Thank you for all the sweet reviews, favs, and follows! I hope you enjoy chapter 11!
Jax sat at the kitchen table, lighting his fifth cigarette. He tried talking to Abel, but he wanted to talk to Marni instead. Not that he blames him. He just caught his father with his hand down his girlfriend's shorts. There's no coming back from that kind of sight.
Marni came into the kitchen, holding a white piece of paper in her hands. She pulled out the chair that was across from where Jax was sitting, taking a seat.
"Is there a chance he didn't see anything?"
"No, he saw everything."
"Fuck. What's with the paper?"
A small smile crossed Marni's face as she handed the paper to Jax.
"What?"
"Abel had me write out a list of the things he wants in exchange of not saying anything to anyone about what he just saw."
"My five year old son is trying to blackmail me?"
"They grow up so fast, don't they?"
Marni reached across the table, pulling out one of the cigarettes from the package, holding the cigarette between her teeth.
"I never knew you smoke."
"The situation we are currently in requires a cigarette."
Jax smiled, sliding his silver lighter across the table.
One Month Later:
A loud knock was made on the locker room door.
"Hey Marn, you dressed?"
"Yeah come in, Ronnie," she pulled the hairtie out of her hair, running a brush through it.
"Hey, me and the guys are heading over to Mack's bar and grill for something to eat. You wanna come?"
"No thanks. I'm going to head home and catch up on some sleep. These double shifts are kicking my ass," she chuckled, tossing her brush into her duffel bag.
"Okay. Is everything alright, kiddo?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"
"You've been keeping to yourself for the past few weeks. Everyone is picking up on it. Does this silent treatment have anything to do with the stud on the harley?"
"Am I that transparent?"
"No, I'm just that fuckin' good. Did he break our Marni's heart? Do I have to kick some ass?"
"Ha no, he didn't. I was the one who suggested some time apart."
"Why?"
" His lifestyle is pretty extreme. I don't think I could handle it let alone fit into his world."
"But you like him right?"
"Yeah."
"Then be with him."
"What?"
" Did I stutter? You think he was the only one in this relationship that has an extreme lifestyle? Last time I checked, you run into burning buildings while everyone else runs out. I would call that fucking exteme. The guy is facing the same kind of worries that you have."
"I never looked at it like that until now."
"Marn, it's not garanteed that it will work out. But, it's better giving it a go then always wondering what if."
"Sounds like you've been in this kind of situation."
"Not with a handsome biker, no," he replied with a smile. But, with my wife. We've been married for nearly twenty years, and I'll say we're pretty damn happy."
"Thanks Ron."
"You're welcome, proby," he kissed Marni on the cheek, leaving her alone in the locker room.
Her cellphone began to ring from inside her closed duffelbag. Marni unzipped the large pocket, pulling everything out until she reached her phone on the bottom of her bag. The number was unknown on the caller id, but something told her she should answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Marni Sanders?"
"Yes, this is she."
"Hi, I'm Mara Kendrick, the principal at Bryant Elementary School. You were listed as an emergency contact if I couldn't reach Abel's father."
"Abel.. is he okay?"
"He got into a fight with a fellow classmate today during recess. He pushed the kid off of the jungle gym, and he broke his arm."
"Jesus Christ."
"Would you be able to come to the school so we can discuss this in person?"
"Sure. I'll be there in about twenty minutes," Marni hung up the phone, shoving her things that were sprawled out on the bench back into her duffel bag.
She pushed open the doors to the school, only to be stopped by a sercurity guard who escorted her to the main office.
" You really can't just tell me where Principal Kendrick's office is?"
"Sorry doll. You need to sign in first, and the secretary has to confirm your appointment with Mrs. Kendrick. Have your id ready," Ralph let go of Marni's arm as they stepped up to the counter.
"Hi, how may I help you?," the kind young woman asked who was sitting behind the counter.
"Hi, I'm Marni Sanders. I'm here to see Principal Kendrick," she rummaged around in her purse, handing her id to the secretary.
"Okay, here you go. Just sign in please," she replied, handing Marni a clipboard with a pen at the top while she made a call to the principal's office.
The secretary hung up the phone, giving Marni her id back.
"You're all set. Her office is down this hall, the first door on the left," she animated with her hands.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. "
This school was a good choice, she had to give Jax that. They don't just allow anyone in here. That made Marni feel relieved Abel would be safe here. Looking at the world today, schools needed the tightest security possible.
As Marni approached the principal's office, she saw Abel sitting outside the office with a large scratch above his eyebrow.
"Marni!," Abel jumped up from his seat, hugging her waist.
"Hey buddy. I'm going to go talk to your principal, and then I'll take you home, okay?"
He nodded, sitting back down.
Marni knocked on the door to Mara's office.
"Come in."
She opened the door, closing it behind her.
"Hi, I'm Marni," Mara stood up from her desk, shaking the young woman's hand.
"Hi, nice to meet you. Please, have a seat."
She did what she was asked, sitting in the chair across from her desk, crossing her legs.
"Ms. Sanders, I'm very worried About Abel. He's been acting out since his father enrolled him in this school a couple of weeks ago."
" Really? That doesn't sound like him. He's a well behaved kid."
"Yes, I'm afraid so. Today was the first time he has gotten physical. Has anything changed at home?"
"Uh, I really don't know. I haven't been around lately. His father and I sort of went our seperate ways."
"Ah, I see. Children Abel's age tend to get effected when their parents or parent figures split up. They blame themselves."
"He's only five. "
"Kids are smarter than we think they are, Ms. Sanders. "
"He's not going to get kicked out of school, is he?"
"No, we want to take every step possible before considering expulsion. But, I do request both you and Mr. Teller talk to him. If you can't get through to him, we have a great school therapist."
"Okay, thank you Ms. Kendrick."
"You're welcome. "
She pulled her cellphone out of her jacket pocket, dialing Jax's number.
Shit. Straight to voicemail.
"Hey Jax, it's me. I picked up Abel early from school. There was another incident today. I'll meet you at your house. Call me back when you can."
Marni stepped outside the office, offering her hand to Abel.
"You ready to go home, little man?"
He nodded, taking her hand.
"Do you wanna tell me what happened between you and that boy today?", Marni opened the car door to the backseat for him.
"Not really."
" You can tell me anything, you know that don't you?", she bent down, reaching across him to buckle him in his seatbelt.
"I know."
"Was he being mean to you?"
"No."
"You really hurt him, Abel. Do you know that?"
"I didn't mean to. "
"I know you didn't, but whenever there's a problem, you have to go to an adult. They will always be able to help you."
"Are you coming home, Marni?", he asked, not acknowledging what she just said.
"I don't know, buddy."
Marni finished making Abel his macaroni and cheese. She poured some on the plate next to her, moving the noodles around with the fork to cool down the food.
She set the plate down in front of Abel, who was drawing in a new coloring book with his crayons spread out on the table.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Do you want some?", he held out the fork toward Marni.
"No, I'm good. You eat."
The distinct sound of Jax's harley broke Marni out of a sound sleep.
Both her and Abel must have fallen asleep while watching Transformers.
Marni's eyes found the clock on the cable box underneath the television.
11 pm.
Jesus christ. He was gone the whole fucking day.
Without disturbing Abel, she got up from the couch to get herself something to drink.
She heard the front door open and close, Jax giving her a small smile as he walked into the kitchen.
"Thanks for getting Abel."
"You're welcome. It's a good thing you listed me as an emergency contact. The principal and me tried calling you and Gemma, and we got no answer," she scolded, grabbing a beer out of the fridge.
"Gemma is in Norco with Nero doing god knows what. Some kind of anniversary or some shit. I had no service where I was at."
"Where the hell were you all day?"
"You really wanna know?"
"Yeah, I do."
"I was burying two members of my club today."