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❝Every new friend is a new adventure, the start of more memories. ❞

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♚I hope you like this new chapter, and if you did, please feel free to vote and comment. It encourages me to want to write more and better. Xx, MD ♚

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BEFORE I CAN snap his arm in half, Jeromy tugs twice at my own arm.

"The police are here which means we have to get the hell out of here. Come on," he says hurriedly in my ear, his tone alarming.

Grinding my jaw, I look back at the dicks in front of me. I consider staying here just to give them a good beating but decide against it. Having a bigger criminal record is not something I want or need right now.

I curl my lips in disgust at the guy that I still have trapped with my hands. "Watch that mouth of yours, you misogynistic pig," I say, pulling his twisted arm further up his back, earning a grunt from him, "you don't want to get in trouble because of your big mouth, do you?"

I harden my grip and pull his arm upwards one more time before releasing it. Jeromy pulls on my other arm again, urging me to leave them.

"Come on," I say, giving the group one last glare before leaving with Jeromy.

The wail of the sirens are becoming less distant with every passing second, and soon enough it sounds like they're just around the street.

"Everyone's waiting in the car," Jeromy says as we hurry up, pushing past the crowd of also running people. "It looks like someone was doing drugs."

"What time is it?" I ask, dodging a pair of drunk couples making out. How can they suck at each other's faces when they may or may not get arrested any second now?

"I don't know, I left my phone in the car."

I pat the pockets of my shorts, looking for my own phone. The familiar feeling of panic sets in when I realize that my phone isn't in any of my pockets.

"I think I left my phone back there," I say as I back away, "Go to the car, I'll get my phone and come back."

"No, wait-"

"I have to get my phone," I tell him before he can protest anymore.

He exhales. "Fine, but hurry up. You have exactly two minutes before I come back."

I nod and turn around, jogging to the snack tables, the sand slipping into my sandals and slowing me down. Suddenly, I hear a couple of screams which makes me turn the jog into a sprint, occasionally bumping into a few people.

"India!" I look around to find Ethan standing a few feet away. "What are you still doing here? Run!"

"I'm looking for my phone, have you seen it?" I ask urgently.

"Maybe you left it at the table, come with me."

I follow him until we finally reach the table. My eyes roam the table, and HAH. There it is. I pick it up and turn around with Ethan.

"I'll walk you back to your car," he says, already taking my hand and leading me.

"No, it's fine, you ca-"

"What are you still doing there?!" I hear Hunter's distinctive voice yell, and I turn my head to find him standing angrily with wide eyes. "The cops are here, come on!"

I exchange glances with Ethan and-

"Stop right where you are and keep your hands up," an authoritative voice booms, making my heart slam against my ribcage.

I've been in this situation before, and running away is definitely not the smartest thing to do. I oblige and raise my hands along with Ethan and Hunter. One of the cops yanks me by the arm, and handcuffs my hands together. Her body build is huge as she towers over me and pulls me from my elbow, following Ethan and Hunter who are also being pulled by two other cops.

I exhale heavily as she pushes me in front of her, walking back to the police car. The walk back seems way shorter than when I was running here, and I struggle to keep up with the cops because of her long legs, despite the fact that I'm in front of her.

We finally reach the car, and she harshly pushes my head so I can enter the car. Feeling my phone buzz in my pocket, I curse it as the sirens wail again, and we speed off away from the beach.

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I softly bang my head against the wall repeatedly as I let out a deep breath, my back against the wall and my legs spread out in a comfortable position — well it's as comfortable as I can get on the hard floor. It already feels like we've spent hours here, but I know it's only been less than an hour.

"Well, this is a nice change of scenery," I utter loud enough for Hunter and Ethan to hear from their cells next to mine. Hunter's is in front of mine while Ethan's next to me.

"It's a prison cell," Hunter says bitterly.

"I was being sarcastic," I reply with a roll of my eyes.

"All of you, shut up," the guard snaps for the second time since we came in.

I sigh and pick at the hem of denim shorts, the floor cold under my bare legs. I could already feel the ache start along my spine and neck.

"So, you two are dating?" Ethan asks.

"No," Hunter and I say simultaneously.

"What made you think that?" I ask with a scoff.

"Just the way he seemed really angry when he caught you with me," Ethan tries to say nonchalantly, but I can find the slight curiosity hiding under his tone.

"I was mad because I knew that her irresponsible actions would end us in trouble," Hunter says. I can see him shaking his head from between the cell bars. "And surprise, surprise, it did."

"Hey, I couldn't leave without my phone," I argue defiantly, "unlike some people, I don't spend my money blindly."

"What are you implying?"

"Don't make me come in there!" the guard growls again and I muffle my laughter.

"You think this is funny?" the guy comes into view, his hand on the gun strapped to his belt. The harsh fluorescent lights reflect on his shiny, bald head.

I shrug and nod in return; I know very well that he can't do anything to me — he doesn't have the right to do anything to me.

He takes a step closer and narrows his eyes at me. "Don't try me, little girl."

I watch, unthreatened, as he steps back and out of my sight. He returns to his previous position.

"Exactly what I was talking about," Hunter mutters, shaking his head.

I don't reply as I hear Ethan chuckle. "This is definitely not how I expected my night to turn out. I thought you and I were hitting it off pretty well, India."

I laugh. "Me too."

"Maybe we could go out sometime," he says, making me smile.

"Yeah." I try not to let my tone sound too excited.

"Do you happen to have a pen with you?"

"She. Is. In. A. Prison cell," Hunter says again in a 'what kind of drugs are you high on?' tone.

"Right," Ethan just laughs in return.

I think an hour passes. Or two. I don't really know; despite the uncomfortable position, I manage to doze off with my jacket as a makeshift pillow.

Minutes after I've woken up, the guard along with another police officer come into sight. "India Ferngdon, Hunter Grey, you've been. . ."

His words tune out when I find mom stepping into view. I feel my insides churn when I catch the angry yet disappointed look she sports. She's supposed to be in Las Vegas which means she had to drop everything and fly over to Miami.

The guard unlocks the bars and slides them so I can exit. I can feel her gaze on me, but I avoid it, staring at my sandals instead. Hunter's parents are probably busy so they sent mom to free him. Our parents are very close to each other; we used to go on picnics when we were younger, but I guess it kind of faded away.

We follow her out the building silently, the sound of her heels on the floor echoing against the metal walls.

"Mom, I-" I try to tell her that I did nothing wrong; maybe she'll hear me out this time.

"I don't want to hear it from you," she cuts me off in a curt tone, signaling that I should just shut my mouth now.

I sigh silently as we get into her car, and she drives off. The ride is long and painfully tense, the sound being is only the low hum of the engine. After we drop off Hunter first, the ride, if possible, becomes more silent and tense.

When we finally reach, our house, she doesn't speak as we step out of the car, enter the house, and when she climbs up the stairs to her room, shutting the door loudly.

That is the only sound she emits ever since she picked me up from the prison cell, and it feels like the thousand words she'd scold me with if she weren't tired of my actions.