Remembering Sunday

Nixxie.

I was quiet the entire way home. Teddy and Danny were radiating tension. Daddy just kept looking out at the road. I was lying across the back seat, my head in Teddy's lap. Teddy was staring out the window and huffing. He was angry. Danny was trying to play it off. Like it didn't really happen.

"Knock it off, everybody." I tell them. "It happened, I'll get over it. So will all of you. He won't come back again.I won't ever be left alone without protection, I promise." Danny looked back at me, he looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it.

"Nixx, he almost killed you once. Could've killed you again. Do you realize that?" Teddy said, exasperated. Danny then shot daggers at his little brother.

"Knock it off, Ted. Remember what Sandy said to you?" Teddy rolled his eyes and nodded. "Try to keep that in mind, okay?" Danny is too good for me. God, I love my big brother.

"Sweetie, I don't know if you should go to any gigs for awhile." Daddy is trying to sound authoritative.

"Daddy, I'll be fine. They need me, I know all the crowd pleasing, the signals and everything. Not to mention all the songs, including our own. I need to play, too. It's a far better distraction than television." I whine at him, trying to make him understand.

"Oh, baby girl.. Fine.." He gives in after a few moments of hesitation.

~~~~~~~~~~A FEW DAYS LATER~~~~~~~~~~

"No, Sandy. Not a chance in hell. I'm fine!" I exclaim, trying not to sound as helpless as I really am.

"GAH! Woman, last time we had a gig; you were attacked!" She is exasperated. Running her hands through her straightened hair. Messing it up.

"It's ultimately her decision, we all need to back her up on it and if anything happens then we need to step in and help her. Savvy?" Holman is speaking to the guys but I can't help but roll my eyes.

"Nothing is going to happen!" I cut off poor Bean. I let out an aggravated sigh.

"Nixx, we're just trying to be precautious. We all care for you.You know that, right?" Bean is looking up at me through his too-big-for-his-face glasses. He looks so young and innocent. Gah! Why are they trying to make me feel bad about a gig?!

"I'm going and that's final!" I holler at them. Folding my arms gingerly over my chest and plopping into an overstuffed armchair in Wolf's garage. I suppress my yelp of pain. Wolf eyes me wearily while J sits back and twiddles his thumbs, looking anywhere but at me.

J hasn't spoken to me in over a week. He blames himself, all over again.

"Jeremy!" I scream at him and he's so surprised by my outburst that he falls off his stool. Everyone laughs. Not me, not him. We are in a deadly stare off.

"Phoenix! What?! What is it that you want from me here?! I can't say anything for or against it!! I will not be caught in the middle of this feud!!" He storms out the door. I suck in my breath and wince again.

"God! We have an hour and a half to pull it together and get to the bar, people!" Wolf is trying to seem like he cares that we aren't even ready to go yet.

J runs back into the garage, slams the door behind him. He looks like he's just seen a ghost. Oh hell.. His back is pressed up against the door of Wolf's garage.

"Wolf! Lock this door, and every door!" J is trying to keep the door shut but his brother is bigger and stronger than him. I can hear the grunting and shuffling, I watch as Wolf, J and Holman use all their weight to shut and lock the door. Bean is running for the door into the house to warn Mr and Mrs. Dean. There are children in the house. Wolf's little brother and little sister.