Cameron sent a friend request.
Eli had forgotten about him. He'd apparently listened to Eli when he asked him not to say anything, and he didn’t want to do anything that might make him change his mind. He hit 'accept'.
The message tab popped up immediately.
Cameron: You okay?
Eli didn’t even to start to type out a lie. Cameron would see him tomorrow at school anyway.
Eli: Concussed. Wrist, elbow and shoulder are sprained.
The dots floated on the screen as Cameron wrote his reply.
"Eli," his dad's voice interrupted him, "put the phone away please."
Eli glanced up, finding everyone's eyes on him. The lawyers, his mom's and finally Jackson's smug gaze.
"Sorry," Eli shoved it back into his pocket. His dad had gotten him to take the tablets, by crushing them up and putting them into water, and for the life of him Eli couldn’t focus on anything that was being said. He just knew that everyone had stared at him when he came in, and his dad had explained what happened.
"Now then, as I was saying..." the new lawyer, the one that was neither his dad or moms started talking again. Eli zoned out, until Jackson joined in.
Eli couldn’t ignore him, even if he wanted to.
"Is this probation period necessary?" Jackson cast a meaningful look in Eli's direction, "clearly living away from home isn’t good for his health."
"What happened was an accident," His dad replied calmly.
"It looks like someone hit him to me."
His dad's spine straightened, and his serious expression was immediately replaced with anger. Eli noticed the way everyone in the room seemed to stiffen at Jacksons remark, but none of the lawyers reacted against it.
Warning bells started ringing in Eli's head. If his dad got angry now, that would make them look bad.
"I fell down the stairs," Eli spoke up for the first time since he'd come in, "it's not anyone's fault. And while we’re on the subject of me, can we go home now? I’m exhausted.” Eli emphasised it when he said home, to show Jackson just how much he was settled into the new house. Jackson’s eyes narrowed.
“Of course, I’m sorry we had to keep you here while you’re unwell,” The extra other spoke sympathetic words with a bland voice. Eli liked his dad’s lawyer the best. Mrs Grant got into contact with her immediately after he’d spoken to the social worker and told her what he wanted. Amanda Reeves specialised in child custody cases, and Mrs Grant said she was the best in the business. The reason Eli liked her was because of the sharp, glint of intelligence behind her eyes. He wanted that on his side.
“The probation period will be four months-“
“Four months?” His mother’s voice came out faint and breathy. She turned to her lawyer with wide eyes. “You said one month!”
He shifted in his chair, and looked to the lawyer with a disgruntled expression. “Mrs Fullers, four months’ probation is unnecessarily long, and unprecedented. The usual time frame for similar cases is one month.”
“I’m aware what the time frame for similar cases are, but after discussions with Mrs Grant I believe it is in Eli’s best interest to be given a chance to settle in his new home and remain at his new school for the rest of the semester,” the extra lawyer explained calmly. Eli was beginning to think she was more than just a lawyer. “I have already made a decision on the matter. There is to be no contact, other than what Eli wishes, with either Miss Barret or Mr Murray.”
“No contact? For four months?” His mom’s voice rose up sharply, she turned on him with wide eyes.
Eli flinched, and immediately looked away.
“Miss Barret I realise that this is a stressful situation, but this is to prevent the coercion of Eli into making a decision that isn’t what he really wants.” Mrs Fullers fixed his mother in a serious stare, “There are consequences for breaking this rule.”
“And what would those be?” His mom snarked, her voice unfriendly.
Mrs Fullers sat taller in her chair. Eli’s heart sank. He didn’t want to see his mom getting in trouble over this. “I’ll call once a week.”
Her eyes grew wide, and she turned to him with a doe expression. Her lips slowly curved into a small smile and she relaxed back into her seat.
“The consequences,” Mrs Fullers continued as if Eli hadn’t spoken, “Will be forfeiting full custody.”
His mom’s face slowly drained of colour. Jackson reached over and gave her hand a small squeeze, as well as lean over and whisper something into her ear. It must have been something reassuring, because she relaxed.
“I have something else I’d like to say,” Jackson straightened up, “Once again I’d like you to consider dismissing this probation period. You’ve just said yourself that the reason for it is so Eli can settle into school, but if he’s already being bullied, then that hardly seems necessary.”
“Bullied?” Eli said it at the same time as both his dad and Mrs Fullers. She looked at him for an explanation, but he just gave a shrug. “I need to be filled in on this one too.” He turned his gaze to Jackson, for once fully happy to challenge him. “How exactly am I being bullied?”
Jackson pulled out his phone.
“Oh for fucks sake,” Eli laughed, “how’d you get that picture?”
“Language,” his dad said automatically, but his gaze was shifting to Jackson. “Picture?”
Eli just shook his head with a chuckle, “I don’t see how that could pass as fucking bullying.”
“Eli!” His dad said his name sharply.
“Sorry,” Eli blinked a few times, but the blurring edges in his vision didn’t stop, nor did the giddiness filling his chest subside. “I think I’m high.”
His mom made a startled sound in her throat, and Jackson sent a wry smile in his dad’s direction. The smile made Eli realise that he was causing trouble, but he didn’t care. That probably wasn’t a good thing.
“It’s the painkillers,” He crossed his arm and went to put his head down on the table.
“Don’t twist your arm like that,” His dad caught his shoulder and physically stopped him from doing it, he caught Eli’s eye, but his expression was more worried than angry. His dad glanced at Mrs Fullers. “I believe now is a good time to finish up?”
“Yes,” Mrs Fullers straightened her papers into a binder, “We’ll be meeting again four months from now, and your lawyers will inform you about what steps need to be taken then.”
Eli couldn’t walk in a straight line as they made the way to the car. His dad was silent. Eli could feel his anger. “It’s not my fault,” he mumbled.
“I know,” His dad gave his good shoulder a reassuring squeeze, “and they know it too so don’t worry”
Eli was immediately suspicious of his dad’s kind words. He narrowed his eyes at him.
“What?”
“You’re being nice,” Eli accused, “Since when were you ever nice to me?”
His dad’s step faltered. He caught himself and swung around to Eli. His expression was twisted into something unpleasant, and it made Eli uneasy. It made him uneasy, until he realised that was just his head spinning. “Can I lie down in the back?”
“Of course,” His dad walked him to the car.
It took a lot more effort than it should have to get his phone out of his pocket. The screen blinded him and he had to squint at it for a long time before he could read Cameron’s message.
Cameron: I’m not surprised.
Eli’s fingers tapped out his reply, and he hit send without reading over it.
Eli: Did ya tell
Cameron: You asked me not to.
Eli: Good boi
Cameron: Don’t push your luck
Eli: But I asked nicely
Cameron: Are you sure you’re feeling okay?
Eli: 10/10
Eli rolled over, pulling the covers tightly up over his shoulder. His muscles stung, and he let out a low hiss. Blinking awake he rubbed his arm, and sat up. His covers fell away from him. The dim room was spotlessly clean, the usual pile of clothes was gone and even his desk had been organised. It must have been Jenny.
Eli slowly got out of the bed, the dryness of his mouth making him uncomfortable. Downstairs everyone was in the living room. His dad glanced up from the tv, and immediately stood up. “How are you feeling?”
“Did I sleep for the whole day?” Eli yawned. His muscles were sore, as if he’d been doing a lot of exercise. It was fatigue that clung to his limbs, and a cold chill that made him want to crawl back into bed. After he had a glass of water, he would.
“You’ve been out for the past couple hours,” His dad looked him over, examining the side of his face.
“Ah, I fell asleep in the car. Sorry about that.” Eli rubbed the back of his neck. He’d probably annoyed his dad by doing that.
“No,” The corners of his dad’s lips twitched downwards, “You didn’t.”
Eli blankly stared at him. He didn’t? He… the last thing he remembered was lying down on the backseat of the car.
“This is because you gave him the pills without feeding him,” Jenny stepped in front of his dad, displacing him from his spot next to Eli. “Come on, we’ll make you something to eat” She ushered him into the kitchen, and pulled the door shut behind them.
Eli sat down uneasily. He’d never seen that door shut before. Jenny started pulling out pans and ingredients, practically throwing them onto the counter. He would have objected to the effort she was putting into making him food if she didn’t look so angry.
“You don’t mind French toast, do you?” Jenny asked, “You said you were craving it earlier, but by the time I’d made it you were fast asleep.”
Eli cringed. Is that why she was mad? “I’m really sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologise for, you needed sleep.” Jenny still spoke with his back to him. He sat there in silence as she made dinner. Nobody came into the kitchen to disturb them. When the steaming plate of food was placed in front of him, Eli was hit with an almost painful pang of hunger. It was understandable that his stomach felt so empty given he hadn’t eaten in a day. Before he could dig in, he cast a wary glance at Jenny. She sat opposite him with her own plate of food.
“Did everyone else eat already?” Eli ventured as he picked up his fork.
Jenny’s jaw clenched momentarily, before she flashed him a reassuring smile. “They’ll feed themselves tonight.”
Eli put the first bite of steaming food into his mouth, and waited to see if she’d elaborate.
The smile disappeared, and an annoyed scowl took its place. “Neither of them woke me up. Neither of them thought it was important to tell me you were hurt – I was just going about my Sunday as normal, and Noah made some passing remark about you two being gone to the meeting and-“ Jenny cut herself off with an annoyed exhalation. She’d been starting to speak quicker and with growing volume. “It was just very frustrating that while you were hurting, I was in bed sleeping”
Eli nodded his head. She was mad at his dad and Noah. This was a first. He was going to reassure her that there was nothing she could have done anyway, but he didn’t think that would go down to well. “I bet it was a bit of shock when I came home.”
“Yes,” Jenny glanced at his cheek, “I just can’t believe none of us woke up when you fell down.”
Eli fought down a flinch. “Yeah.”
“I know you agree,” Jenny started to dig into her meal, “you made that very clear earlier. Poor Noah.” She sighed.
“Why poor Noah?”
She just smiled at him, and didn’t give him an answer.
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