Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail

"That's the only reason you're crazy?"

It took a second before his statement registered with me and I reacted in the next instant. My fist balled up and I swung wide. My punch was perfectly aimed with my whole body behind it. When I made contact, Brady fell back against the magazine rack, more from shock. Kid gasped and then started laughing so hard he groaned from the pain. As he scrambled for the garbage pail to vomit, Brady reared back and held a hand to his cheek. He watched me cautiously now. "Don't hit me again."

"Don't patronize me again," I retorted. I wasn't stupid. I knew I wouldn't get another punch in. Brady was too fast, but it didn't matter. I didn't want to punch him again. I just wanted to wake him up. This was serious to me and it was wreaking havoc in my life.

"Sir, Miss."

We looked up at the approaching nurse dressed in pink scrubs with elephants on them. She was tall, but just as round. However, it was her eyes that caught our attention. She meant business when she added, "There will be no violence in the waiting lobby. There will be no violence at all and if it happens again the police are usually in the emergency room. It won't take long to get them here."

"No, no. We're good. I made her hit me, thought she would hit like a girl and all." Brady saved the day.

The nurse looked from my stormy face to his passive one and arched a waxed eyebrow. "Really?"

"Really."

"Does she hit like a girl?"

"Hell, no." Brady laughed. "It'll be the last time I ask for it again."

"Mmm mmm," she harrumphed. "Don't do it again."

"We won't. Promise." Brady smiled. That was all it took. Sometimes I found it disgusting. The nurse melted, but I caught the awareness in her eyes. She knew he was putting on the charm and she tried to not heed it, but she failed. She plundered. "Well okay, but remember my words."

"We will. No problem there." Brady caught my hand and pulled it into his lap. As he massaged my knuckles, he chuckled again when she left. "Man, Rayray. I can't take you anywhere."

"Says the guy who's been arrested how many times?"

"What are you saying?"

"I've never been arrested. I've never hit anyone except you and you don't count."

Brady nudged me. "There's always a first time, Rayna. You could hit someone someday. I'd enjoy it."

I was about to roll my eyes, but sat up straight when a nurse entered the waiting room. "Rayna Janke?"

"Right here."

"Kidrick Stephens," another nurse called out. She stood right next to mine.

Kid stood hesitantly and wiped one of his hands down the front of his swimming trunks. He glanced from his father to Brady and back to me. Reluctantly he followed me as I led the way with my nurse. Just before we moved into the back area, I turned and looked. So did Kid. We both watched as Frank Stephens slowly sat where Kid had vacated, smack dab across from Brady. Both watched the other. It looked like they wanted to stare each other down.

Kid sighed beside me and touched the back of my arm. "Come on."

"Are you sure…?"

"Yeah. I think they'll be fine." But he didn't sound it.

"Rayna Janke?" My nurse tapped her foot impatiently. She was standing outside a small room.

"Okay. Good luck," I whispered to Kid just as he squeezed my arm in reassurance and then ducked into his own room.

Once inside the nurse took my weight, asked a couple of questions, and ignored my blush when I admitted to being sexually active. "Honey, having sex ain't my business, but let me tell you that it's almost refreshing to see a young girl blushing about it."

I was a little relieved. Then the doctor swooshed in and took a seat underneath me, smack dab in the middle of my legs.

He announced, "So you're here for birth control?"

"Yes," I whispered. Was I being stupid? But I wasn't. Brady and I were best friends, if not…more…and I wasn't going to ignore that we'd had sex twice. We'd probably do it again.

"I see that you are menstruating right now."

I nodded, mute.

He didn't care. "What are you thinking?"

"Uh…"

"A lot of girls your age use a monthly cycle of pills. Would you like that? Any particular brand?"

"One that…works?"

He nodded to himself and made a few notes in his chart. "I see that you were in here for a physical not long ago. Everything checked out then and you've been sexually active since?"

I nodded again.

"Did you want to be checked for sexually transmitted diseases?"

Uh…

"Listen, this is what I'll do. You need to wait a few more weeks before we should check you for STDs. Right now here's a prescription for a birth control pill that I commonly prescribe. It should work out. If you wish to change or have concerns, come back for another visit. Until then, anything else, Rayna?'

I was surprised he didn't need to check the chart for my name.

"Uh…"

He stood, smiled politely, and extended his hand. "Anything else, if your parents or guardians have any questions, just call me. Okay?"