Page 55 of Trading Paint
“No, you’re not.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I forgot...you’re like twelve fucking years old.” I sighed and stepped closer. “No, you’re not coming.”
She stomped her foot as I knew she would. “I’m coming with you!”
Scuffs – Sway
“No...” Jameson told her and hung his head. His temper seemed to be diffusing ever so slightly but I could still see that he was on edge.
Why Emma and I found this so entertaining was beyond me but I couldn’t stop laughing. Probably because I hated Chelsea and I knew she used Jameson for her own popularity.
First came the rage, she slapped him so hard that his head jerked back. His cheek turned pink but he just cracked his neck glaring at her and stood straighter, stepping closer to her as if this was his warning to her not to do that again.
Then she hugged him and from the grim expression he wore—it was just as painful. We couldn’t hear anything else they were saying as Jameson was blocking our view but I could tell he wasn’t happy. I got bored and made my way inside the shop to say bye to Jimi.
“Hey Jimi,” I greeted leaning up against the toolbox in the far right corner of his race shop.
“Hey sweetie...did you already say bye to Charlie.” He looked up at me from his place against the sprint car.
He was down there checking tire pressure and the stagger on the car Jameson was taking. I knew we’d be back in but it was still hard to say bye to everyone. We were doing something we’d never done before. Four kids were heading into the unknown to experience life. Jameson and I weren’t even eighteen yet.
“Yeah, I said goodbye this morning. Jameson came over and talked with Charlie for a little while and then we left.” I laughed. “I think he wanted to warn him that if anything happened to me, he’d probably kill your son.”
“Sway...I’ll kill Jameson myself ifanythinghappens to you.”
I only nodded, tears threatening. Jimi and Nancy were like my adopted parents and seeing the emotional side of Jimi was a little much for me.
“You make sure he’s careful out there.” Jimi requested pulling me into a warm hug. “Keep him focused. He depends on you and sometimes you seem to be the only one he’ll listen to.”
I had to laugh. “Jameson doesn’t listen to anyone, Jimi.”
“I know.”
We exchanged another hug and before tears could overcome the two of us, Jimi made his way inside the house to comfort Nancy. She wasn’t doing so well and carrying around a book full of his Jameson’s baby pictures.
I hid in the race shop for while trying to compose myself when Emma walked in.
Emma was similar to Jameson in the sense that when she wanted something she knew she couldn’t have, her shy side came out. The Riley children were not shy by the way; it was all an act. “Um...I was thinking since I graduated early I could, you know...come with you guys.”
I laughed. “You don’t have to ask me. You need to ask Jameson.”
“I thought maybe I could just come along. He won’t even know I’m there.”
“Doubt that.” I snorted. “You need to ask him.”
“Ask me what?” Jameson came inside the shop with an arm full of tie downs. How he got away from crazy lady was probably a miracle. “Shit.” He cussed when he tripped over a pair of shocks Spencer left laying on the floor.
“Emma wants to come with us.” I said.
“Absolutely not,” He didn’t even think about it as he straightened his stance. “Hell no,” He tossed the tie downs inside the hauler.
“But I want to be with everyone.” She begged.
I started to feel for her. Emma didn’t have any friends besides us and now that everyone was going with Jameson that would leave her with Jimi and Nancy.
Jameson leaned against the sprint car and crossed his arms. “You’re not coming. I don’t want that type of responsibility. It’s bad enough I have to worry about Sway.”
