-Who is that?

I blinked twice, trying to get my eyes used again to light, after two long days in punishment room...It had been a real nightmare, being locked there, totally isolated for such a long time...

When he opened the door, Harris didn't say a simple word, and nor did I. Just managed to go back to my dormitory...I hadn't slept in 48 hours and was exhausted...

Six months later

-Jacobs, Warden Yates wants to see you in his office. Now.

I was in the carpentry workshop, when Harris came looking for me. What would Yates want from me now? After being locked for two days in that damned hole they used as a punishment, I had managed to get unnoticed by both Yates and Harris, and even by Wallace. I had forgotten my revenge ideas, mainly because of Sam. As he had told me, " Those three always have the winning hand"

I rushed to Yates's office, and it was kinda surprising finding my lawyer there. That only meant one thing, and even if I would finally leave that Juvie, I was afraid what the trial could bring. I was eighteen by then, and if I was found guilty, would surely go to jail. To a normal one...and the simple thought of it froze my blood.

Gregory asked me about the way I had been treated there...I said nothing, there would time enough to talk about that en route. I went back to my dorm, to pick my things and to say farewell to Sam. He only would have to stay one more week there, and we told to see each other eventually, in California or in Colorado.

Then, finally, I walked away from the Juvie... On our way back to Los Angeles, Gregory gave me the bad news. As much as he had tried, he hadn't found a single witness or anyone who would have seen me. He did his best to sound reassuring, and said a miracle could still happen. But it was just that...A miracle, nothing real to believe in. He also told me that the trial would begin next morning, at nine, and till then I would have to be in the police station. He was going to try that Jan, or my folks, were allowed to see me, even for a short time, but he didn't want to raise my already low hopes. My mood was getting lower by the moment, I was going to need a huge lucky break to go out of that mess.

We arrived about eight, and he left me at the precinct. I didn't like at all the fact of having to stay there, but had no choice.

At eight, one of the officers came to look for me, to take me to the courthouse. Once there, I still had to wait before being taken to the courtroom. When I did, first thing I saw was Jan, my folks, and Sonny and Marty. I smiled at Jan, and she did the same in return. God, I wanted so much holding her! It did bother me not seeing the rest of the gang there...

The Judge came finally in, and after he had said some words, it was my turn to be interrogated. I walked slowly to the stand, and put my hand over the Bible, to make my oath of "telling the truth..."and all that.

Next thing I saw, was both Gregory and the prosecutor checking their papers. I looked at Jan, wondering what was that about. They approached to the Judge and Gregory asked him something. The judge and the prosecutor nodded, and Gregory threw me a ball of paper. I took it with my left hand.

The judge banged three times with his bagel.

-The defendant must be released inmediately. This trial is declared void.

I waited no more, just got up and held Jan with all my strength. And in her arms, all the stress I had accumulated, broke finally out and I started crying. I didn't know what had happened, and didn't really care.

I was free.

Jan

I couldn't believe it when Putz 's ma phoned to tell me he was coming back. Yeah, it was because of the trial that was going to be held and all that, but at least he was here again. Those months without him by my side had been sort of a hell. Besides, after my argument with Rizzo, both her and Kenickie started avoiding me...and that led to a break among the rest of us. Sonny and Marty were on my side, and Danny and Sandy on theirs. I found that funny, considering the way both of them had behaved with Sandy. But, anyway, it was not my business at all. And well...French and Doody did what they do best, trying to keep on good terms with everyone. But doing that ain't always possible, sometimes you have to make a choice.

The night before the trial, I could barely sleep. Things looked terribly bad, with no witnesses at all. And the evidences talked by themselves. I tried to be prepared for the worst result possible, but it was too hard to accept.

I arrived early to the courthouse,and sat with Putz's folks, Marty and Sonny. No trace of the others. It would have been the best way to arrange things, but it looked like they just didn't want to.

I was talking to Marty when I heard the Judge:" The defendant must be released inmediately. This trial is void."

Following an uncontrollable impulse, I got up from my seat and went to the stand, to do what I had been longing to do for six months.

There would be time enough to know what had happened...at the moment, I couldn't care less about that.