Chapter 8 "Because of you"
"I'm not talking to him, unless it's to say goodbye, then I'm not talking to him," I argued.
"But he's your father, and he really wants to talk to you. He told me to tell you to give him a second chance," Ms. Sweet said.
"Wait, did you talk to him?"
"Yeah but-"
"But what? You shouldn't have talked to him. He's just trying to get you not to help me. How could you, how could you talk to him nevertheless listen to him," I nearly screamed.
"It's my job, I'm supposed to talk to him, don't try to make this my fault," Ms. Sweet's voice filled up with anger.
"But it is your fault. You can't say it isn't, you're the one that talked and listened to him, it's your fault."
"Just talk to him, please Rayna it might help with the case," Ms. Sweet pleaded.
"I'm not talking to him alone, I hope you know."
"So is that a yes?"
"No, I'm waiting for the trial."
"Fine I'll tell him, I'll see you in a little bit"
"What do you mean in a little bit?"
"The trial is in a few hours. Don't forget to tell the gang. I'll meet you guys at the court house." With that she hanged up.
I went back in the living room and told the gang everything. Then we were rushing around the house getting ready. Me and Ciara were in 'my' room.
"You should wear a dress," Ciara suggested.
"Um…no," I said, digging through my suitcase.
"Come on it will make you look innocent."
"Really, like they are going to buy it," I said while throwing my shirt across the room.
"Hey, you never know they could buy it, it's not like they know you," Ciara said, now going through her suitcase.
"True, they don't know who I am; fine I'll wear a dress, but only if you do too," I said, giving in.
"Alright, I brought 2 dresses. Here you can wear this one," she said, handing me a black sparkly dress.
I put it on with a jean vest, and my pair of blue tennis shoes. Ciara had on a purple dress with sparkles all over it, she also wore a black leather jacket and black flats that had spikes on them.
"Alright I'm ready, how about you?" I asked Ciara.
"Yep, I'm ready, let's go get the boys," Ciara answered.
We went down stairs, and it turned out the gang were already in the truck. So we got in and headed towards the court house, where Ms. Sweet was waiting outside, with my dad waiting patiently beside her.
I got out and the gang were instructed by the fuzz to go in and get seats. I made my way over to Ms. Sweet, my dad, and now my dad's fancy lawyer guy.
"Nice to finally meet you, Ms. Hunter, I'm Mr. Greene," my dad's lawyer introduced himself, and stuck out his hand.
I stared at his hand, like I do to everyone else, and said, "I wish I could say the same."
He brought down his hand and nodded at me, like he was accepting my answer. Ms. Sweet talked next, "Well we better get inside the trial will start soon."
"That's a very good idea let's go," I said, ignoring my dad's eyes on me.
"Come on," Ms. Sweet said walking towards the entrance of the building. I turned around and followed her.
We made it inside, there was a long hallway that leaded towards a pair of big open doors. We went down the hallway and into the court room, and sat down at a table on the opposite side of the room where the other table was.
My dad, and Mr. Greene sat down at their table. Everyone else was already seated and before we all knew it the trial started.
There was a cop saying, "All rise Judge Jamie is now in session…"
We all stood up, I was so nervous. I felt like I was going to throw up, and I was sure that my legs were shaking.
"….and nothing but the truth, you may be seated."
The cop finished and that's when I realized my hand was raised, I brought it down and sat down with everyone else.
"Can the accused and accusers please state their names?" a guy asked.
"Scarlett Sweet; Rayna Hunter's lawyer."
"Henry Greene; Edward Hunter's lawyer."
"Ms. Sweet will you give your opening sentence?" judge Jamie said.
"We are here for various reasons,"
"And what would those various reasons be?" Mr. Greene asked snobby.
"That would be staying here legally forever without her dad, and Rayna has told me that her dad had something to do with her brothers' death. Rayna has every right to not go with her dad, especially if he is hurting her. Rayna has informed me that her father emotionally and sometimes physically abuses her, if she does not want to leave she doesn't have to. No one can force her. Rayna has also informed me that Mr. Hunter is very book smart, especially with mathematics. There for he would know when, where, how the car would be crushed. There for killing her brothers, and thank you Mr. Hunter you just helped with my case," Ms. Sweet grinned over at my father.
"How?" he asked.
"When I said the car would be crushed and I identified it as your sons' car you did not object. So that means you know you did it," Ms. Sweet said.
"No-no I-"
"That's enough Mr. Hunter; Mr. Greene please state your opening sentence," Judge Jamie said.
Mr. Greene cleared his throat and began, "First of all Ms. Sweet, Mr. Hunter couldn't object, because it was your opening sentence were not supposed to object. So Mr. Hunter shouldn't just automatically be accused of killing his sons. Why would he kill his sons in the first place, that's what I would want to know? There has to be a reason why he supposedly killed them. And plus there is no proof that Mr. Hunter emotionally and physically abused Rayna. How do you-how does anyone know that it's true, maybe she's just making this all up, because she simply is growing up to fast and wanting to move out. Come on we all had that thought when we were teenagers."
I stared at Mr. Greene, even though I couldn't blame him because he's right there isn't any proof. It's funny cause the judge told Ms. Sweet and Mr. Greene to tell their opening 'sentence', and it wasn't even a sentence, more like a paragraph.
"Mr. Greene will you call your first witness up to the stand," Judge Jamie informed him.
Mr. Greene nodded and said, "I am calling Bob Sheldon to the stand."
I looked back at the gang, Dally looked like he was going to kill Bob. Bob walked to the stand and sat down calmly.
"Mr. Sheldon did you have anything to do with Rayna's brothers' deaths?"
"No, I have nothing to do with it. Me and my friends were just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Bob remarked.
"Have you ever met Rayna's brothers?"
"No"
Mr. Greene turned to the judge, "No further questions."
"Ms. Sweet, your cross exclamation," Judge Jamie said.
Ms. Sweet stood up and walked in front of the stand, "Mr. Sheldon how do you feel about the deaths?"
"Horrible, it was horrible. I would hate to lose my brother," Bob answered looking over at me, giving me a sympathy look. I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms, and leaning back in the chair.
"Who was all in the car with you?"
"Me, Randy Anderson, David Roberts, and Ryan King."
"Are you aware of what you and those boys did?" Ms. Sweet asked all of a sudden.
"Objection," Mr. Greene said.
"Why?" Judge Jamie asked.
"Mr. Sheldon and those boys know exactly what they did. Ms. Sweet is just ganging up on them and making them feel bad, while they did nothing," Mr. Greene explained.
"Accepted," Judge Jamie said.
Ms. Sweet sighed and said, "I call up Rayna Hunter to the stand."
I got up and walked to the stand and sat down.
"Ms. Hunter how are you taking all of this?"
"How do you think? How would you feel if your only brothers, and mother were dead, and your own father hates you?" I stared straight at her.
I was mad at her for asking me that question, but I knew it was for the case so I didn't say anything else.
"Terrible, I would feel terrible. Ms. Hunter you said your dad emotionally and sometimes physically hurts you, tell me what you mean."
"I did not physically hurt you Rayna," my dad protested.
"Yeah you did," I said.
"I didn't abuse you, I disciplined you."
"Choking me doesn't sound like disciplining to me."
"Bull shit," he yelled standing up.
"Bull true," I yelled back also standing up.
"So he choked you, has he done anything else. What would he say to you?" Ms. Sweet asked.
"Yeah he would sometimes take me by the neck and push me against the wall, he would also hit me in the face. He told me things like my mom never wanted to have me, and he was the one that talked her out of abortion. I never met my mother so I believed him. My brothers were my only escape when I was little. He never hurt them, because apparently they are his boys," I finished with tears welling up in my eyes.
"So why do you think he would kill them?"
"Because, he knew."
"Knew what?" Ms. Sweet asked.
"He knew Brandon was going to adopt me, Alex, and Keith."
"No further questions your honor," Ms. Sweet said.
Mr. Greene stood up and walked over to me, while Ms. Sweet sat down.
"Ms. Hunter, did you tell your father that you wanted to stay here?"
"Yes."
"Did he fight back when you said you wanted to stay here?" Mr. Greene asked me.
"Kind of," I said.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No, but-"
"Yes or no, Ms. Hunter?" Mr. Greene asked impatiently.
"No," I said flatly.
"How could your father kill your brothers?"
"He's smart," I said.
"But why would he kill his only sons? You said, Ms. Hunter, that they were his boys. Why didn't he kill you instead?" Mr. Greene practically yelled.
"I-I don't know," I stumbled over my words, it hit me like a bullet. I don't know why, it just did.
Everything went blank to me, I couldn't hear anyone talking any more. Well I could, but I couldn't make out the words.
I saw that coming but it still hurt like hell. I stared at him, I couldn't say anything. Someone gripped me by the shoulder from behind and pulled me away from the stand.
"Come on Rayna, the judge called this trial over," it was Dally.
I walked out of the court room but not before hearing the judge ask Ms. Sweet and Mr. Greene, "Who are you calling up tomorrow?"
"Randy Anderson, and Mr. Hunter," Mr. Greene said.
"Ciara Rose, and Johnathon Cade," Ms. Sweet had said.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: All right just for everyone to know, Rayna does have social anxiety, BUT the bipolar and ADHD get in the way of that, so it's like she doesn't even have it at times. I been having comments lately about all of my mistakes and I would like everyone to know, if u don't like my story, don't read it. If you don't like all the mistakes, get over it and find a different story if this bugs you so much. I'm sorry if I seem mean or rude but I sick of agreeing with everyone about how my story is bad. So if you don't like it, don't read it, it's that simple. It's my story, anything can happen if I want it to happen. Writing is supposed to let your imagination and creativity out, and that sir, or ma'am is what I am doing. Thank u, readers that like my story and reviewed, it means a lot. Hope u guys keep reading!