The Nerd and the Jock (1st bk of Nerd Series)

Chapter 4- Bailey

I looked at the time and huffed, moving a hand through my hair. A scowl was on my face because Blake was late again. It was after school, and Blake was supposed to be here to help me with the project that we had to do for History.

I huffed again and took out my homework for my other classes. If he wasn't going to come to work on the project with me, then I was not going to do it. I had enough shit going on in my life that babysitting an eighteen-year-old was something that I didn't have to do.

My phone vibrated on the table, breaking me from my thoughts. "Bailey Pierce, how may I help you?" I asked, looking over my math homework. I chewed on my pencil while I looked over it to make sure that I knew the answer. I was good at math, but I wasn't fond of it. It wasn't something that I enjoyed doing.

"Bay," I heard Ryan whisper. Fear filled his voice, and I sat up and slammed my pencil down on the desk.

"What is it?" I asked, ignoring the curious glance from the librarian. My whole body was tense, and I automatically started to pack up my bag. I knew that something was wrong because he never called when I was in the library.

"Someone is banging on the front door," he said in a whisper. "He's trying to get to Mama. We are in the closet and had dead bolted it. I have a knife with me if he gets in."

"Do you remember where I placed the box with the gun?" I asked, zipping up my bag. I saw Blake sauntering over to me and scowled, pulling the phone away from my ear. "You are late. We will start tomorrow. Get here earlier." With that, I started to walk past him, causing him to grab my arm.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, where are you going?" Blake asked. "We still have twenty minutes before practice starts."

"Let me go, Blake," I said coldly. I heard a sound from the phone and again, placed it up to my ear.

"You there?"

"Ya, sorry," I said, getting out of Blake's grasp. "Just do something. You have the list as well," I hissed before starting to run out of the building. "The code is 55143. You do remember how to use the gun, correct?"

"Yes. Are you on your way?"

"Ya. Are the police on the way as well?"

"Chrissy is calling them. Please hurry."

"I will do my best," I promised before hanging up and starting to run as fast as I could to get to them. It was times like these that I was glad that I decided to run to school because it was easier for me to run to school than drive.

***

"Hey, you can't go in there," a cop said, trying to stop me from getting into my apartment. He grabbed my shoulders.

"Please," I said panting. I knew that I looked crazy because I had run all the way here. I knew that my eyes were wide, and I was afraid that the kids were in danger.

"Let her in. It's her apartment," a familiar voice said, and I almost sobbed with relief. Officer Kendrick was his name, and he had been helping me as much as my Uncle had. "No one else is in there."

"The kids are," I said, causing him to stiffen. I ran past both of them when they moved out of my way and ran to my closet. I was thankful that my parents had set up a bomb shelter room in there because I knew that no one would be able to get in. I grabbed the key from where I had hidden it and unlocked the closet door.

"Where are they?" Officer Kendrick asked. Worry filled his eyes as he looked around.

I silenced him before moving some clothing to show a door. I knocked the signal that I had taught them a couple of years ago and waited until it opened.

Ryan opened the door and let out a sigh of relief. "You are here," he said. He looked frightened, but I could see that he wasn't injured. He handed me the gun, and I was glad that he had enough sense to ensure that the safety was on. "I'll let you deal with that."

I rolled my eyes and took the gun apart before placing it into its case. I placed the case near the door, making sure that it was locked. "What happened?" I asked, pulling all four of them into a hug. I was relieved that all of them were safe.

"I think one of Mom's... suppliers came over. He thought that this was her house and started banging on the door," Ryan said, glancing at the cops behind me. "He was yelling and cussing. I think he broke a window."

I glanced at Officer Kendrick to see him nod. "Was anything stolen?" I asked.

He sighed and moved a hand through his hair. "Your living room is in ruins, and the kid's room is upturned, also. The master bedroom has not been touched. I do not think anything has been taken. I am surprised that you didn't see it."

"Everything in here can be replaced," I replied. I gestured to the four children behind me. I could tell that they were still scared by they were keeping close contact with me. They can't."

"Who are you?"

"Bailey Prescott," I replied, shrugging my shoulder. "I go by my mother's maiden name, Pierce, for... reasons." I glanced at the other Officer. "Have you check up on their mother?" I asked, glancing at Officer Kendrick.

He nodded. "She is in the hospital with minor bruising and will be sent to a rehab center. Child Services have been called to take care of the children. I'll see if I can't get you.." He glanced at the other officer.

"I have people that might be able to help let me keep them. They'll just have to go to the high school after their school lets out." I narrowed my eyes when I saw one of the children try to protest.

"Call us if anything is missing. Where were you when all of this happened?"

"School," I said. I scowled. "I have to work on a project with a football player that doesn't want to do anything. He didn't show up until I had to leave."

Officer Kendrick nodded his head. He gestured for the other officer to leave while following him out. He sent me a small smile before going out of the room. "We'll be in touch."

I sighed as I made sure that all four of them were all right before patting my hands against my jeans. "All right, let's get cleaning. I think Trevor is supposed to come after practice. I'm sure he will have questions also."

I was grateful that they were safe and remembered what I had told them to do in case of an emergency. I wasn't going to change the code for the gun safe, knowing that Ryan knew better than to touch nor use it.

Let's just hope that he will never have to...