| Prolouge: Wilkinsons Juvenile Reform School For Boys (aka Juvenile Hall) The clock chimed quietly.The fresh scent of fall and fading sunlight poured in threw the open patio doors,casting a dark shadow across the majolica cottoforte tiled floor,dimming the delicate designs that adorned them. A soft breeze ruffled the creamy curtains that lay nestled at the corners of the open French doors.Outside just beyond the heavy iron gates,and narrow street still slick with rain,a couple strolled lazily,barefoot in the lush green grass that seemed endless inside,the park. For a few fleeting moments he tried to remember what having that type of freedom felt like,and couldn�t. Dissapointed,his mouth turned down into a slight frown,making him look younger than he actually was.Still unwitting to meet her eyes,he settled them on his lap,and noted with some annoyence that his hands had become clammy and had begun tremble.Frustrated with his own behavior,he shifted in his seat and stuffed them under his legs. Across from him,a thick oak desk separating them,a pretty forty something woman cleared her throat and questioned quietly,�So what would you like discuss today?� Nervously,he nibbled on his bottom lip,and replied,�Ummmmm...� �How about we start with the altercation in the lunch room today?�she offered. His frown deepened and he shrugged heavily in reply. �The boy you fought with...I thought he was a friend of yours�. �He was�he huffed in reply. �And?�she said,and he could hear her smile softly as she continued,�He�s not anymore?� He replied silently again,with a curt shake of his head. �Can I ask why?� He grimaced in his chair when the faint,coppery taste of blood filled his mouth,and noted,belatedly,how hard he�d bitten down on his lip when she�d asked that question. �He�s just not�. �But you were friends before you came here,right?�Her chair creaked quietly,when she leaned back into it.�You were best friends�cousins if I�m not mistaken?� He nodded.His hair had grown out in the few months he�d been here and he noted how soft it felt when it brushed against his earlobe. �What changed?� �Everything� �He lied�he added a moment later. �About?�she prodded. �Everything�he answered again. He listened as she held her breath for a moment,and noted the hesitancy in her voice when she replied.�Is that why you were there that night? Did he trick you into coming?� �No�Quietly. �Then why did you go?� �Because he asked me to� �But couldn�t you just have said no?� �No�he replied.his voice slightly strained. �Why?�she asked. �Because he was my friend..my brother�he explained,�and I trusted him�. �So what changed? Why don�t you trust him now?� His brow creased and his face colored slightly,with his frustration to answer that question for himself. �Was it what happened to Phillip Leads?� His ears pearked up,and he turned his head slightly in her direction.�Who?� �The guard�she replied. His body slumped in the chair,and his shoulders began to tremble.�That was an accident..my accident�he replied. �That you blame him for� �No�he shook his head and began nibbling on his bottom lips again,�that was my mistake�my fault�. �But you blame him� No�he shook his head again,ignoring the faint taste of blood that filled his mouth again.�It was my fault he fell...I let go of his hand�. �And you blame him...why?� �Because he was the reason I was there�he replied,the words slipping past his lips before he realized he�d spoken them.They hung heavy in the air. �He begged me to go with him..�he began softly,�..he said it would only take a minuet..that it would be okay..tojust trust him�.Tears filled his eyes,and he tried to blink them away,�..and I did�. �But then when we got there,at Deception,and I saw we would have to break in,to get in,I wanted to go..but he begged me to stay,so I did�. �I don�t even know how the alram got set off,or when we decided to split up..I don�t even remember running into that guard�. He shifted,agitatedly,in his seat,�I didn�t think I�d hit him that hard..but then he just fell..and I caught his hand..but he was so heavy�I tried to hold on,I did..but he was sooo heavy�.His breath caught and he began to cry in earnest,mumbling through his tears,�I tried to hold on�but I couldn�t,and he just..he fell....forever it seemed like�. Distractedly he rubbed his nose,that had began to run,with the sleave of his regulation,long sleaved white t-shirt. �Then the police came,and took us away� �They didn�t understand that it was a mistake�he added softly. �But he does�she offered,her voice shattering the silence. His body tensed in his chair,and his face turned hard,the memory of his shedded tears fading fast. �Look�she said holding up her hand to silence him,�I�m just saying...you might be here for a while..� �Two years to be exact�he sneered. She nodded,and continued,�and two years,three months for him� He frowned,only just realizing that when he left,he�d be leaving him all alone. �All I�m saying,is only three people know and understand what happened that night.Phillip Leads,you,and your cousin�It would be wise not to push away the only other person who can truly understand what happened and what your going through,cause soon,I can guarantee,all you�ll need is someone who understands�. He nodded,her words sinking in slowly,and jumped,startled,when the large granfather clock behind her desk chimed. �Times up�she announced rounding her desk and waiting for him to stand before walking him to the door. �You�re a good boy,who made a bad mistake�she said,placing her hand on his shoulder,and stopping his from pulling the heavyoak wood door open,�you still have a bright future infront of you,and your family is part of that..don�t forget that� He nodded and pulled that door open slowly,than paused and asked quietly,�Do you ever wish?� She nodded,smiling a warm smile.�Do you?�she asked in return,and asked what when he nodded. �I wish�he paused.�I wish Phillip Leads knew how sorry I was� he said heading down the empty hallway. �He does Sly she replied quietly to his back,�he does�. Chapter 1 Back to Thin Line |