Right Hook (Gaslight series) COMPLETE

57| Troublemaker

Max ♕
________________

I'd be lying if I said this was my first stint in jail, but I'm sure as shit certain it's my last. I grab my things from the security tray, nodding to the quiet albeit pleasant officer on duty, and head onto the street.

The worst part isn't even jail. Not the food or the people or the strong but apparent stench of sewer. No, the worst part, the part that makes me sick to my core, is that, despite my best efforts, I'm more like my father than I thought.

I flick my hood up, giving my eyes time to adjust to the dark. A little down the road, parked under a flickering streetlamp with the engine still running, is Hayden. I cross the street toward him, practically dragging my feet across the concrete. It's two am, and I'm tired as hell, but something tells me sleep is not on the cards tonight.

The second I get in, Hayden looks over, nods in relief, and maneuvers onto the road. I lean back a little, settling into the old, worn leather. Alyssa must be worried as hell, which is the only thing I can think about.

"Is she all right?" I ask, and I don't need to specify. He knows.

"She's fine," he says, sounding tired. "Just a little worried."

My stomach is in shreds at how familiar this feels. As a kid, I'd wait all night for my dad to come home, not knowing when or if he ever would. I grew up adamant I'd never be that way, and now I'm doing the same thing to Alyssa, all because I couldn't control my temper.

"I didn't think bail was a thing here anymore."

I glance at Hayden and wish that I hadn't. His eyes are sunken, shadowed with purple-like circles. It kills me to have to put him out like this, but he's one of the few people I can count on. "It's not for most things except violence–" I pause and look over, feeling sick with guilt, "–I'll pay you back."

Hayden falls quiet as he makes the next turn. "I didn't post your bail – I couldn't get the money."

I don't say anything. There's no way my mom could afford to post bail, nor any of my friends, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who did. But I don't want confirmation, don't want it to be true, so I don't say a goddamn thing.

"Alyssa pawned some of her jewelry."

My hand slams down on the dashboard in anger. It's the exact kind of thing I'd wanted to avoid, not just the fight, but Alyssa coming to my rescue over bullshit. Hayden glances over, peering at his dashboard for any signs of damage.

"You should have stopped her," I say, 'cause even though it's not him I'm mad at, he's the only one here to take the wrath. "I'd have rather stayed locked up than have her bail me out."

"Hey," Hayden says, sounding defensive, "there was no stopping her. She went to her parents to ask for help, but it didn't go down so well, so she sold some stuff to a pawn shop."

I'm so fucking ashamed that I don't speak for the rest of the way home. The jail thing was bad enough, but now I've put Alyssa in a position where she's forced to sell her last few valuables, which means her parents were right. I'm selfish – I always have been – but I can't be selfish anymore.

Hayden drops me outside my house and tells me to call him if I need anything. I thank him and head inside, praying they're already asleep, but they're both in the kitchen waiting for me.

Mom jumps up as soon as I walk in and throws her arms around me. "My baby," she cries. "I was so worried about you."

The crack in her voice makes my lungs burn. Behind her, Kino sits at the kitchen island, silent, but the disapproval in his eye is clear. Not just disapproval but shock.