1. Carey
Carey
“Take the deal, Carey. Trust me.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, glumly staring at the opposite wall. The air hung heavy with the weight of my predicament, and the faded faux-wood-paneled walls seemed to be closing in on me, squeezing the air from my lungs. I couldn’t show my fear, though. Where I came from, you never showed weakness. Not unless you wanted to get totally fucked by life.
“Carey?” The public defender—a graying man named Mr. Tellier—leaned forward. “Did you hear me?”
I frowned. “I’m not taking the deal. It isn’t right.”
He sighed wearily and drummed the end of his pen against the table. “What are you talking about?”
“There’s something off about it. I mean, way off,” I replied. “It’s just too good to be true. Don’t you think?”
Tellier leaned back again. “I’ll admit it’s a bit odd, and it really came out of left field, but it’s completely legitimate. I’ve checked all the details and contacted everyone involved to confirm everything,” he said. “To be honest, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m surprised you haven’t jumped right on it.”
I pursed my lips and went silent again. Clearly, he wasn’t seeing what I was seeing when I looked at the so-called ‘deal’ that had miraculously landed in my lap earlier this evening. The best boarding school on the West Coast—actually, probably the best school in the entire country—wouldn’t just offer a scholarship to a random wayward teen from a shitty backwoods town for no damn reason. Especially not when that teen was facing multiple charges that could sully the school’s pristine reputation.
Tellier’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Carey, you know why the prosecution is dragging your case out like this, right?”
“Yes.”
“Your eighteenth birthday is in two weeks,” he went on, ostensibly deciding that I didn’t actually know why the other side was dragging out my case with delay after delay. “Right now, it’s up to the discretion of the judge whether you’re tried in the juvenile court or moved up to be tried as an adult. If we keep letting them drag all of this out, you’ll become a legal adult, and then there’ll no longer be any doubt about it. You’ll be tried as an adult.”
“Would that really be so bad?”
Tellier arched a brow. “Depends. Do you think a prison sentence is bad?”
“Point taken.” I sighed and rubbed my temple. “But I still can’t take the deal.”
“Why not?”
“Because part of taking it involves me admitting guilt so I can accept the rehabilitation terms. And I’m not guilty. I can’t admit to something I didn’t do.”
“Perhaps I didn’t explain the terms clearly enough,” Tellier said, tapping on the paperwork. “If you sign the deal, you won’t have an official criminal record. It will be expunged the second you turn eighteen. Gone without a trace. It’ll be like none of this ever happened.”
“Except for the fact that it did happen,” I said flatly. “And I still have to admit to being at fault for everything, when really, it’s that fucking asshole’s fault. Not mine.”
“Don’t let your pride get in the way, Carey.” A warning tone entered his voice. “If this all goes to trial, how do you think it’s going to go? Who do you think they’re going to believe? You or him?”
I swallowed thickly. “Me, hopefully. Everything I’ve said is true. I’m innocent.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re innocent, and hope isn’t going to get you very far. What really matters is perception. You’re a teenager with a rather sketchy background. Through no fault of your own, of course. But when the jury looks at you, most of them will think you fit the profile perfectly.”
“Fit the profile?” I snickered and shook my head. “You’re making this sound like an episode of Criminal Minds or something.”
Tellier didn’t smile. “Carey, you are a criminal. At least you are in most people’s eyes right now. You’re in very serious trouble and you’re being offered a lifeline. I suggest you take it.”
I cast my eyes down at the pockmarked old table. I knew he didn’t believe me when I said I didn’t take anything on the night of Jamie Miller’s party. No one did. And how could I blame them for that, given the results of my blood test after I was arrested? They showed that I was clearly intoxicated when I took that car and crashed it into the other one.
To any outsider, I was obviously guilty as sin. They just didn’t understand the extenuating circumstances. They had no idea what led me to that desperate act. If they actually heard my story during a court trial, perhaps they’d feel sympathetic and let me off with a slap on the wrist.
Or perhaps Tellier was right on the money with the profiling comment. Maybe they’d take one look at me and my shitty background and automatically slide me into a box in their minds. The sort of box that contained offenders who were definitely guilty.
I looked back up at Tellier. “Could I see the brochure again?”
The hard look on his face faded, and he cracked a sliver of a smile. “Sure.”
He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a glossy pamphlet. The cover featured a stunning panoramic view of Babylon Preparatory Academy, perched on the rugged cliffs of the northern California coast. The Gothic architecture of the main building was highlighted against the backdrop of crashing waves and misty coastal crags, and the school crest was subtly embossed in silver at the bottom.
I flicked to the first page.
Welcome to Babylon Preparatory Academy
Nestled amongst the untamed beauty of California’s stunning North Coast, Babylon stands as an architectural masterpiece amidst nature’s grandeur. Our historic institution is a beacon of excellence, providing an unparalleled educational experience that will enrich your child’s mind and prepare them for a future of leadership and success.
I rolled my eyes and flipped to the next page.
Discover the extraordinary at Babylon!
Our school provides a nurturing environment where students form lifelong friendships and networks. Our distinguished faculty is committed to cultivating critical thinking skills and a passion for knowledge, and our curriculum is filled with challenging courses, ensuring that all students are well-prepared for the world’s finest universities.
· Extracurricular activities: We have a multitude of offerings, designed to create and foster a harmony between mind, body, and spirit.
· Social scene: Fun events and spirited academic competitions foster a sense of pride and unity.
· Arts: We boast a vibrant arts community with students delving into creative pursuits inspired by the beautiful scenery surrounding our campus.
· Community: Students engage in beach clean-ups and marine biology studies, fostering a deep appreciation for the environment whilst helping the community beyond the gates.
· Luxury accommodation: Picturesque dormitories perch on the cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Each room is designed for comfort and inspiration.
Embark on your journey with Babylon Preparatory Academy today! For admission enquiries and application procedures, please visit our website or contact our admissions office.
God, what a load of bullshit.
These places always made it so easy to read between the lines. ‘Historic’ referred to long-standing generational wealth and the nepotism that came with it, giving the rich kids every possible opportunity while shutting out most regular Americans. ‘Pride and unity’ and ‘lifelong friendships’ were similarly-coded—it all referred to the impenetrable clubs that people from these elite schools formed within their ranks. Rich people helping each other stay rich, essentially.
So why were they suddenly offering to help me?
“It really doesn’t make any sense.” I looked back up at the public defender. “Why would they offer me a scholarship? And why would they help with all my legal stuff? I’m a total nobody to them.”
Tellier smiled patiently. “We’ve already been through this, Carey.”
“Tell me again. Because it honestly made no sense to me the first time.” I slowly shook my head. “I’m not sure if it’ll ever make sense.”
“Several members of the alumni committee are heavily involved in justice projects, and they’ve recently decided to start one of their own with a bit of a twist. They had their lawyers bring them recent cases involving juvenile offenders, and they ended up picking you. They have enough power and influence to make your charges go away forever. In return, you accept the scholarship and attend Babylon for your final year of high school. Keep your head down and your grades up. Get a full-ride college offer. Go to—”
I cut him off. “I have to prove that I can actually be rehabilitated from my trashy criminal background, you mean. To make the alumni committee look good and feel good. Am I right?”
Tellier’s lips thinned. “I suppose that’s one way of putting it. But really, they’re trying to help, and this is a once-in-a lifetime offer. You’re very, very fortunate to have received it.” He paused and raised a brow again. “As I said before, I suggest you take it, given the alternative.”
I still had a feeling something was very off about this deal, because it seemed highly suspicious for a group of rich folks to hand a literal Get Out Of Jail Free card to a random stranger on the off chance they might become rehabilitated. It was simply too good to be true, and every single person on the planet knew how things like that tended to turn out.
At the same time, I didn’t have much of a choice, did I?
If I was forced to choose between maintaining my innocence and risking prison or admitting my culpability and getting a free ride to the best private school in the country… well, the choice was glaringly obvious. As much as it begrudged me to admit it, this was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse.
“You could have a real future in this place, Carey,” Tellier added, nodding toward the brochure. “It’s an incredible school. The best of the best. It could be helpful to build connections in the town, too.”
I nodded slowly. Everyone knew about Babylon and the sort of connections you could build there, if you were ever invited into the fold. It was the richest coastal city for miles in this part of the state. Only fifteen miles from Oakfield but worlds away in terms of lifestyle.
“I guess so,” I murmured, hands knitting in my lap.
“So… what’s it going to be? Yes or no?” Tellier lifted his pen, letting it hover right over the signature box on the paperwork.
I took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “Yes,” I said. “I’ll take it.”