My Sweet Bully

Darting my eyes around the room, I’m nervous to bring it up. I’m not sure what he can tell me or what I’ll get out of this. But I need to try.

“He doesn’t know I’m here.”

“Is everything alright? Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just have some questions that I’m hoping you might be able to answer for me.” Adjusting a crooked picture, I turn to face him.

“About?” he asks, his voice curious but on high alert.

“Max Ramon and his brother.” My eyes squint a little as I force a toothy, awkward grin.

My uncle’s mouth drops into a frown. “The Ramon boys. . .” Pausing, he lets out a slow breath. “Did something else happen? Did one of them—”

“No, they didn’t do anything. I’m just curious, that’s all. I thought maybe getting more information would help me move past it is all.”

“The only thing you need to know is that they’re bad news. That’s it.” He tilts his head, eyes studying my face.

He doesn’t believe me.

Tapping my fingers against the arm of the chair, I just come right out and ask him. There’s no point in beating around the bush or trying to trick him into giving me what I want. “What happened to them after I—”

Cutting me off, my uncle’s voice is frank. “It’s simple, Prairie, they got what they deserved. That’s what happens when you break the law, there are consequences.”

“No, I mean, what actually happened? Max goes to my school, and he just—”

Clearing his throat, he presses his chest against the edge of his desk. “Look, those boys are trouble, and trouble only stays on one side of the law. Trust me, it ain’t the side you want to be on either. Max got a second chance, and I really hope he takes it. There won’t be any other second chances for him in the future. But as far as you’re concerned, you just need to stay away from that boy, Prairie. He’s no good. Max is a bad apple, and he fell from a rotting tree. His brother wasn’t as lucky. Harlow’s doing time for what he did. Max got off easy, the judge gave him community service down at Clovis Beach. Hopefully he uses this experience and does something good with his life. Because bad doesn’t work in the real world, and both those boys have had their share of bad. That car fire wasn’t their first run in with the law, I can tell you that. So when I tell you to stay away from Max, I have reason to.”

Bad? How bad could two boys really be?

Maybe I am naive. Maybe it’s hard for me to see anyone as being all bad. People aren’t meant to be all of one thing. There is no such thing as just good or just bad. We’re all made of a little of both.

Even me.

“What do you mean? What else have they done? They’re kids, just like me, how much trouble could they really get in?”

Reaching across the desk, my uncle takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Look, I know it was hard for you to stand up to them in court, but all I can tell you is, don’t get involved with that boy, you hear me?”

I don’t answer, I just stare at him.

“I’m serious, Prairie. I know I’m your uncle, but right now, I’m talking to you as a police officer. Don’t get involved with the Ramons, I mean it.”

Pinching my bottom lip between my fingers, I nod.

“The Ramons aren’t good people. I can’t stress it enough that you want to stay far away. If you see him in the hall, go the other way. If you see him on the street, cross it. You already dealt with them once, that’s more than enough for anyone, let alone a good girl like you.”

I want to believe him, but it’s hard when Max actually stepped up and saved me from James. I saw something else in him. I saw a side that isn’t supposed to exist. He came to my rescue, that means there has to be some good in him. I can feel it.

They’re all wrong. Everyone is wrong.

Truly bad people don’t go out of their way to help someone. Truly bad people go out of their way to hurt others. And Max hadn’t tried to hurt me, he could have, he could have easily tossed me to those assholes, but instead, he chose to help.

Even if he does hate James as much as Amy says, he should hate me more. That’s obvious.

“I get it, Uncle Greg, thank you.” Popping up from the chair, I rush out of his office.

Everyone is telling me to avoid this boy, to stay as far away as possible. But all I feel is myself being drawn to him.