*Warning: this chapter contains some scenes that may trigger some emotions*
My black heels click on the tiled floor as I walk inside of the courtroom. I run my hands down my black dress. The red and white detailing adds a slight flare. I need to appear gentle.
"It's going to be okay, Cahlia. We've prepared for this," my attorney, Jacob Marks, said in a low voice. I called Jace the same day I received the letter. We contacted our family attorney immediately and started discussing the case. I told him everything that happened, including when I bleached Mike's clothes. Jacob said Luke Jefferies is going to put up a fight, but he thinks we'll win.
"I'm so nervous," I say as I sit down at our desk. "I understand but look how many supporters you have." I turn around and my side of the courtroom is packed. I see Coco, Nova, Reid, Wes, Drew, Parker, and Bryce. I give them a grateful smile and mouth the words "thank you". The sound of the courtroom door opening catches my attention. I have a small sense of hope that it's Tyler. However, my grandparents walk in with Cayden and Jace. I shake off my disappointment and get up to hug them. "You look beautiful, sweetie." My grandma kisses one of my cheeks. "Just like your Mema," my Papa says, kissing my other cheek. "Don't let them intimidate you, okay. You are strong and he's going to pay for what he did." I wrap my arms around Cayden and give him a big hug. He softly rubs the back of my hair. When I let go, Jace quickly hugs me. "We're here for you." I smile at my family and hate that I almost gave this up. There's nothing like having someone there who will always support you.
We start talking about what questions I might be asked when the courtroom doors open. I look up and see Mike walking in with three men in suits. He has the biggest smile on his face and it's making me nauseous. He even has the balls to wink at me. "Calm down, Lia," my brother whispers in my ear. I take a deep breath in and sit back down. Mike's parents sit behind his desk along with Sabrina. I hear soft gasps coming from my friends, but I'm honestly not shocked. Sabrina was sleeping with Mike so why wouldn't she support him. However, something is different about her. She doesn't go out of her way to see me or harass me. She simply walks in and sits with Mike's parents.
"All rise for Judge Hendrix." I stand up and watch this older woman enter the courtroom. Her hair is full of beautiful gray strands. She smiles at me before sitting down. "You may be seated," she tells the courtroom. Mike decided not to let the case go to a jury. Instead, he wanted the judge to make the ruling. "We are here today in the case of Cahlia Robinson vs. Michael John. The prosecution can start by calling its first witness." I rub my hands under the desk as Jacob stands up. "The prosecution calls, Cahlia Robinson."
The steps to the stand seem like a journey. After I'm sworn under oath, I sit down in front of the court. Jacob walks up to me and I'm slightly nervous. I know we practiced this, but it feels different being here. "Cahlia, how long have you known Michael John?" I take a deep swallow and prepare myself to start. "I've known Mike since freshman year." "How would you describe your relationship?" My eyes glance at the back of the courtroom and Coco nods for me to continue. "Umm, we really don't have a relationship. We've been partners for school projects and stuff. But nothing more than that." I see Mike's attorneys quickly writing something down. "What was your last encounter with the defendant?" I feel the moisture building up on my hands and I try to wipe it away again.
"The last encounter was a few months ago, after school." When I glance at Cayden, his eyes are practically black. "Would you mind telling us what happened during that encounter?" I scratch the side of my face and nod my head. "While I was walking to my car, Mike pulled into the parking lot. We exchanged some words and he grabbed me," I paused. "It's okay, Cahlia," Jacob says. I take a deep breath in before continuing. "He slammed my back into his truck door multiple times. He then slapped his hand over my mouth." I look at Mike and his smile has finally disappeared.
"The prosecution would like to present the court with Exhibit A." Jacob pulls out two big pictures of me the police took after the incident. The first picture is a close-up of my face with a bloody lip. However, I can barely stand to look at the second picture. It's a picture of my back with dark purple bruises spaced around. "Can you describe these photos, Lia?" I look in the back of the courtroom. When I see Tyler sitting next to Parker, he is staring at my photos. "Lia?" I shake my head and look up at the photos. "These are the pictures the police took when I went to the station. The one on the left is the bloody lip I received after Mike hit me. The one on the right is the bruises I had after my back hit his truck." I say my words at a fast pace to get them out. I can't look at any of my friends or family, so I turn my eyes to the floor.
"Cahlia, is it true that the school found out about the attack?" I nod my head "yes". "How did they find out?" I move my hair behind my head and look up at Jacob. "Mike made a video about the attack and put it on Snapchat." "We would like to present Exhibit B." Jacob's assistant walks into the courtroom with a computer and projector. They pull up the video and Mike's voice soon feels the silent courtroom. I look at Judge Hendrix. Whenever Mike call's me something other than my name, she slightly winces. "Mr. John sent this around the school, correct?" Jacob asked once the video stops. "Yes, and some students even saved it."
At this point, I feel like this case is a slam dunk. We have Mike's own words saying he attacked me. Yet, my confidence soon falls when it's time for Mike's attorney to question me. "Ms. Robinson, didn't you and Mr. John meet at the beach before this so-called assault?" Luke Jefferies voice is cold and aggressive. "I didn't meet Mike at the beach. He showed up, which is completely different." Jacob told me that I needed to watch my words very carefully with Luke Jefferies. "So, you weren't upset after my client said a few words to you?" I shake my head "no". "He said some disrespectful words to me, but I didn't do anything to him." Luke Jeffries nods before walking back to his desk. The man sitting in a suit next to Mike hands Luke a file. "The defense presents Exhibit C to the court." Luke pulls out multiple photos of Mike's tub filled with bleach and his clothes. There are photos of the stained clothes laid out for a better view.
"Ms. Robinson, after the beach, you and your friends went to Mike's house, didn't you?" I bite my tongue and think about my answer. "No, I went alone," I confidently say. "What did you do at Mike's house?" Without any hesitation, I say, "I bleached his clothes." Luke Jefferies pauses from my blunt response. Jacob told me they were going to play that angle. He told me to be direct. "How would you react to someone breaking into your house and destroying your property?" Luke quickly gets back into the rhythm of things. "I wouldn't like that, but this situation is different." I feel word vomit about to come up, but I try to keep it down.
"How is this different. You didn't like what Mike said so you broke into his house. You poured gallons of bleach on his clothes because you couldn't handle his words!" "No, no, it's not that." I say in a loud voice. "Objection your honor, the defense is badgering my witness!" Judge Hendrix hits her gavel and says, "Attorney Jefferies, calm down or I will tell the client to leave the stand." Luke apologizes before adjusting his tie. He walks closer to the stand and stares at me in my eyes. I don't back down. "Admit that you snapped because he said some few harsh words."
"I did that to Mike because he deserved it after what he did to me." The coolness in my voice catches everyone's attention. Luke's eyes break from my glare almost immediately. "No further questions your honor," he says as he walks back to his desk. I look at Mike and the color has drained from his face. I'm guessing he told his attorney what happened, so he decided not to push me. However, my attorney was not going to let that happen.
"I would like to redirect your honor." Judge Hendrix allows Jacob to question me again. "Cahlia, this wasn't your first altercation with Mr. John, was it?" I shake my head "no". "Would you mind telling us about your first exchange." I stop trying to wipe my clammy hands on my dress. Instead, I prepare for the shock in the court after what I'm about to say.
The hallways of the house are packed with people. This is the first party of the sophomore year. I'm a little nervous that I'm here by myself. Reid had to work, Coco had a movie night with her family, and Nova had a date. I walk to the kitchen and hope to find Mike. He invited me to his party today at school. I jump when a pair of hands grab my waist. "Surprise, Cahlia!" I push him away before laughing. "You're an ass." His friendly smile and kind remarks started breaking down my tough exterior. "Let's get you a drink." I watch Mike make me some sort of mixed drink with vodka and punch.
I sip my drink slowly as Mike and I sit on his couch. The subject of school never comes up. Instead, we talk about what we like to do. "You're so hot. I have no idea how you've never had a boyfriend." I just nod my head and finish off my drink. "Well, you get around a lot, Mr. Playboy." My girlish giggle is a sign that the alcohol is starting to take effect. Yet, I'm surprised that it's making me feel drunker than usual. I don't even sense Mike's fingers touching my arm. I shift my body over to make him stop. He slides closer to me than before. He moves my hair to the side and fondles with my neck.
"Umm, Mike..." I'm not able to complete a full sentence. My mind has the words, but my mouth can't make them out. Mike's advances soon become aggressive. He forcefully pulls my neck forward, towards his face. "You can't say anything, can you?" His smug smile gives away his actions earlier tonight. I move my eyes to the side and no one is paying attention to us. I watch Mike sit his drink down. He easily picks up my limp body off the couch. I feel helpless as I'm carried up the stairs to an empty bedroom.
I lay there, with my arms by my side and legs hanging on the edge. A solo tear slides down my face when I hear the door lock. "Mi—Mike, please..." My pleading voice only makes him laugh. I can't move, but I'm completely aware of what's going on. He stands over my body, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. "Shh, you'll like it."
"That's the last thing he said. I woke up the next morning feeling like a stranger in my own body. I don't remember everything, but some stuff I can't forget. I try to forget how it felt to have him unbutton my jeans." My voice begins to break. I take a sharp breath in and continue. "The sensation of his hands on a place no one has ever touched. That will never go away." I wipe away the many tears that fell during my story.
"No further questions your honor." When Jacob looks at me, his eyes are a little watery. "Does the defense have any questions for the witness?" Judge Hendrix asked. Mike's lawyers shake their heads "no". I start to make my way down from the stand. I cannot look at my friends and family, so I walk with my head down back to my seat. "Well, I will look over the evidence and witness's testimony. We will reconvene when I've reached a verdict." Judge Hendrix hits her gavel, dismissing the court.
I hesitantly turn around and see Coco storming out of the courtroom. "Co, wait!" I run past my family. "What the hell was that, Cahlia!" I walk closer to her, but she only backs up. "You let me date a guy who assaulted you. Why didn't you tell me?" There are tears coming down from her eyes and I wish I could make them stop. "I don't know, Coco. I told you to be careful with him." She sarcastically laughs. "Sure, warning me was the right thing to do. Screw you, Lia." She walks away from me and I don't follow. I start hitting myself in the head.
"Hold on, Lia," Reid and Nova quickly wrap me in their grace. "I'm a terrible person. She hates me." They both try to calm me down, but it's useless. "Just give her time to calm down. We'll talk to her." I know Coco and she is not going to forgive me so easily. I lyingly nod my head at my friends and they eventually walk away from me. My breathing speeds up and I feel the walls closing in on me.
I need to get out of here, so I run.
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I throw my worn-out shoes in the hallway. I walked most of the way to my apartment until I decided to catch a cab. I texted my family to tell them that I was okay. However, we will be having a family meeting very soon. The walk home allowed me to not only think, but cry. My dress feels wetter from tears than sweat. Bryce texted me and asked if I was okay after he called 10 times. I told him I was fine. I wanted desperately for Tyler to call me, but he didn't.
I open my text messages and click on Tyler's name. My fingers shake from the idea of what he would say. I type a sentence, then delete it. I finally decided to press send on a message before I second guessed myself.
🌼 Me 🌼: I need you.
Seconds after I've sent the message, there is a soft knock on my door. I open the door and a brown-eyed Tyler is staring back at me. He doesn't wait for me to say anything. He simply rushes in, embracing me in his strong arms.
The tears become harder as his grip grows tighter.
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"Why didn't you tell me?"
I lay on Tyler's chest in my bed. He runs his finger gently through my hair. We've been in this position for about an hour. He didn't ask me any questions. Instead, he comforted me till I calmed down.
"I don't know. I guess I felt like it was my fault." Tyler's body tenses under me, but he doesn't move. I immediately know he doesn't think it was my fault. "Lia, he drugged you. How can you think it's your fault?" I wrap my arms around his waist. "Because I went there by myself. I didn't second guess him making me a drink." I feel the warmth of Tyler's fingers skimming over my t-shirt. "Cahila, excuse my language, but something is fucking wrong with him. No one thinks someone would do what Mike did. God, if I was at that party." Tyler's hand suddenly stops. I've learned to tell when he's getting upset about something. His body tenses up, his voice grows stern, and he starts saying less.
I lean up and place my hand under Tyler's chin. "Don't think about it. It's over." His light brown eyes are now a darker shade of brown. I can make out a grumbled "yeah" as he looks down at me. I lose my thoughts in his eyes. His focus never leaves me, nor does mine migrate from him. Tyler's hand makes its way to my waist, where he grips it.
"Stay."
One of Tyler's arms wraps tightly around my side, pulling me closer to his body. "All you had to do was ask." I rub my hand up and down his dress shirt. I soon start drifting off to sleep, securely in Tyler's grip.