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�No, I can�t.�
�But, I--�
�I just can�t.� Craig looked over his shoulder as if some one were watching him. He always did that when Onyx was around. It was a known fact that beyond the two�s friendship was something deeper�on Onyx�s side of the relationship. Craig was involved with Kaiser, one of the meanest guys in school.
�But, Craig,� Onyx shoved the tickets into his hand. �Front row, center seats. We�ll be able to jump on stage if we want!� The tickets were to the local band, the Laymen�s Project. Both were fans and tickets were hard to come by. �You have to come�as friends.�
Craig sighed. �But, I can�t, for your sake. If Kaiser found--�
�Forget Kaiser! You have to go with me! It�s the last concert of our high school lives! Besides, it took me hours to get these! No one else has them�I think.�
Craig looked to the tickets in his hand. Row A seats 9 and 10. Exactly front row center. He thought about what Kaiser would say if he knew he was going with Onyx. He also thought about what his friends would say if he turned down the ticket. Knowing Onyx could take care of herself, he sighed. �Alright,� he paused. �But only as friends. You say one word about me and Kaiser and I�ll walk out of the middle of the concert.�
Onyx squeaked in excitement and gave Craig a hug. �Done. I�ll see you Saturday at six then.� before Craig could say another word, she was gone, leaving his with the tickets to the concert.
Craig was different at the concert than he normally was. Onyx took little notice. She was too wrapped up in the music from the band. The two joined in a small mash pit that formed and for a while it seemed like Craig�s mood was beginning to turn. Then the band announced their last song of the evening. It was one of their better known songs. Something about dark corners and not being able to see the future because the past clouds one�s view on life.
That threw Craig right back into his sour mood. Onyx asked him what was going on and he just shook his head, replying: �Nothing.�
�Are you sure?� she asked again on their way out. �You seemed like you didn�t want to be here.�
�No, don�t worry about it.� he shrugged. The two walked over to where the street crossed with an alley that led to the back entrance. Onyx peered down it.
�Well, I�m gonna head home for the night.� she checked her watch and changed her mind. �It�s still early. Do you want to come over and play video games? I got the newest version of that virtual fighter one. Awesome upgrade in graphics. You have to see it.�
�Maybe some other time. The bass got to me tonight. I think I�m just going to go home. Besides I told my mom I�d be home after the concert and she knows what time it got over.�
�Whatever. See you at school Monday?�
�You know it.� Craig smiled for the first time that night. He turned and left Onyx, walking down the street. She watched him, till he turned the corner, mad at herself because she couldn�t get Craig away from Kaiser. That guy was such a jerk and Craig deserved better than that. No matter what she said, Craig would always smile, shrug and change the topic.
It made her sick. Snorting, she turned down the alley. It was familiar to her which is why afterwards she wondered why she never heard him coming. She was half way down the alley just about across from the door, entering its ring of light when some one grabbed her from behind.
It was Kaiser, Craig�s boyfriend. �What were you doing with Craig, Onyx?� he growled her name and pinned her against the wall by her arms. The bricks on her back were cold, but Kaiser�s grip froze her in place. She couldn�t think, couldn�t move.
�Answer me!�
He let go of her arm and swung, punching her in the jaw, sending her to the pavement. She hit her head and pain burst into it. Her jaw felt swollen instantly and before she could pick herself up, Kaiser had her by the shirt collar lifting her off the ground. His face was in hers. She could feel his breath on her face. �Cat got your tongue?� he laughed. It was a horrible pun against Onyx�s ethnicity, which she normally would have reacted to, but tonight she was more worried about breathing.
There was a buzzing in her ears and she could she Kaiser talking, but couldn�t hear him. The alley was growing dark. She felt dizzy. The ringing drew louder; the light above the door began to swirl�
Kaiser�s face was gone and she hit the pavement hard. In the ring of light she could see one of the members of the band struggling with Kaiser and slowly loosing.
There was nothing she could do and she knew it. Instead she focused on staying awake to see the outcome of this fight. She would do all she could to see Kaiser out of Craig�s life.
Kaiser had him pinned to the ground, his knee on his throat. He was saying something, Onyx couldn�t tell by the ringing in her ears still, but he was fumbling in the bag he always had. His hand appeared with a can of spray paint and Kaiser began to spray it in the band member�s eyes. She did manage to catch ��interfere with�� over the ringing, but that was all.
Satisfied with his work, or the flashing of blue lights, Kaiser jumped off the guy and ran. Red lights of an ambulance joined the blue of the cop car. From that point on, Onyx remembered nothing.