Chris unbuckled his belt. He pulled it off, wrapped his belt once around his hand and used it as a whip. "What? We aren't friends." Luke rolled up his sleeves, "You're about to be brothers now." Luke swung a ferocious punch at the leader and knocked him out cold. He'd targeted the decision maker to cause confusion and gain a momentary element of surprise. They were outnumbered after all. "What the- where d'you-" "He boxes in his spare time," Chad said gleefully, dodging a right hook. "Take the necklace! They have a necklace!" the boys from the bike called out, "And the car!" The attacks got more intense and the blows were heavy set. Despite being outnumbered, the fight was even-matched. Damage was being done on both sides. Austin ran into the fight, yelling, "I'm here!" The Laughing Heads bar was not far away and he'd been sprinting for the last five minutes straight. "Only you? You didn't bring backup?" "I am the backup." The fight submerged him. It was still two-to-one but the gang was armed. Chris' friend got sliced by a knife on his right arm and Chad was being kicked to a pulp by his car. Austin was dodging as much as he could, but getting tired quickly. Chris had three boys on him, fighting to take him and his whip down. And suddenly, shining against the dark street, were blinding taillights. Motorbikes appeared under a deafening roar. It got everyone's attention. And there, sitting in the back secret of the leading bike, was Millie. Sometimes, when you walk in on a devastating scene – when you see the boy you love bloodied up and his best friend lying on the cold pavement – things begin to move in slow motion. The deafening sound of the motorbikes faded into the background. The screaming became a shrill melody that I overlooked. My vision could only see those I loved. Their pain and my hope to rescue them. My little hope. I felt the gambler's men push past me and rush to break up the fight. The gambler sat me on his bike and yelled in my face not to move. I could barely process what he was saying. My eyes were on Luke. "Go go go go go," one of the gang members yelled when the bikers took on those closest to Austin. Austin was rescued and pushed out of the fight. The attackers surrounding Chris began to flee, knowing the bikers would go for them next. The fight escalated in intensity since the bikers brandished their own weapons. Luke and Chad were the furthest away. In the scramble that followed, one of the gang grabbed a semi-conscious Chad and pulled him up by the scruff of his shirt. "Give us the necklace and we'll leave." He held a knife to his neck. Chad felt the cold l pressing against his skin. The biker-rescuers were furthest away from them. They wouldn't get here in the next few minutes. "He doesn't have it," Luke said, loudly even though he was being wrestled back, "I do." Chad's eyes rolled, but he couldn't get the words out. Luke didn't have the necklace; he was just protecting him. The knife released the pressure from his neck and drops of blood leaked out of a shallow cut. The gang members cornered Luke now. Chad tried to see what was happening, but they blocked his view. He could only hear the threats. "He's trying to help me," Chad called out. His mind was racing back and forth: let Luke take the fall or go down with him? It's hard to be brave. In a painful, life-threatening situation, the easiest option is to stay quiet. The necklace was the last attempt the gang members had of leaving this street fight with something. They hadn't stolen the car and only Chad carried cash, which they had taken out of his wallet. This necklace could be pawned off for a good amount. "He doesn't have the necklace," Chad repeated, "I do." With bruised hands, Chad reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver jewelry. The gang members turned around, but before they could grab it from him, he said. "And you're not touchin' it." He raised his hand and yelled, "Catch!" Chad threw it into the air, aiming towards the only person free in this entire mess. The only person sitting on a bike, away from any danger. Millie. "CATCH!" Millie's face turned into one of absolute horror as she realized she was expected to do something athletic. Surrounded by his attackers, Luke sighed, "Oh, we're f*cked now." Millie had never in her life caught anything. She knew that, he knew that. Why didn't Chad know that? Some of the gang who could break free from the bikers ran towards her. She jumped off the bike, running around in circles. "Hands together, knees bent," she whispered, remembering the words of advice she had received as she stared up at the shiny piece of jewelry flying against the night sky like a shooting star. "Stay calm... stay calm," she repeated, losing her calm, "STAY CALM!" Plop. The necklace landed with a firm plop into her hands. Her fingers curled across the cold l, as she stared incredulously at what had happened. They were all gone. The bikers had driven the others away. The danger had subsided and the ambulance was on its way. Chad was rolling in the gutter and Chris' friend was bleeding heavily. Luke limped towards her, eyes only on her. Blood was on his hands and he was drained. She ran into his arms and he pressed his hands on either side of her face. His dark blue eyes lightened at the sight of her. "Minnie." He kissed her once. He kissed her twice. He didn't stop kissing her. "You caught it. You actually caught it," he said in between kisses, "I'm so proud of you." "An obnoxious boy once told me not to let something good slip between my fingers," she responded, feeling a deep emotion. "Sounds like one delusional guy," Luke smirked. "Yeah, well, he isn't the only one." Luke whispered, "You're my heroine, Millie. You rescued me." His charming smirk was contagious. His lip was cut and his body was bruised, but he was smiling. "I can't wait to date you," he said. "Luke, you're injured. Maybe we should postpone our date until you-" "I'll go on this date limping if I have to. It's tomorrow. And even tomorrow's too long."