Chapter Ten – CJ
“How was your weekend? Asking on a Tuesday since you weren’t here yesterday.”
Setting his knapsack on the floor under the lab table, CJ didn’t answer Skye Ratcliffe immediately.
Just a week ago, he would’ve ditched school and got a little more shut-eye and then spent the day with Molly.
Instead, he’d dragged himself out of bed and hopped in the van driven by Uncle Val.
Even though CJ, Ryan, Devon, Rory, Mattie, and Harley were in the vehicle, most of the ride took place in silence, each of them lost in their own world.
“That bad, huh?”
“That hectic,” CJ responded. “How was yours?”
She dug in her backpack and pulled out a folder. “Unhappy. Science has never been my best subject. No matter how many times I read over everything, I couldn’t understand it.”
“Billson told me you needed my help.”
Irritation crossed her pretty face. “That’s why you called and offered it.”
“I’m sorry, bae. This wasn’t a good weekend.”
Eyeing him, she tossed her honey-blonde hair. “That’s not a sufficient reason,” she said sharply.
CJ narrowed his eyes, wondering what happened to the slightly shy, upbeat girl he’d met.
“You have to spend this evening with me, going over the notes,” she declared.
“I know you’re worried about your grade and I will help you, but it won’t be this evening. I have something to do.”
Visiting Molly took precedence over anything else, especially Skye Ratcliffe.
“What takes priority over my grade?”
“Nothing that concerns you,” he snapped.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“If I cared to share, which I don’t.”
“We’re lab partners and friends. I like you a lot. You should want to confide in me.”
“First? You don’t fucking know me. Second? I just met you. Why the fuck would I tell you any of my secrets?”
She gasped, then smirked and raised her hand.
“Yes, Miss Ratcliffe?” Billson said from where he sat at his desk, grading papers.
“CJ just used bad language, sir. That’s against the rules.”
The teacher didn’t lift his head. “There are student rules and there are CJ rules. Deal with them or I can assign you another partner.”
Her mouth fell open. Just as she regrouped and started to speak, the door burst open, drawing every gaze in that direction, as Mattie ran in and skidded to a halt.
“Problem, Miss Donovan?” Billson asked.
Mattie shifted from foot to foot. “I need CJ.”
“Of course you do.”
“He’s with me right now, Matilda,” Skye said. “Whatever you need from him will have to wait. He has to help me with my project.”
Mattie frowned. “Yeah. No.” She waved CJ over. “Hurry.”
“Would you care to share, Miss Donovan?” Billson called.
“I’m wasting time explaining,” Mattie said in frustration, then started to back away. “Never mind. I’ll find Ryan.”
Fuck. This was about Harley.
“Wait, Mattie.” CJ snatched his bookbag and got to his feet. “I’m coming.”
“But you can’t leave me,” Skye said as Billson intoned, “Did I give you permission, Mr. Caldwell?”
“I didn’t ask for it, sir. I’ll go to the principal’s office if you wish, but I can’t stay right now.”
“Mr. Caldwell—”
He didn’t wait to hear whatever the teacher had to say and followed Mattie into the hallway.
“What’s up?” CJ asked the moment he closed the classroom door.
“Harley is with the nurse. The side of her face is all bruised.”
“Motherfucker,” CJ snarled. “Find Ryan, Rory, and Axel. Meet me in the nurse’s office.”
Before he could leave, Billson’s door opened and Skye stepped into the hallway.
“I want to know what’s going on.”
“It’s a family matter,” CJ said, and rushed away. He didn’t have fucking time to appease Skye’s curiosity. Furthermore, he didn’t know what fucking personality transplant she’d suffered over the fucking weekend.
He left the math building and sprinted toward Clark Hall where the administrative offices and triage for the Upper School were located. Mattie veered off and headed to the language arts building.
Ms. Mendez was just guiding Harley into the hallway when CJ arrived. The side of her face was bruised and swollen.
“Where’s that motherfucker?” CJ growled, low.
A little tremble went through Harley, then she bowed her head. “Nardo didn’t come to school today.”
“Miss Banks fell,” Ms. Mendez said.
The shame on Harley’s face just about sent CJ over the edge. “Did you see her fall, Ms. Mendez?”
“Er, well, no, but—”
“But it’s the truth,” Harley whispered in a shaky voice, her entire body beginning to shake.
“What’s going on out here?”
At Dr. Marvey’s authoritative tone, CJ gritted his teeth.
“I need you to call my dad and Harley’s dad.”
“Uh, well, uh…is that necessary?” Marvey asked.
“No, please!” Harley cried. “Please, please, please. He’ll…just don’t, CJ. Please!”
Pulling Harley into his arms, CJ breathed in deeply, trying to control his temper. Yeah, they had CJ rules, but he doubted they’d withstand tearing this motherfucker apart to find that motherfucker. Her pitiful sobs didn’t help his rage one fucking bit.
“Ms. Mendez, call Diesel. Ask him to get here ASAP. Tell him to bring Bishop and Narci,” CJ instructed, thinking fast to get the situation under control.
Or at least feel more in control, especially with Harley clinging to him as if she never wanted to let go.
“Ask him not to tell anyone else until after he talks to me.”
“Of course, Mr. Caldwell,” she said, and stepped away.
Dr. Marvey snatched the handkerchief from his top pocket and mopped his brow. “You don’t have to alert Outlaw and Mortician.”
“We do, sir,” CJ said, pointing to Harley’s face. “This is an emergency. It’s unacceptable.”
“She fell!” Marvey barked, placed his hand on Harley’s shoulder and tried to yank her away, ignoring her frightened cry. “Get back to class, Miss Banks. Now!”
CJ tightened his hold on her, praying he didn’t traumatize her further by the fucking tug-of-war Marvey created.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Dr. Marvey?” CJ asked, pulling her away from the motherfucker so forcefully they all stumbled.
He pushed her behind him. “Harley can’t go back to class right now.
This isn’t helping her. Let her calm down.
When Diesel gets here, he can talk to Uncle Mort and see what he wants. ”
“No. You will follow my rules,” Dr. Marvey spat. “If you take her outside, I will have someone drag her to class.”
Was this motherfucker drunk?
“CJ!” Axel barreled through the side door. “Mattie said you needed me…” Catching sight of Harley, he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Let’s go outside and wait for Diesel, big head.”
“Did you get permission to call Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Caldwell?” Dr. Marvey demanded.
Axel scowled.
“Ms. Mendez is calling my brother for me,” CJ inserted quickly.
“Are you sure about that?” He glared at Axel and pointed to the door that led to the pathway for the Middle School. “Back to your class, mister. I might be lenient and understanding, but Dr. Steen won’t see it that way.”
“CJ told me to come,” Axel said calmly, giving the motherfucker a chance to see things his way. As he usually did.
It was a smokescreen, though. If they failed to comply, he went full speed ahead.
“Mr. Caldwell is not the authority figure, Mr. Caldwell. The staff’s orders supersede his.”
“Supersede,” Axel mumbled. “It’s bigger than his?”
“GET BACK TO CLASS!!” Dr. Marvey roared.
CJ, Harley, and Axel jumped.
“I’m counting to three,” the fuckhead, lost in motherfucker land, continued.
“You can count to thirty-three and I’m not listening to you,” Axel said, returning Marvey’s glare.
“‘Cause only in your fucking head, we got to listen to you. In the real world, you just here cuz Dad don’t got the time to teach us, so fuck you. And if you say one more fucking thing to me, I’m calling Dad, so try again. ”
“What’s going on?” Rory asked, rushing into the hallway, followed by Ryan, Devon, Mattie, Ryder, and Ransom.
“It took you long enough,” Axel complained.
“This is out of hand,” Dr. Marvey blared.
“Ryan, take Harley to Turn Creek,” CJ said. “I have to wait for Diesel.”
Although he hated to release her, CJ disentangled himself from around Harley and tugged her to Ryan. He needed to explain everything to Diesel, so he could get her off campus and away from Marvey.
“Goddamn,” Ryan breathed, staring at her face in shock and horror.
“She’s already seen the nurse,” CJ said, unsure if he was handling it right but unable to let someone manhandle Harley at Marvey’s direction. “Just take her for now. We’ll meet you there.”
“I’m coming with you and Harley,” Devon said.
“Fine,” Ryan said bleakly, tucking Harley close to him and heading toward the door. “Come on, Dev.”
“Diesel will be here in five minutes,” Ms. Mendez said, walking back to the group just as the door closed on Ryan, Harley, and Devon.
“You can be fired for this, Anayelli,” Dr. Marvey sniped. “As for all of you, you’ll be written up. And you—” he jabbed a finger at Axel— “will be suspended for five days.”
Ryder and Ransom thumped each other and snickered. CJ didn’t want to imagine what the fuck they were thinking.
“Listen up,” Axel spat. “Your bitch ass is going to get fired long before I get suspended if you don’t back off. This is my final fucking warning. If you keep being senile and stupid, you’re going to look back on this day and say ‘I wish I had listened to Axel.”
“You’ve graduated from cutting class to threats. Mr. Donovan warned me to stand firm when the Caldwell boys tried to throw their weight around.”
“Dr. Marvey, my dad is the last person you want to listen to,” Rory said in a pained voice.
“Fourth period bell is about to ring,” Mattie announced.
“Let’s go outside,” CJ said, wishing he was with Harley but knowing he couldn’t be. No matter what she claimed, he knew in his fucking heart that Nardo abused her.
That motherfucker was somewhere on campus.
“Your father is the one who signs my paychecks, Mr. Donovan. Who else should I listen to? He’s rescinded all privileges except those of you, your sister, and your brother.”
“He can’t fucking do that!” CJ said to the principal.
“He can and he did. Now deal with it or get suspended.”
Axel narrowed his eyes, then nodded to Ryder and Ransom. “Let’s prefer, men.”
“Confer,” Mattie said.
“Thanks, Matt,” Axel said brightly.
“She corrected you,” Ransom complained. “And you aren’t mad.”
“What motherfucker would get mad at a beautiful girl helping him out?” Axel demanded as the bell pierced the relative silence of Clark Hall.
Within moments, students poured into the hallway from all four directions. Annoyed, CJ backed out of the mayhem and leaned against the wall. Luckily, the first lunch bell didn’t happen until the next period. Otherwise, it would’ve taken longer to clear the hallway.
By the time it was only him, Mattie, the Terrible Triplets, and Rory, Diesel had arrived, Dr. Marvey was on his walkie-talkie, and Ms. Mendez had disappeared.
“What’s wrong?” Diesel asked the moment he spotted CJ.
“Wait,” Axel said, beckoning Diesel over. “I need to pre…confer with my attorney.”
“Make it quick,” Diesel said irritably. “I’ve had a long fucking morning.”
“Motherfucker, I pay you five fucking dollars a month,” Axel said. “I can take all fucking day.”
“In your fucking dreams, Ax,” Diesel replied.
Folding his arms, CJ ignored his headache, and tipped his head back, waiting until Axel told Diesel about Marvey. He couldn’t hear their conversation, but he knew Axel preferred immediate justice. Diesel didn’t give a fuck. He’d snatch that motherfucker in broad daylight and bury him.
They were both kind of like Rebel, all three of them impatient and violent. Dad was, too, but he worked smarter not harder.
“Go to Turn Creek, Ax,” Diesel said, rising to his full height after Axel finished filling him in. “I’ll take care of the situation here.”
“Are you signing your brothers out, Mr. Caldwell?” Dr, Marvey demanded with a smirk. “Otherwise, they will face repercussions.”
The cruel twist to Diesel’s mouth chilled CJ. Either Marvey was blind, stupid, or crazy.
“Of course, I’ll sign them out,” Diesel said affably, giving no indication of the insanity lurking underneath the normal as fuck surface. “Get whatever paperwork that’s required.”
Puffing up like a preening peacock, Marvey nodded curtly, and stalked back to his office.
CJ closed the distance between him and Diesel. “We have ten or eleven weeks left to school, fuckhead,” he whispered. “Scoop him up over the summer.”
“He frightened Axel and almost made him cry,” Diesel said blandly.
“When?” Rory blurted.
“Right before I arrived,” Diesel said.
“Axel told you that?” CJ asked to be sure.
Diesel nodded. “Did that motherfucker not raise his voice and all of you jumped?”
“He did.” CJ wouldn’t win this one. Marvey had fucked with his family more times than he could count, so the motherfucker deserved what he got.
However… “Talk to Dad first. Meanwhile, Harley’s at Turn Creek with Ryan.
Get her and bring her back to the club. If Uncle Mort isn’t there, call him and let him know what’s going on. ”
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“I’m going to the auditorium to find Nardo.”
“CJ—”
“No, Diesel. He hurt Harley. I’m not waiting—”
Diesel grabbed CJ’s arm and snatched him closer. Axel’s gasp barely registered.
“Look, fuckhead,” Diesel said through gritted teeth. “If you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing, you will get caught and then what? Don’t go off half-cocked. Get to Turn Creek.” He shoved CJ away. “And that’s a motherfucking order.”