Schools are ruthless. This was something meant by people in all cases, be it the management or the experience itself, considering your status. It was not new, being forced to attend in the middle of holidays, so perhaps everyone should have seen it coming.

Perhaps not, but it was unexpected nonetheless. After all, only one portion of the building was damaged by the fire and even that wasn't enough to disrupt learning.

It was all everyone could talk about. Every corner Levi turned, whispers were heard. With a little bit of eavesdropping, Levi was able to discern that everyone believed it to be a horrible accident- after all, it was a chemistry lab.

But as he walked closer to his design class, he picked up more disturbing details.

There were no major injuries but those were the doctor's words. Levi could not comprehend how burns to the arm were considered a minor ailment, but he didn't have the right to feel guilty.

"Hey Levi!" a tall boy his age exclaimed, jogging towards him.

"Hello Aaron," he said, forcing a smile. 

"I've been meaning to ask, but it didn't feel right to do it over text," he said, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh yeah? What is it?" Levi asked.

"You were there on the day of the fire right? I just wanted to know if you were alright," Aaron replied, his eyes sincere.

"I was able to make it out in time," Levi said as he gave Aaron an appreciative smile. That was how the first five minutes went, people, checking on him even though he was clearly okay.

Physically anyway.

He took his seat near the window and his eyes gazed outside. The classroom was pretty close to the parking lot, which was usually a trouble, with people chattering and vehicles pulling up. But this one time, it turned out to be useful.

From the corner of Levi's eye, he saw a jeep pull up. Another moment of staring and he was able to see men in police uniform walking out.

Levi felt his heart quicken. It wasn't certain they were here for him, but it was a possibility. Levi glanced in their direction again and noticed that they were walking towards the entrance. He had to think quickly!

There was no point avoiding them, he knew that. The only thing that he could do was go to them before they came to him. At least that way, none of his classmates could start gossiping if the police did come for him.

And if I do leave, they'll probably just assume that I'm bunking, Levi thought, his mind somewhat clear about what to do. He raised his hand upward and received a questioning nod from his professor.

"May I go to the restroom?" Levi asked politely. His professor nodded once again, giving his permission to Levi. He quickly got up from his seat and walked out of the room and towards the policemen.

If they're here for me they'll stop me, or else they'll keep going, Levi told himself as he walked through the hallways clumsily. They were within his focus now and he avoided all eye contact and tried to act as natural as he possibly could.

When they were close enough, one of the men stopped his movement.

"Levi Coleman?" he asked, although he didn't really need an answer.

"Yes. Can I help you?" Levi asked with a calm, subtle smile.

"We would appreciate it if you would come to the station. Regarding the fire," the policemen said, his face neutral.

"That's not a problem. I have my car outside, I can drive to the station in that," Levi said, hoping that would be allowed.

The three men looked at each other, then back at Levi for a moment until one of them spoke up.

"Be there in fifteen minutes," he said with a huff as they looked at Levi one more time before taking off. He wasn't sure if this was a privilege given to everyone, or if it was just for him because of his father's influence but he didn't care.

He ran to his car, which was technically his father's, with the keys jingling in his pocket. He unlocked the door and got into the driver's seat and only when he was sure that he was alone did he pull out his phone.

His hand tapped on the contacts icon, with two numbers at the top. It was one of the two that he wanted to consult, one being his father and the other, Evelyn. 

Growing up with his father around, he always believed he could do whatever he wanted, and no one could stop him but now Levi gained the realization. His father couldn't, or rather wouldn't help him.

Without another thought, he dialed her number and waited. 

Because he knew better than to go to the station alone.

⋆ ★ ⋆

Evelyn was in the middle of one of her mid-work snacks when she received Levi's call. He rushed through the details but she was glad he called her before he reached.

Now she had the opportunity to reach at about the same time as him. Knowing the urgency of the situation, she grabbed her half-eaten, blueberry muffin from the plate along with her keys as she rushed out, the harsh wind blowing her hair in all four directions.

She looked like a mess when she got to the driver's seat but she paid no mind to it. 

About ten minutes later, her car was parked right outside the station and she sent a quick message to Levi, informing him that she had arrived.

She spun around when she heard a voice similar to his spoke behind her.

"I just reached as well," he said, responding to her message verbally. She greeted him with a warm smile as the both of them walked into a messy and loud room. 

The same policemen who had come to summon Levi walked up to them.

"Follow me," he said simply, but before Levi could do so, Evelyn spoke up.

"I'm Evelyn Turner. I will be representing Levi." He nodded, acknowledging her, and motioned for them to follow him. A few footsteps later they were inside a room with a singular, wooden table and four matching, wooden chairs. The interrogation wasn't how Levi expected it to be.

All the movies and t.v shows made him believe that it would be all dark and mysterious but in reality, it was brightly lit.

The three of them took their respective seats and Evelyn set her gaze on the police.

"I'm Officer Ackres. I am leading an investigation on the fire in the university; I assume you know of it," he said.

"Yes, I am well aware. How can my client help you?" Evelyn asked and Levi stared at her with curiosity.

"We have reason to believe that Mr.Coleman may be involved with it," he said and a moment later, a female cop walked in with a ziplock bag. After retrieving it from her, Officer Ackres placed it on the table with utmost care.

"We believe this belongs to you," he said, his eyes now fixed on Levi.

Evelyn glanced at the object inside the ziplock bag. A deep red, vintage lighter. Now she knew why Levi's father believed he was a suspect; they found his fingerprints on a flammable object.

"This was found in the same room the fire started," Officer Ackres continued, his eyes unmoving from Levi's. Levi shifted his gaze from Ackres to Evelyn, for putting his head down would look far too suspicious.

"It could have easily been misplaced," Evelyn said, her voice cold as steel.

"We checked with the university and it is clear Mr.Coleman does not take chemistry classes. Add to that the fact that the chemistry lab was the only room with a nonfunctional security camera," he said.

Evelyn looked at Levi for a brief second, as if to ask him why she wasn't given this information sooner. But that dissolved when she faced Officer Ackred once more.

"That is not solid proof," Evelyn said.

"Of course not. We are just testing theories and this is too strong of a coincidence to be ignored," Officer Ackres said. His tone was euphonious but Evelyn could sense the taunt, disguised by his calmness.

"What do you want of my client?" Evelyn asked, trying to wrap the interrogation up quickly.

"Just honesty," he replied, with the same, calm tone.

"I'll have him know to inform you if he recalls anything pertaining to the lighter," Evelyn said.

"I'm sure you will, Ms.Turner," he said and Evelyn could sense the taunting again, "and while you're at it, do remind him that sometimes, pleading guilty is far better than the latter."