Cold Vow

                Annette and Larry had been friends for a while.  To clarify what I mean by “friends,” it is not that they called each other and hung out, it was just that they would see each other at random Greek functions and hang out at that function.  It continued like this for many years until Larry graduated high school, he was going to graduation parties and at his friend’s Damon’s he realized that he liked Annette.  Annette had short brown hair stood at 5’6” a nice body and a pretty face.  She did not drink any alcoholic beverage nor smoked any product in her life.  This made her more of a straightedge than Larry.  Larry had never smoked anything except for seven cigars spread out amongst special occasions.  The occasions being one when his dad bought them for him and his two brothers after his older brother won his first Crew regatta.  He smoked a Cuban cigar that his godfather bought him for his 16^th birthday. On his 18^th birthday he had one because his friend offered him to smoke with him for his birthday. On the last day of classes, the seniors walked outside and smoked a cigar celebrating the end of high school.  The next day, the same friend asked him to return the favor and smoke a cigar with him on his 18^th birthday.  Larry actually smoked three on this day.  Larry drank approximately once a month, but with graduation parties it was turning into twice.  A week later Larry saw Annette at his graduation party in which he was highly drunk.  The next two days saw two more graduation parties that Annette and Larry both attended.  The third one Larry asked Annette for her number using the excuse that he wanted to call her on her birthday which was five days from then.  Larry did call her on her birthday but then continually called her to try to do something but Annette always made an excuse on why she couldn’t.  Larry didn’t think anything was wrong.  Annette worked in the mornings went to summer school in the afternoon and had to baby-sit frequently in the evenings, she was too busy.  These stories did check out but then Larry went to a Greek wedding that Annette was also at.  At the wedding, Larry realized that his advancements had turned Annette off to him.  The assigned tables had Larry and Annette at the same table but Annette sat furthest away as possible from Larry.  During Greek dancing, Annette avoided being next to Larry at all costs and when she took breaks, if Larry tried to talk to her, she tried to kill the conversation and her brother and cousins would come to occupy her time.  Larry accepted this and stopped calling hoping that later they could be the friends they once were. 

                The wedding was on Saturday, and it was currently Tuesday.  After classes Annette planned to go to a late movie with two friends.  When they left the movie, the parking lot was deserted due to the neighboring mall being closed and it being one of the last movies to exit.  In addition to that, not many people attended her movie.  Suddenly three guys, all medium built and around 6’ tall, one with blond hair, the other brown and the third red surrounded Annette and grabbed her arm and the blond said, “Hey baby, what are you doing tonight?”

                Annette’s friends backed up a bit in fear.  Annette responded, “Nothing with you.” As she jerked her arm away and tried walking toward her friends.  The brown haired boy grabbed her and shoved her into the wall with his hand over her mouth and said, “Let me correct you, you weren’t planning on doing anything with us, but you will get on all of us tonight.”

                One of her friends screamed out, “Leave her alone!”

                The red head backhanded her across the face and yelled, “Shut up bitch.”

                The girl fell to the ground as the third looked on in horror.  The redhead turned toward her and as their eyes met, she ran off, the girl that was backhanded stood up and scurried close behind.  The other two kids watched on and the brown haired boy said, “Looks like your friends won’t be joining us, now if I let go of your mouth will you scream? If you say no, and do, we’ll beat the shit out of you before the cops arrive and by the time they do, you’ll feel violated sexually and physically, I guarantee it.”

                Annette shook her head no and the brown-haired kid lowered his hand.  He said again, “Now do you want to go back to my place and have some fun?”

                “Do I have an option?”

                “Not really.”

                “Well to be honest, you can go fuck yourself.”

                The brown-haired kid backhanded her across the face but grabbed her keeping her from falling.  He straightened her up as Annette let out a short yelp of both pain and terror.  Another movie was getting out but there were only four people.  Larry was one of them, he recognized Annette as the girl being pinned against the wall.  The other three people walked by as if nothing was happening.  Larry raced toward them and the blond and redhead turned around, Larry dropped his shoulder and drove it into the blond’s stomach, wrapped his arms around and chopped at his legs tackling him to the ground.  He shot up and punched the redhead in the stomach.  The brown haired kid punched Larry in the kidneys and threw him into the wall.  He drilled him three more times in the stomach with his fists and then nailed him in the face.  He hit with so much force that his hand hurt, Larry remained standing and took a few steps to the side only to be lifted up by the redhead and slammed to the ground on his back and back of the head and neck.  Annette backed off the wall but curiosity stopped her from dashing to her car.  All three boys stomped at Larry’s chest and kicked him in the side.  They grabbed his arms and helped him to his feet.  The blond taunted, “You shouldn’t have messed in our business” as he slapped him in the face.

                Larry turned his head and slammed it into the blond’s face but the redhead punched him in the stomach and shoved him into the wall.  The brown-haired boy backed up to a distance while the redhead repeatedly punched Larry in the stomach and snapped his head back into the brick wall.  The brown haired boy came running and the redhead stepped out of the way as the brown haired boy jumped twisted and sandwiched Larry between his back and the wall.  The blond was following right after him repeating the same jump followed by the redhead with the same maneuver.  Larry bent over coughing, the back of his head and his lips had blood flowing out.  The brown haired boy put Larry’s head between his legs, wrapped his arms around his waist, lifted Larry up so both of his shoulders bent over the brown-haired shoulders and then shoved him off as Larry landed on the back of his neck and head.  Larry stirred and pushed himself to his feet.  He stood poised the blond ran forward jumped to the side and shoved his knee into Larry’s solar plexus He put him in a headlock and thrusted his knee into his face.  The redhead walked around and kicked Larry in the stomach repeatedly while the brown haired kid kicked at his legs. After two kicks, Larry dropped to his knees but the blond still held the hold, just lowered his arms but continued slamming Larry’s face into his knee.  The brown-haired boy now stomped at his shins and hamstrings.  They did this repeatedly as Annette looked on in horror.  They threw Larry to the ground and he landed on his stomach.  Larry rolled over to his back and his entire face was covered in blood.  The brown haired boy and the redhead walked up to him and stomped his thighs giving him a Charlie horse.    Larry rolled some more and the fact that he was conscious shocked the men.  The brown-haired boy stepped on his back so Larry remained lying on his stomach, and then the three of them stomped at Larry’s back and legs repeatedly.  They helped him up and once again stuck Larry’s head in between the brown haired boy’s legs. He slipped his hands under Larry’s elbows and interlocked them over Larry’s back so that Larry’s hands were trapped above his back; he then, with the help of the other two, lifted Larry up and forced him down.  In this position when picked up, the body’s natural reaction is to bend the knees, Larry did this but when he was forced down he landed directly on them.  They got up exhausted from their attack on Larry.  Larry continued to stir and rose to his feet smiling.  The redhead walked behind Larry and slipped his arms under and interlocked them forcing Larry in a full nelson.  The brown-haired boy punched Larry across the jaw.  Larry’s head shot right back and continued to smile he yelled out, “Hit me again”

                The brown-haired boy punched him again and Larry laughed and said, “Dude, you hit like a girl.”

The brown-haired boy took a few steps back and walked forward and punched Larry twice in the face alternating hands.  Larry laughed some more and said, “You can’t hurt me”

                The blond haired boy grabbed Annette, and called out to Larry right after the brown-haired punched him once more. He said, “Look I got your girl right here.”

                The blond had Annette by the arms forcing her to walk toward them.  Larry said, “Now you’re pissing me off, let her go, or else I’m going to kick all your asses.”

The blond brought his hands over Annette’s and forced them behind her with his arms pushing down on her back.  This is a half nelson, and he yelled out, “Look I’m doing her doggy style.” 

The brown haired kid went for another punch but Larry kicked him in the stomach bending him over. He straightened his arms directly over his head and dropped to a seated position slipping out of the hold.  As he dropped, The brown-haired boy rose and swung his fists straight accidentally nailing the redhead in the nose.  Larry then shot up and uppercutted the brown-haired boy sending him back and to the ground.  He then grabbed the redhead’s arm and pulled him toward him as he moved to the side and forced his knee into his solar plexus and slammed his head back onto the pavement.  He turned toward the blond who released the half nelson and just held Annette in front of him.  Larry walked toward them and the blond shoved Annette at him, Larry grabbed Annette by the waist, swung around forcing Annette’s feet in the air and kept twisting until Annette’s feet drilled the blond in the face knocking him to the ground.  He stood her up and reached at his waist and pulled out two pocketknives that have a waist clip and clipped them on Annette’s waist and whispered, “Just in case.”

The blond got up but Larry tackled him to the ground again and repeatedly punched him in the face.  Larry then rolled off him as the redhead’s foot came down and collided with the blond’s stomach.  The blond rolled on the ground with his face bloody and his arms holding his stomach.  Larry punched the redhead in the face and then in the stomach.  When he bent over he put the redhead in a headlock and turned to the side so he could see both the brown-haired kid and the blond.  He then drove the redhead’s face into his knees repeatedly.  The brown haired boy walked toward him, Larry threw the redhead to the ground and ran at the brown-haired kid.  He jumped to the side and smacked his knee into his solar plexus.  He then put him in a headlock and ran backward toward the wall.  When Larry collided with the wall he forced the brown-haired kid’s head into it as well.  Larry let go and the brown-haired boy fell to the ground barely conscious.  Larry jumped and landed with both feet on the brown-haired kid’s chest.  He spit up blood and then his eyes glazed over in unconsciousness.  The blond got up and saw this and his eyes widened in fear.  The redhead still lay on the ground holding his face.  Larry ran at the blond and tackled him to the ground again.  He then stomped at his midsection and his legs repeatedly.   He then jumped and landed knees first on his solar plexus causing the blond to spit blood and scream for mercy.  The redhead made his way to his feet and Larry walked toward him, the kid put out his hands and shook his head panting the words, “No more.”

Larry put him in a headlock and then fell back driving the kid’s head into the ground but he lay on his stomach.  Larry stomped at his back and legs and then grabbed the kid’s hair and slammed it repeatedly into the ground until he was unconscious.  The blond was on all four limbs coughing; Larry sprinted toward him and jumped on his back as if he were a horse.  The blond collapsed to the ground instantly.  Larry helped him up and grabbed his golden hair and led him to the brick wall and slammed his face into it with every syllable as he said, “I told you not to touch her, or else I’ll kick your ass.”

The blond’s eyes glazed over in unconsciousness and Larry threw him to the ground.  All four members had blood all over their face from various shots into the wall, a fist, the floor, or from spitting out blood.  Larry and the blond had blood on the back of their heads from hitting it on the ground after being tackled or thrown in Larry’s case.  The three boys still lay unconscious as Larry bent over panting as his adrenaline slowed down.  He kept his eyes up and watched as Annette approached with a confused look on her face.  She started, “Larry…umm”

Larry interrupted, “Are you okay?”

“Yea thanks to you.”

“Alright good, I’m going home.”

“Are you okay to drive home?”

“I think so”

“Larry….. ummm…..well look at you.”

“I can’t see my face Annette, but you can, I know there is blood because I see it dripping but I don’t know as well as you do how bad it is.  So I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and say I’m 100% because obviously I’m not but don’t worry, I think I have enough adrenaline to drive home.”

“But Larry…..”

“Look Annette, this is hard for you to say, so I’m going to explain to you the whole situation because I don’t have time to wait, I’m exhausted from fighting off three people for you so here it goes.  We were friends, you know we saw each other every now and then at Greek functions and we had conversations, some longer than others, whenever we happened to see each other.  Then at Damon’s party I developed a crush for you, I got your number and when I started calling you just to talk you realized that I like you more than a friend.  This scared you so you made excuses so that you couldn’t do anything with me.  Now they may all have been true, all false or a combination of the two, frankly, I don’t care, that’s the situation.  You then vowed that if you were ever to see me, you’d act completely cold around me and blow me off since I scared you with my advancement.  This was evidenced at the wedding when every time I tried to start a conversation with you, you tried to kill the conversation, told me to dance, or got Taki, Peter or Dean to come to help you out.  Also when Greek dancing, if people left the line and it ended up that me and you were next to each other, you either immediately left or had Taki in between the two of us (Taki is her brother and Peter and Dean are her first cousins). Now, I assume you weren’t here by yourself, but apparently the people you were with left, I saw you in trouble and I helped you out.  In doing so, I got my ass kicked and busted open, so you feel bad keeping to your cold vow but you don’t want to break it either so you’re torn between the two.  I’m glad that you’re okay and I could help.  Now I can barely stand so I need to get to my car so I can sit down and drive.”

Annette nodded and then slapped Larry across the face sending him to the ground.  Larry rolled onto his back but Annette stopped him from getting up by placing her foot on his chest.  She smiled and said, “That was a lovely speech. You got slapped because you were kind of right, but let me tell you something right now, you’re going to my house, I’m going to clean you up and you’re going to sleep over and I’ll take you home in the morning.  Okay.”

“Do you have your car?”

“Yes”

“Do you feel comfortable with having blood on the seats?”

By this time the three boys were all awake but had yet to stand up but lay there dazed and trying to gain their breath in no mood to continue the fight.  Annette responded, “We can take your car.”

“I don’t let anyone drive my car but me.”

She looked back and forth trying to think and said, “I’m not getting in the car with you.”

“I had a feeling since you think I can’t make it home because of the ass kicking I received”

“It’s pretty logical to me.”
                “I never said it wasn’t”

“We need to compromise”

“You’re a smart girl, figure it out”

“You know?”

“Yes”

Annette looked into the parking lot and realized that her car and Larry’s were facing each other.  She said, “What’s the compromise?”

“That’s what you have to figure out.”

“I think you don’t know”

“Get a paper and a pen, I’ll write it down”

Annette took a paper from her purse and walked the 500 feet to her car and got a pen.  She gave it to Larry and he wrote, “Either take clothes from the back seat of my car or your own and place them on the seat, that way the clothes get stained not the car.”

Larry folded the paper and put it in his pocket, Annette said, “Give me a hint”

“You wont’ find it in your car”

Annette walked to Larry’s car and looked in searching for what he was talking about, after a little bit she realized she could use the clothes.  She came back and told Larry she needed his keys.  While she was gone, Larry tried getting to his feet but his adrenaline ceased pumping and he could only sit up.  Annette helped him up and helped him to his car, the blood on Larry’s face rubbed off on Annette but Annette didn’t mind.  She took Larry’s keys and leaned him against her car.  He took out the clothes from the backseat and locked the doors before shutting the opened one.  She then put Larry’s keys in her pocket and took hers and unlocked her car.  She opened the door and covered Larry’s seat in the clothes including the back and headrest.  She walked around and helped Larry in the car.  The cuts on Larry closed and most of the blood had dried so not much rubbed off on Annette.  She then drove Larry to her house.  Larry lay straight with his head against the rest dazed.  Larry wasn’t sure if he would have been able to drive home but was glad that he wasn’t going to find out.  On the way Larry said, “Annette I have something to tell you.”

Annette’s mouth opened as she was worried what he would say but responded, “Okay”

“Just because today I won a fight against three guys and you beat me up, doesn’t mean you can beat three guys so please don’t’ try it.”

Annette laughed, “Okay I won’t”

When they got to Annette’s house, she dragged him out of the car and put his arm around her shoulder and helped him to the nearest bathroom in the house.  She lied Larry in the bathtub and ran the sink water.  She wiped the blood from Larry’s face and poured rubbing alcohol on the cuts.  When all that remained were cuts, she took off his shirt remembering how he had taken shots to the chest and stomach.  His chest and sternum were bruised; she looked down and noticed that Larry’s shins were bleeding from being slammed into the pavement.  She wiped that blood and put some rubbing alcohol on it.  She remembered the Charlie horses so she took off his shorts and he did have bruises on both of them.  She couldn’t do anything about the bruises so she was done.  She said to him, “I bet you wished I’d undress you for a while now.”

“I’m not going to lie; I thought it would be cool.” He said with a smile

“Yea but don’t get too excited, I still like you as a friend.”

Annette also washed the small amount of blood off her and helped Larry get dressed.  She led him to a couch and laid him there.  She covered him with a blanket and headed toward bed.  Larry called out, “Annette,” she turned around and he continued, “thanks for cleaning me up.”

“Thanks for rescuing me today.”

The next day Annette took Larry to his car and returned the knives to him.  Larry was extremely sore but he felt a lot better.  Annette said, “Since you figured out what I was doing when I found out you liked me and used a tone of disgust, what else could I do, keeping in mind that I only like you as a friend.”

“You had a couple options.  One you could have kept making excuses why you couldn’t do anything, but kept it like it’s always been that every now and then we see each other we talk.  And if you get sick of me asking, we do something but Taki or someone comes with us.  You could, and I’m not recommending this one, tease me and flirt back but if I ever try to bring it forward shut me down.  Or do exactly what you did and be cold.  Personally I think the way it was would have been the best way of going about it but that’s me.”

“You do have a point.”

They arrived at the theater and Larry walked out of the car and thanked Annette for the ride.  Annette got out as well and hugged Larry and gave him a European kiss (cheeks together and kiss the air).  She said, “Larry, thank you so much for last night, I don’t know what would have happened had you not have shown up.”

“Your welcome”

They then got in their cars and drove to their houses.  Annette and Larry from then on were as they had been before Larry had a crush on her.  They never told anyone about what happened but Larry did admit that he got the cuts in a fight.  He just embellished how the fight started.