Chapter Ryan
Since Harley insisted on participating in her play, CJ, his brothers, and Rory went to school, although Aunt Kendall kept Mattie home.
Rory and Harley didn’t have the same schedule, so their respective teachers refused to let them attend the other’s class. When Rory texted CJ to update him, he’d just walked into his math class and greeted Mr. Wilhemhein. Midway to his seat, CJ halted, read the fucking text, and frowned.
“Mr. Caldwell?” the teacher called, drawing CJ’s attention away from the latest dilemma. “Since you’ve graced us with your presence, it would be nice if you sat, so I can start today’s lecture.”
Jaleena raised her hand.
“Yes, Miss Davis?” Wilhemhein sounded as if he already wanted the day over when it had barely started.
“Maybe CJ’s stalling because he’s too far behind to catch up.” She smiled. “Jocks aren’t known for their brains.”
“If he ever helps me with my science project, I’m willing to help him with math,” Skye offered.
The teacher glanced around the room. “Any other young lady care to offer their opinion about Mr. Caldwell?”
Five fucking girls raised their hands. Of the eighteen students that included himself, ten were girls. He was on friendly terms with the seven other boys, but he still didn’t like being put on the spot.
“You’ve amassed quite the fan club, young man,” Wilhemhein said, riding his motherfucker train at top speed. “Seventy percent of your female classmates as a matter of fact.”
CJ refused to address anything except the matter at hand. “May I step in the hall?” He lifted his phone as a knock came on the door. “An emergency has come up. I promise I won’t be long.” He needed to call Uncle Mort to let him know Harley wouldn’t be with Rory all day.
“You’ve been alerted to an emergency on the phone that should be off in my class?” he demanded as another knock came on the door. He drew himself up and yelled, “Come in.”
The door squeaked open. CJ didn’t bother turning, even when the teacher folded his arms and lifted a bushy brow.
“CJ?” Rory called.
Fuck.
CJ gave Mr. Wilhemhein an apologetic look, then turned toward the door. “Seriously, Rory?”
His cousin stepped aside and revealed Harley. “She either has to go to her classes alone or attend yours so we can watch her. I already told you my teachers won’t allow her to stay with me. You didn’t tell me what to do.”
“And you think Mr. Caldwell’s teachers will allow Miss Banks in his classes, Mr. Donovan?” Wilhemhein asked.
CJ didn’t want to get into that debate right now. Billson was the only one who claimed CJ had special rules. Several other teachers gave him a rough time.
“Miss Banks, please report to your class now.”
“She has to stay with me,” CJ said, beckoning to Harley and hating her mortification. He didn’t even know why she insisted on coming to school today since the play wasn’t until tonight. “Go to your class, Ro. I’ll take it from here.”
Rory nodded and walked out of the class, closing the door behind him. Harley refused to move.
“Is this really happening, Mr. Caldwell?” the teacher sputtered.
“I’m sorry, sir,” CJ said, unsure exactly what else to do. He walked to Harley and took her hand in his. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered. “You’re safe with me, Harley. I promise.”
She lowered her gaze and nodded.
He tucked her close, pretending he didn’t feel a twinge of jealousy at the way some of the guys were looking at her. More than anything, he felt overwhelming protectiveness. She wasn’t in the mental state to entertain any motherfucker.
He led her to the back of the class to one of the tables that accommodated study groups and urged her into a seat then took the one next to her.
“This is against the rules, Mr. Wilhemhein,” Jaleena called. “Harley Banks shouldn’t be allowed in here since she isn’t in the class. She isn’t even in our grade.”
“She wouldn’t be with me if this wasn’t an emergency, sir,” CJ said, looking at the teacher and hoping he understood.
Turning, Skye narrowed her eyes and pinned Harley with a resentful look before facing forward. “Jaleena’s right, Mr. Wilhemhein. Classroom disruption is a big no.”
“Would you care to explain yourself, Mr. Caldwell?”
“Wouldn’t that disrupt the class more than just letting it be, sir?” CJ asked with the utmost politeness.
“No one will concentrate at the moment, young man. We’re all dying to hear why Miss Banks is sitting in my class when she isn’t my student. Perhaps, the entire staff knows you and the myriad family members who attend Ridge Moore?”
Okay, that had nothing to do with the current situation, but whatever.
“I’ll go,” Harley mumbled.
“Speak up, Miss Banks!” Wilhemhein called, and she flinched.
“Mr. Wilhemhein, are you familiar with the two sets of rules for Ridge Moore?” CJ asked evenly.
“I’m a member of the staff, aren’t I?”
Not exactly an answer. “I’ll take that as a yes,” CJ replied.
“To which set have you suddenly been so enlightened of, Mr. Caldwell?”
“Refer to whichever one you need to and carry on. It concerns you as my teacher and I will respect that and explain after class. It does not concern another person in this class. I refuse to address this matter in front of them.”
“Very well, Mr. Caldwell. I’ll consider this matter settled.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I suppose she will be with you the entire day?”
“I suppose so.”
“I will be sure to alert your other teachers and save you the trouble.”
Although the teacher’s about-face was a little shocking, CJ wouldn’t question it. “I would appreciate that.”
The next few hours passed without event. CJ escorted Harley to all of his classes. Not only didn’t his teachers ask questions, but Harley received an alert on her phone that she had lessons to complete on her dashboard.
Skye tried to invade during lunch, but CJ wouldn’t allow it and sent her away. He was actually starting to exhale and believe the entire day would go smoothly, especially after he escorted Harley to the auditorium once Ms. Mendez texted her that she’d arrived.
“I wonder where Mr. Grevenberg is,” Ms. Mendez said. “He has lines to run through and a set to help put the final touches to.”
Luckily, Harley was on the other side of the room, talking to a group of girls.
“If he doesn’t show up, I promise I’ll return after my last class to help with whatever,” CJ drawled. “Just tell Harley to text me.”
She smiled at him. “Will do.”
He'd just walked into his fucking history class when all hell broke loose. Ryan’s presence was bad enough. Aunt Zoann wasn’t around, so CJ didn’t even have to acknowledge that fuckface.
“Are you going to football practice, CJ?” Jaleena asked, sitting in the aisle to his left, one row behind him. “I think the cheer squad is practicing with the team today because of the theater production later tonight.”
“If I’d been enrolled during auditions, I would’ve won the lead as Juliet. According to Shakespeare, she had light brown hair,” Skye said before CJ responded to Jaleena.
“Nowhere in that play does he describe Juliet so decisively,” CJ said.
“Really?” Skye purred. “And you’re such an afficionado that you’d know that?”
He wasn’t. He hated fucking Shakespeare, but he knew more than he cared to because of Aunt Kendall, Mattie, and Harley.
“Obviously, you aren’t, Skye. He called her eyes two of the fairest stars in heaven.
” Blegh. Whatever the fuck that meant. “Romeo, that simp, compared Juliet to the sun or moon or something in the sky and said her cheeks would shame the stars.” He remembered that because it was fucking stupid.
“What does that even mean?” Jaleena asked.
“Exactly,” Skye said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, CJ. Because, hello, what does that mean?”
“What it means is that Juliet’s beauty was radiant, outshining everyone,” CJ said, then returned to Skye’s original boast. “Harley competed against several girls for that role. I doubt the outcome would’ve been any different even if you had tried out for the part.”
“What is she to you?” Skye demanded.
“A question I’ve been asking myself all day,” Jaleena said. “You claimed you two were nothing to each other.”
“I’m impressed by your knowledge of Shakespeare, Mr. Caldwell. Now, please bring that knowledge to a desk and take a seat,” Ms. Flotsam ordered, one of only two female teachers CJ had.
In the Lower and Middle School, there was definitely a higher number of female teachers, but that ratio flipped in the Upper School.
“Yes, ma’am,” CJ started, enjoying the breeze of the open windows and the emerging greenery of spring. He took his seat, glad to be on the first row, close enough to smell the air. Close enough to see… “Grevenberg,” he snarled, jumping from his seat and running to the window.
Nardo was headed to the auditorium, swaggering as if he hadn’t fucked with Harley and didn’t intend to fuck with her again.
“Mr. Caldwell, sit down now,” Ms. Flotsam said, pointing to his desk.
“I can’t,” he said, dialing Dad’s number, but getting no fucking answer. He got the same results when he tried Uncle Mort, Uncle Val, and Diesel.
“You are disrupting my class and I will not allow it,” the teacher screeched.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” CJ said.
“This is ridiculous, Ms. Flotsam,” Jaleena sneered.
Ms. Flotsam stormed to CJ, snatched his arm, and tried to yank him away.
Meanwhile, Nardo was getting closer to the auditorium. By the time CJ ran down the hallway and out the fucking door, Nardo would’ve gotten to Harley.
“You see Nardo?” Ryan asked as CJ looked for an escape and cursed the screen covering the window.
“Yeah, fuck.”
“Please take your seat, Mr. Caldwell,” Ms. Flotsam said again.
Ignoring her, CJ punched the edges of the screen, breathing a sigh of relief when it gave way.