Troubled Waters, Idled Minds

Chapter 11: Abe

His unfocused eyes searched mine, begging for an explanation, fists clenched tightly as if trying to maintain composure. Harry never looked more upset a day in his life as he did right now.

How interesting.

“That was what we’d like to know, mister Cristo.”

Both Harry and I looked at Principal Moores but he had his eyes on my cousin. I never imagined how confusing it would be for us both being called by our surnames in this overly formal f*cking private school until this moment.

“Perhaps someone would like to share what took place,” he continued with a hard tone glancing from me to the brunette who was now squished on the corner.

The girl who came with Harry exploded.

“It’s them! They’d been harassing Callie for a year now,” she said, pointing a finger at the brunette girl. “I swear to god, you b***h - “

The varsity guy beside her grabbed her arms before she could lunge at the other girl. “Calm down, babe.”

“Calm down?! Jared, can’t you see? Their bullying has gotten out of hand. These bitches deserve to go to jail for hurting Callie.”

Now that, I completely agree with.

I looked over at Harry and watched his expression remain the same. He looked like he was in agony but pissed at the same time.

You and I both, buddy, I thought.

His eyes threw daggers at the brunette, the same way the rest of the people in the room had their probing ones on her.

She looked like a cornered animal.

“Well, miss Pierce, care to explain?”

You know you’re in huge trouble when the principal ignores a student for calling you a b***h in favor of questioning you about what you’d done.

Pierce tried to explain her side, ratting her friends out for ganging up on Callie.

Right now, I didn’t care about such useless details as the girl rambled on about their previous harassment, clearly flustered and extremely nervous in front of the principal that she disclosed more of their mean antics towards Callie than what just occurred in the girls’ restroom.

They’d each have their turn, I swear.

At the moment, what I wanted to know was who hit her head on the sink.

From the prattling girl, I got the name of who seemed to be their ringleader.

The ambulance arrived and one of the nurses and Harry went with Callie to the hospital. My body protested at being held back from going with her but I stood firm as the paramedics transferred Callie’s fragile body onto a stretcher.

Callie’s friend, Ophelia I found out her name to be, tried to come with them but Mister Moores didn’t permit her, saying only family could be allowed to accompany her in the hospital.

He glanced at me but by the indifference in my face, I figured he understood I didn’t plan on going with my cousins.

I have other plans for the day.

The brunette girl, Pierce, was taken by the principal to his office, stating that he’d also call upon her other friends. He’d give them the punishment he thinks they should have based on the law but I’d make sure to give them the one they deserved.

This would be fun.

I went to the nearest fire escape and brought my phone out. I dialed the only number I’d memorized, the only number I needed to imbed in my head.

“How’s my little b***h?” came Carter’s lazy drawl.

In my head, I could see him sitting on a motel couch, a cigarette hanging on his lips, polishing his favorite old gloc that was nothing more than a prop because even if he never used it, he still carried it with him religiously.

I scoffed at his greeting. “I need to intimidate some people bad enough they’d leave this town for good.”

HIs low whistle was a sound so familiar my lips slightly tugged upward. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I already miss the f*cker.

“I’ll be there in two,” was his satisfying reply.

            I hung up, sneaking my way through the back entrance of the building, and jogged towards my car. I didn’t need my bag, I’ve got everything I needed in my car. I’ll just send a message to Ane to pick it up where I’d left it in English class.

Looking up at the cloudless blue sky, I was reminded of the little nymph’s huge innocent orbs, hoping to see the fire in them again when she wakes up.

What a beautiful morning to skip class.

The engine blared softly with Kevin Cronin belting in the background.

Carter sent me the location of the meetup and it only took me twenty minutes to drive there. One more person was with him whom he introduced as McKey, a new runner. He’d take the fall for this revenge plot.

This is for you, darling.

Within thirty minutes, we had a solid plan that would have taken a week to execute if not for my impatient ass thirsty for blood. I’d informed them both that I want it done as soon as possible even if we have to take into consideration the schedule of the girls.

It wouldn’t be clear if their routine was just observed for a single day and chances of accuracy being high depends on how certain we are of the s**t they do everyday which could change unexpectedly or not.

We decided it was better than making a mistake so we agreed to meet up again in the same bar tomorrow night for reports.

The clock on my dashboard says it was late in the morning and though school won’t end for another three hours, I didn’t intend to go back.

I googled the nearest hospital from the school and drove there but not before stopping by a Japanese restaurant.

I know hospital food must suck and Callie always seemed to like eating raw fish. I’d never tried it but whatever. I’m not about to tell her what she should and shouldn’t eat.

However, in my haste to reach the hospital before she left, I forgot to buy my own food and my stomach rumbled in protest.

As a result, I may have eaten a plate or two consisting of four pieces of rolled rice, seaweed and fish, on my way to get to her. My verdict: it didn’t taste as bad as I thought. I might have even taken a liking to it, if I do say so myself. I just hated the green paste thing. It totally ruined the taste of the food.

A faint smile stretched my face. I could now share Callie’s enthusiasm with her favorite food. I imagined her surprised and slightly cautious look as she held my gaze, and a very familiar heat swept through my body.

Shit.