Carmondy gasped and watched, horrified, as Beck landed punch after punch.
Anderson and a couple other guys from the team knew it was time to intervene. They grabbed Beck after he got his sixth or seventh punch in and hauled him away.
Once they got him off, Beck didn’t fight. He shrugged them off and walked away. As he passed Carmondy, she could see that his face was tight, jaw clenched. He didn’t meet her eyes so he was impossible to read but she could tell that whatever this thing was with his sister, it really affected him.
Beck walked back into the school. Anderson jogged after him. Car heard someone say they were dialing 911 and a couple girls crowded around the semi-conscious boy on the ground. Carmondy was dumbstruck. She wasn’t sure what to do.
Kendall and Alli appeared beside her, looking just as surprised. “Uh...wow.”
“Yeah...that was insane. God, this is all my fault,” Car said.
Alli shook her head. “Why do you say that?”
“Well, it’s my fault Anderson got Beck involved in the first place.”
“This wasn’t your fault at all. That guy said what he said, knowing that it was going to make Beck angry, so that’s all on him. And Beck, of course, for beating the shit out of him.” Alli chuckled a little bit.
“Is he going to be okay?” Car asked.
The boy was sitting up now but didn’t look good at all.
Kendall nodded. “Looks like Beck broke his nose. That’s what most of the blood is from. I think he deserves it anyway. He’s always been a jerk, especially to girls.”
“What was he talking about? Beck’s sister?”
Alli shrugged.
Kendall looked like she knew something. “It’s really not a subject many people know about. I only know because I dated Anderson. Just don’t...he doesn’t talk about it to anyone except Andy and Andy’s mom. I don’t know how that kid found out, so just...I’d forget about it. Okay?”
Carmondy nodded. “Yeah, of course. It’s obviously something really personal. People have a right to their privacy.”
Kendall nodded and they all headed back inside together. They heard sirens in the distance and as they reached the school doors, the police and an ambulance arrived.
In the end, it was a big ordeal. Everyone who saw the fight, if you could even call it a fight, had to give a witness statement. Beck got arrested. Car saw him getting into a police car with handcuffs on. He looked calm, not at all worried that he had just beaten a guy up and was getting taken to jail for it.
As the police car and ambulance drove away from the school, Anderson found Carmondy.
“Hey, pretty crazy huh?” he said. “That’s the first serious fight action we’ve had in a while.”
“I can’t believe Beck flipped like that.”
Anderson scoffed. “I can. That fucker deserved it.”
“Yeah, I don’t really know what that whole thing was about but the guy knew that he was making Beck mad and he kept pushing.”
Anderson nodded. “Yep.”
“I kinda feel like it was my fault.”
“Don’t.” Anderson touched her arm. “Honestly, I’m not trying to be rude, but Beck couldn’t have cared less about what that guy said to you. All of that was between those two.”
Car nodded. “Well, that makes me feel a little bit better, I guess. Are you guys going to have practice?”
“Nope, Coach canceled it. It’s kinda hard to practice when your team captain just got sent to jail.”
“How much trouble is he going to be in?”
Anderson shrugged. “I don’t really know. They are probably gonna try to charge him. I’m sure he’ll get off though. His dad owns the biggest law firm in the state. I’m sure bail won’t be a problem either. He’ll be out of there within a couple hours.”
Car sighed. “Well, that’s good, I guess...but hey! What about with the school? Is he going to get in trouble? I know there’s something in the athletic code of conduct about fighting.”
Anderson laughed. “There is, and it’s ground for getting kicked off the team and out of the school.”
“What!”
“Chill, Car. Your fantasy boy will be back.” He grinned and threw his arm around her shoulders. “He was smart about it. He dragged the guy off of school grounds before he got to poundin’ on him.”
“Ahh, so that was what that was about.”
“Yep, Beck knew what he was doing. I know he didn’t look in control, but he was. He could have done way more damage and done it right in the middle of the gym. But he had thought it through so that he wouldn’t get in trouble from the school and his dad will get the charges dropped.” Anderson shrugged. “Just like nothing ever happened.”
“Wow.”
“Anywho! Ready to get to gettin’? No practice and I don’t feel like hanging out here all day.”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Home, duh. I got a hoop in the backyard. We can start your private lessons today since we have time. And you can get that steak started for me too.”
“Sure.” She pulled out from under his arm. “Just let me get my stuff.”
After Carmondy and Anderson got back to his house, they played basketball in the backyard until Anderson stated he was starving. Before they reached his back door, his cell phone went off and he paused to dig it out of his pocket.
He looked at the screen. “Hmm. That’s weird. It’s Beck’s home phone.”
“Why is that weird? Don’t you guys talk to each other on the phone? He should be out on bail by now, right?”
“Yeah, I’m sure he’s out, but he never uses their home phone.” He shrugged and answered the call. “Hello? Hey, Mrs. Nicholson!”
Carmondy leaned against the house, listening as Anderson spoke to Beck’s mom.
Anderson ended the call and sighed.
“What was that all about?” she asked.
He was frowning, still looking at his phone. “Beck’s dad won’t post Beck’s bail because he’s a total asshole and thinks Beck needs to learn a lesson or some shit. His mom is freaking out, and she wants me to post it.”
“Why doesn’t she do it herself?”
“Her husband’s in control of all their accounts. God, I can’t believe he’s such an asshole. Even if Beck deserves to be in there, he’s still his son, you know?”
She nodded. “Yeah, that’s pretty lame. Are you going to post it then?”
He frowned. “I said I was going to, but I mostly just wanted to keep her from having a heart attack. I can’t get a hold of that kind of money.”
“How much is it?” she asked, curiously.
“1500 bucks.”
“Shit, isn’t that kind of steep?”
“I don’t really know what they are charging him with.” He ran a hand through his hair, seeming stressed.
“So Beck’s dad is okay with just letting him sit in jail? He’s going to miss school.”
“Yep.”
“That’s dumb. Hey, you know...I can post his bail.”
“Oh no, you’re not.”
“Um, that would be my choice, not yours. Besides, it would technically be my dad’s money anyway. It’s not a big deal. I’d probably get it back, right?”
“No, because you’re not posting it.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’d get it back when the case is over.”
He shook his head. “Beck would pay you back right away.”
“Cool, just let me make a phone call. We’ll have to go to the bank too.”
“Car—”
“Do you want him to stay in jail or something?”
“No, but he’s not going to be happy about you getting him out.”
“Too bad,” she said and called her dad.
An hour later, they were at the jail, handing over a wad of cash to the cashier behind the counter. The jail was just a local one so it wasn’t very big. Once the bail posted, Beck came from a door in the back. When he saw them, his face went from expressionless to an angry frown.
“Told you.” Anderson nudged her.
Car couldn’t help but smile a little, slightly amused. The officer took Beck’s handcuffs off, giving him his wallet and car keys before leading him to the door to join them in the waiting area.
He didn’t say anything, just glared at her.
Car looked around uncomfortably.
“Hey, man, how was the big house?” Anderson asked, trying to hide a smile.
“What are you doing here?” Beck snapped.
“Uh, posting your bail, duh,” Anderson replied.
“You didn’t post it. She did.”
“Hello, I’m standing right here,” Carmondy said.
Beck ignored her.
“How do you know it wasn’t me?” Anderson asked.
“Because you don’t have 1500 bucks.”
“True.”
“What—” Beck stopped talking as the door to the jail opened and a middle-aged man Car recognized as his father entered and went straight to the front desk without noticing them.
“Good evening, Mr. Nicholson, not here to post bail, I hope?” the woman behind the desk asked.
“No, but I would like to speak with my son for legal purposes. I am representing him in court.”
“Your son’s bail has been posted.”
The man turned red. “What? By who?”
The woman pointed past him, to Anderson. The man whipped around and pinned his son with a glare.
“What the— you got your friends to post your bail? How did you— you only had one phone call.”
“Yeah, which I wasted on you,” Beck pointed out.
The man took a step toward Beck and held up a finger. “You needed to learn a lesson, young man, you can’t just—”
“I told you why I did it,” Beck cut him off.
“The reason doesn’t matter.”
“The fuck it doesn’t.”
“I can’t believe you’d go to your friends to bail you out. Couldn’t handle a little time? What kind of sissy—”
“Shove it.”
“Well, don’t think you are welcome at my house tonight. Just because you got out of jail doesn’t mean you can come home.”
Beck didn’t respond but his face cleared of any emotion.
“Oh, and I had your car impounded,” the man almost teased. “And the impound lot is closed, so I guess you’ll have to wait till tomorrow to get it back.” The man left without another word.
Car looked at Anderson, at a loss for words.
“Uhh, no big deal. Beck, you can stay at my place. You know my couch is...err...not available right now but maybe—”
“You shouldn’t have let her post my bail,” Beck said harshly.
“You woulda missed school, practice, possibly our first game without that practice under your belt.”
“I don’t—”
“Hey, now.” Anderson clapped him on the shoulder. “How about a little gratitude, huh? Let’s try that? She worked very hard to get that money, took her all of ten seconds to convince her dad to hand it over. That’s worth something, right?”
Beck finally addressed Car. “I’ll get you the money tomorrow.”
She shrugged. “No big, I mean I’ll get it—”
“Tomorrow.” He cut her off.
“Okay...but it’s really—”
“Can I get a ride?” he asked Anderson.
“Actually...well, you see, Car was at my house and so I kinda rode here with her.”
Beck’s jaw clenched, and he looked like he wanted to beat someone up again. What the hell was his problem? She had just gotten him out of jail. She didn’t expected gratitude but a little less hate would be nice.
“Do you have a problem or something?” she asked abruptly.
Beck didn’t answer her.
Anderson coughed. “Uh, Car? I don’t—”
“No.” She stopped Anderson before turning to Beck. “I mean, I get it, you didn’t want me to post your bail. And I didn’t do if just for you. Your team needs you at practice and your first game. So get over it. I don’t expect you to like me but you could at least pretend not to hate me for five minutes.”
As soon as she said it, she wished she could take it back. Did she have a death wish?
“Look, if you think that I owe you something...” Beck trailed off.
“What the hell? Are you talking about like sex or something?”
Anderson cracked a laugh.
“If you think this is gonna get me to pretend to be your boyfriend or—”
“Why the hell would I want an asshole like you as my boyfriend? Jesus Christ, conceited much?”
Anderson laughed again.
Beck just glared.
Anderson covered up his laughing with a cough. “Uh, anyway, jails give me the creeps. Can we go now?”
“Let’s.” Car left the jail and the two boys followed. She slid into her Jeep while Anderson climbed into the back, letting Beck have the front seat. The ride back to Anderson’s house was dead silent and extremely awkward.
“Drop me off here,” Beck said suddenly, pointing to a café a few blocks from Anderson’s house.
“Uh, why?”
Beck didn’t answer but she pulled in anyway and Beck got out.
“Where you goin’, man? Don’t you need a place to stay?” Anderson asked.
“I’m gonna get some caffeine then call someone to pick me up,” Beck snarled.
Anderson climbed into the vacated front seat. “Who?”
Beck shrugged carelessly. “Whoever.”
“Ah.” Anderson nodded knowingly. “A girl.”
“Well, yeah, of course a girl. Just because I spent a few hours in jail doesn’t mean I started swinging for the other team.”
“Why don’t you just stay at my place?”
Beck glanced at Car momentarily. “I need a good fuck.”
Anderson nodded slowly. “Okay...well, give me a call if you change your mind.”
Beck nodded and shut the door to the Jeep before heading into the café.
“Did he really think that I bailed him out so that he’d pretend to be my boyfriend?” Car turned to Anderson, shocked and appalled
“It’s happened before. A girl did something for him and then tried to blackmail him into being her boyfriend. Hilarious.”
“Did he do it?”
“Ha! Yeah, right. He laughed in her face and told her to go away. He just doesn’t understand why someone he doesn’t know would do something nice for him. His mind doesn’t work that way. Every action has a motive behind it.”
“That’s not true.”
“No, but that’s what his dad has drilled into his head.”
“His dad seems like a real jerk.”
Anderson nodded. “He is. If I were Beck, I probably woulda booked it outta there a long time ago. In his dad’s eyes, if he’s not a lawyer, he’s a failure, simple as that.”
Car shook her head. “I’m glad my parents aren’t like that.” She pulled into Anderson’s driveway and they got out of the car.
“Me too. Say, what do you parents do?”