The next month goes by pretty quickly. Dad has a new girlfriend, so a lot of his attention is on the tall brunette with the big boobs. She's nice, but she's ditzy. My dad doesn't even really like her, he just wants to get laid. He's never told me this, of course, but I'm not stupid.
"Hey Lyle! How was school?" She asks me one day after school.
"It's Liam," I say simply, glaring at her.
Dad just chuckles, putting me in a headlock and messing up my hair.
"We can call him Lyle. Liam's getting pretty stale!" He says with a smile, trying to lighten my mood. He can tell that I don't really like her either, and he tries to diffuse any situation that arises before I one day snap on her.
The only thing going for this girl is that she's hot. Actually, every girl my dad brings home is hot. If I thought that guys stare at my mom, girls stare at my dad just as much, if not more. He's 6'4 with an insane six-pack. I'm already tall for my age, so I'm hoping I'll be as tall as he is. My six-pack isn't quite as defined, but hey! I'm only 15; I'll get there.
"Megan was over at mom's the other night," I say, trying to drop as many hints as I can. Megan is mom's partner at the firehouse, and that girl is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She's got blonde hair with insanely deep blue eyes and long curly eyelashes. She's the woman of my dreams. Since she's too old for me, I think that dad should date her.
Might as well keep it in the family!
Dad shuffles uncomfortably on the couch and puts his arm casually over his date. He knows my agenda; I bring up Megan all the time. Dad's met her several times—He's just as attracted to her as I am, but he knows mom would kill him if he tried to date her.
He actually got a little mad at me one night when I wouldn't drop the subject. Dad never gets mad at me, but I may have pushed a little too far........
"Liam Alexander, do you really think mom would be ok with me dating her friend? That'd be so awkward, especially if we broke up. I'm pretty sure getting kicked in the nuts by your mom isn't gonna feel good. You know mom; I'm not stupid enough to make her mad—Just drop it. Megan's off limits."
I haven't dropped it though. I still bring her name up a lot. The look dad's sending me from the couch right now says that I better drop it. He won't do anything about it though, so I'm not too worried.
"She and mom just got back from a spa day, and you wouldn't believe how good Megan smelled. She stayed for dinner...She actually eats. Not just salads and shit."
I'm staring right at Nicki on the couch. All I've ever seen Nicki eat is salad, and I'm trying to rile up dad.
Dad stands up, his eyes hard but his smile still on his face. "Come one Nicki, let's go for a walk," he says, grabbing her hand and pulling her up from the couch. They leave without another word, and I'm alone in the apartment by myself.
I'm just waiting for the day that dad will snap on me—He never does. I don't understand how the man is a cop. I hope he's tougher on the criminals, because my dad's a wimp. I love him; He's a great guy, but he's a wimp.
I look at my phone, and I see my buddy Ty had texted me.
—Dude, Mr. Dirks is gonna kill you tomorrow. He found out you cheated on your math test.
My stomach drops and I suddenly feel sick. How the heck did he find out? I was so careful. I text him back...
—How the hell did he find out? How do u know about it?
I see the three bubbles immediately on my screen, and I impatiently wait for the text.
—one of the nerds squealed. They saw you. I think it was John Matthews
—Shit
I'm so completely screwed. If mom finds out, I'm dead. Maybe if I skip math tomorrow then I'll just get in trouble for skipping, and not cheating. I think mom will be more lenient if I skip. Cheating is a BIG deal to her.
I make up my mind quickly...I'm gonna skip. I already know I'm going to get caught, but I'd rather get my phone taken or get grounded than the alternative. That's what my last spanking was for when I was 13. Cheating on math; Man I hate math.
My stomach's in knots the rest of the night. I'm kinda waiting for mom to come bursting through the door. I can't believe Mr. Dirks hasn't called her yet. Maybe I'll get lucky.
Dad and Nicki get back about an hour later, with Mexican food for dad and me, and a salad for her.
~*~
By the time morning rolls around, I'm debating playing sick, but I don't. I have a huge Lit test first hour, and if I don't do well on it, I could get kicked off the football team—My grade in Lit is right on the border. The day goes by quicker than I hope. By the time I know it, it's fourth hour and it's math with Mr. Dirks.
Instead of going to class, I make my way to the West corridor, where no classes are. I can easily hide in a corner and not be noticed. Unfortunately for me, about twenty minutes in, I see John Matthews standing over me. John Matthews is the dweeb that turned me in. He's in my class. What the hell is he doing here?
"Can I help you?" I ask him, making my voice terrifying.
He chuckles and crosses his arms. "I knew you would skip. I came to find you."
As he's saying this, he's taking out his phone and taking a picture of me... proof of my crime.
I stand up and get in his face. Thanks to my dad's genetics, I'm taller than most boys my age, so I'm towering over him, making myself look bigger. Scarier. He flinches back, but holds his ground. If I wasn't so mad, I'd actually be impressed.
"Tell you what's gonna happen, Matthews. You're gonna delete that picture, turn around, and go back to class. Once you do that, I won't beat the shit outta you—Or stay. The choice is yours."
He looks right at me and smiles. "I'm gonna take my chances. Getting you busted is gonna be the highlight of my life. This is payback for stuffing me in a dumpster."
My mouth drops open. "That was three years ago. You're seriously still holding a grudge over something that happened THREE YEARS ago?"
He shrugs casually. "Let's see how long you hold a grudge for this."
That's when I start seeing red. I'm gonna be in so much trouble, and it's all his fault. Over something I did when I was a stupid kid. ON A DARE!!!
Before I know what I'm doing, I punch him in his nose. I wouldn't say I regret my choice, but I know I have officially signed my death certificate.
The blood coming out of his nose is satisfying. His scream is satisfying. What sucks is the attention that it caused, and the teachers that came running over to us. Before I know it, I'm being hauled into the principal's office.
Principal Monroe is a dick. He has a little power, and it has gone to his head. "Mr. Clark it's been awhile."
"Yes sir," I say simply, putting my head down. I've learned that the sorrier I look, the better it goes for me.
"Who'll it be this time? Mom or Dad?" he asks. I don't even have to think about that.
"Dad, sir. Mom just got a new job and she won't be able to get away."
That's a total lie. Well, not the new job part, but the not being able to get away part. The only chance I have is if my dad picks me up. He isn't gonna do anything. If I can convince him that I'm sorry, he might cover for me with mom.
I use the time that it takes for Monroe to call dad, and dad to get to the school, to come up with my plan. I'm gonna have to use tears to get dad to feel sorry for me.
When dad gets there, he's with Officer Drake. Dad is a sergeant, so he normally isn't with anyone. He must've been doing something important before this. If it's a slow day, I might have a chance. If dad is already busy and stressed, he'll take me to mom without hesitation.
The look on his face confirms my fate immediately. He actually looks mad. I'm so screwed. While Principal Monroe is scolding my dad for what a terrible son he has, I'm making a plan B, because I have a feeling plan A is gonna fail.
So, there's no way that mom can spank me at work. Is spanking considered child abuse? I'm not sure. However, there's no way that mom brought the paddle. That thing is huge! She wouldn't just bring a paddle with her to work. So, I might have a chance. She might have to wait to deal with me until after shift tomorrow morning. By that time, maybe she'll have calmed down and will just lecture and ground me. Maybe I could get out of a spanking.
We stand up to leave once Monroe has finished his spiel, letting dad know that I'm suspended for 4 days. Suspended. I might need a plan C. Mom's gonna murder me.
We get in the car and dad starts driving.
"I'm so sorry dad," I begin, trying to force tears to come to the surface. Crying on demand isn't for amateurs.
"I'm sure you are, champ. We've been slammed all day. I'm just gonna take you to mom, ok?" He says quietly. He's acting like this is no big deal, but he's pissed. Why can't he just tell me I screwed up? Why does he have to act like everything I do is ok? I think he wants me to get in trouble for this one—that's the real reason he's sending me to mom. Letting a girl fix his problems—What a hero.
We get to the station quicker than I like. Once we get there, dad and Drake walk ahead, and I trail behind.
"Let's go, Liam," dad says with a stern voice. Oh yeah, he's mad. He never talks to me like that.
Once we get into the garage looking area, a middle aged man comes up to us with a huge smile.
"Welcome to Firehouse 20, gentleman! What can we do for you today?" He asks. I immediately like him. He's cool. I wonder if this is Keegan that mom talks about all the time.
"We're looking for Ellie Freeman. Is she around?" Dad asks, forcing a smile to his lips. He's seriously pissed at me.
"Sure! Follow me."
We get into another room, where there's a kitchen and a living area. I see mom immediately, writing at a table. She hasn't noticed us yet.
"Freeman, you have some visitors," the guy yells to mom. It's so weird to hear people call her by her last name. It's always bothered me that our last names aren't the same. Kinda feels like she isn't really my mom or something.
Mom looks up and sees us, and immediately her face looks mad; she knows I'm in trouble. I'm so dead.