The sun is gone but I have a light ~ Kurt Cobain The night is always so dark. I saw the violence that burst out of it and the mess it left in its wake. Paramedics were lifting Austin into an ambulance, setting him alongside Christopher's injured friend. Chad's car was dented, scratched and had a smashed window. He sat on the cement pavement, leaning against the wheel of his car while his hand bled on his lap. Luke held me in his arms even though he was injured himself. He kissed me and made sure I was alright. I was alright. We were all going to be alright. Then, Luke and I separated to see to our friends. I went towards the ambulance. Chris was trying to push past the paramedics to join his friend inside. "There's no space for you to accompany him. You can see him in the hospital," they told Chris, before they tried pinning him down to ten to his own wounds. "Austin," I called into the ambulence, "We're here for you. Do you hear me?" "You're shouting, Millie, so yes we all hear you," Austin responded from his stretcher. His humor had not gone anywhere. "How do you feel?" I called out, not lowering my voice at all. "This is VIP transportation so I'm good." I smiled but cast a worried glance in Chad's direction. Luke was crouching beside Chad now, helping him get up. Chad put his weak arm over Luke's shoulder and leant his full weight. Luke heaved him up and they walked towards us. My gaze softened watching them. In my short time with Luke, I have seen the power of friendship. His friends go through fire for each other, with each other. They stay true in a way I haven't experienced before. In the thick of the fight, Chad and Luke had protected each other when the gang turned on them for my necklace. I remember seeing that. My silly necklace. It wasn't worth all this. The silver necklace sat in my pocket and I felt it like a heavy weight on me. I felt partly to blame for what happened tonight. Chad sat down as a paramedic came to tend to him. He shifted his weight off Luke's shoulder and Luke stumbled. He was wounded and carrying Chad had exerted a lot of physical pressure on him. I ran to help Luke, but the paramedics were already beside him. They criticized him for injuring himself further and sent him to sit with Chris. "You're all under eighteen so we will be calling your legal guardians as soon as we arrive at the hospital," the paramedic said, "The police will also be there to take your statements. Now, no one is in a critical condition. So, you can stop helping each other and focus on yourselves." The gambler's bike gang stayed at a distance from the paramedics. They had helped in the fight but didn't want to go much further. Their leader came up to me, now, and said, "A comedic muse who's always one step away from catastrophe." "It tends to pan out that way when we meet, doesn't it?" I remarked, "I may be your muse, but you may be my bad omen." He laughed, "I've been called that before." My eyes gravitated to Luke. I felt comforted by the sight of him. Hearing his deep voice calmed me and seeing his captivating presence revitalized me. He was in a deep conversation with Chris. The gambler saw where my eyes were drawn to. "That boy is trouble," he said. I nodded. Luke was dramatic, energetic, charismatic, sarcastic - all the ic's - and I had the biggest crush on him. "But he needs a girl like you. If I'd been that lucky, my life would've taken a very different turn." Almost as if Luke could hear us, he turned towards me. His blue eyes melted mine, in the way they always have. He and Chris exchanged a one arm hug and then Luke came towards us, limping slightly. "I don't like you kid," the gambler announced as Luke approached us, "Because you remind me of me." "You remind me of my bad bets," Luke answered, "But thank you for getting involved tonight. I'm sure you did it for her, more than for me but thanks." "You bet I didn't do it for you, but you should be proud of yourself kid. You were unarmed and outnumbered, and you took those guys on." Luke didn't take compliments easily, and he put the attention back on me, "Can you take Minnie home? I don't want her to stay up at the hospital with us. They're going to call our parents and she doesn't need that kind of trouble." Luke wasn't looking at me since he knew how I would react. I immediately disagreed, "No, I want to-" "I'm with the boy on this one," the gambler said, and told us both, "I'll leave you two to say your goodbyes and then I'll take you home Millie." He left without waiting for us to respond. He spoke to his men and stood by his motorbike. I stared angrily at Luke, "I want to come with you." "I know, and I don't want to be away from you," he answered, taking my hand, "I want to stand by your side but not if you have to stand in my mess." I reluctantly accepted his argument and moved on to a question that had been on my mind since he walked up to us, "Luke, what did you say to Chris?" Truthfully, I had been surprised to find Chris fighting alongside Luke. They were supposedly rivals. "I told him that, after tonight, I have his back. He had mine." They were on opposite teams on court, but maybe not off court anymore. Both hyper competitive and facing similar challenges in the same sport; it could be the start of a strong friendship. ** My junior year had begun with a bang. Maybe this year wouldn't turn out so badly after all. My relationship with my mother was on the mend, now that I returned her necklace. Flora was still dealing with her breakup by asking me if Luke could invite her out everywhere. What else? Mr Dawson still regarded me with distrust whenever he saw me. I still had no clue who was writing the mystery letters to blackmail me. I was back on the mathlete team, enjoying my after-school work shifts at Lola Rae. And my previously broken heart was full again. More full than I thought possible. As for Julia, I cancelled my subscription to her issues. ** I parked my beat-up car outside Austin's house. He was spending the weekend in bed, after being released from the hospital. I held a bouquet of flowers in my hand. I'd picked them out of Mrs Dawson's backyard for him. I knew she wouldn't be pleased with me, but what's new? *Luke's perspective* "Photo time," Gloria said as she shoved the boys closer together. Chad grinned with his puffy black eye. Luke leaned on a crutch and Austin wore an arm brace. The three amigos stood for the photo in Austin's living room. Apple cider was being heated on the kitchen stove, which Austin had spiked with brandy when Gloria wasn't looking.