Withering You

Noah

"Do I need a lawyer?" I ask, looking at the male cop. He doesn't answer. I look at Ms Sarah behind the glass door. She is talking to someone else, she is not looking at me. I gulp.

"I don't think so. Unless you think you have done something." the cop looks up from his papers. I wipe my sweaty hands on my trouser under the table.

"I haven't done anything," I think and finish off with, "sir." It's better I act neat and obedient. I mean I'm not acting. I haven't done anything wrong. I try not to fidget. I really want to cry now. I need to be strong though. For you.

"But someone told me otherwise," the cop was looking at me closely. My heart escalates. Someone has told something?
What even? I did nothing.

"I shouldn't be answering any of your questions. Can I call my dad?"

"Noah. That is your name right?" The cop asks, giving out an impatient sigh. My legs have started to tremble involuntarily. I give a nod.

"We are not in a movie here, Noah. You answer my questions and you will be out of that door in a blink. Have I made myself clear?" says the cop, folding his arms.

I struggle to maintain my cool. "Sure," I say with a nod.

"Good. Do you have anything of Ms Ava's possessions?

Oxygen leaves my body. Hearing your name and the question.

"Mr Noah. Answer my question," the cop seems to be an impatient man. I just stare down at the white carpet with the ugly footprints. I'm just trying to concentrate on other things to keep myself calm. I usually think of lions hunting down a deer when I'm turned on. It helps. But the carpet doesn't seem to be of any help right now. I can feel the sweat running down the back of my neck. I wanted to reach back and wipe it away but didn't. You just don't do anything with a cop in front you. I avoid looking at his holster.

"Yes, I had," I say, looking everywhere but at the cop.

"How did you come to have it in your possession?"

I twist the button on my shirt, around and around.

"I- I took it from her locker."

"What is it?"

"A book."

I can see the cop nodding in my peripheral vision.

"Why did you take it?"

I closed my eyes tight for a fraction of a second, I was flashed with an image of you smiling at me.

"I took it as a souvenir," I lie, "so I can be reminded of her."

I'm not sure if the lie had broken in but he nods.

"You have stolen something that could be evidence to us. You are to return that book right this minute. We will check it thoroughly and if it's of no use to us we will hand it to her parents. You can have it if they wish to give it to you. Clear?"

I feel like a kid getting caught for stealing a pencil and being warned for not doing it again. I blink multiple times to get my flimsy self together. Act like a man, Noah.

I look up at the cop, "I don't have the book with me. I misplaced it."

The cop frowns, "There's no use lying, kid. I have strong evidence."

My eyes widened in realisation. All these while I wasn't thinking of how the cop knew about me having something of yours. I'm dumb, I agree. It's making sense now. Roy. Roy must have told the cop or the administration that I have taken a book from your locker. He has set me up neatly. I don't have the book now, he stole it. I would look suspicious if I didn't return the book. All these while he was trying me up to save Colin's ass. That bugger.

"I'll search for the book and hand it over to you by Monday. Please, I need you to give me the time to look for it."

The cop tilts his head in thought. I'm already building up a plan. I'll go look for Roy. I won't let him go without a few punches.  I lose nothing by handing the book to the cop. Maybe I lose the only you I have but it is worth it. Roy, Colin, Jason and the other guy, Sebastian will all be pulled out. They deserve to pay for all of this.

The cop nods, "By Monday I need it."