Chapter Twelve: Old News Isn't A Secret To The District Attorney, Especially If It Made Front Page In The Paper.

"Jackson? Jackson, wake up." It was Nathan.

I sat up. "What?"

"My dad wants you."

Great. "Okay."

Nathan left the room.

I just sat there for a moment before getting out of bed.

I walked downstairs and found Nelson in the living room. "I need you to help me rearrange the furniture."

I sighed.

"So, I was thinking about putting the couch over there, and the TV over there. What do you think?"

"I think it looks just fine how it is."

"You would, compared to what your old place looked like," he mumbled.

I glared at him.

He ignored me. "Alright. Let's get stared."

I set the TV down, legs shaking. "A little help would be great."

"I am helping. I'm choosing where everything goes. That takes a lot of thinking."

I rolled my eyes.

"Hey! Don't roll your eyes at me, young man!"

I didn't say anything.

"You understand?!"

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Yes, I understand, what?"

"Yes, I understand that I'm not supposed to roll my eyes at you."

"Yes, I understand that I'm not supposed to roll my eyes at you, what?"

"Yes, I understand that I'm not supposed to roll my eyes at you, Mr. McHugh."

"Yes, I understa-"

"Yes, I understand that I'm not supposed to roll my eyes at you, Mr. McHugh, kind sir." I bowed like a prince to the king.

Sitting on the couch, soda in hand, Nathan chuckled, then quickly stopped when Nelson glared at him, continuing to innocently drinking his coke.

"You better watch the attitude, Cody. Get back to work."

"So, is this okay?" I said, looking around the living room.

"Actually, I think it was just fine the way it was before."

I set the TV in its original spot. "Is it good, now?" I was a little p*** off. It was the forth time we-I mean, I-had moved the furniture around. Now, it looked exactly the way it was when we started.

"Actually-"

"C'mon. Can't you make up your mind?" I was tired, my legs hurting.

"Actually," he continued, "I think it looks great. Not good, but great."

"Thank you." I sighed, relieved.

"Now, to rearrange the basement," Nathan said.

I groaned.

"Dude, I was kidding."

"No, that sounds like a great idea, Nathan. Follow me, Cody." Nelson started walking.

I glared at Nathan. "Great. Thanks."

"Anything for you, kind sir." Nathan imitated my earlier act.

I couldn't help but grin.

"Cody, get down here!" Nelson called.

My smile quickly faded.

I walked to the basement, Nathan following behind me.

There was one light bulb, its chain dangling from the ceiling. Spider webs hung from above. Things were thrown all over the floor. Objects on the shelf were unorganized.

"I need you to dust and sweep, organize things, and move those boxes to that corner."

"Are you sure that that's where you want them?" I said, not wanting to move them back after I was finished.

"Yes. I'm sure."

"I'm gonna stay here and help him," Nathan said.

"No, I, uh, need you to, um...go to the store for me."

"But I went this morning."

"And now you're going again."

Nathan sighed, giving me an apologetic look, then followed his father up the stairs.

I looked around, then glanced at my watch. 10:34 a.m.

I sighed.

If I finished quickly, I would have enough time to call Melissa.

Everything was dusted and swept. I began to organize the shelves. After that was done, I walked to the boxes.

They were, unexpectedly, light.

Curious, I looked inside.

I found newspaper articles.

I glanced through them, seeing one about a drunk driver that flipped his car, surviving. Unfortunately, his mother didn't.

"Billy..." I said to myself. I folded it up, sticking it into my back pocket to read later.

I was about to close the box when one particular article grabbed my attention. I picked it up, reading it. "S***!" I said.

The article read, "Cody Jackson accused of rape."

"He knows..." I realized.

"Yeah. I know."

I whipped around to find Nelson.

"I've known that for a while, now."

I didn't speak.

"Get back to work, Cody Jackson."

"And if I don't...?"

"You don't want me to tell Nathan about this, do you?"

"Tell Nathan about what?" It was a new voice.

I looked over Nelson's shoulder to see Nathan standing there.

Nelson put his arms on my shoulders, squeezing them hard, dragging me in front of him. "Cody has something to tell you."

"What?" Nathan looked at me.

I pulled myself from Nelson's grip, careful not to let Nathan notice. "Uh...I asked Mel out today," I lied.

"Really? What did she say?"

"Yes."

"Congrats, man."

"Well, actually, Cody-"

I threw Nelson a pleading look, silently begging him to go along with it.

"-got a job," Nelson finished his sentence.

"You did?" Nathan said.

"Um...uh-huh."

"Cool."

The telephone rang.

"I'll get that," Nathan walked up the stairs, leaving me alone with Nelson.

After a moment, I said, "Thanks for not telling him." I was looking at the ground.

"Hey, I'm just gonna sit back and watch this blow up in your face. By the way, you start Monday at 8:00."

"Start what?"

"Your job." He started walking toward the stairs. Without stopping, he said, "Oh, and, Cody?"

I looked up.

"Finish cleaning this mess."

"I will."

He stopped in his tracks, back still facing me.

"I am, Mr. McHugh...sir."

He continued walking, leaving me to myself.

I stood there for a moment, then heard Nathan calling me.

"Jackson, phone's for you."

I walked up the basement stairs, wondering who would call me.

Nathan handed me the phone, then went into the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"Jackson?"

"Melissa?"

"I was just calling because you hung up when you were about to explain last time. You wanna meet me somewhere so we can talk?"

"Well, now's not really a good time."

"Oh." She sounded disappointed.

I didn't want to hurt Mel anymore. "Uh, nevermind. I can meet you."

"How about the park?"

"Okay."

"See you at eight."

"See you, Mel."

"Bye, Jackson."

With that, I hung up.

How was I going to get Nelson to let me go?

I walked into the kitchen, holding one arm in the other, nervous. "Uh, Mr. McHugh? Can I go meet Mel at the park tonight?"

I wasn't used to having to ask before I left. When I lived with my mom, I could do whatever I wanted.

"I don't know. Can you?"

"May I go meet Mel at the park tonight?" I corrected.

"Did you finish cleaning the basement?"

I sighed, looking at the floor. My voice was barely above a whisper. "No." I turned to walk back to the basement.

"C'mon, Dad. Let him go. He hasn't left the house since he got here. I'll finish cleaning the basement."

Nelson considered before giving in. "Okay. But be back soon."

"Thanks, Mr. McHugh. Thanks, Nathan." I walked upstairs to change, then sat on the bed, thinking about what I would say to her.