Pulling Reeds

The Juvenile Dysfunction Friends

Hi! My name is Harper and this is my first wattpad story!! I hope you like it, I would like lots of feedback. 

Thank you! x 

Chapter 1: The Juvenile Dysfunction Friends

'Well, Miss Mason, it seems like you've got yourself into a little bit of trouble,' Brown sits on the chair opposite the police desk. 

I shrug my shoulders, quirking my right eyebrow up at him. 'Define "trouble" Brown.' I respond, kicking my feet up on the desk. Brown pushes my black sneakers off the desk and I put them back on again. 

'You stole a car, Clara,' Brown sighs, sifting through random paperwork. 

'No, I didn't.' I correct him, chewing on my gum, making a sound I know is annoying him. 

Brown looks resigned and puts his elbows on the desk. Brown's young for the force, only about twenty-five, and has been personally assigned as my own police officer, to keep track of all my wrong doings and trying to stop me from going to prison (or Juvenile Dysfunction Centres) as little as possible. 

'I borrowed it,' I remark, 'I was going to give it back.' I try and sound convincing and persuasive, but I know he sees right through me. 

'When?' He asks, 'before or after you crashed it into that alleyway wall?' 

'After,' I confirm with a smirk on my face. 

'Your mother was found last night and taken in my police officers,' Brown informs me after a short silence. I don't look surprised when I nod and tilt my head to the side. 

'Wow, I'm so shocked and upset,' I pretend to surrender and put my hands to my eyes. 'I'm going to cry.' 

'Your sarcasm is going to get you into trouble one day,' he chuckles, not being able to resist it. I may be outside of the law, but I can be pretty charming when I want to be. 

I sit up in my seat, adjusting my ponytail. 'What? Like it hasn't already?' I grin. 'What's happened to Hailey?' I ask, genuinely interested now. Hailey is my five year old sister who I've been taking care of ever since she was born. I robbed the car while she was still at school, thinking I could get away with it just in time to pick her up. 

'She was picked up from school by someone called Carter Williams. Sounds familiar?' He ponders and I confirm it. Carter has been one of my friends since we met on the streets when I was ten. I was hungry and unable to buy anything because of mom's gambling problems, but Carter found me, gave me food and money. He then told me to join his business. I agreed and we've been together ever since. Business partners, I mean. 

'Did you take her away?' I accuse dangerously. 

Brown nods, 'we had to. She can't be in the danger of your mother anymore. She's been deemed an unfit parent for you and Hailey and has been sent to jail for twelve months.'

'So where is she going?' 

'I'm aware you have a twenty five year old brother. He's made us aware of who he is and is willing to take Hailey into his care.' Brown explains and I shoot up in my seat. 

'No fucking way!' I rage, stamping my foot, 'That shitter isn't taking Hailey anywhere! You best be joking, mate.' I warn, pushing myself up against the table. 

'No, Clara. I'm not joking. He has a very stable career now and can look after Hailey while you're gone.' 

'What? While I'm gone? Where am I going?' 

'Well, we don't want you sent to a juvenile dysfunction centre again because that has no effect on you whatsoever.' 

I shake my head, 'that's not true! I make life long friends there.'