New Year: The trouble with high School.
Sam has completed her semester reading, all her term papers, and two short online colleges coarse by the start of school. I struggle to keep up. The Samantha persona has change. Her bad hair and makeup are gone. Still wears a tight bun and now minimal makeup, with flavored lip balm. Oh, I like the varieties Sam surprise me with. The Cloths are sharper, still super nerdy, but better quality. She really loves her cargo pants. The pockets always hold something unexpected. She squirts me with a fake pen yesterday in Math class.
Dole and Virginia are hatching some ploy. I see the two heads together whispering. I dread what will come. A major surprise in the form of Theresa has transferred in. Harrison lets the whole school know she's his. Theresa makes a big show of befriending Sam. Harrison is now my Ally as the girls build a small circle of friends. Geordie tried to get into the circle, but she can't compete academicals with our group, and most have felt her torments.
The major Change in School is the arrival of a new vice principle. Mr. Ward, a mean, petty little man with an ass kiss personality. The Principle is not happy, and the other two vice principle are mad, Mrs. Gordon was transferred to Eastern High School. I notice he has Dole in his office several times, always smiling, and conspiratorial. I notified Sawyer. I also know my lockers been searched. I have Barney get me a hidden alarm and camera for all four lockers. I'm a chip off the old Christian Grey paranoid control freak block when it comes to loved ones. Harrison is friends with all the janitors and support staff and has been since his freshman year. He's got them looking out for us.
Tuesday: first week in February
The weeks become set schedules of school, band, and making out. The world is orderly and calm. Till the first week in February. We're in the car going to school, when SgtM calls. "Don't go to school; go to Grey House" All four of us. We are sent to dad's conference room. Hours later, Dad, Mom, Taylor and SgtM walk in with Barney and George Cahill, Dad and Mom personal lawyer.
"Teddy your locker alarm when off at 7:30 this morning, the camera showed a police officer clearing putting a paper bag into your locker. Fifteen minutes later a different Police Officer opened your locker and removed the Bag. One of the office staff called Harrison dad downstairs, reported they found hard drugs in a paper bag in your locker. The same scene played out in Sam locker. We have it all on tape. The District Attorney is in route here, with a detective assign to high school." Dad says grimly
"Have either of you handled any paper bag in the last few weeks." We look and say together "yes, in Biology on Monday. They were left on are lab table. We threw them away." Cahill inquires.
"Cahill, can we prove this set up. Yes, we can as long as you two didn't touch the inside?" dad ask
We think, "yes we didn't touch the inside."
The DA and a grumpy old man arrive. The DA is hot to prove no bias demanding our arrest. The Grumpy Old Man, Supervising Detective Mahler tell him no, wants to hear our side. Dad shows the Video. Mahler id's the bad cop as John Wilkes James. The good cop John Dillard is a solid no nonsense High School cop with 10years experience. Mahler stares out the window while the DA is grilled by Dad and Cahill.
He turns around "Mr. Grey did you having anything to do with Braintree industrial?"
Everyone looks at him. "Yes, I bought it and liquidated it, it was mess, corrupt and out date, why?" dad says
"Officer James quit the force to work there, a CPO for the CEO, had to rejoin the force when they closed down" Mahler states
"Mr. Grey, the Dole boy father was the CEO of Braintree industrial." interrupts Taylor.
"Dad, we need Sawyer." I say
"Why" he asks
"I reported the new vice principle was acting conspiratorial with Dole" I tell them
Andrea get Sawyer on the phone, He flew home his brother-in-law in the hospital, fell off a horse.
On speaker phone "Sawyer did you get a background on the new vice principle?"
"Just a preliminary report, sir." Sawyer says wary
"Does Braintree industrial occur in the report?" dad ask
"Yes, sir it does. Mr. Ward was in charge of corporate training. Taylor the file should be on my desk." Sawyer states
"Any other people show with Braintree industrial, Sawyer."
"Yes, sir, Virginia von su Marberg mother was best friend with Mrs. Dole. Virginia has been seen at function with Dole boy." He states
"Well gentlemen, do you need more prove as too their innocents?" Dad demands
"No, Mr. Grey, but I would like them to come the station and catch the vice principle and Officer James Red handed.
We go to the Police station with Mom, she makes dad stay at Grey House, he's not happy. We get put in a holding cell. The Detective puts a recorder in with us. The Principle, Vice Principle and cops show up. The Principle and one of the cops, I think Dillard talk to Mom and Cahill. The other cop and Ward strut over to us.
Smiling, Mr. Ward sneers "well asshole, daddy not buying you out of this."
"I'm gone personal pick out your new husband Teri" sneers the cop.
"we didn't do it. Someone planted that stuff, probably Dole." I say as Sam shakes and sweats, she's not acting her body is starting to freak out being in this cage. I hug her tight.
"Now Teddy enjoy the little slut, tonight's your prom, some niggars gone make you his slut. Nerd girl will accidentally get put with some degenerates' males on the way to jail. Daddy gone learn what goes around comes around in spades" Ward is literally drunk on the power trip.
"Mr. Ward don't worry the DA is running for office, and are witnesses too they're drug dealing is ironclad, beside test will find really pure drugs from that cartel your Daddy help take down, maybe the Fed's will tie him to that."
"Yes, Mr. James I can't wait for our news leak to get out. Terrible harm Grey name."
"Why did you guys frame us, what did we do to you?" I demand
"Teddy your father has to pay for fucking up our lives, leaving us with these shitty jobs. A because we can. Goodbye hopes you all like your new boyfriends" Ward spits with evil intent.
"Will tell, you just admitted" I balk at the evil in my face.
"Kid, no one will believe you and even if daddy did. It would push public opinion to fuck you more." The cops gleefully says
"Dole force you to do this, didn't he" Sam sputters.
"Dole, that Mr. Dole to your cunt, why would he force us, we gladly followed his plan." Ward bounce with delight
Suddenly the Detective and Dillard walk up, "James put your hands on the cage, now!"
"What going on John?" he demands
"You're under arrest for framing these kids" Dillard says cold and angry
"You got no prove." The cop pleas
"Really the bug in the cell just got your confessions" Mahler gleefully slams the reality down on them.
"You son of bitch …." He swings at Dillard who deflects, backhanding James across a desk. The Detective has Mr. Ward cuff, he starts balling and trying to cut a deal.
Mom runs up "get them out now! Right now! Teddy! SAM?"
I turn Sam is on the floor convulsing. I drop and wrap her in my arms, lifting, carrying her out of the cage, the station and into a SUV. She calms down, slowly her heart beat slows, and she whimpers and meows. Grabbing me so hard, I can feel the blood from her nails running down my back. "Parker to the hospital now!" en-route I call Grandma. Yes, she at the hospital, meeting us at the emergency room. Sam eyes are like saucer and she feel clammy.
Arriving at the ER door; Grandma waits with a gurney, doctor and nurse. "Teddy what happened?"
"We were at the police station in a holding cell; she started to freak out, then fell down and started convulsing. I rush her here."
"Teddy, why were you two in a cell?"
"We were framed. Tell you later. Please help her!"
I shake and pace, mad, angry, sad, panicked and scared. Mom catches up to me in the waiting room. Grace called Dad, He told her the whole story I can't speak I only can stress out over Sam. How is she? What's wrong? Why did I agree to have her in the cell in the first place? The family pours in with Debra, still on crutches, and Abby. Dad tried to hug me. But I want none of that. I need to hit, to hurt someone; I finally slouch in corner staring hard at nothing and collapse inward.
A doctor enters quietly talking to Grace, folks, Debra and Abby. They look at me. Dad comes over "Sam wants to see you, son" I hear but can't move, frozen in fear. I shake my head no. Dad slid down the wall and sit next to me, no talking, not touching. Just next to me, loaning me his strength. My fault! all my fault! loops thru my mind, numbing and painful, Filling the room with sorrows and pain. Mom and Debra watch me, then leave I hope to be with Sam. A while later Mom comes back, kneel and lean her head to mine. Whispering she draws me back, like when I was a kid. We rise off the floor. I sit in a wheel chair as Grandma pricks my neck. The world fades away.
I wake in my room, at home. Panic I race to thru the house till I find mom. "Where Sam?" I yell at the top of my lungs.
"Teddy calm down, sit here. Sam is home at Grey Manor. She is doing better. Grace has her sedated to calm her nerves while you've been asleep."
"Sleep what?" what the hell. Shit now long have, have I been asleep, loss in misery.
"Teddy you've been asleep for close to two days." Suddenly I have to pee. I dash to the bathroom. When I return, mom has a soup and sandwich waiting. Eating Mom fills me in on what I missed.
Sam had a panic attack with low blood sugar. She was out of the hospital that night. I was brought home. Sam was in to visit me the next morning. She stressed because I wouldn't wake up. She lay with me all day, till Grandma made her go home. She wanted to come this morning but Grace said no, she needs to rest. After I eat, I call talking to Sam till her cell dies. Than on the house phone till Grandma and Mom stop us, putting us to bed.
The next morning Sam arrives like a whirl wind, flowers and candy. She climbs up into my bed, my arms and rains kiss down till I can't breathe. "Teddy Grey don't ever scare me like that again." We cuddle and Liz brings us breakfast in bed. Later we emerge from our first shower together. We touched and felt each other anew, finding comfort and solace in the intimate swirl of the water and silent patter of water drops along the skin and tile. Dressing we walk down stairs. Mom and Grace are waiting calmly. "You two must remember to behave, no funny business in my house", Mom says. Grandma nods. "We're still both virgins. So, stop worrying, please" Sam explains. Everyone in the room turn different shades of red.
Carrick, Mary, and Dad arrive for dinner. Over the meal, Carrick explains the aftermath of the frame up. Sebastian Dole, his dad cut deal to free him, and his mother have moved to Arkansas yesterday. His father, Officer James, Vice Principle Ward, SPD evidence Clerk John Teller and Wanda Lewis, former Braintree HR director now with the school district, she facilitated Mrs. Gordon transfer, are in jail, no bail. The judge stated framing high school kids for a vendetta over a business deal show a level of depravity making them a threat to society. There're appealing but the press is going to town. Dad released all the dirt on Braintree industrial. They come off as greed, selfish and immoral executives.
The star witness Virginia von su Marberg turned state's evidence that the Dole's had blackmailed her with photos of her sleeping with Sebastian, his father, a Mr. Ward and John Teller. She claimed she was coerced into the plot. Her father the judge has resigned and they're moving to LA. Carrick admonish Grace for blacklisting Mrs. Von su Marberg from the social scene. Grace retorts "Mrs. Hamilton blacklisted her, I just cheerleader the socialites stampede to carry it out."