Looking up from the tiled ground floor I was back in the courtroom in Nevada, seating in front of the judge with the prosecution team at my side to convict my father. Judge Bates gained everyone's attention in the room as the jury were ready to deliver a verdict

'Has the jury come to a decision yet' Judge Bates asked

The chosen spokesperson for the jury stood up from his seat and faced the judge. 'We have your honour'

'On the indictment with the charges stated, how do you find the defendant'

'Not guilty your honour on all charges'

'No' I muttered under my breath

I couldn't believe what I was hearing in the courtroom as they had found my father not guilty, wild celebrations for him and his lawyer continued in the room in front of the face of myself and my extended family. The judge banged his gavel down a couple of times to silence the room

'You are a free man Mr Baker and this case is now acquitted'

Looking back to my Aunt Liv even she couldn't believe that my father got off from the case, she had been so supportive of me once she knew my father was arrested and came up to stay in Nevada for a week with me. The defence team came over to our table and my father stood in front of me

'You really thought you could get me sent down son' my father exclaimed

'Get out of my face'

'For what it is worth they had it coming to them'

Springing up from the chair I wanted nothing more than to just punch him across his smug face, my team held me back from doing something stupid and getting myself locked up for the night.

'You really don't have much success when it comes to trails do you Mason' he grinned. 'You really think you can send Bryce down when you couldn't even convict me'

Looking behind my father at the jurors I only just noticed one of them in the front row was Bryce Walker, he had a smirk across his face as he was the only one left sitting in the jury sitting area; helping to decide the case for my father to be acquitted from his trail…..

Waking up suddenly I was drenched in a cold sweat from a bad dream I was having, none of things that I saw was true at all and I knew my father was serving time at the minute in a Nevada prison cell. Looking over across my bed Jessica was still sound a sleep from all my stirring

I got out of my bed to throw my night t-shirt in the washing basket and freshen up as well, trying not to wake up anyone inside the house as I crept around to the bathroom to throw some cold water over my face.

Once I returned to my bedroom the nightstand light was switched on and Jessica sat up in the bed, a sleepy smile across her face, she looked exhausted as sleep still clouded her features

'What are you doing up Jess? I thought you were still asleep'

'I could feel you tossing and turning all night, are you alright'

'Just a bad dream that's all, nothing to worry about'

'Just a bad dream and not something else that might be worrying you?' she questioned

'I had a dream about my father's trail but everything went the opposite way and he was found not guilty'

'You never really talk about your father that much to me' she proclaimed. 'I know a lot about your mom and Teddy but nothing about him'

'Just talking about the man makes my blood boil Jess but that wasn't the worst part of my dream. Bryce was there as well and he was part of the jury'

'What' Jessica gasped

'It was my father's taunting me in the trail and then I saw him, my father said if I couldn't convict him then what chance do we have with Bryce'

'It's all just a dream babe. Whatever they said means nothing at all and most certainly isn't true'

'But what if Bryce does manage to get off from the trail all because we couldn't put together a strong enough case against him'

'You heard what Mrs Jensen said last night that it's going to take some time for her to go through that box of evidence you gave her'

'And what if there's nothing of any use in that box'

'We looked through them ourselves and there was plenty of evidence there and they had dvds as well in that box'

'Yeah but what if….'

Jessica put her index fingers against my lips to stop me fretting even more and silence me, only when I calmed down did she removed her finger away from my mouth

'What else is on your mind because something is clearly bothering you'

'How everything is going to change in the new year'

'What do you mean Mason'

'We'll be able to pinpoint the exact moment what our lives were like before and after this trail'

'That won't happen babe'

'I can still pinpoint when everything changed for me in Nevada, you know before I moved down here in Crestmont'

'What happened over there? You don't tell me anything and when I ask Clay of Hannah they don't seem to know anything either'

'That's because me and Aunt Liv decided not to tell Hannah the whole gory details of what happened'

'Has she ever pressed you to know more'

'No she hasn't and I don't plan on telling her anything for now'

'Maybe you should before the trail starts so she knows what to expect' she suggested. 'But I'm curious to know myself what happened?'

'You sure you want to know'

'I thought there was no secrets between us anymore remember'

'Yeah I do Jess'

Getting comfortable in bed with my hands behind my head resting against the pillows, Jessica leaned against the headboard and snuggled closer to me, closing my eyes I could easily picture my mother and little brother before me…

One year ago in Nevada

Sitting next to my girlfriend Ruby on the bleachers we were indulging in a makeout session, completely lost in the moment and our surroundings as someone else joined us on the bleachers.

'Get a room you two' my best friend replied

Jacob sat down a few seats ahead of us on the bleachers, staring out to the school building and looking at no one in particular, looking up to my best friend I shouted to him to bring his mind back down to us

'What are you doing here buddy?'

'I thought I'd see how you and your beautiful lady are'

'We're all right Jacob' she smiled

'You guys still coming to my party next week aren't you'

'We'll be there for sure' I nodded

'Cause I need the help setting up the place first before everyone comes over'

'Good luck finding the help Jacob' she huffed

'Don't be like that Ruby I'll make it up to you sometime' my best friend suggested

'I bet you will'

Seeing their locked gaze with each other I could tell they were eye fucking one another, they would do it behind my back when I weren't looking but they did like to gaze at each other. I had stay quiet about it for the last few months but I had enough of it now

'I'll see you guys later' Jacob winked, getting up from the bleachers and heading back to the school building

We watched him leave the bleachers and once he was gone from site we turned back to each other, Ruby shuffling up closer to my side and placed her hand against the side of my face, trying to draw me closer to her to which I resisted

'What's wrong' she enquired, rising a brow

'I'm not in the mood anymore babe'

'You were before Jacob came over so what's changed in you now'

'Don't act like you don't know what you were doing'

'I have no idea what you're on about'

'I saw the way you two were looking at each other, do you really think I'm that stupid'

'Not this again Mason, nothing is happening between us and you know it. I'm loyal to you only'

'So you keep saying Ruby but I see everything that's going on'

'What do you see because I'm so interested to know, all I am doing is looking at your friend when we talk'

'You're practically eye fucking each other and I'm sick to death of it, your supposed to be my girlfriend'

'Oh what about the times when you look at my friends inappropriately'

'I never have because you want to know why, I don't eye fuck them everytime we speak''

'You're such a child sometimes Mason'

'Sorry for being insecure when you two should be the people I trust most in the world'

'Clearly you're not going to believe a word I say so why don't you ask Jacob yourself if something is going on'

'I shouldn't have too'

Feeling annoyed Ruby picked up her bag and coat from the bleachers and stood in front of me, wanting to lay down one final insult before walking off

'Come back to me when you've finally grown up'

'I'll come back to you when you decide to be a faithful girlfriend'

Without a second to react I felt a powerful slap hit across my cheek, I know I had took it too far and should have trusted her more but I couldn't help the way I feel when that jealous streak kicked in

Ruby huffed loudly and walked away from the bleachers, probably going to meet up with her friends and let them know what was said between us. Ever since getting together with Ruby it has been a non stop roller coaster of drama, I'll give her a day or two to calm down before I make a move to smooth things over with her…..

After a troublesome day at school with the silent treatment from Ruby for the rest of the day I was glad to be home, the house was still quiet and I must have been the first one back. Going to my bedroom I dropped my bag on the floor and laid across on the bed, scrolling through my phone until I heard a faint knock on the door

Teddy leaned against the doorframe and asked if he could come in the room, sitting upright in bed I motioned him over with my head to sit beside me. He pushed the door close which I found strange, he never did that whenever he come to speak to me in my room

'What's up Teddy'

'There's something I wanted to talk to you about'

'Well my door was always open'

My little brother giggled lightly under his breath and sat down on the bed, his fingers fidgeting with each other as he was nervous about something. 'I don't know how to say this so I'm just going to come out with it'

'Ok' I didn't know what was on his mind since he was always open with me about everything

'I'm gay' he admitted nervously

I was stunned silent from his revelation as I didn't expect that from him, there were little signs here and there but I didn't think anything of it in the past

'Well ain't you going to say something'

'I don't know what to say to be honest' I exclaimed. 'How long have you known?'

'I've known for the last few years when I liked boys more than I did the girls'

'Well I'm glad that you could be open with me about it'

'There were times in the past that I wanted to tell you but the right moment never came along'

'So why today if you don't mind me asking'

'I didn't want to hide this side of me anymore from you'

'Have you told anyone else about you being…'

I've told mom but then again I think she always knew that I was a bit different'

'Whatever you do don't tell dad because he will kill you'

'He wouldn't do that Mason' he replied. 'Sure he'll hate me for a while and won't speak to me but he wouldn't harm me'

'Have you seen what happened to dad's best friend Jimmy'

'No why?'

'Jimmy came out as gay to him a few years back and dad didn't take it too well, hardly speaks to him now'

'Where is Jimmy now?'

'Moved to another state after dad beat the shit out of him at a bar one evening'

'Didn't he file any charges against him'

'They were best friends and their relationship was draining fast, so to keep the peace Jimmy moved away for a quieter life. So this is why I don't want you to say anything to dad'

'You're worried that he'll do something to me?'

'I don't want to take any chances not after what happened to Jimmy. You can be open and free all you want in front of me or mom for all I care'

'I knew I could confide in you about this'

'So do you have a boyfriend?' I enquired

'I don't have a boyfriend as per say but I am kinda seeing someone on and off'

'Someone I might know'

'A friend of yours yeah'

'I'll say no more than, let it be a surprise for me to find out who it could be'

Teddy smiled weakly at me and got up from the bed. I could see an invisible weight lifted from his shoulder as he lifted the room and closed the door behind him, I couldn't be more happier for my brother and wished him the best of luck with the new guy he was seeing…..

The next couple of days had passed and Ruby hadn't bothered to make any attempt to reconcile, the silent treatment was driving me crazy and I wanted nothing more than to just make up with her. The next time I would see her at break time I would make the first move so we could move past the blame game we were stuck in

Coming out of the school building I saw Ruby come out of an another exit with her best friend Carley Carter, the two girls talked amongst themselves and once Carley left I went over to my girlfriend

'Look what the cat dragged back in'

'It's nice to see you again too Ruby' I greeted

'What do you want Mason?' I'm busy' she huffed

'I just want to make up and get back together' I admitted

'Now is not a good time, can't it wait till we're a little more private somewhere else'

'Your embarrassed of us reconciling in public' I stated. 'We have been together for over a year'

'It's not that I don't want too but I think some things need to be said to each other first'

'Like what?'

'Is he bothering you again' a voice interrupted from behind

I didn't need to turn around to recognise the voice of my best friend Jacob, he came sauntering up to us and went to Ruby's side immediately. He was pissed off with me about something and I didn't know why

'Can you give us a moment, we're trying to talk here' I stated

'No I won't actually mate. What is wrong with you'

'I'm sorry' confused as to why was speaking to me in an aggressive manner

'You had no right talking to your girlfriend the way that you did about her bro'

'Why are you getting involved?' I demanded. 'This is a private matter'

'I know you guys are having your problems at the minute but at least Ruby showed up to my party, shame I can't say the same thing about my best friend'

'That was this weekend just gone?' I proclaimed

'I needed you Mason and you were a no show' he sighed deeply. 'At least Ruby was there to help me out during the night to make an impression on the jocks'

'Sorry to tell you the truth but the team thinks you're a fucking weirdo, I get the piss taken out of me for having a friend that follows the team around constantly when he's not even on it'

'Nice to see you finally have some balls to say to someone what you truly think' Ruby interjected

'Why did you say anything before Mason? Sparing me the embarrassment now'

'How could I? We're best friends and I didn't want to be the one to tell you that the jocks think you're a bit odd'

'In what way do they think I'm weird'

'It's just the way that you are with me and they think it's odd, I've tried to defend our friendship but they got it into their heads that I'm the normal one out of us two'

'There's me trying to fit in into your group of friends on the team for all this time when I shouldn't have even bothered' Jacob stated. 'That must be the reason why Teddy came out to me first'

'Your brother is gay?' Ruby exclaimed, obviously neither he or Jacob had said anything to her

You shut your mouth Jacob'

People around us heard the commotion and their ears picked up the juicy gossip, it would no doubt spread like wildfire around the school when a closely kept secret was revealed. I needed to find Teddy and ask him who else had he come out too

'There's no point trying to keep this from coming out, he was seen at the party with some boy'

'Don't talk crap'

'What time did he come home after the party had ended'

'I don't know'

'Well maybe you should go and speak to him Mason' Ruby suggested

'Yeah and you can ask him why he decided to come out to me first instead of you'

I had enough of arguing with Ruby and Jacob in front of the whole school, if there was going to be a slanging match then I would much prefer to do it somewhere more private than the open school yard…..

I avoided my girlfriend and best friend for the rest of the day around the school, it was such a relief when the school bell rang for the end of the day. Waiting out front of the school gates it wasn't long before I bumped into my little brother coming out onto the street

'I want a word with you'

Crossing over to the other side of the road where there wasn't many people, i could talk to him more privately without anymore people eavesdropping on our conversation, it had become the talk of the school on everyone's lips

'What's up?' he asked curiously

'Is what Jacob told me true, that you were at the party with some guy'

'Yeah I was but what's the harm in that'

'In case you dont know brother but Jacob had let slip that you are gay to the whole school'

'Is that why everyone was looking at me differently after break' he sighed deeply. 'How did this even come about?'

'I was just arguing with Jacob and Ruby and things just escalated, all of us trying to prove a point and get one over the other' I explained. 'But there is one thing that is bugging me, Why did you come out to him first and not me'

'During the summer while you were away with Ruby I bonded more with Jacob, found out we had a lot more in common than we actually thought. Just a week before you came back he came out to me as bisexual'

'What? No way that can be true he would have told me. We're best friends' I remarked. 'Next thing you'll be telling me is that my girlfriend is a lesbian'

'Jacob was sure about his sexualty for a while so I knew it would be easier to come out to him first because he knows how hard it can be' Teddy explained. 'If I didn't know he was bisexual than I would have come out to you first'

'Just make sure dad doesn't get wind of this and if he does ask then just deny it, half of the whole town is bound to know come this evening'

'What is up with the three of you anyway? You three were the closest of friends and now you're gonna throw it away just so you can be right'

'It's complicated' I groaned

'Your stumbon just like dad just so you can be right about whatever you said to Ruby and Jacob' he reasoned. 'Go and find them and just make it up to them, they'll come around once they see you groveling'

Taking my brother's advice I knew where to look for them first, Jacob's house was the nearest to the school so they might have gone back there to work on some papers. Bidding my brother goodbye I made my way to my best friend's house quickly to see if he was there

Coming up the porch I checked the door handle to see if it was unlocked, to which to my surprise it was and I knew it was a sign that Jacob was home; he usually left it unlocked when he came back home from school. Quietly entering the house I could hears noises coming from upstairs

Deciding to investigate the noise I made my way up the staircase, I could hear the sounds of the bed springs coiling and soft muffled moans. I took the risk and opened his bedroom door quickly, scaring Jacob in his bed as he pulled the sheets up and over himself and Ruby…...