The Bad Boy Returns

Chapter 49: Speculation

KAT'S POV

I never thought that anyone was ever going to find out about what happened. Not in a million years. I had this mindset that as long as I acted normal and just pretended nothing happened then that is how I'll be perceived. Then there was Shane. I think about how much has changed since then as I sit in the car in front of the court house realizing how many people there are at these events. I press my palms against the cool window as I watch as news crew pull up across the street, pulling their equipment from the van, setting up closer to the courthouse. My left leg starts bouncing up and down anxiously as I watch the doors of the courthouse. It's a pretty small town so once news gets out, everybody knows and usually it isn't good news.
A hand lands against my leg stopping the rapid movement. I rip my eyes from the window to turn my head over to Shane. His thumb brushes side to side against the skin of my leg. He gives me a supportive smile exuding a confidence that I wish that I could have right about now.
"Hey, it's going to go great." He says with a little bit less confidence than his smile indicates. Nervously I grin back at him, nodding even though I don't believe him very much.
The passenger door swings open and I turn my head back over to see Shane's dad smiling calmly. "It starts in fifteen minutes, we've got to get ready come on." He ushers us both out of the car, pushing us towards the front doors quickly, shielding away people glares and comments. We scurry into the courtroom to find way more people than expected in the seats. I'm lead to the front of the room, close to the judge's area. The jurors all chat among each other a small chatter buzzing around the room. A single dainty fan twirls the hot air around the room slowly.
Chase sits to the seat beside me, shuffling with a stack of papers, scribbles of unreadable words cover most of them. Shane is sitting in the seat behind me beside my dad, brother, Jennifer, Brit and Alex. My dad gives me a comforting squeeze on the shoulder before fully sitting down. Nobody has really talked to me today. They are all walking on egg shells as if they think I'm going to breakdown and cry, except for Chase, he's treating me normally which I mentally thank him for.
Granted I do feel like crying but I am not going to. "Ten minutes." Chase mumbles, focusing on his papers.
I nod, looking around the room nervously. I turn to look at the left side of the room to find Nate sitting at a table identical to ours with Shane's step-dad beside him. They both look dangerously calm and collected but maybe that's just me.
He leans back in his chair like he's in math class tuning out the teacher instead of sitting in a courtroom. He seems too nonchalant about the entire thing.
The judge finally makes her way onto the stand causing everybody to stand quickly. I look around quickly following suit. "You may all be seated." She comments, sitting down. Squinting slightly I read the name, Judge Shonda Cardin printed on the name plate sitting in front of her slightly wrinkled fingers. She has a short brown bob and striking golden eyes, maybe fifty years old.
She calls for Shane's step-dad  to begin the process referring to him as Attorney Salk. Sliding his chair back he stalks to the front of the room as the crowd behind me begins to listen in. "My client has been accused of sexually assaulting the young lady sitting before us today." He pauses to point his finger over to me. "Now I think the saying; innocent until proven guilty is relevant to today's trial." He adds. Passing us as he walks back to his side he sends a smug grin our way making Chase sigh loudly.

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"I would like to call up my first witness, Shane Winters,  to the stand." Chase states, stalking around the room like a lion prowling. I hear the seat behind me creak as Shane stiffly makes his way to the witness stand.
Chase stands before his son, his right hand holding onto the wooden edges on the stand.
"Is it true that you were near the scene the night of the assault?" He tilts his head slightly to the left awaiting for an answer.
"I was, yeah." Shane nods, seemingly nervous yet calm at the same time. Chase nods as if he hasn't heard the story a dozen of times.
"You claim that you witnessed the end of this assault yes?" Chase leans closer to the stand, completely in the zone. I bite my nail anxiously watching.
"I did." Shane answers simply watching his dad pace softly.  "Can you recall in detail what you witnessed exactly?" He states more than asks.
Shane's hands twitches and I start breathing heavily. How many times do I have to replay this?