Page 85 of King

My heart stops. Is it Willow? Did something happen?

Why the fuck do they have guns at us?

“Y-yeah?” I answer.

“There better be an explanation,” Damien demands, pulling on his shirt.

The office approaches us, grabbing my arm, pulling me off Damien.

“Hey! Wait!” Damien pulls back, and the office tugs harder.

The officer lowers his glasses, “Sir, you need to unhand the suspect.”

“Suspect?” I repeat.

The other officer comes to help and the next thing I know I’m pressed chest first against the wall. Their hands are all over me, in my dress, between my legs.

“Hey!” Damien calls. “Do you even have a fucking warrant?”

That’s when cold metal hits my wrist. The officer’s voice booms, “Joelle Rowland you’re under arrest for possession.”

Fuck.

No.

The police officer wiggles the baggie of coke I was holding for Isaac in front of my face before pulling me off the wall.

“Wait a fucking minute!” Damien's on his feet, attempting to push the officer aside. "I'm Damien King. You can't just walk in here!"

“I’m sorry Mr. King. You’ll have to visit her at the station." The officers start leading me out of the room and Lea is the first person I see.

Her hands are on her hips, a huge grin on her face. “I knew having someone from The Grove would be bad for Eden's reputation.”

“You did this?”

So she did hear.

The rest of the party has come to a halt and students are gathering around to see what the commotion is all about. Even the stereo is silent. No officers stop the party for underage drinking though. Other students don't seem bothered, gawking our way.

I’m seeing phones pointed in my face, flashes going off. At this point, all I want is for the officers to get me the fuck out of here.

“No, I didn’t do anything.” Lea straightens her stance. “This was all you.”

Twenty-Four

“Joelle Rowland?”

An officer stands in front of the small white barred cell. It's cold. Concrete and empty. Fluorescent lights only make this headache worse.

I’m shivering as I look up at him, crumbs on his fat lips. I can’t go to juvie. I can’t leave Willow behind.

If I end up in jail, all of this will be for nothing. No post-secondary education for sticking it out at ERA. No money for an apartment and a lawyer for Willow. She's about to get stuck in another home with people that don't give a fuck about her.

As for me? My life is pretty much over.

Kids like me get stuck in this system. Kids like me don't get a happy ending.

“You’re free to go," he says, sliding open the cell and all I do is blink.

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