TIFFANY'S POV:
"I now call to the stand, Miss. Tiffany Westbrook." my solicitor informed the courtroom
After reading the rights, my solicitor began to question me. Looking over at the stands where Mum was sat, she smiled at me warmly, and I wished Justin was there too…
"Miss. Westbrook?" my solicitor inquired, snapping me from my trance
"Sorry, what was the question?" I asked
"I asked you how the fire happened." he informed me
I swallowed a lump in my throat… "I was walking past one of the Science classrooms when I saw Gabriella in there unattended. I asked her what she was doing and she basically told me to get lost and slammed the door in my face. I knew something was wrong so I went to get my step-dad, Vaughan, and we made our way to the classroom to find Gabriella wasn't there. He checked the classroom and told me to break the fire alarm and get out which I did, although I didn't make it until Justin rescued me."
"What happened between breaking the fire alarm and getting out?" he questioned
"I don't really know," I admitted "everyone started to pile out of their classrooms as I was making my way down the steps. I must've tripped and fell."
"And no one knew?" he asked
"No." I replied "I was in the building for half-an-hour, maybe more, as I was unconscious."
JUSTIN'S POV:
Floyd, Leo and I were sat at a table in the canteen when I looked up and over to the doorway as I heard Allie's voice. Smiling at Tiffany warmly and rubbing her arm, she made her way through to the kitchen to get something to eat…
"It didn't go well…" Floyd informed us as Tiffany made her way over
"How do you know?" I questioned
"Her face; she's forcing that smile." he admitted
"Hey." she greeted us as she reached the table and sat down next to me
"How'd it go, sis?" Floyd inquired
"Not bad," she replied "we had a debrief with the solicitor afterwards and he said she doesn't stand much of a chance."
"That's something then, isn't it?" he questioned
She nodded her head and smiled at him weakly. Pulling her into me, I glanced at Floyd and Leo as I heard her begin to cry against my chest…
"We're gonna go…" Floyd informed me
"No, you don't have to!" Tiffany proclaimed as she lifted her head quickly and wiped her eyes "I'm gonna get something to eat and then got off to get prepared for lesson."
"I'll come with you." I informed her as I stood up, pulling my bag over my head
"Could you not?" she questioned "I need a bit of time and space. Reliving the fire has brought it all back…"
"Even more reason for you not to be on your own." I replied
"Justin, please!" she proclaimed "I'll be fine. I'll see you later."
Sighing heavily, I reluctantly nodded my head in agreement. Smiling at me, she kissed me softly and grabbed her bag from where she'd sat it on the floor and made her way over to the lunch queue…
TIFFANY'S POV:
"All Justin's doing is trying to help," I informed Joanna as I sat in her office after school that afternoon "but I just can't bring myself to confide in him, even though I know he'll support me."
"Do you have a reason for that?" she questioned
"He's going through his own stuff with his Dad's trial having just ended," I replied "I don't want to dump my stuff on him too."
"From what I saw when he came with you to your session the other week is a young man who's very much in love with you," she informed me "who'd do anything for you and who'd do anything to support you. I think you need to let him in, Tiffany."
"But what if he breaks?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her
"That's a risk you're going to have to take, because otherwise it'll be you that breaks." she replied
Honest thoughts please…