A Year Without Snow

-22-

Friday, 16th December 2016 - 2nd part

I made my way through the sea of people, still amazed at how many had turned up. I walked through the doors that had been closed, and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what was waiting for me outside.

Grace, Scar, and Carson were all facing a guy who had his back turned to me. Melanie was behind them speaking words I couldn't hear. There was a lot of movement around me from the people who were waiting outside to get in and I wasn't able to think clearly for a while. I just stood there paralyzed taking in the scene and trying to rationalize my next move.

The guy that stood there facing the others, had a tall and lean figure, and dark black hair, he was dressed in all black clothes and stood with a confident posture. Scarlett was screaming at him, and Carson was beginning to grab his arm. Grace was the first to spot me.

She was looking worriedly at the scene when her eyes fell onto me. I moved closer numbly, maybe I shouldn't have, but I didn't know what else to do.

Grace moved around them and walked over to me, but before she could stop me I was already in front of the guy.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, not able to contain my anger.

"Oh, look who she is!" He said and crossed his arms over his chest, "Came to say hello, Daisy."

"Daisy, let's go inside," Grace said while grabbing my arm.

"I'm not going anywhere until this asshole goes away."

"I've missed you too." He said to me.

Scarlett took a step closer to him and was about to raise her arm when Carson stood in front of her, "Just leave, man." He said.

"And who are you defending, Carson boy? Here, Scarlett, or your boyfriend that's hiding inside?"

"Okay, guys we can't keep the doors closed," Melanie said and walked over to the doors, "People have paid and they have the right to get in."

"Don't you dare to open those doors!" Carson exclaimed while still preventing Scar from hitting the tall guy. But Melanie, being herself, didn't hear and opened them, nonetheless. "Fuck, man. This is your last chance to leave before I fucking carry you out of here!"

"I'm not going anywhere until I see my old pal!" He exclaimed and walked to the doors himself.

"Don't you dare!" I shouted at him.

He turned around as he was making is way, "Watch me, love!"

Carson went after him, but before he could catch him, and before the guy could enter Zeus', the person we dreaded would appear came out of the doors. Bryson came out, in the middle of the commotion of people coming in and out, looking confused, and was followed by Dallas who looked agitated and regretful, I suppose for not being able to stop his friend.

But the true moment of suspense, was when Bryson's eyes met the person that had brought the problems with him.

"Hello-" The guy started saying before a fist met his jaw and he fell on the ground.

Bryson was standing on top of him, with a clenched fist throwing punches at the guy before Carson and Dallas got a hold of him.

"Is this a way to greet your oldest friend?" The other managed to ask from the place he was on the floor. He had a bloody nose and as he stood up he spat some more blood.

"Get out of my fucking face!" Bryson shouted, freeing himself from his friend's grip. His face displayed more disbelief than anger.

"I don't see why! I haven't seen you all in a while." He replied, looking at all of us with a face of provocation and irony, "What has it been!? Five months, I'd say, Daisy?" He asked now turning to me.

"Leave her the fuck alone!" Scarlett said as she stood next to me.

"Just leave, Jack!" I said to him and felt Grace held my arm.

"That's not what you said last-" Once again he couldn't finish, Bryson hit him again but this time the other fought back.

Jack raised his fist and knocked Bryson to the ground and the two begun fighting. They were both throwing punches too quick for my eyes to process. I stepped closer to them worriedly.

"Stop them!" I shouted turning to the other guys.

Carson and Dallas separated them with the help of some other guys. Bryson had a cut on his forehead and a hound on his jaw, and Jack's nose kept on bleeding. We stepped over and I turned to look at Bryson who was still glaring at the other.

Carson let go of his friend and walked over to Jack forcing him to leave, as the other shouted horrible stuff back to us, especially at me.

People had come out to see the fight and the next minutes were a blur as Scar shouted that the show was over. After awhile Scar went inside to help Sophia and Lucas at the counter and Carson to make sure that everyone that went in had a ticket.

While me, Grace and Bryson stood outside near the table of the tickets, all looking confused and lost in our own thoughts.

"How can someone change so much?" Grace asked in a herdable whisper, more to herself than to anyone.

"I don't get it." Dallas replied, "I didn't understand it before, but now..." He trailed while standing up and raising his hands to his head.

And as I saw the calmest and most genuine person that I know in such distress I think that it all fell down to me. Reality hit, as I made my way to one of the chairs that stood behind the table. I sat down and rested my face on my arms. I didn't want to cry, I was exhausted.

Just when things were beginning to go down again, I thought twice. No, I thought. No!

"No," I said out loud.

"What?" Grace asked.

I ignored her, lost in myself. I made myself a promise that I wouldn't fall back down, and maybe this was a test from some divine intervention or just and aleatory cause of events, but I wasn't going to fall into what I had once been.

"He was our friend for so many years," Dallas said and I stood up, walked to him and put an arm around his arm.

"Let it go, Dallas," I said, and looked at Grace and Bryson who were both leaning against the table, "All of us, should. I don't give a shit about what you believe or not." I continued and Bryson looked up, "We all agreed that we would end with the fights. I don't ask for complete peace, only serenity."

"Yeah, you're right." Dallas agreed and hugged me.

"That's all I ask for," I said back.

"Well! I've got to change this awful music." He said while paying attention to the sound, "I bet you my ass that it was Carson who put this shit on." He added while walking away.

Bryson stood up and raised his hands to his head in frustration, Grace tried to calm him down by placing her hands on his shoulders.

And I, with no idea what to do next, excused myself from the scene.

"I'm going too," I spoke looking around and making sure that everything was in order.

The night ended peacefully, just like it had started and none of us had time to discuss what had happened. Me, Melanie, and Grace closed the place down at five A.M. completely exhausted, we had made a very good quantity of money in only one night and we were all existed to keep it going. Lucas ended up agreeing to take part in the business, seeing that he had made a good impression during the time we were busy.

As we walked away, I looked back at Zeus' that was beginning to be hit by the first rays of the morning sunshine and understood that with everything that happened I was building a stronger armor around myself. And that was reason enough to level up my spirits and encourage me to walk home at the dawn of the morning after such a tiring night.