Not Afraid
Middle of Nowhere. Ohio. “How can you not have a spare?!” Summer’s hands flail over her head as she invades Entourage’s personal Both she and Entourage are standing at the back of the Entouragemobile, with Entourage throws up both of his hands to try and keep Summer at bay. “Hey! Summer rolls her eyes, “Oh my God. You are such a damn idiot! Do you at “Who?” Summer throws her hands up in frustration. Van is over on the side of the road, sitting down with his arms propped up on “Guys…” Summer holds up a hand to stop Van’s words. She’s focused on Entourage at “Don’t you dare!” Entourage snatches his shades off his face. Serious. “Don’t Van takes his sweet time getting to his feet. He dusts off his clothes. “Guys?” “Not my fault your mother named you Lav—“ “Van! I’m ‘bout to knock this girl out! Do something, man!” Summer shoves Entourage in the chest. “I wish you would.” Van kick-steps his way over to between the two hostile individuals. Hands go “Yo. Chill.” Van looks from Summer to Entourage and back again. Both of Summer and Entourage look at Van and shrug. “So?” Van rolls his eyes. “So, I’ma’ head back there and see if they can hook us up Entourage puts his shades back on. “She started it.” Summer flips Entourage off. “Learn how to drive.” Van just stares at both of them until they both sigh, “Fine.” Van holds his arms out. “Bring it in, guys.” Summer rolls her eyes and walks away from the guys and just kind of stares “… Okay, guess not.” With that, Van turns and starts walking off down the road. Van makes a beeline towards the door of the main house. The moment he She can’t be any older than seven or eight years old. She’s terrified as she “Whoa. Hey, what’s wrong?” Van crouches to try and get control of the terrified girl. As she tries to get “Alison!” Van stands himself back up, turning to look at the father that has stumbled Willy Mack, Alison’s father spots Van and his daughter. There’s an immediate “Hey! Ali? Get back over here.” Alison’s shaking, she’s so terrified. Van keeps his hand on her shoulder, “Stay.” Willy tilts his head, confused. “Alison! Listen to your father! Get in the house!” “She’s not going anywhere, sir.” William’s eyes bug out of his head for a moment, shocked at this drifter’s “Can’t do that, sir.” Willy is appalled by the audacity of this drifter. He stomps through the yard, Alison clings tighter to Van’s leg. This sends Willy into a rage. He growls and “I think you need to leave. She doesn’t want to go with you.” “What the hell do you know?! That’s MY daughter! You ain’t got no right!” “You don’t have anymore either.” Van says, eyes narrowing. “She’s a child.” Willy snaps, “She’s MY child!” “Exactly.” The words fly right over Willy’s head. He steps back and starts rolling up his “Know what? First I’ma’ kick your ass. Then? I’m take Ali inside and she gonna’ Van shakes his head. “I’m not gonna’ fight you.” “That’s okay. You can just stand there while I kick your ass.” Willy follows up his statement with a swing, sucker punching Van right in the “If you feel like you gotta’ hit somethin’, then go ahead. Rather it be me than This confuses Willy to no end. He was expecting Van to swing back. He raises The car comes to an awkward stop. It’s barely in park before Gwen’s jumping “Mommy!” Alison races from her hiding spot to dive into Gwen’s arms. Gwen immediately checks Alison’s face. “Oh my God. Did Daddy do this?” “You get your ass back here, woman! Don’t you talk to me like that!” Willy Gwen slams the door to the Sedan closed and throws the car in reverse. She Van returns her gratitude with an understanding nod, just as Willy shoves “I’m ‘bout sick and tired of you!” Willy shoves Van, causing him to step back slightly. Van closes his eyes to Willy’s body hits the ground, sprawled out in the yard. Van narrows his eyes “Ditto.” “You’re such an asshole, Entourage!” “Who the hell are you to judge me?! When’s the last time you even HAD a “See?! See?! That’s exactly what I’m talking about!” “You just mad cuz…” Entourage switches to a more sing-song tone. “You They aren’t even arguing about the car anymore. Summer’s about had it. She reaches up and snatches Entourage’s shades right Entourage’s reflexes are faster than they’ve ever been, as he snatches “God, I hate you so much.” The words are there, but with a whole different Summer’s mouth quirks, slightly. “Shut up.” The moment lingers for a second longer, before Summer leans up towards Centimeters away… The sudden blaring of a horn is what breaks the moment in half. Summer It’s Van. He’s driving the tow truck. “Haha! Hell yeah! That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!” Entourage glances over at Summer, who just swings his sunglasses back at Van wheels the tow truck up in front of Entourage’s car and backs it up. Van throws the door open and hops out the truck soon as it’s thrown in park. “Am I the man or what?” Van and Entourage slap hands. “Haha. How the hell you get the truck, man?” Entourage is already climbing up on the side of the truck, looking it over with Van’s looking over at Summer, but his words are to Entourage. “Borrowed it. Entourage shrugs, hopping back down from the truck. “I guess. Don’t ask me, Van looks back over his shoulder at Entourage. “E.” Entourage throws a hand up. “She’s fine, man! Relax! I ain’t do nothin’!” Van looks skeptical, but E just keeps on smiling. “So, you gonna’ hook my car up or what? We need to get back on the road!” Van blinks. “Me? Don’t you know how to use this thing?” Entourage nods, “Yes.” “Well?” “Well what?” “Why ain’t you hookin’ it up? I went and got it!” Entourage’s mouth drops open slightly. “Dude. Manual Labor.” Van sighs and reaches for the truck’s chains. Through the glass, the flashing lights of a couple of squad cars can be seen in Willy spots his “borrowed” tow truck and starts shaking frantically, as if trying Van smiles and lifts his hand to wiggle his fingers back at the little girl. “Aight! This silence is killin’ me! Can’t take it!” Entourage slams his fingers into the radio, pressing buttons. He smiles the I’m Noooooot Afraid! (Not Afraid!) We’ll Walk This Road Together (Through The Storm!)
space. Clearly, she is not a happy camper at the moment.
the trunk open wide. The back tire of the car is flat.
There was no room! Do you know how expensive these speakers were? Not
messin’ ‘em up for a tire!”
least have Triple A?”
his legs. He watches the arguing between Entourage and Summer with a small
smirk on his face. He’s entertained, at least.
the moment. “Edwin Lavin—“
you even do it.”
out in both directions as he puts on his Bouncer Glare.
them take steps back. “We passed a house ‘bout a couple miles back. I saw a
tow truck in the yard.”
or somethin’. But you two gotta’ promise to be good while I’m gone.”
up at the sun. Entourage slides over to the hood of his car and falls down on
it.
It’s peaceful. Very rarely does a car pass by Van as he makes his way towards
the only house that’s on this open back road. It sits up on a hill, with a
homely air to it. Van smiles when he notices the tow truck parked near the
stand-alone garage.
steps onto the private property, he hears a glass shatter on the inside of the
home, followed by the shouting of random obscenities. Before Van can even
turn around or even think about changing his mind, the screen door swings
open releasing a small girl.
races towards Van. His face is full of confusion.
behind him, he notices the bruise on her face. The squeaking of the screen
door happens once more, slamming closed.
out into the yard. Van pulls the girl behind him, keeping one hand on her
shoulder, protectively.
annoyed sigh before he starts to stumble in that direction. It’s obvious that
he’s been drinking. Van knows the look in his eye all too well. His mother
used to have that same look.
stopping her from moving.
words. ”Who the fuck are you?! Get the fuck off my property!”
eyes trying to focus on Van. “This ain’t none of your concern, boy!” Willy
brings a finger up to point at Van’s face. “Alison. In the house.”
tries reaching around Van to grab the girl, but Van keeps moving his body in
the way.
sleeves.
get the rest of what she got comin’.”
jaw. Van’s head goes to the side, Alison screams and makes a run for it. Van
just gives his head a shake, taking the punch.
her.”
his fist to swing again, but the blowing of horn from an arriving Sedan
interrupts him. The window is rolled down and a redhead female sticks her
head out. “Willy! Willy stop it!” It’s Gwen. His wife.
out of the car.
Alison gives her a tearful nod. Gwen scoops her daughter up and glares in
Willy’s direction. “You son of a bitch! This is the second time! I want you out!
Out of my fucking house!” Gwen yells frantically at her husband as she carries
her daughter to her car.
takes a step towards the car, but Van’s hand comes up to his chest to stop
him from going any further.
peers out of her window with tear-filled eyes, mouthing a silent ‘thank you’ to
Van as she speeds off.
Van’s hand away from his chest.
keep himself calm for just another moment. As Willy comes in for another
sucker punch, Van’s fist comes flying up out of nowhere, with a jaw-
shattering right hook, which spins Willy into a thudding unconscious.
and stands over Willy’s unconscious body.
Back at the Middle of Nowhere, it looks like Entourage and Summer are back
at each other’s throats. They’re both standing in front of Entourage’s ride,
screaming at each other.
man?!”
can’t see past my shades! Past my shades! Past my shades!”
off his face. “I’ma’ break these damn things!”
Summer’s wrist up. The resulting pull has Summer smacking into his body,
forcing them to lock eyes for the first time in a long time. They both blink for
a second, the rage fueled hatred softening to something… different. It’s a
short moment that feels like an eternity until Entourage breaks the silence.
meaning.
Entourage. He releases his grip on her arm and she slips that shades-wielding
hand behind his neck. Slowly, they both close their eyes as their lips draw
closer.
jumps back and away from Entourage. Entourage jerks his head up and looks
off towards the road.
him. He plucks them from her fingers, winks and slides them back into his
face before he hops around the car to finish cheering Van on.
Through the side mirror, Summer can be seen. She’s leaned back against the
side of the car, biting her lip and looking slightly worried.
an impressed whistle.
She okay?”
man.”
On the road again, the tow truck cruises at a moderate pace. Entourage is
driving, of course. Summer’s next to him, occasionally glancing at him
through the rearview mirror. On her other side, Van is leaned against the
passenger door, eyes on the view out of the window.
the familiar yard. Gwen stands behind Alison, her arms wrapped around her
protectively, as officers drag a struggling Willy from the house.
to break free from the officers that are shoving him in the back of one of the
squad cars. This causes Alison to look over towards the road. She spots Van
through the window and waves her little hand at him.
moment the urban station starts blasting through the speakers…
To Take A Stand! (Take A Stand!)
Everybody! (Everybody!)
Come Take My Hand! (Come Take My Hand!)
Whatever Weather (Cold or Warm!)
Just Lettin’ You Know That (You’re Not Alone!)
Holla, If You Feel Like You’ve Been Down The Same Road!
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