Family Ties (25 page)

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Senior Year

I feel eyes on me. Watching. Scrutinizing. Judging. Everyone knows. Not just what the media reported, but what Becky told everyone. Gossip spreads like wildfire. There’s no containing it. You have to let it do its damage and burn out.

I lower my eyes and quicken my pace. Jason squeezes my hand. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Arissa surveying the student parking lot.

She stops and sets her hands on her hips. “Do you see something interesting?” she asks loud, her face etched with hard lines. “Is your life so wonderful that you have to stare at my sister? How would you like to be in her shoes?” She makes eye contact with everyone and they look away, uncomfortable with her directness. “That’s what I thought.”

We’re on our way to class again when Jason asks, “What got into you, Jericho?”

“I don’t like it. It’s not right. Sara’s done enough fighting.”

I hug her from the side with my free arm. “Thanks, Riss.” 

“That’s what sisters are for,” she says, draping her arm over my shoulders.

I take out my lunch on the grass in the quad as Jason, Arissa, and Damian meander over to join me. Jason sits next to me and pecks my cheek.

“Hi,” I say, smiling. “How were your classes?”

“Boring without you.” 

“I can’t believe we don’t have any classes together this year.” 

“Me, neither,” Arissa says, pouting. “So not fair.”

“Oh, babe. You think everything is unfair when you don’t get what you want,” Damian points out, then rips into his sandwich.

“Do not!”

I attempt to stifle a giggle rather unsuccessfully. Arissa slaps my shoulder.

“Hey!” I rub my shoulder. “What was that for?”

“You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“But, it’s true.” I grin at her.

She flips me the bird and I return the gesture.

“Who has homework tonight?” Damian asks.

“Who doesn’t?” I ask in return.

“Wish I could do homework with you guys, but I have practice after school,” he answers.

“I just want the day to end.”

Jason’s brow furrows. “What happened?”

“The staring is getting to me.” 

“Still?” Arissa asks.

“Of course. My darling sister isn’t there to stare them all down,” I say facetiously. 

Jason massages my back in circles. I press into him and he wraps his arm around me.

Arissa purses her lips and I touch her shoulder. “It’s okay, Riss. The novelty will wear off or some other drama will come up and they’ll forget about it.” 

She scowls. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” 

Damian tackles her to the ground with a glint of mischief in his eyes and tickles her.

Her laughter peals in the open air. “Stop!” She grabs at his wrists to pry his hands off of her.

Jason and I watch, snickering. Damian lets up after a minute of torturing her. She smacks his shoulder and he sticks out his lower lip for show.

“Not funny, Damian.”

“I was trying to get you to lighten up. You’re wound too tight.” 

She glares at him with her arms crossed. I throw a carrot stick, hitting her in the face.

“What the hell!” she yells, picking up the carrot stick and throwing it back at me.

I flash her my middle finger and she returns the gesture, then laughs. I grin at Damian. “That’s how you do it.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

Becky stands over us in the quad with arms folded and her entourage behind her. I guess it was unreasonable and irrational to think that maybe, just maybe, we wouldn’t have to deal with her truculence.

“What do you want, Becky?” Arissa asks, sneering.

“I just wanted to ask Jason what he thinks about dating someone who was used and thrown aside like garbage.”

I turn to Jason, who is staring at her, slack-jawed. “J, what was it like dating Becky?” 

She drops her arms and clenches her fists as Arissa and Damian burst into laughter.

“Blake lost his job because of you!” she screams.

It’s satisfying to hear what became of the complaint Dad filed. If Becky hadn’t said anything the last time we saw her, I wouldn’t have figured it out. “You mean he lost his job because neither of you can keep your mouths shut.”

Her eyes narrow, then she snatches the open container of milk out of a friend’s hand and dumps it over me.

I wipe my face with my hands. “Seriously, Becky? I thought we were over this.”

“We are far from over with this.”

Arissa jumps up, but Damian grabs her. “You better run,” she says, low and menacing.

Becky and company scamper off as Jason helps me up. I make a beeline for the office.

“Where are you going?” they ask in unison.

“The bathroom is the other way,” Jason adds, pointing towards the bathrooms.

“I’m going to talk to the principal and call Mom.” 

“I’ll bring your stuff!” Arissa calls out.

I wave my hand in acknowledgment as I stalk off to the office.

Ms. Stocker, Mr. Croft’s secretary, gives me paper towels to dry off with while she calls Mom.

“What can I do for you, Sara?” Mr. Croft asks from his chair when I enter his office.

“You can do something about Becky trying to bully me and then throwing milk on me,” I answer, settling into a chair in front of his desk.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean anything by it,” he says.

“Mr. Croft, since school started back yesterday, I’ve endured stares, pitying looks, and whispers from everyone. I can handle that. I can’t tolerate someone deliberately looking for trouble. Nor will I allow anyone to humiliate me by using my past abuse against me.” I don’t know where this courage comes from, but it feels good.

“Sara, what happened to you was a travesty, but you can’t come running to me every time someone teases you.”

It hits me in the face. All the people who treated me like a belonging. Simon. Tibby. Gillian. The judge. Blake. The Lloyds. Like a doll devoid of emotions or feelings to toss around as they please.

I clamp onto the arms of the chair and grit my teeth. “I have
never
been to your office before.
Never
. I’m not running to you because I was teased.” I move to the edge of the chair. “I came to you for help because Becky is using my abuse to bully me because she has details no one should have thanks to her brother, who happened to be my social worker.

“Not only that, she assaulted me. With milk. It may not be a weapon, but she could have hit or kicked me just the same like her sister and her sister’s friends did while I was at La Costa. I was a victim long enough, Mr. Croft. I will not be a victim any longer. Not by Becky, her sister, or you.” I stand, placing my palms on his desk. “If you do not ensure
my
safety, my parents and I will find someone who will.” 

I spin on my heel to leave and stop in my tracks at the sight of Mom, Arissa, Jason, and Damian watching through the office windows.

“Sara,” Mr. Croft mutters.

I peer at him over my shoulder. “Unless you have something helpful to say, Mr. Croft, I’m done.” He remains silent, so I continue on. “Take me home, please, Mom,” I mumble, rushing by everyone and out the door. Backpacks swish and footsteps hurry behind me, but I don’t look back. I’m focused on taking deep breaths so I don’t cry or scream.

“Parker!” Jason calls, rushing to catch up to me. He shoulders his backpack as he reaches my side. “What did he say?”

I shake my head. “I can’t right now, J.” I’m pissed that another adult, who is supposed to protect the students of this school, is being flippant.

He slips his arm around my waist and walks with me to Mom’s car. His lips press against my head. “I’ll see you after school, right?”

I nod and climb in the passenger seat. He closes the door behind me and sets my backpack on the back seat.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Mom asks, driving out of the school parking lot.

I tell her about Becky’s confrontation, then my talk with Mr. Croft.

“I’m calling the school board when we get home,” she says, vexed.

I watch the houses pass by outside the window. “I think that’s a good idea. I’m taking a shower.”

“
That’s
a very good idea. You already stink.”

She’s smirking when I turn to her and we laugh together. It’s the best medicine next to love.

I slowly wake, aware of a warm body behind me and an arm falling down my waist. I smile, rolling over and laying my arm on his waist. “When did you get here?”

He grins and plants a kiss on my forehead. “A few minutes ago. How are you feeling?”

“Better. I just had to get out of there. I was close to either hitting Mr. Croft or tracking Becky down to beat her.” 

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about Becky.”

“What happened?”

“I have physics with her last period. She was called to the office halfway through and she never came back.” 

I recount my conversation with Mr. Croft for him and he laughs. “What’s so funny?” I ask.

“I love how assertive you are. It’s why I didn’t try to say anything to Becky today.” 

I grin. “Just one of the perks of therapy. I’m hungry.” 

Mom and Arissa sit at the dining room table eating apples and peanut butter.

“Look who’s up,” Arissa says. “I got your homework from the classes you missed this afternoon.”

“Thanks.”

We join them at the table. “Jason says Becky got pulled from their last class and didn’t return,” I announce.

“Mr. Croft called while you were sleeping. I guess the school board wasn’t happy about my call and what I told them. He asked us to meet with him before school tomorrow.” 

“You and me?”

“You, me, Dad, Arissa, Damian, and Jason.” 

“What?” Arissa asks, confused.

“Why me, Arissa, and Damian?” Jason asks, looking just as confused.

“Because you were witnesses.”

Arissa groans, simultaneously rolling her head and her eyes. 

“This is one of those times when I wish I never dated that girl.”

“What were you
thinking
, Waters?” Arissa asks.

“Give me a break, Jericho. I was trying to forget your sister because Simon made her completely unavailable at the time.”

“Oh, right. I forget about that sometimes.”

I wish I could forget as easily as she can.

CHAPTER SIXTY

It looks like a conference waiting outside Mr. Croft’s office. Alana, Felix, and Shelly decided Mom and Dad shouldn’t be the only adults at the meeting. Ms. Stocker carries extra chairs into the office in a rush. Mr. Croft talks into his phone and steals small glances at us.

Ms. Stocker ushers us into the office as soon as Mr. Croft hangs up the phone. The adults choose chairs close to the desk. Damian, Arissa, Jason, and I squeeze onto the sofa in the back.

“Mrs. Waters, Mr. & Mrs. Riven, thank you for coming,” he says. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Felix sits on the edge of his chair like I did yesterday. “There is no way we would let the Jerichos be here as the only parents. Nor would we allow you to have Damian in here without us.” 

Mr. Croft shifts in his seat and adjusts his sport coat. “I understand. Let me start by saying that I have suspended Becky for the rest of the week. She and her parents are aware that further incidents with your children could result in Becky being suspended to the school board due to the nature of the situation. I have talked to Sara’s teachers and they are to let me know if they hear about or witness anyone bullying Sara. We will not be taking this lightly.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Croft,” I pipe up. “But you were taking this
very
lightly yesterday when I came to talk to you.”

He shifts in his chair again. “Yes, well…” He works the knot on his tie back and forth.

“I am not happy about how you’ve handled this,” Dad states. “My daughter came to you for help and you dismissed her as if she was nothing more than a fly buzzing about. My wife had to call the school board to make sure something would happen. Now you’ve wasted our time this morning pretending like you’re the one taking care of everything.”

Mr. Croft’s face turned red. “I will not suffer this indignity, Mr. Jericho,” he says, flattening his hands on his desk.

“But it’s okay for Sara to suffer it because of your lackadaisical attitude?” Alana asks, interrupting the testosterone stand-off.

I’m used to Alana supporting me with smiles, hugs, encouragement, and being at my parents’ trials. This is the first time she’s defended me to someone else.

“I…I…“ Mr. Croft stumbles, flustered and unable to may eye contact.

“If you had taken care of this yesterday when Sara came in to talk to you, we wouldn’t be here,” Mom interjects. “Correct?”

“Yes,” he answers, staring at his hands.

“Mr. Croft, I appreciate the steps you’ve taken no matter what your motivation is,” I say, pushing myself to my feet, “but I think we need to get to class and our parents need to get to where they should be. I hope if I need to see you again, you’ll be more accommodating.”   

“Yes, of course,” he answers, rising from his chair. “I apologize for wasting everyone’s time.”

Ms. Stocker hands us late passes as we file out of the office.

Jason walks me to class. “He’s such a blowhard,” he states.

“He was just trying to save face.” 

“He completely blew you off yesterday and here you are defending him.”

“What good does it do if I stay angry at him?” The only good thing it ever did for me, was to keep me from lying down and accepting whatever was dished out in Foster Hell. But as Rose pointed out, it wasn’t me. “Mom may have had to call the board to light a fire under him, but he did something eventually.”

“True. Maybe Becky will finally leave us alone.”

“We can dream.”

“Oh, crap!” I duck behind Jason at the football game that night.

“What?” he asks, scanning the area we’re walking through. “Shit!”

“Yeah. Move. Quick.”

We move at a clipped pace, passing the opposing team’s cheerleaders with Jason between me and them. We reach the far end of the bleachers where Arissa and Hunter sit behind our parents and the Rivens. Mike is in his wheelchair next to the end of the bleachers. I settle between Hunter and Jason as Jason whispers to Dad.

Dad surveys the cheerleaders, then focuses on me. “Which one?”

“What?” Arissa realizes something is going on and looks over.

“Second row, last on the left,” I answer.

“I’ll keep my eye out,” he assures me, patting my knee.

“What are the odds?” Arissa wonders aloud.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later.” I shrug, hunching forward.

“What?” Hunter asks, looking in the same direction as the rest of us.

“My crazy ass sister,” I answer.

“Oh.” He studies the cheerleader. “Ohhh…” We bear enough of a resemblance that he recognizes her with ease.

“Yeah.”

“I still can’t believe she’s here,” Jason says.

“Victoria is like Simon and Tibby. She probably thinks she can get away with anything under the guise of being a cheerleader.”

Popcorn falls into my lap from the right. I glance over and Mike winks at me. I smile and wink back as I toss the popcorn in my mouth.

“Do you want anything from concessions?” Jason asks me.

“Wait!” Mom interjects. “We got you food and drinks. The Victoria thing distracted us. Sorry.” She hands us hot dogs and Dad passes us sodas.

All thought of Victoria is gone while we scream and cheer for Damian.

At halftime, everyone around us goes to concessions or the restroom. We stay in our seats chatting with each other.

“You bitch!” a voice screeches.

We look towards the track as a collective. Victoria marches over, arms akimbo. Dad, Felix, Jason, and Hunter jump to their feet. Mom digs her cell phone out of her purse and punches numbers with her thumb.

I stand and press into Jason as I snake my arm around his already tight body. “Don’t engage her,” I whisper.

He dips his head with his jaw set. “No promises. Not after what happened last time.”

“Victoria,” Andrew says in an even tone, “you should rejoin your cheerleader friends.”

She looks him up and down. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?”

“If you ever paid attention when you were living with your parents, I’m Mr. Jericho. Arissa’s dad. And now Sara’s.”

I smirk at Dad’s reply. Victoria doesn’t deserve the familiarity of his first name.

Victoria eyes blaze with fury as they meet mine. “I hope you’re happy! You tear our family apart and get yourself a new one!” 

“I have parents who truly love me, support me, and would never hurt me. Yep. I’m happy now,” I say, a smug smile dominating my face.

She lets out a girlish roar that sounds something between a battle cry and a shriek. She clenches her fists, stomps her foot, and starts for me.

“Stop!” Mom yells, jumping up with her palm facing out. “Don’t come any closer, Victoria. You already violated the restraining order and the police are on their way.”

Victoria glares at Mom. Her cheerleader friends drag her away as she focuses on me and glowers. “You’ll pay for this!” 

Jason clamps his hand over my mouth as I open it to respond. “You said not to engage her.”

I peel his hand off. “I told
you
not to engage her.”

“Mom and I are going to wait for the officers at the entrance,” Andrew informs us. 

Everyone keeps asking if I’m all right, despite my assurances.

“I’m good. I got to tell my sister off without getting hit.” 

“Your sister is a piece of work,” Mike declares.

“Multiply that by a thousand and you have my mother.” I laugh as the adults stare at me. “Levity, you guys. You saw Tibby at her trial.”

They laugh.

The deputies arrive and talk to Mom and Dad at the entrance for a few minutes. It doesn’t take them long to find Victoria and escort her to their car in handcuffs. My heart skips a few beats with joy.

“That ought to straighten her up,” Shelly states, watching Victoria and the deputies.

“Yes, it should.” I agree. “But I doubt it.” I know Victoria is capable of holding a grudge just as well as Tibby.