A Fine Romance

Chapter 11

Riley woke up to being tangled up in Brendon. Their arms and legs were all around each other. Riley looked at the time 7am. They had to get ready for court again. Riley gently shook Brendon awake. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"Morning Riley." He said.
"Morning, Brendon. " Riley replied. She kissed him lightly on the lips and got out of bed. She used the bathroom and then went to put the coffee on. Linda was already up doing it.
"Hey," Linda said. Riley smiled and greeted Linda as she got herself some cereal. Brendon followed Riley and also got himself some cereal.

9.30 am, and court was back in session. Dean Lewis went first to give his closing argument. In a way, Riley felt a little sorry for Lewis because he had to try and defend somebody who was guilty.
In his closing argument, he spoke about how Bobby had been a law-abiding citizen and decent guy at one point. Dean also said that Bobby regretted deeply any distress caused to Riley.
Then, it was Samantha's turn.
"Riley Anderson is a young woman who, up until 3 months ago, was an outgoing smart woman with a high paid job she loved, a home she outright owned, and so much confidence. Tuesday 5th May, changed all that when Bobby Richardson entered her home viciously beat and raped Miss Anderson because she was moving on with her life. She's having to have counselling. I would say she's had more than enough distress, wouldn't you? If you feel that Mr Richardson is guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt, then convict. Thank you." And Samantha Jackson walked away from the jury, sitting back at her desk.
"Ok, thank you, counsellors. Now, members of the jury, it is up to you to deliberate and come to a verdict. I will accept a majority vote. Thank you. You are dismissed." The jury filed out. The court was adjourned until the jury came back with a verdict.
Riley and Samantha went to a side room to talk.
Brendon was feeling anxious. He was pacing up and down outside the courtroom.
"Bren." Spencer said. Brendon then realised what he was doing.
"Sorry, Spence." That was when Patrick and Pete arrived at the court.
"Hi guys, what are you doing here?" Spencer asked.
"Well, we knew it was verdict day, so we decided to come and see how you are all doing." Patrick said.
"Yea, we are playing a show here tonight." Pete added.
Brendon nodded as Riley came out of the side room with her lawyer. That was when Riley noticed that Pete and Patrick were here.
"Guys!" She said, hugging them both. "Where's Joe and Andy?"
"Rehearsing." Pete said. "You want to come see them?" Riley looked at Samantha.
"I will call you when the jury comes back in." She said to Riley. Riley nodded, and they all went to the concert venue, which wasn't far at all from the courthouse.
Pete and Patrick showed their passes and let everyone in. Andy was rehearsing on the drums as Riley entered the concert hall itself.
"Hi guys!" Was all they heard from the stage. Andy jumped down and hugged them all.
"How are you?" He asked Riley.
"Nervous about the verdict." She replied. Andy looked at Riley and hugged her again.
"Don't be. He will get what's coming to him." He said. From nowhere, Joe turned up. They all greeted him. Kelly was fangirling now. She pulled Riley to one side.
"How the hell do you know fall out, boy?" She asked. Riley told her the story.
"That's crazy." Kelly laughed, shaking her head.
"How about a song?" Patrick asked. Riley Linda and Kelly all cheered. "Any requests, ladies?"
Linda and Riley looked at each other and said in unison, "20 dollar nose bleed." Riley nudged Brendon, and he grinned at her. They all got up onto the stage and warmed up a little. Then Patrick started the intro on the piano.

Have you ever wanted to disappear
And join a monastery
Go out and preach on Manic Street?
Who will I be when I wake up next to a stranger?
On a passenger plane?

Permanent jet lag
Please take me back, (please take me back)
Please take me back
I'm a stray dog sick
Please let me in, (please let me in)

The mad key's tripping

Singing vows before we exchange smoke rings
Give me a pen
Call me Mr. Benzedrine
But don't let the doctor in I wanna blow off steam
Call me Mr. Benzedrine

But don't let the doctor
Don't let the doctor in
It feels like fourteen carats but no clarity
When I look at the man who would be king

The man who would be king

Goes to the desert

The same war his dad rehearsed
Came back with flags on coffins and said
"We won, oh we won"
Permanent jet lag

Please take me back, (please take me back)
Please take me back, ooh
I'm a stray dog sick

Please let me in, (please let me in)
The mad key's tripping
Singing vows before we exchange smoke rings
Give me a pen

Call me Mr. Benzedrine
But don't let the doctor in
I wanna blow off steam
Call me Mr. Benzedrine
But don't let the doctor
Don't let the doctor in
Ba-ba-ba-ba benzedrine

My, my, my, benzedrine
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba benzedrine ah
Ba-ba-ba-ba benzedrine

My, my, my benzedrine
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba benzedrine, ah
Only one book really matters
The rest of the proof is on the television
Call me Mr. Benzedrine
But don't let the doctor in
I wanna blow off steam
Call me Mr. Benzedrine
But don't let the doctor
Don't let the doctor in, oh, oh, ooh
Have you ever wanted to disappear?

It's not me, it's you
Actually, it's the taxidermy of you and me
Untie the balloons from around my neck and ground me
I'm just a racehorse on the track
Send me back to the glue factory
Always thought I'd float away
And never come back
But I've got enough miles on my card
To fly the boys home on my own
But you know me: I like being all alone
And keeping you all alone
And the charts are boring
And the kids are snoring
And my egos in a sling
You say you're not listening and I said I'm wishing
And I said... I said

Riley and Linda sang every word. Then they asked for The Phoenix followed by Dance Dance then This ain't a scene.
Every now and again Riley was checking her phone for anything from Samantha about the jury. Nothing so far. After the mini concert, they all went and hung backstage. Pete ordered some subways for lunch. Kelly was chatting with Patrick.
As Riley and Brendon talked, Linda nudged her to observe Kelly and Patrick. Riley looked over at them. The sandwiches arrived, and they all tucked in. Halfway through her sandwich, Riley got a text from Samantha telling her that the jury had reached their verdict. The court will be back in session at 1.30pm. It was nearly 12.30 pm now. Riley announced the message she had just gotten. Riley sighed, and her heart started to beat a little faster with anxiety.
Robert sensed his daughters impending anxiety. He took hold of her hand.
"Riley, honey, no matter the verdict, we are all here for you. You know that, don't you?"
Riley nodded and smiled at her father. Brendon squeezed her hand. They all finished up their food and drinks. It was time to head back to the courthouse. They walked back,as it was just up the road from the venue.
Fall Out Boy were going with them, too. Kelly and Patrick were still chattering away.
They all entered the courthouse and went to the courtroom. Bobby stood with his lawyer. He looked nervous now. His jaw dropped when he saw Fall Out Boy there with Riley.
Samantha Jackson approached them all.
"Hi guys," Riley looked at her lawyer.
"That was fast." Riley said to her.
"Usually, that's a good thing, but you can never tell. Shall we?" Sam said, and they all entered the courtroom. Fall Out Boy sat at the back of the courtroom. The jury was filing in. Then Judge Hudson arrived. We all settled for a minute.
"Has the jury reached a verdict that you all or a majority of you have come to?"
The foreman stood. "We have your honour." She said.
"Is this a unanimous verdict or majority? "
"It's a unanimous verdict." the foreman said as she held the piece of paper in her hand. She passed it to the bailiff, who passed it to the judge. He opened it looked and placed it on the bench.
"Foreman, can you please tell the court the verdict?"
"We find the defendant Bobby Richardson......"