500 Days (6 page)

“
Jacob Radcliff.” We all
roared and clapped when they called Jacob’s name. His cheeks
blushed slightly from embarrassment. He gave us a slight wave and
then stopped dead center in the middle of the stage. All the
teachers looked a little puzzled as to what the holdup was, but
when I saw his face, I knew. I looked over to Jack who was standing
tall and proud on the bleacher steps. Jacob ran and jumped off the
stage, getting a collective gasp from the audience. The teachers
stood frozen, unsure of what was going on. All his classmates
turned to watch as Jacob ran across the field.

Jack flew down the steps. We all followed
and watched as Jacob hopped the fence and jumped into Jack’s arms.
Jack picked him up as we joined them on the track. We all piled in
for a group hug. There was an explosion of applause and I turned my
head enough to see the entire bleachers were standing and clapping
along with all of Jacob’s classmates. I let the tears of joy fall
down my cheek as I watched Jasper and Jaxson try to hide theirs by
quickly wiping them away before any one saw. It felt like an
eternity before we all finally let go.

Jacob had a harder time pulling away. “Go,”
Jack pushed. “I’ll be here when you’re done.” Jacob gave him
another quick hug before he rejoined his classmates.

“
That’s my brother!” Jacob
yelled. I let out a small laugh and watched as he stood proudly
with the other students, unable to take his eyes off of
Jack.

We stayed where we were to watch the rest of
the ceremony. I took Jack’s hand and looked up to see tears in his
eyes. I have never seen Jack cry before. It was amazing to see
someone as strong as him to show his emotions. He didn’t dare wipe
away one single tear. I gave his hand a light squeeze and he smiled
down at me before he pulled me closer and latched on to Jasper with
his other arm. I grabbed Jaxson, tugging him closer to me while he
threw his arm over Declan. We were a mixed bunch of crazies. All
different shapes, sizes, and colorings, but we were family, and we
had a family bond that no one could break.

At dinner, Jacob couldn’t stop smiling. He
was so happy that Jack was able to make it home for his graduation.
He told us it was the best present anyone could have given him. He
even said he would skip the graduation party he was invited to just
to spend the time with Jack, but Jack wouldn’t hear it. He told him
to go and have fun and he would see him tomorrow. He made Jacob
promise him if he was going to drink, do it responsibly, and to
call for a ride.

Jacob rolled his eyes. “There will be adult
supervision and no booze.”

“
Jake, I’m not stupid.
Just be smart.”

“
Yes, dad,” he joked. He
hugged him for what was the fifth time today, along with the rest
of us and then took off with his friends.

“
Alright Jack, I think
it’s time you, Colby, and I hit the bars tonight and leave the
kiddies to go nightie night.”

“
Hey,” Jaxson and I
complained together. We were the only two who weren’t twenty-one
yet.

“
I’m kind of beat. How
about we just grab something to go so we can all hang out,” Jack
suggested.

“
Come on, my big brother
is finally home. I want to take you out and I know the perfect
place too,” he wiggled his brows. “There’s this sweet little joint
where all the bartenders are women who walk around in little to
nothing uniforms.”

My head shot up. “What’s this place called?”
Jack asked.

“
Angels and
Demons.”

“
Don’t go there,” I
blurted out. Declan pinched my leg under the table as Jack and
Jasper turned to me with suspicious looks on their
faces.

“
Why not?” Jack
asked.

“
I just heard that place
isn’t all that great.” Jasper waved me off like I was crazy and
making up some bullshit excuse. “Besides, I like the idea of all of
us hanging out. It’s not like you and Jasper can’t go out another
night.”

“
She’s right. I’ll swing
by the liquor store on the way to your house.”

I smiled at my small victory while Jasper
glared at me. “And I’ll bring the cards.”

“
Whoa…whoa,” Jax and
Jasper chimed in. “Who said you were invited?”

“
Jack just said he rather
get stuff so we can
ALL
be together.” I narrowed my eyes at them,
especially my twin who was siding with Jasper at the
moment.

“
Whatever, I’ll meet you
guys in the truck.” Jasper huffed, throwing some money on the table
before taking off with Colby.

“
Oh come on Jas, you know
it will be fun.” He waved me off and kept walking. “You two might
want to hurry up before he leaves without you.”

“
He wouldn’t do that,”
Jack said confident. I raised my brow at him just as Jax took off.
“Shit.” Jack hurried to get his wallet out of his pocket to pay for
dinner.

“
I got it.” I told him and
watched him run out the door. Jasper was that big-of-a-dick to
leave their asses here, but I was hoping he was smart enough to
know better. Otherwise he was in for a severe beating.

We paid the bill and I told Declan to swing
by our place so I could change and grab the cards.

Once back at the apartment, I changed out of
my dress and into some shorts and tank top. Then I brushed through
my matted hair and pulled it up into a ponytail. I washed off the
little makeup I had on and brushed my teeth. I grabbed the small
supply of liquor we had – knowing the boys wouldn’t get us anything
– and met Declan down at the car.

Jaxson and Jasper shared a
small four bedroom house. Even though it was only the two of them,
the plan was to have Jacob move in when he graduated and have a
place for Jack to crash when he was home. Jasper made more than
enough at the tattoo shop to cover the expenses so cost wasn’t an
issue. Plus it was nice to have the room when they needed it. We
found the boys in the kitchen. They had already made a dent in the
case of beer they bought and I’m sure had a few
shots
,
judging by
the dirty glasses sticking on the table. Jack and Jaxson were
smoking cigars while Jasper puffed away on a cigarette.

Colby looked up when he heard us enter.
“Alright boys, ladies in the room.”

“
That ain’t no lady,
that’s my sister,” Jasper grunted. I smacked him on the back of the
head as I walked past him to the counter. I opened the cabinets to
look for a glass. They were empty.

“
Don’t you guys have any
clean glasses?” Judging by the sink full of dirty dishes I would
have to say no.

“
Check the dishwasher.”
Jaxson pointed behind me. I opened it up – dirty.

“
Don’t you guys ever
clean?”

“
Dish rag is on the sink.
Get to work.”

I scoffed. “Knock it off Jas,” Jack
warned.

Jasper pointed to the left of me. “There’s
some plastic cups back there somewhere.”

I managed to find the cups in all the mess
and dug out two to make Declan and myself a drink. Then I pulled
over a chair to sit between Jaxson and Jack while Declan sat on
Jack’s other side between Jasper. From my position I had a nice
view of Colby, which is why I chose to sit where I did. “So what
are we playing?”

“
We are playing poker and
no, you can’t play.” Jas threw down two cards.

“
Why not?” I
whined.

“
Because no matter how
many times I explain it to you
,
you don’t get it,” Jack said, dealing Jasper
two.

Jaxson tossed in four red chips. “And
because you suck.”

I elbowed Jaxson. “I do not suck.”

“
Yes, you do,” all four
boys said.

“
What am I supposed to do
then? Sit here and watch you guys play?”

Jasper growled. “This is why I didn’t want
to invite her.”

“
You didn’t.”

“
Exactly.” Jasper outted
his cigarette.

“
Enough you two, Christ.
I’m not even home twenty-four hours and you two –” Jack took a
breath. “Let us finish this hand and then we’ll play something
else.” He looked at me and I nodded. He then turned to Jasper and
gave him a warning to keep his mouth shut. Jasper and I were the
two who argued the most. Sure I got into it with all my
brothers
,
but for
some reason Jasper and I always seemed to butt heads. I don’t know
if it was the age difference or not. He only had five years on me
and with Jack being the oldest he had eight. I would expect Jack
and me to have more issues but I think maybe because he was forced
to become an instant dad to his four siblings he matured a lot
quicker than the rest of them and learned to have a lot more
patience.

While we waited for them to finish their
hand I turned to Jaxson and asked, “So what do you want to do for
our birthday?”

“
Strip club.”

“
Eww, no.”

“
Jax, if you want to see
half naked ladies that you can actually take home, I’ll take you to
Angels and Demons.”

“
No!” they all turned to
look at me. “I just…don’t want to go there and it’s my birthday
too. Don’t I get a say where we go?”

“
No,” they all said. I
sighed, knowing this was one argument I couldn’t win.

“
What’s your big hang up
about this place anyways?” Jack asked curiously.

Before I could come up with an excuse Jaxson
answered for me. “It’s because she doesn’t want you to know she
works there.”

My jaw dropped and I just stared at him wide
eyed. “What, you work there?” Jasper asked, stunned.

“
Jax doesn’t know what
he’s talking about. He’s just making shit up.” I crossed my arms
over my chest defensively, hoping they couldn’t tell I was
lying.

“
No, I’m not. I saw you
there.”

“
How could you have? They
card at the door,” Declan asked.

“
I was there to pick up a
buddy and I saw you,” he pointed at Declan and then me. “And you,
coming out of the bar wearing these costumes. You had on some red
leather thing and you were wearing a white dress. I asked my buddy
if it was a costume party and he said no
,
that was the workers uniforms.” I
glared at Jaxson for blowing my cover.

Jasper stood up knocking his chair over.
“You are quitting that job. No way is my little sister parading
around half naked and serving drinks to a bunch of horny
drunks.”

“
It’s not that bad,” I
argued. “Tell them Declan.”

“
It’s really not. The
owner takes really good care of us and there are security guards
everywhere plus we make really good money.”

“
I know how a pimp takes
care of his whores.”

“
Jesus Jas, over react
much?” I turned to Jack who was silent this whole time. “Jack
really, I swear it’s not that bad and with the money I’m making I
can save up for a car and help pay rent. I’m not doing anything
besides serving and making drinks. It’s just like working in any
other bar.”

“
You shouldn’t be working
in any bar,” Jasper growled. The one time he decides to act like a
brother instead of a dick and it’s to throw me under the bus.
“Jack, tell her she can’t work there.”

Now I was getting pissed. I stood up. “Okay
first off, I’m twenty not fifteen and I can work where I choose.
You don’t have the right to tell me what to do and I can take care
of myself.”

“
Prove it.” Jasper and I
turned to Jack.

“
What?”

“
Prove it. You say you can
take care of yourself, then I want to see you prove it. If you can
take down Jasper then you can keep the job.” I looked at Jasper who
was smiling wide. He thought he could take me, but spending years
getting beat up and tortured by my brothers I had learned a few
things. What he also didn’t know was that before Jack left for Iraq
he taught me a few defensive moves. He had said it made him feel a
little better about leaving me behind.

“
With pleasure.” I cracked
my knuckles as my lips spread into a grin. I followed Jasper into
the living room where he pushed the couch back.

Declan and the boys gathered around to
watch. “This should be easy.” Jasper came at me and I threw my hand
out, palm up. I heard something crack and he pulled back holding
his hands to his face. “Ahh,” he yelped. “I think you broke my
nose.”

“
I didn’t hit you that
hard you wuss.” He pulled his hand away and there was a small trail
of blood dripping down his upper lip.

Jack walked over to check
it out. He grabbed his chin and turned his head left and then right
inspecting the damage. “You’ll live.” He turned away quickly to
hide his smile and winked at me. I gave Jasper a,
‘take that’
look and he
charged for me, knocking me down on the floor. I yelped when he
pulled my arm behind my back. “Ow,ow,ow,” I whined, trying to play
to his sympathy.

“
That crap doesn’t work
with me,” he laughed.

Damn it. He was right. It only worked with
Jacob and Jaxson. The more I struggled to get free the harder he
pulled. “Alright, you win,” I conceded.

He let go and got off me. “I think I just
proved my point.”

Jack looked a little disappointed. He
clearly thought I could prove Jasper wrong. What they both didn’t
know was that I wasn’t finished yet. When Jasper went to walk away,
I jumped on his back and put him in a headlock. He stumbled back, a
little stunned, knocking us over onto the couch. I flipped him over
onto the floor and dug my knee into his back, twisting his arm up.
Jack bent over laughing hysterically while Colby and Jaxson watched
in shocked silence.