Ryder paced back and forth in the cold and damp cell that they had stuck him in. He couldn't believe that it had come to this...and it was all her fault.

Erica.

She had twisted his words and spread a nasty rumour about him after he had entrusted his personal stuff to her.

How could she betray him like that?

He guessed that he was wrong about her after all. She didn't just resemble Monica, but she acted like her too. She had not only made him look even worse...but she had made him feel stupid.

"Excuse me, Mr Officer Sir!" Ryder called out from behind the bars.

"Quiet!" The guard warned.

"I just want to ask...how do you know that I did it? Where is your evidence? And where did you find her body?" He quizzed.

Reluctantly, the guard stood up and walked over to the cell that was holding  Ryder hostage.

"I am not allowed to disclose the evidence with you until the case goes to trial. However, there has been a rumour going around your high school that you did it, and this morning a body was discovered near the woods. A dog walker was walking their dog around there and they tripped on an uneven bit of land...which turned out to be the body of Monica Keane." The officer informed him.

Ryder nodded. Upon being arrested and finding out that Dawson had somehow managed to frame him, he was in no mood to talk. He was afraid that if he did then he would find himself in even more trouble than before.

Besides that, right now he was angry. Furious, even. If he started talking and got worked up then he would end up saying something that most likely be used against him.

Sitting down on the solid, cold concrete bench, he put his hands up to his head, running his fingers through his hair.

*****
Erica sat at the dining table, picking at the food that was provided in front of her on a plate.

Diane sat watching her daughter helplessly. During the journey home, she had tried asking her what was wrong, but had gotten only silence as answer.

Once dinner was finished, Erica headed straight upstairs to her room. Everything was so screwed up and the worst part was not knowing how to fix any of it.

Ryder had been arrested and probably hated her now.

Gen had disclosed personal information in a public bathroom, resulting in terrible rumours spreading, and she got the blame for them.

Dawson was playing way too nice, and she didn't want to push him. She feared that if she did then he might turn on her.

Were the boys trying to use her to replace Monica?

Because that's how it felt right now. She couldn't help but be suspicious, after everything that she had learned, and all that she had been told. It seemed like both of them only cared about her for that particular reason.

If that was the case, then that wasn't right.

Though she couldn't be certain. She had to see Ryder and speak to him before anything decisions could be made. But she knew that her mother would never let her go if she knew that she was going to the local prison.

Luckily, she had the perfect cover story for where she was going. Heading down the stairs, she went to find her mom in the kitchen.

"Mom..." She began innocently.

"Yes sweetie?" Diane questioned.

"I'm gonna head out to finish some homework with my friend Gen. I'll be back later." She informed her.

"Okay, just stay safe and text me when you're on your way home." Diane requested.

"Will do." Erica assured her and then headed out the door.

She decided to walk rather than to bus, since she needed a clear head in order to speak to Ryder. This day so far had been super long and rather upsetting for her. It had been a nasty shock to witness the boy getting arrested and then to find out that she had been handed the blame for sparking rumours which, at the start of the day, she had known nothing about.

Once again, outside was blazing hot and Erica could feel the heat even through her foot wear. She had an inkling that he would be furious with her and refuse to say a word...but she had to know for certain.

As she neared the police station, her anxiety grew harder to ignore to the point where she had to stop for a minute once she reached the destination. Though after she had managed to catch her breath and pull herself together, she entered through the double glass doors.

She had never even been inside a police station before, so everything was completely foreign to her - except from what she had seen in the movies.

Heading over to the front desk, she caught the attention of the officer stood behind it.

"How can I help you madam?" He greeted professionally.

"Uhh...I would like to speak to Ryder Griffin please." She requested.

"I'm afraid I can't allow that unless you're his family." The officer informed her.

"I am. I'm his cousin from New Port." She fibbed.

"Right-eyo. Follow me madam." He instructed her.

Picking up a key chain full of keys and holding one in particular in his hands, he stepped out from behind the desk and led her through a heavy wooden door and down a narrow corridor until they reached a door at the end. Then he turned to her.

"I will warn you that we had to restrain him earlier. He is in a lot of trouble after struggling to get free. Be careful what you say and try not to aggravate him." The officer warned her.

"Thank you. I'm sure I will be okay." She stated.

With that being said, he led her through the door and into a room with a few cells. Most were empty since the people in them had already been shipped off to the state prison, but in one near the guard's desk, was Ryder.

The officer led her up to the cell and turned to their suspect.

"Sir, you have a visitor." He informed Ryder before turning back to Erica.

"Can I take your name madam?" He requested.

"Certainly. It's Erica...Erica Harding." She fibbed again.

God! It felt awful to have to withhold the truth from authorities, not to mention that it was a felony. But in this case, she had no choice. She had to know.

"Thank you. I will leave you to talk now. The guard will be right outside the room. If this vicious brute tries anything then don't hesitate to call." He stated.

Then he and the guard left the room. Once the door clicked shut, Erica turned her full attention to Ryder.

"Hey.." She greeted, swallowing hard.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He questioned coldly.

"I..I just needed to ask you something." She told him truthfully.

"Haha what, so you can spread another rumour about me and land me in even more trouble?" He accused.

"No! Ryder, you have to believe me. I didn't utter a word of what you told me to anyone. When I arrived in school this morning I was so confused as to what was going on. Though I have my suspicions on what may have caused it." She defended herself.

"Forget it! Too late to change it now. My life is ruined. College isn't going to happen for me, I'll get kicked out of yet another school and my dad will kill me. That's if I don't end up spending the next fifty years locked up behind bars." He snapped.

"Ryder, I..." She began, but her mind came up blank.

"Don't say you're sorry. It's too late for that. Just ask what you want to ask and then go. I don't wanna look at your stupid face anymore." He growled.

"Were you and Dawson only using me to try and replace Monica? I mean, it's pretty clear that you both had a thing with her and I just..." She asked in a ramble, until he cut her off.

"Absolutely not. Why would you even think that? I mean I can't speak for Dawson, but as for me.... I actually did have feelings for you and I wasn't just using you to replace her. The reason being is that you have that pure innocence about you and...well I need a little good in my life." He admitted.

Erica was taken by surprise. She had never heard Ryder sound like this in the short time that she had known him. He sounded so hurt and so broken that it pained her to hear his voice.

"I'm so sorry Ryder. But you should know that I didn't spread those rumours. I was told by Dawson that someone overheard Gen in the girls' room at school, telling me that you killed Monica. Though I never believed it, which is why I even made the effort to see you last night. I had to hear your side of things. Once I did...I knew. You couldn't be guilty. Besides that, I would never betray your trust. I hope that you can find it in your frosted up heart to reconsider who you pin the blame on." She explained as best she could, her voice breaking as she did.

"I want to believe that, Erica, I really do. But the truth is that I don't know what to believe anymore. Who knows? Maybe I did kill her, but I was so blind with rage that my mind blocked it out. All I do know is that someone has to step up and take responsibility for her death, so it may as well be me." He sighed.

"You don't trust me?" She questioned.

"Erica, you were the only one who I told the full story to. The only one who could twist it." He told her.

She nodded, biting her lip. She wanted to cry. Ryder really did blame her for the rumours and now all she could feel was confusion.

Why was Ryder's opinion of her so important?

Could she really be developing feelings for the boy?

His words had cut her like a knife and now she felt as though she was bleeding out. She nodded her head in defeat and turned to leave - for a second she stopped and turned around.

"I'm sorry that you feel that way. Goodbye Ryder." She whispered, just above her breath.

"Goodbye Erica." She heard as she looked straight on ahead and focused on getting out of there.

She felt claustrophobic. Suffocated. It was the worst feeling she had ever felt in her life.