A few weeks had passed since the nightmares that woke me up in the middle of the night and I laid it bare to Jessica about my whole life. The town was on edge with the trail looming ever closer to a start date and the residents taking a side already in the court case. There was big tv media coverage on the Walker family and accusation from Bryce's father hitting the headlines mustn't have helped his cause

The big day had finally arrived and Mrs Jensen stayed most of the nights down the Baker residence going over the final prep for court today. She told us above anything is to remain calm on the stand and take our time answering the questions

Hannah and Jessica decided it would be a good idea to get a cup of coffee from Monet's on the way to the courthouse. Clay and I got the drinks from the shop and brought them back to the car

'Here's a cup for you and one for me' I proclaimed, handing over the paper cup

There was just a nervousness in the car that couldn't be settled, both of them had confided in me about the dread of this day. Clay and I glanced at each other in hopelessness to what to say next to take their mind off the trail

'So I was thinking after the trail maybe the four of us could go out for a meal' I proclaimed

'Or we could stay in and get a takeaway' Clay suggested

'Whatever you guys want 'Jessica stated

'Ditto' Hannah replied

Looking into the passenger mirror I watched Clay comfort Hannah and wrap his arm around her, that was what all we could do at the minute for our girlfriends, just comfort them till they felt comfortable to let us know how they were feeling

Reaching over I placed my hand on Jessica's thigh and got her attention, she planted her hand on top of mine and gave it a gentle squeeze

'How are you holding up?'

'Just nerves I suppose, I just hope the trail just doesn't last more than a week'

'Well Mrs Jensen doesn't think it will and then we can get back to some kind of normality'

'Shall we get going to the courthouse' Clay asked

'Can we just wait a minute more' Jessica whispered

I nodded my head whilst Jessica and Hannah looked around the town, taking everything in before it changed for them once they stepped into that courtroom….

I pulled up the car outside of the courthouse, there were tv crews and paparazzi outside the building doing news reports. There was no avoiding them if we wanted to get inside

Even getting out of the car was a problem as cameraman followed our every movement, Jessica reached forward and took hold of my hand as we walked quickly by the photographers

Without being blindsided from the bright cameras the four of us managed to make it inside the building, Mrs Jensen found us in the lobby and signed us in with the receptionist. She told the four of us to follow her to the courtroom where the trail would be taking place

The room was filling out nicely with media, activists and families of all those involved. On one side of the court sat Bryce's family and friends and the other of Jessica's and my family. Anyone who couldn't get a seat was told to leave the room immediately

The honourable judge entered the room and took his place in the centre of the court. The trail started on the dote at nine o'clock and Judge Haroldean made the court in session

The side door to the room opened and Bryce was escorted in with his legal team, they took their seats across from the prosecution team

Lastly to enter the room was the jury of twelve people, the numbers evenly divided in both gender and race. None of them looked under the age of thirty and were quite nervous to be chosen for the trail

Once the judge gave the order for the doors to be closed by the security guards the trail began to commence

'Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution and defence teams. And lastly the people in the gallery' he greeted warmly. 'We have a very sensitive case and I ask for complete respect to whoever is on the stand'

After the oaths were done from the jury, the prosecution team called Jessica up first to the stand to give her testimony. She met my gaze and smiled weakly before reading out the oath aloud, Mrs Jensen stood up from her chair and took the open space of the floor to gather her thoughts

'Can you state your name for me please to the jury'

'Jessica Davis'

'And did you file a police report last summer about a sexual assault'

'Yes I did'

'Jessica do you know who your perpetrator is?

'I do Mrs Jensen, it's Bryce Walker'

'Can you establish a timeline of when this assault happened Jessica'

'It was the day before school started up again for the academic year, I was hosting a party at my house and everyone from Liberty was invited'

'And then what happened?'

'I spent most of the night with my then boyfriend at the time Justin Foley, we were rarely far away from each other most of the night. I can't remember how it happened but we ended up in my bedroom'

'Were you planning on having sexual intercourse that night'

'I wasn't thinking that far ahead but I knew my boyfriend Justin wouldn't push my boundaries' she admitted

'So I assume you both just fooled around for a little while on the bed'

'I had one too many to drink and the music was loud as it always is at a party and I wanted a break. So I suggested we head upstairs for a bit of peace and quiet'

'You and Justin are on the bed, what is the next thing you remember from that night'

'I don't know how long I passed out for but I felt completely different and weird when I woke up again'

'Can you deliberate further by what you mean to the jury'

'My dress was moved a little up my body and my panties were on the floor'

'Did you or Justin remove them before or after you got on the bed'

'I remember having them on but I'm sure I didn't remove them' she stated. 'When I touched my thighs I felt something wet and sticky but I thought nothing of it at the time how it got like that'

'And do you know what it was on your thigh'

'I believe it was sperm at the time'

'Jessica I know this is a sensitive subject and you can take your time answering the questions'

'It's ok Mrs Jensen I can continue on'

'After sensing something was not right and feeling the sperm on you, what did you do next Jessica?'

'Firstly I put my panties back on and roamed around the house to find my boyfriend Justin, the party was dying down for the night and there weren't as many people as before. I found Justin sat in the living room but he wasn't really there'

'Can you explain more on that please'

'Like he is still there at the party in body but not in spirit like he was earlier in the night. He seemed distracted like his eyes were saying a lot more than his mouth was'

'Did you ask why Justin was feeling like that?'

'I did but he told me not to worry about it so I just left it like that, thinking he got in a row with someone and didn't want to talk about it'

'Coming back to your assault Jessica, You named your assailant but how did you come to that conclusion'

'After listening to six and half cassette tapes made by Hannah, I figured out is was Bryce Walker'

'And what logical reason did you use to identify him. Explain your thought process to us'

'The fragrance he was wearing that night, Bryce wears a distinctive brand and I've smelt it before in Liberty when he had it on through the previous school year. It's a smell that I don't like'

'No further questions your honour'

People inside the stands started talking in harsh whispers about what was revealed during the prosecution team questioning. The judge banged the gavel on his deck and addressed the room to calm down and be silent, The woman on the defence team stood up next and took the floor

'Whenever you are ready Mrs Golden' Judge Haroldean exclaimed

'Thank you your honour'

She composed herself and kept her demeanour calm, trying to prolong the anxiety for Jessica. Mrs Golden looked back at Bryce for a quick second before locking her eyes in the witness box

'I'm going to keep my line of questioning short but to the point as possible Jessica. There is some contradictory answers you gave to the prosecution'

'What I told the jury just now was the truth'

'No doubt that it was Jessica but can you explain to me and the jury one more time for clarity'

'Gladly' she huffed

'You stated Jessica that everyone that attended the party was from Liberty High School correct?'

'Best to my knowledge at the time, yeah I would say that is correct'

'I did some background checks into the night you had your party and I found a few things' She exclaimed. 'Within a ten miles radius from your home there was multiple social media post from teenagers that attended the party that didn't go to your school'

'I didn't know that'

'But you were adamant you knew Jessica who attended your party'

'That must have been later on in the party when people turned up later at ten o'clock or eleven'

'When you alleged you were raped Jessica, can you tell the jury what time it had occurred?'

'I was drinking that night so I don't really know what time the rape occurred'

'Would you like to hazard a guess at least'

'I would say it happened after ten o'clock'

'So the rape happened give or take after ten o'clock and a influx of people arrived during that time from other schools correct'

'Correct'

'And you also stated you knew it was Bryce because of the brand of fragrance he was wearing. Can you tell me the name of the brand'

'It was Dior Sauvage'

'I've obtained a sales list from perfume shops and online sales from retailers' She explained. 'So let's take a look at the number together shall we'

Mrs Golden produced a couple of papers together for the jury to deliberate over before finally handing Jessica a copy. Mrs Golden explained to the room that this was exhibit A

'Have you found Dior Sauvage on the spreadsheet' She asked

'Yes I have'

'Can you tell everyone the sales report of that perfume'

'Over one million units sold over the past year in California instore and online sales'

'So from that sales report Jessica, isn't it possible that at least one more person at the party could have been wearing that fragrance'

'Quite possibly'

'What would you say the relationship is between Bryce Walker and Justin Foley?'

'They are best friends since childhood from what I am told from Justin'

'And like most best friends do they share things between them'

'I would say so but nothing expensive like a car or a watch'

'Of course not but maybe a little bottle of Dior during the party' Mrs Golden hinted. 'Can you be sure Justin didn't borrow some Dior from Bryce. What if he wore the perfume and raped you at the party'

'Not possible Justin wouldn't do that'

'But you were one hundred percent sure you identified Bryce by smell. The sales figures and and the amount of unknown people that turned up surely puts doubt to your story'

'Not true whatsoever I know it was Bryce I'm telling you'

'You were heavily drinking that night and it impaired your vision and judgement. There is no other evidence submitted to back up your claim, you just want a name to blame because the identify to your rapist will forever be unknown'

Mrs Golden brought her lines of inquiry to an end, she consulted with her colleague for a few minutes before straightening herself back up. The prosecution team looked on nervously were they could take their questioning next, I wanted the ordeal to end soon as possible for Jessica

'Are you finished with your cross examination Mrs Golden with Miss Davis' The judge asked

'Not yet your honour'

'I'll allow another half hour before I call for a break from this trail'

'We've established some facts about your party Jessica but I'm going to ask what happened at another party you attended in September'

'Ok'

'You were at a house party at Bryce's, what was the occasion for the gathering that night?'

'It was just a little get together between the jocks and cheerleaders before the first game of the season started the following weekend'

'Hannah wasn't a cheerleader at the time but did you invite her along?'

'No she turned up to the party an hour or so later after it had started'

'And what would you say her relationship with Bryce is'

'They are acquaintances at best and they barely know of each other, I hardly ever see them talk together casually'

'It that the best to your knowledge'

'I can confirm that it is'

'And did you persuade Hannah to join yourself and a few friends into the hot tube'

'She eventually gave in and climbed into the hot tube, we were there for a while'

'Why did you leave the hot tube if you were having a good time in there'

'I needed to use the restroom and a few of us got out, Justin showed me where it was in the house'

'Who was left remaining in the hot tube?' Mrs Golden enquired

'Just Hannah when I had left her there thinking not much to it'

'You only knew of the alleged rape once you heard Hannah's tape that were passed down to you after Justin heard his first. Did you see Bryce rape Hannah that night?'

'No I did not I was on the other side of the house'

'Hearing the tapes for the first time did you believe what Hannah was saying'

'I don't know'

'Yes or no Miss Davis'

'I didn't think so'

'So you're in doubt over what happened that night between Bryce and Hannah'

'You're twisting my words Mrs Golden, that's not what I'm saying. I believe Hannah was raped that night but I can't believe Bryce would do that with so many people still at his house drunk or not. That is what I believe'

'Belief is a funny concept, sometimes a firm thought that something is true, often based on revelation' She proclaimed confidently. 'When the hot or not list was released you believed that Hannah had slept with your boyfriend Alex Standell at the time correct'

'Correct'

'Who's not to say by Hannah's revelation on the tapes regarding your party and Bryce's, you believed every word thinking that it was true but in reality it was just conclusion jumping. You didn't see anything on either night and the reputation that all three of you have gained at your time at Liberty you have put together and presumed the worst' She concluded triumphantly, taking her seat back at the desk. 'No further questions your honour'

The whispers in the gallery intensified but not for long as the judge brought that to a halt immediately. Judge Haroldean banged his gavel on the desk and ordered an hour break from the trail for lunch before we continued on in the afternoon….

One hour flew by in an instant and not much was said between us in our little group of four, Jessica was glad her time on the stand was over and she didn't have to go back up there unless called to be cross examined further. Once everyone had been settled again in the courtroom and taken their seats, the trail started again

The prosecution brought Bryce Walker forward to take the stand next to testify his case, court security guards released him from his handcuffs and chains before marching him to the dock. Mrs Jensen glanced down at her notes briefly and then walked up to him, applying the same pressure Mrs Golden did to Jessica without doing much

'Just by looking at you Mr Walker people would seem to make an assumption about you. Would you like to tell the jury what kind of person you are in your own words'

'People will see me as they want to see me Mrs Jensen. You seen to have made a assumption about me already'

'That was very defensive Mr Walker, almost like you have something to hide already'

'On the contrary I'm just protecting cautious from incriminating myself further in this trail'

'So you are clearly hiding your true self to us. Since you don't really want to talk Mr Walker how about we let some polaroids do that for you and maybe you can explain what is going on'

Mrs Jensen retrieved the box of polaroids we had given her to ponder and gather as much evidence as possible to charge Bryce with. She open up the lid and pulled one out

'Do you recognise this box?'

'It looks familiar but I can't say where'

'You are pictured on some polaroids in this box so you may want to think again more carefully where you recognise this box'

'It's from the clubhouse behind the school building'

'And what did you get up to inside that small space?'

'The place was only accessible to the jocks on the baseball team, we built that place together and it just became a place to just hang out during school hours'

'Away from prying eyes of the school faculty keeping a watchful eye over you boys'

'Coach Patrick and Mr Bolan do know about the location of the clubhouse, we asked their permission first to build it on school grounds and they agreed'

'You say Bryce that place was no more than just a hangout, some place to blow off stream during the day but looking through theses polaroids there's always a party going on in them'

'You know what boys can be like when they get together and spirits are high'

'There's alcohol on these premises so it was never just a hangout place like the bleachers or the food hall where all eyes could be on you' she exclaimed, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. 'Can you explain to the jury why this box is filled with pictures of drunk girls'

'Like you said it was party and anyone can grab hold of the polaroid camera and take photos to remember a good time'

'But most of them are of a drunk girls on a dingy couch or a dark bedroom passed out in a sexual motivating position'

'They had passed out just like that, those pictures were taken in a drunken state so nobody knows what we were capturing'

'Ok I have no reason to doubt that Mr Walker, that can easily happen and I can assure you most people in this courtroom have taken drunk pictures' Mrs Jensen proclaimed. 'Mr Walker what is your relationship with Miss Chloe Rice'

'She is my girlfriend for just over a year'

'And would you say you love her very much'

'I'm very much in love with her and I think she might be the one. I've messed around enough to know who is future wife material'

'Please explain to me what is happening in this picture with your girlfriend Chloe Rice' Mrs Jensen asked, showing the polaroid where he was lurking over her

'She was passed out drunk in the clubhouse and I was standing over her, just about to check if she was alright'

'It doesn't look that way in the picture. Something sinister is about to happen before it was taken'

'A picture is worth a thousand words'

'Some very famous words no doubt and that can logically be explained away. But this picture can't be'

Mrs Jensen pulled out another polaroid from the box and presented it to Bryce. The assistant on the prosecution team handed out copies to the jury, faces were twitching in disgust when realisation was sinking in to what they were seeing

Bryce didn't seem to be unfazed when he looked at the picture, taking a deep breath he raised his gaze back up to Mrs Jensen

'You told me you love your girlfriend Mr Walker but why in this picture are you raping her'

'That picture is very misleading yet again. We agreed to have sex and she was on the verge of an orgasm, that's why her eyes are closed'

'But what about the other polaroids in this box that shows you in gauging in sexual activity with other drunk and passed young women'

'It's no secret that I'm very sexually active but it has always been consensual'

'If the picture evidence is not enough proof to prove that you did commit these heinous crimes then there is video evidence for you to watch. Out of respect to these young women we will not be showing you the videos in this courtroom but you can watch the evidence in your deliberation room'

Mrs Jensen took away the box from Bryce and placed them back at their table, Some of the jurors' faces dropped that there was video evidence for them to see as well when the pictures were too much to stomach for them.

'Let's talk about Jessica's party and you can tell us your side of the story and what happened that night'

'Of course Mrs Jensen and this is what really happened that night in the Davis' household. It was like any party we had had before and everyone from our school turned up at the start'

'And were there other people at the party that did not attend Liberty'

'About ten o'clock that's when other people from different schools in the area started turning up, obviously they were not unknown because Liberty have competed against other schools in multiple sports competition'

'What is your relationship with Mr Justin Foley?'

'He is my best friend I've known Justin my whole life going back to preschool, we have been inseparable since and I see him as a little brother'

'Obviously it was a party but for the record were you drinking that night Mr Walker?'

'I had a couple of beers but I wasn't drunk or wasted'

'So you're not a lightweight by any means'

'Nope'

'How did you end up upstairs in the bedrooms when the party was still going on downstairs?'

'I needed to use the bathroom and it was located upstairs on the first floor, I was going through the rooms to find it'

'Yet you were in Miss Davis' room for an awfully long time'

'I was upstairs in the rooms for no longer than ten to fifteen minutes. Many of people can vouch I was downstairs or out in the garden most of the evening'

'We know you're a part of many of the sports teams at Liberty and Miss Davis is on the cheerleading squad, both teams mix a lot at each other's events but what is your relationship with Miss Davis?'

'I'd say we are mostly friends purely because she was my best friend's girlfriend at the time, we had opportunity to talk and got to know each other more because of team involvements'

'And were you jealous of Mr Foley of having a girlfriend'

'Of course not I was happy for my best friend finally hooking up with someone but I knew it was mostly a summer fling'

'What gave you that indication'

'He's never really was man to step up in a relationship and she would grow tired of him eventually'

'An open opportunity for you at the party to make a move if you so wished too'

'I've never been interested in Jessica sexually, she's not my type'

'Judging from the polaroids you don't seen to have a certain type but you wouldn't say no if she gave you any indication that she would be interested in you'

'Like I have said Jessica isn't my type and I don't go after my best friend's girlfriend'

'Yet she was adamant you had raped her and had recognised you by the perfume you were wearing that night'

'A lot of circumstantial evidence has been put forward against my name but where is your real proof that I had committed those crimes'

'We have the dress Jessica wore that night and have found a small amount of trace sample for a dna test. We have done a test compared to your dna and have the result, and for the record this is exhibit B'

'And what were the findings?' he asked curiously

'It was a positive match Mr Walker, So can you explain how your sample ended up on Jessica's dress in multiple places'

'The party was coming to end and I went upstairs to entertain myself, I must have wiped my sample by mistake on her dress when reaching for a tissue'

Again there was mumbling from the view gallery at what was declared, Bryce's story didn't seem logical at all and somehow he had reasonable answer to every one of Mrs Jensen's questions about that night

I'm now going to ask you questions about your party you threw in late October' She proclaimed. 'Who was invited to that party?'

'Just mostly close friends from the teams that I play for and their girlfriends'

'At the time Miss Baker wasn't dating anyone from the school teams, How did she end up at the party'

'It was already late and Hannah just turned up at my house and entered through the back garden. I wasn't going to make a big deal in telling her to leave'

'Because you were sexually interested in her'

'I liked her and I just wanted friendship with Miss Baker, When she first came to town we hung out for a while just the two of us but nothing really came off it going forward'

'You didn't try to initiate anything after the contact with Miss Baker had ended'

'No not at all, we say the odd hello now and again in the hallway but that's how far our contact has gone'

'Mrs Baker has accused you of physical assaulting her at a convenience store'

'That was another misunderstanding, I had simple brushed up against her to let someone behind me to pass'

'There's always some misunderstanding with you Mr Walker, like it happens on a daily occurrence. When everyone left the hot tube did you enter after them to be alone with Miss Baker'

'Correct'

'Can you tell us what happened between you and Miss Baker in the hot tube'

'We started getting talking and it became flirtatious, She was only after one thing that night and that was to be laid'

'So you took it upon yourself to fulfil her needs?'

'Hannah moved closer to me in the hot tube and grabbed a hold of my junk, practically jerking me off before she kissed me'

'Then you both proceeded to have sex in the hot tube'

'That's correct but if she had regret after what we had done then it's not my fault, I didn't force her into anything'

'I have evidence on my desk that would contradict your testimony Mr Walker. Are you sure that is what happened that night in the hot tube'

'I'm positive'

'Well let's watch this dvd together to see if your testimony matches up with what you have just told us'

Mrs Jensen handed a dvd over to one of the security guards to place into the dvd player while a screen was set up so everyone in the courtroom could see . Bryce didn't looked fazed again by what evidence they had as the dvd started

'We see you getting into the hot tube with Hannah alone and not much is said, Then you grab a hold of her for a moment' She sighed deeply. 'But you said Hannah made the first move correct'

'My memories from that night is still a bit vague over who made the first move'

'No problem Mr Walker lets just carry on with the dvd'

The dvd started again after being paused and showed Hannah trying to leave the hot tube before she was forcibly pulled back by Bryce. He had pressed himself up against her back and softly starting kissing her neck, not satisfied enough he pulled down her underwear and reaching down and presumably removing his

'I'm going to pause the dvd there out of respect to the victim but the jury can have the dvd to watch if they wish to in the deliberation room' Mrs Jensen explained. 'Your police statement and the testimony you have given doesn't match up to the video evidence, Can you explain why that is?'

'No I can not'

'If what you claimed what happened to Jessica was the truth then surely the video evidence cannot lie what really happened between you and Miss Baker' Mrs Jensen stated. 'No further question your honour'

The judge looked upon the clock on the wall and was making a judgement call for the day, should we end the day now or call up the defence team to make their claim. After a few moments he called a close for the day and asked it be resumed tomorrow at nine o'clock. This was going to be a long trail….