Don't Blame Me: Genius

First Day Out

~Tess Pov ~
Sunday, Midnight
Tess Run.
Words I didn't think would ever leave Hope's mouth in a situation like this. I'm running.

The tree branches left lacerations on my skin. The muddy puddles printed their color upon my white sneakers. I'm sweating through my mesh shirt, and my heart is pounding out of my chest.

I took a glance back while running through the woods. I saw the policeman we were running from, he was close but not too close that Hope and I couldn't hide. "Here. Right here," Hope followed me into what looked like an empty shed. The space was dark and hollowed. Our echoed voices filled the space. "Okay this should be okay for now," I blew out.

"Ok? You think this is okay? I'm basically a lawyer living the life of a fugitive and you think-," I hushed up Hope by covering her mouth with my hand. Shortly seeing the police running by the shed. We are in deep shit right now. "You said to run, Hope. How is this my fault?" I asked, deeply confused. Hope scoffed, "They're gone, I wanna go home.,"

I chased Hope back to the parking lot. Her car and a few others were left there. I opened her car door letting her get in and pull off, leaving me standing. I walked the rest of my way home. The temperature had dropped, it was warm earlier and now it had to be at least fifty degrees. Next time I'll look at the weather.

The campfire was about an hour walk away from my house. I had gotten a good ways into my walk when a gray car slowed down next to me. I looked to my right to examine the vehicle to see that the words Sheriff was printed out in blue. I stopped at the mention of my name. "Excuse me, are you Tess Larou?," the policeman asks me kindly.

"Who's asking?" I crossed my arms. He parked the car to open up the door and step out. He stepped to me, tapping twice on his badge. I didn't move.

"Sheriff Carter, LoveBurn PD." He stated. "Now. I got a call that a few civilians were involved in an act of violence. Your name came up and I was wondering if you could provide me with information down at the station?,".

How did he get my name? He wasn't the one chasing Hope and I?

I swallowed hard, "You want to handcuff me?,"

He walked back to his car to open the back door, "Not really,".

I took that as a sign. I got into the squad car and Sheriff Carter drove me to the station.
——
About Three AM
Here I am getting ushered into this big ass, two thousand square foot, brick building. The outside was like you could imagine. It was scary, intimidating, eerie. The inside was completely different, it looked like everything was renovated, like a new apartment. The walls were a clean white marble, along with the floors. The desks were painted a stone cold black with rounded black seats. And you would think they'd have push and pull doors instead of revolving doors to separate important rooms. It looked like a souped up police station.

Multiple deputies' eyes were on me as the Sheriff and I walked up to the sign in sheet. I glanced over to see the deputy who was chasing after Hope and I, staring at me. He sent me a smirk from across the room. He stood up from his desk making his way over to us.

"Sheriff, whatcha got?," the deputy asked, as if he
didn't know the answer.

"Tess Lynn Larou, 17 almost 18, white female, possible act of violence. I need the tank." The Sheriff said.

I bugged my eyes, "umm excuse me? You are not putting me in a tank," I interrupted.

"Relax kid. It's a nickname for the holding cell, besides when you do the crime...," I scoffed at him. Who is he calling a kid? He couldn't be any older than 21, just getting out of training.

"Alright Alright. Since you willingly came down here, we need to call your parents, for us to ask you anything further.," Sheriff Carter explained. I trusted him. He spoke lightly, confidently and conforming. "Deputy. You know what to do," whatever that means. I narrowed my eyes as the deputy took hold of my arm moving me towards the back.

He locked the tank as soon as I was shoveled in, then proceeded to pull up a single chair outside of the bars. The space wasn't as tight, and the room was a quiet void. I sat down on the bench inside the locked unit, my eyes landing on his presence. He was a muscular man, yet slender. Honey blonde hair paired perfectly with baby blue eyes and a cocky ass attitude. His arms were crossed and his right leg was thrown over his left. I took a look at his badge. Peyton Carter.

"So are you like the Sheriff's son?" I snarked.

"You can read names. Excellent.," he remarked.

I smacked my lips, "Why are you babysitting me?,".

"So you don't commit another act of violence, of course," Peyton babied me. I rolled my eyes.

"I DIDN-,'' I started to growl then stopped myself. I narrowed my eyes at the smirk on his face. "Whatever," I knew not to say anything without an adult present, but I had a few choice words for this guy.

I tilted my head back against the cold wall to exhale. In the distance I heard muffled voices, it sounded like yelling. I heard footsteps and the sound of the revolving door. "And I'm going to speak with your chief for having a minor present, questioning without authority," a familiar voice made my head rise. I perked up when mom came marching into the stone cold room I was being held in, sheriff Carter slaying her heels.

"Tess, get up. We're leaving," mom snaps. "Unlock the cell right now,"

"Okay Ma'am, we just need you-" Sheriff tries to calm her.

"I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING UNTIL MY DAUGHTER IS OUT OF THIS CELL," she shouts.

Sheriff Carter gave a firm nod to Deputy Peyton to unlock the tank and let me out. I stepped out to face the Deputy who'd been a pain in my ass.

"So you can follow instructions. Excellent.," I whisper in a mocking tone, feeding him a slight smirk.
I turned to my mother and the sheriff. "I willingly came with him mom," I confess.
"For what? You didn't do anything." She grabs my arm pulling me towards the exit, but stops in her tracks to face sheriff Carter. "And no one's going to blame you for anything either.".