The Bad Boy Returns

Chapter 51: Careful Consideration

KAT'S POV

"Before we conclude this, are there any last words from either one of you?" The judge tilts her head, looking from each side of the room. as expected Attorney Salk speaks up, pushing his chair back with a screech. "All I would like to say to not only you, but to the entire room is, look at this kid. Yes, kid." Everyone turns their heads at his sad facial expressions, throwing in a sniffle to make it seem more authentic. A mix of sympathy and disdain, cloud the faces of all the people sitting in wait for the Judge to speak.
"He does have his whole life ahead of him and should be able to enjoy it." He finishes sitting down, with a content smile sat on his face. The judge nods with a mute facial expression before silently looking our way. "If that is all then we will continue." She tells us, shuffling a ginormous stack of papers on her desk. I turn around slightly feeling a hand squeeze my shoulder sweetly only to see Shane with a worried yet hopeful look etched on his face. I give him a small grin, turning back around.

"After a careful consideration of the overwhelming amounts of evidence from each side, I have come to a decision." Judge Cardin tells us.
I find myself gripping the edge of my wooden chair tightly, my heart beating out of my chest. I don't know if I am ready to hear what she is going to say. I've been hiding this for so long and now we are here and I have no more room for anymore surprises. Her gavel is slammed against the desk. "We have found the defendant guilty!" A mix of cheers and protests erupt as the words drop from her lips. Shocked, I widen my eyes in disbelief. I watch as the police pull him from his spot and drag him around, turning his body. They place the handcuffs around each wrist tightly. His attorney looks delirious with anger. I swear I could see smoke coming out of his ears. Nate's head perks up as he look my way, his eyes latched onto me the entire way to the other room. I turn away quickly, trying to focus on what is supposed to be a really happy moment in my life.
I didn't think that it would actually happen. I feel the most overwhelming relief going through my entire body. "I know this isn't going take all the pain away but I hope this will give you some relief." Chase turns towards me, standing beside his chair.
I stand up abruptly, almost knocking Chase over with a hug. "Thank you." I try to tell him over the shouts of everybody else, giving him a look of gratitude. I don't think I could ever thank him enough for fighting so hard with me. "This was all you Kat." We back up from each other, with a nod of understanding. I give him a grateful smile before I am pulled into another hug by my dad and my brother. They don't say anything but their facial expressions say it all. I let go of them and they move to talk to Chase, thanking him immensely. A little farther back I see Shane standing there with  the biggest smile on his face. He looks almost as relieved as I feel. I practically ram into him as well as I embrace him. My arms snake around his neck as his go around my waist tightly. "See, you're going to be okay." He whispers into my ears, softly. I look up at him with a small, grateful smile. I move my hands, wrapping them tightly around his torso. His hands go to my face and they caress my cheek, wiping away tears falling from my eyes. "You're crying Kitty." He points out and my hands also fly to my face. "I think they are tears of joy for once." I chuckle at him feeling content for once in my life. Pressing his lips against my forehead he pulls me in for another tight embrace. I bury my head into the crook of his neck hoping to stay like this forever.

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Unfortunately, yet expected, Nate getting arrested didn't stop people at school from looking at me with pity or disgust in their eyes. I couldn't walk into a room without the whole place going silent. Whispers would break out about how I asked for it and that I ruined his perfectly good chance of a career. It didn't bother me...as much. I mostly tuned it out and focused on the things that mattered. The people that mattered.

"Hey kitty, you've got something right here." Shane quickly places his finger on my bottom lip, letting it sit there. A smile tugs at my lips as I stare into his mischievous eyes. "Yeah? What is it?" I ask, rolling my eyes. His grins, leaning down and pressing his sweet lips against mine. His hand, cradles the side of my head, his thumb sitting on my hair. I subconsciously move closer, grabbing his jacket sleeve.
"Okay you crazy kids, there are children present." We separate slowly, turning to see Brit standing there with a look of horror and happiness. An odd combination.

"Sorry, we will warn you next time." Shane retorts from beside me, sarcasm dripping from his grinning lips.
He throws his arm around me, his fingers tips brushing underneath my sleeve, a shivers running up my skin.
"Very thoughtful. Thanks Shane." An equal amount of sarcasm spews from her as she glares at him mockingly. I watch their entertaining banter, as I watch a beautiful love-hate friendship blossom.
I wrap my arms around Shane's torso from the side, laughing at both of them.
"I'm glad you guys are getting along so well." I tell them, trying to match up to their sarcastic bits. Brit nods, with a smile. I feel Shane's lips press against the top of my head, twisting to look up at him. He also gives me a smile and I feel relieved.

"Brit and I have to go." I stand up straight, grabbing Shane's wrist to check the time on his watch. I stand on my toes, pecking his lips three times before backing up a fraction. "Okay, have fun. I'll call you later." He tells me, pulling my arm to give me one last kiss. "You guys are gross." Brit states, glancing at me sideways. "Yeah well because of the whole trial things we hadn't really got the chance to really be a couple at all. I mean we were never alone. So we're taking advantage of it now." We make our way down an emptying hallway. "That's good." She smiles over to me. "You deserve it."

"So where were you? You know the day of the trial?" I ask after a slight pause. I had asked her to come a couple of days before. I told her she didn't have to but it would have been nice.
"I'm sorry, Kat. I really am. I contemplated going but it just felt like unnecessary drama." She gave me a dejected look. "After talking with the police for days they thought it best to stay away from all of that." She explained. I nod in understanding. It makes sense.
"Speaking of, how did the whole police thing go? They're not charging you are they? I explained everything to them." I ask her feeling worried.
"It was okay. They gave me a well-deserved lecture and said that between what you told them and what I told them, I didn't intend for this to happen. Which is true." We turn the corner making our way to P.E. as slowly as possible.
"That's really good."

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