick down on the ground in a peace offering.  His eyes never left Jason though and when Jason moved Leonard had his stick up and hit Jason in the stomach before diving towards the fire. He stood quickly and dodged Jason's attack again.  Julie's and Neo's eyes widened watching the scene in front of them. The other two had left before Jason even said anything about the fight.
"You need to be put in your place boy," Jason hissed. His eyes narrowed and Leonard's eyes narrowed in response.  All attempts at trying to be peaceful gone.
"Bring it. And as of right now, I think you are the one that is getting put in his place." Leonard lunged at Jason. The sticks hit again and Leonard looked like he had the upper hand.  Julie stood and Neo
"Come on you guys. It's a draw." Julie whispered touching each of their shoulders. She hoped they were going to stop but nothing happened.  The world around the two men was not the beach.  They were back in time fighting each other with fake swords.
"I never forgave you for that Jason." Leonard said putting more of his weight onto the sticks.  Jason growled and pushed Leonard back almost pushing the other young man into the fire.
"Who said I ever wanted your forgiveness?" Jason asked stepping closer. Leonard knocked Jason's feet out from beneath Jason and then pinned Jason to the ground.  Julie and Neo got more nervous as the two fighting got closer to the fire.
"Come on guys.  Just forget this." Neo said standing and pulling out her phone.  Jason and Leonard looked at Neo.
"You two stay out of this!" They snapped in unison. Jason rolled over and Leonard tossed Jason into the fire. Julie screamed as Jason jumped up and rolled on the ground putting the flames out. He glared at Leonard.
"I will get you back. You won't know when it will happen," Jason said letting Neo and Julie look at his back. Leonard got up and dusted himself off.  He watched Neo call the hospital.  Within a matter of minutes the ambulance was there and Neo went with Jason.
"It was self defence." Leonard said sitting down by the tide, watching the water that was as dark as the night. Julie looked at Leonard and headed over by him. She sat by him and knocked her shoulder against his.
"You are a really good fighter. Where did you learn to fight?" She asked looking at him. Leonard looked at her and sighed.
"As self defence. I didn't mean to put him in the fire." He sighed and looked back out at the water. The tide was now touching his sneakers. "He deserved it though. He needed to know he can't just boss everyone around."
Julie nodded and looked out at the ocean. "Don't feel bad. Jason is mostly mad because you hurt his pride." She looked at her watch. "Want to walk me home?" She asked kissing his cheek before standing.
Leonard chuckled and stood. "I would be honored to." He said bowing. Julie giggled and took his hand heading away from everyone and towards her house. Leonard smiled following her.What had started out as a quiet night out, turned into one of the greatest nights for Leonard.

Charles Knightly makes a Promise.

Charles Knightly woke up the next day, fighting the urge to blow off work and hang out with his friends.  He knew they would have the "goods" with them and he could try to forget about memories and the stress building up from the snobs that he had to work for and be kind to everyday.  As he drug himself out of bed and rubbed his eyes. Eyes that never let anyone know when he was having trouble he or needed a friend that would be there for him.  As prepared for work, he could hear his younger by about seven years brother walking down the hall talking to the stuffed grey bear he had gotten for his eighth birthday.

Charles chuckled to himself wishing he could be that innocent again.  "I won't let Chris suffer the way I have been for the past five years.  I will never hurt him."  The words sounded hollow as Charles hung his head in shame.  "I hurt him every time I share a needle or sell to some kid at his school.  I want to change. I really do." He put his face in his unfeeling and scarred hands.  He heard the door open but didn't look up.  He knew there was a draft in the house so he paid no heed to the door opening and closing as if someone was walking into his room.  A room that was clean except for the multitude of black clothing strung out on many of the chairs. This was Charles's safe haven.  He never showed his room or his emotions to anyone, not even his eight year old brother that had been taken prematurely from his life.  Chris walked into the room and sat on the bed by Charles. As he put his small, feminine hand on Charles's back he said. "You don't have to hide anything from me." Chris's voice soft and fairy-like. "You don't have to hide anything anymore."
Charles lifted his head.  Just hoping that Chris was there and not in the ground.  It has been 6 years since the accident and everyday Charles wakes up wishing he could go back and change who had died that night.  If I had been taken Chris would be in a home that cared for him.  Instead of being with a brother that barely cares about his own life.  I have to keep going for his memory.  He would want me to.  Charles sighed as he realized that Chris wasn't there and he was kidding himself hoping that Chris would be there.  As Charles walked down the hall he remembered the promise he made to Chris.  "I won't leave you." Staring into the dark liquid, Charles closed his eyes seeing that night again behind his eyelids.  He closed his eyes fighting waves of guilt and nausea at being the one to live and not his younger brother.
There were days when Charles would yell at the Lord for taking Chris away at so young of an age.  There were many times when Charles would wake up and fight the urge to take one too many pills and not wake up. Or drive to the beach and jump into the ocean and never come back.  Chris appeared by Charles standing in the small, lonely kitchen.  "You didn't know it was going to happen.  It's not your fault that the driver hit us.  You had no way of knowing that he would be driving after he drank too many."  Charles's eyes shot open at the soft sound of Chris's voice.  "But I should have been the one to go. You had a life ahead of you.  A life without the influence of drugs.  You were the innocent one." He sunk into the old and worn kitchen chair as tears ran down his cheeks.  "I promised mom I wouldn't let anything happen to you Chris.  Now look at us.  She is in rehab and you are dead and in the ground."
After regaining some of his sanity and pride, Charles looked at the clock on the wall and sighed.  After changing into his work clothes, he headed to the door of the one story home.  He paused for what seemed like ages looking at a picture of him and his eight year old brother two days before the accident.  "It's been six years Chris and it still feels like you are here.  I guess I can try and make it through one more day."  He headed out the door, locking the ancient looking door behind him.  Chris walked silently beside his brother.  He seemed to have aged in this afterlife even though he had left his earthly body.
Charles looked around at the people and houses he passed as he walked to the bus stop. "Chris I don't know if you can hear me but here goes.....I promise to stop my drug use.  I promise to try to make something of myself and go back to school and finish. Other than it might seem weird being twenty-one and still going to high school."  Charles chuckled to himself thinking of the different looks he would get from people.  He wasn't the most nice looking person ever.  He had pierced his lip and both of his ears and wore dark, thick mascara. He wanted to be able to go and do activities he hadn't be able to before. He could go to a much thought of theme park, or a concert and not have to worry about having to deal with cops or finding a ride home. He wanted to meet the love of his life and hopefully raise a family....but never leave them. Never hurt them like his mother and father had done to him and his brother.

The greyhound bus started to slowly come into view.  Charles looked at it and sighed. He looked down at his younger brother and smiled. "I promise to meet you here everyday and let you walk me to work." He said hearing a woman scoff at him talking to the sidewalk.  Even though Charles wanted to believe he was going to be meeting his brother, he knew in the bottom of his heart that Chris was dead and never coming back. But the joy of being able to go to the bus stop and feel as if Chris was there was worth the looks and laughter.  It was the enough to give Charles the strength to not skip out on work, sell to one more kid that reminded him of his brother, or to take one more puff that could possibly cause him to kill someone else's little sibling.  As the bus pulled to a slow, creaky stop, Charles waited to get on the bus. He was pushed and shoved as the people fought like lions to get a seat.  He thought about calling Sophie and seeing if she wanted to maybe catch a movie.  Charles watched the stop slip from view as people crowded around him and the bus drove away.  "See you tomorrow Chris." He whispered and closed his eyes just waiting for this horrible, noise bus ride to be over.  They would always be inseparable no matter what happened.