The Bad Boy (24 page)

Was this really
what people did these days to solve their problems? Beat on
people?

I was so
damn sick of it.

“
Hey!”
I yelled when one of the boys raised his foot over the kid lying on
the floor’s back. All movement stopped and five heads turned in my
direction. You still couldn’t see me because I was in the shadows
but the boys knew I was there.

“
Who’s
there?” One of them asked. The one who had his foot ready to smash
onto the kids back. He moved away from the group and closer to me.
“I said who’s there.” He scowled, his hand going into his back
pocket.

“
I
heard you.” I said stepping into the light. I smirked and crossed
my arms over my chest. “That doesn’t mean I have to answer you,
idiot.”

His eyes went
wide before they turned into slits. “Do you know who I am?” He
asked like I should know exactly who he was.

I put my finger
to my lip and looked at the ground, like I was really thinking it
over. I locked eyes with him and glared. “Yeah. You’re a piece of
shit kid who has to pick on others to feel better about himself
because behind the tough exterior, you’re really the wimp with no
confidence.”

Five mouths
dropped open at my response.

“
Does
that mean I was spot on?” I gave him a sweet smile.

His lips turned
into an evil smirk and his hand flicked out from behind his back.
The metal switchblade caught the light from the lamp post and I
felt my stomach drop. “You want to rephrase your answer
bitch.”

I took a step
back as he tapped the side of the blade with his index finger. I
really had to open my mouth, didn’t I?

“
No.”
Yeah, I really did have to open my mouth.

The four other
boys left the kid on the ground and stood behind the one with the
blade. “You sure about that?” He raised the blade and held it in
front of his face. Turning it sideways, he ran his thumb and
pointer finger along the slick sides. “I know a way to change your
mind. A painful way might I add.”

I have never been
in a situation like this and didn’t know how to react. I knew I
shouldn’t provoke him but he looked about two or three years
younger than me. Would he really hurt a girl? Who am I kidding?
Anything was possible; I mean he looked physco enough.

I held up my
hands. “Just put the knife away. If you leave and let me get help
for the boy, I won’t tell a soul what I saw.”

All five of them
laughed at me and that made me pissed. The leader took a step
closer to me and ranked me over with his eyes. “How about this? You
take that pretty little ass of yours over there,” He nodded his
head in the direction to a darker part of the park, “And we can get
to know more about each other… and each other’s bodies.” He licked
his lips and took another step closer.

“
I
would rather cut my own eyes out.” I said with disgust lacing each
word.

“
That
can be arranged.” He said deadly raising his blade.

I clicked the
button on my phone and pulled it out of my pocket. “This is 911
what is your emergency?”

Their faces
turned into panic as they heard my phone. If only they knew, I
laughed to myself.

I put the phone
to my ear and went to open my mouth. One of the boys leaped forward
and ripped my phone from my hand, throwing it on the ground. The
battery flew out and disappeared into the dark.

“
You
little... you shouldn’t have done that.” The leader took a
threatening step forward.

“
I
wouldn’t if I were you. They can trace my call and find where I
am.” I crossed my arms over my chest giving him a thin lipped
smile. “I suggest you get your messed up self out of
here.”

He looked at his
friends and they looked ready to bolt. Aren’t so tough when it
comes to the cops, I thought to myself smirking.

“
This
isn’t over. I will find you.”

“
Good
luck.” I said in my most daring voice.

The boys shuffled
away and I quickly ran over to the boy still lying on the ground.
He was face first on the ground but he seemed to be conscious… for
now. I knelt down and lightly rolled him over.

Tears swarmed in
my eyes and I fell back onto my butt as his face came into my view.
Austin looked up at me and he grunted.

“
Emilie… no, what are you doing here?” His head rolled to the
side and he clutched his side.

I removed my hand
from my mouth and in a second was kneeling over him again. “Austin
what just happened? Should I call the police?” My voice was wobbly
and I grabbed hold of his face gently.

He looked into my
eyes with confusion. “I thought you already did? I heard it from
your phone.”

I laughed and
shook my head. “That was my best friend Hailey. She said I should
use that anytime I’m in trouble. It was a joke but obviously those
boys are stupid enough to fall for it.”

Austin nodded his
head and then groaned and arched his neck. “Ow… shit…
ugh!”

“
I
have to call the ambulance for you!”

“
No!
don’t! No one can know about this!” Austin grabbed onto my arm and
made me face him. “Don’t you tell anyone Emilie.” His tone was
pleading but with a threatening under tone.

“
Austin, I have too! You can be seriously hurt right now! You
need to go to the hospital.” I ripped my arm from his and went
searching for my phone battery. Thank God, it didn’t go that far
and I quickly put it back in my phone.

I sat next to
Austin as I waited for it to reboot. I held onto his hand and let
him squeeze mine every time the pain got too much. It was finally
ready to be used and I started dialing the emergency number. My
heart was going to leap out of my chest as I watched Austin wither
in pain.

Then footsteps
were heard and the boy was back along with the four others. When
our eyes locked, surprised was written on all their
faces.

The leader
snapped. “I knew she was fucking lying!” He quickly grabbed his
knife and switched it open. “Ready to carve your eyes out
slut?”

I quickly pressed
CALL on my phone and waited for someone to answer.

The leader
advanced on us just as a lady picked up the phone but it was too
late.

“
Emilie!”

My name was
screamed and then a scream of pain poured through the park as I was
thrown out of the way of the knife. My cheek skidded against the
cold ground and all my eyes saw as I looked to where Austin was,
was a knife driving through his stomach.

His stomach
curled forward and his back rose off the ground as the knife went
deeper into him. His face scrunched into an agonizing pain and he
withered around on the ground.

“
Miss!?” Someone yelled from my phone that was between Austin
and I. “I’m sending help for you!”

The five boys all
stared at my phone and they knew it was real this time. “Fuck! We
need to get out of here! Now!” The leader moved away from Austin
who’s breathing was becoming ragged.

The boys started
running when someone screamed, “Wait!” I was just getting myself
off the ground when the leader returned and looked me in the eye.
His hand wrapped around the knife and he yanked it out of Austin’s
stomach.

“
This
little shit isn’t worth going to jail for.” He scampered away,
his friend’s right behind him.

I ran to Austin
and quickly ripped a piece of his shirt off. I pushed down on the
stab wound, hoping this would help stop the bleeding a little. If I
didn’t put pressure on the wound, Austin would bleed to
death.

“
Austin! Austin!” I yelled grabbing his chin between my right
hand. “Keep your eyes open! Help is on the way!” His face was
paling and his eyes were rolling around. “AUSTIN, STAY AWAKE!” My
throat was clogged with a lump, my lips trembling and wet from all
my tears. My body was shaking  out of control.

My body slumped
forward onto Austin as I lost all strength. “Stay awake, please.
You can’t die. You just can’t.”

“
It
hurts.”

I picked my head
up from his chest and yelled, “Keep talking to me Austin.” I rubbed
his cheek soothingly. “Just keep talking and stay awake. I need you
to be awake!”

“
Numb.
My fingers.”

I was blubbering
as I watched his eyes close. “NO! Austin, don’t do this! Wake up!”
I started hitting his cheek, hoping to get a reaction.
Anything.

Slowly, his eyes
opened and his hand took hold of mine that was holding onto his
wound. “I’m trying. Stop hitting me. It’s annoying.”

Somehow I got a
laugh threw my blubbering and I laid my head down on his chest.
“Help is on the way. Please just stay awake.” His heart beat was
slowing and all I could think was, help better come
fast.

“
I’m
trying.” He whispered.

Red and blue
lights flashed into my vision and I snapped my head up. “Austin
there here!” I looked down at him to see his eyes were closed
again. Panic filled me and I jumped up. I ran to the entrance of
the park and started waving my hands in the air. “Help!”

The ambulance
parked and before I could react, people were rushing over to Austin
and helping him onto the stretcher. His eyes opened for a quick
second and then closed again. They hauled him into the truck and
one of the paramedics turned to me. “Are you coming with
us?”

Without a second
thought, I jumped into the back and stood right next to Austin. The
doors closed behind us and the paramedics got straight to work. I
clutched onto Austin’s hand praying to everything that he would be
okay.

“
Emilie.” I looked down and saw Austin looking up at me. I
smoothed his hair back from his forehead and watched as his eyes
closed in pain. “If I don’t make it—“

“
You
are going to make it.” I snapped cutting him off. “Don’t you even
dare think like that.”

The back of his
head came off the stretcher as he groaned in pain. I felt his
fingers tighten on my hand before he spoke again, “No matter what
happens to me.” He took a deep breath and looked me in the eyes
with seriousness. “You better make things right with my brother.
He’s a good person and deserves someone good.”

His teeth
clenched and his body fell limp on the stretcher. His head rolled
to the side and I felt his fingers go limp in my hand. “Austin!” I
chocked about to grab him when I was pulled back by one of the
workers.

“
Don’t. We are almost at the hospital sweetheart.”

If I let Jared’s
little brother die on my watch, he would never forgive
me.

I would never
forgive myself.  

The nice nurse
finished wiping my bloody cheek and pulled back giving me a warm
smile. “All done dear. Would you like something to drink?” You
could tell she felt sorry for me. After all, I just got out of an
ambulance with Austin who was dying right in front of me. I was
thankful for her.

“
Some
coffee please.” I needed energy. My body was weak and I couldn’t
think straight at the moment. Too many things were running through
my head.

“
Of
course.” She walked off and I watched her until she vanished around
the corner. I was the only one in the waiting room and I pulled my
legs up onto the chair, resting my chin on my knees. This wasn’t
how I planned on spending my night.

Once we reached
the hospital they rushed Austin in and I was told I had to wait out
here. I don’t know how long it had been since I got here but it
felt like forever.

I had no idea how
I was going to explain to his family what happened. I couldn’t even
figure out what happened. One minute I’m leaning over Austin, the
next he’s having a knife plunged into him. I clenched my fist at
the thought and heard Austin’s screams in my head.

A warm substance
was placed on my shoulder and I shot my eyes open in panic only to
find the same nurse staring at me. “Here you go.” She handed me the
coffee and I gratefully took it. “Sweetie, are you sure you are
okay? Do I need to call someone for you?”

I shook my head.
“His family is on the way. Thank you.”

“
You’re welcome.” She headed off again but this time she wasn’t
coming back.

The coffee was
hot, so I blew on it and then took a sip. My throat was dry from
all the crying and I knew my eyes were swollen. I just couldn’t get
Austin screaming out of my mind. It was the only thing sticking and
I wanted it to go away.

Without
realizing, I finished the cup of coffee and I got up to throw the
Styrofoam cup away. Taking my seat again, I curled into myself and
rested my head against the wall behind me. When we reached the
hospital Austin was unconscious and now I have no idea if he woke
up again or is gone… for good.

I gulped at the
thoughts and clenched tighter onto the arm rests. I couldn’t live
with myself If knew that I let Austin die. The worst part is, I
can’t even remember the kids’ faces because of all the panic I was
in, I just can’t put the faces together.