Eight-O-Eight (8:08)

Chapter Nine

I park my car in front of the Walkers' house as I wait for Angus to come out. After awhile, I see him step out of the door on his crutches and his sister beside him, helping him walk down the few steps. Seeing him like this breaks my heart. I wish we could so this some other day, but I guess it’s too late to back out now.

After he carefully goes down the steps, his eyes meet mine as I watch him. Angus smiles widely, showing me that he’s alright and that he can keep going; Grace stays frowning. Typical Grace. "I still think this is the worst idea." She tells Angus and me when they reach in front of the rolled down window on the other side of my car.

"Gracie," Angus holds his sister's arms and she looks straight at him. I know she's worried about her little brother and his condition. And don't get me wrong, I do too. "I'll be fine. Shay here will make sure I don't ride crazy roller coasters in Disneyland. I'll just be on the Small World ride most of the time if you want."

Without them looking, I shake my head slightly after hearing Angus's lie. Disneyland, really? I'm taking a person with an injured leg to Disneyland? I wish he could've just made up something more believable. "I don't trust her." I hear Grace mumble. She's talking about me. God, what's the matter with her?

Angus hugs his sister and kisses her on the forehead. Even when she is two years older than him, he is much taller and looks tougher. Suddenly I remember the dream of him hitting Grace at Travis’s bar. I still can hear her screaming and crying. I shake the terrible memory away. It’s only a dream! I hear Angus say to Grace, "You'll have to sooner or later."

He opens the door wide, and sits carefully and slowly on the seat beside me so that he wouldn't his knee anywhere. He still looks at Grace through the opened window once he pulls the door shut. Cheerfully, he says, "Love you, sis!"

"Be careful!" Grace yells before the car moves away. Angus waves at her until we could no longer see her. Grace has always been a mother to him ever since their mother got diagnosed with brain tumor. It’s so sweet of her taking so much care of him. If only she’d accept me, I’d like her even more for sure.

"Disneyland? Really?"

Angus runs his hands on his injured knee, then lifts his face to me, revealing a slight smile. "I couldn't think if anything else to say, and I panicked, okay? I couldn't say I'm going to see our father. She would kill me! She hates him."

I nod my head, understanding why he had to lie. "Okay, but we have to make it quick. We have to make it back tonight."

"Yes, ma'am!" He salutes enthusiastically which only makes me laugh. I really missed him. I really missed how much he makes me laugh everyday, even as a best friend. He'll always be my best friend no matter what.

+++

Beside me, Angus sleeps deeply and peacefully with his head leaning against the window. He looks like he hasn't gotten enough sleep from last night cause of the pain on his knee. I low down the volume of the radio so that it wouldn't interrupt his nice sleep.

I lose my way a couple of times before arriving in front of the bar. Not like San Diego, Nevada is much more complicated to get around. So many similar buildings and houses. If I were to live here, it would take me a long time to get used to this place. 

I finally arrive at the First House bar. As soon as the car stops, Angus's eyes flap open. He sits up and stretches, but his arms are too long and hits the ceiling of the car. He laughs sleepily. I fix his messy hair and straighten it up.

For about a minute, we just sit there in the car. He reaches for my hand and clamps his onto them. "Let's do this" He says.

I help Angus walk to the door and push it open. As soon as we step in, people stare at us, or mainly at Angus.They stare with angry faces, hissing swear words out of their mouths. "Jesus, not again!" a guy yells. "Get out, or this time I'll call the cops!" another guy yells.