He lunges toward me, almost knocking Damon over, which takes some force considering he is a strong man, and then we tousle to the floor.
“My sister’s name better not come out of your mouth again. You fucking hear me,” Eli says, wailing on me.
I let him get a couple good punches in, so he can look like a badass and take my turn. Raquel can’t get mad at me now. Her brother threw the first punch and I’ve been raised to defend myself. So, when it comes time to punch, I give him a nice right hook, knocking him on his back.
“Are you fucking serious? Starting a fight because I’m friends with your sister. You’re pathetic. I’ll date who I want, and you can’t fucking stop me,” I say, walking out of the room and then stepping outside.
Sure, Raquel is going to hear about this, especially with the way things spread in this town, but at least I didn’t start it. How can she get mad at me? Eli needs to back the hell up, and learn that he might have been big in high school, but we are grown and he doesn’t get to go around talking to people like that, especially me. Not going to fucking happen.
The door opens and shuts, and around the corner comes the chief. “What the hell is going on? Already causing trouble in my station, boy?”
Damon comes out and has my back. “No, Eli just doesn’t know when to quit running his mouth. Jeremy just didn’t back down, and good for him. That boy needs to learn he ain’t in Kansas anymore, chief.”
They both look at me, and I wait to see what his reaction is going to be. If I had been the one to start the fight, then I could see why he would get mad at me, but fuck.
“Better not happen again. Don’t care if he hits you first or not. This drama shit isn’t tolerated here.” He raises his voice and uses his pointer finger, scalding me like a five-year-old.
The door slams shut, and Damon knocks me on the shoulder. “Don’t let him get to ya. He doesn’t like Eli that much, but he does his job. I think we are all glad to see him knocked down a few pegs. Good job, newbie.”
I’m not even an hour into my shift and I’ve already been in a fight, called to the principal’s office, and I just don’t know how the day could get any better than this.
Seize the day, I guess.