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We drive in silence for a while before I decide to give starting a conversation with my stubborn jackass of a brother another go.
"So, what did you do to make her want to talk to you in the first place? Because usually, your reception is colder than the North Pole at Christmas," I joke, hoping humor will thaw his icy exterior.
"No big deal. She came up to me and seemed ready to give me a piece of her mind for beating up some asshole, and then when I told her why, she appeared to be grateful," Gabe replies very unemotionally.
"Wait, you think Bella was happy that you beat someone up?" I ask, trying to clarify what he said.I know his people skills leave a lot to be desired, but surely he has some grasp on social cues.
"Seemed that way," Gabe grunts.
"Bella? As in my Bella? The girl who won't even let me kill a spider because she's worried it may have a spider family somewhere?" I ask, unconvinced.
"Yeah, she found out some asshole tried to date rape her and her friends at Tucker's birthday party." It takes me a second to fully register what he said.Since he blurted it out so calmly, you'd think he was talking about sports results, not someone trying to attack our friends.I slam on the brakes with my foot, almost making us both slam into the windshield.
"What the actual fuck?" yells Gabe.
"Say that again, Gabe," I demand in shock, not even bothering to try and restart the car.
"What... the... fuck?" answers Gabe.
"No, you fucking idiot, the other thing about date rape," I snap, hitting him on the arm.
"Oh, yeah, at Tucker's party, some guy was slipping pills into the girls' drinks. He tried to give one to Ava and Izzy, but I knocked it out of his hand. Then I saw him with that Harpy girl hanging all over him, so I took her upstairs and made her throw up. No biggie, really," Gabe explains calmly. I just stare at him in awe.
He's just told me this like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Like it's every day, you save a bunch of girls from being sexually assaulted. Sometimes I wish he could see himself through my eyes. He always talks about how worthless he is or how he’s heartless, yet this just goes to show how great of a guy he really is.
I lean over the controls, grab him, and pull him into a hug. "Why the hell does everyone keep trying to hug me tonight?" Gabe grumbles while sitting very awkwardly in my embrace, not even attempting to hug me back like any other normal person would.
"How about because you're the fucking rock star who saved not only my girl, but the other girls in the group from a pervert who could have done God knows what to them? You really need to give yourself more credit, Gabe. There's a good guy in there, desperately trying to break free. I fully agree with Bella. You were their guardian angel that night, Gabe."
"I'm nobody's fucking angel," Gabe snaps.
"Well, you have always been mine, and for one night you were theirs too. Even if they don’t know, and you won’t admit it," I say proudly, giving him one last squeeze. Gabe pulls back now and looks like he wants to throw up. I wish he could see himself the way I do. I honestly don't understand why he feels the need to act like he's some kind of robot that's completely void of all emotion.
"But now that we've got that out the way, who the fuck is this guy? Where do I find him? And are you with me?" I demand, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"I'm always with you, little brother." Gabe offers, flashing me an evil, devilish grin.
Finally, we stop in front of a large house that looks from the outside like it's home to a cute little family who holds bake sales on the weekends. There is a large front yard that has a swing set and a white picket fence. I look over at Gabe, wondering if he might have led us to the wrong place. When I see a man, probably in his early twenties, pull up in a fancy ass black BMW, we both duck down so the guy doesn't see us, but we sure see him. He rings the doorbell, and I see Keith. I've barely said five words to him since the school semester started, but after the amount of social media stalking, Gabe and I have done to get his address. There's no denying that the red hair and freckled face at the door belong to Keith. Gabe told me the rest of the story on the drive over, including the fact that he had slashed his tires the very next day. "You ready, Gabe?" I ask as I watch the front door close and begin to hatch my plan.
"I was born ready," Gabe informs me cockily as we both open the doors, climb out of the car, and stalk our way to his front door. Okay, what the hell are we supposed to do now? Just ring the doorbell and hope he lets us in to fight him? As if the god of war himself hears my silent plea, we see a girl storm out the door. "Fuck you, Keith, you're a pig!" the random girl screams, not even seeming to notice me and Gabe standing just a few feet away from her as she cries.
I almost stop to go after the girl to see if she's okay, but Gabe grabs me by the arm. "You can't save everyone, you're not a knight in shining armor," Gabe says, his tone short and unreadable.Angry? No. Annoyed? I don't think so. Sad? Maybe, though I don't know why.
"Nate," I hear Gabe whisper-shout.Yup, that tone definitely sounds annoyed.
I look up and notice he's standing at the entrance with his foot in the door. He must have rushed to catch it before the door closed. I hurry the last few steps and slide in quietly behind him, closing the door carefully behind me. The house seems pretty quiet, so quiet that I can hear the blood pumping and my heart beating faster,it's the same feeling I had back in Baltimore before a big fight.We walk slowly through the house until we hear laughter and joking from the patio. We creep closer and hear a group of guys talking and laughing. We eavesdrop, and it's clear we're in the right house. There are three guys outside. Keith, another guy I recognize from school, I think his name is Parker, and the guy we saw outside who definitely looks older but is just as scruffy and sleazy as Parker and Keith.
"So, Keith, you gonna tell us where you got those shiners?" One of the guys laughs as he puts his head back and drinks his beer.
"Some fucker at school got pissed because I tried to slip his sister a pill. No biggie, she was gagging for it," Keith slurs. It takes everything in me not to march out there and beat the living shit out of him. I feel Gabe's arm on my shoulder, grounding me. It almost works until I hear another voice. "I don't blame you. I sit behind Ava and her friend, the new girl in math. I'd love to destroy her sweet, little cunt."
I don't know who runs out first, me or Gabe, but we both seem to have the same red mist clouding our judgment. Before I know it, Gabe is punching and kicking some guy, probably the one who just spoke, and I'm straddling Keith on the floor, landing punch after punch on his face, chest, and ribs. I can feel him trying to fight back; he even lands a few good punches, but it's nothing compared to me at this moment.
His attempts are sloppy and weak, probably from the alcohol coursing through his system, but mine are clear and precise. He tries to say something, but I don't listen until Bella's name escapes his lips. "Don't ever say her name to me again," I spit as I wrap both my hands around his throat and squeeze. He starts kicking me, attempting to loosen my grip with his hands, but I don't let him. I can feel his body thrashing under me, desperately trying to get me off, but it only spurs me on. I hear Gabe's voice, but it sounds a million miles away. I keep choking Keith and watch as panic forms on his face, but I don't care.
He deserves to know what it feels like to be overpowered by someone bigger and stronger than him. He deserves to know what it feels like to be hurt without being able to fight back. What it feels like to be vulnerable and begging for someone to save you. I see his eyes start to roll, but I still don't let go of him until I feel someone yank me away from behind. I'm about to lose it again, until I realize it's Gabe. It shocks me back to reality, and I look around and see Keith lying on the floor, coughing and sputtering, and the panic sets in.
"What have I done?!" I shout and rush over to him, even though I can hear him coughing. I need to make sure I haven't killed him, even if it’s only for my own peace of mind.
