away; b.e.[rewritting]

Chapter 18

The cops pull up to the precinct and we walk in. They put me into a cell with 5 other people. One of them being way too familiar.

Julian.

We lock eyes and his look sympathetic. My shirt ripped while I was punching Q and fell off when the cops cuffed me. So I just had my sports bra on, on top. My scars visible, the ones he gave me 3 years ago. They didn't take my chain which is good because I never take it off, only when I shower.

I back away from him.

I sit in the complete opposite corner of the cell that he's in.

5 minutes later and I feel a presence near me. I look and see Julian sitting. right by me. I scurry away from him.

"Hey Emilie," he says. I don't answer but he says, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry what I did to you 3 years ago."

I still don't say anything. "Hell, what kind of big brother am I to you?"

Pardon? Brother? I don't have a brother. Hell I don't have anyone, friends or family.

"I don't have a brother. I don't have a family," I say.

"I'm your brother Emilie," he says.

No, he can't be.

"Why are you on the west coast?" I ask.

"Came here looking for you," he says.

~

We continue to talk until an officer comes and says, "Emilie Avery Stone?"

I walk over to the door and she says, "It's time for your phone call."

She open the door and let's me out.

"Take a seat," she says, pointing to the chair by her desk. She handcuffs my hand to the desk and hands me the phone.

I dial Coach's number, hoping he picks up.

"Hello?"

"Coach, it's Emilie. I'm in the Los Angeles county jail," I say.

"What?!" He exclaims.

"Lauren didn't tell you? Olivia?"

"No, no one called me or showed up to the house," he says.

They really hate me.

"Can you come get me out Coach?" I ask.

"Of course, give me 25 minutes," he says.

"But they're going to book me in 20 minutes," I say.

"Then I'll be there in 15 minutes." He hangs up and the officer sits at her desk.

"Are you going to put me back in there?" I ask the officer.

She sighs. She looks at me and leans back in her chair.

"No. I can tell, you're a good kid. I was in the same position you are in right now. I know what you're going through. No family, no friends, just your instincts and fists. You're scared to let people in, but you did, and now you regret it because you just proved yourself right," she says.

Well damn, she didn't just have to expose me.

I nod and she continues, "But, you have to stop being so guarded. You have to let someone make you vulnerable. I saw what you were brought in here for, and I completely agree with you. If I were you and that dickhead was saying those things to me, I probably would've killed him. I don't blame you, but you screwed up by pushing those 2 girls."