NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: Jax
I sat down outside in the cold air. Christmas break had finally came. A truck pulled up in front of me. I stayed put as the driver got out. Jax came around sitting next to me. "Need a ride home?" He asked. I shook my head.
"Well your not going to sit out here in the cold until your dad gets here. What time does your dad get off?" He asked. "Three fifty." I answered. "Your not sitting out here until four." He said.
"Come on I'll give you a lift. I don't think your dad will mind." He said, standing. He then held out his hand. I took it as he was pulling me up. He opened the passenger door, letting me get in. The cab of the truck was so much warmer. He then drove to the elementary school. I told dad that I had gotten a ride from a friend to the house. Along with the boys.
I gave Jax directions to the house. He found it without asking a second time where it was. "One second," Jax said before I got out. He reached behind the driver's seat, pulling a small wrapped box from behind.
"Merry Christmas, Mikayla." He said, handing it to me. "You can either open it now or you can later." He said. "You'll know if I opened it if I thank you when we go back to school," I said.
He scoffed. "Then why don't I open it now?" I said. He sat there patiently as I unwrapped the box. I opened it, finding a smaller box. I threw the larger box at him. He chuckled as I opened the smaller box, revealing a cloth bag.
I opened the bag, seeing a ring. I picked it up, looking at what was on the band. A key with a heart loop was on the end. I looked at him. "Just a welcoming gift from the Ray family," Jax said, trying to brush it off. I leaned across the console, hugging him.
Then got out. "Thanks for the ride home," I said before opening the door. "No problem. If you need another ride home, just ask." He said as I got out. "I will," I said as my brothers got out. Then closed the door.
I held the ring in my hand as he pulled out of the drive. I then turned and went inside, finding Katherine on the couch eating the last bag of chips. I looked through the cabinets, seeing no food. This is crap.
Dad entered the house, seeing the same sight. "Dad, there's no food," I said. He reached into his wallet. "At five, I want you to take your brothers to go eat," Dad said, handing me the twenty. I nodded. "Take my truck."
I went into the boys' bedroom to ask them what they wanted. "Burger King." They both shouted. I nodded before going to my room. I stuck the ring on, trying it on. It somehow fit perfectly. At four fifty, dad and Katherine got into a huge fight. I rounded my brothers up and went for food.
We found the restaurant after ten minutes and went in. They knew to get something that would sustain them and was close to the cheapest on the menu. I got something from the Dollar Menu, as did the boys.
We then got our drinks while waiting for our food. When the number was called, I went up and got our food. I grabbed the tray and some ketchup before going to the table. I sat down and gave my brothers their food.
A familiar voice was heard from behind me. "Rays. Welcome. Gotta basketball game tonight?" "Yeah." I heard a man say. "I'll be right back." I thought I heard Jax. "Eating out." I turned quickly, seeing Jax right there next to me.
"No food at home," I said. "Couldn't buy groceries?" He asked, looking sympathetic. I looked down at my food. "We bought three weeks' worth of groceries on Monday. Today, there wasn't enough for a meal." I said. "I know how much you can eat. Plus, how much those two eat? Your dad probably doesn't even eat as much as my dad, so is it your stepmother that's eating everything?" He asked.
I looked away from him. "It's not your fault." He said, sitting down next to me. "Any reason you didn't take it to go?" He asked. "They got into an argument ten minutes before we left the house. When the boys and I walked into the house, she was finishing up the last bag of chips we had." I said.
"Are you doing anything for Christmas?" He asked. "We were going to cook, but now that's not going to happen," I said. "What if I asked if you, your brothers, and dad could come for Christmas?" He asked. I shook my head. "No. It's fine. We'll find something." I said.
"Are you sure?" He asked. I nodded. "I've got to eat before my brother's basketball game. See you sometime during break." He said before kissing my temple. Then got up and went to the counter.
My brothers and I finished eating and had to go home. Beforehand, I got dad something to eat. When we got there, Katherine's car was gone. I got out as the boys did. Carrying dad's food in, I saw him at the kitchen table looking over the bills.
I set his food down, standing behind him. "I just don't know what to do with her, Mikayla," Dad said. "Change the bank PIN and disable her credit cards. She'll be forced to get a job or leave after realizing she's broke without any money." I said.
"I don't know." He said. "Brought you some food," I said, handing him the to-go bag. "I'll see about getting an after-school job," I told dad.