The Defendant ✧ (Bill Gambini x reader)

12.

It felt like my heart sank, after everything I still managed to fuck up.

My hands trembled slightly, I even felt like I rushed dad for nothing. Standing alone in the hall I sighed heavily. There seemed to be no choice but to leave. My presence had just walked out when I heard a familiar voice.

"Y/n?!"

I flung around to see Sydney waving at me. "Syd!" I ran over and gave her a big hug, I didn't know how she appeared so calm. "I'm sorry I missed it! The tires got mud in and dad had to drive me and-"

"Woah Y/n" she giggled "Slow down, missed what?"

"Court..."

Then she looked confused. "You didn't miss it...Well, only the beginning but Vinny is waiting inside for you" she explained. 

My eyes widened, so much was happening it was hard to process. Holding back a leap for joy, we smiled and headed into the courtroom. A few eyes landed on us, the judge making me the most nervous.

We shuffled over to the others as Lisa greeted me. "There you are hun, are ya ready?" She was wearing a pretty purple outfit. Sydney took a seat as I nodded. Bill's gaze met mine, he smiled. Vinny stood up and announced me as a witness to Judge Chamberlain Haller.

I was ushered to the stand, I noticed Bill's expression slowly changing but I shifted my contact away. "Miss Y/l/n, hold up your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?"

I swallow nervously. "Yes."

Judge Chamberlain Haller looked at me. "Miss Y/l/n, please could you recall what happened at the Sac-O-Suds convenience store?" Vinny questioned.

The room was silent, the only thing I could hear was my own heartbeat.

"I was coming home from my friend's house, everything seemed usual to me. I-I passed by Sac-O-Suds because it was a short cut and that's when I heard the gun being fired which made me freeze. I watched the clerk be killed from across the street.  I saw two men robbing any goods they could get their hands on, mostly money from the till. Then, they left in a green Pontiac Tempest that was parked outside the front."

"Are you sure?" Vinny flashed a comforting smile.

"I'm sure."

"Thank you Miss Y/l/n, you may stand down."

I nodded and left the witness stand, I could still feel Bill's icy gaze on me.

I took my seat on the bench beside Syndey who squeezed my hand as the next witness is brought into the courtroom. It took a long while before we finally got somewhere and Lisa was called up.

"-And because both cars were made by GM, were both cars available in metallic mint green paint?" Vinny examined.

"They were!" Lisa elucidated proudly in her thick new jersey accent.

"Thank you, Ms Vito. No more questions. You've been a lovely, lovely witness" Vinny kissed her hands.

The next two witnesses were brought forward and questioned.

"Mr Trotter?" Judge Chamberlain Haller called out after.

"Your honor, in light of Miss Vito's and Mr Wilbur's testimony, the state would like to dismiss all charges" Mr Trotter announced.

The courtroom filled with cheers as the two defendants were set free. Once outside, I was talking to Sydney when Bill came over and excused us. "We did it!" I smiled hugging him. It felt so good to feel his touch.

But what didn't feel good is that he didn't return it. "You were a witness this whole time Y/n?" I could hear how annoyed he was simply through his tone. "I'm sorry, I didn't have the guts to tell you. I didn't mean to-"

"Save it." His hand flew up to my face cutting me off.

"But-"

He walked away as my rollercoaster of emotions came back. "Bill please! I'm sorry!" I called out giving chase. My cries of protest fell on deaf ears as he walked over to a car and drove away, leaving me in the dust.

"I'm sorry..."