Though I’d settled myself with going to the station, I hadn’t considered how it would feel to have them flank me as they walked me outside, and shut me in the back of the patrol car. I could keenly feel the curious gazes of people on the street; shame heated my face, and I put my head down. The rumors were going to be worse than ever if anybody on campus heard I’d been picked up by the police. And even though I knew they had nothing on me, it felt like I’d done something wrong and I’d be shut in a cell as they pulled away from the curb.

The feeling settled cold and heavy in my chest after the short drive to the station; it must have been standard procedure, but I felt like a criminal as they walked me inside. The interview room they took me to was cold and sterile, a steel table with a couple of metal chairs in the center of the otherwise empty white tile floor. After confirming that I knew my rights, Officer Stewart gestured for me to sit in the chair opposite to him. He sat in front of what I knew was a one-sided mirror; I tried not to let the artificial chill get to me.

“So,” I cleared my throat, trying to smile, to look like I wasn’t shaken; that was probably the point of the room, to provoke confessions. “What questions can I answer for you?”

"Well, why don't we start with you telling me what you remember from that night," Officer Stewart said, his tone calm and genuine. 

I took in a deep breath before nodding. “It was a rough day, so I went out drinking at the local pub. I was alone, and not looking to interact with anybody else- I just wanted a quiet drink.” Of course, that never worked out when people noticed me- especially people like Collin. It had been stupid to drink in public, at a pub close to campus, but all I had been thinking about was a break after a long day; not who would harass me. I tried not to sound frustrated as I recalled the shattering of my plans, but the officer’s sympathetic look said I didn’t manage to contain it completely. “It’s not uncommon for other students from the college to get… worked up around me. It was clear they wanted me to leave, so I tried to. Collin was yelling, and he got in my way.”

I winced as I remembered the people staring at us while Collin waved his arms and shouted. There had been eyes on us as he squared up to me. It was a good thing I’d kept my calm, and there was nothing I said that could be taken as a threat. “Another student, Oliver, convinced him to let me leave. They were all still there when I left.” I doubted they would be calling everybody who had been at the bar- nobody else’s name had been splashed on the papers- but I didn’t want my story to be different if they did. “I stayed outside for a little, trying to clear my head before I walked home. But I didn’t stay long, it was already late, and I had to work in the morning.” 

"What about anyone else? Did you see anyone leave the bar around the same time as you?" The Officer asked, jotting down everything I had said.

I nodded, my hands pressing into my lap. “Yes, somebody left right after I did. He wasn’t one of the students who were harassing me,” I paused, remembering how calm he’d seemed as compared to Collin’s chaos. The first time I had met his eyes across the bar, he’d seemed curious, a quiet point in the middle of the students working each other up. “We saw each other from across the street, before he headed back to campus, and I walked back to my apartment.”

The officer looked up, his eyes curious, "Does this guy have a name?"

“It’s Lennox… Ethan Lennox.” I hesitated, wondering if I should tell him that Ethan had recognized me when he walked into the classroom. After a moment of thought I decided it wasn’t important. He’d been nice despite my snapping, and no matter how worried I had been that he might help bring my world crashing down around me, the earnest look in those hazel eyes as he told me he wouldn’t bring me any trouble stayed with me.

Clearing my throat, I laced my fingers together, trying to keep my thoughts on the officer who was watching me carefully. “He was the only one I saw. The rest of them probably stayed a lot longer.”

The officer made a note, frustratedly running a hand through his hair. "What do you know about this guy? Anything out of the ordinary?"

“He’s a transfer student.” I answered with a shrug. “He’s stirred up campus because he’s new and foreign, but he seems normal.” I wondered what that answer was based on- I didn’t know anything about him other than his name and one of the classes he took. But I had always been a good judge of character, and I trusted my instincts. 

Scribbling more frantic notes, his face calm and firm, the officer finally looked up at me. "And you're sure that's everything. There's nothing you remember? You never saw Collin after that encounter?" 

“I’m sure,” I replied firmly. “I went straight home that night; Collin has a room in the dorms, so I wouldn’t run into him even if he left right after I did. And he didn’t show up on campus the next morning. I’m sorry, but I really don’t think I can help you- I don’t know anything.” Hands spread in front of me, a silent plea of innocence, I hoped I had said enough. 

The officer sighed, nodding. Standing, his chair scraping across the floor, he collected his notebook, looking at me with resignation. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Weir. I apologize for the inconvenience to you and your mother. I do hope this will be the last of our meetings on this matter." He paused for a moment, looking down at the reflections on the metal table. "And, Mr. Weir, do be careful." 

I blinked at him, taken aback; it wasn’t the first warning of the day. “I will. Thank you, Officer Stewart.” I stood up, giving the officer a weary smile. We were both glad to walk out of the room, and a little of the weight was lifted off my chest as I was directed out of the station and sent on my way home.

Keeping my head down, I started the walk home, trying to shake off the embarrassment- and the lingering feeling that this was only the beginning. I was used to the trouble, but it felt like things were escalating far past where I could control. And for the first time, as I walked alone with the events of the last couple of days weighing on my mind, I wondered if I was the one who should be afraid.