The Forgotten

No School For You

Mr. and Mrs. Bristill arrive at the police station at nine thirty p.m. I was right; they're livid. Quietly livid, but livid. I don't let them talk. I explain everything as we walk to the exit.

"This is what Raven actually used to do. I didn't this time. I told them I wasn't going to. Will didn't steal anything either. It was just Jersey, York, Jess, and Shain. I did sneak out, but like I said, I didn't steal anything. I am, however, the one who triggered the alarm."

"You did this!" I whirl around. Shain is standing in her cell. She looks horrified. Crap! This could be really bad, Shain being mad at me.

I turn to face her.

"Yes, I did this," I tell her honestly. It's one of the few truthful things I've said to her since we met. "Being sick made me realize how stupid and trivial and illegal all of this is. This is my intervention, for each of you." Shain looks disgusted.

"Why didn't you just talk to us?" she demands. I can feel the Bristills' eyes (and the eyes of the other prisoners and my 'friends') on me.

I keep talking. "You wouldn't have listened. I know that because I know I wouldn't have listened if the positions were reversed. I hope that, once you understand I did this for you, we can still be friends." None of them say anything. Even Shain, who always seems to have something to say.

I turn around and walk away. The Bristills quicken their pace to appear to be leading. I don't care. As long as people see them and me leaving the police station, their reputation will suffer.

"Cardinal is missing," Mrs. Bristill informs me once we're in the car. "Did you know anything about this?" Cardinal and Raven didn't like each other. Cardinal will sell me out if they ask.

"Yes," I state. "She snuck out through the upstairs window. You might want to put better security on them." Neither Bristill says anything.

I confess, "I didn't tell you because I wanted to form a better bond with her. Raven spoiled her relationship with her sister. I want a sister. As long as we bonded over this, I don't care how you punish me."

The Bristills look astonished. I smile smugly. The more miserable they are, the happier I'll be.

I go straight to my room when we get back to the Bristills' mansion. Cardinal is still gone. I wonder where she is. Is she doing something illegal? How much trouble can a group of middle school age kids get into? Then again, Raven and all of her delinquent friends were in middle school once too, and I would be surprised if they were well behaved.

I decide not to listen to more of Raven's diary. I've had enough of my sister for one day. Maybe tomorrow. I'm hoping she'll have some sort of documentation of "the party". Something happened there, something more than her and Jess breaking up. Raven's friends were too relieved at the thought of her not remembering that night. At least, Jess and Shain were. This must be big for Shain not to want Raven to know. Did they betray her? Did they hurt her?

I groan. I need sleep. I want to be able to get up early for school tomorrow. Without undressing, I plop dejectedly onto the bed. I don't even bother to get under the covers. Closing my eyes, I drift off the moment my head hits the pillow.

I awake next morning feeling refreshed. That is, until I check the clock. It's ten minutes until school starts! I race against the clock to get ready. I throw on the fastest outfit I can find and brush my teeth. I run my fingers through my hair as run downstairs.

"Miss Bristill! Where are you going?" the foreign maid calls out as I open the door. I stop.

"I'm going to school," I remind her. She doesn't say anything at first, then she does speak.