“Er, well, no, but—”
“But it’s the truth,” Harley whispered in a shaky voice, her entirebodybeginning to shake.
“What’s going on out here?”
At Dr. Marvey’s authoritative tone, CJ gritted his teeth.
“I need you to call my dad and Harley’s dad.”
“Uh, well, uh…is that necessary?” Marvey asked.
“No, please!” Harley cried. “Please, please, please. He’ll…just don’t, CJ. Please!”
Pulling Harley into his arms, CJ breathed in deeply, trying to control his temper. Yeah, they had CJ rules, but he doubted they’d withstand tearing this motherfucker apart to findthatmotherfucker. Her pitiful sobs didn’t help his rage one fucking bit.
“Ms. Mendez, call Diesel. Ask him to get here ASAP. Tell him to bring Bishop and Narci,” CJ instructed, thinking fast to get the situation under control. Or at least feel more in control, especially with Harley clinging to him as if she never wanted to let go. “Ask him not to tell anyone else until after he talks to me.”
“Of course, Mr. Caldwell,” she said, and stepped away.
Dr. Marvey snatched the handkerchief from his top pocket and mopped his brow. “You don’t have to alert Outlaw and Mortician.”
“We do, sir,” CJ said, pointing to Harley’s face. “This is an emergency. It’s unacceptable.”
“She fell!” Marvey barked, placed his hand on Harley’s shoulder and tried to yank her away, ignoring her frightened cry. “Get back to class, Miss Banks.Now!”
CJ tightened his hold on her, praying he didn’t traumatize her further by the fucking tug-of-war Marvey created.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Dr. Marvey?” CJ asked, pulling her away from the motherfucker so forcefully they all stumbled. He pushed her behind him. “Harley can’t go back to class right now. This isn’t helping her. Let her calm down. When Diesel gets here, he can talk to Uncle Mort and see what he wants.”
“No. You will followmyrules,” Dr. Marvey spat. “If you take her outside, I will have someonedragher to class.”
Was this motherfucker drunk?
“CJ!” Axel barreled through the side door. “Mattie said you needed me…” Catching sight of Harley, he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Let’s go outside and wait for Diesel, big head.”
“Didyouget permission to call Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Caldwell?” Dr. Marvey demanded.
Axel scowled.
“Ms. Mendez is calling my brother for me,” CJ inserted quickly.
“Are you sure about that?” He glared at Axel and pointed to the door that led to the pathway for the Middle School. “Back to your class, mister. I might be lenient and understanding, but Dr. Steen won’t see it that way.”
“CJ told me to come,” Axel said calmly, giving the motherfucker a chance to see things his way. As he usually did.
It was a smokescreen, though. If they failed to comply, he went full speed ahead.
“Mr. Caldwell is not the authority figure, Mr. Caldwell. The staff’s orders supersede his.”
“Supersede,” Axel mumbled. “It’s bigger than his?”
“GET BACK TO CLASS!!”Dr. Marvey roared.
CJ, Harley, and Axel jumped.
“I’m counting to three,” the fuckhead, lost in motherfucker land, continued.
