Murder 6 – The Fight
So, Larry seemed relieved when I rejoined him in serving the masses that night. Two Anchor Steams and one Amstel Light later, I heard loud voices from one of the far corners of the bar, near the dartboard. Crown & Rose is weird in that it’s three rooms, but each room is visible from any other room. Lots of open space. The bar is in the center room, which is massive, then there’s a room to the right (full of classic video games and a pool table), and a small room to the left with a dartboard and another TV.
Their voices were loud. “Why don’t you just get the hell out of here then?” a young man with a thin brown jacket and blue baseball cap said to a man facing him in the corner of the ‘darts’ room. “We don’t need you. She’s dead. She doesn’t need you anymore – and I certainly don’t!”
The two guys looked familiar but I couldn’t place them. “Shady-looking” was my first impression, but who am I to judge. Brown Jacket was half a foot shorter than the other man who was wearing a tan cotton sweater and had these enormous sideburns.
Sideburns narrowed his eyes and stepped toward Brown Jacket. Cue West Side Story. Sideburns dared him, “Just do it. Go ahead and do it. See what happens…”
Brown Jacket took the bait. “I don’t give a shit what happens!” And pushed Sideburns in the chest with both hands.
Sideburns, who seemed very skinny by any account, flew into a rage. First, he punched Brown Jacket in the face. Grabbed him by the collar, threw him onto the small table in the corner, and then punched him again. Brown Jacket rebounded with a bloody mouth, only to meet Sideburns’ fist with his stomach.
I screamed and ran over with Remy and Oren. Before we could get there, Brown Jacket had grabbed a beer bottle and smashed it against the side of his opponent’s head, drawing blood. A lot of it. From a gash in the cheek and lips, I think. Blood oozed down the side of Sideburns’ face and chin, and onto his sweater. He was stunned, and in that split second, Brown Jacket kicked (yes, kicked) him in the gut, causing him to fall backwards onto a 4-seater table near the window. But Sideburns recovered and lunged toward Brown Jacket before they locked into a bloody embrace.
Remy pounced on Sideburns, Oren took Brown Jacket, and they successfully pulled the fighters apart. There was panting and heavy breathing as the scene stalled for a second. I shouted, “What the hell is going on? Get out of here. Both of you. Nowwwwww!”
But Brown Jacket attempted to attack again – and his right arm escaped Oren’s grip as it plowed toward Sideburns face. But before it could do so, it had to cross my path. I tried to lean backward to avoid the impact, and I really think it helped, but Brown Jacket’s fist – actually I think it was more of his arm – hit my cheekbone and then my nose. I felt the burn before I realized I had a bloody nose. But not before I slipped on the bloody mess they had left on the floor. My ass hit the ground, causing a sharp pain to roar up my back.
Remy grabbed Sideburns by the collar and literally threw him out the front door. Then, he came back and helped Oren throw Brown Jacket out. Overall, the commotion lasted maybe 30 seconds.
And it’s funny how the mind works. I felt outraged! Mennnnn!!!! And their effing testosterone!! Why!!!!!!??? And then I felt physical pain. And then more anger as I looked around the bar and saw how trashed it was – broken glass, blood everywhere, over-turned tables, a broken chair…What a freaking mess!!
Remy bossed everyone out. Told them to leave. Jaws-open, they slowly marched out like zombies. Sunshine and Larry came to me with some towels to clean up my bloody nose. Oren tenderly put an arm around me and lead me to a bar stool. I could hear them saying “Are you ok? Are you ok? Are you ok?”
“It’s worse than it looks. I don’t need to go to the doctor or anything.” I tried to laugh but I was still mad. And I felt dizzy. Oh God, this place is a mess. And why for the love of God is Oren here right now?
My friends read my mind. Larry offered, “We’ll help you clean up tonight, don’t even worry. Just rest.” And then Remy addressed Oren, “Oren, why don’t you give Paige some space. I’m sure you can see her another time.” Oren looked braced for an objection, but decided not to argue. He knew it was too stressful for me to have him around.
He let his hand fall off my shoulder. “Paige, I really hope we can talk soon? I’ll check in with you…make sure you’re okay.”
“Thanks, Oren.” I managed a small smile but my face hurt.
When Oren left, I told Sunshine, Remy, and Larry that I felt okay enough to help them clean the place. My nose had stopped bleeding. We spent hours cleaning up the Crown & Rose and chatting. No one seemed to know who the two fighters were – or if they were from Baskin.
As I mentioned, it’s funny how the mind works. Even when I was flat on the ground, sprawled in a bloody mess, I had tried to watch Sideburns and Brown Jacket through the window after Remy tossed them out. I couldn’t see much, but it looked like they definitely hobbled in opposite directions. Scattered quickly like rats.
And even though I’ve been resting the last couple of days with the resulting raging headache, bruised cheek, and swollen nose…I still keep wondering, what did Brown Jacket mean when he said, “We don’t need you. She’s dead. She doesn’t need you anymore…” ??
Who is ‘she’ ?
