waiting for love

I parked my car in front of Colbie's house, getting out and keeping my eyes on Will as he walked beside me, as silent as he had been all the way from his school to here. I had never thought in my whole life I would've found myself in a situation where I would've been called by an high school principal because two teenagers had gotten into a fight and one had gotten a black eye out of it. I had used to be the teenager back then and now, with Colbie working and no way to be found on her phone, and my nephew being the other kid involved into the fight, here I was, the emergency call for both of the guys.
I closed the door behind me as I watched Will, who seemed to be really uncomfortable and upset. "Are you going to keep silent or you're going to tell me something about what happened?" I asked quietly, not knowing how to do this right because I wasn't his friend, I was an adult, but I wasn't his father either. "Mr. Donovan told me both you and Rob refused to give an explanation to whatever happened, which of course made things worse for your case. You're risking one week suspension Will."
He just shrugged, sliding his hands into his jeans, "It's just a week." He commented nonchalantly, surprising me.

I shook my head, "This is really out of character of you." I reasoned out loud, because I had seen how he was long before starting dating his mom, he had been at my brother's house countless times and he seemed to be a good kid, not the one that punched my nephew straight in the face. "You have to talk sooner or later, or it will only get worse." I added, warning him.
He processed my words and his shoulders sagged, his head bowed down, concern showing on his face. "Where's mom?" He asked instead.
"I guess she's working, she's not answering her phone." I explained, "Wait to see when she finds out what you and that idiot of Rob did."
"Do you have to tell her?" He looked at me with pleading eyes but he was smart enough to know the answer already.
I shook my head, "I won't. You will." I pointed out, noticing how he was rubbing his knuckles. "Come in the kitchen, I'll give you some ice."
He followed me, taking a seat at the table and accepting a pack of frozen peas, "Thank you." He said politely, just like he always was.
I couldn't understand, there had to be a reason why he had acted like he had and a big one too. "If you want to talk I'm all ears." I said as I grabbed a beer from the fridge before sitting across from him.
He hesitated a moment, took a deep breath then let it all out as he finally made eye contact with me. "It was all because of a girl." He started and I raised one eyebrow, "It's embarrassing."
"I can give you a million embarrassing stories Will, go on." I pushed him a little, not sure if that was the right thing to do but I was trying.
"Her name is Kendall and I've been crushing on her my whole life."
"Your whole life is kind of short so far." I commented quietly, even joking a bit, just to ease the tension and hoping it'd work, that he'd trust me enough to tell me everything.
He made a face, "Long story short, Rob knew it and he still hit on her. They even got out once and I had to find out from Tyler."
"Aren't you too young for all of this?" I blinked at him, surprised but not really while I wondered how much of Robs life Adam and Liz knew about. The expression Will gave me though, it said it all. He felt hurt, betrayed even, and I couldn't blame him. Only, I had to. "Look Will, what he did wasn't right. You don't hit on a girl that your best friend likes and even if you do you don't hide it from him. That's a low blow and I'll tell you Rob the same things I'm telling you know...but punching him is just as wrong. Actually, it's even worse because you were in the right before hitting him."
He glared at me, "Oh great! So now it's all my fault?!" He protested defensively.
"Not what I was meaning. You two are both at faults, mostly Rob, but a violent reaction is not the right answer." I explained quietly, tempted to laugh at myself because I had been there and done that too. Maybe I'd even do it again. "And another thing, friends come always before girls. Always. They're always there for you and they deserve respect and loyalty."
"I didn't expect that from him." He commented quietly, even frowning a little.
"Don't let this girl or this episode ruin your friendship, he made a mistake and got a black eyes, but you two both can learn from all this." I said seriously, really believing in my words as my thoughts went to Travis, my brother and my friends. Maybe it was time for me to make amends too.
He nodded, "I'll think about it. I'm sorry I've done what I've done and I feel bad about it." He said rubbing his still sore fist. "Thank you Jax." He added, surprising me further and it had to show on my face because he went on, "For not getting mad and for being understanding."
"You're welcome." I said back, pausing, "There will be consequences still, but those are up to your mother."
"Can't you tell her?" He asked in a pleading voice, "Can't you explain her how you see things? I don't want her to get too mad or too upset and give me some stupid punishment like stopping me from seeing Rob."
I fought the urge to grin, "No Will, if you're old enough to crush on girls and punch guys you're old enough to talk to your mom too." I replied quietly even thought, of course, I'd report everything to Colbie, only Will didn't need to know.
He got up, "I'm going to take a shower." He announced, looking a little more worried and older than usual. Teens are crazy.
I just nodded, waiting for him to disappear upstairs before calling Colbie again. Who still didn't answer. I wondered if something's up with her since lately she had been so distant and cold and incredibly busy, almost as if she was pushing me away...or maybe I was just paranoid. As if on cue, she walked into the kitchen after slamming the door shut, "What are you doing here?!" She asked, surprise in her tone.
"I..." I trailed off, not sure where to start, "It's my day off." I said lamely, wondering if she wanted me out.
"I know that." She pointed out.
"Will will tell you everything, I can go if you want." I replied quietly, sensing something off even if I hadn't done anything wrong. I really needed to talk to someone, to Trav more specifically.
"Why?" Colbie blinked back at me and I just looked back warily, running my hands through my hair. "Is Will okay? Are you okay?"
"We're fine." I nodded. "But are we okay?"
She let out a deep breath, making me hold my owns instead. She nodded and buried her face in my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist and making me feel relieved instantly as I wrapped my arms around her too. "Yes. I'm so glad you're here I had a long day."
"It's about to be even longer baby. Will got into a fight with Rob at school today."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah well that happens like every other day." She laughed.
"Um. Maybe. But this time Will gave Rob a black eye." I explained.
She widened her eyes at me. "What?!"
"Yeah he punched him." I nodded.
"My son has a black eye and that wasn't the first thing you told me?!" She asked, setting down her stuff to run upstairs to see Will but I grabbed her hand.
"No Colb. WILL gave ROB the black eye."
She just took a second to process that as she looked into my face, studying me. "You're telling me my son punched someone?" She asked.
"Has a pretty good right hook from the looks of my nephew."
"WILL!!" She yelled upstairs and her son came down, hair wet from a shower.
"Hi mom." He said guiltily, running a towel over his hair.
"You punched Rob?! I didn't even know you knew how to punch!"
Will shrugged. "Reece taught me in self defense class."
She sighed and put her hand over her head. "And you needed to defend yourself against your best friend!?"
"I thought you were going to explain it!" Will pouted at me.
I shook my head. "Nope. I said you needed to." I replied seriously, my arms folded over my chest.
She gave me a look that showed how much she appreciated me and then put her mom face back on to turn to her son. "I"m waiting."
"We got into a fight and I punched him." Will repeated quickly and shrugged, holding back of course and I could tell why. Colbie looked really serious and even if I was an adult now I still knew the effect that face had on you when it was your mom who was sporting it.
"William." She said his full name slowly and narrowed her eyes on him, "I assumed that already, I want to know the whole story."
He glanced at me briefly as if he was asking for help but I just looked back at Colbie because I knew better than getting between the two of them. "I can leave you two alone." I offered, wondering if that could be better.
"No, stay Jax." Will answered hurriedly and I had the feeling he wanted me there mostly for the influence I had on his mom. He was a smart kid, but I doubt I could save him from a man Colbie, mostly when I had no desire too. She had any right to be mad.
She just nodded at me, crossing her arms against her chest and keeping her eyes on him. "I'm still waiting and my patience is running short." She warned him.
Just like I had experienced earlier, Will's expression changed and his his face got serious. "Rob did something that got me real mad and I punched him. I know it was wrong and I'm sorry if did it." He explained, still downplaying it but at least he was getting there.
Colbs raised one eyebrow slowly at him, "What did he do?" She asked and I could tell she was at the point where either she could get even more mad or could calm down. It all depended on her son's answer.
"It's just between us." He said cryptically. Damn. Bad one.
"No it's not!" She slammed her palm flat on the table, making me jump a little because I wasn't expecting it and because I had no idea she could be like this...ever.
"Colbie." I said her name softly, grabbing her hand and hoping to have some kind of calming effect on her.
She barely noticed the move but let me hold her hand wile the other one went in the air, "I suppose your principal called? And you were sent home?" She asked angrily as Will nodded, "That's why it's not between you and Rob anymore! What else am I missing? What did the principal say?" This time she turned to me.
"He's considering to get them both suspended for a week." I dropped the bomb, ready for the explosion but also ready to shield Will. Just a little. Also, I didn't want Colbie's head to explode either.
"What?! Oh I can't believe my phone died on the one day my son decides to become a deliquint! What the hell were you thinking?!"
"I was thinking he was being a dick!" Will yelled back, completely out of character for him.
"Will....what happened? This isn't like you."
Will looked to the ceiling as if calling on a higher power for help before he let out a deep breath and spoke. "Rob knew I liked Kendall and he went out with her anyways! A real man doesn't choose girls over his friends and he doesn't backstab them either."
Colbie sighed. "Kendall is the pretty brunette you stood next to during the choir concert isn't she?"
Will widened his eyes at her. "How did you know?"
"I saw you blush everytime she spoke to you." She shrugged.
"Damn it." He said under his breath.
"That's twice you've cursed tonight." She replied, narrowing her eyes on her son.
"You said it was okay as long as I didn't do it at school!" He protested.
"Yeah that's on days you weren't almost suspended." She pointed out before reaching for him and pulling him into a hug.
"I'm sorry that Rob was a dick." She said, contradicting hetself. "I can say that because I didn't punch anyone today." She added, smirking down at her son.
"I'm not really going to get suspended. I never got in trouble before! Principal Gibbons was just trying to scare me." He rolled his eyes.
"Look how well that worked." Jax laughed from behind her.
"Go to bed early as punishment and extra chores for a week." She added before kissing his cheek.
"A week!?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Want to make it two? Or maybe I can ground you?"
Will widened his eyes and shook his head. "No! I'll do the chores!" He agreed and then hugged her again. "Thanks for not being too mad." He added.
Colbs turned to me then, "Thanks for being there for him when I couldn't be." She said seriously, leaning in and placing a much needed kiss on my mouth before pulling away. "How did Rob go out with that girl anyways? He doesn't even have a learners permit. What do they do?"
Jax shrugged, "Hold hands on the bus?"
"Hopefully that's all it is. Oh god Adam and Liz are going to be upset arent they?" She grimaced.
I made a face, trying to imagine that. "I think so." I commented.
"I doubt that Rob will tell them anything." Will cut into the conversation, knowing my nephew pretty well.
"You did the right thing telling us everything." Colbie said seriously to her son and I felt a little proud for how she had said us. It really made me feel part of their family and it was all I wanted at the end of the day, because feeling part of Colbie's life wasn't enough for me, I knew it wasn't enough for things between us to work either.
"That's what is going to get them real mad." I pointed out.
Colbie looked at me, "Are they going to get mad at me?" She asked and widened her eyes, "I mean, Will did punch Rob." She paused and sighed, "I wouldn't be too happy if role were reversed."
"Adam knows his son enough to know that if he's not talking and he's sporting a black eye he's hiding something and he's not completely innocent." I explained and I was with my brother on that. He was a great father, just like our father.
Colbie raised one eyebrow, "I can't picture Adam being mad. He's always so nice."
I broke into a smirk, I couldn't help it, "Imagine Travis on a bad day."
"Rob is going to be in a lot of trouble." Will shot us a worried look that made me want to laugh but I knew better. "Can I call him mom? I want to apologize for punching him."
"Yes. Then you're going to give me your phone." She nodded and Will pouted but didn't protest anyway.
I turned to my girl, tucking her hair behind her ear, "You have an amazing son." I said honestly.
"I love him too you know." I said softly, meaning it. Time was passing and I was starting to feel part of a family, not just a couple.
She tilted her head up, tears forming in her eyes. "He's pretty hard not to love." She replied, chocking on her words.
"Don't cry baby." I wiped her tears away with my thumbs and kissed her again then her nose and her forehead.
"My son punched his best friend over a girl. I think the kid phase is over." She both laughed and cried as I led her into the kitchen and grabbed her a bottle of water.
"Nah. He's still your kid." I winked, knowing just how to make her feel as she took a long drink and sighed.
"Please say Rob and Will aren't going to be fighting over girls until they're 18." She begged.
I laughed. "I can't promise that at all."
"Did you and Trav and Adam ever do that?"
I laughed again. "Not Adam. He only ever had eyes for Liz." She smiled at that, knowing how crazy they were about each other now. "But Trav? Yeah sometimes. Though honestly it was sometimes about getting the other pissed off, or getting back at him. It wasn' t really about the girl."
She nodded. "Guys are such losers." She teased and I set my hand against my heart in mock offense.
"Thank god you stick with a loser like me."