Chapter 11
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"Can we join you?" Our small bubble is broken. The gleeks minus Finn are staring at us. The four of us look at each other before letting them know that it's okay. I don't move away from Rachel. I need her close to me. They can think whatever they want about us at this point. "What are we going to do for a glee coach when Mr. Schue is in prison?" Kurt asks looking at everyone. "We need someone that can actually help us prepare for competition." He finishes. I see everyone agreeing with him. "So, you think he is guilty now?" I ask and bite my lip. "Unless you tell us he's not. You would know better than any of us… You don't have to answer, but do you know Lucy?" Tina says from her spot beside Mike. Artie is the only one not with us. Everyone said that his parents wouldn't allow him to miss school for this. Looking at all of them, I say "he's guilty" before leaning my head on my brunette's shoulder. They don't ask me about Lucy again, and part of me is wondering how they haven't figured out that we are one in the same. I make a point to keep the scar on my wrist hidden.
"Are you two together?" Kurt asks randomly. We all have been sitting outside talking while waiting to see if a decision is made. The four of us look at him because we are not sure which couple he is speaking to. "Yes, we are" Santana speaks up and Brittany breaks out in a huge smile. She has been wanting them to be out at school for a while now. Kurt shakes his head and looks at Rachel and me. "Everyone knows about you two" he looks at San and Britt before turning back to us. The shock on their faces is enough to make me laugh. "I meant you two" he says as he takes in the way we are sitting together with our clasped hands. That put a stop to my giggles. Looking at Rachel, she shrugs her shoulders. She is letting me decide. Her smile says she is fine with whatever I decide to say. "We went on our first date Friday, but we are not telling everyone at school yet." Judging by Rachel's smile, I made the right choice.
"We understand. It stays between us… I knew it. Pay up Mercedes." Kurt states holding his hand out.
"Yeah. Yeah. You having gaydar is cheating." Mercedes states while handing him her cash.
"You've been making bets on us?" Rachel asks appalled. Everyone else laughs.
"Who's that? She looks sort of like you, Quinn." Brittany points to a young woman standing near the steps of the courthouse. She looks at me, and I know who she is instantly. The woman walks over to our group never looking away from me. I can see the detest in her eyes when she stops in front of me. "Long time no see." All eyes are on her wondering who she is talking to. "Franny" I say. Before she can say Lucy, I interrupt her. "Quinn" is out in a steady cold voice. Everyone is looking between us wondering what is happening. "I'll be fine. I'm going to talk to her in private really quick." I whisper to Rachel before standing up and motioning for Franny to follow me.
Once we are far enough away that no one can hear our conversation, I ask her what she's doing here. "Do you know that they arrested mom and dad?" I look at her because I haven't seen them in five years. "They are being charged with child trafficking, and I came here looking for you to tell you to stop lying." Unsure if she remembers anything about the last time we saw each other, I stare at her in confusion. "Do you not remember the last time we saw each other? Did you forget I forced into it by them and left with a complete stranger that day? Did you ever wonder what happened to me? What he did to me? Did you?" I cry out but only loud enough for her to hear. I don't even care how she found out where I was. "You look fine to me. Seems married life did you good." Franny snarls at me while looking me up and down. I look away from her and spot Rachel staring at me. I smile when my eyes lock with hers. "You are nothing but a mistake Lucy, and you are nothing to our family. Are you with that little tramp now? Where is your husband at?" I whirl around on her when she calls Rachel that. "Do not ever talk about Rachel like that again. As for that monster, he is where Judy and Russel will end up. Leave me and my family alone." I walk away from her after that, and I know that I will never have a relationship with her in the future. I don't look behind me until I am wrapped up in Rachel's arms again. Franny is walking away. I assume back to her car and out of my life for good.
I see questioning eyes from Santana and Brittany, and I mouth later at them. Rachel doesn't ask, I think she remembers that picture I had pulled up on the PC in the school library with her in it. I will confirm it later for her when we are alone. "Who was that? You know her?" Mercedes asks me. "A ghost from my past." Is all I say before sitting back down with Rachel on the ground. "Any news from Hiram yet?" I ask Rachel not wanting to discuss Franny any further. "Nothing yet. If they take much longer, we might not know anything until tomorrow." She says. I don't think I could sleep tonight not knowing.
Rachel's phone chimes with a message after another thirty minutes goes by. "They have a verdict" she stands up and offers me her hand. Everyone gets up and makes their way back to the courtroom to hear the outcome. Rachel and I stay back and let them continue without us. "Are you okay?" Smiling at her I pull her to me and kiss her. It's been to long. "I'm okay. I will tell you what Franny and I discussed later tonight." I say and then kiss her again. We walk back into the courtroom hand in hand afterwards.
They are bringing Will back in when Rachel and I enter, he sees our hands clasped together. I see him tighten his fists at the sight of it. Santana grabs my other hand again when we take our seats. Leroy also sneaks in and takes a seat beside Hiram before court is resumed. The bailiff asks all to stand as the Judge enters the courtroom again. A few minutes after that the Jury comes in. The bailiff collects a sheet of paper from them and hands it to the Judge to read over. She looks to the jury and then at Will. "Do you all agree with the verdicts that you come to? Will the defendant please stand as the verdicts are read?" She asks. One by one each juror stands up and says yes. The head juror stands up ready to say guilty or not guilty after each charge is read.
"What does the jury say in the matter of the charge of forced marriage?"
"Guilty, your honor"
"What does the jury say in the matter of the charges of child abuse?"
"Guilty, your honor"
"What does the jury say in the matter of the charges of false imprisonment?"
"Guilty, your honor"
"What does the jury say in the matter of the charges of rape in the first degree?"
"Guilty, your honor"
The courtroom gets really loud after the final verdict is read. Judge Richards orders everyone to be quiet and turns to the jury. "I would like to thank you all for your service today. The bailiff will see you all out now." The jury leaves the room before the Judge turns to Will and addresses him. "You have been found guilty of all charges, William Schuester. Do you have anything to add before this court passes sentencing onto you?" Will looks to his attorney before turning and locking eyes with me. "No, your honor." He must think better of whatever he was going to say. She looks to the rest of us. "Does anyone in the audience have anything to say before the court in consideration of William Schuester's sentencing?" Everyone but me is looking around at everyone else. I'm fighting with myself about what I should do. A big part of me is wanting to stand up and tell them how much he ruined my childhood, and the other is wanting to keep my identity a secret. I think Rachel can tell that I am battling within myself on what to do. She whispers "I support you. No matter what decision you make."
I almost stand up and decide to take the stand, but I don't. They already heard my video testimony, and I'm not ready for everyone else to know that I am Lucy. I stay seated along with everyone else in the audience. I think Finn and Ms. Pillsbury are in shock because they haven't moved. The judge looks over some papers, and I see her writing something. Will is still standing waiting. He already has the cuffs placed back on him as well. His fists clinching tighter with each passing second.
"Each charge has its own time frame for sentencing. For the charge of forced marriage, I hereby sentence you to five years in the state prison system. For the charges of child abuse, I hereby sentence you to fifteen years, and for the charges of false imprisonment, I hereby sentence you to twenty-five years." Gasps can be heard around the courtroom after that one. "Lastly, for the charges of rape in the first degree, I hereby sentence you to thirty-five years. These sentences will be served concurrently. You will not serve less than twenty years before being eligible for parole. At which time you will be registered as a sex offender and not allowed to live in a dwelling less than ten miles from a school." With that the gavel is struck, and the guards go to take Will away. He struggles when he realizes what is happening. "Tell them the truth, Lucy!" He keeps yelling as they take him away. "Quinn!" Is the last thing out of his mouth before the door closes. I can feel eyes burning into my flesh. The group around me are waiting to see if I say anything. All I can do is shake my head in shock. Running my fingers through my hair, I look at my friends and say "let's go. It's over." Afterwards, it's like this giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I know that I am free of him, and by the time he gets out I will be long gone. Hopefully with Rachel in New York City. Only one trial left and that is in Columbus in a month.
After speaking with Dr. Fields at one of my extra appointments after the trial finished that day, I told her I feel freer than I ever have before. She smiled at me and said she was happy that everything went good with the trial. She also reminded me that I still have a long way to go, but I am doing better every day and to keep up the work. I also talked to her about Franny and what was said.
Mrs. Turner showed up after my appointment with Dr Fields to check on me at home. She also mentioned that she will be with us in Columbus when Judy and Russel go to trial. They are apparently released on bond with supervision stipulations at the moment. I think about telling them about Franny showing up at the courthouse today. "I had a visitor at the courthouse today. While we were waiting for the verdict." They all look at me. Mrs. Turner responds first with who. "It was my sister Franny. She accused me of lying and blaming me for her parents being arrested." I say honestly. "Does she know what happened to you?" Rachel asks before anyone else can. Shaking my head slowly, "yes, she was with them when they took me to Will. She was sixteen or seventeen at the time. I can't remember."
"She was there and didn't do anything to help you and is now blaming you for their crimes?" Rachel almost yells.
"I guess so. I told her to leave me alone and to never speak to me again before I walked away." I didn't mention that my anger with her only peaked after she called Rachel a name.
After Mrs. Turner leaves, Leroy and Hiram decide we need to all go out for dinner to celebrate the trial being over and relax. We end up at some hole in the wall diner that supposedly has the best milkshakes and malts this side of Ohio. Looking over the menu, I actually notice that they have multiple vegan options for Rachel to choose from unlike most places in Lima. With our orders placed, I relax in the booth next to my brunette. I decided to try a vegan dish so we can share with each other. I didn't get a malt though. I really wanted to try the strawberry milkshake that Leroy was raving about all the way here. Leroy got a double cheeseburger meal and Hiram order eggplant parmesan. I got a mushroom veggie burger and Rachel got a veggie burrito. The night was lite, and fun filled with laughter. I realized that I finally found that family that I have been wishing for and so much more while sitting in this booth.