My Brother's Best Friend

chapter 12

  Jax's face was worse than Hunter's. While Hunter's cuts could go unnoticed, Jax's definitely couldn't. His left eye was blue, forming some black around the edges. He had popped a blood vessel, causing redness all around the inside of his eye. Other than his eye he also had a busted lip and some swelling on his nose.

  "I had three guys on me and Hunter had two." Jax says. He turned back around, his glasses back on his eyes making an attempt to cover himself.

"And? He looks better than you. I could have easily taken them." I scoff.

Their laughter fills the car, making me glare at the back of their heads.

"You can't even walk straight and you think you can take five guys? You're hilarious." Jax says.

"At least my brother can fight better than you." I shrug.

"Did you not hear what I said?" I feel Jax's stare through the mirror. Looking up, I see him facing the mirror, making it obvious he was looking at me.

"You had three guys, oh well." I say.

He scoffs, putting his attention back to the road.

"Can you guys get along for one day?" Hunter says. "It's the first day of school and I'm not putting up with this for another eight months."

"So, just get rid of Jax." I say.

"He'll get rid of you before he'll even think about getting rid of me." Jax says, chuckling.

As Hunter stays quiet, I reach over and smack the back of his head. "What a brother you are."

- - -

  I hadn't had any classes with Hunter yet and it was already lunch time. I did have gym with Marissa and spanish with Jax which was next period.

  I spotted Marissa waiting for me by the lunch line with a girl by her side. I walked over to them, greeting the girl by her side.

  "Have you seen Hunter?" I asked Marissa.

  "Yeah, I just had calculus with him." She says, grabbing a tray of food. "He said he doesn't have lunch this period, he has it after."

"Okay, well I'm going to go find us some seats. Grab me a banana." I smile at both of them before walking away and looking around to find an empty table.

My eyes wandered around looking for anyone familiar or at least hoping Jax would appear. With my eyes skimming the cafeteria, I spot an empty table by the corner.

I sat down my back to everyone and texted Marissa to let her know I found a table and where exactly I was. I was about to turn around when I felt a pair of hands over my eyes, not letting me see anything.

"Jax, I know it's you." I say, with an annoyed tone.

I hear him sigh. "How'd you know it was me?" He takes his hands off my eyes and comes to sit across from me.

"I know those clammy, sweaty hands anywhere." I joke.

"My hands are not clammy or sweaty. Show some respect." He says.

I chuckle, rolling my eyes at him as he stares at me. I thought this was the perfect time to bring up the situation he was in and hopefully he wouldn't shut me down.

"So," I clear my throat. "Hunter told me the story."

He looked confused. "What story?"

"With Ricky." I say. Realization hit and he shrugged. "He told me you needed money."

  "Yeah, so? I got it taken cared of." He says.

  "Taken cared of? You're gonna get yourself into even more shit if you "take care" of things your way." I groan.

  "Please, let me help you." I plead.

  "I already told your brother no, now drop it." He gives me a stern look.

  "But-"

  "Emma." He cuts me off.

  "Jax." I say.

  "Please stop." He says, giving me a pleading look.

  "Why can't you just except my help?" I question.

  "Because I already paid him." He said, running a hand through his hair.

  "How?" There was no way he could have already paid Ricky what he owed him. I knew he had gotten himself into even more trouble than before.

  "I went to see my dad."