The moon was high in the sky as everyone filtered through the school which seemed busier than anyone expect. The night was a celebration not only the schools sport teams had a successful season two of the best player Taylor and Charles had been touted and chosen to further their education in their chosen sports. But this Valentines day both Sunita and Taylor mere children in the eyes of the law. As he went down on one knee and looked at his girl with a smirk as he pulled a box out of his pocket “Baby we’re finishing school soon and have our baby boy you have made me the happiest kid in the world will you do me the honour of marrying me?” Taylor did not care in that moment that his friends and teachers were watching.
Most likely shaking their heads, seventeen and already a father of a handsome two-year-old child who seemed to be full of life that night. A child who meant the world to his parents, a child who brought light into their lives. Since the day of the child’s birth Taylor striving to do better than he ever had in the past. Taylor’s grades hit the straight a’s, and a boy popular with in the team. That moment they looked to each other and smile as she nodded. Both of them laughed at the way Avallech and Iuan was dancing but he looked to his love with a tender smile as he kissed her lovingly on the lips.
“Yes baby I would be honoured.” she looked over for a minute and back to his friends with a smirk as he got back to his feet. No matter how good they both felt nothing could remove the pain everyone felt for the teens in hospital and those who died earlier in that day. The shooter was a boy the two teens had grown up with since nursery, but neither recognized how distant the child had become.
“I had fought a few times with that shooter when I was younger in the caves of skulls and raced a few times.” He stated as he walked from the school his young son in his arms sleeping. After the events of the day Taylor looked at his son and was even more proud of the little boy when he put the toddler into his car seat.. As Taylor put the key in the ignition and drove from the school. He needed to take Sunita and his son home back to her parents. But noted that she looked over to him with a smile and ran her hand through his hair with a smile.
“Hey come on baby no one was to perceive he would flip like that.” Sunita looked with a warm smile and the caring deep set baby blue eyes.
“I can’t help reflecting that I missed something. Something that might have stopped this. I realize his old man pushes him past his limits all the time, in the aid to be the best and fastest at everything he did. But he could not beat me out there on the track or in my car while racing. but something is not right about this.” Taylor looked over for a minute puzzled but focussed on his speed. He prided himself on being the safest driver in town when he had his son in the car. Even his phone was left as he would arrive in one piece nothing would hurt his kid. Not if he could help it even though he detected slight tension in the steering he expected nothing about it as he continued to drive. ”
“I guess..” she looked to him and sat back for a minute, in her chair. As she looked at a black car pull up alongside of the car, she shook her head. “I understood you was getting out of it, what the hells going on?” she was not sure but could see the tint in the windows. As it opened and acknowledged Taylor speed up to get away from who ever it was.
” JUST SHUT UP IT DON’T MATTER. He looked back their baby?” Taylor asked and looked to his best friend and lover but watched the black car. Which was now tailing them as they could not get to the side of the car. Taylor took his eyes off the speedometer and focussed on the road and the men following as he looked at a red lotus pull up besides his car. “I SWEAR TO GOD I HaVE NOTHING RANDY,” Taylor shouted out to the other car aware who it was but not willing to stop. As he recognized a cop sat with his old friend as he maintained the speed and follow on the road.
” JUST PULL OVER AND WE WILL TALK,” a voice came over the phone. As Sunita switch it to hands free when Taylor swerved to avoid another car and trying to get up in front of the lotus.
”baby do what they say, you will crash please.” Sunita was scared but trying to hold it together. She appreciated the boys raced, and he was the best driver in town but the speed coupled with the drinks he’d had she knew a crash was possible.
”talk you mean beat a false confession out of me for nothing ass. I don’t know what the hell happened. why he did that perhaps the drugs you gave him ass-hole,” he argued and would not stop as he dragged the car around the bends. Soon the land filled with sound of police sirens of the local bear. The last thing he thought of at that minute was the cops chasing him and Randy he was not stopping for anyone.
As the adrenaline of the fast speed and the fact he wanted to get away from the men hit harder than anything else in that moment. Even the screams of his girl to stop ad slow down paled in that moment everything became a blur as he hit 100mph almost willing his car to go faster.
After a while its hard to tell what was the path and the road. But a bang loud enough to send him out of the trance state he had found himself in. Moments later the cops pulled up alongside the perp and then steered his front bumper into the Taylor’s car along the side and near the back, just behind one of its rear wheels. A combination of the speed of the car and the actions of the cops the black supped up Honda into a spin and landed upside down. Then everything turned black for minutes nothing but pitch black and dead silence.
Randy drove off and left the car upturned and the police arrived at the scene. Taylor woke up and heard people shouting for him to respond. One voice his fathers but in that instant he’s unable to make out what his old man said. The pain was all he could feel and something damp running down his head, he must have slipped in and out of consciousness for a while. The next thing he’s aware of waking up in hospital with his father sat next to him he became numb as he lay there without knowing how long it had been since they dragged him in.
“It all depends on the kid if he remembers anything when he wakes up. Then it will help us determine what happened, but I can say if the police didn’t act. A simple misjudgement of the cop that baby and a young girl would be alive today.” the doc stated to a man even though Taylor’s awake he wasn’t taking anything in as he looked to his father he didn’t know what to expect but scared as the medics worked on him removing what they needed to and making him comfortable.
After days of lying on the bed and not listening to anyone many days later he listened to the police and heard it was his fault the crash happened and the police was clear of trouble but that no one would press charges on the teen. He just lay staring at the ceiling not talking to anyone about anything. “where are my son and Sunita? i want to see them.” he asked and looked to his dad.
“Son they died in the crash, she died two days after the accident and Little deputy died on impact. I’m sorry son you need to remember that, they have gone but I want to know what happened out there?” Frank asked as he looked to his son and saw the kid defeated and not moving he’d given frank.
“Hey Tay, they all miss you at school and dads gunning for the cop who clipped you.” the kid looked over to Taylor who stretched out on the bed. Even after many days of lying on the bed, he noticed a friend of his walk into the room and looked over for a minute as he frowned at the jersey.
“hey, ” the life had gone from the kid after the crash, “I realize they are both dead don’t look at me like that.” he growled as he looked to Colin Westmoor.
“hey, I don’t mean any offence but this is not you bro. She’d want you up and walking about I recognize it’s hard but I wont giving up on you. No, now never she was my sister, and the best darn thing to happen to you.” Colin tried to get his friend moving but could see he was still sinking into the pit sunita’s worried about for so long.
“My fault she died, I should have gone with her.” Taylor stated and got to his feet it was a miracle he wasn’t paralysed but for some reason he spared that fate. as he stood up next to the bed and held onto it to steady himself so he could walk a little more and wanted home he could recover there. “Bring me my Jersey unless the cops have it for evidence or something, they’ll charge me for something.” Taylor recognized the cops would investigate the crash and events that led to the crash but for now he had a little leeway.
“You won’t get out man there’s cops stationed outside the room and out in corridor. According to dad the only reason you’re not cuffed to the bed is because you’re in a bad way and could not walk five yards without help right now. But man you have to tell them what happened, dads trying to get you home to recover during the investigation he’s dragging in some hotshot from Washington to help.” Arturo looked at his friend and saw him trying to walk the pain in his eyes of everything that happened. But he needed to keep going and with help from his friend he learnt to take a few more steps unaided as a doctor brought a wheelchair for him he pushed it away not wanting to sit down with this said the kid walked away aware his time was up when the cop called him.
Every day Taylor pushed himself as his school friend came to see him and his family visited when they could the more he listened to the nurses and doctors along with the detectives he learned that they charged him for several crimes ranging from drink driving, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and manslaughter with speeding. He’d not allow himself to break as he pushed himself to get better as he looked over for a minute and walked to the door. Only for the officer on the outside of the room to stand up and shake his head “Sorry kid my orders are to keep you in there till the doc says you can move.” he stated and looked over to Taylor who punched the wall harder than he had in a long time losing his temper at being locked up but tried to keep it locked up.
“All right kid calm down lets get you back to the bed and rest for a minute. It must be hard on you kid just settle it’s been a few months since you came in ,” the cop stated as he helped the kid to his bed for a minute and would check on what needed done as Frank and Slade walked to the boys room with a smile.
“he gives you agro Francisco, ” Frank smirked “Hey son your coming home doc said you can come back to physiotherapy but you need to keep working on what is what with your health. Talk to us tell us what happened, then we can help you out.” Frank smiled at his son and tried to work it all out for a minute but was drawing blanks all they identified was his son was driving and blood work showed he had been drinking and showed drugs in his system so the crash was Taylor’s fault.
“Not using it, don’t need that dad I can walk. I’ve been working hard since you came last. Arturo Sunita brother has been here every day and pushing me dad. It’s okay you have work and with me in trouble you can’t interfere dad I have but Sunita dad got me a counsel.” Taylor looked at the chair and shook his head as he ran his right hand through his hair and looked away he did not want the chair but knew he might have to as he saw doc Hunter in the door.
“Hospital policy how about I push you or run through the hospital kid.” Damarian smirked aware the kid did not like to take things easy but pushed himself to the max and beyond in the hospital fitness centre.
“All right, I got no choice but I’m not resting at home doc I will walk it next time. the sit-ups and press ups along with walking heck i will run next time you see me boss.” he smirked at Slade and Damarian for a minute as he walked through everything he knew he could do it but he did not deserve to breathe the air or anything when his girl and son had died. That was the black cloud hanging over his head he felt one day it would break wide open, just that what would be a reaction to the largest storm he had on the horizon no one knew would it go all right or something go wrong that was something was answered. He sat in the chair deciding to comply and chuckled when Damarian ran through the hospital towards the exit leaving Frank behind them both to catch up as they reached Franks car.
“Now how are you doing?” Damarian smirked for a minute and looked around ensuring the coast was clear of trouble.
“Not too bad but still quicker walking your a little slow in your old age.” Taylor smirked. As Frank walked to the car and opened the door for his son who just got in the car and thought about that night. But buried it down deep and didn’t let the men see how he felt the pain and anguish buried deep deeper than he ever thought it had been buried. As he heard the door slam shut he jumped and just heard “all right calm down son, we will be home soon.” Frank said and could tell his son’s still shaken and it surprised him he held it together.
After a few minutes the car started and Taylor took notice of the way they was driving past the site of the crash many months before. As he noticed the turn and the damage still there, he saw the broken up car and his family trapped in the car it was as clear and vivid smells the screeching of the tires was crystal clear like he was reliving the events again. Within half hour they was back home and parked outside the family home. He stepped quietly from the car not saying anything as he looked to his little sons play pit which had been filled in and covered over with sunitas favourite flowers. He stood next to his fathers Pontiac with a smirk, but he looked to the flowers and closed his eyes for a minute. when it felt as if the floor had opened and swallowed him whole. his heart dropped through the floor when he saw it and the sudden release of emotions hit home hard but he fought to lock it up and not show he was breaking he had to be strong he had to be the man everyone knew before the accident.
He walked to the house and in he could see his cousin Trey who was a few years younger than him stood talking to his best friend, and the smile on Trey’s face when he noticed him registered it seemed like a lifetime away as he walked into the decorated hall. The more he walked into the family home the more it seemed a daunting thing to do he could not remember everything about the house. But he tried to stay calm as he walked to his room and just lay there for a while he was not in the mood to join the family for anything as he picked up one of his sons teddy bears and just looked at it.
After a while he heard his door being knocked as his kid brothers walked in and looked to him for a minute then looked around the room as they looked to the trophies on the wall. Hunter picked the largest one he could find and looked at it for a minute.
“Bro what the hell are you doing? I want to be alone, bro. You know on my Frick own” Taylor snapped as he looked to his kid brothers. They jumped and looked over for a minute.
“Damn it Taylor, we thought you’d like company we missed you bro.” Hunter retorted as he looked at his brother aware that none of them could see him in the hospital.
“I’m sorry bro, I don’t know how long I was away for but it was Christmas, when I crashed out, Hunter I don’t know what to think about any of it. what has been happening at school?” he looked to his brother worried aware it would impact them all and as the oldest he was supposed to protect them from the shit that was happening not get them involved.
“We been worried bout you and I still have a few races bro dads not happy but he been more concerned with your situation. School a few kids started on us was calling you name and said they hoped you rotted in hell and being nasty to these twos but Seth and nick and sorted it out.” Hunter stated aware that Taylor did not know gourdin and Teague.
“I’m sorry you got a tough time I will be back at school soon, mum and dad can’t keep me off due to the investigation. That’s unless Mr Copeland and his team boot me out which would be rare they’d have me locked in secure during the cops work. There’s no telling what will happen but they want anyone then they can come for me I’m looking at being away for a long time, bro. ,” Taylor told his kid brother aware if he was to be sent to prison then he would serve at least twenty years but he missed his girl and son. He wanted to be with them he looked to his brothers and could see the fact they was tired even though no one dared tell their father what was happening.
“Hey man, how’s the junior cops going?” he smirked at his cousin for a minute. When he looked over to his cousins friends After a few minutes of the boys crowding in his room he walked out and back down the hallway to the kitchen looked to Trey.
“Yeah hilarious man, you need to face off the horror of what you did before coming all high and mighty with me. She was a good kid one of the best and I hope they throw the book at you. Bray come over here bro and out of his way the boys are right, he’s not someone to be trusted.” Trey was angry over what happened and knew with the old’s around no one could touch his cousin no matter how much he wanted to ram Taylor’s head through a wall.
“Yeah tight man, time for you to grow up that was not my fault but I can’t fucking say. the bloody cops rammed the car and send us flying nothing to do with my driving. I swear Trey on my kids grave I would never set out to hurt them, I loved that kid still do.” he stated and walked out in a mad rage to find somewhere he would be away from the olds watching him and the hassle he had coming from his cousins and brothers he knew Sunita and his son was loved by all the family. At this moment he felt as if he was on his own as he walked through the streets towards the stretch of wastelands they used for the dirt bikes.
The sound of the howling wolves ran through the air. As motorbikes screeched past him as he pulled the collar of his jacket around his neck and balled his fist’s into a ball in his pocket. The cool kid a sport jock with everything going for him, a man aiming for sports scholarship’s now found his life hitting the bricks as the cold bitter world hit him harder than anyone thought it could. Taylor kept walking and looked over to a small group of kids, but instead of heading to his friends he walked towards a dark alley where a small rat looking kid was hanging on the crossroads which had become known as the gateway from one territory to another.
”” Hey Manny, I need something to.” Taylor looked over to his oldest friend as they brought their fists together.
” I got just what you need, “Manny reached into his pocket and pulled out a see through bag containing a white powder. “ Coke and on the house man, I think you need it a damn sight more than me.” he smirked it had been a while since Manny dealt anything to the kid in front of him.
“Cheers man remember you need to get the old man off your back I will do it holler. He doesn’t know I’m out here,” Taylor smirked with a smile and chuckled for a minute as he looked over to his friends.
“Heck ol’e frank is no sweat man, he’s a good guy known him all me life ya know. As for pop he’s an ass like the rest of my family but he loves us kids, mom needs medical help still but you got that sexy doc to help and save ma’s life man I owe you for that.” Manny settled back for a minute and rested against the wall a small rat like man, with short brown hair dressed in clothes which are too big for him.
“That was nothing, ” Taylor crouched down in the alley remembering when he found the kids mom out cold on the stone floor by the sewer pipe the family was living in. As he prepared the drug and snorting the drug. As he sat back and waited for it to take effect he looked over “Um head to the shop and grab the jack man I need a drink make it four bottles Manny.” he stated and pulled his wallet out aware he could trust the kid to do as he asked him to within minutes he was alone.
The event of that night running through his mind as the effects of the drug took hold, and he rested. Over time the feeling of serenity kicked in and he was feeling human for the first time since the accident. As he walked around and pace the ground a little more than before with a smile which stretched from ear to ear. When Manny walked back for a minute and then over to his friend.
“You’re looking happier since I last saw you, here I got what ya ordered and ya old man is out hunting your ass. he was not happy but I told him i not seen you, but you will be fine and if I do, then I’m to call him and get ya ass home.” Manny stated as he opened a bottle of jack for the kid thinking it wouldn’t hurt him to have one after everything he had been through. Taylor took the bottle with a smile and gulped the contents of the bottle down as he felt the burn of the whiskey hitting his throat he was drinking to forget and that was what he did. He did not know how long he had been out there for as he kept drinking bottle after bottle and picking fights with the passers by who just shook their heads and made remarks he was hardly listening to until he passed out in the streets. And walking home in the early hours of the morning listening to the early morning bird songs as he walked in. He looked over to his father and uncle for a minute.
“Where the hell have you been son? and don’t lie.” Frank glared at his son for a minute and then to Trey who stood next to the door everyone knew it would be hard for him to settle back and get back to normal life with everything going on around him.
“I went out for a walk and drink, needed to be alone and think. Now I’m off up to bed then I might go out later and check out school. ” he thought he could do everything needed of him and bury his head in the natural course of life. As he walked to his room, not taking any notice of what his dad was saying then lay on his bed for a minute closing his eyes as he came down from the cocaine he took and knew he had a stash on him as he settled back. Over time he drifts into a light sleep and every day it was the same as he walked through to events that life threw at him as he fell deeper and deeper into a drink stupor days past without him even thinking about it let alone noticing the passing time. With each day he fell into a deeper pit as he drank and high no matter how his family and friends tried to save him from his own actions it became apparent he needed help.
“We give him one more chance he’s not done anything to hurt anyone.” Taylor’s mother looked to her husband and knew that Frank was probably getting a lot of pressure from his Captain. But so far their son had not given them any reason to send him away it was something they would deal with it as a family. As Trey ran into the family home before his father had chance to answer worried and scared written all over his face as the young teen looked to his parents out of breathe .
“Dad….Hunters unconscious over at rykers park he tried to stop Taylor whose over there about to fight Anderson and the gang. They called him out and his high on something we don’t know what but the rum ors are going around this is going to kill him dad.” Trey looked to his dad and cousins as they all ran for the park, their hearts felt as if it would jump out of their chests as they seemed to be running but not getting far although they reached the park and could see Taylor was out numbered nine to one.
Taylor stood in the field his shirt off as the moon shone down on the scars left from the accident spanned across his torso, and down his back no one knew the damage it had caused him as people looked over to him.
“Come on baby, he’s not worth it. he’s a dead man walking and he knows it.” A tall petite red haired lady stated and looked to Taylor with a smirk aware that something would happen. The red haired girl known as Alicia to everyone hoped the boys would back down and leave the kid alone aware he was a cops son.
“I DIDN’T DO IT I’M INNOCENT, JUST LIKE YOU AND HE’S GUILTY HE WAS THERE RANDEL.” he shouted at the top of his voice. But ready to fight if he needed an excuse it was the death of his family. Honestly he did not need a reason to fight. As he looked to everyone for a few minutes. But the one he wanted to fight the man who made his blood boil was stood in front of him. Instantaneously he charged at Randell fists flying hitting out targeting his head and chest. as he aimed kicked his opponents knees and took Randell off his feet. The air seemed to be charged in that moment with electricity and the adrenaline surged through his body as he punched and kicked the young man.
“YOUR GOING TO PAY, I WILL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID,” Randell looked to his friends and within minutes the others joined in the fight. As they held Taylor tight and pinned him so that the others all had a chance in beating him up. “this is for Sunita and the child you murderous bastard, ” one man growled as they all ganged up on the kid who in that moment felt as if he could take them all on and would win. He did not care as he fought out harder than he had ever before as fists were flying into Taylor’s head and chest. As he struggled to fight against the mob who was trying to take him to the ground seeing Martinez and Lopez. Within the crowd suddenly splitting off when Trey and Leighton along with frank ran over to help Taylor out of the fight.
“All right get off him, before you all find yourselves under arrest now move it.” Leighton growled as he was pulling children off his nephew and looked back to his brother. As they found themselves having to save Taylor from a group of teens baying for his blood. They got him out of there frank looked to his boy as he had him pinned to the floor. As Taylor was in a mad rage fighting out at everyone in his way but he refused to say anything.
”All right son calm it down now, what’s going on?” Frank asked as he looked to his son while pulling cuffs out and securing him tight.
“It hurts dad get the cuffs off me NOW!” he frowned a little as he tried to pull away but couldn’t.
“Son slowly onto your knees and I will help you get up I will let you walk if you calm and stop fighting us.” Frank stated and knew it would be hard for him calm down but the kid did as he was ordered to.
“Dad they deserved it, It was them or me old man now let me go.” Taylor walked back with his dad the inner fight still going on as he heart was racing and he’d started to sweat profusely. As he started to shake a lot more than usual with the effects of the drugs he had been taking away from his family. As they walked back all he could think of was what happened that night and the pain his actions had caused everyone as they walked over the green fields he could tell no one was happy with his actions.
”Son you will be lucky if they don’t press charges and If they do then we can say it was self defence. I will call Mr Talbot later and see what we can do about it, nine against one we could say he was set up? It was self defence given the number of kids that he was fighting.” Frank stated to Leighton aware this could go against him and the investigation into the death of the girl.
her concern but the thing is the old man isn’t pressing charges. All they have him on realistically is the DUI. We will sort it Frank.” Leighton stated and helped get his nephew back to the house and out of the cuffs once he was in.
”Now your grounded for a while, let me see how I feel in the next month.” he smirked and saw the disapproval on his face.
”But dad that not right I just got home so have to spend time with the boys I need to get back to normality dad. “ he was angry but kept mindful of who was around him aware he needed to sleep it all off before he got any more trouble as they walked him to his room to lie down for the night.
As fell into a drug induced sleep he allowed himself to drift into a deep sleep and waking up screaming as the events that robbed him of his family hit home. Even his sleep he was unable to escape from the events of that night every aspect played out in techni-color with surround sound as if he was watching it on play back. When he woke up in a cold sweat the sheets soaked through with sweat and tears as he lay quietly sobbing into his son favourite blue and white teddy bear.
Taylor could never understand how he could remember the night so clearly but the effects of the crash took away a lot of his other memories. As he lay on the soaked sheets the event replayed on his mind from the issues with the steering through to Randell there was something amiss with it all but he had to hold onto the fact there was no charges to be put against him.that was something he had to think of during his long road of recovery. He would get even with his rivals as he thought everything through for a minute, with a shake of his head he got to hi feet and walked to the en suite shower in his room.
As he stood in the shower allowing the hot water run down his over his shoulders and down his back for a minute. As if washing his sins away his family did not know the torment the anguish as he washed and scrubbed up. Before he walked out off the shower to get changed into clothes for school that day, walking through to the kitchen when he noticed everyone sat around the large oak table he counted eight heads around the table in that moment as his mother walked over to him with a smile.
”Morning son come and eat, I made your favourite.” a tall blond haired lady walked over with a warm smile as she looked to her son she could see the pain but stayed quiet “If you need to talk we are here, always will be.” she looked over to him with a smile no one knew what to say and trey looked to his cousin as he realised that his cousin was going through hell.
”What about there funeral mom?” Taylor asked as he did not know if he had missed the funeral or not through being asleep or in the hospital but noticed a tall dark haired muscular man look over.
”You missed the funeral son, that happened two months ago you was in the coma back then. We could have lost all of you back then, its going to be hard son but we will help you through it all I swear. We can see about taking you to the grave and we have to talk to the captain down town see if your facing charges.” Frank stated he’d planned on taking his son into work to face the boys after school if he had chance. But was aware that the boys at school would of heard about the charges if anything was to be laid against his son.
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S P Copeland 