"Why are you all dressed up?" She asks innocently.
"I was supposed to be on court." She gasps covering her mouth. "I was going to testify against Bryce." My voice came out weak and shaky as I ran my fingers through my hair.
"Why?" I shake my head. "Well, you can stay as long as you want, darling." She kisses my forehead, making me frown. She never treated me with so much love before. "I can make you some lunch."
I look around trying to find out were the hell her boyfriend could hide his money, just in case I run away with Ellie to a different city.
"Hey, mom?" I need more time. "Can you get me that blanket I used to love?" I ask trying to hide my nervousness by smiling.
"Sure, honey." She walks upstairs. I open every drawer and smiled seeing an envelope full of cash. "How's Ellie?" She asks, I put the money in my purse and closed it quickly. "That's why you're here? To steal his money?"
"Damn it... It's not like that, mom." I said letting a shaky breath go. "If I run away with Ellie in time, no one has to take her away from me."
"She'll stay with me then." I scoff grabbing my purse.
"Over my dead body." I opened the door.
"He'll kill me." I stop my tracks and frown. "And he'll kill you after... and Ellie... Justin." I close the door, not wanting to feel defeated.
"Here." I put five hundred bucks on the table and point at her. "Run away, start a new life, but not with me or Ellie. Forget about us." I slam the door shut running to court.
~||~
I ran upstairs and stumble as I opened the doors.
"I'm here, your honor." I froze when everyone looked at me, I hand my purse to Justin. "There's some money, if anything happens to me, run away with Ellie." I whisper. I lift my chin up looking at Bryce sitting down there with his head low.
"You swear you'll tell us the truth, and the truth only." I lift my hand up nodding.
"I swear." I sat down and looked at everyone staring at me. My whole body started to shake and the palm of my hands got sweaty.
"Miss Brooklyn, you and Hannah were best friends?" Denis asks.
"Yes, we were."
"Tell us about your friendship with Hannah." I look at Mrs. Baker and smile.
"She was an angel." I gulp breaking our eye contact. "She helped me with everything, she used to invite me over to her house so I didn't have to deal with my mom's boyfriend everyday." I take a sharp breath. "She was there when I most needed her, when Justin and I stopped talking, Jeff and Hannah were there to protect and love me."
"So you and Justin have a history?" He asks, I nod nervously. "Would you mind telling us?"
"No, not at all." My eyes landed on Justin and he nods, somehow making me feel more confident. "I know him since kindergarten, since then, we're inseparable."
"And what about Bryce?" I clean my hands by wiping it on my dress.
"Justin and I met Bryce when we were five, first grade." I said as my eyes landed on Bryce.
"And was Bryce showing any sudden changes in those past years?" I shake my head.
"Well, I can speak until I was fifth teen years old, he never showed anything to harm or put anyone in danger. But when Bryce and I stopped talking, I never wanted to see him or have any contact with him."
