Just got done reading 'Leaving Paradise' and it's sequel today. Totally recommend it. If you love angst. And love. And drama. But anywho, being the shipper I am, loved the idea of this as a Kogan. I don't own BTR or any similarities to the book. (:

XX

Words can't begin to explain how excited I am. How much I've been waiting for this. It's not every day you get a chance to get out of jail.

Sure, you play Monopoly and only have to roll to get a double or a 'get out of jail' card. But there aren't games at the Minnesota Department of Corrections-Juvenile complex; or DOC as we say.

Don't get your panties in a bunch and gasp or stare. It's not as rough as it is made out to be. Yeah, the male juveniles are tough, but it's nowhere as bad as the inmates at the big boy jail.

Now, onto my story. The one I know you all are dying to hear about.

My name is Kendall Knight. I've been here for a year. I was convicted of hitting a guy with my car while I was stupidly drunk. I tacked on a hit-and-run to that offense as well. Judge didn't like that and gave me three extra months.

"Ready, Kendall?" The guard asked.

I answered with a curt nod of my head. "Yes, sir." And who wouldn't be after three hundred and ten days in here? Fuck yes, I am ready.

Taking a deep and slow breath, I follow Jerry into the room that the committee will adjoin to evaluate me. The other cell block inmates have given me the run down.

Sit up straight. Look remorseful. Act polite. All the good junk.

But then again, they're all still here, so...it obviously wasn't working for them.

The doors open and I feel my fingers twitching. I feel the sweat building beneath my coveralls, socks, even my state-issued underwear. A little smidgen of my brain is telling me to run.

The woman who looks similar to the weird head witch at Hogwarts glares at me from behind her glasses. "Please sit, Kendall." And I do so.

"As you know, we will be evaluating you to see if you are able to leave the facility and begin your life anew."

I nod once more, "Yes, ma'am." I swallow. "I feel I am ready to leave."

The man playing the whole 'bad cop' deal, scoffs and raises a hand. "Hold on there, buddy. We'll just wait to see how this evaluation goes first."

Another nod.

Bad Cop speaks again, while flipping through the folder that had basically every known detail of me as well as my crime. "Relay the night of your crime."

No matter how long I will live, it will always be the worst night of my life. But standing my ground, I exhale and speak as strong as I can. "I was drinking at a friend's party. Drove home and lost control of the wheel. I thought it was an animal I hit or something. When I saw that it was L-a..person, I freaked. I went back to my friend's house."

"Did you know the victim?"

"Yes sir. Logan Mitchell...my neighbor." I didn't think it needed to be added that he was best friends with my brother, Shay.

"You didn't think to help them?"

Shaking my head, I answered. "No. I guess I wasn't thinking clearly at the time."

Witch Lady speaks again, "You guess?"

I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. "If I could go back and change it all, I would. Every little thing."

This went on for a half hour; to the point questions and short but effective answers.

Why was I drinking? Why would I drive? Why leave? Hell, I answered as well as I could, but honestly I don't even know what's right and what's wrong any more. I'm just doing the best that seventeen year old Kendall Knight can do.

If they believe me; I'm going home. If not...well, we all know that outcome.

The final question is if I am set free, will I do anything else to potentially land me back.

"No offense. But I never want to come back here. I made a giant mistake. One that haunts me all day and night and I know it will continue to do so. Just please..let me go back home."

I'm damn near begging.

I am then told to step into the hall as the committee debates my freedom status.

Sitting in the plastic chair as my knee bounces up and down, Jerry speaks. "Don't worry. Even if you don't win them over, you'll get another chance in a few months from now."

I give a small roll of the eyes as a reply. I think this dude wants me here. More work for him. Ass.

Finally after what seems like a day and a half, but is really twenty-five minutes, the door is opened and Witch Lady sticks her head out, telling me to return.

I don't argue and I make my way back into the dark, ominous room.

After I sit, it's a few moments of ungodly tense silence before Bad Cop opens his mouth. "We all agree that actions of last years surrounding the incident were reprehensible."

'No shit.' I think.

Bad Cop folds his hands and looks at me. "But we also believe that it was an isolated incident never to be repeated. Due to your demonstrations of positive leadership with inmates and hard determination of given jobs...we are allowing you to be released. You will finish out your sentence with one hundred and fifty hours of mandatory community service."

My eyes widen as my jaw drops just slightly. "I'm leaving this place?"

Nodding, he confirms. "You'll meet your transition coach in the morning. He'll begin to arrange your service duties and he will report back to us on your progress; good and bad."

"Keep in mind, Mr. Knight. If you screw up. Your coach can and will petition the judge to bring you back here. Are we clear?"

"Crystal."

Ten minutes later, I'm back in my cell. Only other person here at the moment is the new kid. A twelve year old who still cries non-stop.

Normally, I'd feel bad. But maybe he should have thought of that before he buried his father's hunting knife into an innocent girl's back after she turned him down to the spring dance.

Rolling my eyes, I ask. "Are you ever gonna stop your crying?"

At first, I get no response. And from the way his face is in his pillow, I think I go unheard. Until I hear a slightly muffled voice. "I hate it here. I wanna go home."

I scoff and sit on my bunk to put my work boots on. Ahh, dumpster duty. Such a pleasure that I will be ending tomorrow. "Me too, kid. But you're stuck here. Might as well suck it up because crying will get you nowhere."

He finally sits up and wipes a hand across his chubby face, his red hair pointing every which way. "How long have you been in here?"

"Almost a year."

Apparently that was a trigger because he's right back in his pillow.

Ozzy, another cellmate walks in and scoffs loudly. "Dude, if that kid doesn't shut it, I'll kill him. Haven't slept for three nights."

New Kid's cries slow, but the sniffling continues.

"Oz, give him a break."

"You're too soft, Kendall. Gotta toughen the little ones up. Know who's boss."

I give a dry chuckle. "To be like you? Don't take this the wrong way, but you'd scare Dahmer."

Anyone within a five mile radius could tell Ozzy wasn't a typical nice guy. Tattoos from neck to toe, buzzed head, well over six feet. Even his mother appeared to be intimidated on visiting days.

"So." Ozzy changes the subject at hand. "You leaving this hellhole?"

"Yep. Tomorrow."

He leans against the cement wall. "Lucky sonofabitch. Goin' back to that little town with a weird-ass name?"

"Palmwoods? Yeah."

"So I'll be here with cry baby? Ain't that a bitch." He glares at New Kid. If I hadn't grown accustomed to Ozzy, I'd be just as scared.

"I'll give you the number to my cousin in San Fran, if you ever need a change of scenery."

I nod. "Thanks, man."

Shaking a head at New Kid, Ozzy gives one final goodbye before he leaves the cell.

I lean over and tap the kid's shoulder to which he scrambles away, obviously spooked.

"I won't hurt you. It's time for group. Your ass is in trouble if you're late. No exceptions."

The chubby redhead scurries out and I lay back on my bed to kill a few minutes before I'm called for work. Putting my arms behind my head, I sigh deeply.

Tomorrow, I'm getting the fuck out of here. No more group. No more cellmates. No more shitty food. No more cleaning out dumpsters.

'I'm going home.'

XX

Hope you liked it.