Maya swallowed as she felt the cold metal around her wrists. She felt the police officers hand on her shoulder. They both waited until someone came to the door.
A few minutes later Katie opened the door. "Can I help-" She stopped mid way and looked her sister in the eyes. The three people heard a crash coming from the kitchen and Katie turned around to see her mother as she dropped a dinner plate.
"Maya Anne Matlin!" Maya's mom said as she wheeled over to the door. "What on Earth is going on here?"
Maya looked at the ground and Katie cross her arms.
"May I come in?" The police officer asked.
"Of course." Katie said as she stepped out of the doorway.
The police officer walked over to the family room with Maya and quickly followed by Katie and Mrs. Matlin.
"I found your daughter in a parked vehicle with a boy from a family wanted for growing marihuana. I also found this in her purse." The officer put a the bag Jake had given to her earlier in the week.
Katie put a hand over her mouth and Mrs. Matlin stared at her daughter.
"Since she is under 18 I'm giving you a warning. However, this will be reported to your school along with being writing on your permeant record and will show up on any background checks."
Maya briefly looked up at her sister and mother. To her surprise her mother seemed more calm than Katie.
"Katie take your sister into the kitchen I would like to have a word with the officer."
Katie did as she was told and the officer un-cuffed Maya.
"Now I'm very sorry about this I will tell you right now that this will never happen again."
"Do you have any idea on why this might of happened? Any other history that would give a reason to why this happened?"
Mrs. Matlin sighed. "I'm sure you heard about the local suicide attempt by a student from Degrassi Community that took place a few weeks ago?"
The officer nodded.
"My daughter, Maya, that was her boyfriend who attempted suicide. I understand that is no excuse but part of why I'm telling you this is to get your opinion on whether you think it would be appropriate to sign her up for counseling so she could talk to someone."
"I'm no expert on that but I would suggest that would be wise. Also it would be good if she has a drug addiction."
Mrs. Matlin nodded. "Okay I will set up weekly appointments starting tomorrow." Mrs. Matlin paused and looked towards the kitchen. "Thank you very much for bringing her home. I can assure you this will never happen again."
After the officer left Mrs. Matlin let out a deep breath.
"You've become someone else Maya!" Katie snapped. "I mean you're acting different, dressing different..." Katie let out a deep breath. "It's like your trying to be someone else. You're not fooling anyone Maya! So stop trying to! You're making yourself look like a friggin fool! And it makes me so angry because I know you are so much better than this! You're throwing your life away if you continue to act like this! Do you want to be like Cam?"
Maya quickly looked up at her sister.
"He has to get his life back on track and who knows how long that may take? No one will ever look at him the same ever again!" Katie paused an grabbed her phone. "Not the mention this?!" Katie showed Maya the video that one of the guys had posted. "You're turing into a slut Maya! When will you start to wake up and realize that? You may think that all of this is fine because of what happened to Cam but it's not! This is still real life so wake up and stop acting stupid!"
"Maya, a word." Mrs. Matlin said as she wheeled into the kitchen.
Maya left Katie standing alone in the kitchen and Maya followed her mother back to the family room.
"What happened?" Mrs. Matlin asked.
"I just wanted to move on from Cam but-"
Mrs. Matlin sighed. "Sweetie, I know what you went through was very difficult. I can't even being to imagine what you're feeling. But I want you to understand what you did was wrong."
"I get that I do! It's just Jake called me a baby and Zig-"
"Jake? What does he have to do with this?"
Maya shook her head. "Nothing."
"Look Maya, I'm more focused on that you're home and safe. But you need to understand your actions are not acceptable."
Maya nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I miss him Mom."
Mrs. Matlin sighed.
"I don't know what I was thinking. I thought Ryan could replace Cam but he couldn't. No one can. If I just did something when I saw his cuts none of this would have happened."
"Shh. This isn't your fault Maya. Campbell was sick. Sometimes people get sick and it's very hard for them to feel better. But you know it is possible. He has a very caring family it seems and they eliminated the source of the problem now all he needs is time."
"But sometimes time is what hurts the most." Maya said. "I wake up every morning wishing he was here in Toronto but he's not and he never will be again."
"I know it seems like it's the end of the word but trust me it's not. We all go through ups and downs. And right now you're in the down. But the more you focus on the ups. You'll be on the tip top before you know it."
Maya sniffled. "Why are you being so nice?"
"Because, sitting here screaming at you while you're crying isn't going to do a single thing besides make you more upset. It's important that you realize what you did was wrong and I think you know it was."