Defendants with Cameron Dallas

Chapter 7

"Are you sure you're good?" I said to Cameron as I stood in front of bathroom mirror putting my earrings in.

"I'll be fine." Cameron said from the bedroom.

"I still think we need to find someone to talk about everything with."

"And risk them releasing everything?" He stood in the doorway of the bathroom. "No, we can't risk that."

"Cam, we aren't going to be able to get through this trial if we don't talk about what we're feeling."

"Kate, I told you I'm fine."

"Well what about me, Cameron?" I put my hands on the edge of the counter. "Maybe I don't want to burden you with my pain because you clearly have your own."

Cameron held his face in his hands. He looked up at me. "You're not burdening me."

I turned around to face him. "Cameron, don't lie to me." "You have a lot of weight on your shoulders that you don't like to talk about."

"Because I'm fine!" "I don't need to talk about anything." Cameron turned and walked back into the bedroom.

I followed him and sat down on the bed. "What if what happened yesterday happens again?"

"It won't." He said gruffly.

"Cameron, you're allowed to be hurt, you went through a lot."

"I said I'm fine!" He stormed out of the bedroom.

I leaned back on the bed. I let out a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling.

"Neither of us is fine."

I stood up and walked over to the window. I bent down and picked up a pair of simple black heels. In a smooth motion I slipped them onto my feet.

I smoothed down the jacket to my maroon pantsuit. I needed something with a little extra confidence today and this seemed like the way to go.

I walked out to the living room to find Cameron sitting on the couch. "Are you ready to go?"

He turned around to face me. "If you are."

I nodded.

We walked hand in hand down to our ride. For safety reasons were weren't allowed to take any personal vehicles. We didn't need a repeat of what happened while I was in the hospital. It was so bad that some of our stuff remained at that apartment because so many reporters frequented it in hopes of seeing us.

"You look pretty today."

I smiled and squeezed his hand. "Thanks."

We arrived at the courthouse to the typical mob of reporters. Something was different this time though. Some of the cameras were pointed at a man standing at the base of the steps. He was turned and I couldn't get a clear view of his face through the tinted windows of the SUV.

"I have a surprise for you."

"Cameron Alexander Dallas, what did you do?"

"You'll just have to see."

I opened the door to the vehicle slowly and carefully stepped out. I began walking up to the man. He turned to face me and the whole world slowed. Instantly I flashed back to the night Cameron had first seen the tattoo on my back, to the nights I laid on that couch humming Roses.

"Shawn?" I said breathlessly.

He smiled and held out his hand. I took it and he began to lead up the steps.

"It's nice to meet you, Kate."

"How?" I asked still at a loss for words.

"Cameron called me, he said you could use this."

"Are you sure you want to be here?"

"I had to meet the girl dating one of my oldest friends." He winked.

"Hey don't bring age into this." Cameron laughed from behind me.

"But Cam, the trial, it's messy."

"Don't worry, it's more important I support you guys." Shawn held open the door to the courthouse.

I walked in and my heels clicked on the floor of the courthouse as we walked towards the courtroom.

Shawn smiled at me one last time as he sat in the bench behind the prosecution table. "You've got this." He said quietly.

I nodded and took a seat at the table. Cameron put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

A few minutes after we sat down the lottery winners filed in. A murmur danced across the benches.

"Is that Shawn?" "That's totally Shawn." "Oh my gosh Shawn Mendes is here!" "Him and Cameron are still friends?" "What is he doing here?"

"See, and now the attention isn't so much on you."

"Cameron, I don't mind the people." "I'm not the one who had a full on breakdown yesterday."

"We aren't arguing about this right now." He said through his teeth.

"I don't want to argue, Cam, I just want for you to be ok."

"And I am."

"Cameron." I squinted at him. "This is tough stuff, both of us are still struggling with trauma."

"Well the murder trial supposed to be over this week."

"And then what Cameron?

"Then we can talk about talking to someone."

"Ok."

My face fell as Hannah strutted in. Her engagement ring still sat on her finger, shining in the fluorescent lights.

I took a deep breath and turned back to look at the judge.

The judge's voice bounced off of the walls of the courtroom. "All rise."