When August Ends

Nice To Meet You

     Automatically I leap at him grab his arm, halting the tip of the dagger at his chest. I look at him in bewilderment and he looks at me with empty surprise. "What the hell are you doing?" he asks shakily.

"I could ask you the same! Drop the knife you idiot!" I snap but he just fights me to get out of my grip. I slam him to the ground, wrestling for his knives. "LISTEN! This whole thing is a mess but killing yourself won't make it better!" I shout fighting him further.

"I tried to kill you why are you trying to help me?" he asks angrily and suddenly flips me on my back in attempt to break my grip. "Stop fighting me!" he shouts.

"At least my reason for fighting makes sense!" I shout and elbow him in the cheek. He slips and lands on the ground to my right. My arm was twisted in the process and I lose my grip. He attempts to get himself back in order but I kick him in the chest and he hits a fallen tree from the impact. His knives fall out of his reach.

"I have a reason to fight!" he shouts reaching for them but I kick them out of his reach.

"You're fighting to die you stupid boy. Stop!" I shout standing before him with my fists balled. He looks at me with a defeated look and then all of a sudden he lashes out with his leg nocking me off balance. He grabs a blade and I expect him to go for himself but instead he comes towards me. I'm preparing to fight him when he pauses and furrows his eyebrows.

"You're bleeding," he almost whispers. I look at him incredulously.

"No dip sherlock." I snap and stand, quickly snatching the knife from him. He reaches towards me and I get ready to swing but he catches my fist. I'm slowly being drained of my energy and I'm tired of fighting. He reaches his other hand out and hently touches the edges of my neck wound. His touch stings but I realize it isn't a gesture of violence. He feels badly. This kid confuses me. Suddenly Grace comes bursting back into the scene followed by Mace, Stevo, Troy, Morgan, and Parker.

"STEP AWAY, FROM THE MEXICAN." Parker shouts aiming a rifle at the young man. The boy looks at me and he lowers his hand and releases mine.

"Maya get over here," Mace says. I turn to look at him and Stevo and Troy shout when they see my neck. Troy pulls out a knife from his belt and begins approaching the young man with murder in his eyes followed by Stevo and Morgan who have done the same. I make a sudden movement and stand infront of the boy.

"Get out of the way," Stevo snaps.

"He's not a threat." I say plainly.

"Yeah your neck screams he's not a threat." Troy snaps.

"It was an accident." I answer firmly.

"How do you accidentally try and slit someones throat?" Mace says venemously and approaches us, clenshing his axe tightly.

"It was a misunderstanding. I fought him and we both defended ourselves." I reply. I glance at the boy behind me and he is shaking his head and tears streak through the filth on his cheeks. I furrow my brow and look back at Troy. "Look at him," I whisper to him. "He's just afraid."

"He shot Grace," Troy says through clenched teeth. I suddenly recall her injury and look at her. It's been wrapped with white linen and she is giving me a cold glance. I turn to the guy behind me.

"Hey," I say and he raises his gaze to me. Why did you fire at her?" I ask. He shivers.

"I meant it to be a warning shot," he mutters. I look to Grace.

"Do you believe him?" I ask her. She eyes him suspiciously and he won't make her gaze.

"Only because you do." she says finally and I look back to Troy crossing my arms. He gives me a grudging look and then he walks off.