by A. J. Macey
“Surprise?” I croaked out, my brows dipping down. That definitely didn’t sound like I was getting fired, especially if Lyla knew. She would have told me.
“Yup! You, Miss Clark, are getting a raise,” he stated in excitement. “I know you’ve been going through a lot, and I wanted to reward you for your professionalism and hard work, despite everything on your plate. I remember being a teenager and every little thing piling up, so I know it’s not easy.”
“So, you’re not firing me?” I asked, just needing to be sure. He laughed, shaking his head.
“Nope, sorry if I scared you. I’ll keep that in mind for the future when I get the idea to surprise you. But you’re now at ten dollars and fifty cents an hour.”
My jaw dropped. A dollar fifty raise. While it wasn’t much in the grand scheme of things since I was only part time, I was thankful for a little positivity right now.
“Thank you!” I squeaked, my gaping turning into a bright smile.
“Of course. We want to make sure our hard-working employees are treated well,” Rick assured. “That’s it for right now if you want to head out to the front. I think I’ve tortured Lyla, making her run the busy front alone long enough.”
With a chuckle, I nearly skipped to the front, my frown turned into a smile for more than ten minutes at a time for the first time in weeks.
See, Emma? You’ve totally got this.
Now to just get through Jesse’s trial.
18
January 27th
I read once that flying dreams mean you’re doing the right thing with your life.
#GuessWhatIdreamedLastNight #UpUpandAway #MotivationMonday
“Everyone ready to go?” Kaleb called out, his voice echoing up the stairs. I stood in Kingston’s bathroom, frozen in place, knowing today was the day.
Jesse’s future depended on me and what I had to say on the stand.
Holy crap, I think I may throw up.
“Em?” Jesse’s soft voice reached me, his slight frown pulling my attention from mindlessly staring at the sink to where he stood in the door frame. “Ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I mumbled, my shaky voice betraying how I truly felt.
“We’ll be alright, Em. I promise. No matter what happens, okay?” Jesse tried to convince me.
I mustered up a smile as best I could, but as we walked down the stairs to where Kingston and Reid were waiting in their dress shirts, pants, and ties with Kaleb and Stella, who both wore sleek suits, I felt my slight confidence falter.
“Alright, kids, into the SUV,” Stella prompted, trying to keep the positivity going strong with her smile and peppy words, but I could see the tension around her eyes and the worried glint in her gaze. We piled into the Bell family vehicle, Jesse and me in the middle two seats with Kingston and Reid in the backseat.
We were quiet as we drove to the courthouse, the tension thick enough, I could have cut it with a knife. Jesse’s hand gripping mine was the only anchor in the sea of anxiety and ‘what ifs’ filtering through my mind, threatening to drown me in the possible negative outcomes of today.
I stumbled slightly as I exited the car, Stella catching me as my weak knees gave out, steadying me until I could get my feet righted again. Rubbing soothing circles on my back, she helped calm me enough, I could walk without falling on my face.
No one needs to see that right now. I can embarrass myself another time.
“Alright, Kingston, Reid, head in with Stell. I need to talk to Jesse and Emma before the proceedings start,” Kaleb instructed quietly. Before walking off, Stella wrapped us both in a tight hug, lingering slightly before pulling back.
“It’ll be okay,” Kingston assured, hugging Jesse quickly before me, placing a soft kiss on the top of my head before following Stella into the courtroom.
“We’ll be here the whole time,” Reid murmured, doing the same, then made his way into the courtroom.
And just like that, there were only three.
“Just a quick rundown of what will happen,” Kaleb murmured quietly. “Opening statements first, prosecution, then me. You, Emma, will be sitting with Stella and the boys while you, Jesse, are with me at the desk in front of the judge. Since we’re going through the emancipation process, the judge was made aware of your current home situation and didn’t contact your parents.
“Next will be testimonies and cross-examination. Emma, unfortunately, when Jesse and Brad are called to testify and be cross examined, you can’t be in the room, in case it affects your testimony, so you’ll wait out here with Stella.
“When it’s your turn, the bailiff will come get you and bring you to the stand. You’ll be sworn in like we talked about before, then you’ll answer questions. If, at any point, you’re worried or struggling, look at me, okay? Don’t look at Brad, don’t look at the people in attendance, just me. I’ll help you get through the questions, okay?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled, already overwhelmed with everything about to happen, and the trial hadn’t even started yet. I opened my mouth to ask a question, but a group of people entering the front doors down at the end of the hall caught my attention. As soon as I felt my skin prickle, I knew who it was.
Brad.
And the whole freaking Warland family, it would seem.
“Emma, Jesse, look at me,” Kaleb commanded softly. I dragged my gaze away from the group of well-dressed men and one woman, recognizing Brad’s parents from the law firm. “Jess,” Kaleb urged. Finally, after another tense moment, Jesse turned from the Warlands and focused on Kaleb. “Don’t acknowledge them, don’t listen to what they have to say, just pretend they don’t exist. We’re here to prove to the judge that while Jesse did assault Brad, there was a legitimate reason. That’s it.”
“What’s after cross-examination?” I croaked, wanting to be aware of every step throughout the trial.
“Closing arguments,” Kaleb answered. “You’ll be allowed back in with the crowd at that point, Emma. Then the judge will adjourn to deliberate his verdict and announce his ruling as well as the punishment for Jesse.”
“Oh God,” I muttered, my stomach already turning at the thought of how this could go. “I think I may throw up before the end of this.”
“If you think you need to, Stella has some extra bags in her purse just in case,” Kaleb told me, his lip quirking up. “But I know you guys can do this. We’ll get through this, together, alright?”
After we both nodded, we headed into the courtroom, but as soon as I was through the door, I stopped dead. Not because it was real, or I felt Brad’s icy eyes on me, or my mom was sitting in the back row with her signature scowl on her face, but because my friends were there. Zoey, Aubrey, Jason, Carter, and Brayden sat in a row, Lyla on the end with Stella, a space between her and Reid. And when they all gave us encouraging smiles or thumbs ups, I nearly cried.
They’re here, and they care about us.
This is what friendship is about.
Nebraska is definitely not so bad.
“Come on, Jesse,” Kaleb directed, giving me a tiny nod to let me know I was good to sit. Ignoring my mom’s scowl, the Warlands’ scowls, and Brad’s lingering gaze, I made my way to the place they had saved for me.
“Hey there, Emma Bean,” Lyla murmured, grabbing my hand with a squeeze. “We got this. I can go out in the hall with you when you’re supposed to leave if you want. Mrs. Bell gave us a rundown of what we should expect.”
I gave her a grateful smile and a nod, unable to say yes through the lump of emotions that had built in my throat. Reid’s arm wrapped around me, his fingers tracing circles on my shoulder. Kingston reached across Reid’s lap, snatching my other hand before pressing a kiss to my knuckles. Kingston didn’t let go, letting our entwined hands rest on Reid’s legs. As soon as I felt both of my boys, my whirling thoughts settled, and I could finally take a deep breath.
I can totally do this.
“All rise,” the bailiff called out, the door behind the judge’s ben
ch opening to reveal an older man with graying hair and a wrinkled face, his black robes billowing as he walked to his seat. He waved for us to sit back down as he sank into a chair I couldn’t see.
“We are here to hear the case, Parker vs. State,” the judge started, his voice strong as it resonated through the room. “Defendant, Mr. Jesse Parker, is charged with aggravated assault against the victim, Mr. Brad Warland, with the plea of not guilty, is this correct?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Kaleb stated, standing as he addressed the judge.
“Alright then, we will begin with opening statements. Mr. Corsian, you have the floor.”
I don’t know if it was because my nerves and anxiety had taken over or because it was Brad’s lawyer talking, but my mind shut down, and my eyes glazed over, not hearing anything that came out of his mouth. As soon as he was finished, sounds started to reach me—Kaleb addressing the judge, stating the facts quickly and professionally.
“...going to prove, while my client laid hands on Mr. Warland, it wasn’t without just cause. Brad Warland had been forcing himself on a mutual classmate, Miss Emma Clark, during the party. The advance was unwanted, and Miss Clark attempted to fight off her attacker but was unable to do so until my client forced Mr. Warland off her. This is why I am pushing for charges against my client to be dropped.”
“Thank you, counselor,” the judge dipped his head as he addressed Kaleb. “We will move on to testimonies. If Miss Clark would please exit the room.” My throat closed up, my body refusing to work until Lyla nudged me, and Reid gave my cheek a soft kiss. Shakily, I stood, exiting behind Stella, Lyla quickly on my heels as we made our way out of the courtroom. My vision tunneled, Stella’s cream blazer the only thing in my sight as we walked out of the room.
“Emma, darling,” Stella’s voice pulled me back to myself, my eyes finally able to process what was around me as she and Lyla directed me to one of the wooden benches at the side of the hall. “Take a deep breath.”
“Yeah, don’t want you passing out on me. I’m smaller than you, remember? I’d drop you if you fainted,” Lyla teased. A slightly hysterical laugh bubbled out, the sound helping ground me.
“You doing alright? Need a bag?” Stella questioned, holding up her purse.
I shook my head, my inhale shaky as I relaxed into the seat. Well, relaxed as much as I could be, wound up tight with anxiety.
“Nervous,” I said simply. “This is downright terrifying, having to go in there and recount everything that happened to a room full of people and my mom, who’s clearly not in a good mood.”
“I thought that was her,” Lyla mumbled. “She looks like the stick up her ass could be loosened.”
“Oh, gross,” I groaned, my lips curling despite the picture she had created. “Oh, by the way, Stella, this is Lyla. She works with me at Coffee Grounds. Lyla, this is Kingston’s mom.”
“Nice to meet you, Lyla. Thank you for being here today for them.” Stella’s hand came out, shaking Lyla’s.
“No problem. Can’t let Emma Bean navigate all this nonsense alone. Well, not alone exactly, seeing as how she has her boyfriends...” she trailed off, realizing she’d let that slip, but I waved away her worry.
“It’s okay, she knows,” I reassured her. She exhaled in an exaggerated ‘phew,’ her hand miming wiping away sweat off her forehead dramatically. I appreciated to the moon and back that she was trying to help keep my mind off everything.
“Miss Clark,” the bailiff’s voice pulled me from our little bubble, his call and the opening of the door shattering the cushion I had created by pretending I didn’t have to testify. Taking a deep breath, I stood. My legs were shaky, but I didn’t lose my footing this time around. With that positive thought, I followed the man to the front of the courtroom.
“Raise your right hand up,” the bailiff instructed when I stepped into the witness booth. “Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give for this hearing shall be the truth, and nothing but the truth, under penalty of perjury?”
“I swear,” I stated, forcing the words to be steady despite my hand shaking like a leaf in the air.
“Please have a seat, Miss Clark.” The judge waved a hand to the seat, his head dipping as he gave me a small smile.
Well, at least he doesn’t seem to be super judgmental.
What an oxymoron, seeing as how he’s a judge.
“Miss Clark,” Steve Corsian started, stepping around the prosecutor’s table and into the space between the stand and the rest of the courtroom. “Can you tell us what happened the night of the party in question?”
I looked to Kaleb, and his head nodded slightly, his gaze giving me strength. Taking a breath, I told what happened as well worded as I could, struggling to keep my emotions at bay. No one interrupted or questioned as I talked, letting me get through the entire explanation before Brad’s lawyer started in.
“So, is it true the defendant, Jesse Parker, attacked Brad Warland?”
“Objection, asked and answered with original testimony and admitted during the official plea,” Kaleb called out.
“Sustained,” the judge responded. My brain whirled at the quick-paced calls between the lawyers, my body buzzing with overwhelming emotions.
“Did you, or did you not,” Steve started again, “run into Mr. Warland the night before at his place of employment and have a private conversation with him?”
“I had just come out of the bathroom and accidentally ran into him. He introduced himself, followed by me introducing myself, but he wouldn’t let go of my upper arms when I tried to move around him,” I explained, fidgeting in my seat.
“If Mr. Warland wanted to force himself on you, why wouldn’t he have done it then? It was dark, away from other people.”
“My friend, Kingston, came up, interrupting something Brad was going to say, giving me a chance to leave,” I stated. I could see the tic in Steve’s jaw at my answer. It was small, and from anywhere else in the room, I don’t think I would have seen it.
The move put me on edge.
Well, more so than I already freaking was.
Man, do I want to spout some random facts right now.
“Is it true there was drinking at the party?” Steve redirected the questions. “And that you were drinking?”
“Yes, to both,” I murmured, my cheeks heated, admitting in the middle of a court case I had broken the law.
“So, couldn’t it have been that, in an intoxicated state, you misinterpreted the situation?”
“Objection,” Kaleb countered. “Speculation on level of intoxication.”
“Sustained,” the judge agreed, looking to Brad’s lawyer. “Counselor, stay on topic.”
“Of course, Your Honor,” Steve answered, dipping his head in apology. “Miss Clark, was Mr. Warland injured after the defendant Mr. Parker physically attacked him?”
“Uh, I don’t know, it was dark,” I mumbled. “I was still trying to process what had happened upstairs.”
“No further questions, Your Honor,” Steve bit out. His eyes narrowed on me, and his lips twitched at my answer, clearly irritated I hadn’t helped his case at all.
“Counselor Bell, the witness is yours for cross-examination,” the judge instructed. Kaleb nodded, getting up from his seat, and stepped up to the witness box.
“Miss Clark, did you, in any way, give Mr. Warland permission for his advances?”
“No,” I stated clearly, my head shaking in response.
“Just to clarify, you did not verbally or non-verbally signal to Mr. Warland, you were okay with him placing his hands on you or kissing you?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did, though, try to push him away and tell him to stop, correct?”
“Objection, leading,” Steve called.
“Overruled, used as clarification of previous testimony,” the judge countered.
“That’s correct,” I said when the judge and Kaleb indicated for me to answer.
“No fu
rther questions, Your Honor,” Kaleb stated, giving me a small smile.
“Would you like to re-examine the witness, counselor?”
“No, Your Honor,” Steve stated, a sleazy smile widening as he glanced at me. The smile didn’t fool me; I saw the fire his gaze was spitting at me. “I think everything was covered.”
“You can go take a seat, Miss Clark.”
“Thank you,” I murmured with a forced smile, hopping up as fast as my tingling legs would work, focusing on walking back to my seat between Reid and Lyla without tripping.
“Closing Arguments,” the judge instructed, but at that point, my hearing fuzzed over as if I had been wrapped in a noise-canceling bubble. It was an odd experience, the rush of relief my testimony was over, all while the anxiety that continued to flood my system whirled in my veins. I watched both lawyers conclude their final statements, feeling a disconnect to the room around me.
“Cali girl,” Reid stated, his words muddled as he nudged my shoulders. “Emma, Judge called a recess.” The longer he talked, the more the sounds of what was happening around me caught up to my brain. “We can go see Jesse. Want to go give him a big hug?” Nodding, I got up, but my movements were sluggish.
This day could not be over freaking fast enough.
“You did very well, Emma,” Kaleb praised as soon as we were congregated outside the room, Jesse surrounded by our friends who were giving him reassurances and pats on the back. As soon as our eyes met, he waded his way through the group and wrapped me in a tight hug.
“Em, love, this may be the worst fucking time to say this, but I love you. Thank you for going up there, for being with me and us. I don’t think I’d have survived this long without the three of you,” he whispered, his honeyed words warming me from the inside out, thawing the coldness that had started to take over and dulling the worries.
“Wait... you love me?” I pulled back, my brain finally processing what he said. When he nodded, my heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t hold back the giant smile that split across my face.
