The Remedy

Chapter 15

Jax POV
Time passed by at who knows what rate. I lost track of it as soon as I started thinking of Clara. I could have been in here for minutes, hours, perhaps even days; which it was, I had no clue.

The only thing that kept me from going insane was knowing that one promise Clara had made to me. That day we got trapped in a classroom, I had made her promise to at least let me explain my side of the story if anything ever tore us apart again. If anything ever happened. Now I was just clinging to that hope like a lifeline. She had to let me justify myself. She had to...

When a guard walked by, I called to him, and my sound echoed. The other people in my cell snarled at me for the disturbance. One man who looked like he's murdered someone glared at me until I looked away.

"What? I need to go on my lunch break soon so hurry up." The guard said, watching me with un-interested eyes.

"I need a phone." I said.

"Well sucks for you. I'm telling you, kids these days can't go a second without their little smartphones."

"No sir, I meant I need a phone to call someone. We get one call a day."

"Fine. Make it quick. My stomach can't wait forever." He motioned to his growling stomach before grabbing the telephone right outside of the cell. He handed it to me and I took it as quickly as possible. I couldn't waste another second in here.

I needed to talk to Clara, but I knew that she wasn't going to answer my calls. I needed to get out of here so I could talk to her in person. She couldn't block me out that way.

I was about to dial my dad's cell when I remembered. His death had been so recent that I still forgot sometimes he wasn't around. A wave of sadness rose in me but I pushed it down. I called my home phone instead, and after only one ring, someone answered.

My ten-year-old sister's voice filled the phone. I'd seen her just yesterday but hearing her voice made me miss her. "Hi, Darron residence. Who's this?" her soft voice asked.

"Hey Macy, it's Jax. I need you to get mom on the phone for me. Can you please do that?"

"Jax, mama has been looking for you everywhere. She got mad that you didn't answer your phone."

"Mace, I really need you to get mom. Hurry please, I'll explain later. I don't have much time."

"Okaaay." I heard her call for our mom and within seconds, she was at the phone.

"Jax Angelo Darron, where have you been?"  She sounded upset but relieved at the same time.

"Mom, don't freak out. I promise you this isn't like before. It's going to sound crazy and you're going to assume the worst but I'll explain. Can you come pick me up at the county jail?"

"Jax. No. Not again. Son why did you have to get back into this? It's why we transferred you to another school and I thought you were better but I guess...." I could tell she was trying to hold back tears.

"Mom, I promise you it isn't the same. Please come—"

The guard checked his watch and approached me. "Time's up." He took the phone from my hands before I could say anything else.

I prayed that my mom would come for me, and that it would be soon.

I couldn't stand another second of this.

XxXxX

It seemed like the longest 15 minutes of my life. I wasn't sure if she would come. It was my mother, of course she would, but I didn't know anymore. Dad used to do this when I got in trouble, because my mom couldn't handle the stress. As ashamed as I was to say it, my dad had bailed me out of jail multiple times.

When I heard my mom talking to a police man, my heart was filled with gratitude. I couldn't stand her thinking I had turned back to the gang, so I was anxious to hurry up and get out of here to tell her. I tried to hear her conversation with the police, but I only heard parts. Something about community service and rehab. I took in a sharp breath. Rehab facilities were terrible. I couldn't go back there...

"And you know the price he has to pay. This boy isn't learning to stay away so we'll have to severely punish him. I'm sorry Mrs. Darron."

They weren't going to keep me here, right? They coudn't...

My mom walked in the door, and saw me behind the cell. She looked weary. One of the other guards opened the lock, and gestured for me to get out of the cell. I rushed out, not sure if I stayed here a second more that I'd be allowed out.

"Thank you, Sir." My mom said as she opened the exit door and walked out. As soon as we got outside, she started crying. "Why?" she asked. It tore me up.

"Mom, I know it's hard to believe, but I promise you this time it wasn't me. Someone must have planted drugs in my backpack. I'm done with that stuff."

I didn't think she believed me. "How can I believe it this time? Jax, you've lied to me and said exactly that every time before when I KNEW you were responsible."

"I know but I wasn't in my right mind then. I'm changed, I mean it."

"That's what you used to say too."

"How can I prove to you that those drugs weren't mine, Mama?"

"I don't know. I don't know what to believe anymore, baby. I don't know what to do with you."

"Mom, you know how I used to act when I took drugs. Remember how reckless I was, how different I acted?"

"Yes." She whispered.

"Well I haven't been the same ever since I got away from them. You helped me, and I realized how my life was going downhill, and you and Dad helped me change it. I promise you with all my heart, that I am not responsible for what happened this time."

After standing in the cold night for about thirty more seconds, she finally said something. "Son, you better not be lying to me. I've lost your father and I won't lose you to drugs again. I won't."

"I'm not lying, Mom. I love you." I said, and she hugged me. When she let go, she told me to get in the car.

At least one person in my life believed I wasn't a dirty liar. That was the only hope I had right now.