Chp. 1
I have my good days and my bad days. Today is a bad day and stupid Eric McMullen apparently didn't notice.
My fist connected with the tall boys gut knocking the breath from him and he tumbled to the ground. I brought my knee up and slammed it into the ugly boys' nose; blood squirted from it and I head a satisfying crack.
"Ms Savage! What on Earth are you doing to Mr. McMullen?" The seniors' English teacher, Mr. Lackey stomped over to where I was standing and Eric was gasping on the ground.
I didn't respond, I already knew what would happen next.
"Get to the principles office this instant!" Mr. Lackey screamed as he tried to help Eric to his feat unsuccessfully.
Well, what do ya know! I was right!
I couldn't help the smirk that came to my face as I walked to the principles office. I guess I'll be going to juvie again. Yippee. Eric's dad is some big lawyer and his mom happens to be a cop so this should turn out great in my favor. Not.
It doesn't take long for me to get to Principle Johnson's office. I gotta admit too, the place is nice. He's got an air conditioner in the window and the seats are leather.
Principle Johnson just sighs when she sees me. Whatever, it's what she does every time I'm in here. This is kinda often.
"You again?"
I roll my eyes and sat down in one of the brown, leather seats opposite her.
"Oh, like you're not excited to see me."
"Ok Liz, what'd you do this time? Sleep in class? Spray paint the lockers? Antagonize the teacher? Steal some kids watch or money?"
"Hate to break it to ya Johnson but you're way off today." I shake my head in mock disappointment. It's not like this is the first time I broke some kids' nose!
"Oh I see some kid pissed you off and you … what? Gave him a black eye? Knocked out a few teeth? Broken nose? Broken arm? Broken leg? A sprained ankle?" All of these I've done before on my bad days. Come to think of it, I have a lot of bad days.
"Broken nose actually. It was Eric McMullen; he was talking some trash about my brother so I broke his nose." I shrugged.
Principle Johnson looked a little worried this time. "McMullen? Aw, Liz! You do realize his father is a lawyer and his mothers a police officer right? I mean hell! I might not be able to cover up for you this time Liz!"
"Look, there weren't any witnesses other than Mr. Lackey! And besides Johnson you owe me!" She did owe me; I had scarred off bad boy Hughie away from her daughter Jessica hadn't I! Hughie hit Jessica too and I even took a black eye and some bruises to get the bastard away from her!
"I know, I know." Johnson was shaking her head and a little crease had formed between her eyebrows. She ran a hand threw her brown hair before saying, "Look, I'll have to punish you. A suspension and three weeks detention and you'll have to write a letter of apology to Eric. If that doesn't get his parents to leave you alone then I don't know what will other than expulsion."
That wasn't so bad. Not nearly as bad as juvie.
I just nodded before leaving. On my way out I ran into what felt like a brick wall. Turns out it was Bobby Mercer.
Bobby was a senior with a bad ass attitude. I've thrown a punch his way once or twice but he never once struck back, he always just pinned me against the wall or pushed me away before stalking off. I respected him for that but not enough to keep me from fighting him if he didn't move outta my way.
Usually Bobby, like most people, ignored me but today he was having a bad day too because he growled, "Watch it Savage!" I was a little surprised he knew my name.
"What're ya goin' to do Mercer? Huh?" I growled back standing on my toes to get in his face. I noticed that his eyes are a very dark brown color and they matched his messy hair.
On a rare occasion I've caught Bobby staring at me during lunch or in one of the three classes we have together but never really gave it much thought.
For a second I actually thought he was gonna hit me but instead he just shoved roughly aside and walked into Principle Johnson's office. He moved to quick for me to hit him for slamming me into the wall like that.
I took a deep breath and continued my way down the now crowded hallway. Teens of all sizes and colors hustled off to class but most just slouched against the blue lockers talking. As usual they strayed away from me so I didn't have to bend or move around people as I walked. I vaguely notice my only friend in the school, Jerry Mercer talking to Camille Spooner. He's been crushing on her for a few weeks now.
Jerry Mercer doesn't look at all like his brother Bobby Mercer and I don't mean that one looks like the father and the other looks like the mother I mean Bobby is white and kinda short for a guy whereas Jerry is black and 6'3. Their personalities are different too, Jerry thinks before he acts Bobby is a total hothead with a bad temper. They were both adopted along with their two other brothers Angel and Jack.
Jerry nods to me as I walk back and vice versa. Camille looks at me too and has the decency to smile even though her eyes tell me she's just as afraid of me as everyone else. I conjure up what I hope looks like a nice smile and keep on walking until I get to my own locker.
Most of my books haven't left this locker since the beginning of the year. I get most of my homework done with Jerry's tutoring or I just don't do it. Jerry walks me home almost every day and he's pretty much the only reason I haven't flunked high school yet. There's never been anything romantic between Jeremiah and me though and besides he's got a different girl just about every week. But he seems to really like the Camille girl. Been talking about her nonstop for the past three weeks!
"So, Liz heard you broke McMullen's nose." Jerry says calmly next to my locker, I hadn't noticed him come over.
"Yup," is all I respond with.
"Oh come on gimme all the gory details. What'd he do?" Jerry asks, annoyed and teasing me.
"He said Quinn was a no-good punk who deserved the electric chair for what he did." My voice is flat, monotonous and Jerry takes this as a sign to back off. Good move Jerry.
He changes the subject. "Did you do the calculus homework last night?"
"Do you have to ask?" Jerry didn't come over yesterday so I spent the whole night at the ice-rink skating and then watching my little brothers Cody and Bill after they got done with hockey practice at their middle-school.
Jerry just nods and hands me his homework. He encourages me to cope his work whenever I don't get mine done, usually I refuse 'cause I really don't like it, it just feels sleazy is all, but my calculus grade right now is teetering on a F+ and a D- so I take the homework and copy it as fast as possible in my notebook. I already know the answers are right because this is Jerry here. And Jerry has pretty much straight A's. He isn't a nerd by any means; Jeremiah is just a smart guy. He barely ever cracks open a book to study or anything.
"So, I saw you talking to Camille over there." I say smirking at my only friend.
"Yeah, she's gonna come to my house tonight for dinner and then we're gonna catch a movie." Jerry is grinning from ear to ear, genuinely pleased with himself. "And I was wondering if you would wanna come to dinner tonight too. My ma is making spaghetti and meatballs. And we could do any homework we got after school before. Plus Bobby really wants to see ya."
Wait … what?
"Ha-ha, you're funny." Sarcasm is my favorite way of communication. "And besides I can't. I gotta watch Cody and Bill remember."
"Well, they can come too. And besides when was the last time you had spaghetti and meatballs?"
Hmm … about three years ago when my ma was still living with us and doing all the cooking. She may have been a hooker but she was one hell of a chef.
"It's a tempting offer, really. But I still can't." I've never been to Jerry's house, despite us being friends for about two years now; I've never even seen it before.
"Why not?" Jerry demands looking upset.
"Because I gotta go visit Quinn today. And because Austin is coming over tonight. And because Cody is sick with a cold and Bill has been acting like a punk and I don't want him to behave like that at your house. Do you need any other explanations or are you satisfied?" I lied about Cody being sick and Bill really never acted like a punk unless one gave him reason to. But Austin, my on-and-off again boyfriend really was coming over and I wanted to hang with him.
Jerry doesn't approve of Austin at all. Well, today Austin in finally getting out of juvie and I wanna see him.
"Why you still with that guy Liz?" Jerry always asks me this. Honestly, I don't have an answer and he can see it too.
I just shake my head and close my locker. Austin gets in trouble a lot but, hell, I do too! And he's been there for me through all type of shit, when my mom was arrested for prostitution, when Bill ran away and we found him two days later crying in front of his dad's tomb stone, when Courtney ran away, when Quinn got arrested for murder, the first and last time I met my real father and he hit me, when Cody tried to rob a store and we had to chase him down to stop him, when his mom got raped and killed and his dad committed suicide, every time he got sent to juvie, every time I got sent to juvie, we've just been through way too much to overlook.
Jerry sighs next to me and says, "Alright, alright. How about you come over for dinner tomorrow? Ma says we're having fried chicken. You love fried chicken. And I bet Cody and Bill will love it too."
Tomorrow is Friday, the only day of the week that neither Cody nor Bill have hockey or baseball practice. Austin will probably spend tomorrow trying to get his parents to let him back in their house.
I'm still trying to think up an excuse not to go when Bobby Mercer walks by with his other younger brothers Jack and Angel. Jack has a black eye and swollen lip at the sight of this Jerry goes over to his brothers. Bobby looks menacing on a daily basis but I've never really seen this exact look copied onto his younger brothers faces. I've seen Angel get pissed off if he loses a hockey game or a basketball match and I've seen Jerry get frustrated, agitated, annoyed, and angry but he never had this look in his eyes. I've also seen Jack … well, no he always acts like a normal kid just a little shy and he kinda keeps to himself other than his brothers and a few other friends is all.
Bobby doesn't reply to Jerry questions on what happened he just keeps walking. Angel is the one to answer his younger brother and I overhear what happened.
"Jack got jumped when he was cutting Spanish. Says it was Fin, Greg, and Bryan Hoppus. They messed Jacky up pretty bad but he'll live."
Fin, Greg, and Bryan Hoppus are triplets and the stars of our wrestling team. This should be good.
I can't help but follow them despite Jerry's warning glares. I just wanna watch the awesome fight. The Mercer boys are all buff and in surprisingly good shape for teenagers, Bobby is the most ripped and he's been this way for as long as I've known him. It's the same for his brothers but Jack is leaner.
All the other students seem to clear a way for us with their eyes wide. Some follow, sensing a fight soon. Most just pretend to have not noticed us at all. How nice of them. Not.
The Hoppus triplets don't ever go to lunch which is about to happen in 5 minutes. I've seen them hangout by the freshman hallway during this time and apparently Bobby has too since that's where he's leading us. I'm moving just a few feet behind them when I hear an all too familiar crack.
Bobby just broke someone's nose and I move to where I can see who. Greg Hoppus is cradling his destroyed nose when Bobby hits him with a beautiful right hook to the ear and he goes to the ground like he just got hit with a train. Meanwhile Angel is getting pinned by Bryan and Jerry socks Fin one in the kidney. Jack just sorta hangs back; he's not much of a fighter I guess.
Bobby sees Angel on the ground and runs over kicking Bryan in the ear and successfully getting him off of his brother. Angel lunges at Bryan now and starts punching the hell outta him as Bobby goes back to Greg Hoppus who has stood up and is in his wrestling stance, there's blood all over his pale face and his right ear is starting to swell up bigger than it already is. Fin shoved Jerry up against the wall and starts hitting him in the stomach over and over again. I look back to Bobby but he's preoccupied with rearranging Greg's face and Angel is kicking Bryan repeatedly. Jack looks scared and nervous. I feel sorry for the guy but still his brother needs his help!
Well, if Jack won't help Jerry than I will.
I run over to Fin who has his back to me and jump on him. He staggers back at the surprising new weight on him but the guy is strong and tries to pry me off him. I lock my hands around his neck and my feet around his waist. Fin back us to the other wall and starts banging me against it but I was prepared for the pain that rushed through my head and back. Jerry is coming over and lands a solid left punch to Fins mouth knocking out a few teeth too and causing Fin to stop slamming me against the ugly eggshell colored wall. I didn't notice Bobby come over but he did. Bobby knees Fin in the gut and punches him in the ribs, I heard a crack. I jump off Fins back as he falls to the tiled floor. The other Hoppus brothers are on the ground too in a bloody mess. Jack ran off sometime earlier. Angel is coming over now.
"Thanks Liz." Jerry says as he raises his fist and I bump it with mine.
"Anytime." I murmur, feeling the stares of the other Mercers.
"Guys this is Liz Savage. Liz these are my brothers Bobby and Angel." Jerry introduced us for the first time. We don't say anything though. It's not like I don't know who they are and I'm pretty sure they know who I am too. "Anyway, Liz and her two little brothers are coming over for dinner tomorrow night."
What now?
I shoot Jeremiah my famous death glare but keep my mouth shut. It's not like I had anything better to do.
Angel is the first to speak after a minute or two. "Cool, see ya there Liz." He nods to me before leaving.
I nod back but, still, don't say anything.
Bobby looks at me for another minute before leaving too. I wanna ask him what his problem with me is but decide against it.
Jerry waits till his oldest brother has gone around the corner to speak, "Aw, don't mind Bobby. He likes you already he just don't like to show it."
"Yea sure. I'll believe that when I see it."
"Well, I just said 'he just don't like to show it' so ya might wanna be prepared to wait for that." Jerry smirks at me.
"Whatever." I smirk back. "So, when did we decide that I was comin' over tomorrow?"
"We didn't. I did." Jerry's smirk grows more sarcastic.
I sigh in mock annoyance. "Don't be such a smartass Jeremiah."
"Ouch, that hurt Liz. Right here," Jerry points to his chest and pouts.
I just roll my eyes this time. "Yea, yea. So you wanna go catch some lunch or what?"
The bell for lunch rang during the fight and my belly is grumbling.
We hurry off to lunch and grab our regular table. Today they're serving chicken wings. We have chicken for lunch almost everyday here but it isn't all that bad. I'm used to it.
Some days Jerry eats with me and others he goes off with his brothers to do Lord knows what. But that never bothered me. I like the solitude.
Today something weird happens though. Jerry waves his brothers over to our table instead of letting them go over to their own table. Sometimes they don't even come to lunch and I'll wonder where they go all the time, but I'd never admit to it.
Jack pulls up a chair next to me which is surprising since he's kinda shy. Angel sits across from me and Bobby sits opposite Jerry. Angel starts debating with Jack over two hockey teams and Bobby gives comments every now and then but is mostly quiet. Jerry is trying to shove his whole chicken sandwich into his mouth but it isn't working out to great.
"I would think shoving your sandwich in you mouth would be easy for ya Jerry with them big-ass teeth you got." Jerry's big-ass teeth are one of the many things I like to tease him about.
"Liz, I got one question for you: Santa Clause what's he like?" Jerry makes fun of my height constantly. I'm only 5'4 but I'm strong enough to kick his ass.
I'm just about to retaliate when the crappy intercom comes to life and we hear Principle Johnson's voice.
There is a load screech from the microphone before she actually speaks.
"Would the following students please report to my office Elizabeth Savage, Robert Mercer, Angel Mercer, Jack Mercer, and Jeremiah Mercer?" She repeats this one more time before there's another screech and the intercom dies off.
I hate it when people call my Elizabeth.
And I hate it even more when someone causes me to not finish my lunch.