Chapter 34
Jake was sitting at a table with Darrell and some other friends, when he heard the commotion across the lunch room. He lifted his head when he thought he heard Sam's voice.
He stood up surprising Darrell.
"What's going on?" Darrell looked up at Jake.
Jake didn't answer, he started towards the ruckus. He didn't realize it but Quinn, Bryan, Nate and Adam had seen him stand up and the anger on his face as he looked at what was going on. They scrambled up and followed him, seeing the older boys bullying Sam.
"Leave her alone," Jake told the older boys. Sam turned her tear streaked face towards Jake. Jake glanced briefly at her, seeing her tears which made him even madder.
"What's it to you?" the boy who had first taken Sam's backpack said. "She dared to sit at our table."
"She's a kindergartner," Jake said. "She didn't know any better."
"Like I said, what's it to you?" the boy asked again.
"Give it back to her," Jake warned them, taking in with a glance all the other boys. He saw the eyes widen on a few of them a second before he felt the presences behind him. He knew without even turning around that his brothers were there.
"She's our sister," Nate told the group of boys.
"You don't have a sister, Ely," the leader scoffed.
"Yes we do and you're messing with her," Adam's voice was low but it made Sam shiver. There wasn't a hint of the teasing or humor that normally was on Adam's face.
"Give it back to her," Jake told them again.
The leader took in the determined looks on the Ely brothers' faces and handed the backpack to Sam who clutched it to her chest.
"She's still at our table," the leader said.
"I don't see your name on it," Quinn responded. "Sit down Sammy. Eat your lunch."
Sam looked questioningly at Jake who gave her a curt nod. She slipped back onto the bench. Bryan sat down next to her. Quinn sat across from her and Nate sat next to Quinn.
The group of boys who had stole her backpack backed away from the table and went to sit elsewhere.
"First day and already causing trouble, huh Brat?" Jake chuckled.
"It wasn't my fault," Sam protested.
Jake shook his head, his mouth twitching as he headed back to the table where his friends were still sitting and gaping at him over what had just gone on.
"What happened?" Darrell asked. "I thought she was just a neighbor kid."
"She is," Jake responded.
"I thought you were going to take on all those fifth graders yourself," Darrell said.
Jake just shrugged, making Darrell gaze towards where Sam was sitting with Jake's older brothers. It was unlike all of them to pay any attention to a little girl, especially a kindergartner.
"Is he mad?" Sam asked, looking up at Bryan.
"Nah," Bryan shook his head. "I think he was just worried about getting in trouble for fighting again."
"I'm sorry," Sam looked like she was going to cry again.
"Don't worry about it, Sammy," Nate told her. "Nobody messes with our family."
"Even if they do carry a butt ugly pink backpack," Quinn teased, causing Bryan and Nate to start laughing. Sam hit him.
Jake was watching across the room and he couldn't help the smile as Sam hit Quinn. Darrell saw it, totally intrigued with what was going on with Jake.