Running To The Gang

Twenty two

It was currently 9 in the morning, and I hadn't slept at all. Instead, I'd done practice. Target and aim.

My phone went off right as I threw the blade. I groaned as it went missed the target completely. It was further back, nearly at 16 feet away, but alas, due to my phone I had failed to hit the damn fucking target for the 73rd time.

I picked up my phone, growling a nonchalant hello down the line. I knew it was Holland from her slightly different breathing. Something was wrong.

"Holland? What's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked her, putting the last knife on the counter.

"I'm okay, but...It's Xander. He's, they don't think he's gonna make it. He developed an aneurysm over the last week, but the doctors didn't know until last night. He had two seizures over the period of three hours. His parents...they're thinking about turning his life support off." She finished with a sob.

My heart dropped, and I froze. My mind went into over drive, thinking back on the little information I had about aneurysms and the effect they had on the brain and body. He...he was lucky to survive. Aneurysms were ment to kill people.

"Can you meet me at the hospital?" I asked slowly, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat. Tonight's the night I'm supposed to 'confront' Benji, but I'd postpone it just for Xander. If it's his...his last night alive, then I wanna be with him.

"Yeah, I was gonna go anyway. All the boys are already there. See you in five." Then phone beeped as she hung up.

I bounded up the stairs from the basement, nearly running straight into Hunter. I didn't bother stopping to talk, just shouted a quick sorry over my shoulder. I speed walked through the clubhouse and outside to my bike. I started the engine, and took off, burning rubber. I noticed the dark clouds rolling in, making it look later then it was, but I dismissed it to the back of my mind. I reached the hospital a minute later.

"Hey guys, is there any news?" I asked as soon as I reached the waiting room.

"No, not yet. His parents are still trying to decide what to do." Mikey told me, sitting slack in the chair.

I flopped into one of the uncomfortable blue plastic chairs, melancholic.

***

I walked out of the hospital with Holland. His parents had decided to turn his life support off on Thursday, his favorite day of the week, unless something happened before then. We had agreed that it was a good idea, since his parents had asked us if it was a suitable thing to do. They had said to us that we were apart of his life too, so we had an opinion on what to do.

Now I had to go back to the clubhouse and plan with Orion.

" I'll ring you tonight to tell you how it went." I told Holland as I got on my bike. She nodded, getting into her car. She was still really upset, as we all were. I took off just as it started to rain. Great.

***

"Are you ready to do this?" Orion asked me, holding onto my shoulder. It was now 10 to 9, and there were fights going on tonight. People were betting on who could beat Benji, and I was prepared to do just that.

"Ready as I'll ever be. Just keep Matt away from Benji and me. We should be fine." I said as I went to walk through the door to the gym, but Orion stopped me.

"Are you sure you can do this? Pretend to be ok with him? Pretend that he wasn't the one who did that to your parents?" His voice was filled with concern.

I stared at him with a small smile, "Yes. I'm prepared to do this just to see him pay for what he did." he nodded at my words. I took a deep breath, then walked through the door.

I felt Orion move from behind me, and watched him go over to Matthew and start conversing with him.

Benji was in the ring, fighting with some gang member. I froze at the sight of him. My stomach dropping, my heart stinging with betrayal. I sneered. I had to do this. Out the corner of my eye I saw someone stand up, staring at me. It was Hunter. He was looking in between Benji and I, then took a step toward me right as the guy in the ring tapped out. I quickly strolled over to the ring before Hunter could interfere. He wasn't in on the plan, so I wasn't letting him ruin it.

I pulled myself up, bracing myself to do this," I'm next."

Cheers erupted around the room, making Benji grin at me. The look made me sick. I had been staring at his face for the past 3 years, not knowing that he killed my parents.

I threw my bag to the floor, then ripped my shirt over my head to reveal my sports bra. I had Nike basketball shorts on, and didn't bother to tape or glove my hands. I wanted to feel his skin as I hurt him. I needed that physical contact.

He stared at my hands then frowned at me. I raised my eyebrows in response. He shrugged, then put his right foot forward and lifted his hands. I did the same.

I looked to Orion, who stood next to but slightly behind Matthew, to grab him if he had to. He nodded at me, then winked, I smirked in return. I turned to look at the other side where Hunter stood, shaking his head. He looked concerned, but slightly disappointed. He caught my eye, just staring, until he looked to the floor for a second, before staring at me again. He gave me a slight, miniscule nod. I understood straight away. He didn't approve, but he knew I had to do this. In a way, he felt I was getting revenge for his mother too, which is how I saw it. I took a deep breath.

I turned back to face my opponent just as the bell dinged to start.