Psych | C.H. AU

Part 2

"He just kept going." The girl on the stand sucked in a shaky breath as she continued to sob. "We all told him to stop, but it was like he was possessed or something."

Everyone in the courtroom turned to me. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't say anything because I didn't remember. Had I really been that drunk?

The judge's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You may step down now."

As the girl I had known since freshman orientation stepped down from the stand, she made it a point to keep as much distance between her and I as she could. It was like she thought I would jump up from my seat at any moment and attack her. I would never do that though, I've never been that kind of person. But by the look of fear in her eyes as she walked by, she had me doubting myself.

. . . . .

"Agh!"

Like most mornings, I found myself lying on the floor next to my bed. Maybe I should just sleep down here since I ended up in this position everyday no matter what. I hated that I couldn't remember what I did, but instead knew every detail from my trial. That was the one thing I wished I could forget, everyone's eyes on me - judging, hating me for what I did. I doubt they would ever accept an apology.

The judge had assigned me therapy only once a week all the way up until my final trial date. I was surprisingly all right with how it had gone last Thursday and hoped that today's session would end up the same.

"Good morning, honey!" My mother smiled brightly.

"Morning," I mumbled as I glanced around the kitchen. "Where's dad?"

She hesitated for a moment before she averted her eyes to the ground. "He left early for work."

"Oh." And as much as it was a weight off my shoulders not to have him glaring at me, I knew that I was the exact reason he wasn't here.

I poured myself a half cup of coffee as my mother set a plate of eggs and sausage at the table for me.

"You don't have to cook breakfast for me every morning," I spoke as I took a seat.

"I know, but it helps keep me occupied, or else I'd only be thinking about-" She cut herself off quickly, looking almost ashamed.

"You can say it, you know." I took another sip from my mug before I stared down at the muddy water.

"I don't want to." She shook her head.

"Well mom, it fucking happened!" I slammed my cup down on the table and glared up at her, not really knowing why I was yelling at her.

"Calum!" She warned. "Don't talk to me like that."

An irritated groan escaped me as I turned away from her. I stood from the table and left the kitchen like I did most days, with my food untouched.

I left my parent's house earlier than normal in hopes of having enough time to stop for coffee and a snack before I headed to therapy. It took about five minutes to get to the closest starbucks and I made it a point to park on the far side of the lot. I walked quickly across the pavement and checked my phone for the time as I opened the door and stepped inside.

Why hadn't I just gone through the drive-thru? I gulped back my insecurities as I made my way toward the counter. I could feel everyone's eyes burning into my back. They knew, everyone in this entire town knew who I was and what I had done. The feeling only got worse after I placed my order and turned around and almost ran into someone.