Life and Love

Caught

"What's going on?" Becca questions as we all line up against the wall across from our lockers.

"I don't know." I whisper back and look down the line at our classmates. Everyone looks just as confused as we are.

I look up when the vice principal rounds the corner with our schools designate Constable officer in tow. Oh no. This isn't going to be good. I glance to my right, Nik stands a few people away, his white bandanas strapped to his wrists like armour. I catch his eye but only for a moment before he looks away and stares straight ahead at the wall.

"Good morning." The vice principal calls as she stands before the entire ninth grade. "It has been brought to our attention that some of our students may have illegal drugs on school property." My eyes flit reflexively to Nik. I know he's been smoking weed a lot lately but he couldn't be so stupid as to bring it to school, could he? "For the safety of our school, Constable Wong will conduct a full locker search today. Please be ready to provide your locker combinations."

One by one the students step forward, the rest of us forced to watch as Constable Wong tears through textbooks, backpacks, and lunch bags. The closer it gets to Nik's turn, the tighter my chest constricts. I keep trying to catch his eye, but he just won't look at me. I know he isn't upset with me; We have been on good terms ever since that terrifying phone call a few weeks ago. So why won't he look at me?

"Nik." The Constable waves him forward, and Nik obediently steps up to his locker and enters the combination. Finally, as Mr. Wong dives into his locker, Nik meets my eyes and my fears come true. Nik has drugs in his locker and Mr. Wong is only seconds away from finding them.

"Mr. Wong." I blurt out as I step out of line. "Is this legal?" I place my hand on my hip and tap my foot, acting as if I am annoyed and inconvenienced by this raid. "I mean, it seems like an invasion of our privacy."

"Haven," the vice principal begins in a bored voice, "You can check the code of conduct in the back of your agenda. The school may search your locker at any time."

Mr. Wong's hands reach back into Nik's locker, pulling out his backpack and my heart races faster. I turn to Becca and whisper "Fight me."

"What?" She whispers back, looking confused.

"Fight me." I say and flit my wide eyes over to Nik and Mr. Wong who is still pawing through Nik's bag. I watch as her eyes go wide with realization and then she shoves me hard to the ground.

"What did you say to me?" Becca screeches, drawing everyone's attention towards us. I scramble to my feet and shove her back against the wall.

"I said you're a bitch!"

"Mr. Wong!" Becca whines and points at me dramatically. "Haven just assaulted me, are you going to just stand there?"

"She pushed me first!" I screech and stalk over to the Constable, putting myself between him and Nik. Becca joins me and we scream over top of each other, creating so much high-pitched noise it hurts even my ears.

"Enough ladies!" Mr. Wong cries out and shoves Nik's bag back into his locker, catching it on the door and ripping the bottom of the bag wide open. I watch in horror as the contents of Nik's back pack spill out onto the tile floor, including a large Ziploc bulging with weed.

The hallway falls into complete silence. I look from Becca to Mr. Wong and then to Nik who is white as a sheet. It all happens so fast, I can barely comprehend.

Mr. Wong has the bag of weed in his hand.

I'm standing in front of Nik with arms thrown wide as if I can protect him.

Becca is crying still trying to draw Mr. Wong's attention away from Nik.

Mr. Wong's tall frame reaches around me, grasping Nik's arm firmly and then he is taking him away. Taking him away from me.

I reach out for Nik's hand, and his fingers just brush mine. There is a fear in his eyes and I know he must be thinking of what his parents are going to say. Oh, his parents are going to lose their minds over this. I rush to follow them out the door and walk closely behind them, Becca at my side clutching my arm desperately.

Mr. Wong's police cruiser is parked at the end of the school walkway and as he heads straight for it I cry out "It's mine! It's not Nik's it's mine!" But he doesn't listen to my final attempt at saving Nik.

He continues marching Nik forward until they reach the car and then he barks at Nik. "Your not going to run are you?" Nik shakes his head, and Mr. Wong lets go of his arm and opens the back door. With one final look back at me, Nik ducks his head and climbs into the back of the police car.