The Time of My Life [Completed]

Chapter 31: The Time I Went To Court

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

11:00 am

It's been 2 weeks since the shooting. We had a small funeral for Mrs. Hale. I felt terrible. She had very little family, just her husband and her parents. Since she was a new teacher this year, not many students attended. As much as Zeke wanted to go and say goodbye, he wasn't discharged from the hospital until yesterday.

Zeke's arms is healing well. The doctor says in another 2 months, it should be fully healed. Unfortunately, he couldn't say the same for his leg. He'll be either on crutches or in a wheelchair for another 4 to 5 months. Of course, we're practically always together, and I don't mind pushing him around.

Today is the day we finally get to make sure Brock gets what he deserves. Zeke, me, and quite a few of our classmates and teachers are excused from school for the rest of the week to testify in court. I still felt partially responsible for the whole thing. Zeke is hurt, Mrs. Hale is dead, 3 of my brothers and a few of my friends have to go to court. I practically forced Mom to stay home. She wanted to come, but there was no way I was letting my younger brothers and sisters come to this, and we needed someone to stay with them.

Orange holds open the door and I walk into the courtroom, wheeling Zeke in front of me with a dozen or so people following behind us. Not bothering to help Zeke out of the wheelchair, I leave him in the aisle and sit in the first chair in the front row next to him.

The judge speaks. "Case number 486. Brock Henderson has been accused of murder and assault. Oooh this is a lot more interesting than the woman who stole the toilet paper." The judge sat there like this was an every day thing. I guess it is. And I hate that. "First witness, Ezekiel Talbot."

Zeke squeezed my hand before I helped him with his crutches and he hobbled up to the witness stand. After reciting the oath and all that, they asked him a bunch of questions, ones I didn't even know the answers to before now. I could tell this was hard on him. No 17 year old boy should have to go through this. But here I am, a 15 year old girl right beside him.

A dozen questions and explanations later, I was next. "I call Jessica Keene to the stand." Once Zeke is comfy back in his wheelchair, I hesitantly made my way up to the front of the room. "How did you meet Brock Henderson?" Someone asked.

"We met at a party last summer." Was I all I said.

"And what was your relationship with Mr. Henderson?"

"We dated for a month or so last fall. That's it."

"Did you keep in contact after your relationship ended?"

"Not intentionally, no. He would text me, or come to my house once in a while, asking me to take him back, but I never did."

"While the two of you were dating, did he ever show any signs of violence or aggression?"

"No. Never. At least not until the day we broke up. He was always so sweet, but that day, it was like his entire personality changed."

"Can you please elaborate."

"Yes. He came to my house and he was acting like his normal self. I asked him why he stood me up at our date, and it was almost like a flip had switched in his brain. He went from being kind, to cold and mean in a matter of seconds. I remember thinking he was soulless." I think back to that last night on the porch.

I was asked a few more questions before they allowed me to go back to my seat.

~•~

2:00 pm

After a couple more hours sitting in the courtroom, we were finally dismissed. Last period was already starting at school, so there was no point in going now.

Since all my friends were there together, we decided to just go get food somewhere. It was Darrell, Orange, Zeke, me, John, Kelly, Kyrsten, Mel, Sam, and Spencer. May was there too, but I didn't blame her for wanting some space right now. Brock is her brother.

The 10 of us pile into Orange and Darrell's cars. Orange's car is so small, only John and Mel went with him. The rest of us rode with Darrell, who luckily drives an SUV. "So, where should we go? Orange said he'd just follow us." Darrell asks from the drivers seat, Zeke sitting next to him.

I stuck my head up from where I sat behind Zeke. "Ice cream!"

"We can go literally anywhere..... within ten miles." He finished, realizing what he had said.

"Ice cream! Darrell, drive this thing to Frozen Dreams or I swear, I will climb up there and do it myself."

"But you don't even know how to drive, Jess." Kyrsten pointed out. I give her a look that says 'never stopped me before.' I think Darrell got the message because next thing I knew, we were almost there.

I helped Zeke out of the car and into his wheelchair before pushing him into the parlor. "I'll have a mint chocolate chip with gummy bears and sprinkles." After Zeke and I both had our ice cream in hand, I was about to roll him to the tables outside when he stopped me.

"Um, I'll meet you outside. Go ahead."

"Are you sure?" I felt bad leaving him alone. Ever.

"Yeah, I'm just gonna go use the bathroom." He rolled right past me, keeping his eyes on the floor as he did. I've known Zeke long enough to be able to tell when he's lying. He never makes eye contact. I decided to just let it go for now.

I find an empty table outside, which wasn't hard considering it's the middle of the day on a Wednesday. I pulled up a couple more chairs so all of us could fit. I've been feeling sort of like the mom of the group lately. Maybe since I've been taking care of Zeke all of the time my maternal instincts are showing? I don't really know.

My friends all come outside, Zeke being the last of them. His cup of ice cream sat in his lap. He had the same as me, which is weird because I'm pretty sure that's not what he ordered. I just shrugged it off, thinking it was weird but not really wanting to question it.

We all talked about random stuff, and I noticed Zeke being strangely quiet. He would comment on something every once in a while, but that's all.

Eventually, I look down at what he could possibly be doing. Spelt out in gummy bears was the word "PROM?" He was just finishing the question mark and looked up at me. I was speechless. I didn't think I'd go to prom until my junior year. And even then, I'd probably go alone. "So, will you?" He had a shy smile on his face.

The whole table quiets down, all eyes on Zeke, probably wondering what in the hell he's talking about. Well, until Kelly spots the gummy bears and gasps, doing a little happy dance or something.

"Yes." Was all I managed to say before Zeke's lips crashed into mine. My entire body melted into his touch, and the feeling of our lips moving in sync with each other.

I hear the hoots and cheers and whistles from our friends, but I wasn't thinking about any of that. I kept thinking about my promise to Zeke. I promised our first kiss would be in a better situation than we were in two weeks ago. And I kept thinking that I more than fulfilled that promise.