Sydney
The skateboard crunched on the cracked gravel of the road as I went down the street coming home from the Break Room.
I stopped and kicked up the skateboard as soon as I had saw the flashing neon strobe light.
I rolled my eyes, sighed and sauntered off down the road, board in tow, towards the usual massive party raving in my house, my yard, my driveway and the street in front of the flat.
The neighbors had obviously left, most likely caused by the volume level of the music and the excessive, laughter, shouts and screams coming from the rave, since none of their cars were in their driveways and were replaced by those of the invited and the invited of the real invited.
I marched past Dom who was sucking face with Rebecca Contour at the side of the house and climbed up the emergency stairs, ignoring the party completely.
I tossed my skate board into the window leading into my bathroom and next, my guitar, being extra gentle with it of course. And lastly, I threw my self in.
I tumbled over and, a bit dizzy, stood up and entered my room.
I took in the familiar smell of Funyuns and Coca Cola.
Magnus, squealed from his cage and Maks Russell woofed and pawed at my legs, next to him sat Risk, who licked his paw calmly.
I pat their heads and walk into my room and flop onto my bed and stare up at my poster-lined ceiling.
I exhale.
It's been two more of those Iggy-less weeks. But I've been doing okay. He's called a couple of times from NYC where they believe Itex has been regrouping.
I sigh. Sometimes it feels like this isn't real, but I keep on having to remember it is, and that I have to keep my guard up.
My fractured foot had heeled with time and I stared at the framed newspaper on the wall, from the interview. And then my gaze flits to the tapes Aunt Rhonda had recorded.
Speaking of her, as soon as we got back she burst into tears. She said she had seen the news at work and that she had tried to get a flight out because, dammit, that was her niece, but all flights were already over booked.
As far as all of my friends parents, as soon as the interviews were done all I could hear was the loud ringing of cell phones with upset parents on the other end.
My phone rings from my nightstand, breaking me from my thoughts, which I find odd considering the music is so loud it's causing a vibration.
"Hey T, what's up?"
"Hey! Come on over!" She shouts over the music.
"Jude's got new camera equipment, we're all gonna test it out! Come on, we've got new music too!"
A large toothy smile paints itself on my face.
"Be right there!" Grabbing my guitar and skateboard, I head out of my room, taking the dogs and Magnus so they aren't trapped in my room and moving down the crowded stairs, and I head out the door.
I grip the leashes tight and Mag settles on my shoulder as I stand on the skateboard and the dogs calmly pull me along.
I pull into Jude's driveway and set them free in his backyard and I dig up the spare key and open the back door.
"HERE!" I call locking the door behind me.
Ally comes running down and yanks me up the stairs, okay so what do you think? Duet with Trav for "For the First Time" or by yourself for "Perfect" by Hedley?" She asks as we enter Jude's camera room. Were everyone stands in awe.
"For me?" I ask, Ally nods.
"I'll take the duet."
"Great, I wanted Hedley."
I laugh, "It's yours."
"Okay let's start already!" Maya shrieks, standing off to the side, as I stand in front of a circular mike.
Jude hands me the headphone and I slip them on and glance over the music in front of me. I warm up my voice a little as Jude settles behind a big black expensive camera.
"And Ally take this camera, remember what I showed you? Good, and Maya just observe from right…here, please? Thanks and Chandler take your place at the piano and…great."
"Are you ready yet?" I ask, glugging down some bottled water.
"Yes," He says, pissy.
"And one two-three."
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All of a sudden, halfway through Ally's cover video.
My phone starts to ring, annoyed, Jude whirls around, stopping the take.
"Sorry," I say and click accept.
"Hey Dunk-"
"Sydney Ryan, where are you?" His voice, stern, growls.
"At Jude's he has new-"
"I don't care right now. Just come home. Now."
"Are you okay?"
"Just get over here." And the phone went dead.
Frightened, I pocketed it and gazed at my friends weirded out faces.
"I have to go." I whisper, "I'll call you guys later, when I understand what is going on."
"Okay, bye." They all say as I leave.
I round up the dogs and place Magnus on my shoulder.
As I arrive home I see sirens flashing and officers talking outside, some glare at me as I come in. Avoiding their gaze I move over onto the front lawn where the disbanded leftover party has been.
Oh no, Duncan's been caught for this ridiculous party.
I walk in and I see five police officers, standing with my aunt Rhonda and Duncan.
"What's wrong?" I ask as they all stare.
"Sydney Ryan Falcon," One begins coming up to me, "You're under arrest illegal use of an unlicensed a gun at the St. Chavers attack."
"What!" We all yell at once.
"Now you listen here!" Rhonda starts, blocking the door as I am handcuffed.
"Ah," I gasp painfully as the metal digs into my skin.
"That just can't be true! She is an honest, trustworthy girl! She may be irresponsible, but she would never!" I look down, if only she knew.
"Apparently she would ma'am," Another cop steps forward. "An anonymous source came forward and told us that the young Miss Falcon here was handling a gun without a lisence at the Saint Chavers party in New York and she used that gun to bludgeon a couple of men and killed three!"
"It was self defense!" I shrieked, over defensive. "They shot at me first! They tried to kill me!"
"You have the right to remain silent," The officer handling me, informed me.
"Sydney could never kill someone! She's just sixteen!" Duncan cried.
"I didn't mean kill anyone! They tried to shoot me!" I cried.
Duncan looked aghast, like I wasn't his sister anymore.
"Sydney, what really happened?" He asked me.
"You'd never believe me," I choked out, tears streaming by now.
"Well that'll be good, we a have a polygraph test in the morning."
My head jerked up.
No. They'll find out about Iggy and the Flock. Everything will go wrong.
"No!" I yell. "Please no! Please!"
"Ma'am, I highly suggest that you remain silent." The officer repeated.
"But I didn't mean to do it!" I began to cry, tears streaming down my face. I could tell them but, they'd never believe.
"You will spend tonight in the county jail and tomorrow morning you will take your Polygraph test, and based on those results, later in the day we have scheduled you a trial."
Duncan stared at me with an expression, that was simply unreadable. He looked like he didn't want to know me at all.
I broke down.
"Duncan! Duncan please! Listen! You have to trust me! You have to trust-" But Duncan just turned from me and walked into the kitchen, I softly began to sob.
The man pushed past Aunt Rhonda, and looks over his shoulder at her as I try to yank free.
"You may visit her before her test. Officer Cart will call you with hours." He says then pushes me in the back of the car.
I lean my head against the cool glass as tears stream down my cheek, but what happens to catch my blurred eye, but a figure, standing at the top of my house. A little familiar crooked smile gleaming in the darkness, but before I could identify who it was, the officer pulled away from my house and towards downtown.