The next morning was a Saturday. After I woke up, and walked outside to sit on the porch. The trees clumped together to form a rainbow of gold’s. The air was cold, but it was still warm enough to stay outside. I stared at the scenery. All the run-down houses ruined the beauty of the trees. Many leaves were dangling off the branches as if daring to fall to the ground.
It wasn’t long until Peter joined me on the porch. He sat down in the chair next to me. “Hey, Jonah,” he greeted me.
“Hi.”
He smiled. You could tell something was on his mind. “What happened last night? Who was the soc?” And that was it.
I thought that might have came up sometime, but I was hoping it wouldn’t. “Oh, well, after everyone went home, we walked for a while until I got home.”
“Who was the girl?”
“She’s just a waitress that works at the diner. Russell was hitting on her. She goes to my school.”
He nodded. “Was Russell nice to you?”
I thought about the other night, and how much he was stoned. I didn’t want to tell him about Russell striking me. He didn’t really mean to hit me. It was the alcohol acting. I answered, “Yeah. He was blitzed, and didn’t think when he left the diner, but he was fine.”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything back. He just stared out at the trees.
“I’m going to the park,” I said after a moment of silence. I got up, and began to walk toward the streets.
Before I could get far, Peter stopped me by saying, “if you’re going, have Jack take you.”
“I’m fine on my own. It’s only a block away.”
“I don’t care. You know what happened last time. Take Jack with you.”
I sighed, and walked back into the house. Once I got him and we went to the park, we met up with Russell and Will, who were bench racing near the street. I walked up to them, and listened.
“Nah, man,” I heard Will say. “That’d blow the doors off it.”
“Hey,” I interrupted.
Russell turned to me, obviously having no idea what happened the other night. “Yo, Jonah.”
“Hey Jonah,” Will greeted me, craning his neck to see me over Russell’s head.
“Hi,” I answered back. I could hear Russell and Will continue to talk about the cars on the streets, but I wasn’t paying much attention to it.
The only thing I heard from them after that was Will saying, “here comes trouble.” He and Russell stood up.
I looked around, wondering what they were talking about. Then, I noticed a gang of socs trudging toward us just like before. I was sure it was the same socs that jumped me before. But this time, it was different. They had Brook with them. She was burying her face in her hands, leaving a peek whole to see through.
The leader walked over to me, and got close. “Heard you were tryin’ to pick up my lady. Huh?” He demanded.
I didn’t say anything.
“Well, I don’t like that. Now, I don’t want you fools drawing designs with your googly eyes at my girl anymore, we clear?”
Russell stepped forward. “I don’t think so.”
I looked at Brooke. She looked more uncomfortable than I was.
“Meet me here tomorrow at nine. And, bring your groady mess of a car.” He threatened us. He took the toothpick out of his mouth, and tossed it on the ground. His gang turned around and lurched down the street first, then he whipped around too and follow them.
I looked around, and noticed they’d left Brooke standing there. She walked cautiously toward us. “I-I,” she stuttered. “I’m so sorry. Mike’s just so protective of me.”
Russell stepped toward her, blocking me off from contact with her. “It’s okay. I like a good fight.”
She looked disgusted, and stared at him as if he should know what happened the other day.
“Russell,” I warned him as I pulled him back a bit.
Her expression relaxed, then became concerned. “I don’t want you to do this. What if you get hurt? What if the man finds out?”
“We’ll be fine. Russell’s got a car that’s hauls ass.”
Her expression worsened, probably since I said it was Russell’s car we’d be using. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I just have one question. Why are you dating that guy?”
She looked back at him, then brought her attention back to me. “He’s just nicer than a lot of the guys in my grade. Well, he was until I met you.”
I smiled and looked back at Russell. He wasn’t smiling. He looked like someone had punched him in the face.
Brooke looked past me at Russell, and noticed his expression. Her eyes lit up. “Well,” her voice sounded soft and sweet as usual. “I have to go. Can I see you all later?”
I nodded.
She turned slowly, and walked away.
I turned back to Russell, who seemed to have shaken off his expression, and was now fiddling with a beer can that was on the ground. “Russell, I need your help,” I said.
He looked at me with interest. He smiled. “Kid, I can help you with anything as long as it’s not anything to do with school.”
“I need you to help me beat him in the drag race.”
“I can help you with that.” He smiled, and shoved his hands in his pocket.
“I’ll help you fix up the car,” Will interrupted.
Jack stepped toward me, cutting me off from the gang. “I don’t want you going this.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No, Jonah!” he snapped. “You won’t! what if you get hurt? Or arrested?”
“I’ll be fine,” I yelled back. I walked back to the house, leaving the gang back at the park. I really hoped that they wouldn’t talk to Peter about this. Hopefully, Russell will stop Jack. But, I can only hope for this to happen.
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