The Truth Is.

Chapter 17

ACE

I was suspended. The moment I set foot into the office I was chewed out, and forced to sit there until the social worker arrived. A restraining order was already placed on me. The proud puff of my chest didn't fall flat until Mrs. Bardell opened her damn mouth.

"We need to talk." She stirred her tea, and scooted around on our couch.

Doesn't everyone? I wanted to spit.

"In light of these new events-"

Fucking Bitch.

"-We'll need to reconsider your. . ." Her eyes dipped down me in distaste. Go ahead, lap it up. "suitability as her guardian."

"I haven't done anything." My arms crossed themselves in defiance. Her nose stuck out at the gesture, waving high in the air.

"You nearly killed a boy, not to mention your unpaid debts."

        "He deserved it."

        "You can't prove that." She didn't even bother denying it.

        "Yes, I can."

        Her gaze was pitying, like she was looking at a clueless puppy who wandered into the fucking highway. "You've attacked the most loved boy in this community. Do you really think some trailer trash's accusation will change that?"

        I resisted the urge to slam my fist against the table. If I did, it was over for us. Paige would be shipped off to a group home and I'd be sent to an institution. The snobby look in her smirk lengthened.

        Ain't never hit a girl, but damn did I want too.

        "The state has assigned you to anger management class, and two weeks to pay off your bills or we'll be forced to step in." She rose from the sofa, not so discretely brushing herself down when she did. Her pink purse was pulled open, and she sanitized her hands.

        Fuck you.

        "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" As soon as the words slipped out, I knew I fucked up.

        Her face went pissy. Red anger painting her "perfect" complexion raw. "Make that one week. Have a wonderful day, Mr. Tsuyoi."

        When she left, she screamed. I rushed to the door only to find Two-pick with his hands clear over his head. His face was set into a panic, as Mrs. Bardell ran down the lot, and into her sleek red convertible.

        "I take it that went well."

        "Ya think?"

        He welcomed himself into the Trailer, shaking off his boots and snuffing his smoke before doing so.

        "Does Paige know?"

        "Fuck no." I scraped at the car grease underneath my finger nails.

        He started ruffling through the fridge. Unfortunately I'd just restocked it and he had a fucking variety. He came out with mayonnaise. No wonder this boy is fucked.

        "She's gonna take Rotasu if we don't drop the charges."

        "She always makes threats."

        "They mean it this time. The perfect-fucking-mayor is makin' sure of that."

        His spoon paused halfway through the container. His humor disappeared, and a dark look fell over his shoulders. "They came by to Momma, makin' the same threats."

        "Think this is what the Mayor's doing to 'clean' up the city?"

        "What else could it be?" He shoveled a spoonful of the condiment into his mouth.

        "God!-" I shoved him away. -"You're disgusting."

        His laughed was stifled my the yellowish liquid, melting in his mouth. He swallowed, and I was about ready to knock the dumb smirk off his face. But he did that job himself.

        "The Magnate girl agreed to help us."

        "You fucking believe that shit?"

        "It ain't shit, Ace. They got a plan n' everything set up." He waved his spoon around, splattered the white dots onto the floor. My jaw ticked, and he smiled. "The girls pretty smart.

        "She's a Magnate."

        "A nice one."

        I slammed my fists. "Ain't none of em' 'nice', Two-pick. You know that."

        His eyes softened for a second, until he saw the sickening glare on my face. I clenched my fists, and refrained myself from smashing his fucking face in.

        "What happened to ya was fucked up. But it ain't this girl's fault."

        "Fuck you," I spat without thinking.

        He rolled his eyes, and returned my mayonnaise to the fridge. (After he'd already cleared half of it.) "Come on, we're meetin' up at the diner."

        "Felix?"

        "Nah, The girl wants to meet at one of hers. She's offered to pay and everything."

        "Fucking bitch," I muttered under my breath.

        He pulled off my coat, and threw it over my head. When I pulled it off the lights were flipped off, and he was already at the door.

        "I ain't coming with ya!" I called out, moving to the phone.

        "Then you ain't getting this back." He grinned, slick n' sly like a fox's. His hair spiked out, like tufts of goddamn fur. And he held it out, My wallet. Then he dashed.

        "You little shit!" I clambered to the telephone and dialed his number.

        "Hello?" Don's voice crackled through the speaker.

        "I need a job, now. Whatever you got for me."

        "Closest I can do is this weekend."

        "Fucking perfect."  I slammed the phone down, and took off after Two-pick. Never play a game of bluff with Two-pick. First time I didn't kick the shit out of him for taking my wallet, and he spent 20$. In a flurry of events, I forgot to wrap my hands, and would fucking pay for it late.