Blood and Water

Chapter 6: Mind Your Manners

Mind Your Manners - Pearl Jam

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Mina sat on her desk, looking down at the ground. "What were you thinking?" the principal yelled. "He's dangerous." Mina gritted her teeth, listening to him. She knew Chibs wasn't dangerous; he was provoked. But, she knew she'd get in more trouble for defending him. "What was he doing in here, anyway?"

"He was dropping off my car from TM and I forgot my wallet in here."

He shook his head. "Don't let this happen again. Got that?" She nodded and he walked out. After he was down the hall, she walked around her desk and sat in her chair. She put her head down on the wooden desk.

What the hell are you doing? You're risking everything. Knock it off!

Her phone buzzed. Picking it up, she swiped it open without lifting her head. She lifted it only to read the message.

Unknown number: Sorry if I got you in trouble. 

She groaned, "D*mn it, Chibs. Why do you have to do this to me?" She stared at the screen for a few minutes, wishing she could think of something to say. 

Mina wrote out: It's all good. No worries. She deleted it and started typing again: No worries. Delete, delete. She lied: You didn't :) 

Yeah, sure. That works, she thought as she hit send. Her phone buzzed again, almost immediately. 

Unknown number: Don't lie. Let me make it up to you.

She said: Haha, okay.

Unknown number: Is nine o'clock too late for you?

Mina laughed and wrote: Not at all. The bell rang and she typed out fast: Have to go now. Talk to you later.

She put the phone in her desk drawer and went to class.

Chibs chuckled and put his phone in his pocket. Roosevelt walked over to Jax and Chibs. The three of them walked over to the garage together, talking about the explosion. 

Roosevelt explained to them that the club was struggling with the town. Everyone always looked the other way with the club; they kept bigger and worse wolves out, but a few got through the fence, and the town knew it. "Do you think anybody is gonna come here to get their vehicle worked on anymore?" he asked.

"That's my burden," Jax said. Officer Cane told the sheriff that Gemma was at the police station trying to see Nero. He had gotten arrested for a murder he didn't commit and she just wanted to talk to him. Jax chuckled, "And that's your burden."

Roosevelt said, "Now, I know that this was the IRA. Is there something else I should know?"

"I'm trying to put an end to this sh*t," Jax answered. "I'm trying to put us on the right side of things, but it's gonna take a minute."

"I'm afraid your minute might've run out," Roosevelt said. 

Jax scoffed, "Look, I know you're a good cop. We've done a few rounds together, but I never tried to buy you and I'm not asking you to look the other way. I'm trying to be straight with you here. If you press the club on this, if you crawl up our ass right now, it's not gonna help either one of us or this town." He paused. "I'm sorry that this happened."

Chibs added, "We're gonna make sure none of this sh*t ever happens again."

"I can tell you guys really believe that," Roosevelt chuckled. "I'm just not sure I do."

He started to walk away and Jax said, "Good luck with my mom."

Chibs chuckled at Jax's comment. He was ready for this day to end so he could see Mina. But, work had to get done first.