Once the movies ended, I helped Olivia into her coat. I jerked on my own coat and followed her into the elevator.
I leaned back against the wall of the elevator and dropped my head back with a heavy sigh.
“Are you worried?” Olivia asked gently. “About going home to your parents?”
I sighed, moving my arm around her. “It’ll be fine.” I mused.
Olivia lightly placed her hand on my cheek. “It’s going to be okay. You didn’t do anything wrong. It was that police officer that started everything. You were minding your own business. And I’ll tell your parents that. Hopefully they’ll believe me.” She mused.
I swallowed thickly. “Can you do me a favor? Please don’t tell your dad? I’m trying to stay under the radar here, and I don’t think bringing your dad into this is going to make it any easier on me. Besides, if I ever do meet him, I don’t want him to think I’m a complete delinquent.”
“You aren’t.” Olivia insisted. “You’ve made some mistakes, and you’ve paid for them. But you’re not a hardened criminal. You’re a sweet man, who has had some challenges and overcame them.” She insisted.
I smiled. “I’m very glad I have you.” I mused. “You manage to put a positive spin on even the darkest situations.” I pressed a kiss to Olivia’s forehead.
She smiled. “Everything is going to be okay.” She insisted.
I knew what she was saying made sense logically. But I couldn’t help but embrace the feeling that my parents were still going to see this as a mistake on my part. And I had very few mistakes left before they threw me out completely.
The elevator doors opened in the parking garage and we walked to Olivia’s car. I was holding her hand in my free one. The other hand had swollen so badly I could hardly move my fingers. I thought I might have fractured a knuckle or something. Olivia insisted I bring the ice with me and keep it on my hand.
I climbed into the passenger’s seat, briefly wondering if my face had left a dent in her father’s vehicle.
Olivia climbed into the driver’s seat. “It’s freezing!” She gasped, shutting the door and starting the engine. She immediately cranked up the heat, before she even put her seat belt on.
I knew she was meticulous about the passenger’s of her car putting on a seat belt. With my wounded hand, I couldn’t get the belt in the lock.
Olivia immediately helped me.
“Thanks.” I sighed. Maybe I was an invalid. I was completely incompetent. I probably should have hit the wall with my left hand instead. I used it less.
Olivia backed from the parking space and pulled out into the snowy winter night.
Olivia sighed. “I love the snow, it makes everything so pretty.” She mused.
“Me too.” I replied. I glanced toward her. Olivia was really the pretty one. I was hardly even looking out the window. The streetlights gave her a beautiful, angelic glow.
Olivia pulled off the main street, and onto the street that led us out of the downtown core.
I was almost praying for a blown tire or a snow bank. I’d rather spend the night with her and freezing than be home with my parents who were probably going to hand me my ass on a plate.
It seemed to take only minutes for Olivia to pull the car into my parent’s driveway. She shut off the engine and turned to me. “It’s going to be okay.” She insisted.
I wanted to point out that any yelling my parents were about to do to me would not be in front of her. They would wait until she left before they brought out the screaming match.
I drew in a deep breath. “Let’s just go in. Get it over with. We’ll make it quick and painless. Like ripping off a band aid.”
Olivia smiled humorlessly at me.
I opened the door and slid out onto the driveway. I shut the door behind me, accidentally using my wounded hand. It stung unbearably, but I didn’t let it get to me.
Olivia met me at the front of the car and looped her arm through mine in a silent sign of support.
She took the ice from my good hand, offering to hold it for me.
We made our way up to the front door and I opened it, stepping inside.
“Isaac? Is that you?” Dad called from the living room. I wasn’t sure who else he’d be expecting at quarter to eleven at night.
“Yeah. I brought Olivia with me, I hope that’s okay.” I answered.
“Olivia’s here?” Mom demanded. Before Olivia could even get both her shoes off, my mom came running. She threw her arms around Olivia. “Oh, honey it’s so good to see you!”
Olivia laughed softly, “It’s good to see you too.”
I finished hanging our coats on the rack and turned around.
My mom stopped in her tracks.
“Hi,” It was the only thing I could think of to say.
“Walker!” My mom called immediately.
I rolled my eyes and turned to Olivia. “See?” I challenged.
“What’s wrong, Di?” Dad asked, coming into the room. I was sure he sensed the panic in mom’s voice.
He noticed my eye and then looked toward Olivia, the lines of worry deepening on his face. He folded his arms over his chest in a stern look.
“Dad, I can explain. It was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t do anything wrong. It wasn’t my fault.”
“I hope it was worth it, Son.” Dad warned, “Fighting is a violation of your parole.”
I narrowed my eyes, even though it hurt. “I didn’t do any fighting. Which is why I look like this.” I held up my hand for effect.
Olivia stopped me. “I was there, I witnessed the entire thing. He didn’t do anything wrong, I swear to you.” She insisted with perfect sincerity.
My mom let out the breath she’d been holding. “Come into the living room and we’ll discuss this.” She urged.
Olivia followed my mom into the living room. My dad remained in the doorway with his arms over his chest. I was almost worried he might hit me for the first time when I walked past him.
I plopped down stiffly on the sofa next to Olivia. I was glad she had my back with this.
My mom flew into the kitchen and returned in mere seconds, pressing a dishcloth to my eye. I felt the ice crunch against my face and winced. “Careful, mom!” I warned.
“What happened?” She demanded.
My dad stood in front of the television with his arm’s crossed. Even with one eye, I could see his was pissed.
Olivia placed the bag of ice from her place on my swollen hand.
“Nothing happened.” I shrugged. “I ran into someone, and he kicked my ass. I behaved. I didn’t fight back. I didn’t breach my parole. End of story.”
“And how about your hand?” My dad pointed out.
“I punched a brick wall.” I shrugged. “It was stupid. I was pissed.”
Olivia gaped at me, “Isaac, you have to tell them the whole story!” She insisted. “They need to know!”
I sighed. “The details don’t matter, Liv. It doesn’t change what happened.”
“Yes it does!” She protested.
I sighed, glancing at my dad. He was barely moving, and his nostrils were flaring. He was beyond angry with me. He was livid. There was nothing I could say to change that, no matter the excuse.
Mom turned to Olivia, “Honey, what happened?”
Olivia drew in a deep breath. “We went shopping for a dress so I would have something to wear here for Christmas. We left the dress shop and before we could get back to my dad’s apartment, we were pulled over by a police officer… if you could even call him that.” She explained. “I thought I’d done something wrong, because I was driving. But he must have seen Isaac get into my car. He made Isaac get out, and he was yelling at him. Awful, untrue things. He was accusing him of doing drugs and stealing and just horrible things.” She shook her head. “I got out of the car and before I could do anything, this officer had Isaac handcuffed on the hood of the car and was searching him, without probable cause. He pushed him so hard against the car that happened.” She pointed to my eye.
I watched my dad carefully while Olivia explained.
“I’ve been with Isaac almost every day since September. He’s not a thief. He’s not a drug addict. Yes, he got mixed up in things that were wrong, but he’s a better person. I know him. I know in my heart that the police man who stopped us was wrong about him. I finally told the officer who my dad was, and he took the cuffs off him and left us alone… at that point Isaac punched the wall.”
For the first time, I glanced at my mom who’s mouth had fallen open in surprise. She turned her attention to me, from Olivia.
“Is this true?” She asked in disbelief.
“Yes.” I answered.
“Do you know this police officer?”
“Yes.” I replied.
“Who was it?” She asked.
I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It was Officer Locke. He’s the one who pressed the charges against me. All of my charges are from him.” I answered.
My mom turned to my dad. “Walker, we have to do something here!” She said. The panic registered in her voice, raising it several octaves higher.
Dad finally dropped his hands to his sides, and sighed. He moved around the coffee table and examined my eye more carefully. I watched him, waiting for a lecture or worse.
“Are you alright, son?” He asked, his voice softening.
I nodded. “Olivia made me go to the hospital. I got stitches and a prescription for Tylenol. I’m fine.” I insisted.
Dad turned to Olivia and smiled warmly at her. “Thank you. Thank you for telling us the truth and for taking such good care of our son.”
Olivia smiled at me softly.
Dad placed his hand on mom’s shoulder. “I’m afraid there isn’t a whole lot we can do about it tonight, Di. It’s too late. I’ll call our lawyer first thing in the morning and see what we can do.”
“If that doesn’t work, I could talk to my dad. He’s a judge now, but he was a lawyer for a long time first. He’ll know what to do.” Olivia offered. “I’m sure he would absolutely love to help.”
“Thank you, Olivia.” My dad responded. “Are you willing to draft a deposition for us? Saying what you witnessed?”
“Of course.” Olivia nodded.
“Thank you.” My mom hugged Olivia tightly. I could see that my mom was going to cry, and I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know what we would have done without you.”
“Mom, I’m not dying. It’s a few bruises and a couple of possible fractures.” I shook my head.
“Still! You could have ended up in jail tonight, or worse! And you didn’t do anything!” Mom protested.
I glanced toward Olivia who was smiling at me.
“I’m going to get you some fresh ice for your hand.” Mom insisted. “Olivia, do you want a cup of tea or anything?”
“Sure,” Olivia agreed, “I’ll help you.”
Mom led the way out of the room with Olivia right behind her.
I sighed and lowered the ice from my eye, shaking my head.
“Are you alright, son?” Dad asked, still eying me carefully.
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. I’ve had worse.” I shrugged.
Dad sighed and sat down in his usual arm chair, leaning forward. “I don’t understand why you felt the need to lie to us about what happened tonight.” Dad mused.
I sighed. “I didn’t lie. I just left out the important parts.”
Dad shook his head. “Isaac.” He scolded. “I want to know why you felt the need to avoid the complete truth with us.”
I sighed. “Would you have believed me if I had told you the truth, dad? Really?”
“Of course I would.” He insisted.
“Really? I highly doubt that dad. You’ve barely even been able to look at me since I got arrested the first time. You’ve been watching me like a hawk, just waiting for me to fuck up, dad. Admit it. I’m just an inconvenience to everyone in this house. I’m just a criminal now. So much so, you’ve hidden me away in the basement like I’m a huge family secret. I need my own room because I’m such a horrible influence on your other two, perfect, golden boys! You sent me off to boarding school so you wouldn’t have to look at me or deal with me in any way! You don’t trust me at all, and if you did you wouldn’t have been so pissed when I came in the door before you heard the full story of what happened! Just admit it, dad. I’m just one big disappointment to your perfect little family, and you can’t wait until I go back to boarding school and you don’t have to deal with me anymore.” I didn’t wait for my dad to respond.
I pushed myself up from the sofa and stormed out of the room. I marched down the hall and into the basement, slamming the door behind me. I marched down the stairs and into my bedroom, slamming that door as well. I raked my free hand through my hair.
I could feel my blood boiling again. I wanted to hit something for a second time, but even attempting to curl my hand into a fist hurt enough that I didn’t need to hit anything.
I stood in my room for only a second before my door opened slowly. “Isaac? What’s wrong?” Olivia asked softly.
She crossed my room and lightly touched my cheek.
“I’m fine.” I insisted. “I just had a fight with my dad.”
She nodded sympathetically. “I know, I heard.” She stood on her toes and carefully wrapped her arms around my neck. I sighed, wrapping my arms around her tightly. I rested my chin on her shoulder and shut my eyes tightly.
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