Across the state, back in Heatherfield, Elyon and Cornelia were enjoying the refreshing breeze outside their favourite dainty coffee shop. The coffee itself was marvellous but only Elyon was enjoying it, since Cornelia was already happily drinking a diet soda.
Then, her phone rang.
Seeing the 'unknown' on the display, Elyon answered anyway. "Hello?"
"Elyon, it's Will," Will greeted, twiddling the phone cord around her finger nervously.
"Oh hey there," Elyon chattered, cheerily, "How's Hartford coming along? Did you find that gift for your Mom yet?"
Will bit her lip. "Slight… miscalculation." she hesitated before declaring her reason for calling.
"You what?!" she exclaimed, hushing Cornelia's spying enquires.
Will groaned, reluctantly repeated, "We got arrested."
"You…you got arrested?"
Cornelia was on the edge of their seats at this revelation. Elyon then put the phone on speaker and sat it down on the table.
Shaking off her saucepan-like eyes, Elyon said, "This is a trick. I am positive of it."
"Hand on the Bible, the Qur'an and any other Holy book for that matter," Will vowed, solemnly serious.
Hopefully, Cornelia pestered, "Is Irma arrested too?"
Sighing, Will answered, "Yes, she is. And Hay-lin. And Taranee. And me. Is our humiliation making you happy?"
Elyon urged, "What did you get arrested for?"
"Shoplifting among other things. And wipe those smiles off your faces, both of you."
They both did, though Cornelia continued to ask, "Will you serve time?"
Will rubbed the bridge of her nose. "This is all very exciting for you, isn't it?"
"Just answer the question."
"Yes. Hay-lin and Taranee two weeks, Irma and me five. Okay?"
Cornelia clapped her hands together with glee. "This just keeps getting better and better!"
Elyon crinkled her brow. "Shoplifting would not get you that much time, and them no time at all, if crime dramas have taught me anything."
Will reticently reminded, "Shoplifting among other things."
"Do tell."
"No time," Will hurried them along. "Here's the score: tomorrow we'll be told where we'll end up. I'll can tell you so you can bring us muffins. Please. Prison food is awful. And books. Please can you drop off some books and magazines around the diner tonight for us all? I know it's short notice and sudden but we didn't plan this. I'm just trying to help Hay-lin and Taranee as best I can. They'll take it worse than-"
"-the frequent juvenile delinquents," Elyon finished, candidly.
Will paused. "I'm going to ignore that because you're bringing us books."
The officer motioned for her to wrap up the call.
"I have to go. See you soon?"
"'Course," Elyon answered, cutting in before the others could speak their taunting replies. "Tell the others they are not to cause trouble, okay?"
"Got it."
Now came the dreaded calling of the parents. From Irma's family the officer couldn't get more than an 'Again? We'll be at the court hearing' - Hay-lin's parents couldn't make it out of the restaurant and agreed to meet at the court hearing as well, and the same went for Teresa Cook who was 9in the middle of a legal dispute herself. For Will, her Mother arrived soon enough…
"WILHELMINA VANDOM!"
The voice sounded far away but as forceful as if it were already in the room.
Will bit her lip and cowered in the nearest corner.
Susan burst in and stormed right up to Will, yelling, "I raised you better than this! How dare you think it would be fine to shoplift?!"
"Mom, listen, I-" Will tried to state her defence, but Susan sharply interjected, "Don't even try to talk your way out of this one!"
Once the Vandom's shouting match had concluded, the officer flipped over yet another sheet of paper on his confounded clipboard and announced, "The court hearing is tomorrow at eleven."
"Aww…" Irma wined, quietly, "I have to get up for eleven?"
The officer ignored her and continued, "You'll be charged formally and then transported to the county's juvenile correctional facility. Is everything I've explained to you understood?"
Silently, the room nodded.
As they were being led out the room, Will sent a message into the telepathic mind link, "I'll talk to you tonight. It's all going to be okay."
She remembered the first time she was told she was going to Juvie and shuddered at the memory. What Hay-lin and Taranee needed right now was assurance that there was nothing to worry about.
Court hearings had finished. Goodbyes had been said. The process of actually being admitted to Juvenile Hall seemed almost as bad as going there. It was long and dull, to say the least.
Stepping off the bus, the realization of what was about to happen finally sunk in. It had all been a bit of a dream up until this point. Finally, they all woke up.
Taranee looked ahead to the set of bungalow buildings encased by a steel fence and gulped. The place was daunting. All of Connecticut's worst young girls were trapped in this place. Thieves, vandals, fighters and worse all huddled together under these roofs.
"I-I'm starting to think this was a mistake…" she whined, leaning in to Hay-lin.
Irma rolled her eyes. "Ya think?"
The reply was controlling and solid in tone, but inside Irma was thinking along the same lines. She knew how easily she could get in fights back at Sheffield, but not many people would start them. Here they would, and they'd probably be damn better fighters that her. Looking across the parking lot, a bus load of girls in baggy blue clothing were being escorted into one of the buildings. One of them had two full tattoo sleeves. One of them was in full restrictive chains.
These were people to avoid at all costs. Irma knew that just by talking to them she could end up in a brawl, so made a silent promise to herself to keep her hands clenched together at all times.
Will was silent. She just walked in line like she was told to into the administration office.
Irma leaned into her. "Lighten up killjoy. You're making me depressed."
"Killjoy?" Will raised her eyebrows. "Just because I didn't yell, 'I'm out of order, you're out of order, this whole courtroom is out of order' at the judge doesn't mean I'm a killjoy."
Irma noted, "You haven't smiled all morning."
"Forgive me if the thought of returning to Juvie isn't making me cough up rainbows," Will returned.
The four Guardians were led to the back of a line. At the other end came more check in's, medical examinations and obtaining of uniforms. Joy.
"So…" Taranee fidgeted about in place. "This is less exciting than TV displays it."
"Okay Punch and Juvie," Hay-lin said, "You guys have done this before - what can we expect?"
Irma was busy talking to the person in front of her in the queue. Will did a quick double check over her shoulders before leaning closer and, in a considerably lowered voice, explained, "There's a chance we'll get separated once we get inside, so listen up. What I'm about to tell you might actually save your life."
Now, all ears were pricked.
Will began, "Don't get all buddy buddy with the guards or other inmates. Don't become a snitch. Don't complain to guards. Don't stare at anyone. Never, EVER call anyone a punk. Don't get into anyone's debt or into a loan. Don't make friends. If someone's being nice, take a step back and ask, 'what's in it for them?'. Don't talk to anyone about your personal life or about religion or politics - any little piece of information can be purposefully misquoted to harm or exploit you later. Keep to yourself. Never show any emotions, whether that be happiness, sadness, anger or fear. Don't show any signs of weakness. If someone pushes you around, stand up for yourself. Try and keep with one of us at all times. If you find yourself alone, be wary of isolated corridors. Keep your hands in plain view at all times. If you see someone with their hands in their pockets or behind their back, keep well away. Be on your guard at all times. Above all, don't piss anyone off. Are we clear?"
Taranee had a blank look but Hay-lin nodded assertively, switching her stance to try and appear tougher. It didn't work.
Irma turned back from her conversation, glanced briefly at Taranee and Hay-lin and said, "Shall we give them the survival guide?"
"Already taken care of," Will assured.
Irma shook her head. "You guys are going to get chewed up and spit out if you're not careful."
Hay-lin grumbled, "So we've been told."
Irma peered out to gage how far along the line they were. However, she quickly darted back to conceal her laughter after one look at someone seven people ahead of them.
"What is it?" Will asked, intrigued.
Irma just motioned for them to have a look for themselves.
There they saw the obvious cause of the disruption.
Will couldn't help but snicker. "What is that?"
"Is that a dude?" Hay-lin smirked.
The person they were referring too was what they hoped was no more than an incredibly brusque girl. She was six feet tall and looked like she'd eaten the judge and jury that had sentenced her. Her hair was shaved into a buzz cut and with the amount of tattoos she had you'd assume she'd just come from Bad Lads Army.
Irma commented, accidently a little louder than intended, "I've seen more femininity in Bruce Willis."
Hearing this, the man-girl turned around and glared at them with a deadly stare. Taranee thought she was going to die then and there, if not from being beaten to death but from looking upon that hideous Medusa-like face. Fear was the only thing stopping her from crumbing to the floor and yelling, 'MY EYES! MY EYES!'.
In a deep, stern voice the man-girl demanded, "Are you talking about me?"
Irma acted innocent. "Me?" though quickly changed her tone, "No, I'm talking about a big stupid man-lady who looks like a mutated cross between Kim Jong Un and an unwashed pit-bull."
Will slipped back into cover in the line and yanked Taranee and Hay-lin with her.
"What is she doing?!" a panicked Hay-lin hissed.
Will watched Irma exchange with man-girl helplessly. "About twelve of the ten things I told you not to do."
Man-girl grunted and punched the wall beside her, immune to the pain.
The message seemed to get lost in the echo on the way to Irma for she continued to taunt, "Ooo, me make big man-lady mad!"
Man-girl started to step forward, but guards quickly intercepted her and led her towards the double doors as it was her turn to check in.
Irma watched her go and called after her, "Hey call me and we'll go skirt shopping."
Will smacked Irma on the side of her arm. "Must you antagonize our fellow prisoners?"
Irma hung her head ashamedly. "Yes I must…"
A/N: Hy Heart in Handcuffs is on hiatus for the moment. Sorry! I haven't written anymore just yet, though it's all planned out. Well, some of it. I'm currently juggling my main story, KOALA, and another side project. Plus, school and other things are getting in the way of writing at the moment. Again, really sorry. However, I'm hoping to write more soon. If you have any suggestions of events you'd like to happen inside Juvie, suggest them! As I mentioned, the story isn't written yet, so I'm open to ideas! Thanks! :D