LEIA'S POV:

"So, how did it go? Did you see John?" Marina asks as Stanley and Cole walk into the room. We all agreed to meet up at my house at 5:30.

"No we didn't see Johnny. They wouldn't let us in. they said that only family or legal representatives can see him. So we go pizza. Cole was really into the waitress." Stan replies.
"I can't believe you got pizza!" I say, "Our friend is in a holding cell and you're out eating pizza and hitting on girls!"

"Hey, at least we tried. I didn't see you rushing to see him! Though, I don't think that would do any good, seeing how you think they're his!" he says, his voice rising with every breath.

"Well, they were in his locker. You know how hard it's been on him the past few weeks, with his dad being here and the whole thing with Bryce. Maybe it was too much for him and he snapped. It happens to a lot of people." Marina points out. Good to know someone's on my side.

"No, he won't do that. If he did, we would know. Right Cole?" Stanley says.

"Yeah, he's been having a hard time lately, but he's not that kind of guy." Cole answers.

"I don't want to believe that he's doing drugs, but they found them in his locker. No one knew the code. I think we have to assume that he was taking ZCV's." I tell the boys. I really hate to think that John would do something like this, but what else can I say.

"He did always disappear every Monday for a few hours. Maybe that's went he, when he got the ZCV's. No one knew where he went." Marina adds.

"I can't listen to this anymore." Stan says standing up. Cole gets up to, glancing at Marina. She looks back at him and holds his stare. He breaks their lock and looks down. They leave and I look at Marina and Ella.

"You don't think that the boys are right, do you? That the drugs weren't Johns?" Ella asks in a quiet voice.

"That would be nice," Marina says, "but I just don't see how that can be true."

JOHN'S POV:

"John!" I hear behind me. I turn around and see Brandon.

"I'm so happy you're here." I say.

He sits across from me and looks me in the eye.

"Now, I know the cops side of the story, but I want your side." He tells me.

"I got to school this morning and saw cop cars. I went inside and someone told me they found ZCV's in someone's locker. I saw it was mine and they arrested me. I've been here ever since."

"John, I need to ask you something, and you are going to have to be honest with me. Are the drugs yours?"

"No. I have never used, bought, or sold any kind of drugs."

"I believe you. I just wish that the cops believe you."

"Me too."

"John, is there anything going on that I don't know about? Some reason that anyone would want to get you in trouble?"

I look down to the table. I don't want to tell him about Bryce, but I don't think I have a choice.

"I've been having some trouble with another student, about a girl."

"John, you need to be clearer. Names, actions, dates."

I sigh. "Bryce is mad at me for liking Leia."

"Wait, what?" Brandon says. I tell him the whole story.

"Why didn't you ever tell me any for this?" he asks his voice low.

"I was embarrassed. I should have been able to take care of it by myself."

"John, why do you think you have a Cepen? You're supposed to come to me no matter what the problem is."

"I know that, it's just, I guess I was hoping it would go away on its own."

"John, when Bryce first attacked you, you were in the hospital. That's when you said you got hit by a truck, correct?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Why didn't you go to the hospital Friday?"

"I told Stanley and Cole never to let anyone know. I guess Marina found out and they had her heal me there."

"I'm sorry that you've had to go through this on your own, but now I'm here. It seems like Bryce planted those drugs in your locker like you said."

"Wait, you believe me?"

"Of course John, I know you wouldn't lie to me about this. The issue is getting Officer Larkin to believe that his son is a complete jerk."

"Ha, no chance of that, he think his son is Pitticus Lore himself."

"So, if he doesn't believe you what for you going to do?"

"Go to court and hope for the best I guess."

"Yes, I think that's you only choice. I have to go now, times up. But I'll let your family know what happened."

"Not the part about Bryce and Leia, please."

He nods, understanding how my family would react to that. Finding out that I'm at the police station for having drugs in my locker, was getting beat up by Bryce, and was in love with Leia and that that's what this is all about, might be a little too much for them to find out all in one day. He leaves the room and a few minutes later Larkin walks in.

"So you think that my son did this? I can't believe you would make up a lie like that. I'm ashamed of you." He says.

"You were listening?" I ask, though it's fairly obvious that he was.

"Yes I was. And I don't appreciate you accusing my son of something he would never do. It seems like you're just jealous of him."

"Why would I be jealous? I'm top in my class; I'm captain of most of the sports teams." I say, though as the words leave my mouth I know what he had that I wanted, the only thing that I couldn't have. Leia.

"Young men seem to do anything for a girl." He gets up from his chair and leaves. A guard comes in and takes me to a cell. He tells me that tomorrow I'll be going to court. This is just fantastic, I think, no one but my Cepen believes I'm innocent. I just hope my friends believe me.

STANLEY'S POV:

"So they called you too?" Cole says to me over the phone.

"Yeah, I can't believe that they're putting him on trial tomorrow. It doesn't seem to be enough time."

We are talking about the calls we got about making sure to be at John's trial. The lady on the phone said that we may need to be questioned.

"Marina said that the girls got the same call as we did." He tells me.

"Oh great, with the faith they have in him, he'll be in jail before noon time tomorrow." I can't believe that they think that the ZCV's are his. Bryce probably put them in his locker. He's always been jealous of John.