Teachers Pet

63: The Serpent

        It took a while for me to calm myself down. The fog loomed, but it wasn't as overpowering as it had been. The control I was reining in was enough to get me through this, it had to be. I knew there were still eyes on me, but I couldn't think of them right now. The embarrassment and shame that settled inside of me after Doctor Tanner stepped down hadn't lifted yet. It was in my veins and filling my lungs and welling up in my eyes. There was one person here who could possibly help to ease these intrusive thoughts and feelings I had, but my lawyer told me to not look behind me to her. So I didn't.

       I knew David would have the right words right now for me too, but he was not here. He was in another room waiting to be called. I wanted to be in my mothers' arms, holding onto her as tight as I could, but she too was somewhere else. Then there was Jake who I just wanted to have at least five minutes alone with. Our phone call from earlier had left us in a weird place that I didn't like. She was there with him and I let that stop me from telling him the truth. He still needed to know everything and I wanted to tell him.

       I jumped in my seat when the judge cleared his throat. I caught sight of Doctor Tanner taking a seat within the courtroom to stay for the remainder of the trial. I didn't even hear that the next person to be brought out was Mrs. Peters. She had simple yes or no questions until she was asked about my character. She had nothing but nice things to say about me, stating that I only got into trouble when I was late, but those reasons were due to lack of transportation. That sometimes I got sent to the deans' office but that was by Mr. Banks who always sent students to the deans' office. She didn't stay up there long.

       When Mrs. Peters was brought down, she too took a seat. She would stay and watch whatever outcome this trial would have. The third person to be brought out had been Cassie who answered about ten questions before she was asked to step down. She had answered every single one carefully. I wasn't sure if her testifying helped or hurt my case. Either way, I was happy she came. With permission, she left, not staying for the trial.

       The fourth person to go up was Tanya. She never once looked in Nolans' direction. The strength she had to do so was something I envied. Her questions were what I was expecting them to be. In our prior meetings, Mr. Locke went through them with me. He asked her how long she has known me and what her relationship was with me.

       Her questions were what I was expecting them to be. In our prior meetings, Mr. Locke went through them with me. He asked her how long she has known me and what her relationship was with me. I was her sister's close friend that became practically family over the years. She saw me as a younger sister. Tanya was questioned on something even more intriguing that I only found out about recently. Tanya and Nolan had dated. The news had been very unsettling. Even now, I thought back to that night of the Halloween party when she said things that didn't make sense at the time.

       Has he hurt you?... I just mean... I know his jokes can go a little too far." But that hadn't been what she meant at all.

       "I'm the one who brought her here and I should be the one to drop her off safely." She knew more than she had let on. I wish I had caught on sooner. Was she trying to warn me without making it obvious? I should have paid more attention. She was trying to help me but there wasn't much she could have done.

        Mr. Locke didn't spend too much time questioning her about her relationship with Nolan. It clearly annoyed Nolans' lawyer, but Mr. Locke had said before he couldn't be the one to pry. It had to be Nolans' lawyer to do the prying.

       After my lawyer had his chance to ask Tanya his questions, it was Nolan's lawyer's turn to question her. Tanya's leg was bouncing now with anticipation no doubt. I watched as he slithered methodically until he was only a few feet from her.