Chapter 14

The second that the bell rang, Jack jumped out of his chair and was greeted by his two brothers, Angel and Jerry, at the door. As they exited the school, Jerry on his left and Angel on his right, he noticed that Bobby was already in his car waiting. He felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. He couldn't remember ever feeling so…just loved and safe.

"Hey Cracker Jack!" Bobby greeted as Jack and Angel hopped into the backseat while Angel took shot gun.

"Hi Bobby." Jack replied back.

"So was school as bad as you thought it would be?" Bobby asked as they pulled out into the street.

"It was okay." Jack said really meaning what he said.

"Yeah, little Jacky here made a friend." Angel said in sarcastic baby talk.

"Ah shut up man." Jerry barked at his immature younger brother. "What's the kid's name?" he asked curiously.

"Trip Mason." Jack answered.

"Oh hey I know that kid. He plays hockey at the rink sometimes. I think he's also one of Ma's friends adopted kid. That's about all I know though. Is he a good kid?" Bobby said suddenly feeling very knowledgeable.

"Yeah, he's nice." Jack replied.

"Well aren't we a chatterbox today." Angel said sarcastically as they pulled into the driveway.

Once they got into the house they all went to their designated areas; Bobby to the couch, Angel the kitchen, Jerry outside on the front porch to talk on the phone with Camille, and Jack in his room. Once Evelyn got home they all gathered around in the kitchen and family room, immersing themselves in Evelyn's presence.

"So how was school honey?" Evelyn asked kindly as she worked on making dinner.

"It was okay I guess." Jack answered the question for the second time that day.

"Well that's good. I'm glad everything turned out okay."

Jack nodded his head.

After dinner Jack dismissed himself straight to his room. He collapsed on his bed and the second his head hit the pillow he fell asleep.

When Jack got to his first class the next morning, Algebra, Trip was also in there. He had a black eye, but a big smile on his face.

"Hey, Jack, come sit here. In this class we pick our seats. How exciting right?!" Trip said sarcastically.

Jack let out a light laugh and then Trip went into detail about the fight in the park. Apparently Trip kicked Zack's ass. He wasn't bragging about it or anything, just informing.

"So what's he look like?" Jack asked curiously referring to any bruises and blood that Zack might have.

"Dude I broke his nose and split his lip. Nothing major since he pussy'd out after only a few hits. Guys all talk." Trip said shaking his head in disappointment at the thought of not being able to have a real fight.

Everything that day was going fine for Jack until after second block when Zack came up to him and pushed him against a locker. Jack felt the air leave his lungs and suppressed a grunt.

All Jack could think right then was 'Where's Angel? He's supposed to meet me after every block. Where is he?'

"Hey dipshit!" Zack spat in his face as students began to gather around them. "Apologize!"

Now Jack was confused. He hadn't done anything wrong. "About what?" He asked quietly.

Zack smirked. "About just a minute ago when you shoved into me you fag!"

Jack didn't answer him. He hadn't done anything wrong, therefore he wasn't going to apologize, but he wasn't going to back talk either because this kid was twice his size and could probably eat him for breakfast.

"Apologize!" He yelled in his face again. Then he leaned in against Jack, slowly tightening a hand around Jack's neck making it hard to breathe, and whispered in his ear. "Your dumb ass brothers aren't here to protect you now are they? I bet they don't even care about you. Probably just listening to what ever your whore mother tells them to do."

He started to laugh, but couldn't really because just after those words were spoken Jack launched a fist into Zack's stomach, then his eye, then his gut again, then his cheek bone, and so on and so on. He couldn't stop himself. He just kept hitting and hitting. Everything was red. He didn't even realize what he was doing. It was just pure rage that was driving him. He continued until a pair of strong arms lifted Jack off of a now unconscious Zack.

Jack turned around on instinct and anger and set a right hook against his holders face.

"Shit, Jack, calm down." Angel said letting go of Jack and rubbing his jaw.

Jack's suddenly looked shocked at the fact that he would hit Angel and then confusion to why he hit Angel. Before he could ask any questions a teacher barged his way through the crowd of kids.

"What's going on h-" The teacher didn't finish the sentence. When he saw Zack laying bloodied, bruised, and unconscious on the ground he grew livid.

"I demand to know who did this." There was silence. "Now!" He yelled.

Jack turned from Angel and saw Zack on the floor as he was. Then he noticed the blood on his hands and his split knuckles. Jack just stared at his hands in horror and confusion.

"Jack, you okay man?" Angel asked putting a hand on Jack's shoulder.

Jack flinched away on instinct and then gave Angel a lost and pained look.

"You!" The teacher yelled as he stepped towards Jack looking at the boys hands and the red ring around his neck. "Come with me now!" He barked as he grabbed Jack's arm roughly increasing Jack's breathing.

Angel quickly pried the teachers hand away from his brother afraid that he was about to have an anxiety attack.

The teacher looked absolutely outraged by Angel's actions. "What do you think you're doing Mercer?" The man hissed out.

Angel straightened himself up making him look more intimidating and glared the man down. "This is my lil bro and I'm taking him home. You can yell at me all you want, but you take a look at him and tell me if you think this was his fault." Angel said keeping his voice firm and even.

The teacher glanced at the boys face and saw how out of it he was. He was shaking slightly and was still staring at his hands. His eyes were glazed over and his face was somber yet stoic. The man's face softened.

"Call your brother to come pick you up and I'll notify your mother. We will have to deal with this though." The teacher said.

Angel just nodded and carefully led Jack out of the crowd of people.

I am so so so so sorry. I haven't updated in like a bazillion years and I'm a bitch for it. Please forgive me. I hope this chapter is okay. I'm once again VERY sorry.