Homecoming, chapter 19
*Billie's POV*
"I'm gonna have to talk to Adie about this."
"But dad! It apparently has something to do with the orphanage!" Jill begged.
"Yeah, actually, it does! Three points," I said holding up three fingers and smiling.
She made a really sad look. "Ok, fine. Just one question then. Does it have anything to do with my parents?"
I looked down at the piece of paper. It didn't, but I realized how much it would mean to her. "No, sorry hun."
I think she muttered an 'ok'. But I felt bad, I gave her a hug, "Let me go talk to Adie real quick though. Alright?"
I ran upstairs and Adie was folding some more clothes. "Hey, this came in the mail today." I handed her the paper.
The Paper:
Name: Bradley Lane Morris
Address: 412 S Court, Williams California
Contact Number(s): 1-985-223-8523
Birthdate: January 21, 1988
Relation: Cousin of Jill Marie Morris
On the bottom there was a sticky note that read: This is Jill's cousin. This is all of her family that we have found. This was Jill's mom's sister's son, but his mothers whereabouts are unknown. You will not be forced to tell Jill about her cousin, but she might like to see someone from her family. -Renae
"Well, she need's to see him! It's her family!" Adie replied with a smile.
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm all for it to, but, what could happen?" I said sitting on the bed and reading over the letter again. Another paper was his record. He'd been to juvie when he was 12 for theft, and he'd been suspended twice from school in high school. "He doesn't have the cleanest record, and where the hell is Williams?"
"Oh I'm sure Renae would know. And come on, if you were adopted, and you thought you didn't have any family at all, wouldn't you at least like to see the last member of you're family?" She said sitting down next to me. "She probably doesn't even know her real last name is Morris."
I looked at it for a moment, "It does say he's 18..."
"Oh jeez, she's seeing her cousin. I know! How about we surprise her and have him pick her up from school tomorrow," she suggested.
"How do we know he has a car??"
"Well, ok. We'll call, and see if we can meet him for dinner tonight. That way we can at least see if he's reliable or responsible... or if he has a car," she suggested again. I didn't say anything. I still wasn't sure. "Oh come on, think of Jill, if she was listening right now, she would hate you for even hesitating."
It was probably true. I remembered the look on her face when I told her it didn't have anything to do with her parents. There was probably a hole in her that even we couldn't fill. "Alright fine, dinner."
*Back to Jill's POV*
I was pacing in the kitchen. What was it about? Do I have to go back? Do I have a long lost sibling? Do I have grandparents that want me? Do I have cancer?
No, dad wouldn't have acted like that if I had cancer, that's just me being stupid. It was going to drive me insane until I found out what it was though.
Then mom walked downstairs, I ran up to her and stood right infront of her, waiting for the news.
"Umm...hi?" she said with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes, "The letter?"
I noticed it was in her hand, and made a grab for it. But she quickly snatched it away. "Nope, you can't see, it clearly said on the envelope, 'confidential'."
"But mom-"
"Quit your whinin' and don't ever call me a butt again. Me and Billie are going out for dinner, we wont be back until around eightish or so," mom said sliding on some shoes and grabbing her purse.
Then I heard dad, "Alright, we'll meet you at Applebee's here in a few then right?.... No it's ok we'll pay....Alright thank you, haha, bye," he hung up the phone. "He's meeting us at Applebee's."
"Who?" I asked running over to him now.
"Jill, drop it. It's nobody," he replied, he didn't smile though. It seemed serious. Now I was worrying. They get a letter in the mail from the orphanage and all of a sudden they were meeting some guy at Applebee's and dad wasn't his normal joking self anymore?
"Alright, we'll be back in a while, the fridge is open territory," he yelled grabbing his keys. "See you guys tonight."
"Bye dad."
"Bye."
I remained speechless. How could he do this? Something this serious and they couldn't just bend the rules a little? Well, if they weren't going to, I needed to find out myself.
I ran upstairs and grabbed my cell phone and called Lime.
"Hello?"
"Lime. It's Jill, this is an emergency-"
"Wait wait, slow down. Jill?"
"Umm, yeah? Jill Armstrong? Kelseas friend? Your friend? I think..."
"Oh my god! J! I'm so sorry, it's just Kelseas been at camp for so long..."
"Yeah, I know, ok anyways," I said quickly rolling my eyes, "Can you give me a ride to Applebee's?"
"Why of course! I love that place!"
"No, I mean, not to eat," I said kind of irritated.
It was silent for a second, "Sooo, why are we going to Applebee's then?"
"Well, if you can, just pick me up and I'll explain on the way there," I said looking around to make sure Jakob or Joey weren't listening. Who knows what I've done to them, they might turn me in.
"Alright alright ok." She hung up and I jabbed the phone into my pocket and ran out of my room.
I immediately fell though! I tripped over something, then Joey was right above me, "Your gonna spy on them, aren't you," he said in a-matter-of-fact voice.
"Joey, you don't understand-"
"We'll make a deal," he said with an evil grin. "Me and Jake go with you, and we don't call mom and tell her your plans." I sat up and was thinking. If they go with me, what if I get caught? But then if they don't, I'll be sure to get caught!
"Fine, but Lime's coming now, and we're not waiting."
Of course that didn't do me any good. They were ready to go before she came. Right after he told me him and Jake had to come though, I called Lime and told her to put the child lock on the back doors of her car.
She pulled up the driveway and I ran to the front seat, so then Joey and Jakob followed and got in back. I explained to her about the letter and dad and mom meeting someone at Applebee's, and she just laughed at my curiosity.
We pulled into Applebee's and I got out and heard Jake and Joey hollering about how they couldn't get their doors open, thanks to the child lock. I ran inside, so I could find out where they were sitting. Luckily it was right by a window, so then I went back outside, and found them, and sitting across from them was someone with dark brown hair like mine, except it was cut a little shorter. It was kind of shaggy, like Dylyns, but not quite that long. He was wearing a regular t-shirt with a jacket and some jeans.
Why would they be meeting someone here? Right after they got a letter in the mail about me? I thought for a minute, then it hit me. Dad not being his goofy self, the letter from the orphanage, immediately meeting someone somewhere.
They were getting rid of me.
I hate parents. I hate them. Especially ones like mine. First my real ones have to go die, then the ones that adopted me are turning me in. The weird thing is, I wasn't sad. It was more like really mad. I ran back to the car and got inside, and slammed the door. "I cannot believe this."
"What-"
"I don't wanna talk about it," I said quietly before everyone asked questions.
Lime drove us home in silence. It was the weird kind of silence, like, you thought you should say something, but then you were worried that if you did you might throw up. She pulled into are drive way though, all the same. I said thanks and opened Joeys and Jakobs door for them (child lock) and I ran up to my room and closed the door.
Sure enough though, the kind, loving brothers I have, Jakob had to knock on the door. "Jill?"
"Jake, what do you want?" I said in an annoyed voice. I already said, I don't wanna talk about it.
He walked in and sat on my bed. "Whats wrong?"
"I don't wanna talk about it!" How many times have I said this now?
The phone started ringing. So he rolled his eyes and went to go get it. "Jill! It's for you!!"
I got up and grabbed the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Tori."
"Are you serious? God, you can tell somethings wrong from miles away cant you!"
There was a small silence, "Umm..no, I was calling to see if you called your friend. But I'm always open, whats up?"
I told her how they were getting rid of me to some random guy and she just laughed, "Jill, I'm sure thats not it. I don't know what it is, but I'm sure thats not it. Why would they get rid or you?"
"I don't know, the same reason you get rid of a pet I guess!"
She just sighed, I could tell she was laughing at my so-called 'stupidity'. "Well, did you call your friend? Riley, I think it is. Just wonderin' I'm bored, and I though of you."
"No, I think I'll call her tomorrow night though, I feel really cruddy."
"Alright. Do whatever. Well, I gotta go, foods done. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, bye."
"Bye."
I hung up and flopped back down on my bed. This was horrible. I got up and locked the door so no more people like Jake would walk in and annoy me, and fell asleep.
***
"Jill! Open the stupid door!!"
"I can pick the lock..."
*laugh* "Naa, she'll get up someday. Jill!!"
I got up and wondered over to my door aimlessly and opened it. There stood dad, with his bright green eyes, then the other guy that was at Applebee's. Who kind of strangely, had green eyes to. Ha! I have green eyes to! Go green people.
Then I remembered about the guy from Applebee's and glared at him. But then dad shoved me in my room and sat me down on the bed. "Jill," he said grabbing my arms, I immediately shook them away though, "hey, Jakob told me everything."
My face softened, how would he know?
"And J, we wouldn't get rid of you for the world!"
I stopped. Everything. My thoughts, my fear, my hatred everything. I just blacked.
I woke up and I was soaking wet on my face, and the guy mom and dad were talking to was sitting next to me as I lay on the couch. "Hey Billie Joe, she's up."
I started to lean up, but he put a hand on my shoulder, "Stay down, whats getting up gonna help you with?" he said flatly. I looked at him kind of confused. He just smiled. "Brad Morris."
"Jill Armstrong," I said lying back down, as commanded. I thought for a minute. Morris...where was that from. Then I remembered, and my eyes got big.
He laughed, "So you're my long lost little cousin. Ape's daughter?"
I smiled real big, "Yeah." My mom had hated it when people called her Ape, she preferred April, but everyone called her Ape, mainly because it annoyed her.
I studied him now. That explained why we looked alike. We were related! Oh my god! I have actual blood relatives! Well, ok, one.
I was still smiling. Then dad came over. "And you thought he was gonna be your new dad," he said with a jokingly hurt look.
"Psht, I can't raise a kid, I barely get by myself," he said, thats when I noticed he had been studying me to. I guess it makes sense, we both thought we were the last of our family.
"Yeah, scared me there for a minute...I mean, nothing against you, its just-"
Brad just laughed, "Hey, I wouldn't blame ya, you got a pretty sweet dad here."
"I have my ways," dad said with a smile, sitting down in the nearby chair. "Well Jill, I feel bad for doing this, but its like, one in the morning, so you kinda gotta go to bed. But we were just discussing. Seeing as tomorrow's Friday, do you just want Brad to pick you up from school and you can spend the afternoon with him or what?"
"Yeah, what do you think, punk," he said punching my arm and standing up.
I smiled. I was kind of disappointed that I couldn't hang out with him tonight. He was so cool, and, I don't know, it just seemed different, since he's a relative of mine, and only mine. "Sure, that'd be awesome! Am I spending the night? Or are you dropping me off later?"
Dad just said, "Well, as long as Brad doesn't care, I don't."
"Umm, well," he said scratching the back of his head and kinda looking away. "Uhh, it's not really the nicest place, umm....or neighborhood. I mean, I know all the guys, nothing would happen, but...umm, if you really want to I guess I don't care," he muttered.
I didn't notice though. "Sweet! See you tomorrow then," I said giving him a hug. I don't think that was his normal thing, or else he was kind of shy.
I ran upstairs to my room, and went to sleep, because sleeping always makes time go faster.
***
The next day. Of course, school. I walked into the band room again and the place was filled with people and Dylyn and Jay were spraying Cheese-Whiz on one of the carriers to a bass drum. Who knows where they got Cheese-Whiz. I grabbed some sticks and a drum just as Mr. Ratmore was letting everyone to go outside again.
We got in our row again, Jay, Dylyn, me, Codieh, Blake, then Ryan. Again, Dylyn was the best snare player of the six of us. So he was pretty much in charge. Not because he was bossy like that, but because Mr. Ratmore hat told him at the beginning of the year 'You're the best snare, so your captain. Keep them in line.'
Mr. Rat was talking to some flute players then walked back to us. "Alright guys. Dylyn, I want four clicks, then you guys start Cops," he said, speaking of our cadence, "Then when I blow the whistle, at the end of that line in Cops, you do a roll into the first song. Once the songs over, four clicks again, then Cops until I blow the whistle again, alright?"
"Okey dokey."
"Aye aye sir."
"I don't like cops. They are mean."
"Who put you in charge??"
"Ok."
"Alright hunny bunny."
....We all looked down at Ryan, who had made that last remark. That was just a little weird. Dylyn just started laughing though, and soon enough we were all dying.
"Hey Ryan?" Mr. Rat said with an annoyed look.
"Yes dear?"
"Never call me hunny bunny again, ok?"
He just sighed, "If you say so."
"Anyways, Dylyn! One, Two, ready, clicks."
Dylyn put one stick on his drum and hit it with the other four times. It echoed throughout the football field. Then the drum section started into cops. It was probably a ten second long cadence or so, so we played it a few times until he blew the whistle. We did a drum roll into the first song. It was really hard though, we all got a little confused at first, well all of us except Dylyn of course, and Jay wasn't doin' so bad either.
The rest of us on the other hand started messing up bad, and we slowed way down. "Clean it up guys!!" Dylyn yelled jumping infront of us so we could all copy him. He always did this when we messed up and it always fixed it.
The next song was horribly easy though, it was the same thing over and over again. It was so easy, Dylyn and Jay just played the song on each others drum. It was kind of funny watching them though. 'Cause if someone hit the other with a stick, they got smacked in the face with it really hard. Before the song was over, they had gotten rid of the drums completely and Jay was on the ground and Dylyn was hitting him repeatedly in the face.
The song ended and since Dylyn didn't have his drum I covered for him and did the clicks. But soon after, the bell rang and everyone ran inside. I didn't care that much though so I just walked.
One of Dylyns sticks had ended up clear across the field, so I decided to wait on him. I think he noticed me and decided to hurry up.
"What the heck was that?" he said trying to catch his breath. I couldn't help but laugh from all the red marks from Jayson on his face.
"What?"
"You covered for me."
"Well, it didn't seem like to big a deal. And you were apparently busy!" I said with a laugh.
"No, I mean, you covered for me. You calling me a brat?!" he said smiling.
I was kind of confused, but then I remembered what I said yesterday. Hey! I'm not a brat! I don't need someone to cover for me! "No, thats not what I meant."
"Well you need to get your facts straight then, 'cause that completely seemed like an insult to me," he laughed again, veering way left and running into me.
"Umm, how bout this. Band wouldn't be the same if the famous Dylyn wasn't there, so I was trying to keep you here, instead of on the bench, does that make a good excuse?"
"No. I'm trying to make a record here about being on the bench the most, and your not helping," he said in a serious voice. Even though I knew he was kidding.
"Well, technically, I didn't get in trouble, so it wasn't that big a deal. And besides if you really wanna get on the bench, just beat up somebody or somethin'."
"Naa, thats the hard part. I can't get suspended, just sent to the bench," he said opening the door so we could go inside. The tardy bell rang just as we walked in. And of course, the gym teacher was standing right there.
"Armstrong, Reynolds, your late," Mr. Martin said marching up to us all professional like.
"Ahh, suns not up yet Mr. M. Looks to me like we're early," Dylyn said putting his hands in his pockets and looking around a bit. He looked funny with his drum still on.
"Both of you to the bench, immediately."
Dylyn just sighed and smiled. "Alrighty, let's go." He grabbed my arm and went left to the office instead or right to the band room.
"Get rid of the drums first, this isn't difficult people," Mr. Martin said in an annoyed tone.
We both just laughed, "Just following orders Ma'am," Dylyn sang.
"Sir." I corrected.
"Sir," he said smacking his face. Mr. Martin just glared at him, and we went back to the band room.
"You just gotta love starting the day off on the bench," I said smiling.
"That's twice in a row Armstrong, you better watch yourself now," he said shaking a finger. "Tsk tsk."
"Yeah, they were both your fault though!" I said putting our sticks back in the box and waiting at the door for him. He jumped up on some chairs and ran across to me that way.
"WHAT?? If I do recall, yesterday, you were sent to the bench because you made my drum fall off the carrier, and then I fell!"
"Yeah well-"
"AAaaannndddd," he interrupted, "You didn't have to wait on me today, you just-"
"Thats just the kind loving friend I am!" I interrupted back. He smiled and I just laughed. "See, I'm so much nicer then Jay and Ryan," I said sarcastically. They had been best friends since first grade. Well, thats what Riley told me.
He laughed again, "Well, we have all our classes together, so we get enough of each other as it is."
"How'd you get all your classes together?" I asked. Thats kind of odd.
He just looked at me as we turned to the eighth grade locker bay. "We know people, lots of people."
We grabbed some stuff and headed for the bench, but before we even sat down Mr. Porter was waiting for us. "No need, to wait. Step right in."
I hadn't ever really paid much attention to the principals actual office before. I had only been in there twice, both for being tardy last year. It was big and had maroon walls, and big fluffy chairs, right infront of his big oak desk. He sat down and rested his arms on the desk. "Have a seat, the both of you."
We sat down, no hesitation, and waited for him to begin his speel. "Mrs. Sours says you two were on the bench yesterday around this time also?"
"Depends, what happens if we lie?"
"Yes, we were here," I said rolling my eyes and kicking his leg.
"Why are the two of you here then?"
"Actually, today we're here because Mr. Martin doesn't like us-"
"We were tardy to class so he sent us to the bench. And why were we here yesterday?"
"Crude remarks or somethin' like that. I get it a lot-"
"Silence, the both of you!" he said as if we were in a castle of some sort. "Jill, it looks here like your known for being tardy. You were tardy a total of..." he flipped through some papers, "18 times last year?"
"Ya see, I've got a bunch of friends, and only four minutes to see them inbetween classes just doesn't cut it-" I began.
"That is no excuse. I have no choice but to give you both a detention," he said writing DR's up for the both of us.
"Only one?" Dylyn said slouching.
"Dylyn, will you shut up!" I said kicking him harder.
Dylyn laughed and Mr. Porter gave us both our slips and sent us to our classes. "Ha! That was fun."
Detention with Dylyn...won't that be funny.
*7th period*
Will Miss Jill Armstrong report to the office for an early dismissal. Jill Armstrong has an early dismissal.
Thats kinda weird. I grabbed my stuff and went to my locker to get my mathbook and my detention slip and walked to the office. Brad was sitting there in the chair, with baggy shorts, grey t-shirt without the sleeves and was holding a thin black jacket. His hair was messed up, the same shaggy like brown hair.
I opened the door and stepped inside. "Hey Brad-"
"You have everything you need?" he said getting up and walking towards the door.
"Umm, yeh sure." I was kinda confused, but it was my cousin. Nothin' big, right?
"Bye Mr...Morris," Mrs. Sours said looking at the paper he had given her.
"Bye, thanks." We walked out the door of the school and I saw an old light blue car sitting in the parking lot.
"Your early?" I said kind of confused. I mean, nothing against getting out of school early or anything, its just kinda weird.
"Yeah, I called Billie and told him I need to be somewhere at three, so I offered to pick you up a little early, and he didn't care." I got to his car and he went around to the drivers side and I noticed he had the two front windows down and left the key in the ignition. "Oh, umm, this isn't the nicest thing on the block, so you either have to get in the back seat and crawl up-front or get in through the window. The front doors don't really open," he said pulling himself up and jumping in.
I through my bag in and did the same, "Hey, aren't you afraid someone might steal your car?"
"Hell no! If someone stole this, insurance might give me some money. This car's worthless!"
He turned it on and we drove out of the parking lot of the school. "So, where did you have to go?".
"Oh, some of my friends are getting in a hang up. I gotta go uh..try to um...make nothin stupid happen, ya know what I mean?"
"No, not really, but its ok."
He just shrugged, "Thats kinda good to know. Alright well, umm, you eat, right?"
"Brad, thats like asking me if I'm human.."
"Shit, yes you eat. Ok, well, that means we need to go to the market or something. Cause the last thing I have in my house is food." We pulled into the market and he reached under his seat, and pulled out a wallet. "Alright, lets go."
He put his head through the window and jumped out, and I did the same, just not quite as smoothly. We walked up to the market and went in. "Ok, umm, you ate lunch, right?"
"Yeah, all I need is dinner, and I eat just about anything, so whatever you have at your house is probably fine."
"Yeah. No. I really, don't have anything. I usually eat at work and then I'm good for the day. But on weekends it gets real tough, so I usually buy somethin', or go to one of the guys places." I don't get it, why is he so nervous? He keeps saying 'umm' and acting stupid. I don't mean to be a problem or anything.
"Alright, how bout we keep it between twenty and thirty bucks. That cause any problems?" he said a little shakily.
I walked up to the ramen noodles and grabbed a couple packs. "How bout twenty or thirty cents?"
He just smiled, "You have a brilliant mind. But grab some more, between me and the guys the food runs short through the weekend."
We grabbed them and walked over to the checkout, "Wait, you and the guys? Who all lives at your house?"
I could tell he wanted to say something, but he couldn't get it out. Then he just sighed, "It's kinda hard to explain. Wait 'till we get to the car."
It was silent until we got the ramen noodles and a few packs of cigarettes for him and climbed back in the car. I sat there, waiting for him to explain while we were pulling out onto the the main road. But he never did. Maybe he forgot. "You were saying?"
At first he kind of looked at me, then he remembered. "Oh, right. Ok, umm....alright. As family, we have to be honest with each other right?"
"Yeah, I guess."
He just sighed, "Ok, I don't leave in a real kind neighborhood."
"Right, you said that last night."
"Ok, and so, some of my friends. They kind of, get fed up with their parents a lot, and come to my place. I mean, its not just my place, just where ever they can go to get away. And my doors always open."
"Ok, that makes sense." He looked over at me, like he had been expecting a different reaction.
"Right, ok, now, some of them also, don't have much food. Or they cant afford it. So every now and then, I have a little bit of somethin'. So it's not exactly 'Who all I live with', its more like, 'Who all lives in Williams'. They're a lot like my brothers. Especially since I didn't think I had any family left. All these guys are like that."
I was kind of shocked. It wasn't what I had really expected. I mean, I didn't expect the nicest thing on the block, but jeez. "Wait, don't you think its kind of dumb that you spend money to feed your friends that you could be using to have a better car the the doors open to?"
He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, which really caught me by surprise. "Ya see Jill, if I did have the money to get a nice car and all that shit, I wouldn't do it! Not for a nice house in a nice neighborhood with nice cars and all that classy crap. I care about my friends way to much. We are all in this together, and if my friends are hungry, its up to one of us to give them food! I don't give a shit what that does to me, or how I look. I grew up in a totally different world then most people, and these guys helped me out."
I didn't say anything. I was still in shock that he had completely gone off on me like that. I understood what he was saying though. I always did the same thing for Riley. Not the exact, but really close.
We pulled into the driveway of his house, and he shut off the car and sat there. "Look, sorry, alright? These guys are just the only family I have, besides you, and I hate it when people think I should let them suffer because I want to look good. I know thats not what you meant, its just-"
"It's ok," I said flatly. "But maybe next time you should think that just because people have nice cars and nice houses and nice neighborhoods, that they might just care about their less fortunate friends to."
I jumped out of the car and headed for the front door. I walked in and looked around a bit. It was real dark, just a couple of lights and window, and there was a group of guys playing cards at a table.
"Well well well, whats Miller doin back so soon?" a short, thin but tough lookin one said.
"I thought we told you to never come back babe, and now at Brads house?" He looked about the same height as dad, but a lot meaner.
"I'm not Miller, umm, I'm Brad's cousin," I said pointing behind me, where Brad should be any moment now.
"Yeah, right. Sorry, but Brad doesn't have a family." This one had longer red hair. The short one jumped me and held me down. Holding his knees on my elbows.
"What the hell! Get off me!" I started, but then he punched me across the face. I could feel my last baby tooth come out and I easily spit it out along with a bunch of blood.
"Oh yeah? What happened to 'Millers don't bleed!'" the short one practically sang. His finger went down the side of my face where the blood had shown from my mouth. And he held it right up to my eyes.
"I'm not Miller, what do I need to do to prove it to you??" I yelled. Right at that moment all I could think was 'They're gonna kill me, I'm gonna die."
"All you gotta do is shut up," somebody said, then kicked me in the head, and I was out.
***
"What if she's dead you guys! I should just go back to her parents and say, 'Oh hey, here's your kid back, she couldn't survive in my world I guess.'"
"Brad, we already told you, we thought she was with Miller."
"Miller won't be coming back! I already told you that so will you lay off!"
"Lonny knocked her tooth out, who is she again?"
"Shes my cousin!"
"I thought you didn't have any family?"
"Neither did I!"
I layed there so I could hear what they were saying or what they'd say if I was still out.
"Brad I-"
"Lonny you just sit there and shut the hell up before I mess you up even more."
'Lonny' didn't say anything else. Something made me think Brad was the head of this family.
I heard him sit down next to me. "C'mon J, I swear this isn't what I planned." I felt something cool come off my head, like maybe he had had some ice on my head and had just taken it off.
"What brilliantly kind friends you have," I mumbled, but then regretted it. My mouth hurt really bad from where he punched me. And I leaned forward but pain shot to right above my eye but on the right side of my head a little and I flopped back down. "Ug, I hurt."
"Yeah, well, you can thank Chris and Lonny. But Chris already left after I chewed his ass. He's the one that kicked you, but Lonny's still here, hes the one that punched you." He pointed to the one that was sitting on the floor next to a table that had a stereo on it. I looked over a little bit to see the short one, except now he was holding a bloody nose and had a black eye and a gash in his head. He held up a hand as in a wave. I kinda felt bad, I mean, he probably wasn't his fault. But the pain in my head blocked that thought completely almost.
I tried to lean up again. "No. Don't. What goods it gonna do ya. I'm gonna go get some more ice," Brad said getting up hurriedly.
I rolled my eyes and laid back down, then he left to get some ice and I sat up. "Hey, I'm real sorry, I didn't think he would beat the crap out of you, well, I really didn't think much, but-"
"Hey, its alright, my fault man, you lost a tooth and got very close to a concussion because of us. Quit bein' sorry," he demanded. I thought about how he said 'us' instead of 'me'. These guys seriously were a family weren't they.
I turned to look at the house a little more, and winced from the pain in my head. Forget moving, it seemed just breathing made it throb. The house was seriously old. There was a kitchen around the corner I think. An old TV and a table for a stereo and what looked like a bunch of trash next to it, then a couple doors. It was weird seeing a building that didn't have any stairs or hallways in it.
He came back out with ice. And held it against my head. I winced from it being so cold, but then the pain slowly numbed away. He left again, leaving me to hold the ice. I took it off and looked at it to see some blood smeared onto the towel that was wrapped around it. He came back and gave some ice to Lonny. He put it to the cut on his head. "Eye's worse," Brad mumbled. I thought that was kinda funny, seeing as Brad did it. But Lonny pulled it off his head and put it on his eye.
I was kind of surprised that Brad didn't have a scratch on him. I mean, it seemed like he just beat the crap out of two standing statues. They must have a lot of respect for each other, if you call that respect...
Brad came back with something in his hand. "How's your head look..." he said mainly to himself and pulled the now damp towel off my head. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, its not bleeding near as much."
"Ooo yay," I said sarcastically.
He just smiled, "Keep it on there a few more minutes though before I put the butterfly on."
I groaned and quickly put the ice back on. As soon as you take it off it burns, thats the crappy thing about ice.
"And for you," he said walking over to Lonny. "Go sit on the chair. I don't feel like playing doctor if my patients are sitting on the floor. Lonny smirked and punched him in the leg and got up. He wobbled around a bit, probably because if your face hurts, you have no stability whatsoever, haha. Brad steered him to the chair though and he plopped down.
"Hows it look doc."
"Not so good. Someone real tough must've gotcha."
He just laughed again, "Shut up and fix it."
Brad pulled the ice off and looked at his eye. Some of the swelling had gone down, from where I was sitting anyway, it was also really dark over here though. He shook his head a little and put the ice back on. He leaned over to the little table next to the couch I was sitting on and grabbed a bottle of peroxide.
"Lucky you. You were out when you got this part," Lonny said looking past Brad over to me. That was probably really nice, peroxide burns.
Lonny tilted his head over and Brad literally dumped some peroxide on the cut, being sure to catch anything that ran down with the towel. All Lonny did was close his eyes, but I could tell it hurt. "Hold still, and let that soak." Lonny didn't move at all. So Brad turned back to me.
"Alrighty, take the ice off," he commanded, grabbing the butterfly off the side table the peroxide was on. I took off the ice and the cut started burning real bad. Not like peroxide would, but just because it was a cut that was used to being ice cold. "Ok, you hold still to..." he said moving my hair over and forcing me to tilt my head a little. It didn't hurt as bad as it did before when he touched it, but it was still horrible.
"Hey, did Remar and Benjerman have they're ball today?" Lonny asked.
"Yeah, I was plannin' on going over there to make sure neither of them did anything stupid and break the rules, we all know how Remar is. He's always got a gun or blade on him sometime," Brad said not looking away from my cut. He poked it with something, "That hurt?" I quickly nodded and he went on. "But I was to worried about sleeping beauty here!"
Lonny started, "Hey I already told you-"
"Shut up Lonny," Brad said flatly.
He pinched the cut and put the butterfly on real fast. It was kind of like ripping a band-aid off, he knew it was going to hurt, no matter how quick he did it, but the faster, the less. "There ya go, need anything else."
"My mouth hurts, from genius over there," I said with a small smile, pointing to Lonny.
"Hey, no offense, but you look just like Miller's little sister! I swear! Shes got long brown hair past her shoulders a bit, just like you, and she's about five foot tall," Lonny said defensively.
"Five two!" I argued.
"Lonny, shut up, I'm not gonna tell you again." I could tell Brad was still mad. Not as mad as he was apparently, none of us were bleeding on the floor anymore... He left again, and I could tell he was opening the fridge, and he brought out a bottle of bourbon, "I ain't got anything medical for that, all I can do is give you a shot of bourbon. If you dip your finger in that and rub it on the gum of where your tooth came out, it'll numb it. Was it a baby tooth?"
"Yeah, my last one."
"Thank god," he mumbled pouring me a little shot.
"What about me??" Lonny sang.
"Im not gonna waste my bourbon on you."
"No stupid, my head. My neck's starting to hurt."
"Oh, put the ice on it for a couple minutes. Jill, I figure because of your dad you got a good taste in music. Go found somethin' to listen to."
I walked over to the small stack of cd's and started rummaging through them, but still listening to Brad and Lonny's conversation.
"So what do you think happened?" I heard Lonny say interested.
"Well, either Remar played fair, and Benjerman beat the crap out of him, or Benjerman started beating the crap out of him and Remar pulled out a blade."
"Why not a gun?"
"Cops showed up a few days ago at his place and confiscated them all because of what happened to Cassidy. He doesn't get paid until Monday, so he would of had to steal one to get one. And every gun shop store keepers gonna have a gun on them. Only Remar'd be dumb enough to try it though, maybe he got one."
Then someone came in the door. "Brad?"
It as an averaged sized guy with short dirty blonde hair that almost came to his eyes. He was using the door to hold him up, and he had a black eye, a bloody nose, and a huge cut across his arm.
He looked about my age though. Maybe a year older. It was weird, it was like seeing a classmate almost dying.
"What is this place a damn hospital? Jesus Christ Benjerman get in here!" He went back to do a quick finishing touch on Lonny's nose. Benjerman started to walk in and almost fell though. I ran over and grabbed his arm to help him.
He looked at me, but then his eyes got big. "Miller."
"No, Jill, I'm Brad's cousin."
"Cousin? I thought-"
"Me too," me and Brad said in unison. I sat him down on the couch and looked at his arm. It was bleed really bad. And it went from his elbow halfway to his shoulder. He was really pale, I could tell he was losing a lot of blood, he kind of dozed off a bit but I put some ice on his face to keep him awake.
Brad ran over and started tending to his arm. "Brad. Brad he didn't play fair," he mumbled, halfway crying. "I had him, but he had a blade."
"I know Ben I know. For being fourteen you probably did a damn good job," Brad said motioning for me to get the peroxide.
"He pulled out the blade and jumped me, everyone grabbed him and finished him off then though. He went home looking ugly, I swear," he continued.
"Good, he deserves it. Do you know if he had a gun on him?" Brad asked looking up for a second then wrapping his arm in gauze, I don't know where he got that.
"No, I don't think so. I think the police came and searched him after what happened to Cassidy. He shouldn't have anything," he mumbled.
He laid his head down on the headrest of the couch, and Brad quickly went after him. "Come on man, don't go out on me. I need you to keep with me so I can get you to the hospital for some blood."
His eyes got wide, "No! No no I'm fine, thanks I'm good, I just wanted you to do what you could to fix my arm-"
"Ben, shut the hell up and go get in the car. You look pale even in this dim room. You need blood, thats why you feel so tired."
"Who made you the medical genius!" Ben argued.
"Who made you one!" Brad argued back picking him up. I figured Ben was to tired to fight out of his grip. "Jill, I'm gonna take him and drop him off at the hospital real quick. You don't have to come with as long as you promise me something," he yelled from the door.
"Yeah?"
"You'll still be conscious when I get back. I've seen you out way to much since I met you. If you have to, you can kick his ass," he said, speaking of Lonny. "I can probably fix anything."
I just laughed and nodded as Lonny flipped him off. The past few hours had totally been a different experience.
"I'm gonna have to talk to Adie about this."
"But dad! It apparently has something to do with the orphanage!" Jill begged.
"Yeah, actually, it does! Three points," I said holding up three fingers and smiling.
She made a really sad look. "Ok, fine. Just one question then. Does it have anything to do with my parents?"
I looked down at the piece of paper. It didn't, but I realized how much it would mean to her. "No, sorry hun."
I think she muttered an 'ok'. But I felt bad, I gave her a hug, "Let me go talk to Adie real quick though. Alright?"
I ran upstairs and Adie was folding some more clothes. "Hey, this came in the mail today." I handed her the paper.
The Paper:
Name: Bradley Lane Morris
Address: 412 S Court, Williams California
Contact Number(s): 1-985-223-8523
Birthdate: January 21, 1988
Relation: Cousin of Jill Marie Morris
On the bottom there was a sticky note that read: This is Jill's cousin. This is all of her family that we have found. This was Jill's mom's sister's son, but his mothers whereabouts are unknown. You will not be forced to tell Jill about her cousin, but she might like to see someone from her family. -Renae
"Well, she need's to see him! It's her family!" Adie replied with a smile.
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm all for it to, but, what could happen?" I said sitting on the bed and reading over the letter again. Another paper was his record. He'd been to juvie when he was 12 for theft, and he'd been suspended twice from school in high school. "He doesn't have the cleanest record, and where the hell is Williams?"
"Oh I'm sure Renae would know. And come on, if you were adopted, and you thought you didn't have any family at all, wouldn't you at least like to see the last member of you're family?" She said sitting down next to me. "She probably doesn't even know her real last name is Morris."
I looked at it for a moment, "It does say he's 18..."
"Oh jeez, she's seeing her cousin. I know! How about we surprise her and have him pick her up from school tomorrow," she suggested.
"How do we know he has a car??"
"Well, ok. We'll call, and see if we can meet him for dinner tonight. That way we can at least see if he's reliable or responsible... or if he has a car," she suggested again. I didn't say anything. I still wasn't sure. "Oh come on, think of Jill, if she was listening right now, she would hate you for even hesitating."
It was probably true. I remembered the look on her face when I told her it didn't have anything to do with her parents. There was probably a hole in her that even we couldn't fill. "Alright fine, dinner."
*Back to Jill's POV*
I was pacing in the kitchen. What was it about? Do I have to go back? Do I have a long lost sibling? Do I have grandparents that want me? Do I have cancer?
No, dad wouldn't have acted like that if I had cancer, that's just me being stupid. It was going to drive me insane until I found out what it was though.
Then mom walked downstairs, I ran up to her and stood right infront of her, waiting for the news.
"Umm...hi?" she said with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes, "The letter?"
I noticed it was in her hand, and made a grab for it. But she quickly snatched it away. "Nope, you can't see, it clearly said on the envelope, 'confidential'."
"But mom-"
"Quit your whinin' and don't ever call me a butt again. Me and Billie are going out for dinner, we wont be back until around eightish or so," mom said sliding on some shoes and grabbing her purse.
Then I heard dad, "Alright, we'll meet you at Applebee's here in a few then right?.... No it's ok we'll pay....Alright thank you, haha, bye," he hung up the phone. "He's meeting us at Applebee's."
"Who?" I asked running over to him now.
"Jill, drop it. It's nobody," he replied, he didn't smile though. It seemed serious. Now I was worrying. They get a letter in the mail from the orphanage and all of a sudden they were meeting some guy at Applebee's and dad wasn't his normal joking self anymore?
"Alright, we'll be back in a while, the fridge is open territory," he yelled grabbing his keys. "See you guys tonight."
"Bye dad."
"Bye."
I remained speechless. How could he do this? Something this serious and they couldn't just bend the rules a little? Well, if they weren't going to, I needed to find out myself.
I ran upstairs and grabbed my cell phone and called Lime.
"Hello?"
"Lime. It's Jill, this is an emergency-"
"Wait wait, slow down. Jill?"
"Umm, yeah? Jill Armstrong? Kelseas friend? Your friend? I think..."
"Oh my god! J! I'm so sorry, it's just Kelseas been at camp for so long..."
"Yeah, I know, ok anyways," I said quickly rolling my eyes, "Can you give me a ride to Applebee's?"
"Why of course! I love that place!"
"No, I mean, not to eat," I said kind of irritated.
It was silent for a second, "Sooo, why are we going to Applebee's then?"
"Well, if you can, just pick me up and I'll explain on the way there," I said looking around to make sure Jakob or Joey weren't listening. Who knows what I've done to them, they might turn me in.
"Alright alright ok." She hung up and I jabbed the phone into my pocket and ran out of my room.
I immediately fell though! I tripped over something, then Joey was right above me, "Your gonna spy on them, aren't you," he said in a-matter-of-fact voice.
"Joey, you don't understand-"
"We'll make a deal," he said with an evil grin. "Me and Jake go with you, and we don't call mom and tell her your plans." I sat up and was thinking. If they go with me, what if I get caught? But then if they don't, I'll be sure to get caught!
"Fine, but Lime's coming now, and we're not waiting."
Of course that didn't do me any good. They were ready to go before she came. Right after he told me him and Jake had to come though, I called Lime and told her to put the child lock on the back doors of her car.
She pulled up the driveway and I ran to the front seat, so then Joey and Jakob followed and got in back. I explained to her about the letter and dad and mom meeting someone at Applebee's, and she just laughed at my curiosity.
We pulled into Applebee's and I got out and heard Jake and Joey hollering about how they couldn't get their doors open, thanks to the child lock. I ran inside, so I could find out where they were sitting. Luckily it was right by a window, so then I went back outside, and found them, and sitting across from them was someone with dark brown hair like mine, except it was cut a little shorter. It was kind of shaggy, like Dylyns, but not quite that long. He was wearing a regular t-shirt with a jacket and some jeans.
Why would they be meeting someone here? Right after they got a letter in the mail about me? I thought for a minute, then it hit me. Dad not being his goofy self, the letter from the orphanage, immediately meeting someone somewhere.
They were getting rid of me.
I hate parents. I hate them. Especially ones like mine. First my real ones have to go die, then the ones that adopted me are turning me in. The weird thing is, I wasn't sad. It was more like really mad. I ran back to the car and got inside, and slammed the door. "I cannot believe this."
"What-"
"I don't wanna talk about it," I said quietly before everyone asked questions.
Lime drove us home in silence. It was the weird kind of silence, like, you thought you should say something, but then you were worried that if you did you might throw up. She pulled into are drive way though, all the same. I said thanks and opened Joeys and Jakobs door for them (child lock) and I ran up to my room and closed the door.
Sure enough though, the kind, loving brothers I have, Jakob had to knock on the door. "Jill?"
"Jake, what do you want?" I said in an annoyed voice. I already said, I don't wanna talk about it.
He walked in and sat on my bed. "Whats wrong?"
"I don't wanna talk about it!" How many times have I said this now?
The phone started ringing. So he rolled his eyes and went to go get it. "Jill! It's for you!!"
I got up and grabbed the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Tori."
"Are you serious? God, you can tell somethings wrong from miles away cant you!"
There was a small silence, "Umm..no, I was calling to see if you called your friend. But I'm always open, whats up?"
I told her how they were getting rid of me to some random guy and she just laughed, "Jill, I'm sure thats not it. I don't know what it is, but I'm sure thats not it. Why would they get rid or you?"
"I don't know, the same reason you get rid of a pet I guess!"
She just sighed, I could tell she was laughing at my so-called 'stupidity'. "Well, did you call your friend? Riley, I think it is. Just wonderin' I'm bored, and I though of you."
"No, I think I'll call her tomorrow night though, I feel really cruddy."
"Alright. Do whatever. Well, I gotta go, foods done. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, bye."
"Bye."
I hung up and flopped back down on my bed. This was horrible. I got up and locked the door so no more people like Jake would walk in and annoy me, and fell asleep.
***
"Jill! Open the stupid door!!"
"I can pick the lock..."
*laugh* "Naa, she'll get up someday. Jill!!"
I got up and wondered over to my door aimlessly and opened it. There stood dad, with his bright green eyes, then the other guy that was at Applebee's. Who kind of strangely, had green eyes to. Ha! I have green eyes to! Go green people.
Then I remembered about the guy from Applebee's and glared at him. But then dad shoved me in my room and sat me down on the bed. "Jill," he said grabbing my arms, I immediately shook them away though, "hey, Jakob told me everything."
My face softened, how would he know?
"And J, we wouldn't get rid of you for the world!"
I stopped. Everything. My thoughts, my fear, my hatred everything. I just blacked.
I woke up and I was soaking wet on my face, and the guy mom and dad were talking to was sitting next to me as I lay on the couch. "Hey Billie Joe, she's up."
I started to lean up, but he put a hand on my shoulder, "Stay down, whats getting up gonna help you with?" he said flatly. I looked at him kind of confused. He just smiled. "Brad Morris."
"Jill Armstrong," I said lying back down, as commanded. I thought for a minute. Morris...where was that from. Then I remembered, and my eyes got big.
He laughed, "So you're my long lost little cousin. Ape's daughter?"
I smiled real big, "Yeah." My mom had hated it when people called her Ape, she preferred April, but everyone called her Ape, mainly because it annoyed her.
I studied him now. That explained why we looked alike. We were related! Oh my god! I have actual blood relatives! Well, ok, one.
I was still smiling. Then dad came over. "And you thought he was gonna be your new dad," he said with a jokingly hurt look.
"Psht, I can't raise a kid, I barely get by myself," he said, thats when I noticed he had been studying me to. I guess it makes sense, we both thought we were the last of our family.
"Yeah, scared me there for a minute...I mean, nothing against you, its just-"
Brad just laughed, "Hey, I wouldn't blame ya, you got a pretty sweet dad here."
"I have my ways," dad said with a smile, sitting down in the nearby chair. "Well Jill, I feel bad for doing this, but its like, one in the morning, so you kinda gotta go to bed. But we were just discussing. Seeing as tomorrow's Friday, do you just want Brad to pick you up from school and you can spend the afternoon with him or what?"
"Yeah, what do you think, punk," he said punching my arm and standing up.
I smiled. I was kind of disappointed that I couldn't hang out with him tonight. He was so cool, and, I don't know, it just seemed different, since he's a relative of mine, and only mine. "Sure, that'd be awesome! Am I spending the night? Or are you dropping me off later?"
Dad just said, "Well, as long as Brad doesn't care, I don't."
"Umm, well," he said scratching the back of his head and kinda looking away. "Uhh, it's not really the nicest place, umm....or neighborhood. I mean, I know all the guys, nothing would happen, but...umm, if you really want to I guess I don't care," he muttered.
I didn't notice though. "Sweet! See you tomorrow then," I said giving him a hug. I don't think that was his normal thing, or else he was kind of shy.
I ran upstairs to my room, and went to sleep, because sleeping always makes time go faster.
***
The next day. Of course, school. I walked into the band room again and the place was filled with people and Dylyn and Jay were spraying Cheese-Whiz on one of the carriers to a bass drum. Who knows where they got Cheese-Whiz. I grabbed some sticks and a drum just as Mr. Ratmore was letting everyone to go outside again.
We got in our row again, Jay, Dylyn, me, Codieh, Blake, then Ryan. Again, Dylyn was the best snare player of the six of us. So he was pretty much in charge. Not because he was bossy like that, but because Mr. Ratmore hat told him at the beginning of the year 'You're the best snare, so your captain. Keep them in line.'
Mr. Rat was talking to some flute players then walked back to us. "Alright guys. Dylyn, I want four clicks, then you guys start Cops," he said, speaking of our cadence, "Then when I blow the whistle, at the end of that line in Cops, you do a roll into the first song. Once the songs over, four clicks again, then Cops until I blow the whistle again, alright?"
"Okey dokey."
"Aye aye sir."
"I don't like cops. They are mean."
"Who put you in charge??"
"Ok."
"Alright hunny bunny."
....We all looked down at Ryan, who had made that last remark. That was just a little weird. Dylyn just started laughing though, and soon enough we were all dying.
"Hey Ryan?" Mr. Rat said with an annoyed look.
"Yes dear?"
"Never call me hunny bunny again, ok?"
He just sighed, "If you say so."
"Anyways, Dylyn! One, Two, ready, clicks."
Dylyn put one stick on his drum and hit it with the other four times. It echoed throughout the football field. Then the drum section started into cops. It was probably a ten second long cadence or so, so we played it a few times until he blew the whistle. We did a drum roll into the first song. It was really hard though, we all got a little confused at first, well all of us except Dylyn of course, and Jay wasn't doin' so bad either.
The rest of us on the other hand started messing up bad, and we slowed way down. "Clean it up guys!!" Dylyn yelled jumping infront of us so we could all copy him. He always did this when we messed up and it always fixed it.
The next song was horribly easy though, it was the same thing over and over again. It was so easy, Dylyn and Jay just played the song on each others drum. It was kind of funny watching them though. 'Cause if someone hit the other with a stick, they got smacked in the face with it really hard. Before the song was over, they had gotten rid of the drums completely and Jay was on the ground and Dylyn was hitting him repeatedly in the face.
The song ended and since Dylyn didn't have his drum I covered for him and did the clicks. But soon after, the bell rang and everyone ran inside. I didn't care that much though so I just walked.
One of Dylyns sticks had ended up clear across the field, so I decided to wait on him. I think he noticed me and decided to hurry up.
"What the heck was that?" he said trying to catch his breath. I couldn't help but laugh from all the red marks from Jayson on his face.
"What?"
"You covered for me."
"Well, it didn't seem like to big a deal. And you were apparently busy!" I said with a laugh.
"No, I mean, you covered for me. You calling me a brat?!" he said smiling.
I was kind of confused, but then I remembered what I said yesterday. Hey! I'm not a brat! I don't need someone to cover for me! "No, thats not what I meant."
"Well you need to get your facts straight then, 'cause that completely seemed like an insult to me," he laughed again, veering way left and running into me.
"Umm, how bout this. Band wouldn't be the same if the famous Dylyn wasn't there, so I was trying to keep you here, instead of on the bench, does that make a good excuse?"
"No. I'm trying to make a record here about being on the bench the most, and your not helping," he said in a serious voice. Even though I knew he was kidding.
"Well, technically, I didn't get in trouble, so it wasn't that big a deal. And besides if you really wanna get on the bench, just beat up somebody or somethin'."
"Naa, thats the hard part. I can't get suspended, just sent to the bench," he said opening the door so we could go inside. The tardy bell rang just as we walked in. And of course, the gym teacher was standing right there.
"Armstrong, Reynolds, your late," Mr. Martin said marching up to us all professional like.
"Ahh, suns not up yet Mr. M. Looks to me like we're early," Dylyn said putting his hands in his pockets and looking around a bit. He looked funny with his drum still on.
"Both of you to the bench, immediately."
Dylyn just sighed and smiled. "Alrighty, let's go." He grabbed my arm and went left to the office instead or right to the band room.
"Get rid of the drums first, this isn't difficult people," Mr. Martin said in an annoyed tone.
We both just laughed, "Just following orders Ma'am," Dylyn sang.
"Sir." I corrected.
"Sir," he said smacking his face. Mr. Martin just glared at him, and we went back to the band room.
"You just gotta love starting the day off on the bench," I said smiling.
"That's twice in a row Armstrong, you better watch yourself now," he said shaking a finger. "Tsk tsk."
"Yeah, they were both your fault though!" I said putting our sticks back in the box and waiting at the door for him. He jumped up on some chairs and ran across to me that way.
"WHAT?? If I do recall, yesterday, you were sent to the bench because you made my drum fall off the carrier, and then I fell!"
"Yeah well-"
"AAaaannndddd," he interrupted, "You didn't have to wait on me today, you just-"
"Thats just the kind loving friend I am!" I interrupted back. He smiled and I just laughed. "See, I'm so much nicer then Jay and Ryan," I said sarcastically. They had been best friends since first grade. Well, thats what Riley told me.
He laughed again, "Well, we have all our classes together, so we get enough of each other as it is."
"How'd you get all your classes together?" I asked. Thats kind of odd.
He just looked at me as we turned to the eighth grade locker bay. "We know people, lots of people."
We grabbed some stuff and headed for the bench, but before we even sat down Mr. Porter was waiting for us. "No need, to wait. Step right in."
I hadn't ever really paid much attention to the principals actual office before. I had only been in there twice, both for being tardy last year. It was big and had maroon walls, and big fluffy chairs, right infront of his big oak desk. He sat down and rested his arms on the desk. "Have a seat, the both of you."
We sat down, no hesitation, and waited for him to begin his speel. "Mrs. Sours says you two were on the bench yesterday around this time also?"
"Depends, what happens if we lie?"
"Yes, we were here," I said rolling my eyes and kicking his leg.
"Why are the two of you here then?"
"Actually, today we're here because Mr. Martin doesn't like us-"
"We were tardy to class so he sent us to the bench. And why were we here yesterday?"
"Crude remarks or somethin' like that. I get it a lot-"
"Silence, the both of you!" he said as if we were in a castle of some sort. "Jill, it looks here like your known for being tardy. You were tardy a total of..." he flipped through some papers, "18 times last year?"
"Ya see, I've got a bunch of friends, and only four minutes to see them inbetween classes just doesn't cut it-" I began.
"That is no excuse. I have no choice but to give you both a detention," he said writing DR's up for the both of us.
"Only one?" Dylyn said slouching.
"Dylyn, will you shut up!" I said kicking him harder.
Dylyn laughed and Mr. Porter gave us both our slips and sent us to our classes. "Ha! That was fun."
Detention with Dylyn...won't that be funny.
*7th period*
Will Miss Jill Armstrong report to the office for an early dismissal. Jill Armstrong has an early dismissal.
Thats kinda weird. I grabbed my stuff and went to my locker to get my mathbook and my detention slip and walked to the office. Brad was sitting there in the chair, with baggy shorts, grey t-shirt without the sleeves and was holding a thin black jacket. His hair was messed up, the same shaggy like brown hair.
I opened the door and stepped inside. "Hey Brad-"
"You have everything you need?" he said getting up and walking towards the door.
"Umm, yeh sure." I was kinda confused, but it was my cousin. Nothin' big, right?
"Bye Mr...Morris," Mrs. Sours said looking at the paper he had given her.
"Bye, thanks." We walked out the door of the school and I saw an old light blue car sitting in the parking lot.
"Your early?" I said kind of confused. I mean, nothing against getting out of school early or anything, its just kinda weird.
"Yeah, I called Billie and told him I need to be somewhere at three, so I offered to pick you up a little early, and he didn't care." I got to his car and he went around to the drivers side and I noticed he had the two front windows down and left the key in the ignition. "Oh, umm, this isn't the nicest thing on the block, so you either have to get in the back seat and crawl up-front or get in through the window. The front doors don't really open," he said pulling himself up and jumping in.
I through my bag in and did the same, "Hey, aren't you afraid someone might steal your car?"
"Hell no! If someone stole this, insurance might give me some money. This car's worthless!"
He turned it on and we drove out of the parking lot of the school. "So, where did you have to go?".
"Oh, some of my friends are getting in a hang up. I gotta go uh..try to um...make nothin stupid happen, ya know what I mean?"
"No, not really, but its ok."
He just shrugged, "Thats kinda good to know. Alright well, umm, you eat, right?"
"Brad, thats like asking me if I'm human.."
"Shit, yes you eat. Ok, well, that means we need to go to the market or something. Cause the last thing I have in my house is food." We pulled into the market and he reached under his seat, and pulled out a wallet. "Alright, lets go."
He put his head through the window and jumped out, and I did the same, just not quite as smoothly. We walked up to the market and went in. "Ok, umm, you ate lunch, right?"
"Yeah, all I need is dinner, and I eat just about anything, so whatever you have at your house is probably fine."
"Yeah. No. I really, don't have anything. I usually eat at work and then I'm good for the day. But on weekends it gets real tough, so I usually buy somethin', or go to one of the guys places." I don't get it, why is he so nervous? He keeps saying 'umm' and acting stupid. I don't mean to be a problem or anything.
"Alright, how bout we keep it between twenty and thirty bucks. That cause any problems?" he said a little shakily.
I walked up to the ramen noodles and grabbed a couple packs. "How bout twenty or thirty cents?"
He just smiled, "You have a brilliant mind. But grab some more, between me and the guys the food runs short through the weekend."
We grabbed them and walked over to the checkout, "Wait, you and the guys? Who all lives at your house?"
I could tell he wanted to say something, but he couldn't get it out. Then he just sighed, "It's kinda hard to explain. Wait 'till we get to the car."
It was silent until we got the ramen noodles and a few packs of cigarettes for him and climbed back in the car. I sat there, waiting for him to explain while we were pulling out onto the the main road. But he never did. Maybe he forgot. "You were saying?"
At first he kind of looked at me, then he remembered. "Oh, right. Ok, umm....alright. As family, we have to be honest with each other right?"
"Yeah, I guess."
He just sighed, "Ok, I don't leave in a real kind neighborhood."
"Right, you said that last night."
"Ok, and so, some of my friends. They kind of, get fed up with their parents a lot, and come to my place. I mean, its not just my place, just where ever they can go to get away. And my doors always open."
"Ok, that makes sense." He looked over at me, like he had been expecting a different reaction.
"Right, ok, now, some of them also, don't have much food. Or they cant afford it. So every now and then, I have a little bit of somethin'. So it's not exactly 'Who all I live with', its more like, 'Who all lives in Williams'. They're a lot like my brothers. Especially since I didn't think I had any family left. All these guys are like that."
I was kind of shocked. It wasn't what I had really expected. I mean, I didn't expect the nicest thing on the block, but jeez. "Wait, don't you think its kind of dumb that you spend money to feed your friends that you could be using to have a better car the the doors open to?"
He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, which really caught me by surprise. "Ya see Jill, if I did have the money to get a nice car and all that shit, I wouldn't do it! Not for a nice house in a nice neighborhood with nice cars and all that classy crap. I care about my friends way to much. We are all in this together, and if my friends are hungry, its up to one of us to give them food! I don't give a shit what that does to me, or how I look. I grew up in a totally different world then most people, and these guys helped me out."
I didn't say anything. I was still in shock that he had completely gone off on me like that. I understood what he was saying though. I always did the same thing for Riley. Not the exact, but really close.
We pulled into the driveway of his house, and he shut off the car and sat there. "Look, sorry, alright? These guys are just the only family I have, besides you, and I hate it when people think I should let them suffer because I want to look good. I know thats not what you meant, its just-"
"It's ok," I said flatly. "But maybe next time you should think that just because people have nice cars and nice houses and nice neighborhoods, that they might just care about their less fortunate friends to."
I jumped out of the car and headed for the front door. I walked in and looked around a bit. It was real dark, just a couple of lights and window, and there was a group of guys playing cards at a table.
"Well well well, whats Miller doin back so soon?" a short, thin but tough lookin one said.
"I thought we told you to never come back babe, and now at Brads house?" He looked about the same height as dad, but a lot meaner.
"I'm not Miller, umm, I'm Brad's cousin," I said pointing behind me, where Brad should be any moment now.
"Yeah, right. Sorry, but Brad doesn't have a family." This one had longer red hair. The short one jumped me and held me down. Holding his knees on my elbows.
"What the hell! Get off me!" I started, but then he punched me across the face. I could feel my last baby tooth come out and I easily spit it out along with a bunch of blood.
"Oh yeah? What happened to 'Millers don't bleed!'" the short one practically sang. His finger went down the side of my face where the blood had shown from my mouth. And he held it right up to my eyes.
"I'm not Miller, what do I need to do to prove it to you??" I yelled. Right at that moment all I could think was 'They're gonna kill me, I'm gonna die."
"All you gotta do is shut up," somebody said, then kicked me in the head, and I was out.
***
"What if she's dead you guys! I should just go back to her parents and say, 'Oh hey, here's your kid back, she couldn't survive in my world I guess.'"
"Brad, we already told you, we thought she was with Miller."
"Miller won't be coming back! I already told you that so will you lay off!"
"Lonny knocked her tooth out, who is she again?"
"Shes my cousin!"
"I thought you didn't have any family?"
"Neither did I!"
I layed there so I could hear what they were saying or what they'd say if I was still out.
"Brad I-"
"Lonny you just sit there and shut the hell up before I mess you up even more."
'Lonny' didn't say anything else. Something made me think Brad was the head of this family.
I heard him sit down next to me. "C'mon J, I swear this isn't what I planned." I felt something cool come off my head, like maybe he had had some ice on my head and had just taken it off.
"What brilliantly kind friends you have," I mumbled, but then regretted it. My mouth hurt really bad from where he punched me. And I leaned forward but pain shot to right above my eye but on the right side of my head a little and I flopped back down. "Ug, I hurt."
"Yeah, well, you can thank Chris and Lonny. But Chris already left after I chewed his ass. He's the one that kicked you, but Lonny's still here, hes the one that punched you." He pointed to the one that was sitting on the floor next to a table that had a stereo on it. I looked over a little bit to see the short one, except now he was holding a bloody nose and had a black eye and a gash in his head. He held up a hand as in a wave. I kinda felt bad, I mean, he probably wasn't his fault. But the pain in my head blocked that thought completely almost.
I tried to lean up again. "No. Don't. What goods it gonna do ya. I'm gonna go get some more ice," Brad said getting up hurriedly.
I rolled my eyes and laid back down, then he left to get some ice and I sat up. "Hey, I'm real sorry, I didn't think he would beat the crap out of you, well, I really didn't think much, but-"
"Hey, its alright, my fault man, you lost a tooth and got very close to a concussion because of us. Quit bein' sorry," he demanded. I thought about how he said 'us' instead of 'me'. These guys seriously were a family weren't they.
I turned to look at the house a little more, and winced from the pain in my head. Forget moving, it seemed just breathing made it throb. The house was seriously old. There was a kitchen around the corner I think. An old TV and a table for a stereo and what looked like a bunch of trash next to it, then a couple doors. It was weird seeing a building that didn't have any stairs or hallways in it.
He came back out with ice. And held it against my head. I winced from it being so cold, but then the pain slowly numbed away. He left again, leaving me to hold the ice. I took it off and looked at it to see some blood smeared onto the towel that was wrapped around it. He came back and gave some ice to Lonny. He put it to the cut on his head. "Eye's worse," Brad mumbled. I thought that was kinda funny, seeing as Brad did it. But Lonny pulled it off his head and put it on his eye.
I was kind of surprised that Brad didn't have a scratch on him. I mean, it seemed like he just beat the crap out of two standing statues. They must have a lot of respect for each other, if you call that respect...
Brad came back with something in his hand. "How's your head look..." he said mainly to himself and pulled the now damp towel off my head. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, its not bleeding near as much."
"Ooo yay," I said sarcastically.
He just smiled, "Keep it on there a few more minutes though before I put the butterfly on."
I groaned and quickly put the ice back on. As soon as you take it off it burns, thats the crappy thing about ice.
"And for you," he said walking over to Lonny. "Go sit on the chair. I don't feel like playing doctor if my patients are sitting on the floor. Lonny smirked and punched him in the leg and got up. He wobbled around a bit, probably because if your face hurts, you have no stability whatsoever, haha. Brad steered him to the chair though and he plopped down.
"Hows it look doc."
"Not so good. Someone real tough must've gotcha."
He just laughed again, "Shut up and fix it."
Brad pulled the ice off and looked at his eye. Some of the swelling had gone down, from where I was sitting anyway, it was also really dark over here though. He shook his head a little and put the ice back on. He leaned over to the little table next to the couch I was sitting on and grabbed a bottle of peroxide.
"Lucky you. You were out when you got this part," Lonny said looking past Brad over to me. That was probably really nice, peroxide burns.
Lonny tilted his head over and Brad literally dumped some peroxide on the cut, being sure to catch anything that ran down with the towel. All Lonny did was close his eyes, but I could tell it hurt. "Hold still, and let that soak." Lonny didn't move at all. So Brad turned back to me.
"Alrighty, take the ice off," he commanded, grabbing the butterfly off the side table the peroxide was on. I took off the ice and the cut started burning real bad. Not like peroxide would, but just because it was a cut that was used to being ice cold. "Ok, you hold still to..." he said moving my hair over and forcing me to tilt my head a little. It didn't hurt as bad as it did before when he touched it, but it was still horrible.
"Hey, did Remar and Benjerman have they're ball today?" Lonny asked.
"Yeah, I was plannin' on going over there to make sure neither of them did anything stupid and break the rules, we all know how Remar is. He's always got a gun or blade on him sometime," Brad said not looking away from my cut. He poked it with something, "That hurt?" I quickly nodded and he went on. "But I was to worried about sleeping beauty here!"
Lonny started, "Hey I already told you-"
"Shut up Lonny," Brad said flatly.
He pinched the cut and put the butterfly on real fast. It was kind of like ripping a band-aid off, he knew it was going to hurt, no matter how quick he did it, but the faster, the less. "There ya go, need anything else."
"My mouth hurts, from genius over there," I said with a small smile, pointing to Lonny.
"Hey, no offense, but you look just like Miller's little sister! I swear! Shes got long brown hair past her shoulders a bit, just like you, and she's about five foot tall," Lonny said defensively.
"Five two!" I argued.
"Lonny, shut up, I'm not gonna tell you again." I could tell Brad was still mad. Not as mad as he was apparently, none of us were bleeding on the floor anymore... He left again, and I could tell he was opening the fridge, and he brought out a bottle of bourbon, "I ain't got anything medical for that, all I can do is give you a shot of bourbon. If you dip your finger in that and rub it on the gum of where your tooth came out, it'll numb it. Was it a baby tooth?"
"Yeah, my last one."
"Thank god," he mumbled pouring me a little shot.
"What about me??" Lonny sang.
"Im not gonna waste my bourbon on you."
"No stupid, my head. My neck's starting to hurt."
"Oh, put the ice on it for a couple minutes. Jill, I figure because of your dad you got a good taste in music. Go found somethin' to listen to."
I walked over to the small stack of cd's and started rummaging through them, but still listening to Brad and Lonny's conversation.
"So what do you think happened?" I heard Lonny say interested.
"Well, either Remar played fair, and Benjerman beat the crap out of him, or Benjerman started beating the crap out of him and Remar pulled out a blade."
"Why not a gun?"
"Cops showed up a few days ago at his place and confiscated them all because of what happened to Cassidy. He doesn't get paid until Monday, so he would of had to steal one to get one. And every gun shop store keepers gonna have a gun on them. Only Remar'd be dumb enough to try it though, maybe he got one."
Then someone came in the door. "Brad?"
It as an averaged sized guy with short dirty blonde hair that almost came to his eyes. He was using the door to hold him up, and he had a black eye, a bloody nose, and a huge cut across his arm.
He looked about my age though. Maybe a year older. It was weird, it was like seeing a classmate almost dying.
"What is this place a damn hospital? Jesus Christ Benjerman get in here!" He went back to do a quick finishing touch on Lonny's nose. Benjerman started to walk in and almost fell though. I ran over and grabbed his arm to help him.
He looked at me, but then his eyes got big. "Miller."
"No, Jill, I'm Brad's cousin."
"Cousin? I thought-"
"Me too," me and Brad said in unison. I sat him down on the couch and looked at his arm. It was bleed really bad. And it went from his elbow halfway to his shoulder. He was really pale, I could tell he was losing a lot of blood, he kind of dozed off a bit but I put some ice on his face to keep him awake.
Brad ran over and started tending to his arm. "Brad. Brad he didn't play fair," he mumbled, halfway crying. "I had him, but he had a blade."
"I know Ben I know. For being fourteen you probably did a damn good job," Brad said motioning for me to get the peroxide.
"He pulled out the blade and jumped me, everyone grabbed him and finished him off then though. He went home looking ugly, I swear," he continued.
"Good, he deserves it. Do you know if he had a gun on him?" Brad asked looking up for a second then wrapping his arm in gauze, I don't know where he got that.
"No, I don't think so. I think the police came and searched him after what happened to Cassidy. He shouldn't have anything," he mumbled.
He laid his head down on the headrest of the couch, and Brad quickly went after him. "Come on man, don't go out on me. I need you to keep with me so I can get you to the hospital for some blood."
His eyes got wide, "No! No no I'm fine, thanks I'm good, I just wanted you to do what you could to fix my arm-"
"Ben, shut the hell up and go get in the car. You look pale even in this dim room. You need blood, thats why you feel so tired."
"Who made you the medical genius!" Ben argued.
"Who made you one!" Brad argued back picking him up. I figured Ben was to tired to fight out of his grip. "Jill, I'm gonna take him and drop him off at the hospital real quick. You don't have to come with as long as you promise me something," he yelled from the door.
"Yeah?"
"You'll still be conscious when I get back. I've seen you out way to much since I met you. If you have to, you can kick his ass," he said, speaking of Lonny. "I can probably fix anything."
I just laughed and nodded as Lonny flipped him off. The past few hours had totally been a different experience.
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