A Little Bit Tougher

Chapter 1: Janie

The police officer gives me a sympathetic look before bending under his desk and sliding over the all too familiar backpack. "Now, are you sure your ready to go back?" he asked.
I stood up and brought the backpack with me. "Yes, sir." I said and turned on my heel, walking towards my fathers old 89' mustang. I loved the way it ran, the way the leather smelled of him. I could go visit him, but i would just worry him. Or remind him of mom. I couldn't possibly put him through that pain. I may be heartless now, but he isn't.
I see the police officer through the window watch me pull out and welcome someone in with one of those man hugs. I keep my eyes on the road and drive towards the apartment the judge deemed me fit to own. A lot had happened since the flash of police lights showed up outside of the cement room. Since the man had found me and draped a blanket across my bare body before anybody else came in. Since they sawed through the handcuffs and put me in an ambulance towards UW Medical Center.
I had gotten emancipated since my father was in prison and my mother was dead and I was almost 18. I knew how to take care of my self anyways. I got a job after they found no injuries time couldn't heal and i almost punched my doctor in the face for keeping me there. I hated hospitals. They only caused pain. They only ever hurt my mother and they never helped me. I shift and gun it as Steady As She Goes by Raconteurs plays through the car.

The red door of my apartment swings open after the key goes catches and releases the lock. I step over multiple boxes that have strewn themselves across my apartment. Most of the stuff from the house i threw out except for a few choice items, my clothes, and some of dad's stuff that i figured he'd want when he got out. I set the backpack on the mattress and box spring set and walked over to the fire escape.
I had a pretty spectacular view of Seattle from up here. I was on the fourth floor, so if i sat on the metal fire escape i could see the space needle and the lights of the city. I loved the city. I grew up here. I'm just not a country girl. Don't get me wrong, i can get dirty, But i love the energy here. Sure, it's probably caffeine or alcohol induced energy, but at least it's energy. I pull a cigarette out of my pocket and light it.
I stare at the scenery a little while longer, occasionally taking a drag, the cold wind whipping my black hair around, when a small vibrate in my leather jacket pulls me out of my haze. I picked up the jacket from my old house before going to the police station for final questioning and my things, the things they found at Mr. Jetsons house after they arrested him. I had forgotten that my phone was in my pocket, that I had put my phone in my pocket and set my jacket on the hooks in the front hall before Mr. Jetson knocked on the door. I pushed the thought away quickly and unlocked my phone.
26 missed calls. 8 from the federal detention center in SeaTac. Dad. He probably knows by now. They've had the story running on the news channels at work for weeks, Before i was even found. Butch, my boss, doesn't even care. Every time it comes on, he changes the channel. He only knows because the judge who emancipated me told me she was going to talk to my social worker and 'get put down as a reference'. I think she just wants to make sure i am not having break downs.
7 from school. they know.1 from my brother in paris - he and i don't talk very much. 1 from mom, before she came home.
And 9 from Isabella. She would be worried sick. I opened up a text message with her name at the top.

Me: I'm coming to school tomorrow. I waited for a reply. Literally, 30 seconds later.

Isabella: Oh. My. Fucking. God. where the hell have you been!

Isabella: I mean, i know where you've been, your on the news. Like all the time. I miss you. I can't wait to see you tomorrow! i gotta go to Cody's though, can we talk tomorrow?

Me: Please! don't let me interrupt you too. See you tomorrow.

Isabella and Cody had been dating for a while. And that was before the 56 days in the cement room. I took one last glance out at the city before coming inside, taking off my jacket and shoes, plugging my phone in, and going to bed.