Page 28 of Rebellious

“Yeah, Prez,” Mort agreed. “You a little chalky. Like you received another shock.”

“I’m done with fuckin’ surprises,” Christopher grumbled. “Tabitha fuckin’ dead. Lemme hit up Megan, then we ride to Diesel’s condo.”

Trooping back into Rebel’s room, CJ hoped Rebel had fallen asleep. After an hour of rehearsing and arguing, him and the boys finally agreed it was time for the performance.

CJ couldn’t imagine they’d get through it. Axel had been ‘triggertized’ more than once, remembering the Sharper and Logan video. Fuck, CJ didn’t blame him, but the little motherfucker didn’t have to constantly bring that shit up.

“Hey,” Rebel greeted, her sleepy eyes lighting up when she saw them.

Fuck his life, she was still awake. “Hey, bae.” He pointed to the space between the two beds. “Go there,” he instructed the Triplets, expecting an argument but receiving meek compliance.

So far, so good.

CJ planted himself at the foot of Rebel’s bed, the chosen narrator. “Welcome to the world premiere of Little Red Riding Hood, live from Room 530.”

“You got to sound old,” Axel complained, “instead of a sick fucking frog.”

“How else do old people sound, Ax?” Ransom asked, the director who’d thankfully dropped his hideous accent. “Especially old ladies.”

“Little old grandmas,” Ryder clarified, hooking his thumbs in his belt loops. “Weak enough to get eaten by a wolf.”

“Most motherfuckers not strong enough not to get ate by a wolf,” Axel said in exasperation. “Diesel wouldn’t. He’s real strong.”

“You would think that,” CJ sneered.

Axel glared at him. “Shut up, green weirdo. Rebel don’t need your mood.”

“I’m not fucking jealous,” CJ snapped, understanding what Axel meant by green, the actual play going much the same as the rehearsal. He wasn’t sure why Axel called him a weirdo and he wouldn’t ask. “I’m never jealous.”

“I might not be the brightest kettle on the fucking stove, but I’m brighter than you if you believe that fucking lie,” Axel clapped back, having an answer for every goddamn thing.

“Burn, CJ,” Ryder crowed, then laid a hand on Axel’s shoulder. “Ease up. That fucking lie helps CJ to sleep at night. We can reason with him later. Let’s do the play now.”

“I’ll take your advice for Rebel,” Axel declared.

CJ gritted his teeth, on the verge of leaving or slamming their heads together and knocking them the fuck out. “You still want us to do the play, Rebel?” he grouched.

She nodded.

Hearing his little sister’s grogginess reminded him of what she’d endured and made him feel like an asshole.

Axel glanced from CJ to her, fear replacing his brattiness. “You’re okay. Reb?”

“I’m fine, Ax,” she croaked.

CJ cleared his throat, suspecting she was in pain. He knew how it felt to ache while trying to project normalcy to protect the family. “Let’s begin.”

Hesitation crossed Axel’s features.

“I’m fine,” Rebel swore, sounding a little livelier, lifting the top portion of her bed. “I want to see the production.”

“Zee Blonde Veeper hath speaken,” Ransom announced, reverting to how he believed a famous director talked.

Axel slapped his palm against his forehead. “Oh, brother.”

“Once upon a time,” CJ dove in, over their fucking foolishness, “a boy named Red walked into the deep dark woods.”

“Here.” Ransom shoved a wash pan in Axel’s arms. “Zee Red’s baskeets.”