Odd Living

Thirty

I walk to Cal's room assuming that is where Josh is. I go for the door handle and it is surprisingly unlocked. I sneak in trying not to startle Cal. My efforts failed and he ended up jumping out of his chair.

"It's just me, don't worry. Do you know where Josh is by any chance?" I try to sound as calm as possible.

"I don't care but he isn't here. Why?" Cal asks sounding defeated.

I feel the urge to lie to Cal but my morals get the best of me.

"I have to tell him about Jay and that I'm okay to go home." I say sitting down across from Cal. "I need to tell him I'll be more prepared for when Brandon comes around again." I rest my head on the cold, metal table.

The door swings open, it's Josh.

"Oh, Mackenzie, what are our doing here?" He asks nervously.

"Jay's grandmother won't be coming for him. Ian and I are taking him home with us until his mother is out of here." I turn around to face Josh. "Also, I will be ready the next time Brandon comes looking for me."

Josh comes over and squats next to me.

"Your leg is still broken, Mackenzie. There is no way you'll be ready. Now, I'm not trying to wreck your confidence but, you just aren't ready for what a man like Brandon can do. Jay will be happy to go with you though."

"A man like Brandon? What is he capable of? Enlighten me, please!" I demand. "You didn't know him for years like I did. I know exactly what he is capable of. Just keeping me locked up, that's all he is capable of. Being a huge asshole, that's what he is capable of. Completely destroying ones life, that is what he is capable of. Cal did nothing wrong, okay. He is just a kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. You don't need to bully him. He was the only helpful one in this situation, him and Mr. Ludwig. Cal got me out of there. I'm sure he regrets helping that cunt and I hope he'll switch sides in case Brandon decides to do the same thing later down the road." At this point my face is cherry red and I'm pacing the room because I'm so angry. I guess I was yelling because Ian came in the room quickly.

"Mack, what's wrong?" Ian asks with his puppy dog eyes.

"Josh thinks I can't handle what Brandon is planning next. When I'm reality I could tell you exactly what he is doing right now. He is trying to find Cal to find me. Cal," I divert my attention to look at Cal, "once he finds you, you are screwed. I'm sorry."

Cal clears his throat. "How can I be more screwed than I already am?

"Once he finds you, he will bring you to the brink of death and kick you out on the streets to fend for yourself. Trust me, you're better off running away. They don't have any actual evidence of you harming me, you're fine. I won't charge you, you need to get out of here." I say still locking eye contact with Cal.

I turn to face Josh as I hear Cal give a sigh of release and see Josh sigh with disappointment. I shrug my shoulders at Josh and hobble to Ian.

"Let's go home." Ian whispers into my ear as he picks me up and spins around.

We, Ian and I, go into the main lobby with Jay and go to the front desk.

"I'd like to file papers to take this little boy home. His mother will be in here for a while but I want her to have all of our information for when she gets out." Ian says to the lady behind the desk.

She hands him a little packet of papers that we fill out wishing ten minutes.

Cal comes out of the interrogation room with an ice pack on his busted lip.

"You can stay with us until you are feeling better Cal. What you did really means a lot and I'm sorry Josh had to do that to you." I kiss his cheek and his posture automatically straightens.

We walk out of the police station and over to Ian's car. I help get Jay into the car with his little bag. Ian opens the passenger door for me, what a gentleman. He then attempts to slide across the hood of the car. That results in him flying off the hood and onto the pavement. Jay and Cal laugh in unison and I just shake my head.

Ian gets up and brushes gravel off of his knees and shoulders. He sits in the drivers seat and starts the car.

"Should we go pick up burgers before we head home?" He asks Jay.

"That would be great." Jay says while bucking his seat belt.

Ian pulls out of the parking lot and heads to the nearest burger joint. He placed our order and shortly after, we got our food.

We eat on the ride home, which isn't that long of a ride. It was about twenty five minutes.

"Jay, not to make you stress of anything but Mack and I live with a few friends, two actually. As well as me and Mack it is George and Max. You can sleep with Mackenzie and Cal, you can sleep on the couch or with one of the guys."

"It sounds like a lot of fun." Jay says.

"Fun it is." I say somewhat sarcastically.

We pull into the driveway and Ian lays on the horn.