I Hate You...I Think (38 page)

             
"We all have friends, many or few, good or bad, loyal or unpleasant, some especially to look at," I glanced at Jet who had a grin on his face.

             
"Oh come on, Ever. You know I'm sexy!" Jet yelled. My face turned bright red as laughter echoed off the ceiling and walls.

             
"I don't know about that but I know that all of us have people in our lives we don't think we can live without. But, know that we are all a part of a family. When something happens we all feel it."

             
"When we lose a friend, a brother, someone who been with us at all times. Someone who has made you laugh and cry, but most of all it did not allow you to feel alone and helpless in the most difficult days. Know that even though they are not here to help you get through your grief they will never be forgotten. We will not never ever forget their memory nor should forsake a single day that we still have. I know that I won't."

             
"You boys..." I shook my head trying not to let any tears fall. "You sacrificed so much. You have no idea how grateful I am to know every single one of you."

             
Everyone started applauding and standing up. Jet whistled.

             
Look around at the boys before me they were all either in tears or about to be, blushing I stepped off the stage. Leon took my place at the microphone and I sat next to Jet. A few boys behind me clapped me on the back smiling from ear to ear. I didn't think what I said could even begin to show them how grateful I was but they seemed to think it was good.

             
Jet wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "You did just fine rabbit."

             
"Rabbit?" I questioned flaring my nostrils in distaste.

             
Jet chuckled. "Well I'm not calling you "Bunny" like Oliver does," he stuck his tongue at me.

             
"Your screwed up on pain meds aren't you?"

             
"Yep..." he grinned.

             
The rest of the funeral was sad and many people got up to tell stories about their fallen brothers. It was funny and heart wrenching. I hardly knew anything about these guys. I needed to be more invested in the gang. I'm going to make it my mission to get to know every single one of them. And, to not allow myself to be weak and useless any more.

             
It was raining when everyone reached the graveyard. No words were spoken as they lowered the coffins into the ground. The air was thick wish sadness. It was hard to choke down. I have been to my father's funeral, my mother's for a brief moment and now this. I never want to go through this again. Never.

             
"Hey?" Leon question putting an umbrella over my head. "We got to get Jet back to the hospital."

             
I nodded. "I haven't got any clean clothes so I guess we need to go by the house too."

             
Leon nodded. "Alright let’s head out."

             
Nodding I watched the last casket go down before turning my back on it. A chill ran down my spine as I thought of how that could easily be Jet going into the cold unforgiving ground, or Oliver. It has been a hard week. Emotionally and physically.

I don't think I have cried so much in my life. I'll be happy when everything settles down, and when Oliver and the others get home. I know Jake, Tyler and Logan were upset about not being able to come to the funeral. They won't get out till tomorrow though. I wanted to hold it off till tomorrow but Oliver said we needed it to be today so we can get it passed us.

I think he also thought that it would be better for the guys if they didn't see their friends in caskets. He said Jake would probably get himself back into trouble. I wouldn't put it pass him either.

             
"So after all this is done and Jason goes to prison. Oliver gets out and everything is chill we should have a huge party, dude," Jet slurred. Leon looked back at him from the passenger seat.

             
"Pain killers," I mouthed.

             
Leon rolled his eyes. "Yeah man sounds awesome."

             
"Ever," Jet said rolling his head over to lay it on my shoulder.

             
"Yes?" I questioned unsure.

             
"I love you. You're the best sister ever."

             
Marcus and Leon chuckled from the front.

             
"I love you too, Jet. Why don't you take a nap?" I told him taking a jacket and laying his head against the window.

             
"Yes, ma'am," he muttered a second later he was breathing softly.

             
"Wow," Marcus laughed. Pulling into the driveway of the house.

             
"I'll be back in a second," I told them.

             
"You don't want me to check it out first?" Leon question pursing his lips.

             
"Nah...no one knows we were coming here so I doubt anyone will be in there Fido," I patted Leon's obedient little head.

             
"Shut up," he grunted sinking into his seat folding his arms.

             
Since Oliver told him not to let me out of his sight Leon has been taking his job very seriously. He even follows me and stands outside the bathroom door. Freakin weirdo. But, all the guys seem to take things seriously when Oliver tells them to do something. It's kind of amusing.

              The living room was dark as I entered. I started for a lamp, when there was a click and the light flicked on. I stopped instantly frozen in shock and terror staring at the couch where Eien sat, staring back with a gun pointed right at me. Rooted to spot, I couldn't move, couldn’t scream. What was he doing here? How could he have known? Would he really shoot me?

             
A pop resounded around the room. A bright flash of light and searing pain. Fire ripped through my chest. My breath caught in my throat, slamming me to the floor. I struggled to breathe, to think. Warm liquid filled my throat, I was choking on it. Coughing, I tried forcing it out of my mouth so I could breath.

Everything was fuzzy, white lights danced in my vision. A black shadow loomed over
me; vaguely I could make out Eien's face. The gun. Please...please not the head. I can't heal from that. Would I even heal from this? More flashes of light. More ripping pain...then nothing.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

             
Tyler

             
There was screaming and angry voices.

             
"I'm her sister! You let me through now, Leon!" A familiar voice cried.

             
"Kimmy, please calm down. She hasn't woken up yet. She just got out of surgery," a stern voice spoke.

             
"But, why can't I see her?!" Kimmy begged. Her voice was full of despair.

             
Glancing over at Logan and Jake we quickened our pace down the hallway toward Kimmy's angry screams.

             
Rounding the corner I smiled slightly seeing my five foot five inch tall baby sister up in Leon's face her finger inches from his nose.

             
"You better move right this second, Leon," she threatened. Alex stood behind her on crutches looking a bit helpless to rein Kimmy in.

             
"Ay, what are ya'll doing screaming in the hallway? There are people around," Jake barked trying to sound serious but it was impossible to take him seriously. He always seemed to tacked sex innuendos to everything.

             
"Jake tell him to move. He won't let me see her," Kimmy cried. Tears streaming down her cheeks. Something stirred in my stomach. Kimmy hardly ever cried.

             
"What's going on?" Jake asked. "Why is Ever in the hospital anyways? She trip over something again?"

             
"Eien shot her!" Kimmy screeched. "He shot her nine times! She has been in surgery all night! Why has no one told you?"

             
I felt as if a sledge hammer hit me in the chest. I have been beaten with bats, chains, even brass knuckles, but nothing has ever hit me this hard.

             
Even Jake was speechless.

             
"Move," Jake ordered not hesitating to push Leon out of the way. Leon looked haggard, dark circles under his eyes. He was worn out. Logan stopped to talk with him as Jake, Kimmy and I stepped into the room.

             
"Oh Tyler," Kimmy sobbed wrapping her arms around my waist hiding her face into my chest. Pulling her out of the way I let Alex in so he could sit.

Tears were now forming in my eyes as I looked
at Ever. It was like when I saw Kimmy in the hospital bed two weeks ago all over. Another baby sister we can't seem to protect. Ever has been through hell and back more than any of us.

             
Jake scrubbed his face trying to hide his own tears. Kimmy hiccupped, squeezing her tighter I rested my chin on her head.

             
"This is why I didn't want Kimmy to see her," Leon muttered. Logan went to her bedside to stroke her hair and adjust her oxygen tube. Her right wrist was in a cast her left had a bandage wrapped around her upper arm to her shoulder, two spots with red seeping out some.

She was very pale and so sickly looking. Purple rings hung under her eye lids. The only signs of life were her even breathing and the constant beeping of her heart monitor. Kneeling over her Jake kissed her fore head then placed his
head to hers whispering something to her.

             
"Did..." Jake cleared his throat straightening up. "Did you kill that son of a bitch?" he demanded there was a fire in his eyes that was very unlike Jake.

             
Leon shook his head. "He ran off then ended up turning himself in this morning."

             
"Turned himself in?" Alex echoed in a hollow voice not taking his eyes from Ever's seemingly lifeless body.

             
"I don't understand it either. Maybe to stay away from us but we can take care of him easier in there."

             
"Does Oliver know yet?" Logan questioned pulling his eye brows together in thought.

             
"I was waiting till we had Eien. I was supposed to watch her. He told me not to..." Leon looked so beside himself with guilt.

             
Jake went to him clapping him on the back. "I'll talk to him," he reassured leaving. His face completely void of emotion now.

             
"What did the doctor say?" Kimmy choked out lifting her blood shot eyes to look at Leon.

             
"He missed her heart. He came very close though," Leon ran his hand through his hair and let out a breath.

             
"Two went through her left arm and shoulder. Two in her hip, two in her stomach, the one to the chest and one to her side. That one just barely grazed her."

             
"Thank goodness he was a dumbass," Kimmy muttered softly.

             
"He was drunk and apparently had cocaine in his system. That's what I found out from our source in the station," Leon walked around the bed slumping into a chair.

             
"How much?" Alex asked wide eyed.

             
"They're thinking about .7 grams. It's a wonder he's even breathing."

             
"He won't be for long when Oliver gets a hold of him," Logan whispered rubbing Ever's right shoulder softly. The only spot really you could touch.

             
"W..will she be okay?" Kimmy asked, her voice breaking again.

             
"We'll have to see..."

             
Oliver

             
Punching the wall I felt my knuckles split open again but I ignored it punching the wall over and over again I yelled angrily and cursed everything under the sun. Resting my head on the wall I leaned into it and slide to the ground. Never in my life do I ever remember crying. Even in my earliest memories. I remember being a small child. I vaguely remember my mother, but not crying, until now.