"All rise the honorable judge William Brimley presiding." The bailiff's voice echoed throughout the massive courtroom.
Larissa was sitting in the farthest bench in the back left of the room. The ducks were all sitting behind Adam's defense table, though they had broken into two groups. Those who believed Nicky and those who believed Larissa. The newest development was that of Dwayne claiming to have heard the conversation. The case had driven a wedge between the team, Julie and Luis weren't even speaking now. Their romance had turned cold, Julie trusted Larissa but Luis shared a room with Dwayne and didn't understand why he'd lie to them. Either way it didn't matter. No one was speaking to her even those who believed her didn't bother with her out of respect of Adam.
Adam sat silently fighting the urge to scream. He hadn't looked at Larissa since he walked by her on the way to his seat. He hated seeing her, hated knowing that she was the cause of all the pain and mostly hated that he couldn't run up to her and press his lips to hers.
Larissa watched Adam intently his face was set in stone while his warm blue eyes were as cold as ice. It made her shiver. And when he reached up to scratch his nose, the cuffs catching the light Rissa almost broke down in tears. Adam didn't deserve this, he hadn't done anything wrong. He wasn't a common criminal, it had to stop some how. Larissa didn't know Gordon Bombay but he had a reputation for being ruthless and Rissa had faith Bombay would never let a duck down.
"Mr. Bombay do you have and opening statement prepared?" The judge beckoned from the bench.
"Yes your honor I do, my opening statement will be my final statement as well. I demand the suit against my client be dropped right now." Gordon stood up
"On what basis?" Judge Brimley raised his eye brows
"Oh the basis that under Minnesota state law for a person to be prosecuted for statutory rape on a minor over the age of 13 the actor must be a minimum of 48 months older the victim. My client Adam Banks is only 36 months the elder to Ms. Saunders there fore even if they had been intimate as has been speculated Mr. Banks could not be held accountable."
A quiet rumble erupted in the courthouse. Larissa heart was pounding, could this be true?
"Case dismissed." The judge banged his gavel and Adam jumped from his seat to hug the coach.
The ducks all waited to the step of the court for Banksie to come out. Larissa leaned against the railing and watched patiently as the team surrounded him in hugs. He hugged them all back. She was so happy, everything could go back to normal now. Larissa could cover Adam with kiss and never let him go. Once Banks had hugged the entire team in succession he set off down the stairs.
"Adam wait." Larissa called after him
He spun on his heels
"Just because this is over doesn't mean I want anything to do with you."
"We have to talk about this. I love you Adam."
"That's sad, because not only do I not love you, I can't stand the site of you. No if you'll excuse me my friends and I are going out to celebrate. My real friends people that like me for me not my saving account. " He spat the words like venom and left her standing alone on the stairs.
The next time Rissa saw all the ducks again was at the State Championship. She climbed to the top of the bleachers avoiding the group of duck girlfriends that were in their usual spot. She'd never been more lonely in her life then she had those past few days. Adam still refused to talk to her no matter what she did. But she knew how important this game had been to him, so you had to go and watch him win. While waiting for the game to start she looked around the rink. She and Adam had, had for much fun together there, some many memories.
"Are you going out for the figure skating team next year?" Adam watched in awe as Larissa landed a triple toe loop double axel combination.
"Probably not." Rissa answered flowing into a lay back spin
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not any good."
"Firstly yeah you are and secondly if every time you didn't think you were good enough you gave up, I wouldn't be playing hockey anymore."
"It's different Adam you know you're the best on the team."
"Rissa…"
"Adam…"
"Okay let's make a deal, if we win the championship you've gotta try out next year." Banksie circled her like a shark around it's prey
"Will you stop you're making me dizzy."
"I know the feeling. I get it every time you're near me."
"Could you be any more corny?" She teased as he wrapped his arms around her from behind
"You just bring out the cornball in me I guess."
"I love you Adam."
"I love you more baby."
Larissa was shaken from her memory when she heard the buzzer sound for the beginning of the period. Most of the game was exactly like every other hockey game she'd attended while dating Adam. That was until he was checked hard into the boards.
"Oh no," The announced wailed " Eden Hall starter Adam Banks just took a hard hit and he's not getting up."
Rissa watched in terror as the emts were called into the ice and Adam was loaded onto a stretcher. She raced down the bleachers and out to the front door cutting off the paramedics.
"Out of the way miss." They yelled
Adam's eyes were closed when he was wheeled by her
"Oh my god Adam. Is he going to be okay?"
"We don't know, he may have head trauma." They told her loading Adam into the ambulance.
"Where are you taking him?"
"Fairview hospital." Was the answer given before the siren screeched and they disappeared down the street.
Larissa was sitting in the farthest bench in the back left of the room. The ducks were all sitting behind Adam's defense table, though they had broken into two groups. Those who believed Nicky and those who believed Larissa. The newest development was that of Dwayne claiming to have heard the conversation. The case had driven a wedge between the team, Julie and Luis weren't even speaking now. Their romance had turned cold, Julie trusted Larissa but Luis shared a room with Dwayne and didn't understand why he'd lie to them. Either way it didn't matter. No one was speaking to her even those who believed her didn't bother with her out of respect of Adam.
Adam sat silently fighting the urge to scream. He hadn't looked at Larissa since he walked by her on the way to his seat. He hated seeing her, hated knowing that she was the cause of all the pain and mostly hated that he couldn't run up to her and press his lips to hers.
Larissa watched Adam intently his face was set in stone while his warm blue eyes were as cold as ice. It made her shiver. And when he reached up to scratch his nose, the cuffs catching the light Rissa almost broke down in tears. Adam didn't deserve this, he hadn't done anything wrong. He wasn't a common criminal, it had to stop some how. Larissa didn't know Gordon Bombay but he had a reputation for being ruthless and Rissa had faith Bombay would never let a duck down.
"Mr. Bombay do you have and opening statement prepared?" The judge beckoned from the bench.
"Yes your honor I do, my opening statement will be my final statement as well. I demand the suit against my client be dropped right now." Gordon stood up
"On what basis?" Judge Brimley raised his eye brows
"Oh the basis that under Minnesota state law for a person to be prosecuted for statutory rape on a minor over the age of 13 the actor must be a minimum of 48 months older the victim. My client Adam Banks is only 36 months the elder to Ms. Saunders there fore even if they had been intimate as has been speculated Mr. Banks could not be held accountable."
A quiet rumble erupted in the courthouse. Larissa heart was pounding, could this be true?
"Case dismissed." The judge banged his gavel and Adam jumped from his seat to hug the coach.
The ducks all waited to the step of the court for Banksie to come out. Larissa leaned against the railing and watched patiently as the team surrounded him in hugs. He hugged them all back. She was so happy, everything could go back to normal now. Larissa could cover Adam with kiss and never let him go. Once Banks had hugged the entire team in succession he set off down the stairs.
"Adam wait." Larissa called after him
He spun on his heels
"Just because this is over doesn't mean I want anything to do with you."
"We have to talk about this. I love you Adam."
"That's sad, because not only do I not love you, I can't stand the site of you. No if you'll excuse me my friends and I are going out to celebrate. My real friends people that like me for me not my saving account. " He spat the words like venom and left her standing alone on the stairs.
The next time Rissa saw all the ducks again was at the State Championship. She climbed to the top of the bleachers avoiding the group of duck girlfriends that were in their usual spot. She'd never been more lonely in her life then she had those past few days. Adam still refused to talk to her no matter what she did. But she knew how important this game had been to him, so you had to go and watch him win. While waiting for the game to start she looked around the rink. She and Adam had, had for much fun together there, some many memories.
"Are you going out for the figure skating team next year?" Adam watched in awe as Larissa landed a triple toe loop double axel combination.
"Probably not." Rissa answered flowing into a lay back spin
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not any good."
"Firstly yeah you are and secondly if every time you didn't think you were good enough you gave up, I wouldn't be playing hockey anymore."
"It's different Adam you know you're the best on the team."
"Rissa…"
"Adam…"
"Okay let's make a deal, if we win the championship you've gotta try out next year." Banksie circled her like a shark around it's prey
"Will you stop you're making me dizzy."
"I know the feeling. I get it every time you're near me."
"Could you be any more corny?" She teased as he wrapped his arms around her from behind
"You just bring out the cornball in me I guess."
"I love you Adam."
"I love you more baby."
Larissa was shaken from her memory when she heard the buzzer sound for the beginning of the period. Most of the game was exactly like every other hockey game she'd attended while dating Adam. That was until he was checked hard into the boards.
"Oh no," The announced wailed " Eden Hall starter Adam Banks just took a hard hit and he's not getting up."
Rissa watched in terror as the emts were called into the ice and Adam was loaded onto a stretcher. She raced down the bleachers and out to the front door cutting off the paramedics.
"Out of the way miss." They yelled
Adam's eyes were closed when he was wheeled by her
"Oh my god Adam. Is he going to be okay?"
"We don't know, he may have head trauma." They told her loading Adam into the ambulance.
"Where are you taking him?"
"Fairview hospital." Was the answer given before the siren screeched and they disappeared down the street.
