Halfway Through the Scale

Unionship

Chapter Twelve

I didn't think I could possibly be more anxious than when I was waiting in the main office. Now, I am being treated like a criminal with my hands tied behind my back along with everybody else. We wave the white flag in the air, defeat. There's no use in fighting it, just sitting patiently with this angust inside that wants to eat me from the inside. Kris has remained silent since Calvin was the last one to get cuffed. Jasmine has stopped her squirming and efforts when the police officer took her out of the office. Once she came back, she was sat next to me and remained silent up until now. Calvin simply got tired of yelling and cursing at the police officers.

Hastings is outside in the main office collecting our parents. I feel sick, my stomach turning. Especially since I cannot grab a hold of my own hands, I feel useless. My body becomes impatient as the force of being dominated, controlled like a damn puppet It makes me want to cry out my rage.

"Please come this way." Hastings says in low key as he enters the room with parents following him. A man in his forties is behind him. He gazes at us like some wild animals at a zoo, something he has never seen before. It's fascinating in his eyes as he simply continues to glare at us. His grey suit my mother's slack and blazer make it seem like we really are in a hole. Bringing in our lawyers of some sort. Help us! Is what our expressions say. We are young, immature teenagers who don't know better. Help us!

"Are they arrested?" My mother immediately demands before sitting herself down in front of us while the man before her has already made himself comfortable. Eyeing us again.

"No, we just had to sustain them." Hastings answers for the police officers.

"What did they do exactly, that made you cuff them?"

"Well, they need parental supervision. We couldn't release them until their parents or guardians showed up."

"Well we're here, let them go." Hastings stutters between his breathing. He looks over at the police officers and nods towards us. One of them begins with Calvin and the other starts with Kris. Once he reaches me, my hands ache as I place the before me. I rub them and continue to stare at them.

"Please, Mrs...?"

"Miss Brooks."My mother states harshly at Hastings.

"Ms. Brooks, sit down so we can talk this through." My mother sit herself down on the chair in front of me. I can feel her eyes on me for a moment, then back to Hastings.

"I'm sorry you are?" Hastings asks before commencing at the man sitting next to my mother and in front of Kris.

"Robert. Calvin's father and Kris's uncle." He offers Hastings his hand, and they firmly shake one another.

"Jasmine, do you know where your parents are?" Hastings asks but Jasmine keeps her head down.

"I come on her mother's behalf."My mother intervenes.

"Great. Well, from what we know, Kris and Jasmine were acting violently against one another. However, security guards and police officers can explain it better than me, so-"

"Wait? Who is Kris?" Mother interrupts in shock at Hastings. "And Jasmine why were you fighting?" Now turning towards Jasmine.

"I'm Kris, ma'am." Kris says as he raises his hand in the air. Mother immediately frowns.

"You mean to tell us, that our children were not just fighting. Worse, it was a male and female against each other?" Raising her voice at Hastings.

"We saw the girl, Jasmine, pulling on the boy's hair and scratching his face with her nails. While Kris was holding on to her tight."

"You began this?" Robert asks Kris.

"So what are you implying?" Mother asks.

"Why are we implying anything? Why don't you guys tell us what really happened?" Robert affirms as he eyes us.

"They don't want to say." Hasting calmly says.

"Dot?" My mother begins at me as she narrows her eyes. "What happened?"

"Part of the reason we cuffed them. Once they were released, they began to defend one another."

Grabbing my hair and bringing it over my shoulder to cover my face.

"We'll give you another opportunity to speak." Hastings threatens, and I become agitated.

With our heads facing down, no one speaks.

"Okay." Hastings gets up from the chair and looks down on us, on everybody. "You're all suspended!"

"What?" My mother quickly protests by getting up from her chair as well, leveling with Hastings.

"Ma'am, Kris ripped off Jasmine's dress. Jasmine injured Kris's face. Dot was not where she was supposed be at the time. Calvin is just suspicious as his cousin."

"Suspicion is nothing. Sounds like Calvin had no part in this.." Robert asserts as he comfortably adjusts himself in the chair. Calmest one.

"Sir, I wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions." Hastings says.

"You already have, you and your whole SWAT team." He says sarcastically. " C'mon Calvin, lets go." Robert gets up from his chair and goes towards Calvin. "Good day, gentlemen." He leaves the room with Calvin. Jasmien and I are dumbfounded, while Kris is reassured.

"Let's go Dot, you too Jasmine!" My mother says as she glares at Hastings with a dead eye. We get up and wait for my mother to exit so we can follow. I look over at Kris. He's all alone. He looks over at me and smiles.

"Later Miss Sunshine." He whispers to me, and sends a wink.

"Dot! Let's go!" My mother and Jasmine are already outside, calling for me as I leave Kris alone.