Silent Heartbeats 13: ... Is Paved With Good Intentions
By Maureen
***
Jamie turned to glare at his foster father, signing rapidly. *What the hell do you think you're doing? Did you plan this?! * His signs became more rapid and sharp expressing his outrage.
*Surprise! * Alex said, not quite following what Jamie was saying as he was signing too quickly. A beat later he understood. *What's wrong? *
*What's wrong? * Every bone and muscle in his young body radiating sarcasm, *What's wrong? I hate Peter the perfect! Why would I want to see him? *
*But he's your brother! * Alex protested feebly, not expecting his plan to backfire.
*So? He left me there alone. He always abandoned me! Just like my father did. I'm leaving! * Jamie tried to push past Alex, but Alex restrained him, well practiced from the past months.
*I'll clear this up. *
While Alex's back was turned Jamie snuck out of the room and out of the building into the dusk. He didn't need Alex and he certainly didn't need Peter the perfect!
***
Meanwhile, John and Peter were arguing as well, although theirs was much more civilized, as telling off your professor is not a good way to make an 'A' in the class.
"Did you know that was Jamie? Did you do this on purpose?" Peter demanded. He had left his old life behind when he left for college, family and all. He had decided in high school that he wasn't going to live in poverty and squalor for the rest of his life and worked hard to get a full scholarship to the University of Georgia. He had worked that summer and throughout college to afford his clothes, food and other college essentials. He almost had enough saved up to get a car. His first. Now it all looked to be caving in.
"Yes, I knew Jamie was your brother. Alex called me for help confirming it. He needs you, you're family," John told him, hoping the younger man could forget the past.
"I have no family," Peter said with finality. "If you'll excuse me, I have things to do."
"I'll meet you and Jamie at the car, okay, John?" Alex said, not realizing that the EMT had left. John nodded and left, thinking that Jamie was in the hallway or at the car already.
***
Jamie ran, not paying attention to where he was going. In the twilight, everything looked the same, tall buildings and pine trees. Finally he stopped, out of breath. After he calmed down a little he looked around, completely lost. "Crappit." He said to no one in particular.
He turned around to head back from where he had come from, but realized he wasn't sure where that was. He had taken several twists and turns and didn't remember the name of the dorm. "Crappity crappity crap." He chanted, not really worried, but at the same time terrified.
He knew Kingsport. He knew where everything was and if he didn't know, he could find out quickly enough using cross streets and basic directions. Here he was completely lost and had no idea where to start to get back. If only he had paid more attention to where they were when Alex had told him. He'd been too busy trying to think of ways to annoy Lilly while pretending to be too cool for words.
Sighing, he sat down on the curb, wondering if it would simply be better to just walk into the middle of traffic and end his hellish life. Catie wouldn't like that though, he remembered. She got mad whenever he said stupid stuff like that and he didn't want to make her mad. Besides, he didn't mean it.
On the other side of the street was a map of campus. Jamie sighed and looked at it, unsure where exactly he needed to be. The only reason he knew where he was, was the large 'you are here' sign with an arrow. He ran a hand through his spiky hair, wondering if he even wanted to go back at all. Damn Peter.
Damn him to hell. With his father. He kicked the trashcan next to the campus map, angrily. It didn't budge. He kicked it again, harder, this time it wobbled but again stayed upright. Well, he would topple it if it were the last thing he did.
While he tried to beat the crud out of the defenseless trashcan, a cop car drove up. They had asked Jamie to turn around several times and when he failed to do so, the first officer drew his gun and the second officer tapped his shoulder carefully. Jamie whirled around, startled. His eyes widened as he saw two police officers, guns drawn and pointing at him.
Jamie raised his hands in the air; he unfortunately knew how to deal with the police. His probation made sure of that. "I'm deaf!" he called out, hoping to avoid a problem.
The first cop motioned Jamie to put his hands on the roof of the car and he roughly pushed his legs apart and frisked him. As soon as he was done, he rudely bent his arms back, handcuffing him. The second cop handed him a tube, motioning Jamie to breathe into it. Breathalyzer. He was clean.
/Name?/ the first cop wrote on a piece of paper.
"James Waite. I'm from Kingsport, Virginia, sir." Short and to the point. Cops liked that.
/What were you doing Mr. Waite?/
I was kicking the trashcan," it is always best to be ultra-polite when dealing with anyone that could potentially arrest you. "I know my rights too, no need to write them out."
/Why were you kicking the trashcan?/
"I'm lost, sir. And I couldn't figure out a way to get unlost. I'm here with my foster-father and I don't know where I'm staying or the phone number. I was frustrated."
/Who are you staying with?/
"Professor John Constantine. He works for the University here."
/Come on, we'll help you get home/ It didn't seem like he was being arrested and the tension in his shoulders began to wash away some, but being cuffed was still not a good thing. Alex wouldn't like him being brought back by the police anyways.
They did not remove the handcuffs as they loaded him into the back of the squad car. This was not the first time he had been led away in cuffs but he had been hoping not to have to repeat it again. So much for hoping.
***
At the station, he was seated in a hard, molded plastic chair, still in handcuffs. He had been interrogated with an interpreter, finger printed and his ID checked. His nose itched and he couldn't scratch it. /This the address?/ a cop asked, handing him a piece of paper.
"I think so. Is there more than one Constantine?"
The policeman shook his head, no.
"Then it must be." The cop helped him up and escorted him back to the car. "Could you take the handcuffs off?" Jamie asked.
He was ignored.
***
Lilly opened the door a few minutes after the doorbell rang. John had called nearly two hours ago updating her on what happened. She assumed it was Jamie at the door, having found his way back.
"Yes?" she said, opening the door, not expecting two policemen and Jamie. "Can I help you?"
"Mrs. Constantine?" the older of the two men asked.
"Yes..." she said, cautiously.
"You know this man?"
"Yes, he's staying with us for the weekend." She knew he was a no-good punk.
They took the handcuffs off finally, releasing him to her. "Keep him out of trouble. We're not pressing charges or anything, but I don't want to see him again."
"Thank you, officers. He won't be back."
Jamie walked into the house and as soon as the door was closed, Lilly turned around, her glare capable of melting ice. She merely pointed up the stairs to the baby's room. Jamie slunk up the stairs. Alex wouldn't be so terrible Jamie thought, but until Alex got home, he was screwed.
A/n: "crappity crappity crap" and "crappit" are both used by my friend the Gork King (who shall never read this).
Gork: a geek/dork mix. Highly entertaining.
Sorry it took so long to get this out. I hate not having my computer.
By Maureen
***
Jamie turned to glare at his foster father, signing rapidly. *What the hell do you think you're doing? Did you plan this?! * His signs became more rapid and sharp expressing his outrage.
*Surprise! * Alex said, not quite following what Jamie was saying as he was signing too quickly. A beat later he understood. *What's wrong? *
*What's wrong? * Every bone and muscle in his young body radiating sarcasm, *What's wrong? I hate Peter the perfect! Why would I want to see him? *
*But he's your brother! * Alex protested feebly, not expecting his plan to backfire.
*So? He left me there alone. He always abandoned me! Just like my father did. I'm leaving! * Jamie tried to push past Alex, but Alex restrained him, well practiced from the past months.
*I'll clear this up. *
While Alex's back was turned Jamie snuck out of the room and out of the building into the dusk. He didn't need Alex and he certainly didn't need Peter the perfect!
***
Meanwhile, John and Peter were arguing as well, although theirs was much more civilized, as telling off your professor is not a good way to make an 'A' in the class.
"Did you know that was Jamie? Did you do this on purpose?" Peter demanded. He had left his old life behind when he left for college, family and all. He had decided in high school that he wasn't going to live in poverty and squalor for the rest of his life and worked hard to get a full scholarship to the University of Georgia. He had worked that summer and throughout college to afford his clothes, food and other college essentials. He almost had enough saved up to get a car. His first. Now it all looked to be caving in.
"Yes, I knew Jamie was your brother. Alex called me for help confirming it. He needs you, you're family," John told him, hoping the younger man could forget the past.
"I have no family," Peter said with finality. "If you'll excuse me, I have things to do."
"I'll meet you and Jamie at the car, okay, John?" Alex said, not realizing that the EMT had left. John nodded and left, thinking that Jamie was in the hallway or at the car already.
***
Jamie ran, not paying attention to where he was going. In the twilight, everything looked the same, tall buildings and pine trees. Finally he stopped, out of breath. After he calmed down a little he looked around, completely lost. "Crappit." He said to no one in particular.
He turned around to head back from where he had come from, but realized he wasn't sure where that was. He had taken several twists and turns and didn't remember the name of the dorm. "Crappity crappity crap." He chanted, not really worried, but at the same time terrified.
He knew Kingsport. He knew where everything was and if he didn't know, he could find out quickly enough using cross streets and basic directions. Here he was completely lost and had no idea where to start to get back. If only he had paid more attention to where they were when Alex had told him. He'd been too busy trying to think of ways to annoy Lilly while pretending to be too cool for words.
Sighing, he sat down on the curb, wondering if it would simply be better to just walk into the middle of traffic and end his hellish life. Catie wouldn't like that though, he remembered. She got mad whenever he said stupid stuff like that and he didn't want to make her mad. Besides, he didn't mean it.
On the other side of the street was a map of campus. Jamie sighed and looked at it, unsure where exactly he needed to be. The only reason he knew where he was, was the large 'you are here' sign with an arrow. He ran a hand through his spiky hair, wondering if he even wanted to go back at all. Damn Peter.
Damn him to hell. With his father. He kicked the trashcan next to the campus map, angrily. It didn't budge. He kicked it again, harder, this time it wobbled but again stayed upright. Well, he would topple it if it were the last thing he did.
While he tried to beat the crud out of the defenseless trashcan, a cop car drove up. They had asked Jamie to turn around several times and when he failed to do so, the first officer drew his gun and the second officer tapped his shoulder carefully. Jamie whirled around, startled. His eyes widened as he saw two police officers, guns drawn and pointing at him.
Jamie raised his hands in the air; he unfortunately knew how to deal with the police. His probation made sure of that. "I'm deaf!" he called out, hoping to avoid a problem.
The first cop motioned Jamie to put his hands on the roof of the car and he roughly pushed his legs apart and frisked him. As soon as he was done, he rudely bent his arms back, handcuffing him. The second cop handed him a tube, motioning Jamie to breathe into it. Breathalyzer. He was clean.
/Name?/ the first cop wrote on a piece of paper.
"James Waite. I'm from Kingsport, Virginia, sir." Short and to the point. Cops liked that.
/What were you doing Mr. Waite?/
I was kicking the trashcan," it is always best to be ultra-polite when dealing with anyone that could potentially arrest you. "I know my rights too, no need to write them out."
/Why were you kicking the trashcan?/
"I'm lost, sir. And I couldn't figure out a way to get unlost. I'm here with my foster-father and I don't know where I'm staying or the phone number. I was frustrated."
/Who are you staying with?/
"Professor John Constantine. He works for the University here."
/Come on, we'll help you get home/ It didn't seem like he was being arrested and the tension in his shoulders began to wash away some, but being cuffed was still not a good thing. Alex wouldn't like him being brought back by the police anyways.
They did not remove the handcuffs as they loaded him into the back of the squad car. This was not the first time he had been led away in cuffs but he had been hoping not to have to repeat it again. So much for hoping.
***
At the station, he was seated in a hard, molded plastic chair, still in handcuffs. He had been interrogated with an interpreter, finger printed and his ID checked. His nose itched and he couldn't scratch it. /This the address?/ a cop asked, handing him a piece of paper.
"I think so. Is there more than one Constantine?"
The policeman shook his head, no.
"Then it must be." The cop helped him up and escorted him back to the car. "Could you take the handcuffs off?" Jamie asked.
He was ignored.
***
Lilly opened the door a few minutes after the doorbell rang. John had called nearly two hours ago updating her on what happened. She assumed it was Jamie at the door, having found his way back.
"Yes?" she said, opening the door, not expecting two policemen and Jamie. "Can I help you?"
"Mrs. Constantine?" the older of the two men asked.
"Yes..." she said, cautiously.
"You know this man?"
"Yes, he's staying with us for the weekend." She knew he was a no-good punk.
They took the handcuffs off finally, releasing him to her. "Keep him out of trouble. We're not pressing charges or anything, but I don't want to see him again."
"Thank you, officers. He won't be back."
Jamie walked into the house and as soon as the door was closed, Lilly turned around, her glare capable of melting ice. She merely pointed up the stairs to the baby's room. Jamie slunk up the stairs. Alex wouldn't be so terrible Jamie thought, but until Alex got home, he was screwed.
A/n: "crappity crappity crap" and "crappit" are both used by my friend the Gork King (who shall never read this).
Gork: a geek/dork mix. Highly entertaining.
Sorry it took so long to get this out. I hate not having my computer.