Chapter Text
“Lily, I’m gonna get you out, I promise… I can’t lose you, not even for a week.”
4 hours earlier
“I didn’t see Mr. Grogan that night. I already told you.”
“Yes, yes you did tell me,”
…
“Lily, those families, they deserve justice, don’t you think?”
“Mhm.”
“A lot of people out there in the community, they’re frustrated. People get frustrated, they start getting funny ideas. Thing is, Lily, you got a little bit of reputation in town. Now, don’t misunderstand me.. Folks… folks get what you’ve been through: Your daddy like that… in pieces, it’s just… Well, things no little girl should ever have to deal with. The people know that, they know that. But they also know… they also know about after; about your time at Juniper Hill. And if what you say is true and Mr. Grogan wasn’t there in the auditorium, well, it doesn’t take long before the only witness starts to sound a little more like… the only suspect.”
“You… you think I had something to do with this…”
“No. No, no, no. God, no. But people hear stories about a girl with emotional problems found covered in her friend’s blood, and, well, you can see how this doesn’t look good.”
“I didn’t. I swear.”
“Here’s what we’re gonna do. We’re gonna send you back to Juniper Hill,”
“What?”
“Check you in for an evaluation. Just a couple of days, then everybody else can see they’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“No, no, please. I-I-I… I can’t. I… I-I don’t… Please don’t send me back.”
“I don’t want to, Lily. I don’t, but I… Tell you what. How about I ask you one more time? I’ll even rephrase the question if that’ll make it easier for you, all right? I’m not gonna ask you if you saw Hank Grogan there at the theater that night. What I’m gonna ask you is… Can you be absolutely, positively certain that he wasn’t there?”
Before Lily answered, she took a deep, shaky breath as tears ran down her face. ‘For Ronnie…’ She thought to herself. Then, she spoke: “Yes.”
Chief Bowers sighed then spoke, as if disappointed, “I’m sorry, Lily. I really am.” He then called up some officers to escort Lily into a police car that would deliver her to Juniper Hill. Lily’s tears streamed down faster, however, she didn’t protest. She didn’t holler or fight back, she merely accepted it. For Ronnie… Gosh, Ronnie. She’d miss her for however long she’d be in that shitty place. Sure, school is also a shitty place, but Ronnie makes it worth it. The whole car ride to Juniper Hill, Lily’s thoughts were filled with Ronnie. She hoped Ronnie would be content that she had told the truth; that Mr. Grogan, Ronnie’s father, was not there.