All I Have To Live

Chapter 17

Nate held everything under control, and was waiting for Will to arrive.
Little did he know that Will had company.

"Can I get provided with a gun? Sir, I've known you for ten years, and you know that I take risks for people. I'll go in with a gun, and if I cough really loudly, and you hear it, you come in with your crew. Let me be the bait. Please."
Officer Jonah hesitated.

"Are you sure? What if you don't make it out?"

"I will. Hence why my name is Will. Please."

"Okay, fine. But if you don't come out on time, I go in. Whether you coughed or not."
Will nodded, and took a deep breath.
Holding the gun behind his back with one hand, and the groceries in the other, in full view, he entered the house with an expression of shock, just to confuse Nate.
"What's going on? Oh hey Nate. OH GOD! Nate! Where did you get that gun? What's wrong with you?!"

"Wait a minute. If you didn't call him, then who did you call?" Nate glared at Ava.
"I called my mum. I wanted her to know that I loved her." Said Ava, and deep down, she wished she did send her mum a text, just in case she didn't make it out alive.

"Good. Now, lover boy, its either I get her," Said Nate pointing at Emilia "or none of us get her, but a bullet goes through her head."

"I'm afraid that wont happen." Said Will pulling the gun from behind his back. "It's either you put your unlicensed gun down, or you get shot by six policemen."
Nate put down his gun. "Screw you. All of you." But at this point, he was handcuffed and was being shoved into a police car.
"Well I called the school already, so I guess we get to stay home" said Janel half laughing half crying. Everyone laughed. Will held Emilia in his hands, and the sisters and Ava hugged. Alex has tears on her face, and Emilia noticed it.

"Hey, you're okay, everything is fine. Don't cry, hun. You're safe with us."
Emilia hugged her.

"Im sorry, I brought him here. Its all my fault. I shouldn't have ever come. I have to go." Alex cried. She let go of Emilia's embrace and walked out 9the door. Emilia followed her. "I'll be back." She whispered to Will.

"Alex wait. Look, it's not your fault he came here. You were in the same horrible situation as we all were. Nothing makes you worse than us. Babe please, come back."

Alex stopped walking. "Im scared of being hated. Im scared, Em."

"Oh Alex! No one hates you, and no one will. Come on, let's go."

She took Alex by the hand, and they walked back inside.
Although bad things happened, it wasn't too late to party. Only 4:00 so far.

A few days passed normally. The girls went to school, Will stayed up late played on his wii, and Nate was in jail, talking to his lawyer.

"I just got a call from Aviara. She said there's a very slim chance that Nate will be getting out of jail. There's a trial of testimony tomorrow, and we all have to go as witnesses of crime. He's going to be judged for murder attempt and blackmailing." Emilia explained to the group.
"Who's Aviara? Witnesses? Dude, we were the ones getting blackmailed. Its a full on crime, and there shouldn't even be a trial of testimony. He should already be in jail." Said Alex in the most frustrated voice ever.
"Okay, chill. Aviara is his lawyer, she's actually against Nate, but was forced to take the case by Nates father. Apparently, Nates family is filthy rich, and they're paying almost eight hundred thousand dollars to her if she takes this case. She's the best in Canada. The thing is, he already is in jail, and under strict conditions. If the judge desires that Nate go to jail, he will be taken to a detainment facility for underage criminals. He's only 17. Jail is illegal for him. Hold on, Aviara's calling me. Let me answer it." Replied Emilia.
"Okay. No way! Are you sure? Is there any way we can help you testify? Maybe text me different things we could be asked? Do I say that Nate has previously tried to verbally harass me? Or does that not go up for this case? This so stressful, I'm sorry you're being forced to take the case. Listen, if there's anything any of us can say to help you, Im more than happy to spread the word. You want me to speed through the story again?" Emilia spoke on the phone for around fifteen minutes, and retold the story one last time. "Uh-huh. Yep. Okay, thanks Aviara. See you tomorrow. Oh, one last thing. What's the dress code? I haven't seen court dress codes in Canada. Are they the same as in Dubai? Yeah? Great. Thanks, bye."  Hanging up on the phone, Em announced "I have MAJOR tea."
"Spill." Said Kaya.

"So not only is Nate going to court because of verbal abuse, murder attempt and blackmailing, but he was drunk when he came. So underage drinking as well! Can you believe it? 4 crimes in one week! I pray he's going back to where he belongs. I retold the whole story and Aviara said we can help her. She needs the whole truth from us tomorrow. The dress code is the same as in Dubai, that is dark tones, formal and very appropriate. Nothing short and vulgar. So basically, wear a dark dress or dark pants. Nothing too vibrant. "

The next day, the girls, Will and his friends went to court, to talk as witnesses. They got a 40 minute session with Aviara, explaining what questions his honor would ask.
Aviara was going against rules,  but if the girls would help, it would be worth it.

As they stepped into the court room, the first thing they noticed was the marble floors. They were white and beige, reminding Emilia and Ava of the staircase in Emilia's house back in Dubai.
The judge was planning to walk into the room, when Aviara stopped his honor.
"Your honor, I brought four witnesses who have been in the room, and one that called the police. Is that okay? Or should some of them leave? "

The judge replied with a very deep voice, saying "Ann, that's good. Where's the criminal? If he's late, trial will go on, and you and your defendant will have no say in this trial."

"Yes, your honor. He's on his way with the police."

"Good. Be seated while waiting."
Aviara left the room to answer a phone call from officer Jonah, saying they won't be late, and when the phone call ended, Aviara was struck by surprise. "Ann? What's that all about? I thought you were Aviara." Said Janel. She and Kaya seemed confused, and were the only ones listening to Aviaras conversation with the judge.
The lawyer replied "I am. My last name is Ann, and in the business, you are called by your last name. Kind of like a way to make sure that if someone has the same first name as you, you're not confused with them."

"Oh." Said Kaya.

The trial began twenty minutes after their conversation. Aviara gave them a practice session, and gave them advice of how to say things.

"You girls are innocent. But you have to piece the story as if you were victimized. As if you had no idea this would happen. Even though you did. Okay? Put it together in a very sly way, but keep in mind that you can't change the story. Okay?"

The girls nodded.

"Aren't you supposed to be defending my son? "
The hoarse voice came from a mysterious figure, all dressed in black, and the way his tone rang in the ears of the public, he meant business. His coat was long, as though it was a wedding dress, and wore typical pointy shoes. He came out of the shadows, and it was obvious who he was. His eyes, deep brown, almond shaped, resembled Nate, however, it was much harder to make out the shape of his lips, because they were quite blended into his skin colour. Only then, was it understandable that he was burned. His face was a scar itself. Lips as red as his skin, eyelashes singed, eyebrows too.
"If you are teaching these little brats to be sly," He said, raising his hand towards Aviaras throat, "then you're in deep crap. Don't forget that I PAID YOU EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THIS AND YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF STUPID POOR LITTLE GIRLS, AND A BOY WHO HAS NO RELATION TO THE STORY? I want my money back. Now. And I want all of it." He said letting go of her throat. She coughed and choked, sputtering and gasping for air. She gave her remaining energy to explain." I didn't take your money." She said spitting him in the face. "Screw you. Screw you, your son, and your GOD DAMN MONEY. I can destroy your snobby, rich family with one word, okay? Don't threaten me." With that, she burst into the courtroom, where his honor was giving the "ALL RISE" gesture. As soon as the doors opened, security caught hold of Aviara, and the judge was asking for an explanation, unaware or Nates father chasing her.

"He..." she heaved. "He choked me. He "  Tears ran down the lawyers face. Heave. " he threatened me to help Nate. This is the only reason I took this case." Gasp. "Please, your honor, he promised me 800,000 Dollars. I didn't take them yet."

The judge held a straight face. "I have no proof that you are saying the truth. There are no choke marks. Proceed closer." Aviara was let off the security clutches, and showed the judge her scar.
Her neck appeared red, and she couldn't stop heaving. 

Nates father was imprisoned for attempted murder and harassment. He didn't need a trial, since the crime was committed inside the court premises.

So the trial went on...