May I have some advice?

I was wondering if anyone could give me any information about NC possession of paraphernalia laws. I am currently a student in the university system and last weekend a friend and I went to hang out at someone else's place on campus. The police showed up and found a pack of Top 1.5 Rolling papers for cigarettes on me, no marijuana. So now I have a student ticket and a misdemeanor citation from the police for just having rolling papers. I was wondering what could happen and what I might be able to do about it. The room did have mj in it but none was attached to me. My friends have told me things like get a lawyer and appeal, use first time offender, or prayer for judgement. I realize it is only cigarette papers and should be dropped but on the other hand I wouldn't want anyone to ask me to take a drug test because it wouldn't go well. Should I take the defender I'm given or invest in my own counsel? I would like to get out of this without probation or my parents finding out. Is it possible?