Officer Ross looked confused. Polly just looked at me, wondering where this was going. I smiled. I finally had my way out of here. Unfortunately, the best case scenario got me out of here the day we had to leave for our next concert. There still was no word on progress about finding Nat.
"Well…the evidence found on that boa could have been there for any amount of time, I guess. Why do you ask?"
"Because I just remembered how my DNA got on that boa. It was my first prom. I was sitting next to Nat, because we both got ditched by our dates, not that either of us cared. My hands were kind of sweaty, cause I was nervous. I mean, I was sitting next to the most handsome guy in the world, and we had just danced together. I was nervous because I thought it might have finally been going somewhere. As we're sitting there, a pink boa floats down and brushes my shoulder. I pick it up and look at it, and a girl comes over and says that she'll take it, because it's her boa. That boa that I picked up that night was the same boa that you used to help arrest me."
"Can you give us a name, so that we can look into this claim, please?" I told them the name. Officer Ross got up to leave, saying that Polly and I had a few more minutes to discuss our plans, and then I was to return to my cell.
"That was fantastic, Rosalina! Now that's something we can work with to prove your innocence!"
"Thanks, Polly." I said, not able to contain my smile. "I don't know what brought on the sudden memory, but it just hit me. The only thing that I don't get is how she would have known about my sidekick costume."
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. I'll go tell the band the good news. And if I hear anything about Nat, I'll make sure to tell you when next I come, which will be whenever they find out whether you're telling the truth or not." I almost got offended, but then I remembered that we were dealing with the police, and that they had to check everything.
"Thanks for everything, Polly."
"It's what I'm here for. I'm just glad to finally be working, though I wish it weren't under these circumstances, of course."
"I understand. Well, I guess I'll see you soon enough."
"Bye, Rosalina, and best of luck to you." She said as she walked out. I was escorted through the building again, but instead of going to my cell, I was taken to the visitor room.
"Miss Tai, you have a visitor." I went in and saw Alex sitting at the table. He got up, ran over to me, and jumped into my arms, giving me a hug. The guards stepped forward, but backed off when I hugged him and told them it was ok.
"Alex, what are you doing here?"
"I had to come and see you. I miss you."
"I miss you, too, Alex. But you've got to keep hanging in there. I'll be out soon enough. We have something that may have helped my case."
"That's awesome! How are they treating you?"
"Alright, I guess. I mean, just because I'm Rosalina Tai doesn't change that I'm a prisoner. But they treat me well enough."
"That's good."
"Yeah. You behaving yourself?"
"Have I ever before?"
"You usually try."
"That's only cause you're around." He said, laughing. I tousled his hair.
"Well I'll be back really soon, so you better get ready to go back to behaving, understand?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Well, I better go. Cooper wants to do another rehearsal. He said that even with two band members out, he wants us to stay tight. He said it's what you both would want."
"He knows me well, then. See you later, Alex." I said, giving him another hug. He hugged me tightly back, and then left. Now I was escorted back to my cell. The next day, nothing really happened. What would Cooper do if we had to push the tour back any more? I went to the bars, hoping to see a guard.
"Excuse me!" I said, trying to get the attention of the nearby guard. He came over.
"Yes?"
"I know it's a little unusual, but would it be possible for me to get a newspaper? I want to see what's going on outside."
"I'll see what I can do, but I make you no promises. That usually is not allowed."
"Thank you." I said, going back to sit on my cot. A few hours later, I was brought today's paper. I checked the headline, first.
ROSALINA TAI ARRESTED
Almost a week ago, the police were seen flying down the streets of Bloomington. Of course, this reporter wanted to find out why? Apparently they were going to investigate the matter of a kidnapping. Not just any kidnapping, though, but the kidnapping of Nat Wolff, lead singer of the Naked Brothers Band. Following up on this, there has been an arrest made. Miss Rosalina Tai has been arrested for involvement. Rosalina, former bassist and current guitarist alongside Qaasim Middleton, refused to make any comments as she was escorted to the squad car in handcuffs. We have yet been unable to reach any of the band members for comment about the kidnapping and the arrest. However, we did catch up with NBB insider, Matt Pinfield, who shares his speculations.
"Yeah, I always knew that tensions were high between Nat and Rosalina. How could they not be, after she dumped him and then he immediately went out to find a new girlfriend, finding love with Kristina Reyes? I guess Rosalina wasn't too happy with getting a taste of her own medicine."
I went on to ask if he truly believed Rosalina to be guilty.
"There's not a shred of doubt in my mind. Nobody else has the motive, or the means. Only a member of the band could have gotten close enough to Nat to grab him. That lazy fatty is always too close. But I guess we'll just have to leave to the jury to decide. How will they decide? I think I know." Matt told us, unable to resist doing his signature laugh for us.
I turned the page, not being able to read any more of that. So now people would be reading that Matt Pinfield believed me to be guilty of helping kidnap Nat. Hopefully nobody believed him. I had enough problems with the fans as it was. I decided to go read my horoscope, just for fun.
Your enemies are everywhere, and your fate stands on the edge of a knife. Tread carefully, or you'll lose that which you hold dearest. Confrontation is both friend and foe today. Avoid the color pink today unless absolutely necessary.
Well, that was a comforting horoscope. Almost as comforting as the one Alex got that day we won our first VMA for Banana Smoothie. Avoiding pink would be easy. Not a lot of pink in prison. It did kind of upset me, though. I mean, pink was my color. When I wrestled with Nat, I was Pinky the Girly Girl, though I don't think they thought of me as a girly girl after I took Nat down in two seconds. The guard came back.
"Miss Tai, a visitor." Geez was I popular in here. Which member of the band came to see me today? We went to the visiting room, and I sat down, waiting for my visitor.
"I wondered how long it would take you to catch on to my boa. I actually expected more from you, Rosalina."
I turned to the door and found myself facing one of the four people I hated the most in the world.
And my horoscope made sense.
Avoid pink, she was wearing all pink.
Enemies are everywhere. And here she is.
Confrontation is friend or foe. This could go either way.
I looked into her eyes, trying to decide how to handle this.
But it was hard not to get mad at her.
How I hated that Patrice Johnson.
