Book 0.5 by S. P. Macomber (e novels to read online txt) 📕

We had agreed to keep it silent from our younger brothers; that's why I wasn't surprised to not see them with him.

I walk across the deserted street, climbing into the passenger seat.

"So?" Heath asked, wanting to know what had happened between Leo and me.

"Like we thought our news about our fights got back to him."

"And how did he react?"

"He'll let us keep doing it and keep all the money."

Disbelief crosses his face. "Really? Just like that?"

I chuckle, shaking my head in denial. "Of course not. Now I have to do more work for him beside the fighting."

"Like what," he asks, worried, hands tightening on the steering wheel.

Sighing, I lean my head back, closing my eyes. "I don't know, but I know it won't be anything good."

"You should let me help," he pleads.

Opening my eyes quickly, I swiftly turn his way, glaring. "No!"

"Ian man-"

"Heath do not make me repeat myself," I warn, making his mouth clamp shut. "I don't want any of you involved with Leo in any way. You working your normal job is more than enough help. Let me worry about everything else."

Heath looks straight through the windshield, angry. Slamming his hand onto the steering wheel a few times in frustration. "Fucking Frank!"

"Fucking Frank," I mumble. Tiredly agreeing as he starts the Hummer, taking us home.

 

School

 10

 

Getting to school Monday felt hectic. Maybe it was because it was the start of the week after having been out on a break and no one wanted it to end. Pulling into the parking lot of Ridgewood Public High School, I wasn't surprised by the madhouse that greeted me. The teachers here didn't give a shit about teaching us and even worse, they couldn't fucking control any of the students.

That was why, before being able to enter the school, you had to walk through a metal detector and then be checked over by the two officers posted at the door.

Filing out of the Hummer, we immediately gain attention. Some people greet us and others gossip as we pass them by heading towards the entrance. I look at Max, who stayed close to me as Heath and Axel went ahead. I could tell he was nervous but was trying to appear confident. After all, he was finally a freshman.

"Hey," I slid my arm over his shoulder, partly to comfort him and partly to show people he was someone you didn't want to mess with. Most didn't know that Max was my brother since he was a middle schooler before now. "Don't worry so much. Everything will be fine."

He tightly grabs ahold of the straps laid over his shoulders from his backpack. Sending me a sheepish smile. "I know. I'm just excited. I promise. " Nodding in understanding, I let him take the lead through the metal detector first, after placing his bag down to be checked. Finding nothing, they motion him forward, with me following right behind.

We pass through clear to greet Axel and Heath who had gone in before us. Nodding to the two, I motion to Max. "You guys go take him to the office to get his locker number and schedule. I have to go meet with someone."

"Who?" Axel asked being nosy.

Before answering, I turn, walking away. "The coach!"

"The coach? Why would he be meeting the coach?" I could hear him ask Heath and Max right before I went out of hearing distance. Shaking my head in amusement, I stroll through the kids walking the halls. Those that attended high school with me long enough quickly dash aside while the freshmen just look on in confusion and fear.

Making my way to the stairs that led to the lower levels of our school, I head down, going to the boy's locker room, where coach's office was located.

Walking through the empty locker room, I make my way to the office to find Coach Mendez going through some binders filled with paper.

Knocking on his open door, I gained his attention. Surprised he looks me over. "Ian, this is a surprise." He gestures to his chair, offering me a seat. "Last time I saw you, you were turning down my offer to play on my football team."

Smirking, I make my way over to his chair, taking a seat. "That's actually what I came here to talk about."

"Oh? What you changed your mind?"

"No, I'm here for my brother."

His face pales. "You're not talking about Axel I hope."

Chuckling, I shake my head. "No, my baby brother."

"You have another brother?" He asked face shocked. "Jeez, how much of you are there? Please tell me he's not like Axel, is he?"

Laughing in amusement, I shake my head in denial. "No one is like Axel." Coach nods his head, agreeing with me. "So which brother is this then?" He asks curiously.

"His name is Max he just became a freshman this year and wants to play on the football team."

Sighing, he rubs the back of his neck. "I don't know Ian a freshman. Has he ever played football before?"

"Not as a school program. We could never afford it."

Coach looked like he wanted to say no, but I couldn't let that happen. "Come on, coach, give him a chance. He's green. This means he won't have any bad habits you need to undo so you can teach him the right way to play football. Plus, he's not like all those other cocky assholes out there who think they're the shit, just for acting like they can play the sport when in reality they fucking suck."

I hoped the coach wouldn't deny me, considering how much our football team sucked. It wasn't that Coach Mendez sucked at his job because he was a great coach, I've observed him. It's just that he had more cocky players than he had good ones.

Huffing, he leans back in his old squeaky chair, rubbing his face. "And you have the money for him to play?"

I shake my head, "No, but I'll get it, as long as you say yes. I can promise you it's a decision you won't regret."

Taking his pen out from behind his ear, he twirls it around his finger, debating if he should agree or not. "Fine." He says, standing up, stretching out his back. "Bring him to practice after school and we can see how it goes. Deal?" He asked, placing his hand out for a handshake.

"Deal," I shake his hand.

As I am almost out the door, Coach gains my attention. "Ian." Turning back, I found a serious expression placed on his face. "You sure don't want to try out?"

I shake my head. "No. This is Max's dream. I'm just trying to make it come true."

"And what about your dream?"

I smile, not answering his question. "I'll see you later, Coach."

He sends me a sad yet proud look. "You're a good man, Ian, I hope you know that."

Nodding in appreciation, I make my way out of his office and back upstairs. Satisfied I had gotten Max the chance to at least try out and prove himself made me feel like my day was looking up. Now I just had to talk to Max and make sure he understood that I had gotten him his one chance to make his dream come true. The rest was up to him, but first I had to get through my classes.

Strutting through the hallway, where everyone was either greeting their friends they hadn't seen in a while, taking out stuff from their lockers, or just plain watching me, I spot David hanging out with his small group of friends.

David was a red-haired, freckled glasses-wearing nerd, but I learned from a young age that people weren't always what they seemed and I owed him a favor. Making my way towards their direction, I watch his friends stiffen at my approaching figure. Everyone stops. Watching and waiting for what I would do.

"David," I greet him.

He quickly turns around in fright looking as if he had done something wrong. Lifting my hands to show I meant no harm; he relaxed a bit.

"H-hey Ian," he stutters clenching his book close as if he would use it to whack me with it if I made the wrong move.

Amused, I close the distance between us, placing my hand out for a handshake. His friend's mouth fell open in shock. David stares at my hand, stunned for a few seconds, before slowly placing his hand in mines, shaking it.

"I just wanted to thank you for what you did Saturday."

"Oh!" He exclaims, having forgotten about the incident. "I wanted to text back to see if everything was okay but I didn't want to bother you."

I nod in thanks. "So, David I owe you a favor now."

Gasp flows through the crowd. Everyone automatically knew that if I said those words, it meant that the person had done something to end up in my good graces and I would do all in my power to make their wish become a reality.

David's eyes get wide and he waves his hand in denial. "No, man. I didn't do that wanting a favor, it was just the right thing to do."

"True, but most people don't think that way and it doesn't matter. I don't like owing people, so you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

He scratches his head, obviously not knowing what to ask of me. Placing my hands on his shoulder, I gain his attention. "Relax, man, there's no time limit on my favor. When you think of something, let me know, okay."

He nods in appreciation. "Thanks Ian I will."

Nodding, I go to turn away, but before I do, I remember that we hadn't finished our talk. "One more thing," I say, gaining everyone's attention, including David, who's looking at me like I'm such a good guy. Well, he was about to be sorely disappointed.

Placing my hands on his shoulder, I grip his shirt, bringing him in close, lifting slightly I force him onto his toes. Glaring I tower over him, intimidating him. Making his face turn white.

All the students in close proximity take a step back, expecting me to demolish this small, lanky kid. Sadly, even his friends abandon him to his fate.

Shaking in fear, David looks as if he's about to wet himself. "When I tell you, I'll handle something. It means I'll handle it. So, don't go contacting my brothers again and we'll be good. Got it?"

Nodding quickly, he apologizes. "I'm s-o sorry. I promise it won't e-ever happen again!" He stutters out in a slight squeaky shout.

"Good," I place him back on his feet, smoothing out the wrinkles I had placed on his shirt. "Then we don't have any problems and I'll be waiting for your request."

Nodding quickly, he takes a couple of steps back away from me, stumbling into his friends who hold him up. The bell for the start of morning classes rang at that exact moment, scattering most students with the majority of them choosing to skip.

Getting to my English class, I stop spotting my class, surrounding the doorway, whispering and pointing at what sounded like a person destroying the class. Irritation set in. Of course, out of all the classes happening today, some idiot would be destroying mines.

I just couldn't catch a break.

"What's going on?" I hear a girl voice ask behind me.

Turning, I look at