Here comes trouble

Emancipation

I sank even lower into my chair as Jerome started to read the list of my crimes. It was considerably longer than anyone else's.

"Verbal abuse times two. Physical abuse times two. Disorderly conduct times three. Defacing of private property times two. Graffiti times one. General violent behaviour times one. Breaking and entering times one. Anything else you want to add to the list?" he asked me sarcastically.

"yeah" I said walking up to him, "make that three times physical abuse." I punched him in the gut, hard. The others grabbed me and somehow managed to get me to sit down. My mum looked at me with disapproving eye. I stuck my middle finger up at her. "Fuck of you bloody bitch!" I shouted at her.

Jerome turned to her, "Do you want me to add that to the list aswell?". Mum shook her head. The others only had the disorderly conduct,breaking and entering and the defacing thing. Well, they had that until Brian started speaking again.

"Did you put down that they all attacked me?" he asked Jerome.

Then everyone did attack him. I didn't bother because I knew that if I got out of the seat I was going to do a lot of things that I would regret. Like strangle someone maybe. We got taken up to the station for further questioning. We all had to get in the back of the police van and people were watching from the playground because it was break. I smile and waved at them and was about to run for it when Jerome put handcuffs on me. I would look like a demented parsnip running down the road like that. I turned around and got into the van. I looked around. Me, Shane, Rosie, Billy and Becca seemed to be handling it best. Denny was alright, but the others were really worried. George was currently trying to get the attention of the cop driving the van.

"Oi mate!" he said "I'm talking to you. I want to press charges against Brian Cover for disorderly conduct. Or I want to put him under citizens arrest or

Something. And I want to press charges against him for lying. And drinking. And theft."

"Theft?" I asked him, "What did he steal?"

"I don't know but I'll think of something by the time we get there. Does he wear a watch?" George asked me. I nodded.

"He stole my watch!" said George with a wink in my direction.

"What's the story?" I asked everyone.

"Brian put us up to it." said Becca simply.

I nodded because that sounded like as good a plan as any.

Derik got in the bus with the keys to our handcuffs.

"Try anything an you'll regret it." he said sneering at me.

"How?" I asked.

"I could add it to your list of charges or I could leave your hand cuffs on or I could taser you or I could..."

"Alright" I cut him off "I get the picture. No funny business." we got out of the van and I checked my phone. I had at least seventy text messages asking me what was going on. I ignored everyone of them. Anyone I wanted to tell was there with me. We went in but I didn't deny it, the others did and they added something to their list. We got moaned at but I zoned out. I only caught the last part of Jerome's hour and a half long speech, that required only minimal nodded on our part.

"You are complete menaces to the community and are the exact reason this town is so high up on the crime list when we're so small. You ruin this towns reputation. You need waking up and fast. You need to realise that the world doesn't revolve around you. You will all be spending either a year in St. Marcus's school for teenage delinquents, or three years in Jail. You can get out of the school after six months for good behaviour, but that is very unlikely. You can get out of jail after two years but again, very unlikely." he finished and looked at Becca. "They must have missed you. They can't wait to get you back there, seeing as they didn't have time to punish you for your last offence." he smirked and Becca gave him the finger. He started speaking to her again "now,now, temper temper!" she went to retaliate but I whispered in her ear

"Non illegitimis carborundum". She gave me a small smile and nodded. We were put in a cell until our parents could come and collect us. Billy was let out first by his Brother. Everyone slowly was released until it was just me, Shane, Rosie and Becca left in the cell. My parents came and tried to let me and Shane out. Tried being the operative word.

"No, you can't let me out. I disown you. As soon as I get out of here I'm getting emancipation from you. I'm going to do it legally, but until then, I disown you. I hate you!" I said and turned around, mum must have looked at Shane.

"You think I want to be your son?! PISS OFF!" Shane shouted. She left and we stayed in the cell. I still had my phone so I got it out and text Billy.

Please get your brother to let us out! Lov ya !! Xxx

I heard someone come over to the door and I put my phone in my bra because I didn't think I was supposed to have it. Derik opened the door and we all walked out. I went and sat on a bench outside the station. I sat next to some woman and asked if I could nick a fag. She agreed and I took a long drag. Billy walked out and saw me smoking.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing Clara?" he asked me, outraged.

"Smoking!" I yelled at him. At least I wasn't doing drugs!

"Why?"

"What?" I asked "Is it a crime?"

"YES!" he replied "AND YOU'RE SMOKING OUTSIDE OF THE BLOODY STATION."

I laughed at him but put the fag out. We went to the bus stop an I sat down.

"When do you's reckon we'll end up going there?" I asked them.

"I went there the morning after I got arrested." said Becca. I nodded.

"How did you know disowning your parents was called emancipation?" asked Shane.

I shrugged, "I googled it. I needed to know it was legal before I went to court to get it done."

"You're serious then?" asked Billy.

I nodded. I had never been more serious about anything before in my life. My parents had fucked my life up royally. Now I was going to repay the favor.