Free Magian High by Lia London Page B

it, according to The Morning Edition .”
    We looked at each other for a long minute until Kelsey bounced into the room.
    “ Good morning, Kelsey!” I said as brightly as I could.  I stuffed a big forkful of crepes in my mouth and slid the chocolate sauce across the table to her.
    We spent the rest of the day not talking about the trouble I would be in when the cops finally came to lay charges for the “a ttack” on Jack and his friends.  In fact, we spent the whole weekend worrying about it, but they never came.
     

Chapter Eleven: I’m Arrested… Sort of
     
    I let my guard down, thinking maybe it had all blown over and some denied insurance claims would be the worst of the aftermath, but as Amity and I stepped onto school grounds, we saw a crowd had gathered.  Most were students, but there were some adults holding picket signs saying stuff like “Stop Mage Violence!” and “Re-Segregate!”  Vans from Channel 5 News and The Morning Edition blocked the way to the main steps.
    There was also a police car.  The way cameras flashed as soon as I showed up, I could tell they were all waiting for me.  In a bizarre tide of arms and legs, I was swept towards the police car.  People kept badgering me with questions, most of which I couldn’t even hear.  I sort of nodded vaguely.  Everyone was shouting—either to have me set free, or to have me locked up.
    The cop put his hand on my shoulder.  “C’mon, kid.  Let’s go.”  I lowered myself into the back seat, and he slammed the door shut.  As we pulled away, I looked back at all the chaos.  It was like something from a movie, all this focus on me.  That’s when the craziness of the situation washed over me.  “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be reading me my rights or something?”
    The cop looked at me in the rearview mirror.  “Relax, kid.  You’re not being arrested.”
    “I’m not?”
    “I told you, we’re just bringing you in for questioning.”
    “Oh.”  I slumped back.  “So why didn’t you come get me yesterday?”
    “Couldn’t get clearance ‘til today.”
    That sounded dumb, but I figured the big bosses were gone on the weekend.  Sure made for an exciting show, coming to get me at school, though. In fact, by the time we got to the station and the cop plopped me down in the lobby, I could see the Channel 5 breaking news report of my non-arrest on the wall-mounted TV.  The sound was turned down, so the whole thing was about as clear to me on screen as it had been in person, but I noticed how much I kept saying, “Okay.”  I guess I’d been in a trance.  In the background, I could see more of the students, including my friends and some of the people from the party.  Their faces looked sympathetic, though Curry looked like he was trying to avoid the cameras.  Elizabeth and Amity were crying.  Blakely and Whittle were trying to calm people down.
    Then the screen changed to close-ups of the damage at my house and the news anchor reappeared looking serious.  The lettering behind him said “Mage Violence on the Rise”.
    The TV cut to a commercial break, and I leaned forward, rubbing my eyes.  I felt so tired.
    A familiar voice jolted me upright, and I saw Mr. Petercriss and some lady in a business suit entering the lobby.  They were speaking quietly enough that I couldn’t make out the words.  I picked up a community event flier and pretended to read it, hiding my face.  The receptionist recognized the lady and waved them back into the hall leading to the various offices.  Right as they entered a door on the left, a lady officer came up to me with a smile.  “Are you Kincaid Riley?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Come with me.  Detective Sheldon is ready for you.”  She led me down the same hall where Petercriss had gone, but about four doors further along.  At the door, she ushered me in.  “Do you need a glass of water or anything?”
    “Am I go ing to be here long?” I asked.
    “Get the kid some water,”