Sweetheart

114

It was here. The day of the trial. The thought of seeing Tyler again unnerved Aina to the core. What was she supposed to do when faced with the guy that almost killed the person she cared about? All she knew was that she needed to keep it together. She, as well as the other student witnesses, had received one last instructional talk from the lawyers before the trial, and it was to say one thing: don't lash out. As Aina, once called, took her seat next to the judge, she locked eyes with the devil himself. His cocky attitude was shining through, told through his completely relaxed posture. He looked like this was just a typical Thursday and that he would be released within the hour. But she was told something by her mother, and that was not to look at him in the eyes as she spoke. Kelia knew, obviously, that Tyler still had a grip on her daughter's anxiety, so she tried her best to prepare her for whatever cold and threatening looks she might receive.

Aina subconsciously pulled at her dress as she sat in the box and stared right at the defense lawyer.

"State your full name for the record."

"Aina Maja Labelle," she softly spoke.

"What did you witness in terms of violence between the defendant and the supposed victim?"

"I wasn't there."

"And before? Has there been violence between the two?"

Aina nodded.

"Verbal answers, Miss Labelle," the defense reminded.

"Sorry," she apologized. "Yes, there was an incident at school during lunch."

"And who initiated the altercation?"

"Tyler did."

"So he threw the first punch then?"

Silence.

"Miss Labelle, I wish to remind you that you are under oath."

"No, Natsu was the first one to get physical."

"So it was Natsu who started the first act of violence? So would you say that the defendant was afraid of him?"

"Natsu was just trying to protect me. Tyler was hurting--"

"But he did not initiate contact with Mister Dragneel."

"No, but Tyler was crushing my wrist. Natsu was helping me."

"Tell me your relation to the defendant."

"I'm his ex-girlfriend."

"And your relation to Mister Natsu Dragneel?"

"His girlfriend."

"So how would you like us to believe this story? You could be saying all of this to help your boyfriend. Are you getting back at the defendant for cheating on you while in the relationship?"

"Excuse me?" Aina asked, surprised.

"Yes, the defendant admitted to us. He's very open about the wrongs that he had done in the past. He said that you didn't take the news too well, and that's when you started claiming that he was physically abusive towards you."

And when she locked eyes with him again, Tyler's smirk carved itself into her. Her gaze hardened.

"I was hospitalized multiple times from what he did to me. The last trip, I received a skull fracture and multiple broken ribs, as well as a broken arm and other injuries."

"You see, and we looked into those claims as well. You want to know something coincidental? Those are the same injuries that Mister Dragneel said that he endured in his past. I'm assuming he told you this during your relationship?"