Even Angels Fall

Chapter 12

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Christina~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

School resumed as planned and the time I got to spend with Mike was reduced to lunch at school and whatever time we both had free on the weekends.

We didn't even get to volunteer with the kids together, anymore. Mike was working just about every day after school since he was actually in school most of the time. But his boss was nice enough to promise him at least a good portion of Saturdays off.

I wasn't sure if it was because I'd spent alot of time over break working, or if the teachers were just taking it easy on us the first week, but whatever the reason, I wasn't overwhelmed by everything yet. But I knew that before too long, I'd be having trouble keeping up again.

I figured we ought to take advantage of the first weekend to keep our promise to Melanie, before we got too busy and weren't able to.

I knew Mike wasn't thrilled about spending his free time taking his sister to Chuck E. Cheese after working hard all week in school and then at his job, but he didn't complain. In fact, if I wasn't mistaken, he was actually having fun. I know I was.

I felt like I missed out on alot of my childhood. I'd been working hard on school stuff for as long as I could remember and my parents both always worked long hours at their jobs. We didn't get trips like this in very often.

I had my fill of feeling like a little kid again today. We played arcade games for hours. Mike even persuaded me to get in the bounce house with him at one point when there were only a few other kids besides Melanie in there.

After we left, Melanie, the little con artist, was able to weasel hot chocolate out of Mike too. He was such a great big brother. Honestly, the hours he voluntarily spent with her today were enough to prove that. I didn't believe for a second that he did it just to impress me or whatever. He loved his sister and actually liked spending time with her. I think he felt guilty that he didn't do it more often. Which was probably the reason he caved for the hot chocolate after only the second 'pleeeease' that Melanie whined.

We walked back to the car, holding our cups of hot chocolate and prizes - Mike insisted on playing until he had enough tickets to buy me the big stuffed mouse. I'm sure if he just bought the thing, it would have been way cheaper, but I loved knowing that he won it for me.

After we made it most of the way to the car, Mike suddenly stopped walking. It took me a few seconds to realize he wasn't beside me anymore.

I stopped with Melanie and looked back at him curiously. He'd been telling us a funny story a minute ago. Now he looked like something was wrong.

"We, uh...we need to go this way." He gestured for us to turn around.

I was confused. The car was only a few more blocks down the direction we were heading.

"We can loop around the block and head up Kedzie." He said awkwardly.

"That's kind of out of the way, isn't it?" I asked. I didn't mind the extra walking. It was just strange. We'd been quite a little walk away from the car since the parking situation today hadn't been great, but we weren't that far from it now. It was up two blocks and around the corner. Mike was suggesting a long, round-about way back, for no apparent reason.

He was about to say something but before he could get it out, Melanie pulled her hand from mine and tried to keep going.

Mike quickly grabbed her hand and started pulling her back the other direction.

"They have Lisa Frank stuff!" She protested, fighting him.

He held on tight and started leading her in the other direction. "Everyone has Lisa Frank stuff."

"But it's not the same!" she whined, struggling.

"Knock it off." Mike was losing his patience. "We're going this way."

"No! I just wanna look!"

"I'll get you all the Lisa Frank crap you want, later," he said, getting mad. "We're leaving now."

"But it's different!" She tried again.

"Damn it, Melanie! Stop acting like a brat!" Mike yelled harshly and stopped pulling her. "I said no!"

I'd never heard Mike yell before. I'd hardly ever seen him really upset. He was upset now, though, and I had no idea why. It shouldn't have been that big of a deal. He indulged his sister over and over again today. What could it possibly hurt to just let her look?

Apparently, Melanie wasn't accustomed to her brother yelling, either. She stopped struggling and looked as if Mike had hit her. Her lip trembled and her eyes welled up with tears.

Mike looked between me and Melanie and it was obvious he was upset about more than what just happened. He dropped his sister's hand and ran his hand agitatedly through his hair before walking back the way we'd come. He stopped on the corner and waited for us to follow.

I met Melanie's tear-filled and bewildered eyes. Like me, she obviously had no idea why Mike was so upset.

I put my arm around her and wondered what I could say. I didn't even know what was wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Mike~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stood on the corner, unable to do more than peek over my shoulder a few times to make sure Christina and Melanie were still there.

I was always careful to avoid this street. If I'd just been paying closer attention, this never would have happened. Now I was embarrassed for overreacting and angry at myself for blowing up at Melanie the way my dad always did at everyone.

After a few minutes, Christina and Melanie joined me and we all walked the long way back to the car in silence.

I knew they both deserved an apology and explanation, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything just yet. All the painful memories and feelings of self-loathing were far too fresh in my mind for me to worry about anyone else right now.

It was a long, quiet ride home. I glanced back at Melanie in the mirror when I stopped the car, but she was avoiding my eye. At least she wasn't crying anymore. And she didn't look mad, just hurt. I'd have to make it up to her later.

She quietly got out of the car and walked to the house, leaving Christina and I alone.

I sighed and dropped my head back against the headrest, knowing I was going to have to explain to Christina now. She wouldn't demand to know anything but she deserved to. I needed to start trusting her.

As if she knew what I was thinking, Christina picked that moment to squeeze my hand. She gave me a small smile when I looked at her.

"I..." I started before I changed my mind. "You want to get some coffee or something?" I couldn't have this conversation here.

She watched me for a second, clearly wondering what was wrong. But she only said, "Sure."

She held onto my hand as we drove to this dinky little restaurant. The food wasn't that great, but I knew we'd have privacy to talk.

We sat at a table by the window with two untouched cups of mediocre coffee while I tried to think of how to start this conversation.

"What happened today, Mike?" Christina asked. It wasn't a demand for information. She was helping me figure out where to start.

"I never..." I tried, looking at the table. "I haven't been down that street - on that corner - for the last six years."

She waited a minute for me to continue and when I didn't, she asked, "What happened on the corner?"

I looked at her, feeling my eyes sting. "My brother was killed."