“That's what I like to hear. Kowalksky, you and Jackson take the ladies down to the station and book 'em, and I'll take these two down in my car.”
The officer with the camera nodded. “Got it. See you at the station.”
A female officer led the crying Ciara and two other girls out. The other officer scowled at Chris and myself. “Alright,” he said to us, “come with me.”
We walked downstairs behind him in stunned silence as his partner followed behind us. Once we got into the back of the police car, anger shot through me with a sudden fury. I glared at Chris who looked away, unable to meet my stare. “What the hell happened, Chris?!” I said angrily.
“Your little lab partner next door called the cops. That’s what happened.”
“You don’t know who called the cops, Chris.”
“Yeah. I do. I saw her roomie leaving with an armful of books when Ciara and I were getting back from our pizza run. That means your little friend was the only one home.”
“Well, why were you being so loud? I’ve warned you and warned you,” I argued.
“We were just playing some music, just having a little party, bro, just—”
“Just nothing! You idiot! What the hell, man? What the hell?! I told you to stop doing that, I told you!”
“How was I supposed to know those fucking bitches next door would call the cops?”
“Because I told you! Melissa even warned us about it! Damn it, dude, I told you that shit!”
“Well, it's not my fault they're a pair of lame, stuck-up, goody two-shoe types who can't stand having a good time.”
In that moment, I wanted to punch Chris square in the eye. It was only with the barest strands of restraint that I managed to hold myself back from doing just that. “You’re an idiot and it’s not their fault. It’s your fault. Shit, can't you just take responsibility for something for once in your life? Jesus, Chris, I told you someone was gonna call the cops if you didn't stop partying! And, what do you go and do? Despite all the warnings, you keep on!”
“Whatever,” he mumbled. “Some friend you are.”
“Me? Dude, you just got me busted for something I didn’t even do! Do you have any idea what’s going to happen when my—” I paused mid-sentence and simply stopped. “Never mind.” I knew if I kept on, I would say something really hurtful. What happened had happened and being pissed about it couldn't change it. All that was left was to deal with the consequences.
I glared back up at the door to our apartment, then to the one next to it. Had it really been Brooke that had called the cops? Maybe she had done it out of anger. Maybe she thought I'd been deliberately ignoring her these past two days. She had no way of knowing my phone had been lost. Maybe she thought I'd just slept with her and then dropped her—probably confirming all the reasons she'd most likely told herself not to drop those walls around her to begin with. I couldn’t imagine what kind of guy she thought I was at the moment.
Anger flared up inside me again, only not at Chris. How could she? She had no right to jump to her conclusions. She could have just waited for me to get back so I could have at least explained to her about the situation with my phone. She had no right to judge me like that! It wasn't fair and it was vindictive as hell. Especially when she knew exactly what would happen when the cops came to my place and found so much alcohol or any alcohol for that matter.
I cradled my head in my hands.
Maybe, all this time, I had been wrong about her.
Dead wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brooke
The last class of the day was actually chemistry lab—the time I'd usually spend with Emerson. While I'd been doing my best all day to avoid thinking about him, seeing as I'd had absolutely no response whatsoever from him, it was impossible to not think about him once the time rolled around that he would have normally been helping me with practicals.
I couldn’t understand why he still had not replied. Couldn't he have, at least, told me how his dad's surgery had gone? Couldn't he have, at least, had the decency to acknowledge receipt of my messages?
I shook my head, staring into the lab as another set of lab partners finished up. It really did seem as if my worst thoughts about him might be right.
I was snapped out of my trance by a familiar voice. “Hey there, Brooke.”
“Oh, hi, Garrett,” I replied, trying to put on a smile.
“How's everything? You doing okay?” He grinned at me, looking chipper.
“Um, yeah, yeah. Everything’s awesome.”