Law and Order- complete

XI

Harry had apparently had a busy morning and wasn't able to drive me to the courthouse, leaving China to take me.

I didn't dwell on it too much, seeing that my morning was hectic as well. China searched through both of our closets, trying to be patient as I practically panicked when I realized I had nothing professional to wear and my wardrobe was full of skinny jeans and crewnecks.

After a few outfit changes, she comes out of her room with a dark, maroon turtle neck and pair of black dress pants. She said they'd belonged to her mom and to be honest, I didn't care. I was just grateful I didn't have to go before the judge wearing the atrocious shit I had in my closet.

After squeezing the tight-fitting turtle neck on, China brushes my hair into a high ponytail, using hair spray from a yellow container to hold it in place before braiding the ponytail hair down. When she's done, I watch her through the mirror as she wraps it around in a bun before pinning it with a few bobby pins.

She was in her usual groggy mood, but I could see the effort she made to cheer me up before we'd left, offering to do my makeup, to which I accepted. 

After applying a thin coat of mascara and filling in my eyebrows, she rubs a liquid highlighter blush on my cheeks and takes a step back, inhaling a breath through her nose and nodding. "What shoes are you gonna wear?"

"I have some Sperry's, those are court-appropriate, right?"

She shrugs, "I don't really know shit about that, but they should be? I'm guessing you just dress like you're going to a job interview." She says, walking away from me and to the dresser, where she grabs a pair of stud earrings and hands them to me, "You should be fine, Harry will tell you if there's something wrong, I'm sure."

She's right. He's supposed to be meeting me outside of the courtroom so I know I'll at least have a few moments to change anything that's too much or too little.

A few moments later, China throws a hoodie over her head, pulls her thick hair into a ponytail, and grabs her keys from the front door. I told her I'd drive but she insisted that she didn't have shit to do and was desperate to get out of the house. I know that she only wanted to show support, but didn't know how to. 

The sky that was once clear, is now smoothed over gray, with blotchy patches of rain clouds. The air was thick and humid, suffocating almost. But I ignored it, opening the creaky door and giving China a close-lipped smile before climbing out. She ducks her head to look at me, rolling down the passenger window after I closed the door.

"Kick some frat boy ass, girl." She offers a genuine smile, coated in sympathy.

 Nodding, I tell her I will, allowing her to drive away as I repeat it to myself. I will.

 I wasn't going to face Ryder for anything that happened that summer. I know I'm not ready to accept that yet. I'm facing him for something the cops already know he did. Something where the evidence is so blatant, we shouldn't even be going to court. I can do this.

I have to keep telling myself that as I approach the large doors and swing them open, immediately being met with a large hall with a grand chandelier down the center. A desk sits on the right, along with a security guard and a little walkway I'm guessing I had to go through to ensure I had no weapons.

It was all so intimidating and worsened the gut-wrenching feeling as I walked across the polished floors and through the metal detector, when it doesn't go off, the security guard simply nods me forward. I flip the white sheet from my pocket and look over it to see what courtroom I'll be in. 

2.

Okay. 

Following the signs is easy, trying not to throw up on the floors that were so shiny I could see my reflection, was the hard part. I know my support was just outside those heavy double doors but I can't help how small I felt. Police officers made small talk with each other along the corridors, and random people passed by with somewhere to be. I, however, took my time. Gulping every few seconds and breathing shaky breaths through my mouth. my chest was assaulted by the rapid beat of my heart and I felt like it was echoing through the large space. But nobody paid me mind.