Hard Times

6

Day of the hearing

As the week of the hearing approached, Stacie became even more distant from everyone. But it was worse with Aubrey, especially since Stacie had slept with Lucas after kicking Aubrey out of the room. She was glad to find Lucas had kept quiet about their infidelity. It was mainly because he was trying to get Brooke back, and she knew it. But she was still glad he hadn't said anything.

"You ready to go sweetheart?" Angie asked her daughter softly.

Stacie just looked up at her and got up without saying a word.

"It's going to be okay." Angie said softly, placing a gentle hand on her daughter's shoulder.

The sixteen year old didn't speak as she made her way toward the door.

Angie sighed, pulling her car keys from her purse as she followed her daughter.

Stacie had her arms wrapped around her waist and was staring at the ground as she waited for the elevator.

Angie reached out slowly to take her daughter's hand.

Tensing, Stacie lifted her head before relaxing upon realising it was just her mother. She immediately looked back down as the elevator doors opened.

Angie gave her daughter's hand a gentle squeeze.

Stacie moved into the elevator, she didn't want to face them. Not after everything that happened. But the courts said she needed to or they'd be free.

"I'll be right beside you the entire time." Angie said softly to her daughter.

"What if they get out?" Stacie asked, having finally managed to find her voice.

"They won't." Angie said softly. "I promise."

Stacie swallowed thickly and looked up at her. "But you don't know that."

"They'll go to prison for life. They'll be put in the deepest darkest hole in the ground and never get out." Angie assured her daughter.

The sixteen year old looked down and fought back tears. "But you don't know that."

"Staice, I will make sure of it. I will protect you." Angie promised.

Stacie just shook her head and became mute again.

Angie sighed softly and led her daughter out of the elevator when the doors opened.

"Is it time?" Taylor asked, he was out of breath from running to the hotel with the rest of their friends. Except Nathan who had driven and even offered them a ride.

"You're supposed to be in school." Angie said, looking at her son.

"We all wanted to be there for Stace." Taylor said with a shrug, wrapping his arm around Hayley once she stopped beside him.

Aubrey was standing off to the side, watching Stacie with concern in her eyes.

Stacie was growing tense as they stood there, her head down. She didn't want them to hear about everything that was done to her. She didn't even want her mother to be there.

"Go back to school, all of you." Angie said to the group of teenagers.

"No, we want to be there for Stacie." Beca said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Stacie pulled away from her mother and moved toward the car. Still not looking at anyone.

"Look, this is going to be hard for Stacie and I don't think she'll feel comfortable doing this in front of you all." Angie said calmly in a serious tone.