Community Service

Chapter 4: Legally Wrong

Maddie sits in the dorm room she's not allowed to live in when Betty comes in with a surprise.

"Look what I got!" Betty says as she wheels in a 4-foot plant.

"What is that?" Asks Maddie.

"It's a four-foot marijuana tree! Now we can smoke weed whenever we want to for free!" She says as if she's a genius.

"Betty! We can't draw any attention to our room, I'm not supposed to be here, remember!"

"It's not a big deal worry wart, weed's legal and we're both 21."

"Fine, but if we get in trouble, you better take full responsibility because I'm in enough trouble."

"Will do, but I really thought you'd be more excited about this."

"I don't even smoke."

"Still, it's so cool."

Maddie hears an airplane fly over the room.

"That better not be the cops," Maddie says as she leaves the room.

Maddie walks into the office and sees Judge Marshall from the side as he speaks to Beatrice. Maybe it's because he's no longer her judge, but as he drinks his water, she really notices how beautiful he is.

He walks in the hallway, and Maddie can't help but slightly gasp as his powerful walks.

"Hi, Maddie," he says as he enters the waiting room to get a client.

Maddie can't even get herself to speak.

Beatrice comes up behind her and scares her, "Are you okay?"

"Of course, ready to get to work,"

She finally sits down at her cubicle after minutes of absorbing Judge Marshall's beauty, and he actually talked to her for the first time today, that's progress. Although she tells herself she has no feelings for him, after all, he's 15 years older than her, that'd be weird.

After Judge Marshall meets with a client, he comes up to her and sits on her desk. Maddie gets nervous.

"So," says Judge Marshall. "Have you heard from the university about your suspension/expulsion status?"

Beatrice begins to lean in so she can hear every word.

"No, but hopefully, I will soon." Says Maddie.

"Keep your chin up," suggests Judge Marshall. "I put in a good word for you." He gets off her desk and walks back to his office.

She turns her chair around, "You did?"

"Yes," he smiles.

"Thank you," she says genuinely.

"Of course, I meant it."

He walks into his office, and she smiles greatly.

Beatrice wheels over, "You like him, don't you?"

"No," Maddie tries to play it cool. "I do not that'd be inappropriate. Besides, he actually really screwed me over because, by the new judge's request, I have to go clean up a park." Maddie gets her things and starts to leave, "bye."

Maddie goes to the park and she cleans as much as she can even though, there's not much trash.

She then hears a familiar voice say, "Well if it isn't the girl of my dreams."

She looks up and sees Darryl.

"Darryl," she says surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"My roommates start smoking, and the whole room smelled like it was 4.20 so I decided to get some fresh air."