the reason | 13rw

f i f t y - t h r e e

"alright, the decision is today." my brother nodded. 

i smiled, "i have hope." 

"that's good," my dad said. 

"let's head in," one of my lawyers said. 

we all got situated and we got started. 

"we'd like to call scott reed to the stand." bryce's lawyer said. 

"scott?" i whispered. 

"i don't know," my lawyer said. 

i watched as scott came out, sitting on the stand. 

"mister reed, how long have you know nicolette?" 

"i met her right before school started at a party." 

"now you guys had a fling, correct?" 

"we dated for a couple of weeks." 

"now did you guys do anything physical?" 

"no," he said. 

"and you're one of her good friends." 

"i was," he nodded. "we stopped talking when she cut off all her friends." 

"but she's with her other friends now, why not you?" 

"i don't know, she just wasn't someone i wanted to reconnect with." 

"why not?" 

"she made me uncomfortable sometimes and i felt like i couldn't trust her anymore." 

"explain on that." 

"bryce touched her at that party, but nicolette did want it." he said. "at jessica's party she kissed him back." 

i sucked in a sharp breath, tears rolling down my face. 

"she went crazy afterwards, she was beating up on her brother, started skipping school." 

"why do you think that is?" 

"well i knew she was off when i met her, i just think she finally lost it." 

"thank you mister reed."

my lawyer stood up. 

"mister reed, if you felt that way about nicolette, why not drop her earlier?" 

"i thought she'd go crazy, maybe kill herself." 

"has nicolette ever shown signs of depression?" 

"yeah, she tried to swallow a bunch of pills one time." 

my eyes shot over to bryce as i watched him smirk at me. 

"no further questions." she and sat down. 

"that ruined things," i whispered to her. 

"we're going to put elliot james on the stand." she said. 

i watched as they switched scott for elliot. i smiled, wiping tears from my face. 

"mister james, you know you sister best, how would you describe her?" 

"she's carrying, she very funny, very outgoing and she's very loyal." 

"now this year has been a rough one for your sister." 

"no doubt." 

"why is that?"

"she face a ton of betrayal and heartbreak. i was apart of that." he said.