I was cold from the winter breeze on my skin causing it to raise goose bumps. I looked at Riley's face and frowned and looked at everyone else. They looked tough, I bit my fingernails my eyes searching for a place to be alone with Riley. I saw a deserted spot and pulled at her wrist rushing to the little corner.
This was the worst juvenile prison there was, for teenagers that murder and steal. Another bad thing that I dreaded the most that right next door was the boys. The boys usually snuck on the girl's side to smoke and play cards. They went through the thin opening in the gate that was crooked and small so a lot of boys didn't go through often. If boys got caught with cuts on their chest and arms. They would be in a lot of trouble, so much trouble that nobody ever explained to us what they do to them.
We have been here for 6 days already, Riley, Bryant, Alex, Adrian and Sebastian. And me, Mahogany. We all came in at the same time and came to the same place thank God. But it's not like we can handle it anyway, my anxiety has been acting up. I've been shaking more than usual, I haven't been talking since it happened, I'm worried that when I say something, it's going to make us in even more trouble than we are in already.
I can't focus anymore. Everything is becoming big and towering over me and I'm getting smaller by the second. Everything. My friends, family, police, Regan's family that hates me for something I know that had nothing to do with me. I realize where I am all over all over again. And that Riley is shaking me and telling me that my heart is beating too fast. I take her hand off the place over my heart and point to the 3 boys walking towards us.
Riley sighs in relief and smiles.
"Hi." Riley whispered.
They all slipped through the gate one by one making sure no one else saw. Riley gave them all quick hugs while I stood there. My throat felt weird and my breathing was off. I was going to cry, I was going to cry because when I saw them. I didn't see Bryant, Alex, and Adrian. I saw my brothers. I closed my eyes and breathed in the air. It burnt my lungs.
When I looked up again, it wasn't my brothers. It was the same people I went to school with. My friends. Bryant the jock, Alex the comedian and Adrian the innocent one. My friends aren't supposed to be here, I'm not supposed to be here. I hear Riley asking them where Sebastian is. Riley not getting the answer she wants, starts to curse under her breath.
"He doesn't want to talk to us about it." Bryant says.
"I wouldn't want to talk either if I set my 'friends' up." I say my eyes searching the boys side for him.
They all look at me speechless. Adrian steps in.
"Um, no offense Mahogany, but, um, how do you know if he set us up?" He says quietly.
"We are his friends after all."
I shrug. I do that a lot now. That is basically my answer for everything. How is life going Mahogany? What are people going to think of you after you get out of jail Mahogany? Didn't know you had it in you Mahogany, to actually kill someone? You could live with me if your parents don't let you Mahogany.
"That's bullcrap!" Riley says
