Teams | A Jamie Johnson FanFiction

Part 43 - The Blame

The next day at school, I was nervous. Indira was going around blaming Jamie's dad for the stolen money, and I felt guilty because I knew the truth. And even though I didn't directly take the money, I was still a thief.

"I think it's time you knew the difference between speculation and cold hard evidence." Boggy said to Indira that lunchtime whilst she was telling us about a supposed witness seeing Jamie's dad near the coats and bags before the money was stolen. I was trying to block them out, but it wasn't working.

"You alright?" Jack asked, and I looked at her with a forced smile.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. Just thinking." I replied.

"About the money? Me too." She replied. "We've got to focus on the game in a few days though."

"Yeah." I replied, but really, I didn't care about the game at all.

___________________________

After school, I got a text from Boggy to meet him and Indira in the storerooms at school.

When I walked in, I noticed a sign on the wall. "Um, why does that say 'Interrogation Room?"

"Please take a seat, Miss Cave." Boggy said seriously.

"What's this about?" I asked nervously, sitting down.

"Miss Cave. Where were you when the money was stolen on Saturday?" He asked, and I tensed up.

"I was getting changed." I said simply, hoping this was enough.

"Did anyone see you?"

"Well, no because I was getting changed?" I said, raising my eyebrows.

"If you cast your mind back to when Mr Hansard announced Zoe the winner of the Fun Day, where were you then?"

"Err, I was talking to Jack, and then I was watching Jack and Zoe talking by the bags." I said, then took a sharp breath in, realizing that I'd just revealed Zoe was near the bags before the money was stolen. If I accidentally told someone about Zoe, she would definitely tell them I was in on it too.
__________________________

When I was walking home that evening, I realized I was passing near Jamie's house, and I heard shouting. But it wasn't Jamie's voice.

"...and it's only a matter of time before he sees through you as well!" His mum's voice echoed in the otherwise silent street.

"Karen, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about..." his dad replied, but Karen interrupted.

"Save your lies for the police!" She yelled, and I bit my lip so hard it started bleeding. The police? I thought, breathing heavily as I sprinted home.
And now Jamie's dad was taking the blame for me and Zoe. It wasn't fair.
______________________

A couple of days after, Indira came into my room after school.

"Bella?" She said, poking her head round the door. She looked nervous.

"Yeah?" I said, forcing another smile as she sat down on my bed.

"I've just been to see Zoe." She said, her voice low and taking a deep breath. "I found out it was her who stole the money."

I took a deep breath and tried to act surprised. "What?"

"She told me to return it, but it wasn't all there." She said looking at me like she knew something.

"What?" I asked, my breath shaking. "Where is it then?"

"That's what I should be asking you." She replied. She seemed disappointed, no, ashamed. I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact. "Where is it Bella?"

I knew there was no point in lying. Looking down at the floor, I confessed. "It's in my bottom draw." I said, my lip quivering.

Indira looked at me, her face set. "Why did you take it?!"

"I wanted to pay back the debt, Indie!" I exclaimed. "For Jethro's dad!"

"That doesn't mean you can steal Bella! I can't believe you!"

"I'm sorry. How did you know? That it was me?"

"Zoe told me." She said, her voice lowering again.

"Please don't tell anyone Indira. Can't you just return it?"

She shook her head.

"Please Indira! Zoe said she'd tell people if I didn't keep quiet and take some. You just don't understand because you've never made a mistake!" I yelled.

"Are you saying that's a bad thing?!" She shouted back, standing back up, getting ready to leave, but I grabbed her hand.

"Please."