Things like scholarships, and talented teachers didn't happen to people like me. Things like law school didn't happen to people like me. Graduating high school four years early didn't happen to people like me. Yet here I stood in the classroom of Annalise Keating. She would be teaching me Criminal Law 100. Professor Keating is my inspiration, my idol. The woman I look up to, because I had no one else. She was often in the papers, and I remember reading them religiously, soaking up every detail of the cases and seeing how she'd win each and every time. I'd look up the public records from the trials, I'd watch and listen and read in on the ways she would completely slay the prosecution and the entire time I would think to myself, that I want to be her. So here I am. About to be taught by her.
I sucked in a heavy breath as I made my way down the narrow steps, and to the seating chart. The crowd surrounding it was a large one and I sunk up against the wall, waiting for them to move passed. I shut my glimmering green eyes tightly, and pursed my lips. I allowed my bag to hang in front of my legs as I felt someone brush up against me. I gasped, jumping up partially from pain and partially from being startled.
A man with glossed brown hair, and dazzling brown eyes stared back at me with a smile on his face. Stubble littered his jaw, and he was adorned in a nice suit. "I'm Connor. Connor Walsh."
I gave him a small smile back. "Leorah. Leorah King. But most people just call me Leo..."
"Well, Leo, can I ask why you're lounging around when our teacher is about to walk in at any moment?" He raised his eyebrows in question.
"Because there's a massive crowd of people right there, and I don't like big crowds." I stated. It wasn't a total lie, I supposed.
He shrugged. "Well, how about I just go ahead and find your seat for you then?"
"Why not. Thanks." I smiled.
He walked toward the table, pushing passed the other students. It took him moments before he nodded his head for me to follow him, so I did. "We're right next to each other. What are the odds, huh?"
"Apparently in your favor. I'm a pretty great seat mate." I joked.
He chuckled. "I can tell. Do you know what you walked into today?"
We took our seats and I responded with, 'I'm fully aware. I happen to love Professor Keating. She's...iconic."
"Yeah. That's one word to use." He muttered, and out of no where, the large double doors opened and she walked in.
"Good morning. I don't know what terrible things you've done in your life, but clearly your karma's out of balance to have been assigned to my class. I am professor Annalise Keating, and this is criminal law 100. But as I like to call it..." she began writing on the board, "how to get away with murder."
My heart began to race from excitement. A grin grew on my face as I pulled out a computer from my bag and opened it in front of me. I could not believe I was standing in front of the woman I aspired to become.
"Unlike many of my colleagues, I will not be teaching you how to study the law, I will be teaching you how to practice it. In a court room. Like a real lawyer. Now to our first case study, the Aspirin Assassin. Tell us the facts, Connor Walsh."
Connor stood, and I gazed to look up at him. "The common wealth of Gina Sadowski was a case of attempted murder. The defendant, Miss Sadowski, worked as the second assistant to the victim, Arthur Kaufman, the CEO of an advertising agency. Miss Sadowski was not only his assistant, though. She was also his mistress." He sat.
I wiggled my eyebrows at him, showing him I was impressed by his little speech, and he returned the joking gesture.
"What happened after Mr. Kaufman's wife of 27 years, Agnes, found out about the affair...you." My head spun to see a guy with ashy brown hair. He stood up, clearly surprised he'd been called on.
"Asher Millstone...He ended the relationship and then transferred her to the accounting department. That's when she allegedly switched one of his blood pressure pills for an Aspirin. Which she knew he was allergic to."
"Very good. What occurred when Mr. Kaufman ingested the Aspirin? Anyone?" She looked around the group of us.
I raised my hand at an unnatural speed but still, I was not chosen. Not like the next person to speak gave anyone a chance to be chosen, anyway.
"Mr. Kaufman went into Anaphylactic shock. His throat swelled, and his brain was deprived of oxygen for seven minutes before his assistant was able to resuscitate him. Michaela Pratt." Stated she, as she sat down once more.
"So we've established the Actus Reas, so what was the Mens Rea? Wesley Gibbons?" A nervous stutter sounded from behind me and I turned around to see a guy wearing just about the nerdy outfit I'd ever seen. His face appeared to be anxious, but of course it was, why wouldn't it be? It's his first day of Law School.
"The...mens rea? Right..."
"Day one and you're unprepared?" Keating raised her eyebrows.
"No... well um, yes, but...I didn't know there was anything to prepare." He said.
"I emailed the assignment to the entire class two days ago." She stated irritably.
"Oh, I...didn't get that." He mumbled.
"Mr. Gibbons. As a defense attorney, I spend most of my time around professional liars. So you'll have to work really hard to fool me."
"I only got accepted here two days ago, from the...wait list. So, that's probably why I didn't get the email." He said sheepishly.
Laughs could be heard from around the room, coming from everyone, including Connor. I slapped his arm and gave him a disapproving glance. I felt kinda bad for this Wesley guy, he seemed sweet, and he was being completely and totally publicly embarrassed by his professor.
"Let me help you out. Actus Reas means guilty act, the poisoning of Mr. Kaufman with an Aspirin, whereas men's Rea means guilty mind. So what was Ms. Sadowski's Mens Rea? Think, Mr. Gibbons. It's nothing more than common sense."
"To kill." Appeared a voice.
"May the individual who just spoke stand and repeat themselves?" Professor Keating turned round.
"The mens Rea, also referred to as intent was to kill Mr. Kaufman."
"That's correct. Your name?"
"Laurel. Castillo..."
"Ms. Castillo, never take a learning opportunity away from another student. No matter how much you want to impress me." She said harshly. "Now, before we move on are there any other questions?"
Connor raised his hand. "I noticed that the verdict wasn't listed. So...did she do it?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" She raised a brow. "I lied. This isn't a past case, but one I took last week after Gina fired her previous lawyer. Come to my office after class at Five PM, don't be late. If you are, that's your problem, not mine."
The bell rang. "Have a good day, everyone."
Gulping, I closed my laptop screen shut and took a shaky breath.
"It's slightly insane that you're completely obsessed with this lady. You're out of breath." Connor chuckled.
"She's amazing." I whispered. "Of course I'm out of breath!"
"You're insane." He shook his head. "So. Do you have the time?"
I looked down at my watch, "Three on the dot. Why?"
"I'm finished class for the day. How would you like to grab a bite to eat with me?" He stood, wrapping his satchel around his person.
"Listen...I'm not open to dating right now." I said nervously, standing as well.
"I'm gay."
My eyes widened as big as saucers. 'Shit! I'm sorry. I assumed, and that totally wasn't okay."
"That's alright. You're not the first, and not the last. But the offer still stands, you know." He shrugged.
"Sure. Let's grab a bite to eat." I agreed.
"The trial starts tomorrow, each of you will come up with a defense. Let's see if you can beat my current plan. Ms. King?" Keating said.
I immediately became attentive, making eye contact with her. "Yes?"
"You'll go last," I nodded slowly, "an undesirable position, seeing as not one student can have the same defense. Use the resources in this office, Gina's discovery file, my library, the people who know me even better than I know myself, my associates." She turned and motioned towards a man and a woman.
"Name's Frank. And unlike every teacher you've had, I do believe there are stupid questions. So if you have them, please see my lovely colleague, Bonnie." Frank stated, making me gulp.
"Or even better, you could come to us with answers. We'll like you much better that way." She stood.
"And one more thing. Every year I choose four students to come work for me. This assignment is used to help me decide who those four students will be. The top student gets a trophy, consider it your immunity idol. The winner can turn this in at any point to get out of an exam. Now go. Find me a defense to help our client go free." She said, holding up the golden trophy.
As students began to file out of the room, I felt my heart speed up. I stayed back, waiting until the pushing and pulling stopped, and Connor stayed close by me. "Why aren't you leaving? Gonna bow down to the lady?"
I shook my head, breathing out slowly. "No."
"Are you claustrophobic or something?" He raised a brow.
"Something like that." I muttered.
"Alright. So answer me something." He leaned up against the wall next to me.
"Sure." I shrugged, my heart refusing to stop beating at an unnatural pace.
"What do you think? About the defense? I'll be staying up really late tonight so I may as well get an idea of what you might say."
"Not telling. But let's just say, I wont be staying up late, unlike you and most of our class." I smiled slyly to myself, closing my eyes.
"I'll see you in class tomorrow." He stated, walking out.
That's when I noticed that I was alone. My eyes shot open and in front of me stood Bonnie and Frank.
Frank eyed me strangely. "You can go now, kid...aren't you too young to be in law school anyways."
"I'm Twenty-One." I said nervously, fumbling with my notepad. "I'll...leave." I speedily walked out of the house and took a fluttery breath.
Making my way home was nice. The weather was crisp and perfect and the breeze that breathed against my face hugged me like a warm blanket. I smiled to myself and allowed my eyes to flutter shut. I hoped that the events of tonight would not ruin the perfect day I'd just had.
Just a warning, I'll be skipping over the first few court scenes, because I'd like to get to the point of the story, Sam Keating's murder. Sorry if that bothers anyone. :)
-Sam
