THREE - Daniel Ricciardo

Chapter 68 - Flutters

AMY

Dressing myself in my beige suite, I flattened out any creases in the jacket and took one final look at myself in the floor length mirror of the hotel. I ran my fingers through my freshly cut hair and reached over towards the pack of anxiety medication which sat on the side.

Taking two pills into my mouth, I washed them down with some water, taking one final breath before staring at the girl in the mirror. For one final time, I'd have to relive the nightmare that was my life when I was 18.

As I heard the bathroom door unlock, Daniel bounded out wearing his suit as he fastened the buttons on each sleeve.

"You look handsome." I smiled over at him, continuing to inspect my appearance.

Daniel smiled briefly before approaching me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist and finally resting his hands onto my stomach. He peered over from above me, towering over my stature as I was barefoot.

"How are you feeling?" He asked as he noticed my medication sprawled across the side. I turned around to face him, planting a small kiss to his lips as I stood on my toes.

"I just want today to be over." I confessed as Daniel nodded before placing another kiss on me.

Breaking us apart, a knock came from our door. Daniel took it upon himself to make his way over, opening it wide to let Rachel and Michael in.

Rachel quickly ran over to me, engulfing me in her embrace in attempts to comfort me from today.

"I don't want to be rude, but what's Michael doing here?" I whispered in Rachel's ear as Daniel and Michael chatted in the corner.

"He wanted to support you." She quickly said, still not revealing that they were together.

Not that I minded Michael being here, he'd been a massive support since I met him, but I didn't want him to hear about the horror stories which would be spread across the court room today.

Another knock echoed through the room, this time from my parents. My mom quickly hugged Daniel before moving over to Rachel and I, patting my back as she wrapped her arm around my side.

"Ready, Princess?" My dad asked after greeting Daniel and Michael. I looked over in his direction and nodded, taking a deep breath as I focused on remaining stable.

As we left the room, Daniel linked his hand with mine, not letting my grip go for one moment as we all took the short walk to the courthouse.

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As we seated ourselves down, I looked over at the people who were congregated within the stands. Daniel kept his hand flat on my thigh as I nervously tapped my foot up and down.

Michael sat to the other side of me as he smiled over, granting me with enough compassion and comfort in one short grin.

In that moment, the door adjacent to the Barrister's chair flew open, revealing Jason in hand cuffs surrounded by two large officers. They escorted him to the chair opposite, where he would be assisted by his solicitor and his team of legal aids.

He didn't look up to view the crowd, not once, remaining his focus on the ground as he made his way over to where he needed to be seated.

My anxiety was now at an all time high as my hands grew clammy and my heart palpitated through the walls of my chest. My breath hitched audibly as Daniel reacted, pressing a small kiss to the temple of my head.

My parents were seated behind us as my dad's broad hand reached forward and comforted my shoulder. I placed my hand upon his to thank him, trying to remain confidently unbothered.