Pay the Price
Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N:
Chapter 21 (Graced by an Idol)
The courtroom was packed with people that the group knew and those that had no true connection to them. The press was allowed, given the high profile nature of the case. Trina sat in the row in front of the group, as though still guarding them. She was seated between her aunt and uncle while Tori opted to sit with her friends due to wanting to spend as much time as possible with them before they moved.
Jade gripped Beck's hand tightly, breathing in and out as slow as possible. Andre's unwavering glare remained focused on Erin as she sat in the booth beside the judge. Robbie's face was twisted in a virulent, unforgiving sneer aimed at the woman while Cat seemed to be looking everywhere but at the woman.
They were doing their best to be strong, as difficult as it was for them to be present. Trina was proud of them and hoped this was a sign that they would continue to progress.
Erin tried to appear above it all in the face of witness testimony and evidence. Her head was held high, her eyes were shut and her body firm; but if she truly thought anyone could find her not guilty, then she was verifiably insane in Trina's mind. Even the defense was trying to get her a reduced sentence.
When Trina heard the juror spokesperson announce the verdict of guilty, she felt a vicious smirk curl on her face. A wave of sighs rolled across the group behind her, so immense that even Trina practically felt the relief and tension rolling from them.
Erin's tough façade seemed to crumble before their very eyes and the woman slowly turned to Judge Michael Reyes. He was a staggering, immense figure with broadened shoulders and a deep gaze, his graying hair swept around the back of his head, forming almost a crown for the bald spot at the top.
"Your crime is egregious beyond words or belief." The judge's voice boomed as if God himself spoke from the heavens. Judge Reyes peered over his thin glasses and down his sharp nose at Erin. "In light of your premeditated planning, understanding of science and chemistry as well as organization, I will not rule in favor of insanity. That would be too light of a punishment for you." Erin's eyes grew wide and the Judge quickly cleared his throat. "The state of California does not allow the penalty of death, though your crimes would certainly warrant such punishment. Therefore, I hereby sentence you to a life in prison without the possibility of parole."
Trina leaned towards her uncle, still grumbling over the litigation rules. Her voice was kept at a low whisper. "Texas would sentence her to death, that way she'd never stand a chance of being put on the streets again. God knows how much she can operate from prison bars and escape." Ted sighed heavily and whispered back.
"That may be, but remember death row inmates still sit for decades at times. So if she would try to escape or try to come back from behind prison bars, she could still try even on death row. May be harder, but I wouldn't worry about that kind of thing."
"I'll never understand why this country feels the need to hold criminals for so long. Decades, even, it doesn't make sense. No other country does that."
This time it was Aunt Bradley who answered, she moved her hand over Trina's and gave it a light squeeze. "I know you're still angry," whispered the woman, "I know you're hurting too." Trina closed her eyes and bowed her head. "The woman is going to be put away, and right now all you have to focus on is healing. You have your life, you have your sister and your boyfriend too. Don't spend your breath or energy worrying about how this woman will be punished for what she's done…I know it's difficult, but we give the people that hurt us far too much power when we give them even one single thought towards them."
"Yeah, I said the same thing to Jade recently…" Trina raised her head and breathed in slowly, watching as Erin began to shake uncontrollably and release crocodile tears before being dragged off by the officers. "There are more pleasant times coming. She's gone, everyone will move past that."
Ted smiled at her, giving a gentle pat on her shoulder. "You guys will be okay. Tori's friends will be fine too, in time." He reached into his jacket and Trina looked over. "I've got something for you. You mentioned Jade invited you to that Halestorm concert but she only had one ticket, right?" Her eyebrows rose and she watched as he removed multiple slips of paper. "Wasn't cheap, but I bought some extra tickets to that concert for the rest of your friends. No price is too much."
She gasped, almost screaming with elation in the middle of such a somber period. She knew the others probably didn't like Halestorm as much, but just be able to have everyone together was important. "Thank you so much, Uncle Ted." She hugged his neck and grabbed the tickets, showing them off to Tori and Jade."
"There's another surprise with those," Bradley remarked, "Take a look."
Confused and curious, she looked down to the tickets. Her heart stopped and her jaw fell open as her widening eyes read the word 'backstage'. "Are…" She pulled her hand to her chest and felt as though she might faint at any minute. "Are you serious? I-I…" Tears filled her eyes and her hands began to shake as she looked towards her aunt. Bradley smiled tenderly and nodded back at her. "I love you. How?"
"How isn't important dear."
Ted chuckled and shook his head. "Your aunt literally wrote a letter, hunted down the band somehow and was able to talk to the bandmates."
"What?"
"One of the Mrs. Hale's security detail was an old friend of your aunt's, so they got her in."
Tears ran down Trina's cheeks as her heartbeat flickered. Throwing her arms around the woman, all thoughts of the present moment and of Erin were eradicated. Bradley hugged her back, slowly rubbing circles on her back. She heard Bradley whisper to her husband.
"Ted, I thought I told you to wait until after the trial."
"Well the trial is over," he said with a low chuckle, "I wanted to give her a bit of good news to take her mind off all this. Couldn't wait any longer."
"Good call."
Several days passed before the concert, those days were spent getting ready to move and spending as much time with Tori's friends as possible. Tori still seemed amazed that the group wanted Trina there, though she knew what her sister had done for them. It was hard for her to get used to that because she'd been in a coma the entire time, but she seemed to like the change.
Of course Jason and the others were around as well, dispelling the rumor that the friends had in thinking Lindsay didn't like Trina or laughing over Cat's annoyance that Jason was in fact Trina's boyfriend and had been even during the time they were doing their 'costume party' at Sikowitz's place.
At the concert no one in the group, not even Robbie, seemed to be thinking about the ordeal they'd gone through. The event was taking place outside, with the sun setting behind them. Fans crowded the area, all screaming and jumping, while Trina watched impatiently for her idol to arrive on the stage.
Jade sidled up beside her, a huge grin spreading across her face. "You might be our hero, but this one's your hero." Trina couldn't help but to laugh. She threw her hair back over her shoulder and flashed a toothy grin.
"Hey, Elizabeth actually played a role in your rescues, so she's your hero too in a way."
"For sure."
Music began to play and Trina gasped, she turned her eyes to the stage and watched as fog rolled off the stage and the curtain started to rise, showing the band.
Heathens was playing. Elizabeth Hale stood in front of the stage, her left hand gripping the microphone stand and her right hand sliding down from the top. "All my friends are heathens take it slow…" The woman was sporting her dark, short hairstyle, her dark eyes flickered out to the crowd and her powerful voice filled their ears. "Wait for them to ask you who you know. Please don't make any sudden move, you don't know the half of the abuse…"
The singer's body started to twist as she raised her voice up.
Trina began pumping her fist in the air as she started to get into the music. Soon after, the singer began to sing Misery. Trina felt the power of the music coursing through her veins and bit her lip as she continued pumping her fist in the air and cheering with the fans.
She could feel the others watching her and they too started to join with the excitement and energy that was rushing over the crowd.
The next song was Apocalyptic, then Black Vultures, Freak Like Me, mayhem, and Do Not Disturb.
Then the singer sang one final song, one that she said she wanted to dedicate to fans that were in attendance who had gone through a terrible ordeal. The song was Dear Daughter.
Trina felt every muscle in her body tremble as she grew completely still. For a moment, she thought she saw the singer's eyes connect with hers. Jade fell silent as well, bringing her hand towards her chest and looking over her shoulder to the others.
Tears ran along Trina's face and dripped off her chin, but her lips formed a smile. Her eyes closed and she swayed until the singer stopped suddenly. Opening her eyes, she saw the singer looking around the crowd.
"Is there a Trina Vega in the crowd tonight?" Trina's heart stopped and her breathing hitched. Speechless, she took a small step back while the others remained shocked. The singer stepped onto the steps leading off the stage. The band continued behind the woman, playing softly as Hale moved her microphone to her lips. "And her friends, I believe?"
Trina's knees started to buckle and she froze, shocked that she was hearing her favorite singer address her. The woman actually knew her name! This was clearly Aunt Bradley's doing.
"Over here," Jason shouted. Her eyes opened wider and she turned to him, whimpering as he clapped his hands in the air. "They're over here."
The fans turned to look at her, then started to move out of the singer's way as the woman continued her song. Trina cupped her hands over her heart and started to weep as Hale walked towards them. Beside her, Jade was trembling as well and the rest of the group remained too stunned for words.
As the woman neared, the moment grew so surreal that Trina felt like she was watching as if a ghost. When the woman was directly before her, within arm's reach, Trina almost lost it and started to fall to her knees. She grabbed Jason's arm and bit her lip.
The singer looked into her eyes and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Trina gasped out at the touch, as though she'd just been graced by a god. She watched with parted lips as Hale moved away from her and over to Jade, gazing into the girl's eyes and giving a tender nod.
Then the song was over and the singer uttered three simple words. "You are strong." Such a simple statement, yet so immensely powerful that it all but broke her to hear. "Join me after the concert?" Hale had moved her microphone away and was looking directly at Trina. "You and your friends."
Trina could hardly utter her answer, so Jason said that she'd love to accept the offer. Hale smiled at them and started to walk back towards the stage.
"Oh my god," Jade said with a stuttering voice, "Did that just happen?" Trina turned to her and took her hands, practically screaming and still shaking.
"We just met Elizabeth Hale. It totally happened."
"I think I'm gonna die!"
"Don't die, we get to hang out with her after the show!"
"Oh my god!" They screamed and jumped like overly excited schoolgirls, leaving their friends watching and shaking their heads. The others started to grin, revealing their own excitement. Granted they weren't hardcore fans, but even they had to be happy in this moment. "She touched us too!"
"I'm never washing this shirt again."
"Same!"
Tori wiggled her nose and looked at the others, shrugging her shoulders at them. "Is anyone else weirded out by them right now?"
"Don't question the moment," Jason replied laughing, "I love seeing Trina happy like this." Beck nodded in agreement, gazing at Jade with a warm smile. "Your aunt and uncle did a good thing, it isn't every day your idol actually acknowledges you like that."
It was a powerful moment, each of them were aware. This moment, this meeting, would certainly linger with them all. Something positive to impact their lives, Trina could see that may have been what her aunt was trying to do for them. Certainly the woman had to have jumped through quite a few hoops to achieve it, and she was immensely grateful for it. This was a night she would not soon forget.
Aunt Bradley and Uncle Ted definitely did something good (side note, they are the main characters of an late 80s and early 90s nickelodeon show 'Hey Dude', in case you were wondering). Looks like Trina and the group will have a really good positive memory after tonight to look back on for a long time, certainly something to help them heal. What are your thoughts towards everything in this chapter?
