Trusting You

Hoodie with the big N

BLAKE'S POV

These past weeks have been a freak show. One minute I'm having my birthday party next minute I'm in a stinking cell for something I didn't do. I looked around at the cell I was in. Just a hard bed and a toilet by the side. Nothing else.

My mind flew back to yesterday in the courthouse. Bloody James! If I could, I would bash his head into a wall. Rue almost had one of her attacks. I was so scared. Seeing her testify was scary but Flynn assured me that he had ran through everything with her but who knew James was going to turn into some manipulative psycho. Tyler told me about the break in in Rue's dorm and how Sam and Rue have been moved to our apartment while Jess and Miranda are with their boyfriends. Thank goodness, I see the headlines everyday with my name and my family and girlfriend's names plastered on the papers. How the hell am I gonna get out of this shit. I remember my conversation with one of the guys here,

"I got in for nothing. They say I killed my wife bro but I didn't but nobody believe me. I got no money for a lawyer or nothing so I'm stuck here", the guy said. "You lucky you from a rich family and got a great lady bro. I see her on the news. She good", he added. I smiled but it didn't last long after what he said next. "But sometimes that ain't enough. Once the system is corrupt, ain't nothing a man can do. Once you in, there ain't no going out", he sat as he patted my shoulder.

I pondered on his words when one of the officers opened the bars, "You have visitors". Rue. I hurriedly came out and went to the visiting room. Tyler, Sam and Jess are standing there looking at each other worriedly. I entered and shut the door, "Is Rue okay? Why isn't she here". None of them answered me as their gazes stayed on the ground. "What happened? Did she have her attacks again?", I asked slightly getting agitated. Tyler rose up his head, "Blake...". I cut in, "She fainted? I've been telling her to get some rest but...". "Rue's missing", Jess spat out.

My whole body froze as I stared at them, "What do you mean she's missing?". "She went to Flynn's office earlier and she hasn't come back yet but Flynn said she left hours ago", Tyler said. My breathing quickened as I grabbed Tyler, "You let her go alone? When you know what's happening? You let her go out alone?". Sam held my hands and tried to pry me off Tyler, "Skylar offered to go but she refused. She said she would be okay and we can't force to...". I snapped, "Bullshit! That's how Rue is and you all know!". They all kept quiet as I boiled. "Fuck!", I screamed as I slammed the table. I sat down and held my head in my hands. Sam held my shoulders, "Don't worry. We'll find her. The guys are with the police. They're searching everywhere. The person won't get away with this, I promise you". I just sat there in silence staring at the table, the same words recurring in my head

Rue's missing
Rue's missing
Rue's missing
Rue's missing
Rue's missing

Again and again till I laid on the hard mattress.

"Where'd you get the gun?", The detective's voice rang from the other side of the mirror. I focused my thoughts back to the reality infront of me which was Mabel being interrogated because the gun that killed Dylan was found in her house. "So how'd it get to your house?", The detective asked. "I don't know!", Mabel asked tears, in her eyes. I turned to Flynn, "How'd they get the gun?". He looked at me, "Someone tipped them". I frowned, "Isn't that suspicious? All of a sudden, someone's tipping them off?". "Yes it is. The person is probably trying to shift focus from him or herself to Mabel. I might have a word with her later", Flynn said. I nodded as I bowed my head down. Flynn rested his hand on my shoulder, "If we find the killer, we find Rue. The trial's already on hold because of this new information so now we'll just focus on finding the killer". I exhaled as I nodded.

It's been almost a day and there was still no word about Rue. Sam told me that Rue's mum and Jordan were around and we're staying in an hotel close to the school. Jordan came to see me later on. He looked worried but he tried to act fine while asking me how I was. My dad promised that he'll leave no stone unturned in the search for Rue.

I paced around my room, "Why isn't Flynn here yet?". I groaned as I hit my hand on the wall. The officer opened the bars and I quickly came out. I entered the interrogation room to see that Flynn was already seated with Mabel. When Mabel saw me, she immediately stood, "Blake Blake, I didn't do it! I don't know what they're talking about. I don't even know how to use a gun". I pried her off me as I sat and nodded at Flynn. Flynn cleared his throat, catching Mabel's attention, "Mabel, we don't think you did it". She visibly relaxed and there I saw the Mabel I had fallen in love with. The innocent and sweet Mabel. "Thank you thank you. You're the only ones that believe me", she said as she wiped her tears. "But we know whoever did this has something against you. Can you think of anyone that might not be pleased with you right now?", Flynn continued.

"I don't think anyone would be pissed at me right now asides Rue and Blake for following Rue but asides that, I haven't had beefs with anyone", she said. Flynn leaned closer, "Mabel, I need you to think really hard. Your life is on the line here". Mabel thought for a while before smacking her head, "Why didn't I think of this earlier!? Yes something happened!". I sat up straighter as Flynn willed her to continue. "The guy that I sent to take pictures of Rue came back and told me that he met a guy who told him to ask me if I wanted to ruin Blake. I declined because I'm not trying to ruin either Blake or Rue, I'm just jealous but not that I'd ruin them besides I thought he was just joking. I didn't think the person would go ahead and kill Dylan!", she said as she looked at me. I averted my eyes to the table as Flynn asked, "Did you see the person?". Mabel shook her head, "No I didn't meet the guy but the guy I hired saw him. I think you should ask him". "Great! Let's get him over here fast!", Flynn said clapping his hands.

We couldn't get through to the guy till hours later. Now he's seated in the interrogated room while Mabel, Tyler, Sam, Jess and I are seated opposite the glass, just so we don't scare him. "You promise to tell me everything?", Flynn asked. The guy nodded. Flynn smiled, "Good. Now tell me everything". The guy cleared his throat, "Well Mabel hired me to take pictures of the girl. So as I was doing that, this dude walks up to me and is like "I should ask Mabel if she wants to ruin the other guy, I think Blake". Then he said we should meet at the same joint after I get a response from her. I did and Mabel refused so I went back to tell the dude and that's it". "Okay, could you describe the guy?", Flynn asked. I shifted closer to the glass as he spoke, "He's tall like 6ft, brown hair, very scruffy looking. He had a blue hoodie with a N written at the back, with black jeans and normal shoes, I think".

"Wait a minute!", Jess yelled. We turned to look at her asides Flynn and guy cause the room we're in is sound proof. "The hoodie! The... The hoodie!", She screamed. "What happened to the hoodie, Jess?", Sam asked. "That's Noah's hoodie!", Jess said with wide eyes. We looked shocked as Tyler asked her, "How do you know?". Jess shook as she said, "I remember! Rue told me that there's only one hoodie that Noah never let her wear. She said it's blue and has a big N at the back!". We sat in silence as we digested the information. And then it struck me, "Noah has Rue!", I muttered. "That sick bastard's got my girlfriend!", I yelled as Tyler tried to calm me down. Flynn walked in, "We can get a sketch of what the guy looks like and then...". "It's Noah! Rue's ex", Sam yelled. Flynn stood stunned before he made eye contact with me.

Flynn immediately walked off to go talk to the FBI. Others left to go tell the news to the rest and it left just Mabel and I. "I'm sorry about Dylan and that you got involved in all of this and thank you for not trying to ruin me", I said to her. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of these", she muttered back. She came forward to hug me and I hugged her back before she left.

I sat down on my mattress and whispered a silent prayer to God,

Dear God, please protect Rue.

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