Hi all just a new one of many I've been working decided to get it out and see what everyone thinks look forward to reading your reviews :)
Charlie groaned and rolled over as her alarm blared throughout her room this was the third night she'd been up half the night waiting on her son Adam to come home. At sixteen she'd expected some teen rebellion she'd had it with Ruby but this was beyond the joke a little skipping school and some attitude would have been okay but he was skipping school every day, missing curfew, sneaking out at night returning at all hours smelling of drink and cigarettes-and he had a major attitude problem- she was pretty sure he was falling in with the wrong crowd too. Deciding enough was enough she yanked back her covers and jumped out of the bed, storming to his room she pushed the door open letting it bounce off the wall "get up," she snapped and pulled his covers to the floor.
"Mum," he groaned and rolled himself into a ball.
"Up now!" she yelled and pulled the pillow from under him.
"It's only six piss off!" He yelled back and rolled on his side.
"Adam Holden do what you're told for once and get the hell out of that bed now!" she screamed.
"I said piss off I don't need to be up for nearly two hours get the fuck out of my room!"
"Do not speak to me like that have some respect!" She yelled. Adam laughed and rolled over "right that's it," Charlie said sternly and stormed out of the room. Going to the bathroom she filled up a glass of water and walked back to the room, stopping beside the bed she tipped the glass and poured it all over his head "up now!"
"What the hell mum are you crazy!" He yelled and jumped up out of the bed dripping wet "you need your head examined!"
"And you need to learn who's in charge here! Downstairs dressed in five minutes!" She snapped and walked back to her own room.
"What's going on?" a sleepy Ruby asked sticking her head out her door.
"Nothing you're brother snuck out last night… again," Charlie replied as she walked by her.
Ruby rolled her eyes "you're a moron you know that-I mean what's wrong with you!" she hissed when he appeared in the hallway.
"Too early for you and you need to get your own life and keep out of mine," he said and kept walking.
"You'd wanna grow the fuck up!" Ruby yelled and slammed her door.
"So here I am dressed like you demanded what shall I do now boss?" he asked smartly.
"Sit your ass down and eat that," Charlie snapped and slid a bowl of cereal in front of him.
"I'm not eating that crap," he replied shoving it away from him.
"Fine starve that's all you're getting today," she hissed and dumped the bowl in the sink.
"You can't stop me from eating or doing anything else," he chuckled.
Charlie smirked "lose the attitude Adam it doesn't suit you and I think you'll find I can stop you from doing anything I want."
Adam scoffed "you can't keep track of me all day."
"Wanna bet?" she said and walked to him "Adam Holden you're under arrest for trespassing breaking and entering and criminal damage… get up," she said stopping behind him.
"Are you being serious?" He yelled with wide eyes as she pulled out her cuffs.
"Deadly serious- I know what you did last night," she snapped and slipped them on "I got a phone call I went and had a look you've gone too far now Adam-you do not have to say anything if you don't want to but it ma-"
"Come on mum you can't be doing this I'm your son!" He yelled.
Ruby laughed as she stopped in the doorway "maybe some time inside will make you cop on," she said and walked to the coffee pot.
"Mum!" He yelled "I'm sorry alright I'm sorry! Ruby tell her she's acting crazy," he yelled looking desperately at his older sister.
"I see nothing crazy about this," Ruby replied and walked out of the room.
Charlie was beginning to break she felt bad but it was the only way to get through to him he did overstep the mark last night he had to pay for that, she'd sat and listened to Brax curse and yell for nearly an hour and she didn't blame him the damage was bad "it's too late I gave you every chance possible to get yourself together this has to end now I can't do it any more Adam I won't do it anymore it's for your own good and my sanity…I'm not cleaning up your mess anymore," she said and pulled the back door open.
"Mum please I'm sorry please don't do this!" He yelled when he spotted the cruiser- she was being serious this wasn't another empty threat "I won't do it again any of it I promise I'll settle down."
"Serge," Watson greeted and climbed out.
Charlie smiled weakly "put him in lock up I'll deal with him when I get there," she replied placing him in the back of the car.
"Mum please I'll do anything you want I won't go out again I'll clean the house- I'll clean Angelo's please anything," Adam begged.
Charlie sighed and shut the door "I'm sorry son you leave me no choice…I'll be down soon I need to go see Brax," she said to Watson and walked back to the house. She hadn't told Watson the full story just to turn up and take Adam when she brought him out.
She closed the door behind her and sat at the bench in the seat Adam had just been she couldn't believe she'd actually done it she'd threatened him with it enough times but it was the right thing to do…so why did she feel so bad? Sighing she stood up and grabbed her coffee. Going to the living room she dropped onto the sofa beside Ruby "am I a horrible mother?" she asked.
"No mum you're the best mum he's just an immature jackass that can't see it, don't beat yourself up about it he deserved this a long time ago it'll knock some sense into him- he needs to start taking control of his life he's not a kid anymore," Ruby replied squeezing her knee.
Charlie sighed and stood up "yeah I know I just feel so crappy, anyway I gotta go get dressed I have to pay Brax a visit and pay for the damages before I go to work- will you be home for dinner?"
"Yeah I'll be home I'll see ya then and don't worry about Brax he wasn't mad at you!" Ruby called after her knowing exactly what type of temper her boyfriends brother had.
Half an hour later Charlie had pulled up outside Angelo's and climbed out she was dreading this he'd took the head off her after it had happened called her a bad mother and her son was off the rails, she decided to let it go- judging by the state of the place he wasn't half wrong Adam was a bit wild. Brax had come to check the place out after an alarm had been triggered to see his window's smashed and his walls sprayed with red paint, he found Adam trying to sneak out but he got away so he'd called Charlie. Taking a deep breath she took the stairs up and walked inside "Brax?" she called when she didn't spot him. Taking a few more steps in she called him again "Brax?"
She jumped back when he appeared from the back with a bucket "what do you want?" he asked gruffly.
"To talk to you," she replied and walked over to him.
"Well in case you haven't noticed I'm kinda busy here," he said nodding to the walls behind him he'd been here all night and still hadn't shifted it all.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," she said and leaned on the bar.
"Your precious son finally admitted to it?" he asked rather rudely.
"Okay firstly lose the attitude I didn't do this and secondly here," she said and flung an envelope on the counter. "I'm sorry for what he did I hope that covers it and again I'm sorry," she said and turned away "and as soon as my precious son gets out of lock up he'll be down to apologise himself!" She called as she walked out the exit deciding he needed a little more time to cool down.
Brax sighed and picked up the envelope "Charlie wait!" He called and ran after her "come back up," he said when she looked up from the bottom of the stairs.
She followed him back up and walked to the bar he now stood behind, slipping into a stool she sat looking at him waiting for him to say something. She looked down as he slid the envelope back to her "I don't want your money Charlie."
Charlie slid it back to him "take it- it has to be paid for and he sure as hell isn't going to."
"This is your money Charlie not his so no I won't take it," he said and slid it back to her.
"Brax just take it please he'd be getting it from me anyway I don't want you going after my son he's in enough trouble already thanks to that Hammer kid," she grumbled.
"He's hanging out with Perovich?" Brax asked surprised.
"Yeah you know him?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah and he's bad news just like his older brother…tell you what, since I don't open until dinner time today I'll drop the charges and you'll take this back send him down to me and he'll work here until he pays me back that way we both get what we want."
"And what is that?" Charlie asked confused.
"I get my place cleaned up and you get to know he'll be outta trouble…I can't believe you arrested him," he chuckled.
Charlie shrugged "he broke the law my kid or not he has to face what's he's done he doesn't get special treatment, thanks Brax for dropping the charges, he's at the station now so I think I'll let him stew a bit longer before I bring him here so you've a few hours to make a list for him…and make it good," she giggled and hopped off her stool ignoring the money.
"Forgetting something?" Brax called after her.
"Nope!" She called over her shoulder "I'll see ya soon," she said and was gone down the stairs Brax chuckled and picked up the envelope scribbling his name on it he placed it in the till.
...
Charlie arrived at the station and walked to the desk "he behaving himself?" She asked.
"Yeah not a peep outta him after Jack spotted him…he tore him a new one," Watson replied.
Charlie giggled "I'm so glad it wasn't me…I'll be in my office," she said and walked away. "Hey," she said spotting Jack at his desk.
"Hey lil sis how's it going?" He asked walking over to her desk.
"Ugh where do I start?" she groaned and dropped into her chair.
"Yeah I saw the knuckle head what did he do this time?"
"Broke into Angelo's and smashed a few windows also spray painted stuff on the walls."
"What the hell is wrong with that kid?" Jack sighed.
"Your guess is as good as mine I can't seem to get through to him."
"So what now you gonna leave him in there all day?"
Charlie chuckled "for a few hours yeah, I went to see Brax and we came to an agreement."
"Which was?" Jack asked.
"He'll drop the charges and Adam will work it off and I'm guessing Brax is gonna give him a hard time too."
Jack laughed "good enough for him might wake him up."
"Hey Charlie sorry to interrupt this was left at the desk for you," Watson said handing her an envelope.
Charlie stood up and opened it "god damn it Brax," she muttered and picked up her phone.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked.
"Nothing I gave Brax money to pay for the damages and he's sent it back," she replied.
"So?" Jack asked waving his hands waiting for her to continue.
"So I want to pay for it-need to pay for it I'll just sort it myself," she said and dialled a number "Jessie hey, Charlie Holden here you ready to start working off that debt you owe me? No," she laughed "I need you to fix a few windows for me…today- now actually and you'll get paid- cool Angelo's restaurant down by the beach, the owner's name is Daryl Braxton if he asks you to leave tell him it's already been paid for… thanks I'll stop by and fix you up later bye," she said and hung up "…what?" She asked when Jack shook his head looking at her.
"Brax is gonna kill you," he chuckled.
"Why I'm doing him a favour," she replied.
"Brax is my mate I know him well he could have the windows fixed in an hour if he wanted to, he gave you that back because he knows Adam is moron- he'd rather him work it off than take money from you because you didn't do anything wrong …he will be by later and expect him to be pissed!" he called on his way out the door.
She let another hour go by before she got up and walked to the holding cells "hey," she said slipping in.
Adam looked up and his eyes darkened he clenched his fist and stood up, taking one step he stopped at the voice behind Charlie "take one more step and I'll knock your teeth into the back of your head," Jack said through gritted teeth.
"Jack?" Charlie asked confused.
"Look at him Charlie he's ready to lunge! You'd hit your own mum?" Jack yelled.
"She put me in here!" Adam yelled back.
"You broke into Angelo's and caused a lot of damage!" Charlie yelled.
"I did it for you mum!" He yelled back.
"Me-why me?" she asked horrified.
"I heard him and that idiot brother of his talking about you!"
"What was he saying?" Jack asked curiously.
"He was saying you were hot and stuff then Heath said he wouldn't mind rolling around with you…he deserved it," Adam muttered.
Brax appeared behind them "and if you had have hung around a little longer you'd have seen me hit him and heard me saying keep his comments to himself."
Charlie sighed "you did this because some idiot said I was hot…what the hell is wrong with you Adam?"
"How do you think it feels to hear every guy I pass saying my mum is hot and other shit even my mates think you're hot!" Adam yelled.
"Mate she is hot and yeah I'll admit that but that doesn't mean you go smashing up places that won't solve anything just keep walking," Brax said.
Did he really just say I was hot? Charlie thought, if it weren't this situation she'd be blushing and running for the exit.
"I grew up with it Adam I know how you feel you get used to it you need to learn to let it go over your head they're just words," Jack said coming to sit beside him. "I've punched more guys than you can count Brax is right you need to just keep walking and ignore them."
"But she's my mum it's not right," Adam muttered.
"She's a person too not just your mum," Jack replied "there's always gonna be comments good and bad."
Charlie blew out a breath "what have you to say to Brax?"
"I'm sorry it won't happen again I'll pay for the damages and take whatever punishment I get," Adam said grumpily.
"Good because I've a lot for you to do, I just need to talk to your mum for a sec," Brax replied and walked towards her office.
"He's pissed," Jack sang and chuckled.
Charlie turned and glared at him as she followed. Closing her door she turned to face him "so?"
Brax walked over to her and placed his hands on his hips "there's some guy down there halfway through fitting new windows," he said tiling his head to the side and looking pointedly at her.
"Yeah-you sure do work fast," she said and walked by him.
"Charlie," Brax said pulling her back by the wrist "I told ya I didn't want your money."
Charlie shrugged "it's paid for you have new windows what does it matter where the money came from?"
"Of course it matters where the money came from," he scoffed "I told you to take it back- I sent it back Charlie, he did it he has to pay for it."
"Brax he's sixteen barely goes to school has no job, where the hell do you think he'll get that type of money from?"
"And what you just have all that money lying around?" Brax asked walking closer to her "and there's other ways for him to pay me back."
"Like what?" She asked.
"Like cleaning windows washing dishes- floors anything I can think of… might get him to clean my car stuff like that, if you push him far enough he'll know not to do it again."
"So what you're saying is I'm not being hard enough on him?" Charlie asked annoyed.
"No I didn't say that but since you're a single mum and his dad is not around it'll be good for him to have a guy telling him what to do."
Charlie's anger boiled over at the mention of his father "you don't know anything about me or my son! So why don't you just keep your opinions to yourself!" She yelled "and he doesn't need a male role model either that's what my brothers are for!"
"Alright calm down," Brax said stepping away from her 'touchy subject' he said to himself.
"Just go I'll bring him over after I talk to him," she hissed and opened her door. Brax stood looking at her before he shook his head and walked by her.
She walked back to her desk and slammed her fists down his father was a touchy subject indeed. "Hey you okay?" Jack asked sticking his head in the door.
"Fine," she sighed.
"Really?" Jack asked walking in and closing the door "because I thought I heard him mention Sean," he said walking up behind her.
"Don't' Jack!" She snapped.
"…is he still sending letters?" he asked quietly.
Charlie nodded "one came for each of them yesterday…he wants to see them," she muttered.
"What did the kids have to say?"
"Nothing, Ruby laughed and threw hers in the bin without opening it she said she didn't wanna know and Adam didn't get his."
"How did you know what it said if she threw it in the bin?" Jack asked.
Charlie turned to face him and sighed deeply "I waited until she went to work and took it out and read it then I opened Adam's and it was the same."
"Charlie," Jack sighed.
"No!" she snapped and turned around "Ruby is old enough she can deal he can't he's not seeing him I won't allow it!" she hissed.
"I know I know okay and they won't wanna see him but don't you think he should at least read his?"
"No Jack I don't the way he is lately he'll go see him just to get at me no I won't let him…I have to go," she said and walked by him.
"Charlie I'm not done here!" He called after her.
"What else is there to say?" Charlie yelled.
"Look Charlz," Jack said walking to her "they're sixteen and nineteen old enough to make their own decisions I know Ruby doesn't but did you ever think maybe Adam misses his dad?"
Charlie thought about it for a moment "he's never mentioned him since-well you know…maybe that's why he's acting out," she finally replied.
Jack nodded "maybe it is you just gotta talk to him," he said softly.
Charlie nodded "I will but he has to go to Angelo's first…I'll be back as soon as I drop him off."
Walking to the cell she opened the door "you're going down to help Brax out for the day."
"What? Come on mum I've been in here for hours I've learnt my lesson," he whined.
Charlie sighed "don't argue Adam just for once will you do what I ask, you caused almost a thousand dollars in damages you'll make it up to him," she said firmly.
"Well he shouldn't have been saying things like that about you!" he hissed and walked by her "maybe he'll keep his mouth shut in future."
"Oh for god sake Adam so what if he said I was hot that doesn't mean a thing, I say that about guys and I'm sure you say that about girls too I don't wanna hear any more about it," she said as they walked to the car.
Pulling up at Angelo's they both climbed out and walked inside they found Brax scrubbing the paint off the walls "right you can start by taking over from Brax," she said nudging him forward. She rolled her eyes as Adam grumbled and walked over to Brax "and make sure you put a bit of effort into it."
"Get stuffed," Adam replied.
"Hey don't talk to your mum like that," Brax said slapping him across the head.
"It's fine Brax it's another day added onto what he's already grounded for," she called over "I'm gonna get off but if he starts call me."
"So do I have to keep him here until you come back for him or can he go on his own?" Brax asked walking over to her.
"Well assuming he's finished what you have for him he can get a lift home if not he can walk…thanks for this," she said and smiled at him.
"No worries," he replied "anyway I've a lot to do so I should just get back."
"Yeah that's fine I'll be off then- I guess I'll see ya later!" she called as she walked.
"Hey Charlie hold on a sec," Brax called and jogged over to her "about earlier in your office I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."
"No I'm sorry I shouldn't have snapped it's just…never mind I'm sorry," she replied "I'll see ya later," she said and walked down the stairs leaving Brax looking after her.
...
An hour later Brax came out with a pizza "Adam," he called and nodded for him to come over. Adam dropped his cloth and walked up to him "here take a break," he said and slid the pizza in front of him.
"Thanks," he muttered and sat down.
They ate in silence until Brax looked up at him "so your mum got pretty upset when I mentioned your dad," he said noticing Adam stiffen "something going on there?" he asked casually.
"He's a dog," Adam replied with disgust in his voice.
Brax nodded "like my old man…what did he do?"
Adam looked up "what did your dad do?"
Brax sat back and studied the teenager he could see the anger in his eyes the hatred- all the things he felt for his father "he smacked my mum around and us…my brother got it the worst because he couldn't defend himself as good as me and I always had Casey with me or left him at the neighbours so it was just Heath. I warned him never to go home unless he was sure I was there but at that age things go in one ear and out the other."
"What did you do?" Adam asked curiously.
"I stood up to him I hit him back I tried to protect my mum and brothers."
"What happened then…after you hit him back?"
"I came home to find him hitting my brother turns out he broke his arm- anyway, I flipped and ran at him and knocked him to the ground- wasn't hard coz he was drunk like he always was. I just kept punching and punching until he fought back…. ended up breaking my jaw."
"So it still went on after that?" Adam asked he was deeply interested in this.
Brax nodded "yeah until I got better…I took my brothers and ran away, mum never reported us missing I asked her why and she said she thought we were better off…while we were away dad did an armed robbery and got caught he got twenty years in prison so it worked out well for us."
"Why did you come back?"
"I needed to know mum was okay as much as a screw up she was she's still my mum and I love her I should be protecting her and looking out for her…you only get one mum right?" he asked looking up.
Adam nodded and sat back in his chair "my dad's in prison too," he said after a few minutes.
"Yeah?" Brax asked surprised all these years he'd been friends with Jack he never knew- he always shrugged it off saying it wasn't important.
"Yeah…he attacked mum," he mumbled.
Brax leaned forward he could tell Adam wasn't sure about saying anything else "I'm not gonna tell anyone mate you can tell me if you want- what I just told you no one knows but I trust you to keep it to yourself."
Adam sat up and blew out a breath "I was nine I think so Ruby was twelve, mum or dad never showed to pick us up from school so our neighbour offered us a ride. When we got home both cars were in the drive, Ruby stopped me at the door when she hear a yelp- looking in we saw mum on the floor all battered, her face was all bloody she was lying in a pool of blood, dad was kneeling over her with blood on his hands," Adam stopped and stood up he shook his head "I can't," he said shakily.
Brax stood up and walked over to him "it's alright mate you don't have to say anything else…why don't you finish up with the wall while I clear this up then I'll run you over to your mum."
"But I've only been here about an hour," Adam replied.
Brax nodded "I know and that's all I have for you today…unless you wanna clean the toilets," he said hoping it would ease the tension.
Adam chuckled "nah thanks but I think I'd rather sit in the station."
Brax chuckled "thought so," he said and picked up their plates "get it finished so!" He called as he walked into the kitchen.
Adam smiled as he picked up the cloth maybe Brax wasn't so bad after all.
Charlie sat at her desk looking over reports she was relived she didn't have to worry about Adam she knew where he was and that Brax would keep him busy. She looked up when someone knocked at her door "you've a visitor," Watson said and stepped back to allow them in.
Charlie stood up when Brax walked in with Adam behind him "what did he do now?" she sighed and glared at her son.
"Nothing, he finished the paint so that's all I need him for today…I didn't know if I should have just let him go off so here we are," Brax said dropping into the seat opposite her desk.
"Right," Charlie said slowly.
Brax looked over at Adam and motioned for him to leave them alone "is Jack around?" he asked standing up.
"Yeah he's in copying stuff," Charlie replied.
Adam left them alone and Brax stood up "I think I kinda upset him today that's why we're here early."
"How?" Charlie asked walking to the other side of the desk "you yell at him?"
"I kinda mentioned his dad and he tensed up."
"Braaaax," Charlie groaned.
"I'm sorry alright it was in conversation I wasn't thinking."
Charlie sat down on her desk "what did he say…did he tell you anything?"
"Just that he was in prison," Brax replied leaving everything else out he didn't want Adam getting into trouble.
Thinking about what Jack said Charlie looked up at him "did he say he missed him or he wanted to see him anything like that?"
"No," Brax shook his head "that's all he said."
Charlie sighed heavily "I'm starting to think he's acting out over his dad like maybe he missed him they were pretty close."
"So he hasn't seen him since he went away?"
"No they were too young and I never brought them to see him either…I don't want them to see him- but now they're older it's their choice right?"
Brax nodded "it is but it still depends on what he did in the first place you're their mum you still have your say," he replied hoping she'd tell him something else.
Charlie stood up again "what he did he can never make up for what he did ruined lives," she said quickly.
Brax could see her getting upset so he dropped it there "right do you want me to take him back and find stuff for him to do or shall I leave him here?"
"Nah leave him here so I can keep an eye on him he's very unpredictable these days."
Brax nodded "alright I'll pick him up tomorrow at nine or you can drop him over it doesn't really matter."
"Thanks Brax I'll text you later and let you know," Charlie replied and opened her door for him "later!" she called after him.
Closing her door she sank into her chair she was gonna have to talk to Adam about his dad, they never really mentioned him after he was sent away maybe it was all building up inside him- maybe he was acting out because he didn't know what else to do. Sighing she picked up her pen and looked at the sheets in front of her she needed to get these done before she could do anything she just hoped it went well.
Thoughts?