Beads Of Demand

America's Victim

Diana's POV

I looked around my classroom to see the 14 students that were left in the class fidgeting and recklessly raking their fingers through their hair. The timer went off. For each hour I gave them a twenty minute break.

They all sat back in their seats and took a deep breath. There was a knock at the door. I answered and saw my mother with Anothony. "Do I want to ask?"

"Ms. Elizabeth , I wanted to apologize. I'd highly appreciate if you gave me a second chance," he said.

"This is a joke," I said looking at my mother.

"I wouldn't walk all the way out here if it was," she said.

"It's been more than three absences," I argued.

"He was dropped from your roster when he walked out so he doesn't have any absences at all," she argued back. I hated doing this with my mother.

"There's an hour left in the midterm. I don't do make-up work. Even then if he got an A on every assignment from now until the end of the class he'd only gain a 50. A waste of time," I said.

"Then make his grades count double," she said.

"I don't curve grades," I said smirking and her eyebrow raised. "I didn't ask you what you do-" she said undermining me.

"Look, ladies. Ms. Elizabeth ... I've been studying everyday with Jabari since I got kicked off so I could still to make it to football. I can do this , I just need a tad of leniency and I promise I won't let you down," he said with pleading eyes.

I nodded, "You only have an hour."

I watched Ava as she tapped her pencil viciously until finally snatching the midterm paper off her desk and handing it in. Anothony handed his in after her. Ava looked at him in shock and he just smiled. I looked threw his test to see had answered everything and completed the two essays. How... the timer went off. Some kids groaned in disappointment they hadn't finished the test. Which at this point I could care less... how did he finish it in an hour?

He had to be absolutely sure of each answer. I collected the tests and dismissed them. Now to grade. Ava sat on my desk and I looked up at her. She wanted something. "What is it Ava?" I asked leaning back in my seat.

"Can we go home?" she asked. "I need to get all these midterms graded by Friday. We have court tomorrow Ava and I hope to G-d it's the last time. I'm running out of suits," I complained and Ava chuckled.

"I wanna go home!" Ava shouted. "The last time you did this it didn't end in your favor," I warned and she sighed. "They're gonna put me on the stand aren't they?" she asked and I could hear the anxiety in her voice.

"The only one who can clear this up ... is you. So yes. It's nothing to be worried about. Roy has this all under control," I assured her and she sat in my lap.

Diana had been called to the stand again. Garnell was attacking her about the university and her mother being the dean. I don't think it had anything to do with this.

"Ms. Elizabeth , I assume Ava passed her midterm.."

"Why would you assume that?" she asked.

"She's your student, you're in love with her. To be honest Ms. Elizabeth , your mother and yourself are passing Ava through college as a way to silence her for the mental and physical abuse you put her through!"

"OBJECTION!" Roy boomed. The judge shot him a warning glare. "Sustained," he mumbled.

"No further questions" Garnell said sitting down.

Roy asked her many questions and cleared the school thing basically. Diana got down from the stand.

Then Roy called Derek. I don't think anybody was expecting that.

"Hello Mr. Wynter. I wanted to ask you your relation to Oscar Greene?" Roy asked.

Derek cleared his throat and said, "An old friend I met through Ms. Kyles."

"What is Oscar Greene's middle name?" Roy asked.

"Objection! Relevancy!"

"Overruled!"

"I'm not sure," Derek answered shifting in his seat.

"How long have you and Oscar Greene personally been friends?"

"I can't recall," he said with a smirk.

"What's the extent of your friendship? Do you two call everyday? Every other day? What's your best memory with Oscar Greene?"

He fell silent. His eyes darted around the classroom. "I .. I don't recall," and I laughed. That answer made no sense.

"Mr. Wynter is Mr. Garnell your personal lawyer?"

"Yes. I offered Oscar legal help.  When a situation like this occurs to somebody so innocent I couldn't hesitate to help," he said but nobody was buying it at this point.

"Are you aware of the long rivalry between Oscar Greene and Diana Elizabeth?"

"Yes?"

"What is your relationship with Diana Elizabeth?"

"She's my ex-wife."

My eyes went wide. I glanced at Diana and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This isn't the place Ava.. just cool it.

"Is it possible... this whole fiasco , just maybe could be out of spite?"

"Objection!"

"Sustained. You know better Mr. Roy," the Judge said tiredly.

"No more questions-"

"You asked if it was possible... Yes. It is possible," Derek said and then smirked at Oscar.

"No more questions for the witness," Roy said returning and he gave me a small smile.

I was finally called to the stand.

Garnell walked up to me. I was in such a rage mentally. I was really trying to figure out what was happening. Ex-Husband... how could she not say anything? I mean I know he's an ex... but .. I just feel stupid.

"Ms. Greene..."

I finally looked back at Garnell and then looked around the courtroom.

"Do you have any relation to Derek?" he asked again.

"He worked for my mother," I said.

"The relationship with your father?"

"I thought you'd never ask. He's a money hungry spineless control freak. He hates I'm with Diana because of their rivalry but that has nothing to do with me. My father put me through a tragic childhood, his selfless drug addiction, constant marrying and divorcing. I often wondered how many different weddings I'd have to be apart of ... before it was my funeral. That's how it made me feel. He can't control me anymore and it burns him. He.'s a liar and I truly despise I have his name," I finished.

Garnell was confused. I'm guessing my father convinced him that I would say something else but no.

"Uh.. no further.. yeah.." He walked back to his seat defeated.

"Ms. Greene can you address the phone call between your father and yourself?" Roy asked.

"Ms. Elizabeth was pleasuring me and I answered by accident ... His voice sent such a rage through me I threw the phone across the room into the wall..."

There were gasps here and there... but I didn't care. I wanted this over with.

"How would you say you feel about and Ms . Elizabeth?"

"I love her. I feel complete ... like I've honestly been missing a part of myself. I feel satisfied and happy."

"Would you say Ms. Elizabeth has ever abused you?"

I shook my head and then said, "No. Not Ever."