“Not that it’s any of your business, but they live with their mother. I live with Zac and our little brothers and sister. Zac and I have different dads. But the three little ones all share the same one. All five of us share the same mum though. Is that enough information for you?”
“Listen, I’m sorry. And you’re right, that was none of my business because you don’t really know me. Can we just start this interaction again?”
“I know you just fine, Yvonne. Everyone knows who the Rhodes family is. Just like they all know who I am, and who my siblings are. Makes it easier to hate on us all.”
“I suppose so. I guess that’s why I wanted to talk to you. It’s about what I saw on Monday. I want you to know that I’m not going to say anything about it.”
“I see,” she says, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. She really is quite beautiful with her perfectly straight hair and porcelain skin. Her big blue eyes are even more cerulean than mine and she has that sparrow-like figure that men seem to swoon over. I guess it has something to do with their need to protect…“He never hurts me if that’s what you’re worried about. He just didn’t know that I was staying back at school and he was worried,” she explains. “Our um, our mother wanted me home.” The last part is added quickly and there’s something about the way she says it that’s really strange. Actually the whole conversation is strange because she thinks I’m talking about Zac.
“What? No. I’m talking about Mr Sparks. There’s rumours going around the school about what happened to him. So far, they just think I did something to him. I wanted you to know that I’m not going to tell them that you were with him.”
She stops walking and pulls me to the side so we’re out of the pathway. “What are you saying exactly?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
“Then what did you see?”
“Enough to know that you weren’t using the dark room for photography.”
“And what do you want?”
“Nothing. Not everyone wants something. Sometimes people are just happy to keep someone else from dealing with more shit than they already do.”
“He’s not taking advantage. It was all me. And…it sounds stupid, but we’re in love.”
“You don’t need to explain, Meg. I just…I overheard you and Zac talking, and I don’t know what’s going on with you guys, but it’s obvious that you don’t need that kind of mess in your life – so I wanted you to know that I won’t say anything.”
Pressing her lips together, I notice her eyes brim with tears. Blinking rapidly, she nods and says, “I have to go.” She then walks away from me, hugging her folder to her chest as she hurries toward the front gate and gets into a van. I can’t see the driver. But I assume it’s Zac.
My stomach flips over in my gut and I suddenly wonder if should have just kept my mouth shut. Sometimes I act before I think.
“Hey, Evie!”
I turn and find Sisley skipping ahead of Lucas on her way toward me.
“Hey Sis,” I smile, catching her in a friendly embrace as she reaches me.
“Where have you been all week? We’ve barely seen you.”
“Working in the art room. But I’m done now.”
“Yeah, just in time for exams to start,” Lucas adds, looking grim.
“Aw, come on, Luc. You’ll be fine. You’re one of the smartest guys I know.”
“I’m the only guy you know.”
“She knows other guys,” Sisley says in my defence.
“Yeah, like Mr Sparks. Did you hear that your dad killed him after he busted you two screwing in the art room?”
“What? Oh my God. Don’t people have anything else to do with their time?”
“Obviously not. Your number is appearing on the wall in the guys bathroom again.”
“Seriously?” I groan. “They’re back to the ‘for a good time call Yvonne’ shit again?”
“Basically. But don’t worry, I covered them all up.”
“Thanks. But you know they’ll just go back up.”
He shrugs a little as if to say he’ll just cover those up too. I let out a sigh, feeling glad that high school is almost over. I’m so sick of being known as the school slut just because of a few bad choices when I was sixteen.
Sisley threads her arm through mine and we head toward the senior car park. “They’re high school students, and they don’t have anything better to do with their time. What do you say we go to the gym and pretend we’re breaking their arms? It’ll be like the old days.”
“Lead the way,” I say, grateful that there are at least two people in this world who have my back.
Eight
Zac
“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” Meg says as she slides into the front of the van next to me.
“Don’t be cryptic, Meg,” I respond, as I check over my shoulder, waiting to pull away from the curb.
“Hugo has left the school and Yvonne Rhodes knows what’s going on.”
“Yvonne? You mean Evie?” I ask, turning my head back toward the school, my eyes automatically seeking her out. I know I need to talk to her after I took off on her, and she saw me dragging Meg out of the school. She probably thinks I’m a barbarian. Although perhaps that’s a good thing…I shouldn’t be getting involved with her anyway. I have too many secrets right now - too many secrets that aren’t my own.
Craning my neck, I think I spot her walking toward the senior car park with her friends but I’m not sure.
“You can’t be serious. Are you seeing her?”
“What? No. We’ve barely even spoken. I’ve just seen her around a few times lately.”
“Yeah? Well she’s definitely seen us. She seems to have picked up that something’s going on and she knows all about Hugo and me. What do we do if she tells someone?”
“You and Hugo? There is no you and Hugo. Mr Sparks is a teacher and everything about what was going on between you two was wrong. And relax about Evie. She’s not the type to spread rumours.”
“Because you know her so well? I love how it’s fine for you to have a girlfriend and I can’t have anything.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, alright? Get that straight. Nothing is going on.”
“But you want something to be going on, right? She’s the reason you got expelled, isn’t she?”
“What difference does it make, Meg?”
“I just don’t understand, Zac. Why does everything have to be such a secret? It’s not like there isn’t an adult in the house.”
“Barely,” I comment.
Folding her arms across her chest, she stops speaking and stares out the window. Shaking my head, I give the school one last sweep to get a look at Evie, and not finding her, I turn my attention back to the road and pull out into the traffic to go to the primary school and pick up our younger siblings.
We ride in silence until we hit the first set of traffic lights. “You’re wrong you know,” Meg says, still not looking at me.
“About what? Evie?”
“No. You’re wrong about Hugo. We love each other and there’s nothing wrong with loving someone.”
The light changes to green and the traffic moves again. “There is when he’s a teacher. It doesn’t matter that you’re over sixteen. It just matters that he was in a position of trust and he took advantage.”
“He didn’t. How many times do I have to tell you that I pursued him?”
“It makes no difference. You can’t see him anymore.”
“Even though he’s quit?”
“Even though he’s quit,” I state, trying to keep my voice calm as I pull into a parking spot outside the primary school and cut the engine.
She turns to me with tears in her eyes. She looks at me as though I’ve just ripped out her heart. I feel for her, really I do. I get that she has feelings for the guy but I can’t let her keep seeing him. Not while she’s my responsibility.
“I hate you,” she whispers, a single tear rolling down her cheek as she glares at
me.
“Well, I love you. That’s why I’m not going to let you ruin your life over a guy who should know better.”
“Why do you get to make all the rules?” she complains. “You’re acting like you’re our father, and you’re not. You’re barely even my brother.”
A laugh bursts from my chest, and it’s so hollow sounding that it seems to develop its own empty echo. “You think this is the life I want? You think I want to be the guy who tells you no? And you know what? I do like Yvonne Rhodes. I’ve liked her for years. But I can’t ask her out. I can’t bring someone new into our life. Do you really think I want all this responsibility? I’m eighteen. I should be out fucking around and getting drunk. So before you throw a pity party for yourself, just remember that it’s not just you. I’m going without too.”
“That’s not true. You’re doing exactly what you want. You love to fight.”
“Maybe I do. But not like this. Not when I have to be in business with those guys for the sake of money. I just don’t know any other way to keep us together.”
“I don’t know why you care. You could just leave like everyone else did. Or you could just call Human Services and you could be done with the lot of us. We’re not even fully related.”
“Stop saying that shit, Meg. We have the same mother. We’re related. And I care because someone has to. Someone needs to stay and fight for us all. Everybody leaves. I’m tired of everyone quitting and running, and I’m not going to do that too. Do you really think those three will be alright out there on their own?” I ask as we watch our two younger brothers and sister running out of the school together, laughing because they’re racing to see who gets to us first. “Do you really want to take their home away from them? Their family? We’re all they know, Meg. Focus on what’s important. If this Sparks guy is any sort of man, he’ll understand that family always comes first. Right?”
Angrily, I get out of the car and put on a happy façade to greet the kids, roughing up their hair and collecting their bags as they pile into the back of the van. They’re so full of energy and are talking rapidly about their day, and once I’ve made sure they’re buckled up, I get back behind the wheel and look back over at Meg who is still scowling with her arms folded across her chest. “They need us both. This isn’t the time to be selfish,” I say quietly. And with her teeth slightly clenched, she nods. She understands. She just doesn’t like it. I can tell she just wants to be free and I get it. I want to be free too. But I can’t turn my back on them. I practically raised them from babies when everyone else was too busy or too selfish to care about their crying. I’m all they know. So leaving or giving up isn’t an option. I can’t ruin their world for the sake of my own.
***
33.8012° S, 150.8475° E. 10PM.
It’s a text message from a blocked number about my first fight for Nelson. I get it while I’m making dinner for everyone and immediately after the first text, I get another one that comes directly from Nelson, Ready to go down the rabbit hole, kid? Fight is at Wonderland. Pick up at yours. 9pm. Be ready.
I look around the room at everyone else. The youngest, Tash is glued to the television watching Humf while the two boys, Will and Robbie are sitting at the table with Meg as she helps them with their homework.
“What’s going on?” she asks, nodding toward the phone in my hand.
“I have to go out later.”
She gives me a look that conveys how unhappy she is, and I just wish she’d understand how important this is and how much this could mean for us. I wish she could understand that I just don’t know any other way. Deep down, I know that this family will never have money unless I make it. And I want her to be able to go to university. This doesn’t end when she turns eighteen. Even if we can get mum to come back, this won’t end. I’ll always have to support them so she doesn’t go and marry some other drunken bastard who’ll treat us all like shit.
“You’re going out? Can I come too?” Will asks, his pencil pausing in the middle of some maths question.
“Not this time, buddy. It’s a work thing. Boring for kids.”
“Are you going to come back with another black eye?” Robbie asks in his little squeaky seven-year-old voice.
I glance at Meg who has her brow raised as she waits for me to answer. “I hope not this time,” I say, laughing it off as I turn back to the stove and finish getting the pasta and sauce together for our evening meal.
Meg moves to stand beside me. “What time?” she asks, her voice resigned.
“Nine.”
“Well, we’d better get them off to bed before you go.”
She shifts her weight and is about to move away, but I reach out and catch her arm. “Thanks,” I say, meeting her eyes.
“What for?”
“For not making a big deal about it.”
She shrugs a shoulder and presses her lips together. “Well, I thought about everything you said and I get it. I don’t like it but I get it. We need to stick together.” She nods her head toward the kids and continues. “They deserve electricity and hot food. And they deserve people who care more about them, more than they care about themselves.”
“And you need to stay in school,” I add. “There’s a great science program at the university. You could change the world with that brain of yours.”
She grins. “Maybe.”
“There’s no maybe. We have to be positive. I will win tonight. You will change the world. And soon, mum will be back.”
“Why do you even want her back, Zac? It’s not like she ever cared about us while she was here. She’d just be another mouth you’d have to feed.”
“I know that. But if she’s here social services won’t take the kids,” I whisper.
She lets out a resigned sigh. “Well, I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Everything is going to fine. You’ll see.”
Nodding to myself, I smile as I drain the pasta into the sink, the sentence echoing in my mind, over and over. Everything will be fine. Everything has to be fine.
***
At ten minutes before nine, I’m standing out the front of my house with Jason, waiting for Nelson to show up. It’s unusually cold, and I keep moving on the spot to keep warm. I could wait inside, but I don’t want him knocking on the door while the young kids are home. I still don’t know what kind of a guy this Harry Nelson is. I’m nervous as hell about getting into this with him, as I can’t imagine a guy whose business practices are on the up and up would have two goon looking dudes hanging around with him.
He pulls up to the curb in one of those Chryslers that look like they’re made out of bulletproof glass. It’s something I’d imagine a diplomat being driven around in.
“Steel Fist!” he calls out in greeting as I pull the door open to get inside. “Ready for your Rumble debut?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I state, letting out my breath slowly so I don’t show how nervous I really am.
“You’re bringing your friend,” Nelson states, eyeing Jason with an unhappy smile.
“I’m his trainer,” Jason reminds him.
“Sure you are. Get in. Get in. It’s about to get very cozy back here.”
Sliding into the back seat I have to sit beside Nelson, while Jason sits on my other side, our shoulders all uncomfortably squashed together in the limited space.
Nelson leans forward and looks over at Jason with that smile of his again. “How about you meet us there, trainer. I’ll have Davo over there ride with you so you can get into the VIP area,” he suggests. Immediately the goon in the front passenger seat gets out of the car and opens the back door for Jason to get out again.
“I’m fine riding like this,” Jason states, stubbornly staying where he is.
“How about I ride out with Jason as well. We’ll meet you there,” I suggest.
“No, I need you to ride with me. There are a few things we need to go over before we arrive.”
Jason slaps me on the shoulder. “Bro, it’s cool. Y
ou’re practically in my lap anyway. I’ll go with Davo, and meet you there, OK? Just promise not to fight without me.”
Jason gives me a look that reminds me that he doesn’t trust these guys, but he knows I can take care of myself, and I know the same goes for him. So he gets out of the car and taps the roof before shutting the door and heading over to his car.
Immediately, I move over to the window, putting that space between Nelson and me so we aren’t on top of each other. Then the car starts moving and my nerves flare up again. I’ve never fought with a chance at so much money before. And I’ve never fought with so much money riding on me before. What if I don’t cut it? I’m barely trained and I’m betting that with that amount of money involved, the other guys will be working with real trainers, training 24-7.
“Listen kid, I’m not sure about this ‘Steel Fist’ nickname they’ve got going for you. I like the steel part but… what about we go with Zac ‘the Hammer’ Steel?”
“I like that, boss,” the big guy driving us says.
“But my name is Rivers. Zac Steel makes me sound like a cartoon character.”
“It’s the right name for you, kid. Trust me. With a heavy punch like yours, coupled with your ability to take a punch without flinching, that name is perfect.”
“Sure. Whatever.”
“Not ‘whatever’. This is a big opportunity, kid, and I’m giving it to you so you can make some money. Don’t act all nonchalant and shit about a big bag of cash. You’re gonna win. We’re gonna shock the fuck out of all those pricks out there. They never think my fighters can win. But this time - this time, we’re gonna show them.”
“How many other fighters do you have?”
“Just you, Zac ‘The Hammer’ Steel. No one’s been good enough to make it past the first round. But I’ve done this enough to know when we’re really in with a shot. And tonight is the night. I can feel it.”
He can feel it. Shit. All I feel is nervous. As we draw closer and closer to the venue, I begin to think that maybe I’m not cut out of this. Maybe I don’t have what it takes. Nelson knows too much and has the power to destroy everything I’ve been fighting to protect. I can’t afford to mess up here. I can’t afford to lose. My family depends on my success.
Drawn to Fight: Zac & Evie Page 6
