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I sigh and pull her impossibly closer, kissing her a few times just so she knows that no part of me is trying to push her away. Not again. Never again.
"Then at least promise me you'll try."
She doesn't answer, and certainly doesn't promise, but she doesn't fight me on it either. She just stays motionless in my arms, embracing every second we have together, the same way I am.
The same way I always do.
Trial: Day Four
On the way into the courthouse, I have to remind myself to breathe. Today is potentially the day that I find out if I'm spending the rest of my life in prison or not, and to say it's weighing heavily on me is an
understatement.
No matter how many times we called, no one has been able to get ahold of Carter. His dad doesn't seem worried, claiming that if something were wrong we would have heard about it by now, but I sure as hell am. Losing my best friend is not something I wanted to do before a day like this. I thought he would come back from the hotel last night and we would talk about it, but he never showed.
We even tried calling Wyatt, but all he did was send Hayden a text back letting us know he's busy but he'll get back to us when he can. I know he's not pissed off at me, but I'm not sure what he's doing with Carter that is so important. I just never expected Carter to be this mad about it. Not after he moved on just fine since her death.
The clock ticks down toward the time we're supposed to begin what is now day four of the trial. All of us go to find our places, and I give Paige a kiss before taking my seat. Every time the door opens, I glance back, hoping it's Carter, but being disappointed every time. It's official; he hates me.
But as the judge comes in and deems court in session for the final time, my attention is pulled away from my missing best friend and onto the matter at hand.
THE PROSECUTION REALLY PULLS out everything they have for the final day, probably because it's the most influential time. You want those important pieces of information fresh in their mind when they go to deliberate. They show them things like text messages between Davi and I, including an argument I'm not entirely proud of.
The most groundbreaking piece of evidence, though, is a surveillance camera from the other side of the roof. It's shot from what's probably the worst angle possible, but you can absolutely tell it's Davi and me.
We come out onto the roof, and while there is no sound, you can see that the emotions are high. Even watching it, knowing what happens because I lived through it, I still feel anxiety for what's to come.
I watch as she goes over to the front of the building and gets up on the ledge. Everything looks exactly how it went, until right before she goes over. My body blocks most of hers from the camera, and as she goes over the edge, it genuinely looks like I pushed her. Having lived through it, I know that motion was just me trying to catch her, but I can absolutely see why they think I did this. Shit, even I’m starting to think I did it.
Did I black out?
Did I really push her?
What have I done?
Everyone in the room looks at me like I'm a monster, while Davianna's parents burst into tears. It's then that I know for sure, all the hope for me to win this case, left as soon as they hit play.
I'm going to prison.
AS THE CLOSING STATEMENTS are given, I'm barely even listening. All I keep running through my head is everything I want to say to everyone before I'm taken away. Whatever it is, I need to get it out before the jury comes back with a verdict, because as soon as they find me guilty, I'm going to be taken into custody.
"You've seen the evidence. You've heard from the witnesses. You've watched the video," the prosecution says to the jury. "Now it's up to you to make this man face the punishment for the crime that he committed.
"Do it for Davianna, who had such a long life ahead of her. Do it for other women, so the same thing doesn't happen to them. Your sister. Your cousin. Your friend. Because I'm telling you, if this man is not held accountable, he will just think he can do it again."
"Wait!" a familiar voice shouts.
Everyone whips around, and I see Carter and Wyatt walking toward the front of the courtroom. Carter is holding a flash drive up like it's the Holy Grail as Wyatt follows behind. I don't think I've ever been so glad to see his stupid ass.
"You can't close this case," Carter argues. "Not until you see this first."
The whole courtroom erupts in commotion, and the judge needs to slam down his gavel to get them to quiet down.
"Young man, you cannot just barge into my courtroom and demand things."
Carter rolls his eyes and waves him off. "Yeah, yeah. Find me in contempt of court."
"Excuse you?"
