Scartissue by T.L Hodel

Chapter 3

Shelby

When I told Rye about my date with Noah, Logan was less than impressed. He followed me outside and demanded I cancel. I told him where he could shove his demand, and thought that was the end of it. Apparently not.

Friggin cherry pie.

I didn’t know if I wanted to scream or laugh. Rye was right. It was kind of hard to hate the guy- I was sure going to try though.

“Come on Shell,” Trina whined, “You have to tell me who sent it.”

“The magical pie fairy,” I said, while shoving my books in my locker. Trina had been pestering me about this all afternoon. Never thought I’d be thankful for math class, but it was one of the few I had without her. “Your whining is starting to get irritating.”

“The only thing that irritates you is dogs in dresses.”

“Hey,” I waved my finger at her. “Animals wearing people clothes is creepy.”

Trina rolled her eyes. “Just tell me who sent it. You know I’ll find out.”

The twins were both natural born reporters. Trina preferred to use her talents for gossip, and like her sister, nine times out of ten, she’d get the information she was looking for.

I eyed Trina’s black and blue uniform. There wasn’t much she took seriously. Cheerleading was one of them. “Don’t you have practice?”

“Ugh! Fine,” she grumbled and backed down the hall. “But I’m engaging detective mode.”

Great.

No one here personally knew Logan, so other than Riley being my best friend, there was no connection between the two of us. At least, I didn’t think anyone here knew him.

I glanced down the hall at two girls flirting with a football player. One twirled her hair while the other giggled at something he said. He seemed to be enjoying the attention, looking down at them with the same glint I saw in Logan’s eyes. Had Logan slept with any of the girls here?

Probably.

“Rumor has it, you got a present this afternoon?”

Normally, I’d be happy to hear Noah’s voice, but I wasn’t looking forward to explaining the new complication in my life.

“It was just a stupid prank,” I said, deciding to avoid the question. “Probably Riley.”

His brow rose. “Why would Riley send you pie?”

“She has a weird sense of humor,” I shrugged, not sure why I’d lied.

I didn’t do anything wrong. Well, I did kiss Logan. Technically, he kissed me, but I didn’t stop him. How was I supposed to know he’d do that? He’d been a complete jerk since I met him. The last thing I expected was a kiss. Mags made my head spin less, and she was nine-year-old with ADHD.

“Well, that’s good.” Noah cocked his head and grinned. “I was starting to think I had competition.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” I said, feeling guilt crawl up my spine and fill my chest. Here was this great guy, gazing down at me with warm brown eyes, and I was thinking about kissing another man.

I’m no better than my dad.

“You know,” as if he could sense my tension, Noah dug his fingers into my shoulders and began kneading my muscles. “We don’t have to wait until Saturday. I’ll be done practice in an hour.”

Noah was the guy I actually wanted to go out with, so I tried to sink into his touch. I closed my eyes and leaned back, resting my head on his shoulder, and for a second it worked. Everything else faded away and it was just him and I, standing in the hallway while I listened to the steady thrum of his heartbeat.

“What do you say, Sweetness?”

The smooth timber of Noah’s voice poured through me like a bucket of ice water. Images of my dad flashed through my mind. The sweet way he used to sneak up and hug my mom from behind. The sparkle in her eyes every time he kissed her... and then my coach moaning his name.

Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “Logan Hudson kissed me.”

Noah’s fingers stilled and he cocked his head down at me. “Umm, okay? Wasn’t expecting that.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve stopped him.” I sighed and pushed off Noah to scoop my backpack off the floor. He probably can’t stand to look at me. “I was fixing Riley’s car and he came up behind me…”

“Shelby…”

“I thought the guy hated me. I wasn’t expecting him to do that.”

“Shelby…”

“I know it’s no excuse.” I hung my head and blew out a breath. “If you want to cancel our date, I understand.”

“Why would I want to do that?”

It was good while it… Wait… what?

“Um… I kissed another guy,” I said, lip curled in confusion.

“It’s not like we’re exclusive,” he pointed out. “Don’t you think we should at least go out on one date before we agree to stop seeing other people?”

That made sense. Why commit to someone if you weren’t sure things would work out? Still… “But I kissed someone else, and you’re okay with that?”

“Sure.” He seemed more amused than angry. “I have a date with Chelsea tonight.”

Ugh, really? Chelsea?

“Unless you want to go out instead?”

“I can’t. My mom’s working a double and I have to pick up my sister.” I glanced down at my watch and groaned. “Which I’m late doing.”

“Well, go get your sister,” Noah said backing down the hall towards where his best friends, Dirk and Evan, were standing. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I glared at Evan, who was staring at me with a sneer on his face. Prick. “Try not to have too much fun with Chelsea.”

“Don’t worry sweetness,” Noah smiled. “I always use protection.”

Eww.

Well Noah just lost some points, but he was right. We weren’t exclusive. At least he was honest about it, which is more than I could say for most of the guys in this school. Except for Dirk, and that was only because I’d never seen him with a girl. Rumor was that he batted for the other team. I didn’t think that was true, though. The football players here were jerks. They ran an openly gay student out of school last year. I highly doubted they’d be okay sharing a locker room with one.

I liked Simon. He was a nice guy, but as much as Rye and I tried to stick up for him, he just couldn’t take it anymore. I’d never forget the day she brought big bad Lance down to his knees. One ball crush and-squeeze and he dropped. Was that why Lance and Evan attacked her?

Evan smirked as I walked past. “Looking good, Shelly.” ‘Shelly’ had been the running gag since I was a kid. After ‘Shelly’s Chicken Shack,’ A place known for salmonella as much as it was for chicken. “How’s Riley doing?”

“Eat shit, prick,” I growled and sauntered outside to my car.

I had bigger things to worry about then some jackoff trying to get on my nerves. Like Christmas. Since my dad left, Mom was working extra hours so she could afford a good Christmas for Mags. I chipped in what I could. Working at Pop Pop’s garage didn’t give me much money.

Mags wasn’t taking the separation well, and I hated seeing her stress about something she couldn’t control. I did what I could to take her mind off it. Took her out for ice cream, and played whatever stupid game she wanted. Monopoly was her favorite, which took forever, and what she’d probably want to do when we got home. And then there were my dad’s gambling debts.

I kept waiting for someone to show up at the house, looking to collect. The first time I saw my dad get his arm broken, I was six. The only thing that saved him the last time was Riley. She was there when two men showed up with a baseball bat.

Not only did she demand the bookie’s collectors get out of my house, but she marched right up to them and got in their faces. All five foot three of her. When one of them threatened to hit her, Riley just smiled, and said, “Go ahead asshole, but I should mention, my dad’s the sheriff.”

If I had one ounce of her strength, maybe I wouldn’t be worried all the time. Worried about Riley, worried about Christmas and Mom, and whether or not I could save Mags from seeing something she shouldn’t. Hell, I was even concerned about my dad. As angry as I was at him, I still loved him. I didn’t want to see him hurt or unhappy.

By the time I pulled up in front of Mags’ school, I was wound tighter than a lug nut. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long for my little sister to come bounding over.

“How come I can’t sit in the front?” she whined, climbing in the backseat.

“Because you’re too little.”

She huffed and crossed her arms. “I’m not little.”

We’d had this conversation before. There were regulations for airbags, which Pop Pop made me install.

“Are you thirteen?”

“No.”

“Do you weigh a hundred and fifty pounds?”

“I might?”

I raised my brows at her in the rear view mirror. “You don’t.”

I got my height from our dad. In heels, I was almost six foot. Mags took after our mom. She was a tiny little thing.

Her face scrunched up, displaying her discontent, but she didn’t argue any more.

“Okay, let’s go,” I said, and paused when I spotted a boy with dark hair shuffling down the sidewalk.

Isn’t that Junior?

Micha’d brought him over to Riley’s a couple times. The kid had it rough, that much I knew. Didn’t know why though. He was guarded and didn’t talk much. Right now, he looked downright miserable. His jeans were scuffed up and it looked like his lip was bleeding. Everybody needed someone, even if they didn’t want them. I couldn’t leave him like that.

I pulled up beside him and called out my window, “Junior, right?”

He looked my way, dark eyes narrowing. “Yeah?”

“You remember me?”

“I’ve seen you around.” He shrugged indifferently.

God, this kid was so much like Micha it was scary. Junior couldn’t be any more then a year or two older then Mags and he already had the, ‘don’t fuck with me’ face down pat.

“I’m Shelby,” I said, and sighed inwardly. “Riley’s friend?”

“So?”

I’m gonna start calling this kid mini Micha.

“You want a ride?”

Junior didn’t seem too thrilled about the idea. He stood there eyeing my car, like I was going to sell him on the dark web or something. Kids shouldn’t be suspicious like that. Mags talked to anyone, including people she shouldn’t. I once caught her having a conversation with a couple guys trying to break into our neighbor’s car.

Mags popped her head out of the window, and said, “Come on, my sister’s car is really cool. But you have to sit in the back unless you’re thirteen,” she added, giving me a snotty lip curl.

I stuck my tongue out at her in response.

Brat!

Mags held the door open for him and slid over to the other side. Junior eventually shrugged and headed over.

“So, where to?”

Junior gave me his address and I instantly understood why the kid had it rough. Riley’s old neighborhood was the Plaza compared to the crime riddled crap hole where Junior lived. I knew his apartment, because my dad had clients there. All of which were hardcore addicts. I got that some people couldn’t afford much, but the school was at least a forty minute walk. So why didn’t his parents pick him up? Weren’t they worried about him? I was.

“So, Junior, what do your parents do?” I asked, attempting small talk, and maybe fishing for information.

“Nothing.”

“They must have some sort of career. You have to eat, right?”

His answer shocked the hell out of me.

“Is sucking cock a career?”

How was I supposed to respond to that?

“Um… so… your mom…”

“Gotta eat, right?” he said, shooting my words back at me.

Well, okay then.

I wasn’t going to fault Junior’s mom for doing what she had to do.

Mags hummed and said, “Why would anyone want to suck on a rooster?”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to shake my head, or laugh. One thing I wasn’t going to do was explain things to her. That was Mom’s department.

“What about your dad?” I asked, interrupting Junior when he opened his mouth. I could just imagine what he’d say.

His gaze met mine in the rear view mirror. “What about him?”

“What does he do?”

“Don’t know,” Junior shrugged. “Never met him.”

Plenty of people’s parents weren’t together, but I couldn’t fathom not knowing one of them. Here I was worried about getting Mags the presents she wanted, and Junior and his mom were all alone. Did they have anyone to spend Christmas with? Maybe I could help them? I could take donations at Pop Pop’s garage and start a toy drive at school. Everyone should have a good Christmas.

I eyed Junior in the mirror, wondering what kind of things he’d want. Did he even like toys, or believe in Santa? It was then that I noticed his lip wasn’t bleeding. It was fat, split, and looked fresh. Like it happened today. He had other marks. One of his eyes was black, and there was a bruise on his arm that I was positive wasn’t caused by a kid. It broke my heart. No wonder he was guarded. Someone was hurting him.

Just like Rye.

Every instinct told me to drive him to the police station, but if Riley taught me anything, it was that kids like this didn’t ask for help. Or accept it. Anytime I said something to Riley about her mom’s drinking, she’d shut me out and I’d have to pry my way back in. Junior wouldn’t say anything to the cops, just like Riley wouldn’t tell her dad her mom was drunk when she crashed the car. The only thing someone could do for a kid like this was be there for them. Which Mags, apparently, had covered.

“How come I never see you playing with anyone? Don’t you have any friends?”

I shook my head. Gotta love my sister’s unfiltered mouth.

“I don’t need friends,” Junior grumbled.

“Everybody needs friends.” Mags reached over and grabbed his hand. “I’ll be your friend. I’ll play with you every day.”

Junior curled his lip as he yanked his hand away. “I didn’t ask you to be my friend.”

“You don’t ask for friends, silly. You just get them.”

I listened to Mags ramble off all the ways they were going to have fun and almost felt sorry for the kid. My little sister was tenacious. She’d won over Riley – who was the most closed off person I knew – and trust me, Riley tried to run her off. But Mags wouldn’t be detoured. Poor Junior didn’t have a hope in hell.

He practically threw himself out of the car when I pulled up in front of his apartment.

“Bye, Junior,” Mags sang happily. “See you tomorrow.”

He glanced back, shooting her a ‘what the hell is wrong with you’ look and quickly disappeared into the apartment.

I looked at the rundown building and over to a group of degenerates hanging out on the corner. There was no doubt in my mind that if I left my car parked here, they’d have it stripped in five minutes. And they weren’t the worst people I saw. The creepy guy across the street that blew me a kiss took that prize.

How could I leave Junior here without at least saying something to someone? What kind of person would do that? I could call Riley’s dad, but I had a feeling the sheriff showing up in this neighborhood would only bring Junior unwanted attention. I was pretty sure the matching bandanas on those guys’ wrists meant they were a gang, and gangs didn’t like cops. Or the people that brought them around.

I pulled out my phone and texted the only person I could think of. Riley. She could at least let Micha know. He seemed to care about Junior. Maybe he could help?

Me: Hey just wanted to let you know, I gave Junior a ride home and he didn’t look that great. I think someone beat him up.

I didn’t expect Rye to call, but a few seconds later my phone rang. The deep, gruff voice that came across wasn’t hers.

“What the fuck do you mean someone beat him up?” Micha demanded.

“I-I don’t know,” I stuttered. Micha Kessler was scary on a good day. “He has some bruises, and I don’t think he got them at school.”

“Fucking Julia,” Micha growled, before the line went dead.

Well, isn’t he pleasant.

I shot Riley a quick text before driving away. Creepy guy was inching closer.

Me: Tell your asshole boyfriend he’s welcome.

Rye: Sorry, I’ll slap him for you later.

Me: Make sure it hurts.

Rye: Balls it is.She texted with a smiley face emoji.