Tag Fight For Me

by Catherine Charles

  Eyes wide, he opens the door for me to step inside while calling over his shoulder for Liv, and when she doesn’t acknowledge him or come running, he yells louder.

  “Hang on! Let me put some clothes on.”

  Now I understand why she didn’t answer her phone just minutes before.

  “Pres? What are—”

  “Is Jax here?”

  “What? Why wouldn’t he—” Liv’s eyes dart back and forth between Trey and me, and Trey blows out a puff of breath in frustration.

  “Liv, have you laid eyes on Jax since we’ve been in this house?”

  She looks at Trey like he knows damn well the answer to that question.

  “I haven’t seen Jax since he walked Cora over to your house.”

  I shake my head, “They never made it inside.”

  Panic sweeps across her face as she pulls her robe around her tighter and runs up the stairs to Jax’s room only to return seconds later. “Trey, he’s not here.”

  “Liv, stay here.”

  He grabs a jacket out of the hall closet and closes the front door.

  “Where’s Robert?”

  “He’s at home.”

  “Trey, where are you going?”

  Trey grips firmly to my hand and leads me out the kitchen door and into the garage, pressing the garage opener and motioning towards the golf cart.

  I cling tightly to the handrail as Trey cuts across the yard, Robert waiting on the front step as we pull up and I quickly switch places with him before the two of them head in the direction of the tree house.

  * * *

  My knuckles are white under the strain as I grip tightly to the steering wheel.

  “Build the tree house,” Liv said, “It will be good for him.” I never wanted to build it in the first place. Jax’s intention was for it always to be a place for him and Cora, and now he and Cora are missing, and I can feel Robert’s pissed off vibrations pulsing from him. If they’re together, there’s a very good chance my son could die tonight for being careless, and God forbid they’re not there. They’re two kids, it’s not like they could have gone far, we’re in the middle of nowhere, but there’s a lot of nowhere to check, and a lot of directions they could have gone in.

  “You know Jax would never hurt her.”

  “I know.”

  “And he would give her the world if he could.”

  “I know.”

  “He’s a good kid.”

  “Trey, you don’t need to sell me on Jax. When it’s time, he will have my blessing and permission, but it’s not time.

  “I just don’t understand what those two were thinking.”

  I park at the base of the tree house and we make our way up, using my phone as a flashlight.

  Robert is the first up and slaps my chest just seconds after I climb up, pressing a finger against his lips and pointing to a corner away from the openings in the tree house. Jax probably picked that location to keep them warm, away from the floor opening to climb up, and the wide door opening leading out to the balcony.

  I shine my light in the direction he points, and my heart rate finally returns to normal. Both of us chuckle at the sight before us, and I couldn’t be prouder of my son. Sure he messed up by causing us to worry about them, but he was turning into a fine young man.

  Cora is tucked into the sleeping bag, her head resting on Jackson’s outstretched arm, and closest to the wall, while he is asleep next to her, shielding her body from the chill in the air. Cora is taken care of while he left his body exposed to the elements.

  Robert chuckles, his hand clapping roughly against my back, “He’s smart, I’ll give him that.”

  I can't help but snicker back, “Smarter that I was at that age that’s for sure.” Jax shivers with the breeze, so I take my jacket off and cover him the best that I can.

  “Send a picture to the girls.” Robert loudly whispers, and I quickly snap a shot, semi-hoping the flash doesn’t wake them up.

  “They’re both grounded,” I mutter as I hit the send button.

  “Absolutely. No questions asked.”

  Robert is the first to climb down the ladder while I glance at my son one final time and make my way back to the golf cart.

  “Hey, sorry if we interrupted anything tonight.”

  “All good. I needed a break anyway.” Liv’s sex drive decreased right after the twins were born, but now that they’ve gotten older it seems as if she’s making up for lost experiences.

  “Presley’s pregnant,” Robert offers up.

  “Congrats man, that’s fantastic. Are things easier on her now?”

  “Three hundred percent better. Between you and me, I’m praying for another boy, there’s no way I could handle another girl.”

  “Eh, you never know, you could get one like Becca, sometimes I think she’s the easy one.”

  “And other times?”

  “I think she’s the spawn of Satan.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  After Cora’s and my night together, we were both grounded for a week. Neither one of us could go to the tree house or each other’s houses; longest week of my life.

  Just like I predicted, Cora had a ton of girls wanting to play with her at recess on Monday. All of them were asking her to teach them those crazy turns and leaps she did.

  Her smile was a permanent fixture in the halls of our elementary school, and I was happy for her. She deserved it.

  * * *

  – Four Years Later –

  It’s the week before eighth grade. Jace and I have pretty much spent all summer together and have made our band official. We’ve played at a few senior centers, church functions, and dad even found a bar that would allow us to perform on open mic night. We get paid very minimal, but at least it’s something.

  I’ve been writing a ton since Cora isn’t around. She and Aunt Presley went up to New York this summer so she could attend a summer program at the New York City School of Ballet. This is the longest she’s been away since she left when she was two, and I miss her just as much if not more.

  Cora has become my best friend, and there is nothing that has come between us. I continue to write the music for her ballet reviews each semester, and she is now in charge of her own choreography. Her coach will occasionally make a change here or there, but for the most part, it’s all her.

  I helped Dad and Uncle Robert build her a dance studio this summer underneath the tree house, I can't wait to show it to her. It was hard work, but there is nothing I wouldn’t do for my Buttercup.

  “I like the new addition, man,” Jace says as his head comes into view from the entrance stairs. “Your mom told me you were in here.”

  “Thanks, it’s for Cora.”

  “Man, what’s going on with you two?”

  “What do you mean? There’s nothing going on. She’s my best friend.”

  There’s a clicking sound behind his teeth and a long, exaggerated mm-hmm followed by an eye roll. “And here I thought I was your best friend.”

  “You are. You know what I mean.”

  “Whatever you say, lover boy.”

  Suddenly I feel incredibly defensive and take a few hurried steps towards him, causing him to raise his hands in surrender.

  “Easy dude. I was just tryin’ to give you shit is all. Jeez.”

  Once again he rolls his eyes in my direction and goes back to tossing a football in the air and catching it. Jace was now the quarterback of the junior high football team and was more interested in catching girls more than anything else. Football would soon be his priority, and the band just helped him look cool during the off season.

  “Just think man, next year, high school and older women.”

  I shake my head at his excitement, but mom and dad have grilled it into me that I’m not allowed to date until I’m a junior. “I’m out man. Not my thing.”

  “And you say you don’t have a thing for Cora.” Jace chuckles through his words until we’re both startled by the emergence of a blonde-h
aired beauty rising from the hole in the floor.

  “Hey guys! What are we talking about?”

  Jace almost tumbles back in his chair as he noticeably takes in Cora’s new appearance. Her eyes darting between me and my pervy friend.

  I want to run over to her, pick her up and squeeze her just to hear her giggle. It’s a pure and innocent sound, captivating and refreshing all at once.

  Three years, Jackson. Three years.

  I’m a teenager, and she still falls into the child category.

  “Cora! Damn girl! Someone grew up over the summer.”

  I watch helplessly as her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, but she shifts uncomfortably, wrapping her arms around herself.

  One thing I’ve learned about Jace is that he doesn’t care about numbers in any form, math or age. Cora’s been around him long enough to have seen the vulgar side of him, but this is the first time she’s been in the crosshairs.

  His tongue slides across his bottom lip like a lion stalking its prey, eyes continuing to run the length of her body and I’m tempted to step in front of him just to pull his focus.

  I know he’s already kissed half the girls in our class, the other half is on his list for this year.

  I knock my foot against one of the legs on his reclined chair, and it tumbles out from underneath him. I smirk as he startles, looking around the room for the culprit, Cora giggles her Tinker Bell giggle and I make my way over to her. I won't touch her in front of him, but at least I’ll be closer to her.

  “Nice to see you to Jace.” Her giggles have turned to full laughter while Jace curses the chair and the now broken wooden leg. “Jax, your mom said dinner was ready.”

  Her emerald eyes twinkle with hopefulness at something unspoken, locked on to mine, neither one of us notice when Jace comes to stand close by.

  “Sweet! Dinner! I love your mom’s cooking.”

  “Really?” Cora and I say in unison, both our heads pivoting, giving Jace our full attention.

  “Yea. It’s the best.”

  Cora does her best to stifle her laughter, “You’re the only one that thinks that.”

  “What? Y’all crazy. She makes the best steak I’ve ever eaten.”

  “Dude!” Cora, can't hold back her laughter as tears begin to spill out of the corner of her eyes, “You know that steak’s supposed to be chicken.”

  “Whatever man. See you at the house.”

  Jace leaves, and it’s just Cora and me in the tree house. Standing there. Across from one another. Some form of unspoken tension between us.

  Our mouths open at the same time, but I quickly close mine. I’ve missed her voice.

  “Is that a practice space downstairs?” she asks bashfully.

  “It’s yours. I helped our dads build it this summer. Do you like it?”

  She shrugs and draws a half moon on the floor with the tip of her shoe, never bringing her eyes to mine. “Won’t know till I try it out. Play something for me?” She bats her eyelashes at me, I’d be done for if it wasn’t for the grumble in my stomach.

  “I will later.” She raises her head in shock as I turn her down, “I’m not missing dinner.”

  “You’re really in a hurry to get to your house for dinner?” The look on her face is priceless and I laugh at the absurdity of her statement.

  “Hell no! I’m going to yours. I haven’t eaten good all summer. Look at me, I’m wasting away to nothing.” She giggles and I make my way to her. Resting my hands on her waist, I notice she no longer feels like the little girl that left for New York a couple of months ago. In fact, she has subtle curves and I’m tempted to draw her next to me just to see how we fit together.

  I’m learning all too quickly about the changes that girls go through, thanks to having younger sisters. They’re emotional, and moody, and chocolate seems to be the only thing that can get any man out of trouble. Becca is a witch one week out of the month, while Emma is bossy and leaks tears on a continual basis. Cora has never been either way, she is steady and driven and I’m thankful that I at least know what to expect from one of the women in my life.

  Instead, I squeeze her waist tightly, pick her up, and set her to the side of the doorway, giving myself at least a three second head start down the stairs, “Race ya!” I call out over my shoulder as my feet hit the ground.

  “Hey! What? Jax! That’s not fair!”

  Her laughter bounces off the tree bark and gradually closes the space between us. “All’s fair in love and war, and this is war!” I call back to her, giving up precious inches between us. “Looser has to eat my mom’s cooking for a week.”

  I’m taller and older and should just naturally be faster than her, but she is way more athletic than me. I can almost feel the air around me move as she tries and misses to grab the back of my shirt. We’re both in a fit of laughter, breathing is beginning to become more difficult, and just as I can taste sweet victory, she pulls hard on my shoulders and jumps onto my back, causing me to falter.

  “What the—”

  “You said this was war, Jackson.”

  She shimmies up my back and stretches her arm out front of us, going through the open door first just before I stumble on the rug and we fall to the ground in a pile of giggles; staying that way for a second. The weight of her body on my back feels unexplainable, and the minute she rolls off of me I miss her touch.

  Aunt P comes around the corner, a smile plastered on her face. “What are you two up to now?”

  “Hey Aunt P.”

  “Good to see you, Jax. How was your summer?”

  “Good ma’am.” I stand up and brush my knees off, while taking in Cora’s joyful appearance. The way she dances around doing her unsportsmanlike victory dance.

  “Ha! I win! Serves you right Jackson for cheating!”

  Aunt P laughs at our little exchange, “And what was the bet?”

  “A race from the tree house here. Jax has to eat at home for a week now.” Her eyes twinkle under the lights, and with a simple look from her mother, I can tell I’ve probably been staring at her for far too long.

  “Cora, be nice. I’m sure Jax has suffered enough.” She tries to hide a snicker, “You’re always welcome here, Jackson.”

  I nod my appreciation, but I knew I was always welcome. With the exception of the two months this summer Cora was gone, I always ate dinner over here.

  Moms cooking was still terrible.

  Aunt P had tried to teach her a couple of things over the years, but for the most part Dad cooked for us unless he had to work late.

  That night, after dinner was done, and dishes were cleaned up, Cora walked me to the back door to say our good nights, a first for her, as she kept a bashful look on her face and seemed to linger about. I wasn’t ready to leave her, but Jace was either in the tree house by now for our annual sleepover or watching television with my dad. It was time to get home. Mom could only take so much of him.

  “I’ll play you something tomorrow, okay?” She nods her head before throwing her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest; snuggling a little deeper into me as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, not wanting to let her go.

  There should have been nothing special about this hug. This was normal for us, but this time, it was.

  “Thank you, Jax.” Her voice was just above a whisper and yet seemed to fill my soul. My arms wrapped tighter around her and she reciprocated her affection to me. “I really missed you, Jackson.”

  I close my eyes at her omission, the corners of my mouth pulled up by a string. “I missed you too, Buttercup.” And then, without thinking, I firmly kissed the crown of her head. Not just a simple peck, but I allowed my lips to linger against her scalp. My heart rate quickened, bringing me back to reality, and I remove my lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Quickly, I loosen my hold on her and she does the same. “Text me when Jace’s gone.”

  “I always do.”

  * * *

  Do I like Jax?


  No. No way. Well…maybe.

  But he’s like a big brother to me.

  Did he kiss me? No. Don’t be stupid, Cora; he was probably just resting his chin on your head. Why would he kiss you? It’s Jax. Jackson.

  A million thoughts flooded my mind as I made my way upstairs. I needed to talk to someone about what had just happened, about what was maybe, possibly going on.

  I couldn’t talk to Mom, she would tell Dad and he would flip, and Aunt Liv was out of the question, if she knew I had feelings for Jax she would make things weird between the two of us. Talking to anyone in our immediate family was out of the question, at least for now anyway, it’s just…too…too…I don’t know what’s going on.

  I plop down on my bed like a starfish, expelling a large breath of air, my cheeks I’m sure looked like chipmunk cheeks from holding everything inside.

  Being old enough to like a guy wasn’t completely out of the question. There were a few girls last year that had ‘boyfriends’ and actually went out on ‘dates’, usually the movies with a parent chaperone, but I was not one of those girls.

  For starters…there was my father…and Uncle Trey.

  Second…there was ballet.

  Third…again, my father.

  Fourth…well, fifth grade boys weren’t all that bright and could barely talk to a girl without looking like idiots.

  And fifth…did I mention my father? Or Uncle Trey?

  I remember hearing Jax telling Jace he wasn’t allowed to date until eleventh grade, and I had just assumed those rules would apply to myself as well.

  I glance at the clock, seven-thirty-two, New York was an hour ahead of us, but this seemed like a big enough emergency to warrant a phone call to my friend and dance partner from camp.

  Sophie was three weeks older than me, lived in New York, and was also hoping to attend the American School of Ballet and Performing Arts after high school just like I was.

  We were the youngest dancers in the New York Ballet’s summer program and she quickly became my closest friend. The position of best friend was still held by one Jackson Michael Ryan, and I didn’t see that position opening up anytime soon.