Living With The Player

**DYLAN EMERTON**

-ONE HOUR EARLIER.

Camilla’s parents deterred me upon sighting, I was just about to enter her room, but from their faces, they had done something crazy already.

“I wouldn’t be astounded to find out you had a hand in my daughter’s mishaps.”

“Renée!”

Her mother cautioned, clutching his hand.

I scoffed, daring to press my lips in a small line. The nerve of him.

“Your daughter’s mishaps? Of course, parents blame their children for the manifestations of their mistakes. You’re no different.”

I spat, scowling severely.

“Do not test me, boy. Your father and I might be friends..”

“Yes. Best friends. Of course. You’re cut from the same cloth of being terrible parents.”

I countered. Instead of smacking me for my outrage, his demeanour changed instantly. My words must have struck deep.

“If Camilla burned the house down, it was only a ripple effect of the fact that you failed as a parent. I am not saying she isn’t to blame, but you will not get to take the high and mighty road, neglecting your involvement in it. She did it by accident. She would never destroy her home like that. If you believe otherwise, it’s sad that you hardly know your daughter. I’ve spent what? A month tops with her and I know her more than you who have spent seventeen years with her. Oh sorry, when you count the time spent with her, it amounts to less than a year.”

With every word slipping through my lips, I watched as her parent’s thought hard. When I was done, I slipped past both of them and went outside. I need some air. I need all the air I can get.

**PRESENT TIME**

“You need to let her come with us now. We have the warrant.”

The leading officer spoke fiercely, stepping into the house.

“No.”

I answered determined as hell to fight them off if that’s what it’ll take.

“If you’re not careful, we’ll arrest you for obstruction…”

“I would very much like to see you try.”

I stepped forward, blocking his path. It pays to be tall enough.

“Dylan. No!”

Camilla shrieked behind me, stepping up.

“I will go with them. Just let my parents know. If they care enough to come to the station.”

She strode along, one of the officers tugging her hand and in so disengaging ours.

“No….”

I whimpered softly.

I watched them take her away, her figure receding slowly into the cop’s car.

“Father!”

I boomed at the top of my voice.

****

**CAMILLA RENÉE**

-HOURS LATER.

“Miss Renée, we have here your statement from the night of the fire and officer Dean who took the said statement, do you remember him?”

I lifted my head to see the middle-aged officer from that night. My mind flashed back to him covering my skin with a jacket. A sad smile reached my lips.

I nodded quickly.

“Good. He assumed you were traumatized, so he didn’t get much out of you, but you mentioned that your house had caught fire and you had no idea what happened. Is that correct?”

I whimpered softly, nodding my head.

Looking around, I couldn’t see much aside from the tiny room I was in one window by my left and a door close to it.

It was really cold in here and I wasn’t allowed to pick a jacket before leaving, the gown I was wearing was made of thin cotton, I’m shaking from both my conviction and the actual cold.

No one had come yet. Not my parents who lashed out. Not Dylan.

They brought me in here and I think the investigator brought a little file with “Renée” boldly spelt and he’s asking the questions now.

“Miss Renée, I would like you to tell me what happened that night.”

I switched my gaze to his hardened face, he didn’t seem like the kind of man who would reason with anyone. He scares the shit out of me.

“Uhm..”

“The truth this time.”

He added abruptly. I trembled in fright.

“I accidentally left something on the fire and that’s how my house got burned down.”

I admitted.

“Accidentally.”

He started, twitching his lips carefully.

“Yes. I never meant to.”

“If it was an accident, why did you lie? These things happen, especially in teenagers. The insurance company would’ve been able to help, everything would turn out well, so why did you lie to everyone about your involvement?”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“I was scared.”

I whisper.

“Scared of?”

“My parents. I was scared of what they would do to me if they found out.”

He chuckled lightly.

“Miss Renée, do you know that every house has inbuilt CCTV cameras in case of a burglary. Your house had one in the living room and from the footage we saw, it clearly shows you going upstairs to take a jacket when going outside as though you knew the house was on fire.”

“I did know.”

I shouted back. He narrowed his gaze.

“At that time when I ran up the stairs, I did know. It was too late. I was confused, so I went upstairs for the jacket then left.”

He chuckled once more.

“Do you know what I think Miss Renée? I think you were an aggravated teenager who wanted to get back at her parents and she decided to burn her house down.”

“No! That’s not true.”

I cried, shaking my head repeatedly in negation.

“Officer, she has a visitor.”

Someone announced by the door, halting their interrogation.

“Don’t say anything else, Camilla. You can’t question her without a lawyer present.”

An unknown figure says to the officers. Mother and Father trailing behind.

I release a deep breath as a ray of hope shines through this very dark pit I’m in. Finally, someone comes for me.

****

“Mother. Father!”

I screech, scrambling into their arms.

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for what I’m putting everyone through because of my stupid mistakes. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

I shake my head sideways more than once, tears flowing freely down to my arms. This hurts badly.

“We’re your parents. We can’t possibly be angry especially in a time like this. Children make huge mistakes. Besides, it’s our fault in the end. We are sorry honey.”

Dad kissed the top of my forehead as mom was already on the brink of crying.

“Can they arrest me for arson?”

I mumble quietly.

“They can if there’s enough evidence”

Dad revealed. They had the footage. Was that enough?

“I don’t want to go to jail.”

I sobbed.

“I’m scared.”

I added, choking on my tears.

“Don’t be. Your dad and I are with you. We aren’t going anywhere. We got a lawyer already and It’ll be over before you know it, you’ll come out just all right. I promise you my darling.”

Mom assures.

“We should go speak with Mr Raul, your lawyer. He’ll be able to bring us to speed on what’s going on.”

Mom reaches for my thumb, squeezing it slightly.

I can only nod.

They exit the room with Mr Raul and I return to my chair, sliding into it and resting my head over the desk.

I’m condemned.

****

Every girl has a very unique bucket list. Several things she must do before she dies or gets into college from high school.

I had mine, I hadn’t even begun to work on the long list but one thing’s for sure.

Getting arrested and put in an interrogation room wouldn’t be part of that list. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly and sometimes we just have to live with the fact that we don’t always get what we want. Although we try hard, we cannot always get what we want.

An hour later, I got to know my stand.

My primary hearing in front of a judge would be tomorrow.

He’ll determine if the case should be taken to trial.

If I lose that hearing, I will have about a month before I’m called back to court where I’m at least sixty per cent certain I’ll be found guilty and sentenced to juvenile prison till I turn eighteen and after that I’m not sure what’ll happen.

While my friends prepare for prom and graduation, I’ll be in prison.

This isn’t how I planned my life out.

“Camilla.”

Mom and Dad had returned along with Mr and Mrs Emerton by the corner.

Dylan wasn’t in sight.

You’d think my conviction would earn his presence, but no. He’s not here.

Weirdly, I needed him close to me right now, hug me and whisper comforting words in my ears so I’ll believe it’s going to be okay.

If it isn’t in the end at least I’ll have the delusion that it is. For a little why.

It’s crappy yeah, but I’m desperate.

Could he still be mad after yesterday’s quarrel? I don’t think so. He was willing to fight those officers off me, so why the hell didn’t he come to see me?

He’s aware of what happened, he has to. What’s more important than coming here when it feels like my entire world has ended.

I want to have faith. I want to believe that everything’s going to be okay but it’s not. I knew from the moment I caused the fire, I only dug my own grave only a matter of time before I fell into it and someone closed it up.

No matter how I thought about it, I lived on borrowed time and it has just elapsed.

“We won’t be able to grant bail till after the hearing tomorrow, but we have made sure you’ll be treated right. We”ll be back here first thing tomorrow morning.”

“No! No! You can’t leave me here. Please don’t leave me here.”

Mother reached for my hand, crouching down to my level.

“Mom, please. I can’t stay here anymore. It’s like I’m losing my mind. Please get me out of here.”

I wept bitterly.

“I will baby. I promise you I will do anything I can to get you out. I’ll move mountains if I have to, but I can’t do that today. We’ve tried everything.”

“No.”

I shook my head numerous times.

“It’s time.”

The officer stepped inside.

“Dad, please.”

My lips quivered searching through all their faces for help. They all had the same look. My fate is sealed.

I’m spending a night in a holding cell and the worse is yet to come.

****

*Author’s Note*

*Well. Well. Well. The urge to put Camilla in jail is nerve-racking. Let’s see how this all plays out though. Where is Dylan btw? We’ll see. Xoxo.*