Bella has been through a lot in her 16 years on Earth. More than any 16-year-old should. Her life used to be filled with days surfing with the pouges, working on cars with her dad, and just laughing to laugh.
But things change. People change. Relat...
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WC: 1,764
"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances," the judge rules.
Bella is sitting with the other Pogues, her fist clenched in her lap.
"If convicted the maximum sentence would be the death penalty."
The room breaks out into people muttering to one another.
"Bullshit," Bella mutters.
JJ takes her hand and places his in her now unclenched hand, and squeezes.
Sarah's eyes start to water.
The judge slams their gavel down dismissing everyone.
JJ stands up, Bella following him. "Your honor, he's 17!"
"Stop," Kiara says to him.
The judge looks at them, "Quiet."
"He's 17! Are you kidding me?"
"You're good," Pope starts to make him walk out of the courtroom.
Bella's hand slips out of his.
John B looks back at them as JJ shouts.
"Don't give up hope B," Bella says to him. "This isn't over."
He sighs and is escorted out.
"Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out!" JJ shouts.
Sarah tries to talk to him, "John B! John B! John B! No!"
"Sarah, Sarah-"
Bella goes over to Sarah and both Kiara and her pull the blonde into a hug. She starts crying on their shoulders.
A cop tries to push them away from the gates.
"Stop, don't touch her!"
Kiara says, "Let's go, Sarah. Let's get out of here."
They are all being pushed and escorted out of the courthouse.
"Is this a joke? Like are we in hell or...?" Kiara scoffs.
Sarah wipes away a tear, "I should have never come home."
"They're gonna kill him, guys. I know it," JJ says.
Bella's nose twitches, "No they won't. They have to go through a full trial, we have time. We can convince the jury-"
"I'm so sorry for what you and your family have gone through," a man says to Ward. "Thank god the system works."
Kiara overhears, "Can you please shut up? Off course you think the system worked because it was made to protect you and people like you."
"He'll have his day in court. A jury will decide," the man argues.
