Always and Forever

Chapter 36: Labor Day

Most of the summer I worked at Pops with Veronica or the internship with Betty. The internship was under Mary to work on Archie's case, all while trying to help Veronica with her speakeasy and regain my friendship with Reggie. I have also been reconnecting with some of my old Serpent friends too. Also with me going to the hospital a lot for checkups. I would help Veronica all the time to keep my mind off of other things, but when I would get down I would pull out the sonogram of my unborn child. The day I came back home after everything with the riots, Dad told me that the doctor found out I was pregnant, he said that I was about 1 month in my pregnancy already. Once I told mom and Mary they weren't thrilled but Mom said that she would support me through it since she has been in my shoes before. Even after Sweet Pea and I broke up I wanted him to be a part of the baby's life, so once I got the sonogram, I put it in an envelope and knocked on his door. Josie opened the door, we were both surprised, I was more hurt than surprised to see how fast he could have moved on. I just told her to give it to him and all. Then a week later he wrote a very hurtful letter to me about the baby and us, well me to be completely honest. When I was about 3 months old pregnant, I was driving to meet up with Mary, Betty, and Mrs. McCoy, when a car hit me on the side and flipped my car upside down. Dad told me, I was in a coma for a few days, but the worse thing that happened was that I lost my baby because of the crash. I then got into a depression stage, but Toni and Cheryl called me all the time. With the help of my friends and family, I got out of it and got my happiness back. I accepted that my baby was dead but he or she were in a better place. I live my life to the fullest since my crash taught me that anything could happen at any moment so I should make the best of the day.

I was sitting by Fred and Reggie right now. I watched Sweet Pea and Josie sitting next to each other over my shoulder. On her face, she somehow had a smug look. Josie always hated me a little, but hid it very well, out of what I learned in summer.  Now that she has something that I cared for deeply she's not going to stop shoving it in my face.

"Breath, Dan," Reggie whispered to me. I faced forward, focusing on my brother in front of me.

"Yeah," I agreed. "I'm here to support my brother." The building had no air conditioning, everyone was fanning themselves or each other.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," Ms. Wright greeted the room. "The evidence and testimony that was presented in this court tell a dark story. That Mr. Andrews has a history of violent behavior. That he started not one, but two masked vigilante groups. That he assaulted an innocent boy who was helpless with two broken legs."

"Innocent like shit," I whispered as Fred, Veronica, and Reggie nodded in agreement.

"That he went wilding in the Southside of town and threatened to shoot a man in the face." I looked over at Sweet Pea who was already looking at me, then I turned my head away quickly. "That while partying with his friends in the town of Shadow Lake, Mr. Andrews ran into the woods and shot the victim, Cassidy Bullock, point-blank in the head. Now Mr. Andrews claims that it was his girlfriend's father's doorman who shot Mr. Bullock. A shot that Mr. Andrews claims to have heard, but not seen. Who knows the truth on what happened that terrible night in the woods near Shadow Lake? I'll tell you who, that man." She pointed at Archie. "Archie Andrews may be a varsity athlete and he may be a sensitive musician. But he is also...A cold-blooded...Killer." She then sat down and Mary stood up to give her piece.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Mary greeted the courtroom. "We know, for a fact, that Archie constantly puts the needs of others ahead of his own. We know he did not sleep a wink till his sister was found when she was missing all three times, he would do anything in his willpower to find her." I looked at Sweet Pea once more who was still looking at me then at Archie. "We know that he helped solve the murder of Jason Blossom. We know that he offered both friends and enemies shelter when they had nowhere else to stay. We know that he helped his sister punch through a rover of ice to save the life of their classmate Cheryl Blossom. Let me remind you that there were no witnesses to the actual killing. There was no murder weapon. There was no motive. At the end of the day, all the prosecution has is cloudy testimony from unreliable people. Now, it is my solemn duty as a mother to protect my son. But as an attorney. It's my duty to adhere to the facts, to the evidence. There is nothing here that proves that Archie Andrews is anything less than an innocent boy. Thank you." She then went and sat down, then I saw Archie whisper something to her.