The Delinquent - Chapter 1

When the phone rang in the ungodly hours of the night, Savannah knew her Mom was being called in for work. She’d resented her mom for a long time as her job had eventually caused her parents to separate and eventually divorce. But as Savannah matured, she understood that it wasn’t just a job to Katherine Striker: It was a passion. Kat was a Social Worker who just wanted to help kids get out of the dirt and give them a fighting chance in life. Savannah was proud of her now for pursuing her passion, although she’d lived with her father for several years after the divorce, seeing as he did have the more stable and less stressful living conditions. But when she was old enough, she’d opted to move back to her Mom’s place.

There was a gentle knock on her bedroom door. “Sav? Honey?”

“I’m up.” She replied, rubbing her face and sitting up. “Go save the day.”

Kat entered the bedroom and placed a cup of steaming coffee on the bedside table. “Nearly time to get up anyway. I can drop you off at the School on the way?”

Savannah checked her cell phone for the time, breathing a deep sigh. “Yeah. Alarm is due to go off in ten minutes anyway. Let me get dressed and grab my things.”

“It won’t be too early for you?”

“It’s fine. Saves you the bus fare. The Library will be open so I’ll get some studying in.”

Within twenty minutes, they were in the car and on the way to School, with Savannah applying her make up en-route as her mom negotiated the already busy streets.

“So where are you going?” asked Savannah between lipstick applications.

Kat sighed. “It’s another of my repeat offenders. Fresh out of Juvie last month and already in trouble.” She raked her hand through her short dark hair and dropped her shoulders. “I don’t know what to do with this kid any more.”

“Mom you can’t fix them all.” She patted her Mom’s leg softly. “They make their own choices.”

“I know. But she’ll be eighteen soon. If she screws up after that it’s out of my hands. She’ll serve hard time in prison. Not just a stint in Juvie and placed in another foster home. She’s already had a baby taken away and put into care.”

“And she’s still screwing up?” Savannah scoffed. “Then she’s an idiot.”

“That’s the sad part.” Kat replied softly. “She could have been so much more.” She pulled up to the main gate of the School as Savannah applied the last of her make-up. Savannah admired her mom’s passion so much. Kat had come from a broken home on the wrong side of town, and she’d therefore made it her life’s mission to help kids who just like her, had just needed stability and a chance to show the world they were worth saving. She’d rejected offers of promotions and comfortable office positions so that she could be in the field where the kids needed her the most.

“Sorry Mom. I know you have a soft spot for these guys, but you can’t fix something that doesn’t want to be fixed. Maybe Jail time would wake her up? Set her on the right path?” Or at least stop her from being your problem, she thought to herself. “Don’t forget it’s the Spring Dance tonight, so I won’t be home until late.”

“Of course. You’re going straight to Carly’s and to the dance from there?”

“That’s right, and we’ll share an Uber home.”

“Alright Sav. Be safe, have fun and say hi to Josh for me.” She gave Savannah a kiss on her cheek.

“Will do Mom.”

---

Carly was already at the Library, texting away on her phone when Savannah sat next to her. Carly’s expression was furious, and so she carefully peeked over and read the contents of the text message being angrily typed out.

“So I’m guessing that Dale is still being an absolute ass, by the looks of it?” Carly nodded, still typing quickly before pressing send and slamming the phone down and cursing.

“Understatement of the year. I mean, first he ditches me a week before the Spring Dance. Then he hooks up with that cheap floozy Senior with completely fake boobs, and then he texts me last night to tell me that he misses me. That guy is giving off all the wrong signals.” Carly gave an exasperating sigh, causing Savannah to chuckle. She and Carly had become fast friends in High school, and although Carly tended to fall in and out of lust faster than she could say ‘undress’ she had a good heart. Even if it was in her pants most of the time.

“So is it over, or is this going to be another one of your temporary break-ups followed by allegedly earth-shattering sex?” Savannah said with a wink.

“Urgh. I don’t know. We had ground rules: Sex. Exclusively. Monogamously. But no emotional entanglements. I have a drink with an old flame and he blows his lid!” She rubbed her forehead and leant her head back. “I cannot deal with the jealousy. It’s not like I was going to jump the guy’s bones – although the sex was pretty good at the time, I’ll admit” she added with a grin “but Dale’s carrying on like we’re a couple. And that is definitely not the case.”

Savannah sighed. Carly was able to get herself any man she wanted and keep her emotions completely controlled. The partners however ended up falling head over heels for her. Every. Damn. Time. Dale was now being added onto a long list of men in Carly’s life that would fall for her beauty, lose their hearts and have them returned broken. Savannah had to admit that at first, she was jealous of the attention that got thrown at best friend’s feet, but since she and Joshua had been dating steadily for nearly a year now, the jealousy had faded.

“Sorry Carly. I know it’s not what you wanted. But at least now you’re free to find another bed warmer for the Spring Dance.”

“Seems that way. Anyway, why are you here so early?”

“Mom got an early call to go save the day.” Savannah pulled out a textbook and started to page through it. “Figured I’d save the bus fare and catch an early lift with her.”

“Makes sense.” Carly smoothed her blonde curls down and gave Savannah a nudge with her knee. “Things still all ‘flowers and romance’ with Joshua?”

Savannah smiled. “As always. He’s just been so crazy busy with his studies that we’ve barely seen each other for the last two weeks.”

---

“What do you mean ‘breaking up?’ Where’s this all coming from?” Savannah gaped. The emerald green evening dress reflecting her wide green eyes.

“Listen Sav, it’s coming up to graduation.” Joshua spoke over the loud music in the dance hall so as to be heard clearly. “We’re going to in two very different directions. You’ve still got years of studying left to do and I’m going to be working from next year.” Joshua took a step back. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and I can’t see this lasting past graduation. I’d rather break it off now so that I can focus on my career without distraction.”

Savannah dropped her arms to her side, disbelief plastered across her face. “Distraction? That’s what this last year has been to you? A distraction?” Several dancing couples nearby stopped dancing and started to stare, uncomfortable with the happenings. “And you decide to do this now in the middle of the Spring Dance?”

“Better sooner than later.” He replied weakly. He cleared his throat and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry Sav. It’s better this way.” He walked away without another word, leaving her on the dance floor. Carly stopped dancing with the attractive boy she was occupying and raced over as soon as she saw the expression on her best friend’s face.

“Sav? What’s wrong? What is it?”

An angry tear escaped and ran down her cheek. “He broke up with me.”

“What? Joshua? Right now?” She whipped her head around, searching for him. “Where is that slimy, no-good, son-of-a…”

“I have to get out of here.” Savannah turned and ran, pushing her way through the crowd that had none-too-subtly gathered to listen in on what should have been a private conversation. She didn’t hear Carly calling after her, and she wouldn’t have stopped even if she had. She ran out into the dark night and simply kept on running.