Danny Hacker.

Chapter 7: Redneck's Paradise.

Ronnie's favorite song is Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio. Which was odd because if you knew the guy he was the biggest redneck in town. But ever since he heard that song, he never stopped listening to it.
Ronnie's favorite food is the barbecue rib bucket from Chicken Earl's (a famous restaurant in our town). The kid could inhale 20 buckets a day and still never gain a pound.
Ronnie's favorite color was purple. I know surprising right?
Ronnie has always been full of surprises. But that's what makes him so great. He's always had my back even though he's out of high school and a few years older. But he was still always there. I just wish I could have returned the favor.
_______
My sneakers pounded the pavement like the sound of a heart beating fast. The only difference was that I could actually feel my heart, not hear it. It was practically chewing it's way through my chest, trying it's best to escape. My breathing sounded as if it was miles and miles away from myself. Long crocodile tears began to flow out of my eyes as I ran. I began to see the smoke rising from the stretch of storefronts, and the tears gushed harder.
When I made it to the Grease Garage I saw two ambulances, a few police cars, and a fire truck. The firemen were still working in the rubble but the fire was put out. The roof of the garage had caved in, ultimately burying the new black convertible I had just seen weeks ago. I sat down on the sidewalk and just stared at the crisp garage while I allowed myself to cry.
'It's not fair.' Replayed throughout my head over and over.
Then, like an Angel, she appeared from the smoke.
It was like all sadness had immediately begun to melt away. It was like looking at a completely black and white photo, and seeing one person completely filled with color in the middle. Walker Jones really was just like an Angel. Just her presence itself could make any situation, less painful.
I felt a bit of pressure on my shoulder but ignored it. I couldn't hear anything that was going on, only muffled voiced and the crackling of the hot bricks and wood from the garage. I heard one of the voices beginning to grow louder and more clear. "Ben.. Ben. BEN!" I jumped to attention, being able to now hear everything around me. It was too loud. I noticed a hand resting on my shoulder and wondered if that was what caused the pressure I had felt earlier.
"Aye you alright there Ben buddy?" A voice behind me asked. My eyes lit up, my pulse began to quicken, and my heart attempted to escape from my chest again. I knew that voice. I new that twangy redneck voice. Without even looking to confirm that I was correct about who the stranger behind me really was, I jumped to my feet, spun around, and threw my arms around him.
"Woah, guess someone really missed ole Ronnie hm?" He said, his chest vibrating as he talked. I practically collapsed into him when I heard him say his name. I pulled away and took a good look at his—
"Ron!" I cried when I saw his face. His whole right cheek had been burned, making the skin look red and almost like melted plastic. He had heat blisters covering his hands and black dust under his nails. "Yeah yeah I know. Ain't I perty?" He said examining himself. "Ronnie!" A voice yelled from behind be. Walker ran to him and gave him a big hug. "I saw the news and came straight here! Are you okay?" She said, her eyes filled with concern. "Yeah I'll be just fine y'all. It's only a few minor scrapes." He said with his hands on his hips. He may have been a redneck but he still had some sass to him. "So what happened?" I asked him, turning to glance at the garage. "Well Bobby told me I've been workin' too much and too hard. He said 'why don't you go on down to Earl's and grab us both a rib bucket and we'll take a break.' Y'all know how much I love them things so I didn't hesitate. When I walked outta Earl's I started smellin' the smoke and that's when I saw it. I ran over there to help but right when I made it to the building it done collapsed right in front of me. The flames burst out when the roof fell in and got me in the face, guess I'd been standin' too close. After that I called the police." He said. I could see tears welling up in his eyes but then he blinked them back. "I'm so sorry.. I know how important this place was to you boys.." Walker said leaning her head on Ronnie's shoulder. "Ron.. the news said three bodies were found. One was Bobby. They never mentioned that anyone was injured from the fire.. I thought one of them was you.." I said looking down at the ground. "Now that there might've just been the most I've heard from you in a long, long time." Ronnie said walking over to me grabbing both of my shoulders and leaning his head down trying to find my eyes. "Pal, it's gonna take much more than fire to take me down. I love you like a dang brother you hear me? I wouldn't leave you if somebody tried buyin' me off with a million rib buckets." He said pulling me in for another hug. He smelled like the garage, I just wanted to close my eyes and let that gasoline and oil scent devour me.
I started to hear him humming Gangsta's Paradise while his chin rested on my head. I started laughing and punched him playfully. He always knew how to lighten the mood. Ronnie and Walker were very similar in that way. Their main difference however was, Walker always wore bright colors, Ronnie really only wore his navy blue carhartts reading the words "GREASE GARAGE" in white letters in the top left side of his chest. But before Walker came into the picture, Ronnie was the brightest guy in this town. And to me, he was and still is the brightest guy in the entire world.