The Reason I Can't Help But Love You.

Rudolph's nose

    "Alright kids, drench it," I said releasing them all to pour every drop of gas on the vines, goo, and spores.

   "Got a light, Harrington?" He just rolled his eyes and threw it into the middle.
Flames. Everywhere. I pushed all the kids out, "STEVE LEAD THEM OUT, let's GO!" I said making sure every kid was in front of me.
  "Ohmygodohmygod!" Dustin ranted as we ran.
Steve now sounds exactly like his new son.
  "Ohmygodohmygod, HEY THIS WAY!" he shouted going in another direction.

Then right in front of me, Mike tripped, "COME ON WHEELER, let's GO!" I went to help him up when a vine started slithering around his leg. "AHH SHIT. SHIT! HELP! JOSIE!"
  Taking my ax and reeling it back before hammering down on the vine causing it to free him. "Thank-"
   "Shut up. Don't go soft on me now dumbass. No time." I said as I pulled him towards the rest of the group.

They were stopped. I hear a growl.
"I leave you guys for two seconds and now you're having a family reunion with the one cousin that ate your cat, yeah. Damn, good babysitter Steve."I said sarcastically as I gripped my ax Incase 'Dart' decided he wanted to end the bloodline.

  "Dart." Dustin started closer as everyone told him not to.
  He raised a hand, " Trust me please."
  The group looked at me and Steve. I nodded to Steve that if Dart so as much BREATHES in a wrong way I'm chopping him.
  "Hey, it's me. Its Dustin. Will you let us pass?"

   But the growl and aggressive split of his mouth wasn't an 'im gonna kill you'

Dustin continued talking, "Okay, okay I'm sorry. Im sorry about the storm cellar."
  His head closed again at his words.
   "That was a pretty douchey thing to do. You hungry?" Dustin said taking off his book bag before pulling out a candy bar.

"Is he insane? " The kids asked.
Steve and I in unison said, "Shut up."
"Dustin's got a connection to 'em." MJ said compassionately.

"I've got our favorite. See? Nougat. Yeah, eat up buddy."
He signaled us on before saying goodbye to his old friend.

    Then we heard them. Echoing through the tunnel. "Fuck. GO!" I ramped the kids back up, pushing them farther. Steve and I grabbed kids and flung them up the rope easily from our adrenaline-stricken fight or flight. 

  Then they were too close, the kids all up but Dustin. Screaming for him. "Shit. Steve help me here." I said as we stood protectively in front of Dustin as he cowered.
The kids screamed in agony, yet the battle never came. They all ran around us.

I looked up at Mike, "Eleven."

As we all got up finally, we were blinded. The car's light shone brightly. Then it dimmed again. All of us looked at each other. Tired, bloody, bruised, dirty.

"You guys look like shit," I say as I push Dustin's hat on his head again. Causing an outburst of giggles and sighs of relief.

-one month later-

Putting my van in park, I spray a lil perfume in an attempt to cover up the cigarette smell. I then walk up to the porch.

    Hitting the doorbell I nervously fidgeted.
Then it opened and it all washed away, because of, "Josie!!! She's almost ready, I've given the two dance lessons!"
   I laughed as she invited me in after giving me a warm hug. "It's so good to see you, thank you for doing this for her. I'm gonna take Will a little later. So no worries! You know she looks up to you-."

  Mary then appeared in a pretty purple dress, "Yeah I do appreciate it, but I don't want Dustin waiting up for me."
  Joyce smiled, "she and Dustin are each other's dates." Joyce wiggled her eyebrows.
   Causing a roll of the eye from Mary as she smiled and sighed. "You look sick! Ready to go MJ?" I said twirling my car keys around my finger.
   She nodded.