ChapterTwo
Bishop
Watching Harley’s car drive away is difficult.It’s as if my whole heart is there and, truthfully, it is.Since the moment I came to live with the Walkers, life has been better.Everything that I always hoped it would be.Almost as if they scooped me up from a darkness I’d never thought it was possible to escape from and showed me what sunlight really was.
“You alright?”Caelin asks as he comes up behind me.
He and I, we’ve become closer since he married Justice.Because the girls hang out so much, we do too.I would venture to say he’s the closest friend I have.“I’m fine.Just some shit going on.”
“Anything you need to talk about?”
“Not right now, but can I keep that option open?”
“You know my door is always open.”
“Appreciate it.”I clap my hand on his shoulder.“Let’s get back to work.”
What I need more than anything is to get my hands busy as well as my mind.If I sit here and think about what might be happening with Harley, I’m going to go fucking insane.
Walking back into the garage bay, I grab a rag and start changing the oil on a truck that came in this morning.
For some reason it reminds me of the first day I had working here.Drew and Tyler had taken it upon themselves to show me how to change oil.
“Although it’s up above you, still be aware of where it is,” Tyler says as he points up to the truck on the lift.
“Yeah,” Drew echoes.“When you unplug that drain, watch where it’s going.It’ll get you in the head if you aren’t careful.”
I’m nervous as I reach up and do as they’ve instructed.
“Put the tub under it,” Drew advises.“There ya go.”
They’d always been encouraging and as I’d gotten more confident in all the other parts of the job, I’d learned more.These days I’m allowed to do almost whatever I want, which is why I head over to my corner.
Instead of helping with one of the bigger projects, I stay over here on my own, choosing to be anti-social.It allows me to zone out and concentrate on the job at hand.
Glancing out at the parking lot, I see a truck pull up and come to a stop.It’s not unusual for this to happen, but this particular truck is.I would recognize the Erickson money anywhere.It’s ostentatious and anyone who really knows this place knows people with vehicles like that don’t come here.We work on bikes and older models, not this less-than-two-year-old lifted Chevy sitting here watching what’s going on.
The person inside is watching me.I can feel their eyes following me as I get up and walk to the front of the bay.Two years ago, I would’ve backed down, let them scare me.However, that’s not who I am now.The Bishop of now refuses to back down.
Standing at my full height, I spread my feet wide, cross my arms across my chest, and tilt my head down.My lips are in a firm line, showing how unhappy I am with this turn of events.The driver revs the engine twice and then takes off out of the parking lot.
“Something we should be worried about?”Drew asks, coming up to stand beside me while wiping his hands on a rag.
Rubbing my hand across my chin, I shake my head.“I don’t know.Looked like my brother, but I can’t be sure.”
I haven’t seen him since the day Drew saved me by asking me to come live with the Walker family.I still remember it as if it were yesterday.
Back then, my life had been football and Harley.Not necessarily in that order, but I hadn’t been able to admit it to myself.
The clock wound down - fifteen seconds left.My coach is motioning for me to take a knee because I’ve gotten the shit kicked out of me tonight.When I take the snap and then the knee, I’m equal parts grateful and fucking scared.
Dad is on the sidelines screaming like the lunatic he is.“Don’t you ever take a goddamn knee, do you hear me?You don’t ever fucking give up!I taught you better than that.”
Truth is, he hasn’t taught me much.Just to hold my anger and avoid his fists.Neither one I’m real good at doing.Glancing over to the sidelines, I groan.He’s being escorted off the field by resource officers which means he’s going to be madder than normal.
I’ve learned not to be scared.Showing fear makes it worse in the end.
Up in the bleachers, Justice is pointing toward the locker rooms, Caelin (who I know from football) and a few people I don’t know following her.The last thing I need is for others to get involved.