Breathe

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

*~*~*~*

"Good morning, Miss Atkins." The Baker's lawyer, Dennis, greeted me as I sat across the table from him and the school's lawyer, Mrs. Jensen. It was the two people seated off to the side though that really caught my attention. Sitting off behind their lawyer were Mr. and Mrs. Baker. Both were dressed in dark business-like clothes and wore tired heartbroken expressions to match. Their eyes trained on me, as though I were their prey.

I didn't respond right away, my stomach knotting at the sight of the camera sitting on the table in front of me to record every word I said. I glanced down at the dress pants and dark blue blouse that I was wearing with a pair of black flats that my mom had boughten me the night before. I felt as though I were some sort of doll that everyone was trying to control, the school and my mother wanting me to tell one story while the Bakers wanted to hear another-- the real story.

"Good morning," I nodded to the two lawyers, forcing a small smile.

"My name is Dennis Vasquez, representing Andrew and Olivia Baker, and this is a deposition." Dennis explained to me, as though this lawsuit weren't the most talked about thing in town. "I'll be asking you questions, and you must answer them truthfully...unless your attorney clearly instructs you otherwise. Do you understand?"

"Yes." I nodded, my eyes darting towards the old white man sitting off to the side, my mother having hired him. She had insisted that it was only to protect me, to make sure I didn't get myself in trouble. It hadn't mattered to her that I didn't want a lawyer in the first place. I had nothing to hide. The only reason I agreed to have the lawyer with me in the first place was to keep my parents out of the deposition, insisting that I could take care of myself.

"There's no judge present, but this is a formal legal proceeding. You are under the same legal obligation to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Dennis continued. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," I nodded again.

"Okay, good." Dennis made a note on his paper. "Uh, for the record, please state your full name, your age, where you go to school, and what year you're in."

"My name is Penny Elizabeth Atkins." I introduced myself. "I am seventeen, and I'm a junior at Liberty High."

"And when and where did you first meet Hannah Baker?" Dennis asked.

"I met her at Monet's a few weeks before sophomore year started." I smiled slightly at the memory. "A mutual friend introduced us."

"And how well did you know Hannah?" Dennis questioned.

"Extremely well," I said, not hesitating to answer the question. "Hannah and I were best friends."

"Are you aware of anyone bullying Hannah?" Dennis continued.

"Dennis, we're going to object." Mrs. Jensen interjected before I could answer. "That asks her to qualify behavior."

"Did you ever hear anyone say unkind things to Hannah?" Dennis rephrased his question.

Yes, I, um... I heard plenty of people say things about her." I nodded, eleven people coming to mind instantly.

*~*~*~*

"Look who just pulled up." Mrs. Jensen led Tony and I into the kitchen where Clay and his dad were both having their breakfast.

"Tony. Penny." Mr. Jensen smiled at us. "Good morning."