Chapter Twenty-Two:
March 29, 2002

So today is the day that we find out if Jordan is innocent or guilty. Granted, this is all in the eyes of the jury—I already know that he's guilty. But what if they don't believe me? What if they think that I'm lying and that he's innocent of everything I have accused him of?

That is exactly why I cannot go to the courthouse today. Both Reese and my father are confident that the jury will rule in our favor, and they are both very knowledgeable in the way of the law. They're probably right. The jury will probably announce that Jordan is guilty.

But what if they don't?

I don't know if I can bear to be out there, in front of everyone, when they announce that they think that I am nothing more than a manipulative liar.

Granted, that's who I used to be, back when I wanted Miguel. But everything's different now. I'm not like that anymore.

But, still… I can't help but fear that they will concentrate on the woman I used to be, rather than the woman I am now.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

With a groan, Kay reached over to her alarm clock to stop the infernal beeping. Why was she getting up so early during Spring Break?

Oh, yeah. Reese would be there in less than an hour to take her to the County Courthouse. He had insisted that she would want to be there when the jury's decision came back, but she had to admit that she thought that he was wrong. Just because he had been a masochist for years didn't mean that she wanted to inflict emotional pain of herself.

Granted, his persistence (and obliviousness) had eventually allowed him to win her heart, but she would gain no happiness if the jury ruled in Jordan's favor.

If they decided that he was innocent, she knew that she could never show her face in public again. Everywhere she went, people would talk about her as the girl who had tried to get the future All-Pro quarterback Jordan Aberman arrested on sexual assault charges. She would have to leave Harmony and go live in a cabin hidden away in the woods—away from society forever.

And, honestly, no matter what decision they might make, it would probably be easier to deal with it if she wasn't in the courtroom with bunches of bystanders waiting to see her reaction. She could just see the cover of tomorrow's USA Today.

"GIRL'S LIES REVEALED
Aberman found innocent"

That humiliating headline would, of course, be accompanied by two pictures. One, of her hiding her face in mortification. The other of Jordan celebrating his victory.

No, it was decided. She couldn't go to the courthouse. She would just stay in bed until this whole thing had blown over.

~*~

"Kay?" Reese's muffled voice sounded through her bedroom door. "Kay, are you ready?"

"I'm not going!" Kay called back from underneath her quilts. "Reese, I can't go back there—not after what I said yesterday. I can't look any of those people in the eye anymore!" Kay lamented.

"Kay, they don't blame you. This is all Jordan's fault, and I'm sure that they know that," Reese said, as he attempted to soothe her worries.

"But, Reese, what if they all think that I lied, that Jordan didn't do any of those things? What if they don't convict him? Then I'll just be known as the girl who cried wolf!"

"Kay," Reese began, pulling her into his arms, "they have to convict him. Sexual harassment is a serious offense, and anyone could see how distraught you were when you were up on the stand yesterday."

Distraught was putting it mildly. Yesterday had been the day from hell—only today had the potential to be even worse. She had gone up onto the stand and told her story, with the District Attorney prodding her gently when she needed it. Eventually, she had broken down and tears, and her gaze had flown to meet Reese's own, begging him to come and save her.

She had known that he wouldn't be able to, but she had still hoped. She was stupid. Her father had been involved in law enforcement for her entire life, and she knew that Reese wouldn't be able to come and comfort her while she was on the stand. But for some reason, she had hoped that he would find a way to do so anyhow.

He had nodded at her, and smiled his beautiful smile—and she knew that he believed that she could do it. It was amazing what someone's faith in your could do sometimes. She didn't think that she would be able to finish the story, but Reese's unwavering belief in her had allowed her to do so.

The cross-examining attorney had been ruthless, questioning her about every detail, almost as if he expected her to recant her story. She knew that she couldn't do that as she knew that she was telling the truth. She had to make sure that Jordan was exposed for the scum that he really was—as hard as it may have been.

When the judge had finally informed her that she could step down she had walked as quickly as she could to her seat beside Reese. Instantly, she buried her head in his chest while he whispered comforting words in her ears and smoothed her hair ever so gently.

"C'mon, Kay," Reese prodded. "Get dressed, and we'll get going. Everything will be fine."

Kay nodded. She didn't want to go, but somehow she knew that Reese wouldn't give up until she agreed. Slowly shoved the covers off of her body. "Give me fifteen minutes, Reese. I'll be right down."

~*~

Nervously, Kay looked at her reflection in the mirror. Did she look mature, responsible, and honest? Or did she look like an immature, manipulative liar? She knew that Reese was probably getting impatient downstairs, but she knew that she had to look perfect if she was going to go to the courthouse that day.

Finally, she was satisfied. Slowly, she walked out of the bathroom and began to descend the stairs. "Reese? What do you think?"

"You're gorgeous. Let's go," Reese replied, grabbing for his keys rather looking at her.

"Reese, you didn't even look at me," Kay informed him with a hint of a smirk in her voice.

"Kay, we have twenty minutes to get there, and you always look beautiful. I don't see why today is such a big… Wow."

Kay stifled a laugh. Reese had just turned his head to look at her, as she had requested, and now all he could do was stand there with his mouth hanging open.

"You think I look ok?" Kay asked, knowing exactly what he thought. She didn't get the opportunity to make Reese squirm often, but she knew well enough to relish the opportunity whenever it arose.

Reese blinked. Unable to find the words to express his thoughts, he simply nodded.

Kay grinned. "Should we go then?"

Reese nodded and grabbed Kay's hand. "Yeah, let's go."

~*~

Twenty minutes later, Reese and Kay were seated in the courtroom, waiting for the proceedings to begin. Kay was fidgeting nervously, playing with the silver bracelet that adorned her wrist.

"All rise for the Honorable Judge Margaret Wamsley!" the bailiff called out as the judge entered the courtroom. The members of the jury followed the judge into the room and took their seats as well.

"Have you reached a decision then?" Judge Wamsley asked the jury foreman.

"Yes, Your Honor," he replied, looking down at a piece of paper in his hand, as the whole courtroom looked on in anticipation.

"Please read your decision to the court," Judge Wamsley instructed.

This was it. There was no turning back now. What the man in front of her said would determine how she would spend the rest of her life.

Instinctively, she grabbed Reese's hand and held on for dear life. She needed something to cling to, something that she would be able to hang on to while the decision was being read.

A moment later, Reese pried his hand out of her vise-like grasp and wrapped his arm around her back. "Everything will be just fine, Kay. It's all going to be ok," he whispered as she curled up against him, clutching him as if he was her lifeline.

Mutely, she nodded, hoping that Reese would be right. Everything had to be ok. It just had to be.

"We, the jury, find Jordan Charles Aberman guilty on one count of sexual harassment, to the extent of quid pro quo," the foreman announced.

Kay looked up at Reese, almost unable to believe the words that she had just heard. Jordan had been found guilty!

"Jordan Aberman, as you are only a minor, I am required to be lenient even though I feel that your actions were deplorable. You are hereby sentenced to a juvenile detention facility until you reach the age of 21. During the next three years, you will complete 200 hours of community service, which must be approved by this court. You will be subject to three more years of probation upon your release. This court is adjourned."

Everyone came to their feet as Judge Wamsley stood and walked out of the courtroom. Tears of joy running down her face, Kay turned to face the man who had been there for her through all of this.

"Reese, thank you so much!" Kay cried, as he enveloped her in a hug.

"For what?" Reese asked her, quirking an eyebrow.

"For everything, Reese," Kay sniffled. "For everything."

"Well, then thank you, Kay."

Now it was Kay's turn to be confused. "What have I done?"

"You loved me," Reese replied softly as he leaned down for a soft kiss.