Chapter 4 – CJ #2
“I’m supposed to worry about some random when I need the money, too?”
For food or utilities or something equally as important. She’d already told CJ and he hadn’t wanted to involve himself in her life because he did so with Molly. Yet, despite how irritating he found Skye, she needed a break, too.
“Why do you want two entries, C?” Ryder asked. “Skye’s right. Molly isn’t here.”
“That’s why he wants her stuffs in the competition, stupid,” Axel said in disgust. “Molly was his friend before Skye and she can’t be here. It might cheer her up if she gets an award. And she might see that she belongs to us and we won’t forget her while she’s away.”
CJ couldn’t fucking believe Axel summed up his entire reason in two or three sentences. Since Axel said it all, CJ wouldn’t add anything. He looked at Billson, determined to change his mind. Later, he’d find a way to help Skye. Now, he wanted to honor Molly.
“Mr. Billson—”
“This isn’t a battle you can win, Mr. Caldwell,” the teacher said. “Expend your energy elsewhere. You’re wasting it here.”
CJ studied Billson, assessing any chinks in his armor, but finding none.
The teacher wouldn’t change his mind about Molly’s entry so CJ moved onto the next option.
“Mr. Billson, I would like to create an award and keep for Molly until I hear from her again. Can you sign it to make it look official?”
Without the teacher’s signature, it wouldn’t look legitimate.
“I can,” Mr. Billson said, “but will I?”
“If you like working here,” Axel said darkly.
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Caldwell?”
“He is,” Skye said with a sniff. “I’m your witness, sir.”
Snatching Axel against him and clapping his hand over his little brother’s mouth, CJ ignored Skye and met Billson’s gaze. “Will you sign the certificate to give it an official touch?” he demanded, drowning out the nonsense, including Skye. Especially Skye.
He ignored Axel’s noises and struggles. However, if Billson said no, CJ would back up Axel’s threat. No fucking way would he leave his little brother out to hang. Caldwells stuck together in public, though not so much in private, something CJ wished would change.
“Please, release Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Caldwell,” Billson said mildly, indicating Axel with a wave of his hand. “I’d like to hear his argument.”
Fuck, that wasn’t a good idea. CJ didn’t trust Axel. “Sir—”
“Do it, C. That’s what Mr. Billson wants,” Ransom told him.
Sighing, CJ reluctantly released Axel.
The little motherfucker glared at CJ, straightened his T-shirt, and scowled at Billson. “Things don’t got to get ugly. I can pay you fifty dollars. CJ likes peaceful resolutions better.”
CJ squinted. “How the fuck you’re paying the teacher so much but only pay Diesel five fucking dollars as a retainer fee?”
Ryder grinned, his blue eyes lighting up. “Since he bribed Dad for five bands.”
“You did what?” CJ bellowed, unable to believe the fuckery Axel constantly got away with.
“Don’t hate,” Axel said. “Dad’s taking Mom away and they won’t come back until after my birthday. I told that motherfucker if he didn’t want me to tell Mom how deferstated I was and make her come back early or not go at all, he had to pay me.”
Billson fucking laughed. Laughed!
“It’s devastated,” CJ bit out, annoyed, reluctantly admiring his little brother’s game. He looked at Billson. “I’ll pay you fi—”
Axel kicked him.
“OW, you little fuckhead. What was that for?”
“Shush!” Axel jabbed a finger over his lips. “Don’t make no offer yet. He hasn’t accepted or reclined my fifty. He might take that from you, then I won’t have no relay with him.”
“It’s declined and leeway, and you didn’t have to fucking kick me.”
“Did, too. You was gonna open your big, stupid mouth.”
“I don’t have a big mouth,” CJ snapped.
“Sorry, C. You was gonna open your little, stupid mouth.”
“My mouth isn’t stupid,” CJ yelled.
“Finally got it fucking right,” Axel retorted. “It just took you fifty fucking years to catch on.”
“Does everything have to be an argument with you, Axel?” CJ asked.
“It’s making your balls swolled, so yeah.”
CJ gaped at Axel, too appalled to even question what the fuck he meant.
“He means it’s toughening you up,” Ransom clarified, grinning.
Although Mr. Billson was too busy laughing his ass off to chastise Axel, Skye observed the situation with rounded eyes and a shell-shocked expression. CJ related. Axel belonged in a motherfucking zoo.
Taking a handkerchief from his blazer pocket, the teacher dabbed at his eyes. “Here’s what I’ll do,” he said, his laughter finally trailing off. “I will sign whatever certificate you wish. We’ll talk about what else we can do to appease you and Miss Harris.”
Skye rolled her eyes and studied her pale pink nails. “Now that that’s settled, can you come to the auditorium with me? I want to go through the checklist.”
“Fine,” CJ agreed, wishing he was at the mall with Rebel and Jana.
At the beginning of the school year, he’d seen the project as part of his grade and the Science Fair as something to do.
Then he’d gotten to know Molly and it became so much more.
Now it meant nothing but a grade for Skye and pain over Molly.
“We can practice our timing. I’ll read while you handle the slides. ”
Skye’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
CJ looked at Mr. Billson. “I hope you can forget Axel’s threat, sir.”
“What threat, Mr. Caldwell?” Billson asked with a straight face.
CJ nodded. “I appreciate—”
“CJ?”
“Uncle Mort!” Axel said happily.
Neither Mom, Dad, nor their aunts and uncles were supposed to arrive until this evening. Relief at the unexpected surprise rose in CJ. Uncle Mort would get control of Axel.
“Mort!” Billson greeted, the beginnings of a smile wiped away when he looked in Uncle Mort’s direction.
“What’s the matter?” Axel’s tone had changed.
Frowning, CJ turned away from Skye and looked at Uncle Mort.
Fear slid into CJ at the worry in his eyes. “What?” he blurted, his stomach tightening. Something had either happened to Dad or Diesel. CJ hadn’t known they were conducting business today. “What happened?”
Uncle Mort lifted Axel into his arms, moved closer to Ryder and Ransom, then met CJ’s gaze. “It’s Rebel. Motherfuckers tried to drown her at Turn Creek.”
“What?” CJ cried. Drown…Rebel…? “What?” he repeated, trying to make it make sense. She was supposed to have been at the mall. “Rebel’s injured?”
“Reb?” Ransom and Ryder gasped.
“Reb’s hurt with water again?” Beginning to sob, Axel threw his arms around Uncle Mort’s neck, then face planted against his shoulder.
CJ’s assholery and uptight bullshit about if his and Molly’s project was entered went through his head and shamed him.
“Bishop rode bitch on my bike, so he can drive you and the boys to Hortensia General.”
“Go, CJ,” Mr. Billson said. “I’ll see to it that Miss Ratcliffe has what she needs.”
Not wanting to breakdown and frighten Axel, CJ pressed his lips together, still failing to understand the turn of events.
“Is she hurt bad?” Ryder asked, a question CJ wanted to know, but couldn’t bring himself to ask.
“From what I understand, yeah,” Uncle Mort said. “But I haven’t been to the hospital yet. Meggie asked us to see to you, CJ, Ransom, and Axel.”
His mother must’ve been devastated.
Axel lifted his head and swiped his cheeks. “I got to see to Mom. Let’s go, Uncle Mort.”
“Can I come?” Skye asked.
“No,” CJ said simply, and walked away, just wanting to see his little sister and his mother.