𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕕

Part 41: The Meeting

Everyone jumbles into cars. Sherry is driving Mariah, Luke, Malaya, and Ms. Troung. Lear is driving Alex, Lauren, Aaron, and Roni and Kianessa are go solo in Kian's car. The pull up at the back of the police station. They have to be driven to the park in the center of town in police cars. You still never know what might happen. After all this is the meeting that settles all that. Instead of police cars they have vans. That's able to fit everyone if they squeeze and make room. As they pass to park they see the stage in the podium set up. Before they get out the car Lear feels the need to tell everyone what's about to happen.

"Ok guys you don't have to speak if you don't want to. Everyone completely understands if you don't. All I'm doing is explaining all the legal actions that have been taken. I have no right to tell your story. If you want to talk about your story now then you can. If not it's all good. Aaron you can explain what happened that day if you would like but whatever comes out of your mouth will be recorded down in the files even if you just say your name. This is only because we haven't gotten your recollection of the events yet. All you guys need to do is stand up there and look pretty. Sherry, Ms. Troung, and I will be up there for support. We have speeches to say so will step in say them. The secretary that helped me bust Gina will be right there to hold Malaya. She won't leave out of your eyesight Mariah. Does everything sound good?" Lear explains. Everyone nods their head and they're escorted to the stage.

"Are you going to speak?" Roni whispers to Aaron as the mayor is up on stage. Lear's not far behind but he hasn't gotten on stage yet. Neither has anyone else.

"Probably. Everyone's been waiting for a statement from me so why not." Aaron says.

"I don't know if I should. Nessa seems to think so. All eyes have been on us since the whole Wendy thing so a lot of people are going to want to hear what we have to say. Maybe Nessa and I will talk."

"I think you should. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, just something small. You've been so strong this whole time and I'm sure so many people look up to you for that. I know I do." Aaron says and looks down at her. She stands on her tiptoes and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"Why are you so damn tall?" She says. "I have heels on and I still can't reach you"

"I'm not tall, your just short" He teases. He winks at her and she playfully punched his arm. He pretends to be hurt. They've both been missing moments like these. Sometimes you don't realize how much the little things matter until you almost don't have them at all.

The mayor moves out of the way as he introduces Lear to the crowd. Lear shakes his hand as he walks up to the podium.

"I am Officer Lear of the local police department. I have recently been promoted as the police chief. Many of you have been wondering about the recent events of a local shooting. This is now my job to tell you. A group of teens and one adolescent entered a building. There were no laws preventing them from entering the building so no charges are being pressed. They entered into the building and started looking for files and belongings of past workers. That's when the three suspects came up and started firing. Multiple rounds were shot leaving four people hurt. Two of those people are critically wounded. 911 was called almost immediately. One of the critically wounded people was the adolescent. He succumbed from his injuries shortly after he made it to the hospital. Everyone else survived and are healing from the injuries. We decided to keep their identities private until they were out of the hospital because of how bad the public wanted to know and out of respect to them. They were already trying to recover so it would have made it ten times harder if they had the public instigating them. The suspects who committed this crime were in the run but they were eventually found. Their attempted arrest concluded in a police shoot out that claimed their lives and their injured two officers. The custody of some of the teens were debated after further investigation showed that they were being abused and neglected in their adoptive parent's home. Actions were taken and Sherry Lawley and I have decided to adopt them. They are all placed in safe homes and being taken well care of. I'm going to give them room on stage for them to make their presence known and speak on the events."