Scars [An Exclamation Point Fan Fiction]

PART 31

There's a cry in crowd, and I see my mom sobbing on my father's shoulder. Brady is looking down, with Meghan holding onto his hands. I take a deep breath and slowly tell the story of Nate and I. I stare at Paul the entire time. I feel Nate's eyes on me. His lawyer stands.

"When was the first time Nate 'hit you?'" Mark Warren asks making air quotes around his words.

"Two years ago, we'd been dating for nine months." I make the mistake of looking at Nate. That face.

"Why do you think that he hit you?"

"Because... I hit him first." I say putting my head down.

His lawyer fakes shock. "Really."

"But Nate wouldn't stop." I say through tears. "I told him no, but he wanted to have sex. I was scared. I didn't know what else to do. He slapped me across the face, yanked me by my hair, and grabbed my hip." By now I'm sobbing. I manage to pull myself together to talk about the car accident, Brady finding out, Nate throwing me into the window, raping me and countless other attacks leading up to November at the X Factor studio. Now I'm angry at him for making me relive the multiple attacks. He steps toward the bar and looks me in the eyes.

"But if he really was doing this to you, Nicole, why didn't you tell anyone?" Mr. Warren asks leaning towards me.

"Mr. Warren," I say staring him down. "Put yourself in my shoes. I was a naive sixteen year old girl in love with a boy I thought loved me back. And then all of a sudden that changed. Suddenly nothing I do is right. Suddenly the sweet and romantic boy I fell in love with, became violent and angry. Who could I have told? He scared me, but I loved him. I thought he would stop. I had that much faith in him. I thought I could fix it. But I couldn't. I tried ending it Mr. Warren, and all that got me was glass in my arm and a broken window. So excuse me for valuing my life, and the boy I loved." I look over at Paul who's smiling at me. "So to answer your question, no I didn't tell anyone. Why? I'm sure you can figure that out yourself." I lean back smiling. He walks away steaming. I look over at Emma who gives me a thumbs up sign.

The judge bangs his gavel. "Court is adjourned. Jury have your verdict ready tomorrow morning at nine."

I stand up and go to Emma.

"You kicked ass up there sweetheart!" She says.

Paul come sup from behind me and hugs me. He kisses my cheek. "I knew you could do it!" He whispers.

Danny comes up and hugs me too, so I'm sandwiched between them. I hear someone clear their throat. Paul and Danny back away as I face my parents and Brady, with red swollen eyes.

I hug them both and start to sob again "I'm sorry." I say. "I'm so sorry. I should've told you."

I hear footsteps walk away as I hold onto my family.

"We understand why you didn't." My dad says. "We're just glad you were able to get out of it."

We break apart and Brady wipes my tears. "When you got all sassy on the stands I was ready to stand up and applaud you." He says with a laugh. "His face was priceless, I actually got a picture!" Brady pulls out his phone and shows me Mark Warren's face. Jaw dropped, and turning bright red.

My mom takes my hand. "Let's go get some dinner. Paul, Danny and Meghan are welcome to come." We walk out the doors to the main hallway. I take Paul's hand, as we all walk out the door. I'm surrounded by reporters and flashing lights. My parents already made it out to the car. I bury my face against Paul as he wraps an arm around my waist. Danny takes one of my arms to lead me, as Brady pushes through the crowd like he used to for football. We make it out of the crowd, and I see Meghan holding the car door open. She and Brady climb in, as Paul, Danny and I run to the car. We follow my parents to my favorite restaurant. Once inside we're seated and waiting for our food, the news comes on. A reporter is standing outside the courthouse. My name is mentioned and half of the restaurant turns to stare at me. (Stupid small town...)

"The jury is meeting now to discuss the verdict, and will reach a decision by tomorrow morning. Nicole was said not to question today, but because of the circumstances Judge Pitts felt it was necessary." A video of me on the stand plays, they show me breaking down, turning to rage. I look around the restaurant. People look at me, then the screen. I feel my face flush, as I run out the door. The cold stings the tears that fall down my cheeks.

"Nikki?" I hear Paul's voice.

I look up. "Everyone's staring at me." I whisper.

Paul holds out his arms, I fall into them. "Don't let them get you." He whispers stroking my hair. "They're just curious."

"I just want this to be over."

"It will be tomorrow. After tomorrow we'll go back to California, and forget about it. Ok?"

I nod my head against Paul's chest, and we walk back inside. I manage to make it through dinner, but every now and then I glance over and see people giving me sympathetic looks.

The next day the lawyers make their closing arguments, and give the jury some extra time to finalize their decision. A juror steps forward.

Judge Pitts asks. "Has the jury reached a verdict?"

The juror nods. "Yes your honor. We find the defendant guilty in the charges of assault towards Nicole Garner."

"Nate?" Judge says. Nate stands up slowly. "You are sentenced to two years in prison, along with fines of miss Garner's therapy and medication that amount to $5000." The judge bangs his gavel. "Court dismissed." Nate is taken away in handcuffs, but not before I see his face one last time. I see his glare. The dark in his eyes. His fists clenching in front of him. This time, I'm not afraid of him.