The Fighter

Chapter Eleven

THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE CRASH

"Come on, D, I don't wanna miss it!"  Running with his hand in mine, I pull him towards the club house that my brother and his friends hang out in.  They're playing one of my favorite movies tonight for my birthday and I don't want to miss out on it.

"Rose, they won't start it without you," he says to me with a laugh.  My, now ten year old, self didn't dare believe that, I know that my brother loves the movie just as much as I do.  Running to the back yard, I find a spot in the dead center of the pillows on my favorite fuzzy blanket with my stuffed bear that Damien got me two years ago from a carnival that we went to over spring break.  Damien sat next to me and we snuggled into each other as the opening credits to Princess Bride began.

"See," he whispered, his twelve year old self leaning closer, "I told you they wouldn't start without you, Rose."

"I know, but I wanted the best seats," I smile up at him and he laughs lowly as I begin quoting my favorite movie and soon he joins in.  The tall, thin, dark haired boy with green eyes is my best friend in whole world and I don't know what I would do without him.  Snuggling into his chest, I let out a yawn and he begins rubbing my back in relaxing circles causing me to fall asleep rather quickly.  "Don't let go," I whisper.

"As you wish."  Pulling me closer to him, I soon fall asleep in his arms only to awaken after what seems to be only a few minutes.  "No," his voice whispers in my ear.

"Yes, Damien, you both have school in the morning," my brother says sternly and the grip around me tightens.  "Now, let go so I can take her home."

"No, dad and I can take her tomorrow.  Just let her sleep, please, J."

My brother lets out a sigh of defeat and agrees to let me spend the night as long as I wasn't late for school the next day.  Damien snuggled back into me and I laughed quietly at the action, he simply huffed and continued to hold onto me until we both once again fell asleep.

"Goodnight my rose."

"Goodnight, D."

PRESENT

"I lost her and her brother that day, do you understand that?"  I nod.  "Both if them were gone and there was nothing for me to take my rage out on except the gym and the guys.  I know that you don't think this is important but I need to know that you know about me."  He stares at me for a long time.  "About us."

"Us?  B, the only friend that I had growing up was a lanky kid with glasses that had a severe fear of spiders and snakes.  He was a nerd and loved to make fun of horror movies just to make me laugh.  After the accident I never heard from him, it was like he disappeared and soon so did I."  I take this time to look deep into his strangely familiar eyes and sigh.  "I'm sorry, B, but I don't think--"

"Your favourite movies are Princess Bride and A Knight's Tale.  You love to watch the rain and lately it's been with a mug of Earl Grey or, what you mom used to call, 'girl coffee'.  You say it's 75 percent coffee and 25 percent sugar and creamer.  You don't like dolls, especially ones that talk to you and you hate clowns because of a horror house when you were six.  You refuse to eat brussel sprouts or cauliflower, you hate black licorice and love Mike 'n Ikes."

"B," I whisper as I see the tears streaming down his face and he soon pulls over.

"Your favorite color was forest green right after a rain storm but you always refused to tell me why."  He looks at me with broken eyes.  "You've never broken a single bone in your life and you're proud of that because of how clumsy you are.  I know you, June."