THAT GIRL.

Eleven.

QUESTIONING.

I had never been so nervous in my life. Instead of talking to me there, he took me down to the station, and I was silently sitting in the back of a cop car, praying my parents wouldn't find out about this. Not only would they flip their lid, they'd make me move back home. Make me go somewhere in state for college, have to stop having parties, and get an actual girlfriend. The last part made me want to try to escape the car. 

When we finally got there, I thought for sure my parents were going to pop out behind a shrub and be like "HEY SON!" so I was definitely acting a little paranoid, staring at the shrubs. I tried to think of positive things in this situation. I only came up with one. The fact that I didn't have handcuffs on. 

"Come on, son. This shouldn't take long." His voice was so close, I jumped just a little in the air. 

Following him solemnly, I trudged up the dreaded stairs, into the main room, and then into a side room, which was definitely made for an interrogation. 

"Do you want some water? Or pepsi?" He questioned. I swallowed. 

"Uh, water please." I never had pepsi without alcohol. Damn. What if he had found out about all of the parties I have? Or all the alcohol that the minors were drinking. Oh god, I'm screwed. 

Looking up at the ceiling, I started to pray to myself. 

Dear God, if you could help me get out of here without being in handcuffs, or on my way to jail. I'd really appreciate, and in return, I'll....um.... I'll stop being such a...a... provocative teenage guy. Thanks man. 

The police officer walked back inside the room holding two water bottles. He set mine down in front of me on the table. Then sat in his chair on the other side. He had a sip of his water, then cleared his throat then looked at me for a straight minute.

"You've had a hell of a day. Not bad as Sam, but hell. Pretty damn bad seeing her like that. I'd know." His rough voice echoed around my head. 

"Wait, you've seen her like that...before?" The words stumbled out before I could stop myself.

"Unfortunately, yes. I've seen her bad before, but this time... he definitely wanted her dead." His eyes had stopped staring at mine, and were now locked onto something behind my back. I could tell he was remembering her like that though, because his eyes were full of sadness. Like my mother's had been when I begged to move out. 

"Him...?" I finally locked onto the random part he had slipped in there. 

"Oh I'm sure you met Danny. He's probably threatened you. Whenver he jumps into her life he'll never let her go anywhere without him." His voice raised a bit, even I could tell this guy pissed him off with just a thought. 

"I think I know who you're talking about. That day I got blamed for the vandilization on her locker, he was there. He spoke to me...he hurts her... li-like th-a-a-at?" I stuttered the last part because I couldn't believe it. I had given up on her, and she had been through hell.

Yes I was definitely heartless. How could I have not noticed? She had been wearing sweatshirts, even when the weather had turned nice outside. She had moved her seat to the back in photography class, and she always had a ton of make-up on. Even I noticed that her eyes were always a little puffy, when I was trying to ignore her all of those months. 

I let my head fall onto my crossed arms on the table. 

"Son, it's not your fault." He said.

"You're supposed to say that. I could've noticed sooner, I could've done something. Sure the guy was big, and I'm not the most caring person. But GOD. DAMN. IT. I CAN NEVER DO ANYTHING RIGHT." I tried to calm my breathing, I was furious now, mostly at myself, but also at that guy, all I could see was him smirking at me that day. In her car, I had let her go off with him.