Read Online Turtle Bay by Tiffany King - Free Book Online Page B

house. I knew he had weed on him and was probably panicking to get rid of it. Obviously the cops had taken control of the front of the house too because he was hauled back out to the deck a few minutes later, screaming belligerently and cursing at the officers who handcuffed him.
    "My father will hang your asses for this," he hollered, fighting as they wrestled him to the ground. A female officer appeared in front of Farrah and me, shining a flashlight in our faces.
    "Is that your beer, young lady?"
    "What? No—I mean, I don't know." Damn it. My heart sank. Amidst the chaos I had forgotten I was still holding an empty beer bottle. Maybe that particular bottle wasn't mine, but the two others I had finished would show up in my blood, so the logistics were the same.
    "You don't know?" the officer questioned. "I suppose you also know nothing about all the broken bottles on the beach? Let me clue you in. Underage drinking is against the law, along with drugs and littering."
    "Wait, no. I didn't throw any bottles. I was trying to stop them," I pleaded. Farrah said nothing, looking like she was on the verge of crying.
    "How convenient. I'm going to have to take you both in. You'll have your chance to tell your story," she said, gesturing at us to where the other partygoers had been corralled. Glancing around, I noticed that Paris, Leslie, and the twins must have managed to slip away in the confusion, along with more than a third of the other party guests. Those of us left were either cussing like Evan or shaking like Farrah.
    The officers escorted us as a group down the steps of the deck to a cluster of waiting police cruisers in front of Evan's house. Farrah and I were being helped into one of the cars together when I spotted Josh standing off to the side. Our eyes met, but his stare held none of the apologetic glint I had noticed before the party. Watching in disbelief as an approaching officer clapped him on the back, I faintly heard Josh being congratulated for a job well done.
    "My parents are going to kill me," Farrah moaned as the female officer helped us settle onto the hard plastic bench seat in the back of the cruiser.
    I wanted to reassure her, but my heart felt like stone. I knew Buttercup and Butch wouldn't kill me, but they weren't going to be amused, especially considering my track record. They only approved of getting arrested for good causes like sit-ins or protests of some sort. This was entirely different. Plus, the idea that Josh was responsible for my arrest made the whole thing so much worse. I felt like a complete moron after believing that maybe there had been a connection between us.
    The next few hours passed in a blur as we were processed, fingerprinted, and then placed in a holding cell that smelled like piss. The guys were taken to a different area, so I never saw Evan. Farrah and I stood together on the far side of the cell, ignoring anyone else who was inside with us. She cried the entire time, nervously wringing her hands while we waited for our parents to arrive. I had no idea how I let this happen. For once I had gotten into trouble I didn't cause myself. The irony of the situation wasn't lost on me as I pictured Buttercup's disappointed face. For a summer that was supposed to be about starting fresh and being good, I had managed to make it a giant cluster-you-know-what.
    Luckily, our parents showed up at the same time, so neither Farrah nor I was forced to stay in the holding cell alone. Buttercup and Butch rushed to my side when an officer escorted me into the waiting area that was busier than normal, judging by the lack of available seats.
    "I thought you were done with this whole jailbird thing?" Butch said, pulling me in for a quick hug.
    "Me too. I swear I didn't do anything except drink a couple beers." I had no idea what exact charges had been filed against me, but I was sure Butch and Buttercup would find out about the broken bottles. I wanted them to know I hadn't destroyed anything or