It Took The Death of Hope

Chapter 8 - Court.

A Few Days Later;

Des Moines County Court;

Ashlee Gray...

Terrified doesn't even cut it. At least in the hospital, I could dictate who saw me. Here in the open, in the real world, I could feel people staring. It's not like I don't know what they are staring at. My face is a mess and my court advisor had insisted that I don't wear any make-up so that the judge and the jury can see the full impact that the attack had left.

I mean even on my good days I had never gone anywhere without my face on. This feels very much like I am naked for the world to see and it is scaring the hell out of me. Especially when complete strangers are openly gawking at me.

Corey was currently sitting at one side of me, my hand encased in his, Sid is sitting at the other side of me, his arm wrapped around my shoulder. Between the 2 of them I do feel safe, but I know that isn't going to last because they won't be able to sit with me on that stand.

"Jesus fucking Christ take a fucking picture it will last fucking longer!" Sid growled at the middle-aged man who had stopped and just stared at me, making absolutely no effort to try and hide his fascination.

My head dropped, allowing my hair to fall like a curtain - a shield to hide from the strangers who were staring at me.

"You heard him...move.the.fuck.along!" Corey growled indicating that the man wasn't moving from where he had stopped. A few seconds passed and I felt Corey standing to his feet, "I said move...now!" his growl was of a man trying to protect what was his. And that did very little to dampen the stupid crush that I seemed to be developing.

"Don't hide sweetheart...you are beautiful!" Sid was whispering in my ear as he slid his thumb under my chin and gently lifted my face to look at him.

"How can you say that? I feel like a fucking circus freak with the way people are staring - maybe I should start charging!"

"Enough. You are gorgeous and you know it!" he proclaimed passionately, as if he really believed it and before I knew it, he had pressed a quick kiss to the tip of my nose and smiled.

"Sidney George Wilson..."

"Ut-oh you're in trouble Sid!" Corey chuckled.

"What?" he looked at me expectantly.

"If you are going to kiss me - at least do it properly!" now I had no idea why I said that, or where the actual courage to say it came from but it slipped from my mouth before I could stop it and instantly I felt Corey tense next to me.

What the fuck am I doing? I am not this girl. I do not chase men. I do not get involved with 2 men. Let alone 2 men who are like brothers. This is a sure-fire way for someone to get hurt and to cause nothing but drama and that is most definitely the last thing that I want.

"Gray v Locke, court room 2 in session!" the court clerk opened the doors and the three of us stood up and made our way to the clerk whom was holding the doors open for anyone coming in for the sentencing.

The three of us took the seats behind the area where the D.A. would be seated. Once again; I was flanked by both men. Squeezed between them, I still managed to feel safe and protected. Somehow; I knew that both of these men would do absolutely anything that they could to ensure that I was safe.

Corey didn't hold my hand again, but Sid slipped his arm around my shoulder and leant into my ear as we waited for everyone to appear. "Did you mean what you said out there?"