Pause

by CJ Adler

  The officer turns to the idiot beside me. “Jay, are you sure you don't want to make a call for bail?”

  The officer even knows his name?!

  “I'm good,” Jay insists for the third time.

  I wonder if he has anyone to bail him out. There is no way I'm leaving this cell without him right in tow.

  “On what grounds are we being arrested? Because I'd like to call my lawyer. I'm underage. I'm still a juvenile,” I tell the officer in a firm tone, not threatened in the slightest by his superior authority.

  “On what grounds were you not arrested is the real question? Underagedrinking, charges laid against you for trespassing, damage to personal property —need I go on?” he asks, not bothering to hide his irritation.

  Jay and I answer simultaneously:

  “Yes, please!”

  “Please don't.”

  Jay glares at me, in turn.

  I cave beneath his gaze and turn back to the officer in submission. “Ugh, fine. No, thanks. There is enough evidence there to keep me captive,” I finally admit to the truth.

  Why couldn't we have been arrested for something awesome? Say, espionage.

  “And you haven't been arrested. You're just being detained for investigation purposes,” the officer corrects me. “Lucky for you, you're still a minor.”

  I watch him leave, the racket having died down ever since Jay tugged me away from the bars.

  “How do you usually get out?” I immediately ask Jay, aware that he's no longer considered to be a minor. He's eighteen.

  He knows exactly what I'm referring to. He glances down at me with a frown. “I know people who know other people.”

  “I thought friends are overrated,” I prod, curiosity getting the better of the rhinos.

  “They are. I'm not referring to friends, I'm referring to connections,” he clarifies, adamant that friends are insignificant. “People are inherently bad. I don't just believe it, I know it. I've experienced it. I'm better off on my own.”

  “That's a lonely life you lead,” I argue, trying to figure him out.

  “Friends only lead to moments of hesitation. Moments of hesitation make us weak.”

  “No.” I shake my head. “Moments of hesitation make us human.”

  “Then I don't want to be human.”

  It's a good thing he doesn't act like one.

  ***

  “You have a visitor,” another officer tells us a while later, squinting in our direction. “Your friend is here to pick you up.”

  We're not entirely sure who he's talking to. His eyes are all over the place. I glance at Jay. He just shrugs helplessly. It's got to be me. Jay, supposedly, doesn't have friends.In comes a familiar mop of brown hair and brown eyes—Mason.

  My eyes widen at the sight. I lean my head against the wall of the cell and gaze up at the ceiling in despair. “Here we go. Surely I'm in purgatory.”

  And here we go we did go...

  “Nah, can't be, I'm here.” Jay grins in the hopes of consoling me.

  Mason storms up to the cell, not waiting another second to blow up on me. “What is wrong with you? Arrested?! Really? You're pathetic but not this pathetic. Even you are above this.”

  Not arrested, detained.

  I can't say that I never saw this lecture coming. If I think this is bad then just wait until Bell enters through those doors. She is gonna flip out.

  Jay narrows his eyes at Mason, taking on an intimidating stance. “Back off.” I voice my own thoughts when she doesn't pitch. “Where is Bells?”

  Mason begins to explain. “In the shower. I—”

  “Gah, spare me the details, Mason!” I cut him short from continuing with that thought.

  He rolls his eyes at me and clarifies. “I got the message you sent.”

  “You are so nosy. Leave her phone alone.” I shake my head at him, unimpressed.

  “Let's face it, Bells would have gone crazy if she heard. I deleted the voicemail. I went home and scavenged some football winnings to bail you out without her knowledge, and here I am, utterly infuriated,” he elaborates briefly, not going into any details.

  True friends literally bail you out. However, truer friends are in jail with you.

  I pick at my nails, averting my gaze in shame. “So, I know you're probably a teeny-weeny bit mad—”

  “A teeny-weeny bit?!” He all but raises his voice. He then sighs. “I can't believe you just got me to say those two words.” He shakes his head. “Did you not just hear me? Utterly infuriated!” He glowers down at me in disapproval. “You're in jail.”

  I roll my eyes at him. “You make it sound so much worse than how it really is.”

  “Oh, I am so sorry that I don't know how to sugarcoat the fact that you

  went against the law and got yourself imprisoned!” he snaps, sarcasm evident in his tone.

  What is up with everyone and sarcasm today?

  I glance up at him in innocence from behind the bars, pushing him further with my next words. “Well, hold your breath, you're forgiven.”

  He closes his eyes, angry, as if holding himself back from strangling me.

  “You're so downright frustrating.”

  I place a hand up to my heart. “Thank you, Mason. I mean it.”

  I hear Jay chuckle from the background, clearly amused.

  “You owe me big time. I'm getting you out,” Mason informs me, hanging the keys to his car, my way to freedom, in front of the cell. He waves it agonizingly slow past my face. I reach through the bars to snatch it, but he takes a step back and waves a finger at me. “Tut-tut. First, you make me a deal.”

  I glare at him coldly, my extended arm falling limp at my side. “Name your price.”

  “Don't tell Bell. Then you're off the hook for good.” He makes his terms clear.

  I don't have much of a choice but to submit. He is my only ticket out of this hellhole. Then again, Jay makes for good company. Still, I'd prefer not to grow old with him behind bars in a rut like this.

  “Don't tell Bell what?”

  “And the plot thickens.” Jay grins, hanging back to watch the chaos play out.

  I run both hands down my face and let out a loud groan at her impeccable timing. There's no doubt about it, I'm dead.

  She stands with her hands on her hips in front of our cell, foot tapping impatiently for an answer, besides a terrified Mason as she stares me down for an explanation. “Ahem,” she coughs, seeking my full attention.

  Please, no one can handle my full attention. It will kill you.

  “You kids better hurry up. You're not even supposed to be back here. I only allowed it because her uncle—” the squint officer points to me, I think, “—is a fellow cop and friend of mine. He's convinced the farmer to drop all charges.”

  My uncle is the best. Even when he's not here, he's helping me.

  I clap my hands together and force a smile her way. “'Sup, Bells. How's it going?”

  She doesn't answer. She's a ticking time bomb and will blow any second now. If that happens, she'll destroy the planet after first unleashing her wrath entirely on me.

  “So, I suppose you're wondering how I landed myself up in jail?” I question and then continue speaking before she can interrupt. “Anyway, as you can see, I'm just chilling...and stuff...” I trail off when I see that there is no saving me today.

  And in 3,2—

  “How?!” She blows up like a volcano, and right on time too. “How the hell do you always manage to get yourself wrapped up in these situations?!”

  “A gift.” I bow down in pride. “I warp my mind into it.”

  “Do you think? Do you ever think for yourself ?! You're in jail. Jail! Do you even get that? J-A-I-L! Jail!” she hisses, more venomous than a snake.

  “In my defense...” I falter, deciding to copy Jay's earlier words, “I wanted to get arrested. Now I can scratch it off my bucket list.”

  “Getting arrested was on your bucket list?” Mason asks, skeptical.

&
nbsp; He better shut it or I'll make him kick the damn bucket!

  “That's by far the worst defense I have ever heard in my entire existence on this planet!” Bell yells in a fit of rage. She gives me a second to recover, suddenly turning to Mason with accusation behind her eyes. “And you! I'll get to you later! I had to follow you here when you acted all suspicious! I can't even look at you right now!”

  I hop on that train, immediately taking Bell's side, hoping to get in her good graces again. “Neither can I.” I shake my head as if disappointed. “I mean, who lies right out to their own girlfriend?”

  “He does,” Jay interrupts, jutting his thumb out in Mason's direction, answering my rhetorical question in order to get to Mason.

  He really despises Mason.

  “That is just sick. Lying to your beloved is just sick. I don't blame you. I can't look at him either, Bells,” I tell her, sucking up to her in the hopes of forgiveness.

  Mason shoots me a death glare for my audacity.

  I shrug apologetically and mouth “every man for himself ” to him.

  Yeah, he's never going to help me ever again...

  “Don't play the innocent card. I'm looking at you through bars, not

  Mason,” she points out, reminding me that I'm in more trouble than Mason.

  The officer sighs in impatience and unlocks the cell, gesturing to us to leave already.

  “C'mon! Get out so we can leave this place,” Bells urges, practically dragging me out by my forearm with her claws for nails.

  The stupid jail witch seems to find it funny and cackles loudly.

  He snickers too and I suddenly remember the other presence in the cell. I halt from following after Bells. She glances back at me questioningly. I motion to the corner of the cell where Jay sits, keeping to himself, as he continues to carelessly toss the coin up and down in his hand.

  Here's where he will see just how handy it is to have a friend.

  “Him? Him too? No wonder you're in jail! He's a terrible influence on you!

  We are not helping him too,” Bells tells me sternly.

  I pout and glance toward my second option, Mason, who also shakes his head at me. “I'm with Bells on this one. If it was anyone else then maybe, but not him. He deserves to be locked away forever.”

  I close the cell gate much to the officer's surprise.

  “You're very brave when you know that I'm behind bars.” Jay scowls at Mason.

  It's really all Mason's fault for making his deal with Jay so personal. Maggot, as if weary, takes a cautious step back from the cell bars, choosing to wedge himself in between the officer and his terrifying girlfriend instead.

  Bells huffs and opens the gate once again, gesturing for me to leave.

  I glance from her to Jay before making up my mind. It's no difficult choice. I close the gate yet again and step further back into the cell, separating myself from Bells and Mason as I saddle up beside Jay with determination in my veins.

  Bell gives me a look of disbelief. “You can't be serious?” When I don't answer, she loses it, speaking through clenched teeth, “Get out of the cell. Now.”

  I blatantly refuse and stay put. I will not be swayed.

  I motion over to Jay. “It's my fault we're in here. Not his. If he stays, I stay.”

  “Fine!” she snaps at me.

  “Fine!” I retort back, just as mad.

  “Have it your way!” she shouts before attempting to walk away but Mason, of all people, is the one who stops her.

  “Be reasonable, babe,” he says, taking chances on his life for my sake. “This is getting ridiculous.” The officer sighs. “I've never seen someone willing choose to stay in jail.”

  “Don't 'babe' me,” Bell sasses Mason, ignoring the officer.

  Hopeless, I watch as she turns her back on all of us and walks away. She's always had a short temper, or I just cause her a lot of grief, either way, I understand that her emotions are valid. She'll cool down eventually.

  Mason sighs and reaches up to scratch the back of his neck, clearly torn. Eventually, as if fighting a losing battle with himself, he caves. “We'll take him,” he tells the officer before facing Jay. “You owe me one.”

  “I owe you nothing,” Jay says quietly, leering at Mason in hatred.

  Mason and Jay have a stare-down. Mason is the one that ends up giving in.

  “Fair enough.” He sends me one last look before fetching Bell.

  I glance at Jay in bewilderment. “What was that all about?”

  “Nothing,” he answers calmly, having already consoled himself. “I don't get why you put up with that.” He gestures after Mason's retreating form.

  “Barely surviving,” I admit. “Though you're not that much of an upgrade from him. At least, with Mason, I don't land up in jail,” I joke. “Plus, I don't know how you put up with that!” I motion to my archnemesis glaring at me from inside her cell.

  I purposely leave the cell and stick my tongue out at her as I pass her by, on my way to freedom.

  “She is still cooler than Montry. Mason—”

  “Maggot,” I correct him.

  He chuckles. “Maggot—” he emphasizes, “—is not as nearly as much fun as me.”

  I laugh in agreement. “True that, my friend, true that.”

  There's a brief moment of silence between us as we exit the jail cell section.

  Jay takes the initiative to break it with a cruel reminder. “We're not friends.” “Yet,” I correct him a second time.

  “There is no 'yet',” he argues, adamant.

  He's a tough nut to crack. I've just been arrested with him and yet we're still not classified as friends.

  “Oh, but there is, JT, there is,” I protest.

  “Stop calling me that.”

  “Stop calling you what?”

  “You know 'what'.”

  “Do I?” I blink up at him, feigning innocence.

  “I'm not doing this with you right now,” he tells me, trying to avoid getting sucked up into another argument with me; little does he know that it's inevitable.

  “Suit yourself, JT, my friend.” I pause dramatically. “Suit yourself.”

  “I know what you're doing,” he says. “And it won't work.”

  “Are you annoyed?” I ask.

  He nods.

  “Then it's working!” I reply all too happily.

  “That's the last time I get wasted and trespass with you,” he teases, in a good mood.

  “Admit it,” I grin at the memory, “it was fun. We even got shot at when we went for that joyride around the farm in the owner's truck.”

  He shakes his head. “This may come as a surprise to you, seeing as you're insane, but, believe it or not, I prefer not to be shot at.”

  Chapter 10

  Happy-Go-Lucky

  I stare at the clock in hopelessness, time ticking away ever so slowly. I'm literally watching my day plans slip right through my fingers. I tap my pen against my table, anxiously waiting for the class to end, when, in actual fact, it has just started.

  “Ms. Lawson, do you mind with the pen?” Mr. Daughtry asks.

  I know better than to backchat him, hence my gazillion time being here. I drop my pen back down to the table. Absentmindedly, I begin to tap my foot. Mr. Daughtry shoots me a look for disrupting yet again. I halt my foot from tapping any further and send him an apologetic look in return.

  I glance back at the clock to see that only a minute has passed. There's no way I am surviving this. No freaking way!

  I begin to fidget in my seat as I glance around the class, frustrated for getting myself into yet another sticky confrontation. Most of these people are complete morons or rebellious losers. They're the kind of people I steer clear from, yet here I am, joining them.

  “You're late, Taylor,” Mr. Daughtry says as if used to it.

  His words slowly sink in, my head snapping up to see brown hair and the prettiest eyes I have ever encountered all my life.

  I grin, maybe
I can endure this after all.

  Jay doesn't bother giving any remark back and simply brushes Daughtry aside. He spots me in the front of the classroom and completely ignores me when I wave at him, blocking me out as he walks to the back of the class.

  “To the front, Taylor, where I can see you,” Daughtry insists, obviously annoyed at Jay's apparent dismissal of him. “Take a seat next to Lawson,” he says and points to the open seat beside me, giving my surname away.

  Jay glances at me and then back at Daughtry as if looking for a way out of it, however, in the end, he decides not to fight the system. He does as told and reluctantly takes a seat beside me. He doesn't bother to greet me or even look my way, almost as if I don't exist at all in his eyes.

  Do I take offense to any of it? Not at all.

  Am I mad? Hell no!

  Did I expect this of him? You bet I did.

  Am I amused by it all?

  Hell yeah!

  If sharing a cell and being cellmates for a day isn't true friendship then I don't know what is. Then again, he did ask that we part ways. I guess he's living up to his words.

  Nonetheless, I stare at him as he keeps his eyes trained solely ahead of him. He's wearing a navy blue button-up shirt and his hair is styled up in its usual attractive array. He doesn't bother to converse with anyone, unlike all the others in here. He's a loner in that way, prefers to keep to himself.

  I glance down at my hand briefly, only to find that it's purple and swollen.

  I have one hell of a right hook. Go me! I'm officially an outlaw. Stop in the name of no law! I can see it now, soon I'll be making headlines: Aqueela, the outlaw, to attack again?

  I then remember my newfound conquest. I go back to staring at Jay. He has to break at some point or another; they all do. I'm invincible.

  He senses me staring and turns slightly in his seat. I follow the action and continue to stare. I widen my eyes purposely just to freak him out all the more. He twitches uncomfortably but shakes it off as he keeps watching the board ahead of him.

  He's watching me from the corner of his eye. As the minutes pass by, he begins to tap his pen as if growing agitated. I grin to myself as I keep my eyes trained solely on him until finally—