Living With The Player

**DYLAN EMERTON**

SUNDAY.

I blinked back the memories of this afternoon, hissing as the papers over the desk seem to get blurry. I’ve been starting for a while now.

“Dylan…”

Her faint whisper, echoes in the back of my head. A reminder of what they had done to her. Her resolve to break as she’s been taken away.

One hour. It’s been an hour since I watched them take her away

Lawyers. That’s the first thing they reckon.

I’m here peering at my computer screen while studying cases of arson. You’d think she’ll get off the hook as a minor. Not certainly.

They’re implicating her in burning the house down on purpose. The simple key to getting her back is proving the truth. It was a horrible accident. Nothing more.

My parents have gone to see her.

I bit back my tongue severely before it whispered what I secretly craved.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

To see her. To touch her. To hold her in my arms kiss away every fucking ounce of pain.

It broke everything in me to see her shed tears. I could be silly and visit, comfort her as her parent were or I can stay back and do something about the arrest.

As much as it whipped my soul, I didn’t go to see Camilla.

My flesh was weak and how badly I wanted it craved hers.

I can’t. Not at the moment.

I can’t walk into that prescient and assure her everything will be peachy.

It won’t.

Nothing would be okay. If we don’t hurry, Camilla is going to actual jail.

I won’t see her. I won’t touch her. I will lose her. This isn’t the time to comfort.

I can qualify as a dirtbag for not going to see her. An asshole for being insensitive, but I would rather be all those persons and ensure she’s out in the end.

The lawyer my parents will hire won’t do much, he doesn’t have enough time plus he barely knows Camilla and the case. Not like I do.

A loophole. That’s all I need. I have less than twenty-four hours to find it and I will. Even if it’s the last fucking thing I do on this earth, I’ll find it.

“Hang on tight Cam. I swear it to you, I’ll do whatever it takes to get you out.”

I swore before moving on to the next page, reaching for the glass of water over the table.

****

**CAMILLA RENÉE**

Not a second after visiting hours ended, they were instructed to leave.

I wasn’t in jail yet but this is the treatment I get.

Dad tried to implore for more time, all to deaf ears. They had to leave.

“Camilla, we’ll be here tomorrow for the hearing. You’ll be fine. It’s just for one night. I promise you, it’ll be over by tomorrow.”

I almost scoff, but that would merely be disrespectful. They don’t know if I’ll get through the hearing. What evidence do we have to sway this case in my favour?

Nothing. Fucking done.

Mother grasped me and I broke down completely. Hard sobs racked through my body before bursting completely into tears.

“Please don’t go.”

I solicited, wailing loudly. The room is spinning again. Very fast.

“I have to go now. I’ll always be here with you but right now, I have to go. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry you have to go through this.”

She crushed our bodies harder.

Dylan’s parents stood aside and dad’s hand was still linked to mine, for a few seconds then they disengaged completely.

“I love you.”

She whispers. I was too stunned to speak.

Those were three words I hadn’t heard from my mother in over a decade.

Tears blurred my vision of them exiting the room entirely.

The officer escorted me back to my cell. It was fairly large, with a light bulb in the hallway so it wasn’t too dark.

A medium-sized bed at the far end of the room, that was all.

He gently shut the door and I recoiled in fright, crawling towards the metallic structure.

Holding onto the frame of the bed, I slid into the mattress and winced at how hard it felt.

The mattress back at both homes was soft and silky. This feels wooden.

Staring at the ceiling, I blinked slowly as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I doubt I’ll sleep a wink tonight.

Turning over, my mind drifted to Dylan and what’s he was doing at this moment.

Punching the bag? Unlikely.

Sleeping or texting? Maybe?

Not caring about how I was? Definitely.

Sniffling, I wiped the edge of my eyes and turned again determined to get some sleep. It’s a big day tomorrow. Maybe the most important of my life.

****

MONDAY.

The first day of the week is always the most irritating. For most. It’s submitting assignments and returning to classes. None of which I disliked. Until today.

My primary hearing is today and I arose in the most excruciatingly and uncomfortable manner. My back hurt like hell.

I didn’t sleep much, the sounds of dripping water and crawling insects kept me up at night, I shut my eyes tightly and before I knew it, someone called out for me.

“It is time Miss Renée.”

Her voice boomed outside my cell.

The door rattled as she unlocked it and I got up, stretching my hands in the air.

Once outside, I noticed some other kids. They looked meaner but who was I to judge? We’re in the same category at the moment. We’re all considered criminals.

The female officer directed me to a crappy excuse for a bathroom. It’s about the same size as the bedroom, maybe even smaller.

I slid inside carefully, shutting the door behind me while searching for a lock. I clicked it then sighed deeply.

I don’t have any new clothes, I’ll have to rinse and repeat these old ones. Who would’ve fucking thought I’d be doing this. Oh, the irony.

I chuckled at my sad state, unclothing myself while pushing the shower curtains aside.

*You’re not going to cry.*

I bit back every tear and stepped inside.

****

The female officer was kind enough to hand me a deodorant. I didn’t smell like shit, can’t say the same for how I feel.

I was returned to the prescient, front desk and made to seat at the corner.

I mumbled a word of prayer as we headed to the court. Where my fate will be determined.

****

We arrived in front of the huge brown door

I’d imagine I’d be placed in cuffs as a criminal or something, but that wasn’t the case.

I was merely escorted by three officers.

Two from yesterday and the female officer from this morning.

She pushed the door in and I whimpered at the lights.

Dylan must be in school now. It’s the first period Afterall.

I’ve watched movies and I think it should be my lawyer, my parents and the plaintiff.

Strutting inside the room, I met yet another shock. The nth one in twenty-four hours.

Sure my parents were there. My lawyer as well. That wasn’t all. Dylan Emerton was seated right beside them. He even dressed well in casual. I lowered my head and looked over my dress. I feel stupid.

He was clad in a simple white shirt and black pants. Tucked in. Dylan tucked in his shirt. Opposite day. That’s the only explanation because this isn’t possible. Not in this world.

“Dylan is here.”

I took slow strides towards them, gazing at him intensely, hoping he wouldn’t disappear.

“Now that the defendant is here, we may now begin. ”

The judge struck his hammer over his desk, snapping me out of my trance. Dylan was still there.

****

“Miss Camilla Renee, on one charge of third-degree arson, filed against you by the state of New York, how do you plead?”

A clerk rose beside the judge, holding up a piece of paper.

The lawyer has explained this part. I was to plead not guilty. I wasn’t paying much attention, mostly staring at Dylan. He hadn’t met my gaze since I stepped into the room, he’s been staring at a folder over his desk.

“Not guilty.”

I answered, clearing all thoughts of Dylan away from my head.

Someone else got up. A lawyer for the state I assume. He was dressed in a black suit like my lawyer.

“The state will like to call Miss Renée to the stand.”

Here we go. I’ve seen so many scenes, I know the lines and how it goes. He is going to probe the hell out of me.

“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”

“I swear.”

I responded, placing my hand on the Bible. Here goes nothing.

“Miss Renee could you please tell this court what transpired on that day, the 21st.”

My feet were wobbly, both hands wrapped around the wooden frame.

I looked at Dylan, he wasn’t staring at the folder anymore, it was in the hands of the lawyer and he was smiling. He was smiling at me

“It was a Wednesday night. My parents were out and I was home alone.”

“So you admit you felt distraught to be alone.”

He interrupts quickly, I twitch a little quickly recovering, raising my shoulders boldly.

“Yes.”

The lawyer advised me to tell the truth, I did nothing wrong.

“So distraught enough that you decided to act out, so they might take you seriously…”

“No!”

I answer sharply. He used my answer against me.

“Objection your honour.”

I switched my gaze to my lawyer, he had gotten up with an angry look.

“Overruled. Please continue.”

I whimpered. This isn’t good

“Tell this humble court, were you angry or not that your parents left you. Wasn’t there so much anger in you to do something catastrophic?”

*Tell the truth.* That’s working against me at the moment.

“Yes I was, but I did not burn my house down on purpose.”

I retort firmly.

“Anger is a great motivator, Miss Renee. Would you even know if you did it on purpose?”

My lips throbbed.

I glanced at Dylan. He passed me a small smile encouraging me to continue.

“I did not burn my house down on purpose.”

I repeat, curling my fist in annoyance.

The lawyer didn’t ask any further questions, I took it as a hint to carry on.

“I was in the kitchen cooking a meal, I got hungry.”

“In this file, I have the report of the night where your parents clearly state you were in your room which is what you told them. Did they lie to an officer Miss Renée?”

“No, they didn’t!”

I exclaim losing my self-control.

“I lied.”

I added in a low tone.

“I lied to my parents.”

I clarify then exhale.

“Why would you lie? You lied to your parents about where you were. You say you aren’t guilty, It was an accident, so why didn’t you tell them that. Why lie? If you’re truly innocent as you’ve claimed, why the lies?”

“I was scared.”

I answer abruptly, on the brink of crying.

“Of what?”

“Objection your honour. Irrelevant.”

“Sustained.”

He responded and I breathed. This isn’t like the movies. My heart is bursting out now. I can’t take this.

I proceeded.

“I was chatting in the kitchen. I got carried away and didn’t notice when it caught fire. When it did, I had no idea how to react, I ran back to my room to get a few things and when help arrived, it was too late.”

“So let me get this straight. You were chatting but you didn’t notice the stench of burning food. Miss Renee you can’t expect us to believe that.”

“That’s the truth.”

I growled getting riled up.

“It’s physically impossible not to mention unbelievable. Thank you, your honour.”

He strode back to his seat.

My lawyer got up.

My redemption? I would hope so.

He had Dylan’s folder in his hands, ran through it then walked toward me with a smile.

“Firstly, I would like to thank you the case for closing the case for us.”

He says and my lips twitch tentatively.

“You gave all the key points we needed to solve it.”

“I’ll just go straight to the point. Miss Renée did you ever feel your parents didn’t love you enough. Were too strict.”

“Yes.”

I answer slowly, gazing at them at the corner. Mum and dad were clutching at each other. I did that to them.

“Good. That plainly illustrates why she lied. The court cannot forget her stance. She’s a minor. She’s allowed to make mistakes. That’s to clear that aspect. Now moving on to the actual case.”

“Miss Renée’s toxic report from that night shows that Miss Renée had ingested wine which has a sizeable amount of alcohol. You can’t blame a seventeen year for drinking. If you want to do it, don’t charge her for arson in the process. We should be thanking God she was able to get out as quickly as she could and not burnt in the process. Finally, I’d like to present the court with her phone records which will prove all her claims. She was texting at that time, so she could not try to burn her house down at that moment. That would be all your honour.”

He handed the file over which contained the report and my texts.

Oh shit. My messages. I told Dylan and my parents it was a friend. It wasn’t. It was Kyle.

Fuck Dylan will know I was texting Kyle and I lied.

Shit. I snapped in his direction, watching his demeanour Straight as fuck. He’s not mad that I lied? Or he’s saving that aspect for later?

“You’ll be fine.”

He mouthed.

I swallowed hard.

“The court will now be in recess for fifteen minutes until a decision is made.”

Fifteen minutes till my fate is announced. I’m so sweaty.

I got out of the stand, following the lawyer’s direction to return to my seat. The urge to throw up at this moment. Oh God I pray I don’t

******

*Author’s Note*

*Another busy day for me. I’ll be updating more frequently in February. I’ll be able to double update for the first week. We’re gradually approaching the end of the first season. I can’t wait for what’s in store next. Lots of love.*