A Teacher's Heart

Chapter Nine

"....And because of your hatred for your ex-wife, you killed her lover in cold blood!"

"Wh-what? No!"

"No, I think you did, because your shirt was found at the crime scene!"

"Like I said, I-I got hot! It was summer!"

"There was blood on it, sir."

"It wasn't me! I swear!"

"Oh, I think it was, because even though you hated her, you still loved her."

There was a brief silence, then, and the man in the witness stand immediately started sobbing.

"HE WAS EVIL, SO I JUST WANTED TO PROTECT HER!" he replied. "I DIDN'T KNOW THE GUN WAS LOADED! I REALLY DIDN'T!"

Olivia smirked triumphantly, but her eyes and voice were full of sympathy.

"I know, Mister Adler," she nodded with understanding, "but unfortunately, your motive is too great to rule it as self-defense."

"Excellent work, Misses Kirkland~" the judge praised her. "By order of the court, I now let the jury decide on the fate of Mister Adler~"

He banged his gavel on his desk, then, dismissing the court temporarily.

"You sure are one hell of a prosecutor," a man told Olivia, his voice monotonous and his face a perpetual frown. "You are really giving me a run for my money right now."

"Well, I have many sides~" Olivia answered smugly. "I'm usually a lawyer myself, but certain cases make me switch desks~ Good thing I double-majored, hm?~"

"Oui," the man nodded. "The name is Francois."

"I'm Olivia~" Olivia replied. "It's nice to meet you, Francois~"

"Likewise," Francois answered, looking around the almost empty courtroom as well. "Say, after this, would you like to get a coffee? We can...discuss the case afterwards as well~"

Olivia thought about it for a moment, but unlike Francis, she didn't hesitate to say yes.

Because who wouldn't want to kick their ex in the gut?

"I would love to!~"

"Great~" Francois replied. "I will see you after the sentencing~"

"I look forward to it~" Olivia promised him. "I really do~"

"Me too~" Francois assured her.

Once Francois left to get something to drink, Olivia felt her happiness strengthen.

"Take that, Francis Bonnefoy~"

~~~~

"Wow, this cafe' is so posh!~" Olivia told Francois excitedly. "I bet everything will be amazing in there!~"

"Oui, it's my favorite place to go," Francois replied. "The people are very nice, too."

"Well, then let's order and sit down!~" Olivia suggested. "My feet are dying in these heels, ha, ha!~"

"Oh, my apologies~" Francois answered sarcastically. "I didn't realize you were in pain~"

Olivia raised a brow at first, but then she started laughing.

"Your sense of humour is so naughty, ha, ha!~"

"Merci~" Francois smirked triumphantly, clearly taking that as a compliment. "You should tell that to my ex~"

Olivia looked at him seriously after she had calmed herself down, all of her playfulness disappearing as well.

"I...I'm so sorry...." she apologized. "I didn't realize you were-"

"I'm over it now," Francois calmly interrupted her. "We broke up a few years ago, so it's fine."

"Can I ask why?" Olivia spoke softly.

"Non," Francois shook his head. "Sorry, but...non."

"Okay," Olivia nodded. "Let's get our orders, sit down, and talk about things that don't involve past relationships, then."

"I like the sound of that~" Francois told her, the two of them entering the cafe' soon after.

Once they had gotten a table near the window, Olivia sipped her tea and watched the people walking by them happily.

"Would you like to walk around after this?" Francois asked her. "There's a really nice park not too far away from here that I think you would enjoy. I certainly do."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful!~" Olivia agreed cheerfully.

"Great." Francois smiled softly. "I'm glad you like the idea."

"Well, of course I do!~" Olivia replied. "I love parks!~"

Francois nodded, the two of them eating their pastries soon after.

~~~~

After they had finished eating, the two of them had made their way to the park. Like Francois had promised, it was only a thirty-minute walk from the cafe', and the large fountain in the middle of it immediately caught Olivia's attention.

"Oh, this park is so beautiful, Francois!~"

"Isn't it?" Francois replied. "Like I said, it's one of my favorites."

"I can see that!~" Olivia told him. "I could definitely sit down and read a book for hours here!~"

"Oui, me too," Francois nodded, gesturing to a bench as well. "Well, shall we sit?"

"Oh, sure!~" Olivia agreed, joining him immediately.

There were a few moments of silence, then, both of them just enjoying the noises from the fountain and the birds.

"So, what made you become a lawyer?" Francois asked her.

"Oh, nothing in particular, really," Olivia admitted. "Criminal justice had always interested me while I was growing up, I guess, so I just decided to do it. How about you?"

"Old crime films." Francois explained with an awkward smile. "The black and white ones, more specifically. I was always seen as a goth and mean kid growing up, so I guess I just wanted to show everyone that I could be the good guy...."

"Well, I can already see that you're doing a good job at it." Olivia smiled back, trying to cheer him up. "You don't seem very mean to me, either."

"Merci," Francois answered. "You are doing a good job, too. I don't think I've seen a prosecutor, or lawyer, so detail-oriented before. I knew Mister Adler had taken his shirt off, but I had forgotten it was because it had blood on it."

"I think I just have a sharp eye," Olivia replied modestly. "It's nothing special, really. I think any good lawyer has one, honestly."

"Oui, I suppose you're right," Francois agreed. "And merci again for coming here with me. It feels good to talk with someone who really understands you."

"I think so, too!~" Olivia answered cheerfully. "Today has been so nice, Francois, so thank you for spending it with me!~"

"You're welcome," Francois nodded. "I'm glad I had the chance to do so as well."

Olivia nodded back, glad herself to be in Francois' company too.

Even if he won't be my boyfriend, she thought with content, he will still be a good friend.

Yes, a very good friend indeed, she decided.