Disclaimer: I do not own the show Law and Order SVU or characters, all rights go to Dick Wolf.
Chapter 1
"Amanda Rollins you're late again! This is your senior year, when are you going to get it together?" Amanda's best friend Kim Greylek looked at their math teacher and back at Amanda bracing herself for the comeback. She knew her best friend was doing everything she could to survive at this point. Amanda was smart and math was her thing. She laughed, "I'll get it together when you get man and off my fucking back." The whole class erupted into laughter except Kim. She knew nothing was funny. "Get out of my sight and go to the office! Now!"
Amanda winked at Kim and smiled. Kim tried to help her best friend, but Amanda always wanted to do things on her own. Amanda went to the office and sat in the chair. The secretary Mrs. Paxton just rolled her eyes. Everyone knew Amanda and not because of anything good. She took pleasure picking up the phone, "Ms. Donnelly, your star student is here." She smirked at Amanda while listening to whatever the hard nose principal had to say.
Amanda wasn't scared of anything, she had been through too much and only her best friend knew. The door swung open and she saw her principal come out, "Miss Rollins, my office now." Amanda knew better than to sass Ms. Donnelly. She was a real bitch and Amanda thought she looked for anything to suspend her. She knew the suspension was coming. Amanda pushed the limits all the time. She was either late to class or wouldn't show at all. She cursed at teachers if they tried to play her.
All of the notices to return to school after serving her discipline would come back signed. No one knew she was signing them and no one knew Amanda was on her own, just Kim. "Well let's start from where the problem started. Why were you late again?" Amanda couldn't tell her she was gambling at an illegal underground ring. It was the one thing her no good father taught her that helped her survive. "I overslept." That wasn't a lie. On the nights Kim didn't sneak into her home, Amanda was sleeping in abandoned buildings.
She had no one and had been on her own since 15. The gambling gave her money and lots of it. She also worked at a diner. She had savings for college plans. It's the only reason she gambled. "Look Ms. Donnelly, I really don't need your lectures, just suspend me and send me on my way." Amanda smiled and Ms. Donnelly hated that. "Oh I have bigger plans for you. No getting out of school this time." Amanda was worried, she started thinking, "She can't expel me for that."
The phone beeped, "Yes Mrs. Paxton?" Ms. Donnelly twisted in her comfy rolling desk chair, "Detectives Benson and Tutuola are here to see you and Ms. Novak. Should I send them to her office or are you done with your star student?" Amanda rolled her eyes and said, "Bitch" under her breath. She hated being called that. Ms. Donnelly's face reacted to Amanda's words. "I'm coming now. Let's go! Follow me and grab your bag."
Amanda stood up and walked behind her principal. She shook hands with the detectives. "Hi I'm Detective Benson and this is Detective Tutuola. We spoke on the phone. Is this the student." Amanda's eyes shot up and she saw a tall brunette with perfectly tanned skin standing with a light skinned black man. She thought she was a model. A super hot model and began to stare. "Damn!" Ms. Donnelly swung her head around, "You're asking for it." Olivia saw her looking at her. The guy looked like a rapper. She giggled to herself a little too loud, because when Ms. Donnelly turned around again, it wasn't funny. "No, this is another problem of mine."
They all walked down the long hallway, before stopping at the empty room. Amanda looked at the door and said, "Hell fucking no!" Both detectives and Ms. Donnelly looked at her, "Excuse me young lady!" Amanda looked at Detective Benson, who gave her a stern look, worse than Donnelly ever could. Amanda felt something she never felt, fear. Detective Tutuola was trying not to laugh. "In school suspension will be your home for the next week. You report to me at 7:00 and I will dismiss you when I have checked all of your classwork and homework for the day. If you're late we keep adding days." She moved really close to her face, "If you keep playing with me, you could spend the rest of your high school career in this room."
She opened the door and continued to get in Amanda's ass. Olivia looked at Fin, "That kid looks really familiar. Remember that gambling ring?" Fin shook his head, "The girl you were chasing with blonde hair. Liv she's kid and a badass one at that. She's a brat and wouldn't know a gambling ring if it hit her in the face." Liv shrugged, you're probably right." Fin laughed, "I know you two have eyes for each other. That "damn" was for you. I saw her checking you out." Olivia rolled her eyes. Ms, Donnelly headed out, "Sorry the girl is with our counselor Ms. Novak." Liv and Fin were there to take a statement. They hated these calls the most. These were kids who should be safe at home and they weren't.
When they were leaving Liv looked and saw the girl again. "Ms. Donnelly, what's her name?" Ms. Donnelly looked to make sure she was working, "Amanda, Amanda Rollins." The door was cracked and Amanda could hear them. Ms. Donnelly continued, "She's bright, but she's also dumb. She hates me, but she wouldn't dare disrespect me the way she disrespects her teachers. Any other kid I would have expelled by now. Honestly she's one of my favorites, but don't tell her. She thinks I'm not aware, but she's on her own." Liv listened carefully. Her mom split lives in Atlanta somewhere. She was with her dad and an aunt. Dad went to jail, was stabbed and killed. She signs her aunt's name on everything, but she overdosed six months ago. I worry about her when she's not here."
Liv looked at Fin and didn't think he was correct anymore. Tears fell down Amanda's face knowing that her hard nose principal figured her out. She wasn't as smart as she thought. She wasn't fooling her and she realized she really cared. "Why haven't you contacted Child Protective Services?" Amanda's heart began beating faster. "She's 18, legally nothing to be done."
They left the school, "Fin, I think that's the girl I was chasing. I hope she doesn't go back. If she's 18 and picked up, that's serious jail time." Fin looked at her, "Wow Liv!" Olivia looked, "What? I think we should wait and I should give her a warning." Fin just stared at his partner, "You know, tell her don't gamble, because jail is a real thing." Fin laughed, "Sure Liv. Whatever you want." They sat for 20 minutes and then she came out with a tall blonde.
Olivia went to get out of the car. "Amanda, hold on!" Kim and Amanda stopped. "I want to ask you something?" Amanda didn't say anything, but listened. "If you are gambling you better stop." Amanda didn't blink, but Kim's reaction and face told Olivia everything she needed to know. "I swear you look just like a kid I was chasing last week during a bust. And yes you look like a kid, but if you're 18, it could mean trouble. If you're in trouble, here I can try to help."
Olivia gave Amanda her card. Amanda threw it down and walked off. Kim picked it up, "I'll make sure she keeps it." Kim looked at the card, "Thank you Detective Benson." Olivia walked back and got into the car. "She's really young Liv." Olivia rolled her eyes, "It's her, the one I was chasing! I don't know what it is. I'm drawn to her. Just have my back ok?" Fin looked at her, "Always Liv!"