The Wannabes

by Tammy Coons

  “Yes, just hurry!” Corbin ignored Ryder’s request and stepped out of the car. “Ryder!” she screamed into the darkness. In her peripheral vision she saw a flurry of activity. She hurried to that spot and saw Ryder on his knees. His hands were held behind his back by two other people and Rob stood in front of him. She watched as Rob swung his leg back and kicked Ryder in the crotch. Another scream erupted from her and Rob turned in her direction. She turned on her heels and made a run for the door as she did she felt hands in her hair and then searing pain as she yanked away. She pulled open the door and ran inside spotting Mike and Moses at the bar. She pushed and shoved through the crowd her heart hammered in her chest so hard she thought it was going to come out of her chest.

  “Jesus Christ, girl,” Moses yelled over the music. Corbin fell into his arms. He placed her on a barstool.

  “Ryder…in the parking lot…they’re going to kill him!” Moses ran behind the bar, grabbed something and he and Mike ran out the door. Alex hurried to her.

  “What’s going on?” Alex yelled. Corbin stood on wobbly legs and Alex wrapped her arms around her, she tried to speak but at that moment her head whirled and then everything went dark.

  CORBIN FOUND HERSELF in a swimming pool. She was in the deep end struggling in the water, then felt herself sinking deeper. Bubbles erupted from her mouth as she tried to scream for help. She looked to the surface and saw her mom smiling down at her. She reached her hand up and her mom reached down and began pulling her up.

  “Corbin, wake up.” A pungent smell of ammonia filled her nostrils. She sucked air into her lungs then began coughing. She opened her eyes and seen that she was in the back of an ambulance. A paramedic sat on one side of her and Stella was on the other. Stella was as white as a sheet.

  “Ryder…” her voice sounded raspy. She tried to set up but her head whirled.

  “Lay down, you have a nasty bump on your head,” the paramedic said.

  “Where’s Ryder?”Corbin looked to the paramedic then to Stella.

  “When you fainted you cracked your head pretty hard on the floor,” the paramedic continued.

  “Stella, where’s Ryder?!” Corbin yelled her head pounded. She watched as Stella placed a hand over her mouth, her eyes grew wide and tears flowed down her face.

  “He’s on his way to the hospital. They beat him up pretty bad, Corbin. When Mike and Moses got to him he was unconscious and laying in a pool of blood.”

  “Stella your freaking me out, I need to go!” Corbin tried to sit up again, but the paramedic stopped her. Corbin slapped his hands away.

  “Please calm down, the police want to talk to you before you go,” the paramedic said.

  “I just want to see Ryder.” Corbin burst into tears.

  “Alex is with him, Mike and Moses are waiting until you give a statement then we will go ok?” Stella wiped her eyes then grabbed Corbin’s hand. Corbin wiped her eyes then with the help of the paramedic and Stella, she sat up on the gurney. As she did her stomach rolled, she felt vomit well up at the base of her throat. She took a couple deep breaths and the nausea went away. Two policemen stood at the door of the ambulance.

  “Ms Frederick, I am Officer Jacobs and this is Officer Ryan. Can you tell us what happened tonight?”

  “We were attacked…” Corbin began.

  “You and Mr. James?” Officer Jacobs began scribbling in a small notepad.

  “Yes,” Corbin mind went back to the image of Ryder slumped down on the ground. She shivered, and fresh tears flowed.

  “Did you see who it was that did this?”

  “Yes, it was Rob Nelson and a couple others I didn’t recognize.” Corbin wiped her eyes.

  “Do you have any idea what the motivation was?”

  “Because Rob is a total dickhead, jealous, asshole,” Stella spat. The officers looked to Stella then back to Corbin.

  “Ms. Frederick?’

  “Pretty much what she said. Can I go now?”

  “And you are sure it was Rob Nelson?”

  “Yes, I am positive!” Corbin threw her hands in the air.

  “Ok, we will be in touch soon, we may need more information from you.” Officer Jacobs gave her a nod then disappeared from her sight. Moses and Mike took their spots at the back of the ambulance and helped her down and to her feet. The paramedic was babbling something to Stella.

  “Is he ok, guys?” Corbin asked both Mike and Moses. They both looked to the ground and then back to her.

  “When we got to him….” Mike began then stopped.

  “Come on, let’s go,” Moses said in a hushed tone. Corbin swallowed hard and got into the front seat of Mike’s truck. Nausea struck her again she grabbed a hold of the door and this time she emptied the contents of her stomach all over the ground.

  Please let him be ok. God, don’t take him away from me.

  RYDER FELT A sharp pain in his arm and jolted awake. His brain was still in battle mode and he struggled against whatever was holding him down. He tried to open his eyes but they wouldn’t budge.

  “Get the fuck off of me!” he yelled.

  “Mr. James, you are in the hospital. We are trying to put in a central line. Please lie still.”

  “Ryder, please calm down, let them help you,” he heard Alex say. She sounded like she was crying.

  “Where’s Corbin?”

  “She’s on her way.” he felt Alex’s hand over his.

  “Is she ok? I have to go, did that fucker touch her?” Anger welled up inside him again and he struggled against the restraints.

  “Mr. James, please remain still.”

  “She’s fine… and no… he didn’t touch her,” Alex responded between sobs.

  Ryder felt warmth spread through his veins and he relaxed against the bed.

  “Please…Alex…wake me up when she gets here...” As the morphine kicked in he heard Corbin’s voice whisper in his ear.

  “I’m here, I love you.”

  Ryder fought to stay awake but the medicine overtook him.

  CORBIN SAT NEXT to Ryder’s hospital bed. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She dabbed Ryder’s face with a wet wash cloth. Both of his eyes were badly bruised and swollen, his left eyebrow held eleven stitches and his bottom lip had been split open. He had several broken ribs and bruises all over his body.

  “Ms. Frederick, when he wakes up we need to try to get a statement,” Officer Jacobs said from the hall. Corbin looked to him and gave him a nod.

  “Corbin?” Ryder’s voice came out in a croak. Corbin felt fresh tears.

  “I’m right here.” She entwined her fingers with his, and brought his hand up to her lips and gave it a soft kiss.

  “Are you ok?” he asked softly.

  “Yes, I am fine,” her voice quivered as she spoke. She watched as he tried to open his eyes, but they would only open a small crack, his beautiful green eyes looked red and irritated. He reached his free hand out to her.

  “I wish I could see your face.” She placed his hand on her cheek and he stroked his thumb over it. “Damn it, you got cut.” His voice came out as a whine.

  “Just small ones from when the window exploded. I had to have a few glass shards removed, it’s no big deal.” She placed her other hand over his and let out a deep breath. “I am so glad you are awake, how do you feel?” He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.

  “I feel like I have been beat up by three baseball bats. Thank the aliens for morphine. I’m glad you are ok. I was so worried they would come after you. I saw Rob turn to you when you screamed, I saw him grab your hair…” Ryder began coughing. He winced in pain and grabbed his side.

  “Shhh…take it easy. I am safe,” Corbin reached up and stroked his hair. Ryder relaxed a little.

  “Can I get some water?” Corbin grabbed the water cup and held the straw to his lips. He took a couple sips then rested his head back on the pillow.

  “The police are here, and if you are feeling up to it, they would like a statement from yo
u,” Corbin squeezed his hand.

  “I’m ok, let’s do this. I am starting to feel loopy again from the drugs.” He took another sip of water and Corbin waved the officers in. Alex followed them and hurried over to Ryder. She looked totally distraught. Corbin stood and Alex took her seat. She grabbed Ryder’s hand.

  “Oh my God, your face…” Alex cried.

  “I’m ok. You shouldn’t get yourself worked up, it’s not safe for the baby. I just wish I could open my eyes.” Ryder smiled but then yanked his hand from Alex and placed it on his mouth. Alex shot Corbin a panicked look then looked away quickly. Corbin felt her jaw drop and she gasped.

  “Mr. James, I am Officer Jacobs and this is Officer Ryan. Can you tell us who did this to you?”

  “A pussy named Rob Nelson and two of his merry men.”

  “Do you know the others names?”

  “Nope.”

  “Do you know what the motive was?”

  “Yeah, I stole his girl,” Ryder laughed then grabbed his side again.

  Officer Jacobs cleared his throat and looked to Corbin. Corbin placed a hand over her eyes.

  “Can you tell us what happened last night? Start from the beginning?”

  “Do you want the Pg or R rated version?” Corbin watched that sly smile play out on his lips. She felt herself blush and she quickly turned away to face the window.

  “Ryder…” Alex huffed. This time both Officers chuckled.

  “Ok, I will give the PG version. Corbin and went out for dinner at David’s. Of course good ole Rob was there. He ran his mouth, called Corbin a slut, so I told him to leave. He huffed out the door. Told me ‘this ain’t over’.. I blew him off. After dinner we drove to Rebels and were sitting in the parking lot. The driver’s side window of my car exploded, I got out, gave Rob a roundhouse kick to the face. I’m pretty sure I broke his nose.” Ryder paused, a small smile on his face and Alex gave him a sip of water. “Then I got whacked by three baseball bats, which brought to my knees. Rob’s merry men grabbed my arms and held them behind my back and Rob punched me in the face, then continuously kicked me in the ribs and dick until I puked and passed out. Then I woke up here.” Corbin covered her mouth as he finished the story.

  “And you are sure it was Rob Nelson?” Officer Jacobs asked.

  “Fuck yeah, it was him,” Ryder spat.

  “Are you planning on pressing charges?” Officer Ryan asked. Corbin watched as Ryder swallowed hard.

  “Yes, I am. If you would’ve been just me in that car probably not, but since Corbin’s life was endangered…” He coughed and winced again. Alex pushed the call light.

  “I think he’s had enough for today,” the nurse said as she entered the room. She leaned over him and checked his pulse then pulled out a syringe. She squeezed the liquid into Ryder’s IV.

  “Ok Mr. James, that is all we need for now, we might need more information from you and Ms. Frederick later.” Ryder gave them a wave.

  “Anything to help.” Corbin wiped a stray tear. The officers left the room.

  “Alex, could I please be alone with Corbin?” Ryder asked.

  “Sure,” Alex looked to her gave her a nod then stood and kissed Ryder on the forehead. Corbin followed Alex to the door. “I don’t want to talk about the baby right now, ok?” Corbin gave her a nod the watched as Alex hurried down the hallway.

  “Corbin?” Ryder called from inside. Corbin went back in the room and sat down next to him again. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Tears slipped down her cheeks. Ryder reached out and touched her face again. “Shhh…don’t cry. I’ll be ok, I’ve been through a lot worse.”

  “I was so scared…” Her breath caught in her throat, she let it out slowly.

  “Just breathe baby, calm down. Come here, your shaking.” He tugged her hand.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Come on.” He tugged her hand again. Corbin scooted the chair closer to the bed and rested her head on his chest. She wrapped her arms carefully around him. He ran his hands through her hair, the sound of his heartbeat soothed her. He kissed the top of her head. “It’s going to be ok, I promise.”

  The morphine took over again and his touch stopped. Corbin clung to him and cried.

  RYDER SAT ON the couch flipping through the channels; he was bored out of his mind. He picked up his phone and saw that is was 4:00 in the afternoon, Corbin would be home from work in 30 minutes. He shut off the TV and decided on a shower before she arrived. After three weeks of excruciating pain, his ribs finally felt like they were healing. He was thankful for that because he was ready to give Corbin a proper thank-you for taking such good care of him. He felt a small smile play out on his lips at the thought.

  He had spent two days in the hospital hooked up to morphine. He didn’t remember much about that time. Due to his injuries, he wasn’t able to work and lost his job at RJP. But Corbin helped him apply for unemployment and that would be on its way soon. He still had three weeks to go before he could seek work again.

  He checked his reflection in the mirror. His eyes that were once purple, blue and black had now started fading into an ugly shade of green. His eyes were still a little bloodshot from the incident but that was fading too. The worse injury, in his mind, was the bruising and swelling in his scrotum. Corbin had said he looked like he suffered from elephantitis. The doctors were amazed that he didn’t piss blood or have to have surgery on them. He ran his finger over the spot where his left eyebrow had been stitched and huffed aloud. A nasty scar would remind daily of what Rob and his merry men had done to him.

  Rob had been sentenced to six months in jail He was also ordered to pay all of Ryder and Corbin’s medical bills and for the damage on Ryder’s car. Ryder was told that the day Rob was sentenced he had cried like a baby.

  Ryder turned on the shower and took a quick one. The hot water soothed his still aching ribs. After drying off and dressing, he shuffled back out into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. He sat down at the kitchen table and lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag from it and was pleased that he could breathe deeply again.

  “I have to get going; do you need anything before I leave?” Moses asked, interrupting Ryder’s thoughts.

  “No man, I’m good.” Ryder gave him a wave and Moses gave him a nod and then left the room.

  Ryder’s thoughts went to Alex. She had finally come clean to everyone about the pregnancy. She originally planned to have an abortion, but after much pleading from Moses, she quickly changed her mind. Ryder was glad she did because after a DNA test, the baby proved to be Moses’. She was now 3 months pregnant. It turned out that she and Moses had slept together once before they actually hooked up. They were both so hammered they couldn’t remember that night.

  “Ryder?” Corbin’s voice brought him from his thoughts.

  “In the kitchen,” he answered. Corbin entered the room.

  “Feeling better?” She cocked her head sideways at him.

  “A little, just bored.” She walked to him and gave him a kiss on his forehead then proceeded to the fridge. She grabbed a beer, sat down across from him, then pulled a cigarette from his pack and lit it.

  “Bad day?” Ryder leaned forward in his chair.

  “Just tired.” Corbin removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. Ryder stood and walked behind her. He began massaging her shoulders and neck. “That feels good,” Corbin purred.

  “I know something that will relax you even more,” he whispered into her ear. He gave it a little nip. Corbin made that little moaning sound that always drove him over the edge.

  “Are you sure?” She turned to him. He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Oh yeah, he’s ready.” He pointed to his dick. He watched Corbin’s eyes trail down, she bit her lip. Ryder held his hand out to her and started to lead her to her room. She started stripping her clothes off on the way there. Just when they got to the door and Corbin was down to her bra and pants, Stella burst into the apartment.

  “Oh my
God, Corbin, look!!” She hurried to them and shoved her finger in their faces. A diamond ring flashed in Ryder’s eye.

  “Stella, it’s beautiful!” Corbin exclaimed. She took Stella’s hand and brought the ring closer to her face. Mike sauntered in and Ryder picked up Corbin’s shirt and handed it to her. Corbin took it but just shoved it under her arm.

  “Way to go, cowboy,” Ryder held his hand out to him. Mike took his hand and shook it. Corbin’s phone started to go off.

  “Ryder, can you get that?” Corbin asked not taking her eyes off Stella’s hand. She and Stella continued to gush. He watched as Corbin wrapped her arms around Mike’s neck and hugged him. Her shirt dropped to the floor. Mike looked to him and seemed to not know whether to hug Corbin back.

  Ryder shrugged, then dug through Corbin’s purse and found her phone. “Hello,”

  “This is Jan, from Hospice. Could I please speak to Corbin Frederick?”

  “Just a sec,” Ryder held the phone out to Corbin. “It’s Jan from Hospice.” He watched Corbin’s face go from full-fledged happiness to a look of sadness as she took the phone from him.

  “Jan?” Corbin’s face grew pale. “She can’t be.” Tears began and Ryder knew at that moment something awful had happened. Corbin nodded, and then the phone slipped from her hand and dropped to the floor. She looked to him, her eyes wide and a look of fear on her face.

  Ryder picked up the phone and put it up to his ear.

  “Jan, are you still there?”

  “Yes, is she ok?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Corbin stared straight ahead, Ryder motioned to Stella and she rushed to Corbin and helped her sit down.

  “Is there anyway someone can drive her to friendship Manor? It’s very important that she gets here soon.”

  “Yeah, no problem, I’ll have her there in a few minutes,” Ryder ran a hand through his hair. The line went dead.

  “She’s dying…” Corbin sobbed. Ryder picked up her shirt and helped her slip it on.

  “Can you two help her to her car? I’m going to get dressed.” Ryder was pacing. He felt a hand on his shoulder.