A Life Like Mine (12 page)

              “But…” Adam looked a little sad.

              “But nothing. I told you before I came here but don’t want you getting any ideas. We kissed once. May I remind you a kiss is not a contract?”

              “Well it should be!” Adam frowned. “I don’t care what you say! And the Brad Pitt thing is my claim to fame…” He gave me a kiss on the cheek.

              “Hey! Now you’re talking.” I laughed.

              “Ash?”

              “What, Adam?” I looked over at him. We were right in front to the police station.

              “Can I hold your hand?” He looked so scared.

              “Oh, stop it you big baby! Stop trying to be so cute. You’ll be fine. I know you’re scared, but come on. It’ll be over before you know it.” I was scared for him, but I was trying not to show it.

              “Okay,” He and I walked into the station. Adam went over and approached an officer. I couldn’t hear what he said, but the officer suddenly got very edgy.  I saw Adam point to me, and the officer walked over to me.

              “Do you know that boy?” He asked. The way he said it made me feel like I was in the movie
The Terminator.

              “Yes, I do. I came here with him. Is there a problem?”

              “Come with me.” He took my arm and started dragging me towards Adam.

              “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” I asked angrily.

              “You and this boy are going to be questioned,” He said.

              “What?” Adam and I asked together.

              “This boy was involved in a serious crime and he’s going to be questioned. Since you’re with him you too will be questioned.”

              “Wait, she didn’t do anything. I came here to confess so I could get this off my chest and feel better about it,” Adam admitted. “She didn’t do anything.”
              “Doesn’t matter,” The officer said. We both went into different rooms. I didn’t see Adam for a little while, and I don’t know what they asked him. I got carried into a bright room with couches and furniture. It looked nothing like one of those questioning rooms from NYPD Blue.  Let me say that this was nothing like what I had expected. The police dudes were nice and none of them had one of those phony New York accents. It was all very smooth, and not at all pressured. I just wanted to know where Adam was located because I was supposed to be there to support him. Man, what a lousy job I’d been doing, huh?

              “What’s that boy’s name, Miss?” The officer asked me.

              “Adam Jonathan Houston,” I answered, “And please, call me Ashley. I’m Ashley Benson.”

              “All right, Ashley. How long have you known Adam?”

              “Well, I’ve known about him since fifth grade, but I got to know him about a week or two ago,” I replied calmly.

              “Has this boy done anything to hurt you?” The officer’s tone was serious.

              “No!” I was shocked. “Why would he want to hurt me?”

              “Is there anything that he’s done in the past week that you would find suspicious?”

              “No, he asked me to come with him today so he could turn himself in. He stole a lot of money a while ago. He returned the money, but he wanted to finally be free of the burden.” I said.

              “And Adam told you all this?”

              “Yes. He told me this the other day.” I was getting really frustrated. “Is there a point to these questions?”

              “I’m sorry, Ashley. I can’t disclose anything to you. Seeing that you don’t have any information, I’m going to let you go home now. There’s no reason for you to stay here.” The cop started to escort me out.

              “Wait a second. I know that what Adam did was really awful, but he returned the money. He might have to do a little community service, but why would he have to stay here?” I stopped the officer from walking me out.

              “I told you that’s classified information.” The officer started walking me out again.

              “Why does he have to stay here? What are you not telling me? You might as well just tell me because I’m going to find it out from him anyway. Besides, if I don’t hear it from you, I’m going to hear it from someone else.”

              “I can’t tell you.”

              “Tell me. I might be able to get some information out of him for you. He and I are getting really close, so he might be able to tell me stuff that you won’t get out of him,” I pleaded.

              “Well, we wouldn’t be able to rely on you that much because he has obviously been lying to you.”

              “What?” I practically spit out.

              “He never turned the money back in.”

              “What are you talking about?” The hairs on my neck seemed to jump up at attention. I was frozen with fear.

              “That boy that you said didn’t do anything, never returned the money. He’s a criminal and he has serious charges against him. I’m surprised his name hasn’t surfaced earlier. I’m sorry, but that’s all that I can tell you. It’s time for you to go now.” The officer began to usher me out.

              “Wait. What? He never returned it? He had to have returned it. Why would he lie about something like that? Why would he turn himself in if he supposedly never gave the money back?” I started babbling.

              “Well, as you said, he was feeling guilty. That might have been enough to get him to come back.” The officer practically shoved me out of the station. I didn’t know what to do. Why had Adam lied to me? What if he hadn’t? What happened to all of that money?

              “Wow,” Keri said after I had finished my story.

              “I know. What do you think actually happened? He hasn’t been in school today, and I’m worried that he might be in some serious trouble.” I bit my thumb.

              “He told you he turned the money in, right?” Keri asked me.

              “Right.”

              “So, did he tell you how he gave it back?”

              “He said he gave it to Lena and that she…Oh no!” I ran off looking in the cafeteria for Lena. She was to blame. I bet that she did this! She was the one who stole the money! As I started to get angrier, I spotted Lena. She was sitting with Liz and Jill.

              “Lena?” I tapped her shoulder.

              “What do you want, Skank?” Lena turned to me.

              “Why are you addressing me with your name?” I asked.

              “Clever. Is there are reason that your odor decided to come over and ruin my appetite?”

              “You stole that money didn’t you?” My eyes stared at her.

              “What are you talking about?” Lena’s smile faded.

              “Adam took the money. When he decided he needed help he gave you the money to return. You never returned it did you?” I could tell Liz and Jill were puzzled, although whether they were just showing their regular faces, or were genuinely confused is unknown.

              “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I suggest you go back to your group of unwanted freaks, and leave me alone with my friends.” Lena turned back.

              “No. How did you spend the money Lena? You didn’t get a car, so how did you spend it since money is all you really care about?” I turned her back to face me.

              “I didn’t spend any stupid money.”

              “Yes you did. I know it. You’re so pathetic. The only way that you can get a guy is by manipulating him, and making him think he’s going to go farther with you than you let them. You’re practically a prostitute without the sex. You’re just a tease.” I was furious.

              “Don’t talk to me like that!” Lena slapped me as hard as she could. “I’m not a prostitute, and I never will be. So, don’t accuse me of being things that I’m not.”

              “Don’t slap me!” I slapped her back. I know that was a really childish thing to do, but come on, she just slapped me! How was I supposed to deal with that? I guess the civilized thing to do would have been to walk away, but no I’m not smart enough for that. If I were, I would have gotten myself out of what I was about to do.

              “You’re such a twit! And you know what?” Lena stood up.

              “What?” I stepped closer to her.

              “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.” Lena turned back and grabbed her bowl of chili. She turned back to me, and before I could stop her, she had dumped the entire hot dish all over my hair!

              “You witch!” I started clawing at my hair as everyone was silently watching. Why do I always get myself into things that end up sticky, slimy or both and with a ton of bad publicity? Because I’m stupid! That’s why!

              “That’s what you get for accusing me of stuff in front of my friends.” Lena crossed her arms.

              “There’s nothing I said that wasn’t true. And you know what? I think you deserve a little piece of the pie!” I reached over Lena and grabbed the first thing I could before anyone could stop me. I smashed the blue cupcake into her smug face. “I’m sorry, you’re not on a diet are you?”

              “Thin people like me don’t need a diet like you fat people.” Lena took a mustard bottle off the table and started squirting me with it. I tried to fight it off, but her aim was surprisingly good.

              “Ugh! You’re an idiot!” I pushed her. “Now I’m glad I’m not you!” I started wiping my hair.

              “You’re just the same as me. You would have walked away a long time ago if you weren’t.” Lena swiped some pudding off of a tray and smashed it onto my shirt. I stepped back looking at myself. I was about to say something, but I was interrupted.

              “Food fight!” Big Al threw his mystery meat at Liz’s head.

              “Like ewwww! This is so not cool! You ruined my extensions!” Liz yelled. Everyone started to hurl food at each other. It was carnage. I couldn’t believe what I had started. Well, Big Al officially started it, but Lena and I were the ones that put the idea into his head. Food was crazily being flung everywhere. I was getting all types of food over my clothes, but the worst was someone’s tuna crashed right into my face. It was truly a disgusting thing to eat, but now I had it all over my face. Lena had, by this time, been pelted with food, so much so, that she had retreated into the bathroom to clean herself up. I didn’t really want to talk to her. What if I had been wrong? What if Lena had really never gotten the money, and I had attacked her for no good reason? Why did I always charge in first and ask questions later? I stomped over to the bathroom as I dodged the food being launched. I reached the bathroom where I saw Lena trying to clean herself off.

              “Don’t even come near me. I’m not in the mood to continue. I have a major fashion emergency.” She took a paper towel and started wiping off her shirt that was stained with a rainbow of different foods. She practically had a buffet on her boobs.

              “I’m sorry, Lena. I was wrong. I never should have just gone up to you and accused you like that,” I admitted

              “What? You’re apologizing?” Lena stopped cleaning for a moment in astonishment.             

              “Yes. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions like that,” I answered.

              “Well, for once you’re actually making sense. I don’t know why you’re starting to make sense, but I like it. What made you apologize?” Lena looked up at me.

              “I was wrong.”

              “Duh! I know that, but why?” Lena took off her shoe and started to clean it.

              “I didn’t know for sure that you had taken that money. I’m not even sure what I know right now. I never should have said that to you until I was certain though.” I shrugged my shoulders.

              “Yes. You’re right for once.” Lena seemed to be wanting more from me.

              “What more do you want me to say? I’ve apologized. Isn’t that enough?” I asked.

              “No.”

              “Why not?” I searched for an answer in Lena’s eyes.

              “Because you still have a lot more apologizing to do. You did a serious wrong to me. I deserve better.”

              “Well, I think you’re going a bit far, Lena,” I said.

              “No, I’m not.”

              “Yes, you are,” I protested.

              “See there you go again.”

              “What are you talking about?” I asked.

              “You were starting to make sense, and then you go and ruin it by being wrong.” Lena put her shoe back on, starting to clean the other.

              “Wait, what?” I asked.

              “You are seriously stupid.”

              “Don’t insult me, Lena.”

              “But it’s so easy.” Lena smiled.

              “Not now. What more do you want from me?”