Now I See You | ✓

Nineteen

Aubin: Text me if you need an out sweetheart, I'll be there in five flat

Despite my nerves and apprehension, Aubin's message manages to bring a small smile to my stressed face. I've got similar messages from Manal and Josie, as well as a promise from Zeb to call if I send an SOS message to him.

I'm currently sitting outside Roy Chambers' office in the main faculty building of UBC, waiting for him to come and get me for this meeting that he apparently wants to have about the hearing.

Honestly, I don't want to be here. That may make me a bad person, but the thought of standing up in front of a room full of people to talk about my friendship with Mason makes me feel completely woozy. The last thing I want to do is publicly relive all of the sordid details that already haunt me constantly in my head.

They're my own private demons. Not for anyone else to be privy to.

But, I know that's not great. I know that the way forward is to testify against Mason, to throw all the weight and influence I, as a woman testifying against a man, could possibly have against him in an attempt to stop this kind of thing from happening again.

Doesn't mean I don't want to vomit at the prospect, though, no matter how self-sacrificing I might be supposed to feel.

When the office door eventually opens, I'm genuinely debating just standing up and careering out of there, my conscience be damned.

The only thought that gets me through is that my friends will come and get me if I ask.

So, I plaster a fake smile on my face for the man in front of me and stand on my feet, following him into his office.

"Thank you for coming to meet me, Ms Young. As I said on the phone, my name is Roy," he greets me, gesturing for me to take the seat opposite him at the desk.

Slowly, I lower myself into it, sitting ramrod straight. "Judah is fine."

Roy nods, leaning back in his seat. "First of all, Judah, I can imagine that this is quite a stressful and upsetting time for you."

I swallow uncomfortably, because that's the understatement of the year.

"I'm a neutral party in all of this, Judah, so please feel free to tell me whatever you would like. I'm not here to tell you what you should be doing or saying. I just want to acknowledge that this must be tough, whether you are siding with Mr Rivers or not, so I just have to ask, how are you doing with all of this?" he asks, rubbing a hand along his jaw.

Honestly, he seems pretty genuine. It's just that the thought of talking about this with him doesn't sit well with me, given that I've never met him before and he's not my counsellor.

So, I shrug, trying not to come across as insolent, despite his concern. "I'm fine, thank you. I guess I should clarify that I'm not siding with Mason."

Roy takes a deep breath, nodding. "Right. Despite all the history you have. That must be hard."

I look away, because I'm just not up for this. "I'm sorry, but could you please tell me exactly what it is you would like me to do?"

He clearly gets the message, because he nods and leans forward in his seat, elbows resting on the desk. "Well, there's going to be an internal college hearing about both Mr Rivers and Mr Williams, although I don't believe you have much connection to the latter."

I've honestly no idea how he even knows that I've been friends with Mason all these years, but I don't want to ask. I'm too on edge for that.

"All that would be required of you, is during the hearing, to stand up and testify a bit about Mr RIvers' character. The accusing side would ask you a few questions, to try and get an idea of who Mr Rivers is."