Act I, Scene IV

There is no chance of getting anymore sleep tonight, even though the promise of the weekend's late mornings are still calling me to my pillow. The words of the text are still swirling down my spine as I quickly dress in whatever's available. I end up in some dance sweats, my pink pajama tank, and some converse that I can swear were last worn when I was in the seventh grade. Calling Yugi was the first thing I did after reading the chilling words; that Angeline is in the hospital. It was like a reflex. And now he and his grandfather Solomon are waiting for me in the driveway of my house.

The sky is just beginning to blue around its edges and the morning air is un-breathed. But the wind that comes washes away the sweet sounds of larks and chirps, bringing with it a tension that chills me with breezy splinters. I can't even find the rumble of Solomon's old Toyota Camry in the coarse gust, or see that Yugi is waving me over to the car. The breeze runs its fingers through my hair. In my ear, the wind stows away a scream that no one heard. Angeline's.

"Tea, c'mon!" calls Yugi. I tear away from the wind and hop into the backseat. Compared to Yugi and Solomon, I look like a mess. A complete and total bum. Sometimes I have to wonder if the Muto family has something against wearing pajamas to bed, because they look like they've been dressed and ready to go since forever. Yet the there is another presence in the car that seems to be as distressed I am. Maybe not in appearance, because he doesn't quite have one, but in spirit. Yami is also wide-awake. Now, I'm not his aibou like Yugi, but his energy here in this confined space is certainly hard to miss. I can imagine him pacing back and forth inside the maze of his Millennium Puzzle. Because something is wrong. Something it out of place. And if it has Yami startled, then that something is not likely to be a natural something.

"I'm so sorry to have woke you." I say shyly. "I mean, after I got off the phone with you, I called Tristan for a ride but of course he didn't pick up."

"He's probably just sleeping." Solomon reassures me.

"Yeah. And it's ok, Tea. You sounded so frightened on the phone, of course we had no problem coming over here to pick you up."

"Thanks." I breathe, sinking into the leather. "I just… wish I knew where to go from here."

My words aren't meant to be heard, but I can tell they've picked up on them.

"Me too." chuckles Solomon. "Where am I taking you again?"

"The hospital."

"Hm? What happened?"

The car swerves around as he corrects his direction. I'm never really comfortable when Yugi's grandpa is driving, and that only adds to my bouncing nerves. There's just something I feel I need to be worrying about while under Solomon's outdated driving skills.

"Oh… my friend, she's been hurt." and that's the end of it. I don't want to say anymore about Angeline or what's been going on. I wouldn't even know where to start if I were to explain it all. I adore Solomon and I lo- I mean like Yugi. As a friend. Damn Freudian slips. Anyways, right now my words feel like razors in my throat and I don't want them to get cut. Yugi catches on to the easily swayed tangle of emotions that are all wrapped around me. He leans his head over his shoulder like he's listening to something Yami has to say. He nods, looks at me through the rearview mirror, and shoves his look away.

We arrive at the hospital around six in the morning. Summer and Hayden are already there waiting at the front desk. The moment they see me pass through the doors, they're running to me. Summer looks like she's been crying. Her eyes hint with red and her cheeks shimmer where only tears can fall. Hayden is more reserved and probably because he's just as much a friend to Angeline as I am. I'm sure he just came to be Summer's crying shoulder.

"Hey." I take Summer into my arms. Don't ask me how or why, but she's Angeline's best friend. I know I'd want someone to be there for me if one of my friends were in the hospital, even if that someone wasn't so fond of me or my friend.

"Have you been in to see her?" I ask.

"Yeah." Hayden rubs his head. "They just kicked us out because the cops finally got here. But we can go back in shortly they said."

"The cops? Just what exactly happened?"

"We don't know." Summer shakes her head worriedly. "She claims it was just an accident; that she was just dancing around in her room with a friend when she tripped. But the doctors disagree. They said her story doesn't match up with the medical evidence. And I… oh, Tea, just wait until you see her for yourself. It's awful."

She begins fanning away any tears that wish to escape, and Hayden squeezes her to his side. Yugi extends a hand to my shoulder where there is an immediate comfort there. I turn to him and our silence speaks for everything. We want to say we saw this coming, that we were going to stop it. But we hadn't thought it'd happen so quickly. Just this morning, Angeline was- well, I won't say she was fine…- but she was standing her ground. She was just trying to investigate whatever's been going on with her and it lead her to me, pinned against a row of steel lockers, and her flame-throwing accusations at my head.

A nurse who has clearly downed a bottle of Prozac flitters toward us. She's light on her feet and full of silicon and hairpins. It's like I'm seeing Angeline in some twenty or so years.

"Are you all here for miss Everstone?"

"Yes. Is she alright?" Summer leaps at the question.

"She's stable. But the detectives have allowed you all to come back in, so long as you don't mind them asking you a few questions."

"No problem."

I don't want Yugi to leave my side. So far, he's the only thing tying me down. Usually it's his presence that causes my nerves to pounce and my heart to stutter, but now I need his touch to keep me being me. He nods to his grandpa, who has no qualms about sitting down with some Reader's Digest, and catches me and the others down the hall.

An elevator lift and two corners later, Yugi and I are standing in the midst of Angeline's doorway. Suddenly I am not so eager to see her. I'm not quite sure I ever was in the first place. The amount of people in the room is one thing, especially taking into account that two of them are detectives, but it's more of the damage that arouses my sudden hesitation. What if Angeline is unrecognizable? What if there's blood or really grotesque looking wounds? What if she doesn't want to see me? Or what if she's all in casts and bandages? Would that be my fault because I knew something was bound to happen? Is my failure to say something the reason for her being here?

There is conversation coming from the room. From what I can make out, there's Summer who's babying her, Hayden who's just watching, the two detectives, and Angeline's mother. I see her wrinkled hand clasped over Angeline's. That's how I know it's her mother; because that's what my mother never did for me in my times of need. Yugi and I stay just outside the door. I'm starting to map my exit route out of the hospital by looking around and trying to remember where we came from. I want to leave. There really isn't anything more that I want in this moment than that. Coming here was a mistake and now I'm feeling it beginning to weigh in my stomach.

"I already told you," Angeline's toxic growls rise above all else. "Nothing else happened. I tripped! My head banged against my dresser and I pulled on the curtains to stop my fall."

"Yes, we know, Angeline. We're not saying we don't believe you. But what about the girl? Who was your friend? We need her to corroborate your claim."

"She's just some girl. Ok?"

"Angeline," her mother's voice coos, "these detectives are trying to help you. Please, honey, they need a name."

"You're going to arrest her, aren't you? You think she attacked me?" her words are feisty, but I only register a hopeless desperation.

"The doctors say your story doesn't match up with your injuries, miss Everstone. Now, when your mom called the police, the investigation of your room also brought up some pretty troubling questions. Like, how did your closet doors get smashed in? Where was your friend when the ambulance and police arrived? Why didn't your parents see or hear anyone leave the house? How come you didn't tell anyone you'd be having a friend over? We need to know who and where she is, Angeline. If she did something to you, you have to let us know so we can fix this."

A silence follows. I'm hoping that Angeline comes clean. I don't care anymore if she has the lead role. I don't care if the lead role is my favorite, most desired role ever. I don't mind being in the background if it means Angeline is safe in the spotlight. This isn't fair what's happened and somehow I can't help but feel that it's my fault. No one should end up in the hospital over a role in a ballet.

I'm looking ardently into the room now, waiting for the girl's identity to be revealed. Between the detectives' rounded bellies, I find a glimpse of Angeline. She's sitting up in the bed with her bedside mother growing older at the sight of her daughter so troubled. There's a whole patch of her silky, blonde hair missing. In its place there is only a pink scalp encrusted with dry blood. The side of her head is red with shock and purple with pain. One of her eyes is bulged and beat. It's like someone has chalked white and red dots on a lump of coal. Fleshly reds and violets trace around her neck in the portrait of fingers. The rest of her is covered in gauze and blankets. I'm not looking to see much else anyways.

But she's looking at me with eyes so cold that I am frozen within myself. I do not, can not, move.

"Her." she snaps, more so with her pointing finger than anything else. "She knows the girl. She's the one who told her to come to my house. And the boy too. It wouldn't be the first time either."

The husky detectives orbit around until they're facing me in the hallway. I back slightly into Yugi, stepping on his shoes, and he tries to steady me. Can't say it's working though, because my skin is wiggling with nerves. I'm literally about to pee myself I am so scared right now.

"And your names are?" the taller of the two men steps closer to me.

"T-Tea, sir. Tea Gardner. And th-this is my friend Yugi Muto."

"Yugi Muto?" the other detective jumps. "Wait, wait, wait- King of games, Yugi Muto?"

Yugi and I both nod modestly, hoping his celebrity gets us a "stay-out-of-jail-free" card.

"Well I'll be. This sure is my lucky night!"

His partner nudges him harshly and he coughs up a serious appearance.

"I mean," he clears his throat, "if you don't mind, we'd like to you ask you both a few questions."

"Right now?" I squeak.

"Yes. How about we go for a little ride? We'll call your parents and they should be able to pick you up at the station."

"Oh…. Ok."

Do we really have much of a choice?

A ride in a detective's car isn't as bad as a ride in a police car. Not that I know what it's like to be in the back of a police car. I'm just saying. They've penned down our names and addresses, our birthdates and phone numbers. Yugi's grandpa just followed the car to the police station and waits for us outside the interrogation room. Oh my gosh. It feels horrible just to be thinking that I'm in here. The interrogation room. Ugh!

But what's even worse is that I can't be with Yugi for this. He's in another room, probably just as nervous as I am. The thing about Yugi, though, is that he's entirely innocent. I, on the other hand, knew that something was going on with Angeline. Yugi probably doesn't even know her last name. And that just brings me down further. Like dragging him to ballet class that one day, I feel pretty guilty about doing it.

"So, miss Gardner, how do you know Angeline Everstone?"

"We go to school together. She's also in my ballet class."

"So, you two are close?"

"Not really. We only talk when she wants to copy my homework or asks what we did at a ballet rehearsal she missed."

"Hmph. I see. Then do you know the girl Angeline was hanging around with last night? Perhaps it was a fellow classmate or dancer."

"No, sir. It's not really any of my business what she does after school."

"Well, Tea, we believe Angeline was attacked last night by a girl she says you and your boyfriend know. She says you sent her to her house. Now, we want to know if this is true. And if it is, why."

I don't want to talk about Angeline. I want to go home and crawl back in bed like Kuriboh curls up into a ball. I'd rather be in another life or death duel in the shadow realm than to be here with this detective's double chins jiggling every time his tone accuses me of something. I know just as much about what happened to Angeline as he does and I'm too exhausted to try and work with him.

Without an instantaneous reply, he slips me the photos of the crime scene. I assume the wreckage is Angeline's room. The curtains are torn, the closet doors are bashed, and the tangle of clothes and blankets on the floor insinuates there was a struggle. But all I really see are all the trophies along her shelves. Most of them are for ballet and dance competitions. Every blue ribbon that I've ever competed for is thumb-tacked around her vanity. Practically all the victorious certificates I've prepared picture frames for are staring condescendingly from her lilac walls. All the trophies and medals I've drooled over are arranged along shelves and nightstands around her room.

Suddenly I'm glad her eye is as black as this day is turning out to be.

"Angeline came to me during school today. She seemed pretty upset; angry, mostly, and pushed me against some lockers. She said I was playing a prank on her, sending one of my friend's to scare her out of the main role in the ballet our dance company is performing. It was because my friends and I do a lot of studying on Ancient Egypt, and that's where the girl who attacked her was supposed to be from. But I swear I had no idea what she was talking about. I didn't want anyone to hurt her, but I knew something strange was going on. That's all I know, sir. That's all I know."

"Tea," he leans in real close to me, "do you know anyone who would want to harm her? Anyone who bullies her at school?"

She is the bully at school. Almost everyone who knows her wants to hurt her in some way or form. But how do I say that to the guy investigating me for her assault? Do I even say it all?

But I don't have to answer because my mom is barging in the room. She toddles in her spindly high-heels and swings her purse over her shoulder like a real diva.

"This interview is over." she says between gum chews. "C'mon, Tea, we're going home now."

"Ma'am, if I could please just have a few more minutes with your daughter? A girl was assaulted and I'd really like to know who so I can bring them to justice." He's not asking a question.

"Are you charging her with something?"

"W-well... no. Not yet."

"Then I'm sorry, sir, but she's not yet eighteen. Until she is, she needs me or a lawyer present if you badged folk want to talk to her. Now if you'll excuse us, we're leaving. You have a nice day now."

She tugs at my arm and forces me to follow behind her. We pass by Yugi and his grandpa who apparently have been let out already. They probably couldn't get much information out of him anyways.

"Tea, what's going on?" he speedily strides alongside me and my mom.

"I have no idea. They don't seem to buy Angeline's story about tripping, though. Someone had to have attacked her."

"Purposely?"

"Is there any other way?"

"Tea!" my mom caws.

"Sorry. I gotta go. Bye, Yugi."

Mom pretty much drags me out of the police station while I can only stare back at Yugi. With his shoulders slumped and his eyes big, it breaks my heart that I have to leave him like this. He raced to pick me up this morning and is always there for me. This is how I repay him?

Mom and I don't talk much in the car. We don't talk much in general. She smells like alcohol and sweat, and I'm pretty sure there's a tinge of marijuana in the mix. But she doesn't drink- unexpectedly- so she can't be trashed. When I look at her under the passing street lights, I like to pretend she's scolding me. You know, like a good old tearing-you-down session. "I'm disappointed in you, Tea" or "what the hell were you thinking", I imagine her saying. But because we hardly talk to eachother at all, I have to improvise her voice because I don't remember what it actually sounds like. I pretend her lipstick isn't red enough to make the stop signs jealous, and that her eye shadow glitter doesn't reflect the entire city's lights. I envision her work uniform isn't as short and it buttons up her breasts.

"So… am I, like, grounded?" I finally say.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, sure. No TV for a week."

Well, gee. I guess that would be a pretty big deal if I actually watched TV at home. I guess she's giving this parenting thing a try, so I'll give the daughter thing a try.

"But mom!" I feign a whine. "That's so not fair! I haven't even done anything."

"Then why'd the police call me saying I need to pick you up? I was with some very important clients, boo. I don't get it. Are you doing this for attention or something?"

"No. It's all just a misunderstanding."

But that's as far as we get in this role-playing thing of ours. She doesn't care much for the truth because she can tell it's not all that entertaining. I honestly feel like the adult in our relationship. She's an exotic dancer, I'm a ballet dancer. I'm in the top of my class, she's a high school drop out. The only thing we really have in common is our shoe size.

I sigh, fiddling around with anything doesn't annoy her too much. The car lock has gotten boring, so then I move on to braiding and unbraiding strands of my hair. The day has finally begun with the sun's unwelcome arrival. It forces rays over the horizon and spews them into my dreary eyes. We reach a merge lane and mom asks me to look and see if it's ok to go. So I lean to the window, watch a few cars pass, and give her the all clear. I'm checking the mirrors repeatedly, glancing from one to another to make sure there's no one behind us or next to us. But there is someone behind us; a pair of dark, unblinking eyes, rimmed with black.

Mom slams on the breaks.

End Chapter

I'm not very good at these cliffhangers or keeping you interested in reading this story, am I? Well, sorry. So instead, I've prepared my personal guarentee that in the next chapter, stuff's about to get serious. 'Kay, thanks, bye.