Justin was bopping his head to the music while
tapping his thumbs on the steering wheel on the rhythm of the music. Sirens
could be heard behind him and he looked in his rear-view mirror to see a police
car behind him. He sighed and pulled over. He turned of the ignition and
patiently waited till the officer approached.
What
did I do? he wondered while he quickly checked if everything
was alright. A tap on the window got him out of his thoughts and he rolled down
the window.
“Is
there a problem officer?” he asked politely while the officer shone his
flashlight in Justin’s face. Justin momentarily squeezed his eyes shut as he
was blinded by the flashlight. He then put a hand in front of his face to block
the light out of his eyes and opened them slightly.
“Drivers
license sir” the officer asked shortly. Justin stretched up, taking out his
wallet from his back pocket. He flipped the wallet open and took out the card,
handing it to the officer who quickly checked the name and the picture.
Yep
right guy he thought before he said, “Sir step out of the
car please”
Justin
looked at him strangely but did as he was told. He took his keys out of the
ignition and opened the door.
“Breathe
in this” the officer said while he gave Justin the breathalyzer. Justin did it
knowing there was nothing for him to worry about because he hadn’t been
drinking. Once he was done he handed the machine to the officer who took one
look at the machine before saying,
“Turn
around sir, hands on top of the car” he instructed, Justin looked at him with
furrowed eyebrows.
“What
for?” he asked. The officer saw he wasn’t going to do what he’d asked him and
started turning him around, he put Justin’s hands on top of the car while he
searched him. The officer didn’t answer him till he put cuffs on his prisoner
and read him his rights.
“You’re
arrested for drunk driving, you have the right….”
Justin
was shocked, he hadn’t been drinking how could he think that, how could that
machine say he had been drinking. Nevertheless he was guided to the police car
and brought down town.
***
“Alright
you just go wait in there for a while” the officer said with no emotion in his
voice what so ever while he unlocked the cell door. Justin waited impatiently
looking at the few men who were already sitting in the jail cell he was about
to be put in. The officer pushed him inside a little rougher than normal maybe
and Justin turned immediately.
“Could
you take these off please?” he asked somewhat politely referring to the
handcuffs he was still wearing.
“Nah”
the officer dismissed before he walked away leaving the prisoners alone.
“Hey.
HEY!” Justin yelled after him while pulling in vain at his handcuffs.
“Hey
kid” a man behind him called. Justin turned slowly resting his back against the
bars of the cell.
“What
did you do?” the man asked coming towards him, Justin cowered back
unconsciously as the man came closer.
“Nothing”
Justin answered carefully while eyeing him suspiciously, his fingers fidgeting
behind his back. The man laughed at his answer, that was what they all said
he thought before he looked at Justin, seeing he’d startled the man when he’d
started laughing.
“Relax
kid” he said friendly, sure he looked mean and big but he wouldn’t harm anyone,
he had just bought drugs at the wrong time.
“Okay
so what did they arrest you for?”
“Drunk
driving”
“You
look pretty sober” the man said, his eyebrows furrowing.
“I
AM sober” Justin said a little angry.
“I
didn’t drink, I’m not even allowed to” he persisted, he still didn’t understand
how a machine could make a huge mistake like that. Not to mention the officer
who’d arrested him, sure he’d be able to tell when someone was drunk or not.
Not to mention the whole underage thing, it was just weird.
“They
must really have something against you then” the guy snickered.
“What
do you mean?” Justin asked confused.
“Look
all I know is that some people in town…” he said lowering his voice and bending
towards Justin to make sure he could not be heard. But he got interrupted when
an officer walked in and called for Jefferson. The man immediately shut up and
snapped up towards the officer who’d walked in. The officer motioned for the
man to walk towards him and he did, looking at Justin the entire time while the
officer cuffed him. When the officer led him away, Justin looked the other way
not knowing what to think of this.
What
did this man mean when he’d said they must really have something against him?
What
could he mean by that?
How
did he know?
What
could they have against him?
And
more importantly who were they?
He
couldn’t think of anyone who could have anything against him and what would
they accomplish by arresting him? What would be the point? He took a seat on
one of the wooden benches standing against the wall, sitting uncomfortably with
his hands still behind his back, not noticing the two other men who were still
in the cell looking at him with a hint of suspicion, fear and confusion in
their eyes.
***
Dan
smirked as the phone rang; he knew it was Justin. He knew the reason why he was
calling as well. He needed Josh to bail him out and Dan had a plan. He’d
ordered Josh upstairs to the couple’s rooms, once he’d finally found Josh that
was, stashed away behind the boxes. Actually Matt had found him, asleep and
hiding from the world, or more from him but Dan had just smirked before he had
Matt guiding Josh back to their room. He’d kept Louisa downstairs for a little
while, informing her of his plan. She’d agreed and she was now swimming in the
indoor pool while Josh was alone in their bedroom all with a reason. The phone
rang again.
***
Josh
jumped when the phone rang. He stared at it as if it would bite him, scared to
pick up. Dan hadn’t exactly been friendly to him lately and the last thing he
wanted to do now was piss him off even more. Louisa hadn’t been pleased with
him either lately and he didn’t want to pick up the phone to hear one of her
friends yell at him or worse; act all friendly and overly nice. Because then he
would get it from Louisa; she’d be mad he’d come on to her friends although it
had clearly been the other way around but that’s not what they would tell her.
He didn’t want them both to get angrier with him so he decided to let it ring.
Second
ring.
Third
ring.
He
glanced at the door; whoever was calling was persistent.
Fourth
ring.
No
one had ever told him he couldn’t pick up the phone.
Fifth
ring.
He
stretched his hand towards the phone tentatively but got the scare of a
lifetime when the answering machine bleeped at him.
“This
is Louisa’s answering machine, leave your message at the beep” Josh held his
heart; he hadn’t been expecting that.
“Josh?”
a questioning voice sounded. Josh’s eyes widened.
“I’m
sorry to… um bother you but…” Josh’s hand flew to the phone.
“Justin?”
Josh asked surprised.
“Oh
I’m glad you’re there” Justin sighed relieved.
“What’s
wrong?” Josh asked worried, Justin sounded scared and somewhat ashamed.
“I
sort of… got arrested” Josh frowned deeply.
“You
what?” he asked unbelievingly. Justin was glad his brother wasn’t yelling at
him. He sighed when he figured he would probably save that for when they were
face to face; he could already hear the lecture. For now however; Josh was too
worried to lecture him.
“I
got arrested” Justin repeated with a sigh.
“For
what?” Josh questioned.
“I’ll
explain later could you just please come and get me?” Justin avoided the
question; he just wanted to get out of there.
“I’m
on my way” Josh told him quickly.
“Thank
you” Justin replied gratefully before the dial tone sounded; Josh was on his
way.
***
Josh
flew down the stairs, realizing at the last minute that it wasn’t his call to
tell him he could leave. He wondered if he should just go, they couldn’t hurt
his brother now anyway but they could later; better to ask. However the
decision and searching for Dan weren’t even necessary anymore as Dan waited for
him in the hallway.
“Hello
Josh, off to such a hurry?” Dan smirked.
“Um
yes. Justin called he needs me. Can… can I go?” Josh asked questionably, hoping
this would be enough for them to let him go.
“Okay”
Dan nodded.
“Don’t
stay out too long” Dan added as Josh eyed him strangely. Dan once again had
other plans.
“I
won’t” Josh reassured still shocked he would let him go this easily.
“Thanks”
he said honestly before he flew to the door and left.
Dan
smiled fully.
“Oh
you’re welcome Josh”
***
“I’m
Josh Chasez, I’m here to get my brother, Justin Chasez” Josh said when he
reached the front desk and had the officer’s attention. The cop looked into a
pile of papers and eventually found the paper he was looking for.
“Follow
me” the officer said before he led the way to a vacant interrogation room.
Josh
followed the cop cautiously, last time he’d done that he’d gotten in big
trouble with Dan and that little episode caused him to be far more suspicious
than ever before. The officer glanced over his shoulder once in a while to make
sure Josh was still following him and Josh glanced over his shoulder in his
turn. The officer opened a door and motioned Josh in and he slowly walked in
glancing back to see if the officer got inside the room as well making sure he
wouldn’t get locked in again. But he didn’t, the officer walked inside as well
and from a side door an all too familiar guy appeared.
“Hello
Josh” Dan greeted with a full smile, Josh stared in shock as the man took a
seat across from him while Matt stood behind him. The officer left the room,
closing the door behind him on his way out.
“I
wasn’t going to report you I swear” Josh defended quickly, wondering how the
hell he could have gotten here so fast.
“I
know you weren’t, it would be very stupid if you would try that again” Dan said
looking the young man over. Josh hadn’t known this was all part of the plan and
Dan had Matt drive him to the police station the second Josh was gone.
“I
know why you’re here and I’m here to warn you”
“Warn
me about what?”
“Warn
you that it won’t be drunk driving next time” Josh looked at him, confusion
apparent on his face before his eyebrows furrowed in anger.
“You
had him arrested?” he asked shooting forward.
“For
drunk driving?!” he almost shrieked. Dan looked at him, with a hint of
amusement in his eyes as he watched Matt push Josh back in his chair.
“You
know how bad jails can be” he threatened.
“No”
Josh said fiercely.
“Well
your buddy Matt does and it ain’t pretty for little boys like your brother”
“You
mean you did….”
“Uh-huh,
I had him arrested,” Dan confirmed Josh’s suspicions.
“Why
would you do this?” Josh asked softly.
“To
teach you a lesson, Louisa was displeased with you…”
“You
had him arrested for that?!” Josh exclaimed, just because Louisa wasn’t pleased
Dan had him arrested. They were insane.
“Remember
Josh” Dan warned suddenly.
“It
won’t be drunk driving next time” he threatened again.
“You
mean you would…” he asked softly, not daring to finish his sentence.
“Yes
I would, if you give me a reason”
“I
won’t” Josh said through gritted teeth.
“Good,
now go get your brother I believe he’s waiting for you” Dan said with a smile
which made Josh want to attack him. He held back though and nodded before
standing up and leaving the room.
***
“Thanks
for getting me” Justin said gratefully when he walked beside Josh out of the
police station to his car. He’d felt ashamed when he had called his brother, he
wished he could have called someone else but he knew Josh would be angrier if
he didn’t call him. He still couldn’t face his brother although he hadn’t done
anything wrong, Justin didn’t know however that Josh felt the same way, knowing
he was the cause of this.
“Where
is your car?” Josh asked practically. Justin was taken aback by the question.
“It’s
still on the road they arrested me”
“I’ll
take you there” Josh said simply. Justin eyed his brother and he cringed. Josh
was talking about normal things not to loose his temper and Justin wanted to
make it right.
“I
know you’re angry and I’m really sorry you had to get me from the police
station, I’ll pay you back for the bail money I swear” Justin ranted. Josh eyed
his brother, Justin must think he was really upset for not talking to him and
Justin was right; Josh was upset but not in the way Justin was thinking.
“Justin
I…”
“Josh,
before you say anything I didn’t drink. I don’t know how they got that idea but
I wasn’t under the influence of alcohol I swear” he said quickly before his
brother could scold at him.
“I
wasn’t drinking”
Josh
nodded, accepting Justin’s excuse because he couldn’t bare to scold at him for
something he’d obviously didn’t do and he himself was actually to blame for.
“That’s
it?” Justin asked suspiciously and rather surprised.
“Yes,”
Josh confirmed.
“I’ve
seen you drunk and you’re not drunk, they obviously made a mistake. It will be
okay” Josh said comforting; it was true, he could see when Justin was drunk and
he obviously wasn’t drunk now so the only way to assure him without revealing
everything was to explain it as a mistake and hope Justin would leave it at
that. He did; too shocked to question anything. They got in Josh’s car and he
drove Justin to his own car. Josh hugged Justin tight before he stepped
outside.
“Thanks
for bailing me out” he said as he turned back towards Josh.
“Your
welcome, be careful alright”
“I
will” Justin smiled before closing the door. Josh watched as Justin got in his
car and drove off, watching the red lights disappear in the distance.
***
“Chris
what are you doing here?” Justin asked as he walked up to his apartment and
found Chris sitting in front of his door.
“Oh
hey” Chris greeted, taking Justin’s offered hand to tug him up. Justin opened
the door and Chris followed him in.
“You’re
late” Chris noted.
“I
thought you would have been home sooner”
Justin
blushed and quickly spun away from him.
“What?”
Chris inquired.
“I
got arrested” he admitted.
“You
got what?!” Chris exclaimed.
“I
got arrested” Justin repeated.
“Why?”
Chris asked, his eyebrows raised. Justin wasn’t exactly an angel but getting
arrested… that was something totally different.
“They
arrested me because they thought I was drunk” Justin answered, cringing once
again. Josh hadn’t scolded him, which he still thought was kind of strange but
Chris would for sure. Chris had seen too many horrible things caused by people
who’d been drinking and driving.
“What?”
“They
thought I was drunk, geez get your ears tested will you”
“Shut
up” Chris countered.
“Did
you drink anything?” Chris asked, it sounded quite calm but Justin knew better
and he answered honestly.
“One
beer at diner but that’s hours ago”
“How
did they think you were drunk? Didn’t they check it?” Chris asked, furrowing in
confusion.
“They
did but the machine said I had too much alcohol in my blood”
“That’s
weird” Chris commented.
“Yeah”
Justin nodded.
“Machines
never lie” Chris said thoughtfully.
“It
could be a mistake” he added a moment later. He knew the system wasn’t perfect,
and everyone made mistakes.
“That’s
what Josh said” Justin added, the strange man in jail forgotten.
“It
happens and it won’t have too many consequences probably but it’s still
strange” Chris thought out loud.
“Yeah”
***
Josh
was sitting on the couch in the living room of their apartment, listlessly
flipping through the channels but his mind wasn’t on the TV.
Dan
had come in only minutes ago and he’d told him Justin wouldn’t have to go to
court. He’d made sure there was an error in his case, which meant he couldn’t
be prosecuted. It wouldn’t be a big thing if he would get prosecuted but it
proved to Josh that Dan really held all the cards. He was more powerful than
Josh had thought and it made him miserable. Why hadn’t he applied to a
different company years ago? Why the Treydson’s? Why had he met Louisa? Why had
he started dating her? And why had he let her order him around in the first
place? Why did she love him so much? Why couldn’t she have left him alone? He
sighed, he knew this wasn’t going to help. Nothing was going to help.
He
was glad Justin wouldn’t get prosecuted and he’d felt so bad when Justin had
started apologizing for something he hadn’t done. Justin had been scared he
would lecture him but how could he when it was all his fault. He knew he needed
to do something, something that would make sure he was free to leave. But what?
What
could he do without them hurting his brother?
