Being in court caused me to have more scars on my arms. Squall
started sharing a room with me. He comforted me when I woke up crying over
Seifer. I wish with all my heart I could bring him back. Squall kissed me
on the forehead and told me he'd probably have to take the stand tomorrow.
He did too. Mr. Riley tried to make it seem as though we were having an
affair or something. "How would you describe your relationship with the
defendant?" he asked.
Squall said, "We're good friends."
"And your relationship with the deceased?"
"We didn't get along. I didn't like him and he didn't like me."
"Have you ever had any type of physical relationship with the defendant?"
"No. I just hugged her when she was upset." Maybe it's a good thing he didn't mention that we kissed. Mr. Riley could turn it into something totally wrong.
"Never kissed her or anything?"
"No."
"You're under oath."
Squall said, "Yes, I know. I didn't do anything to her."
"Alright." He continued firing questions, "Did the defendant ever talk about killing the deceased?"
"Objection," Mrs. Kitley interrupted.
The judge said, "Sustained."
Mr. Riley rephrased it, "Did she ever talk about being violent to the deceased?"
Squall said, "No. If she ever said anything about him at all it was that she was afraid he was mad at her. That's it."
"Has she ever tried to get involved with you physically?"
"No. Sorry to disappoint you."
Mr. Riley seemed slightly frustrated. "No more questions."
Mrs. Kitley stood up and said, "Do you think Rinoa is violent?"
Squall said, "No."
"Did you ever witness any violence between Rinoa and Seifer?"
"Yes I did. Seifer locked her in their room and when I got in he was beating on her so I took her out there. She ended up apologizing to him later anyway though." He looked at me for a brief second then back at Mrs. Kitley. Is he still mad about that?
"How did she react to other problems like that?"
"She seemed to blame herself. I think sometimes she thought she wasn't good enough for him."
"How long have you known Seifer?"
"Since we were kids. We went to the orphanage together."
"Tell us a little about him if you would."
"He was very competitive. Always made everything into a game and did what ever he could to win. I remember him attacking Selphie. She'd gotten something from Edea. It was like candy or something small, you know. She got it because she won a little game and Seifer was mad because he wanted it. No, that's not true. He just didn't want to accept that someone had shown him up. So he jumped her. It's kind of ridiculous when I think about it but ... that was just how he was."
"Why do you think the fights occurred between Seifer and Rinoa?"
"My guess would probably be she didn't do something he told her to. She said something even the simplest thing that he didn't like. He took everything personal."
"No further questions." He was excused and as he passed me by he gave me a look meant to wish me luck. After an investigator was my turn. I was the last one. Unfortunately Mr. Riley was to question me first. I know if I don't pay close attention he could trick me into saying something I really didn't want to say.
"Ms. Heartilly, I'd like you to tell the jury what happened in your own words," he told me.
I said, "Well, during my session with Dr. Christenson, we talked about me leaving Seifer. She told me if I was afraid of him to bring something to defend myself, like pepper spray. Before I could get anything he took me off to Dollet. I managed to get my little knife from my back pack."
"So this was premeditated?"
"No. I never thought I'd use it. He dragged me across the floor and I just reacted. I remember he wasn't bleeding much. He tried to hit me; I panicked again. Then he told me to give him the knife and I didn't because I was afraid he'd kill me if I did. I remember screaming 'cause he was coming to hit me again... I never wanted to hurt him. Oh God." I started crying. I couldn't help it. "I'm sorry," I choked out. The judge called a short recess so I could get the chance to calm down. Squall let me cry in his jacket. Mr. Riley passed by us.
"You're a very good actress," he said to me. "But I can see right through your act."
Squall growled, "If you knew her at all you wouldn't be saying that." He just smiled and walked away. Squall stroked my hair. He's so nice to me. I don't know why though. I'm such a bad person.
When we went back in the courtroom, I wasn't crying anymore but my eyes stung. I had to get back on the stand. Mr. Riley wasn't done with me. "How often were you supposedly hit by the deceased?" he asked.
I have to admit, I was a little offended by the tone of his voice but I didn't show it in mine. "Whenever he got mad at me," I said. "I can't give you an exact number if that's what you're asking for. I guess I'd have to say about four or five times a week."
"Did you try to report this anyone?"
"No...I didn't. No one would be able to do anything anyway. He'd just get me even worse."
"What was your reason for wanting to leave him? Because he hit you?"
"No. He was cheating on me so it was clear he didn't need me anymore, and I-..."
He was intrigued now. "And you what, Ms. Heartilly?"
I stared at the floor as I said, "And I fell in love with Squall."
"Is that why you killed Seifer?"
"No, I-"
"Objection," Mrs. Kitley yelled. "He's leading the witness."
The judge said, "Sustained."
Mr. Riley continued, "So you want the jury to believe that you didn't kill the deceased on purpose?"
I sighed, "I can't tell them what to believe but, if I could take it back I would. I never meant to hurt him. I never wanted that to happen."
"No further questions."
Mrs. Kitley asked me about Seifer, about me, about our relationship, about my friendship with Squall, my father, and my incidents. It was painful but I managed. Every word I spoke was the truth. Lying wouldn't do any good. I knew that so I didn't try it with either of them. When I was finally able to get down, they did their closing arguments. Mr. Riley tried to convince the jury that I attempted to hide my real reason for killing Seifer with self-defense and that I actually did it so I could be with "Mr. Leonhart".
Mrs. Kitley said, "Rinoa put up with Seifer everyday because she loved him. Like most bused women she felt she deserved it and she thought he loved her. Instead he beat her, cheated on her, and made her feel small. But she till tried to stick with him. Then when she finally gets the strength to leave, when she finally tells him, he attacks her. Now I ask you this, what would YOU do in this situation? Talking didn't work and there was no way out. Even the investigators believe it was self-defense. The man had a history of hurting people. And we all heard Mr. Leonhart say that Seifer always wanted to be the winner. How far would he have gone to 'win' that fight? Anyone in that situation would've fought to stay alive and that is what she did. Rinoa Heartilly fought for her life. It was purely self- defense." The jury was dismissed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I know a lot of the court things weren't accurate but I did my best. If there is anything you feel needs to be changed, please let me know. New chapter soon.
Squall said, "We're good friends."
"And your relationship with the deceased?"
"We didn't get along. I didn't like him and he didn't like me."
"Have you ever had any type of physical relationship with the defendant?"
"No. I just hugged her when she was upset." Maybe it's a good thing he didn't mention that we kissed. Mr. Riley could turn it into something totally wrong.
"Never kissed her or anything?"
"No."
"You're under oath."
Squall said, "Yes, I know. I didn't do anything to her."
"Alright." He continued firing questions, "Did the defendant ever talk about killing the deceased?"
"Objection," Mrs. Kitley interrupted.
The judge said, "Sustained."
Mr. Riley rephrased it, "Did she ever talk about being violent to the deceased?"
Squall said, "No. If she ever said anything about him at all it was that she was afraid he was mad at her. That's it."
"Has she ever tried to get involved with you physically?"
"No. Sorry to disappoint you."
Mr. Riley seemed slightly frustrated. "No more questions."
Mrs. Kitley stood up and said, "Do you think Rinoa is violent?"
Squall said, "No."
"Did you ever witness any violence between Rinoa and Seifer?"
"Yes I did. Seifer locked her in their room and when I got in he was beating on her so I took her out there. She ended up apologizing to him later anyway though." He looked at me for a brief second then back at Mrs. Kitley. Is he still mad about that?
"How did she react to other problems like that?"
"She seemed to blame herself. I think sometimes she thought she wasn't good enough for him."
"How long have you known Seifer?"
"Since we were kids. We went to the orphanage together."
"Tell us a little about him if you would."
"He was very competitive. Always made everything into a game and did what ever he could to win. I remember him attacking Selphie. She'd gotten something from Edea. It was like candy or something small, you know. She got it because she won a little game and Seifer was mad because he wanted it. No, that's not true. He just didn't want to accept that someone had shown him up. So he jumped her. It's kind of ridiculous when I think about it but ... that was just how he was."
"Why do you think the fights occurred between Seifer and Rinoa?"
"My guess would probably be she didn't do something he told her to. She said something even the simplest thing that he didn't like. He took everything personal."
"No further questions." He was excused and as he passed me by he gave me a look meant to wish me luck. After an investigator was my turn. I was the last one. Unfortunately Mr. Riley was to question me first. I know if I don't pay close attention he could trick me into saying something I really didn't want to say.
"Ms. Heartilly, I'd like you to tell the jury what happened in your own words," he told me.
I said, "Well, during my session with Dr. Christenson, we talked about me leaving Seifer. She told me if I was afraid of him to bring something to defend myself, like pepper spray. Before I could get anything he took me off to Dollet. I managed to get my little knife from my back pack."
"So this was premeditated?"
"No. I never thought I'd use it. He dragged me across the floor and I just reacted. I remember he wasn't bleeding much. He tried to hit me; I panicked again. Then he told me to give him the knife and I didn't because I was afraid he'd kill me if I did. I remember screaming 'cause he was coming to hit me again... I never wanted to hurt him. Oh God." I started crying. I couldn't help it. "I'm sorry," I choked out. The judge called a short recess so I could get the chance to calm down. Squall let me cry in his jacket. Mr. Riley passed by us.
"You're a very good actress," he said to me. "But I can see right through your act."
Squall growled, "If you knew her at all you wouldn't be saying that." He just smiled and walked away. Squall stroked my hair. He's so nice to me. I don't know why though. I'm such a bad person.
When we went back in the courtroom, I wasn't crying anymore but my eyes stung. I had to get back on the stand. Mr. Riley wasn't done with me. "How often were you supposedly hit by the deceased?" he asked.
I have to admit, I was a little offended by the tone of his voice but I didn't show it in mine. "Whenever he got mad at me," I said. "I can't give you an exact number if that's what you're asking for. I guess I'd have to say about four or five times a week."
"Did you try to report this anyone?"
"No...I didn't. No one would be able to do anything anyway. He'd just get me even worse."
"What was your reason for wanting to leave him? Because he hit you?"
"No. He was cheating on me so it was clear he didn't need me anymore, and I-..."
He was intrigued now. "And you what, Ms. Heartilly?"
I stared at the floor as I said, "And I fell in love with Squall."
"Is that why you killed Seifer?"
"No, I-"
"Objection," Mrs. Kitley yelled. "He's leading the witness."
The judge said, "Sustained."
Mr. Riley continued, "So you want the jury to believe that you didn't kill the deceased on purpose?"
I sighed, "I can't tell them what to believe but, if I could take it back I would. I never meant to hurt him. I never wanted that to happen."
"No further questions."
Mrs. Kitley asked me about Seifer, about me, about our relationship, about my friendship with Squall, my father, and my incidents. It was painful but I managed. Every word I spoke was the truth. Lying wouldn't do any good. I knew that so I didn't try it with either of them. When I was finally able to get down, they did their closing arguments. Mr. Riley tried to convince the jury that I attempted to hide my real reason for killing Seifer with self-defense and that I actually did it so I could be with "Mr. Leonhart".
Mrs. Kitley said, "Rinoa put up with Seifer everyday because she loved him. Like most bused women she felt she deserved it and she thought he loved her. Instead he beat her, cheated on her, and made her feel small. But she till tried to stick with him. Then when she finally gets the strength to leave, when she finally tells him, he attacks her. Now I ask you this, what would YOU do in this situation? Talking didn't work and there was no way out. Even the investigators believe it was self-defense. The man had a history of hurting people. And we all heard Mr. Leonhart say that Seifer always wanted to be the winner. How far would he have gone to 'win' that fight? Anyone in that situation would've fought to stay alive and that is what she did. Rinoa Heartilly fought for her life. It was purely self- defense." The jury was dismissed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I know a lot of the court things weren't accurate but I did my best. If there is anything you feel needs to be changed, please let me know. New chapter soon.