Free Breath of Life by Sara Marion Page A

couch and flipped to a movie channel as Ella rejoined her. Hope Floats came back from the commercial break. It was about a quarter way into the movie. Just in far enough to make it convincing for when their parents walked in.  
    They were almost finished with the movie when they noticed their parents hadn’t come. Maybe they were only threatening , Paxton thought.
    “I wonder where they are,” Ella said as if she sensed what Paxton was thinking.
    “You think they were bluffing?” Paxton answered.
    “No. I don’t think they would, would they?”
    “I don’t know they sounded pretty pissed when they called,” Paxton admitted as she stared at the phone.
    “I totally could have stayed at the party,” Ella pouted. “They would have been home by now if they were coming.”
    “How was it? If we didn’t have to watch Jackson I totally would have gone!” she said distracting herself from her parents and the situation that could have unfolded if they came home.
    “Amazing!” gushed Ella. “Alex was adorable tonight. He held my hand as he walked me to my car.”
    Alex was Ella’s new boy toy. She had a crush on him and he finally asked her out. Paxton was excited for her friend.
    “Was Sage there?” Paxton wanted to go just to see Sage, her own latest crush.
    “Yeah, he even asked where you were. He seemed disappointed you couldn’t make it.”
    They kept talking about the boys. Time slowly went by and soon Paxton no longer worried about their parents coming home. They were so wrapped up in conversation they didn’t hear the doorbell. Paxton jumped as she heard a loud banging on the door. She got up to go see who was at the door.
    “Police! Anyone there?” a booming voice came as she got to the door. She opened the door slightly and faced two officers.
    “Paxton Andrews?” the officer asked.
    “Yes that’s me.” Her voice was shaky. She wasn’t sure why the police were asking for her. “May I help you?”
    “I’m Officer Anderson and this is Officer Santiago.” They both held up their badges. Paxton nodded her head knowing they were leaving them up for her to inspect to validate their identity. Paxton heard a gasp come from behind her. Ella appeared in the hallway frozen in place at the sight of the officers.
    Officer Santiago nudged Anderson as he saw sight of Ella. “Are you Ella Jameson?” Santiago asked over Anderson’s shoulder.
    “Did my parents call you? I swear I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Please don’t arrest me, I will go home and face them. Please, I don’t want to be in trouble,” Ella started babbling. Paxton turned to stare at her best friend who just lost her composure in front of the officers.
    “Miss, we are not here to arrest you,” Officer Anderson advised.
    “What’s this all about?” Paxton asked. She was still confused as to why the officers were asking for them.
    “Yes I would like to know the same thing.” A familiar voice behind the officers rang out. It was Mrs. Hanson. Paxton saw her when peered around the officers. She must be coming to collect Jackson. Paxton quickly thought her parents would be home any moment then. Their parents and the Hansons went to a dinner party together. The Hanson’s drove separately.
    Both officers excused themselves as they went to identify and speak to Mrs. Hanson. Paxton watched as the officers pulled her aside. Almost out of hearing range. Paxton strained to hear the conversation but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Ella was trying to do the same.
    “I can’t hear them,” she whispered in Paxton’s ear.
    “Me neither,” she said.
    Both girls were not sure what was going on. They both gasped as they saw Mrs. Hanson cover her mouth in shock and almost fall to the ground. Now the girls were worried. Mrs. Hanson looked over to them tears in her eyes. Paxton knew something awful was going on. Now all three of them were heading back to the door.
    “Girls, let’s go inside and sit down for a moment,”