Plant New Seeds | H.S.| AU

Chapter Four - Nine to Five

N I A

"Javier, you can't keep on getting into these fights at school," I scolded. The pain in each of my temples remained consistent despite the number of Tylenol pills I popped every few hours.

Javi's blatant disregard for his horrible behavior as he sat in my office—arms folded tightly across his chest and those thick bushy eyebrows furrowed with anger—wasn't helping the pain go away any faster.

Javi's foster mother was unable to visit his school after he was sent to the principal's office for fighting his classmate, which meant that I had to be the one to speak with the principal instead. Principal Meyers and I decided it was best that he skipped the remaining period of the day and leave early. Before we left, Meyers didn't hesitate to warn us that Javi had one more strike left until he would be forced to expel him for his persistent violence.

And now here we were in my own office, with me wholeheartedly believing Javi would finally to get his act together as if he actually listened to me.

It was like talking to a fucking brick wall. This little motherfucker was convinced he was twenty-one and not twelve.

"So what am I supposed to do when those fucks come at me, punk out and let 'em win?" Javi challenged, wincing with each word; his bottom lip was busted from the fight.

"Hey, watch your mouth!" I scolded, causing Javi to chuckle in rebellion. "What you're supposed to do is take a damn breath and think about your future."

Usually Javi was one of the most mild-mannered, respectful and sweetest twelve-year-olds on the planet. Wise beyond his years. Mature in a tasteful way; he knew his limits.

When Javi was pissed off—he became a whole different person. All that pent up anger and frustration he harbored towards his father's incarceration searched for any means of a release.

The sweet serenity of his voice would dissipate as a harsh rasp overcame it. His gorgeous hazel eyes grew darker as his rage blinded him. I wanted more than anything in the world to make everything better for Javi but his struggles with his temper only made things harder.

"The 'future' is the last thing on my mind, Miss Cole," Javi laughed bitterly. "You seriously think I have one?"

"Yes, I do. Look at me," I replied softly as I leaned over my desk to grab both his shoulders in my hands. "You can't keep sabotaging yourself like this."

Javi shrugged my hands off him, facing his body towards the small window in my office. I sighed, waiting for his usual self-depreciating comment that broke my spirit just as much as it did his.

"I don't mean to. I just get tight as hell and can't control myself, you know?" Javi's voice slowly began returning to its original signature softness; I knew he was beginning to recognize the severity of his situation.

"Can you look at me please?" I replied matching his tone. Javi hesitantly twists his body back around to face the desk.

Once he did, the hazel slowly seeping back into his eyes became apparent along with the cloud of tears forming in them. The raging headache I felt began to falter little by little once the ache in my heart became stronger.

"Yes?" Javi said blinking his tears away as his long eyelashes became wet in the process.

"You have to help me, help you," I said grabbing his hand. I was surprised he didn't snatch it back. "I know it's not your fault. But when families looking to adopt you see fighting and any other possible issues on your file, it hinders us from finding you a good home sooner."

"Papí is gonna be coming home soon," Javi mumbled to himself. "Then we can finally go back to normal."

I sighed. There was a possibility that once Javi's father completed his sentence that he would be able to regain custody of him. Emphasis on possibility.