One Stupid Thing

2:5:55

The courtroom is buzzing with anticipation to hear the judges verdict. JJ, Sarah, Kie, Pope and I have been sitting here in this stuffy room all day in support of our friend, John B. Seeing him up there with the shitty lawyer he was assigned and dressed in orange pisses me off more than anything. The room is divided perfectly in half. The Kooks, those who wish for John B to be found guilty, sit on one side, and the Pogues sit on the other.

I look to my left at my sister. She hasn't slept in days; since John B was arrested. She takes a deep, shuddering breath as she tries not to break into tears. I avert my gaze back to the judges stand as she approaches and takes a seat. She strikes her gavel twice and the whole room goes silent at her command.

"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statue section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances. If convinced, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty," the judge announces bluntly. She strikes her gavel twice more and the meeting adjourns. Everyone in the room gasps: whether it's from shock or delight is the real question. Sarah looks absolutely devastated.

"Hey, Sarah," I prod gently. "Come on." I help her to her feet and look back at Kiara, Pope, and JJ in the row behind us. Horrified looks adorn all three of their faces.

"Your Honor, he's 17!" JJ calls out furiously. "He's 17! Are you kidding me? Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out."

"JJ, please," I beg. I hurry down the aisle to stand by his side, and while I try to calm him down, Sarah slips past me. "Sarah—"

"John B! John B!" Sarah calls out, pushing past people to reach the front of the courtroom. "John B! No!" John B glances back at her wistfully, but the officers escorting him away won't allow him to approach her.

"Sarah!" Kie says. An officer intercepts my sister and stops her from going any farther. "Stop! Don't touch her! Let's go, Sarah. Let's get out of here."

I guide my sister towards the exit with a comforting arm around her shoulders. Following the flow of traffic, I walk out the doors of city hall where the others are waiting.

"Is this a joke? Like, are we in hell or..." Kiara starts. We all descend the front steps into the courtyard below.

"I should've never come home," Sarah sniffles.

"They're gonna kill him guys. I know it," JJ mutters. 

A group of Kooks, including my father and Rose walk out of the building. I knew that they had come to the hearing but I had done everything in my power to avoid them. "So sorry for what you and your family have gone through. Thank God the system works," a man says loudly to Ward as they pass by.

"Can you please shut up?" Kiara snaps at him. "Of course you think the system worked because it was made to protect you and people like you."

The group halts in their tracks and turns to Kiara with shocked expressions. "He'll have his day in court," the man who spoke earlier replies. "A jury will decide.

"Kiara—" I begin, but she ignores my protests.

"He shouldn't even be in court! You should, 'cause you're a murderer. You have a lot of nerve showing up to court," Kiara rants on, raising her voice angrily. My father's face screws up angrily. His eyes settle on Sarah and I before turning to Kiara.

"I know you're upset. I understand you're upset, okay?" Ward says calmly.

"Upset?" Kiara shouts.

"I know he's got you fooled. He's got you all fooled."

"No, I'm not just upset!" Kiara yells, advancing towards my father and step-mother aggressively. Sheriff Shoupe, alongside Officers Plumb and Thomas restrain her from jumping Ward.