Who We Were | ✓

chapter fifteen

[ please play the song above! it's perfect! ]

Everly Clark

DEAD SILENCE. Silence so cold, I felt goosebumps rise on my arm. Everyone stared, stunned at the fact that I had just announced that. I was stunned myself, I didn't know how to feel. As cheesy as it sounded, it felt like a huge weight was taken from my shoulders.

Oh, God.

Ricky's lawyer licked her lips, avoiding my eyes, "Thank you, Miss. Clark, that'll be all,"

I nodded, feeling lighter. I stepped down from the stands, clenching my fists to prevent my hands from trembling. The silence seemed to echo against the walls of the courtroom.

It was a waiting game, the jury and Judge Rodgers talked silently, somber looks painted on their faces. Gabriel kept repeating comforting words, rubbing my shoulder silently. It was all a blur, everything was just a blur.

Judge Rodgers cleared her throat, "The jury and I have thought deeply for this very decision, but by hearing all the evidence and statements from the witnesses, we hereby announce Everly Clark innocent. Everly was still a minor at that time, however, there will be consequences,"

"Both Mr. and Mrs. Clark will be sent to a rehab home and will not be released until they have a medical professional proving that they are completely sober. Everly Clark will have to go see a physical therapist and will have to pay a fine of 500,000 dollars to the Hans family."

. . .

I had technically won, I was proven innocent. I didn't have to go to jail. I should be so damn happy right now. Except for the fact that I wasn't. In fact, it felt as if I had lost. My parents were going to rehab, God I just couldn't live without them and where was I going to get all that money?

Thoughts rushed through my head like a freight train, making me question myself even more. God, what was I going to do? I couldn't bear to see Ricky's reaction this, I couldn't even face him right now.

"Hey, hey, hey, Ev come on you have to smile now," Gabriel frowned, "Come on, a teeny smile?"

I couldn't help but smile, Gabriel just had that kinda effect on me. He was full of such sunshine that it eventually spread to me. You just couldn't be sad around Gabriel Pryer.

"I-I don't want to lose my parents," I confessed quietly, "Even though they hurt me a countless amount of times, I just can't."

"Everly, the truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. You have to ask yourself, are they worth it?" he paused, searching my eyes, "Are they worth it?

I thought about all the good times I had with them, the good times. The times when we were all happy when they were sober. I have to constantly remind myself that there was a time when my parents and I were happy.