A/N- I do not own Divergent or the characters. Rights go to Veronica Roth.
August 29th
"Beatrice Prior, come down here immediately!" My mother's shout rings through the house. I close my eyes, lick my lips, and count to ten. I've been in bed all morning, I've had the week off work since I told Becky I was sick. Little did she know I was actually traumatised after being arrested and having my best-friend remain in police custody. Once I've heaved a deep breath, I get off my bed and hesitantly walk down the stairs. My mother is waiting for me at the bottom. She doesn't look happy.
"Hi," I say in a small voice.
"Hi? Hi? Is that all you have to say to me?"
"Um, yeah." She shakes her head and motions for me to follow her into the living room.
"Sit." She points her finger to the sofa, instructing me to sit on it, whilst she remains pacing the living room floor. "I just got off the phone with Lynn's mother. She's in tears Beatrice."
"Oh, what's wrong with her?" My voice is timid, I know exactly what's wrong with her. My mother stops and gives me a look that could set me on fire. She always knows when I'm lying, which is why I have to avoid her asking for the truth.
"You've been lying to me. She was arrested. You know exactly what's happened."
"I wouldn't call it lying per se. I just- didn't tell you."
"I can't believe you. What's gotten in to you? Why wouldn't you tell me something like that? It's not an invonvience or a bit of a downer that she's been arrested. It's a huge deal. She's been arrested! She could be going to prison!" My mom looks crazed. She stares at me, her mouth still open and her eyes still wide, waiting for me to give the response that she expects.
"Well it's not like you've been around to notice anything was wrong. Even if I did want to tell you, you weren't even at home for me to do so." I sound cold and emotionless. Maybe I am.
"Don't start that now. You know I've been working double shifts since I took a couple of days off."
"I know. So don't get mad at me when I haven't told you anything." She looks at me for a moment, exasperated.
"We're going round to their house right now. Put some shoes on."
"What? Why?"
"Because: they would like to know what happened on the night of your birthday. And I think we all need a talk." Oh no. I can't tell my mom I was arrested. She won't let me live here, she'll go insane. I gulp, my hands trembling a little. I need time to get my story together, to gather my thoughts at least. To prepare myself for the guaranteed slaughtering if she finds out. I suddenly feel very nauseous.
"I need to get changed." Hopefully having a shower and getting ready will buy me some time to think.
"No, they're expecting us now. There's a pair of your jeans on the kitchen counter that just came out of the drier this morning. Put those on and then we're leaving," she instructs.
"But mom," I whine. I look a dishevelled mess.
"No arguments!" She snaps. I huff dramatically and drag my feet along the carpet into the kitchen. I pull off my pyjama pants and grab the pair of jeans that are folded on the counter. I'm wearing the black t-shirt of Four's that he gave me to wear the other day; it still faintly smells of him. I walk back into the living room, looking ridiculous in the huge shirt and jeans, and slip on my shoes.
"Happy now?" I say.
"This isn't a time to be happy," she replies. I grit my teeth and follow her out of the front door, sitting in the passenger seat of the car. I don't want to see the look on Lynn's parents' faces. But I have to. Not only do I have to feel guilty about the fact that I was also arrested and didn't tell anybody, but I also knew about Lynn's drug habit for quite a while. The terrible thought dawns on me that Lynn's parents could already know about my arrest, leading them to inform my soon-to-be dragon of a mother. When she's angry, she can breathe fire.
When we arrive, Shauna opens the door for us, sporting her signature sulk. My mother is polite to her, but I expected no less. I, however, decide to ignore her and walk straight past her into the living room which is where everyone is sitting. The atmosphere is sullen, her mom has been crying, I can tell by her puffy eyes. My mom greets them both, and they tell us to sit. I notice that Hector isn't here, and assume he's been sent off to football practice while we all engage in 'grown-up talk'. You'd think someone had just died.
"How are you Tris?" Lynn's mom asks me. I've never really understood her true character. When Lynn is in 'real' trouble, she seems to care. Every other time, she puts her blinders on and continues to clean the house and cook their dinner. I understand how Lynn can be lonely even when she's at home with a house full of people.
"I've been better." I can't really say I'm doing fine, while their daughter's locked away somewhere.
"Well, we've just been discussing the situation that we have with Lynn," Lynn's dad says, his voice sounds military-like. "We could do with your help." He is an authoritative man, seemingly suffering from lack of emotions. For him, everything is practical and straightforward. There is a certain way things should be done, and a reason for everything. Overly traditional, and sometimes overly cruel. I dislike him.
"How can I help?" I ask.
"By telling us everything that happened that night." I can't do that. That would mean telling my mom that I got arrested. She doesn't need to know, no one needs to know. Except for Lynn, Four, Shauna, Marlene and Uriah. That's actually a lot of people. Well, here's hoping they can keep a secret. I sigh and twiddle with my thumbs a little.
"Lynn rang me up telling me that she was taking me somewhere for my birthday. With our friends Uriah and Marlene. She took us to what she thought was an abandoned field so that we could star-gaze." I look around the room, all eyes are on me. Waiting for me to continue. "So that's what we did."
"And then the police came?" Lynn's dad asks me. He talks to me slowly and expectantly. Not necessarily in a patronising manner, he just thinks he's so much better and full of more sense than everyone else. I can tell he's going to try and drain out every last bit of information from me.
"Yes. Because the field belonged to someone and we were trespassing it. We were also playing music." That's it, I'll just keep my answers sharp and straight to the point. It's the truth, after all. I'm just leaving out a few minor details...
"And drinking and smoking?" He raises an accusatory eyebrow at me. My mom looks at me with a hard look on her face, sinking back into her chair a little. I know I'm going to have to admit to at least one of these things, if I want to avoid most of the truth.
"Yeah," I continue. "We had a few drinks, that's all."
"So they just took her in for underage drinking? Even though the rest of you were doing it too? Then how did they find what was in her van?" Lynn's mom asks, sounding confused, and slightly irritated. I would be confused too, if I had to listen to this lie. Shauna stares at the ground.
"She was, um." I feel like I'm really ratting out on a friend. But I have to say at least half of the truth, even if I'm being selfish and saving my own skin. "She was smoking weed, and they caught her with it. She also had a bag in her pocket."
"Marijuana?" My mom says angrily, while looking at me. "I take it she was the only one smoking it?" I look around the room. I want to say yes. The only person in this room who knows otherwise is Shauna. I want to look at her, to see if she'll let me lie. But all she does is look at the floor.
"Yes, she was. They sent the rest of us home." This is bad. Really bad. Surely I can't get away with a lie like this.
"By police escort?"
"No, Marlene drove Uriah's car because she had only had a sip of alcohol."
"Well," Lynn's dad continues after a long uncomfortable pause. "We've learned that they had Lynn's plates recorded. The dealer that she went to in Chicago has been wanted for a while now. He supplies a lot of prescription and low class drugs to kids. They flagged down nearly everyone who went to him, one being Lynn, which is why they took an interest in her and her van straight away." I know what this means. It means they're going to try and get information out of her in order to catch the dealer. "What time was this?" He asks me.
"I don't know, about midnight." I shrug a little.
"Then how come we only found out the next day?" He asks Shauna accusingly.
"Lynn rang me from the station in the early hours, I didn't want to wake you. Honestly, I thought she would be let out the next morning, I didn't think it would be that serious." Shauna replies.
"That serious? My baby girl was locked in a cell and you didn't think that was serious!" Her mom starts to cry and I feel uncomfortable. My own mom didn't know that I too was also locked in a cell.
"Beatrice," my mother says. "Why don't you and Shauna go and make us all a hot drink." She gives me a pointed look. Shauna storms past me, into the kitchen and I follow her. I stand there awkwardly while I watch her make the drinks, since she knows where everything is. I'm glad to be free from the spotlight and constriction of that room.
"I did it for you, you know." Shauna says, while angrily swishing the tea bag around in the boiling water. "I didn't call them until the afternoon so that Four had a chance to get you out of there. So that your mom wouldn't find out." I don't know what to say.
"Thank you."
"No," she points a finger at me. "Don't you dare thank me. Don't thank me for helping you and your lies. For letting Lynn sit in there all day before calling mom and dad."
"I'm sorry. You're right. I don't know, I, I." I sigh, stumbling on my sentences. I feel too immature for this situation.
"I told Four he should have just left you in there. That he should have rang your mom and told her to come and get you instead. But he couldn't do that." She shakes her head. "He couldn't leave you in there even for a few more hours. Even though they said they weren't letting you out until midday, he went there at eight in the morning and sat under their noses. Waiting for you. Telling them to not do anything or ask you anything without his permission. I was there. I had to leave because of how ridiculous he was being. I was trying to get a lawyer for my sister, trying to somehow scrape my money together so I could get her out but all he was bothered about was you."
"He was worried about me. Don't blame him for that."
"But why would he be worried about you? Why would Lynn tell me to call him in the first place? Last thing I knew, you were both arguing over something at Faction Ave."
"That was nothing," I frown angrily at her, and she stares me down. After heaving a frustrated sigh, she begins to pour the milk into the tea. The angry blush fading from her pale cheeks.
"All I'm saying is that, I don't know what the hell is going on between you both, but don't drag him into your shit. I've saved your ass, which also put mine on the line. Now that's the last thing that I'm doing for you." She picks up two mugs in her hand. "Grab the others," she says to me, gesturing to the other mugs. I speechlessly comply, carrying them into the living room behind her. I put them down on the glass table, the hot liquid spilling out a little with my shaking hands. My cheeks are wet.
"Beatrice," my mother sighs, holding out her arms. I don't want her to console me. She thinks I'm crying because my friend is bad, because she got herself into trouble. But that's not it. I'm crying about what a terrible person I am. I'm crying in front of these people and the last thing I want is for her to rock me like a child.
"I'm sorry, I need to get some air." I quickly rush out of the room and dash out of the front door without a second thought. I make hideous choking noises while trying to calm myself down. I don't know why I'm crying all of a sudden, I suppose this whole situation has finally gotten to me. I walk down the street a little, breathing the fresh air in and out. I can't go back in there, I need to find a way of getting home. I have no money for the bus or taxi. I also don't think I can face my mom again after everything, she doesn't understand. I pull out my phone from my pocket, going through the contacts. I see Four's number. I know he told me to call him whenever I need help. Right now I need help. I promised him that I would call him if this was the case. But I just can't. I don't want him to see me like this, and don't want him telling me how I've done nothing wrong. Because I know that I have been wrong. Instead, I call Uriah. He doesnt sound too surprised when he hears my upset voice, telling him and Marlene to come and pick me up outside Lynn's house. I stand there for a few minutes trying to compose myself, when his silver SUV stops on the curb and the side door opens for me to get in. I slide in the back next to Marlene, who has tissues for me. She gives me a sad look, but I don't want pity. I want help. In silence, we drive to a diner where we can discuss everything without interruption. When we get there, Marlene and Uriah sit next to each other, I sit opposite them. We all order a milkshake each; Uriah's treat. Mine is chocolate. Lynn's favourite.
"What's going to happen to her?" Marlene asks.
"Apparently they want her to snitch on her dealer. But I don't think she will. They'll probably try to make a plea bargain with her, but I know she'll refuse it. I'm hoping she will help them, then maybe they'll just issue her a hefty fine and let her be on her way." I reply.
"So, I take it there's more to this story than under-age drinking and pot?" She raises her eyebrows at me.
"No," I take a deep breath. "She had a bunch of other drugs in her car."
"This is bad," Uriah whistles out and leans back against the booth.
"I didn't know she had other drugs in her van," Marlene shakes her head. "I knew she smoked pot and often saw her swallow a couple of pills. But I chose to ignore it. I just thought she was sick or something, thought they were from her doctor."
"So did I. I knew she was struggling, and just thought that I'd leave her to it if it makes her cope better. Now I just feel guilty, because I should have intervened."
"I know. But this is none of our faults. She should have known the consequences," Uriah says. He rubs Marlene's back.
"They don't know that I got arrested as well," I say.
"Who doesn't?" Uriah asks.
"My mom and Lynn's parents."
"Seriously? Then how the hell did you get home?" Marlene asks, sounding worried. But it's a bit too late for that.
"Four came and got me. He told the police that I live with him whenever my mom is away. They obviously didn't look into it, probably just presumed I was a rebellious teenager who doesn't get much parental attention. He told them that he was going to keep an eye on me and make sure I go to that support group, so they just let me go."
"Well if that's the case, I doubt your mom will find out," he says.
"But what if they mention it in court when they're questioning Lynn? Then her parents will know, and they'll tell my mom. Then I'll be as good as dead for lying to her."
"Then you better hope that they don't mention you in court. You've already lied now, there's no going back. Not unless you apologise and tell the truth."
"I can't do that," I put my head in my hands. "My life was just starting to get better. I can't screw it up now."
"Haven't you already, though?" Marlene says a little glumly. "I mean, you've been arrested. It's happened. You screwed up. Not telling your mom is just running further away from it."
"I'm a horrible person," I bang my head against the table. This is a mess.
"You're not," Uriah lifts my head up and looks me dead in the eyes. "We all make mistakes. Would your mom even be that mad at you? I mean you just smoked it a couple of times and they told you off. It's not even gone on your record, has it?"
"I don't think so," I reply. "But seriously, you don't know my mom. She would go crazy. When I get home, she's probably going to kill me about the drinking." There's silence for a minute, but I see a smirk growing on Marlene's face.
"What was Four like?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. I know that they probably think it was really weird that he came to get me. But for some reason, I don't. Maybe I should think it's weird.
"Fine. He just drove me home." I lie. Lie again. That's all I seem to be doing lately. I'm a liar.
"Nice of him," she says, while sucking on her straw. She doesn't believe me.
"Yes, it was nice. Much nicer than you guys leaving me stranded!" I'm not really that mad at them, I feel like there's no point. I have bigger things to worry about.
"Yeah…sorry about that," Uriah gives me a sheepish smile and shrugs his shoulders a little. I don't think anyone could stay mad at him for long. My phone vibrates a couple of times so I pull it out of my pocket. I wish I hadn't.
"What is it?" Marlene asks, her and Uriah stare at me worriedly.
"It's a text from my mom. Lynn's being tried in court on Monday."
Thanks for all the encouraging reviews! They definitely keep me motivated :)
Please continue your support... I appreciate it so much.
Also, In terms of all the legal stuff/prison and justice system in this story: It's all fictional. Court processes/Prison processes are not straightforward and are different for each individual depending on what their case is. Therefore, I'm following basic common knowledge on what happens when you've been arrested, but in terms of time space between the court hearings/going to prison.. and the eventual sentence/punishment that Lynn will receive, it will all be fictional. I'm just going to make it up to suit my plot. Hope this makes sense. Just thought I would clear it up so that you didn't think it was odd that Lynn is going to court less than a week after being arrested, sometimes people have to wait weeks or month depending on their bail and a bunch of other complicated legal stuff that I just can't wrap my head around! :)
DatFangirl: thank you thank you thank you! I hope this chapter answered your question about whether Shauna would bail Lynn out or not. Deep down, like any bickering siblings, she does care for her sister :) I am also glad I could shed light on the whole drugs thing for you.
Hope everyone has a good week...I'll see you next time!