The Degenerates - Under Edit

s i x t e e n

Trey sat with his arms around Lila whilst she cried.

"It may not be him," I said to her, but she shook her head.

"I know it is. I had a bad feeling when he never came home," she sobbed, "and I can just feel that it's him. I just know."

The door swung open and Sasha tore through the room, "Get the HELL out Arden. How can you even be in here? I know you had something to do with it!"

Trey didn't flinch at Sasha's reaction, but Lila wailed, snuggling deeper into Trey, who mustered a triumph, but cold smirk at Sasha, "I clearly did,"

I rolled my eyes, my annoyance quickly growing for their childish feud, "Sasha," I said sternly, "Not now."

Sasha glared at me, and then back at Trey, "I can take it from here, you can go now."

Trey shared the cold glare with her before patting Lila's hand, shifting her on to Sasha. "Call me if you need me," he said to her softly.

"I'll walk you out," I announced and led the way to the door.

Trey appeared at the door moments after the police had left, as he had saw them pull up to the dorm room, and only assumed what they were going to say.

"I'm sorry about Sasha, she was out of line." I said when he shut the door behind him.

"No, don't be. That's just Sasha, she won't change, I'm afraid."

We descended the stairs quietly, stopping at the door. "That constable, St Lauren, shot me a look when he saw me."

Trey nodded, "He knows you're her friend now, so he'll only assume you're connected, and in turn..."

"Will see that you're connected too, through me." I sighed and leaned against the wall.

Through many dangers, toils and snares.

Trey did not say anything. It was true, the Constable had seen us together, and now knows I had some sort of connection with the brothers, through Lila, and the fact that we all go to the same Uni. They'll be having a field day with the knowledge down at the station, I can just see Harris and St Lauren practically laughing at the thought of catching me out.

I can see them both drawing red string between us all on a corkboard, pinning them to our headshots like a jumbled red spider web, with me right in the middle.

It was much harder to prove your innocence when everyone believes you're guilty.

"I think it would be best, right now, if we kept our distance." Trey said softly.

I tried not to show my hurt, but ultimately I knew it was coming. "I know,"

"Until things settle," he finished.

I nodded, "I know."

It was only morally correct to do so anyhow. I couldn't draw him straight into the thick of things simply because spending a week or so without him seems nearly unimaginable.

"Remember, you didn't do anything. You have no reason to be guilty," Trey reminded me, "but we can't risk cops thinking that you are."

I nodded, unable to hide my disappointment. Trey wrapped his arms around me and I slid mine under his jacket around his body.

"Just for a little while,"

-

I skipped my Psychology lecture the next morning so I could sit downstairs in the dorm kitchen, watching out the window for the Frat boys to leave.