Fixing Her

Chapter XXXXVII

The news about everything were out the second we stepped foot outside the court. Isaac stayed and answered all the questions as my lawyer and he forced the rest of us to get home and prepare a party and buy him alcohol. We celebrated it just us, the café girls, Emma, Gina, Mamá and Jordan, and with the witnesses Isaac had gathered; Tanner and Jason, believe it or not. Jason apologized with tears in his eyes, saying he always wanted to help me but that the fear of Noah kept him. He said Noah had threatened to kill him if he'd tell anyone. He apologized for everything, and even though I understand him - the fear of doing anything because of Noah's threats - I still can't bring myself to fully forgive him, but I told him I did. He didn't stay throughout the rest of the night, he only stayed until the end of our talk, and I'm pretty happy he decided to leave, because even if he agreed to take the stand, Landon, who was sitting a few feet behind me and glaring at the scenario with fury and rage mixed together in his eyes, was ready to punch him the second one word was out of place.

We had a good time, a great time, and we laughed a lot, but that's probably because of the alcohol that replaced Mamá's and Jordan's presence. I drank some too. I didn't drink my way to hangover like most of them did, but I do see the difference between drunk me and sober me. It's not much, but it's there.

Leona and her mom came to visit us two days after the trial, and Leona's talking kept us from thinking about the court at all, since I know her mother wanted to meet me to say she's sorry. Dylan had a lot of fun with the little girl and she literally loves all the boys now. For some reason, however, Isaac and his I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-kids attitude attracted her the most. It was nice having her here.

School became much better after the news about the court, and that means they all finally believed me and left me alone. The looks of pity are there but the talks of shame are gone, and no one's bothered me anymore. I know there are comments going on, but I haven't heard any yet.

I didn't know what to do with the money the court gave me, so I talked to the economist in the house, Thomas, and got the advice to put them in which bank and when and how much to keep in the house; two thousand. So with the two thousand that are currently in my nightstand, Kaitlyn dragged me to a mall to finally buy a prom dress.

"This one's cute," she says to each one, and yeah, it is, but it's not me.

"No," I say to all of them.

"What about we just walk around and you for the first time stop at whatever you like? Jesus Hayden, you have no taste. I've shown you billions of gorgeous dresses you would rock in, and you've declined them all!"

I let out a laugh.

"Maybe we should just get back home."

"No! Prom is on Wednesday Hayden, and what day is it today?"

"Sunday, Kaitlyn."

"Exactly. We've got less than a week. You've probably beat the Guinness record of shortest prom preparation time. Congrats."