Part two of the court is finally up! Sorry about teh wait, I am at the beach living it up District 4 style! (I actually am leaving tomorrow at 5 AM to go fishing... grr...) Well I hope you enjoy!
hungergamesgirl999: I'm glad you were :) Thanks!
TheWomanWhoCodesAndWrites: They aren't going to testify; they are there because that is where Effie and Haymitch are :) I'm glad you liked how I wrote the court. I didn't want to write all of that out. I love writing Johale a lot! I'm glad you like how I do it :)
TributeAndProud: Aww that is so cool! You will see soon :)
MiaBelles: Aww thanks! And sorry you were a cat temporarily...
axes tridents and snares: Aww thanks! Glad I can make cute and sweet work :)
nolengthoftime98: The moms are just disgusting, but I am glad you liked the dance! :)
RunnergirlI: I pictured it as a handlebar... Lol XD
Catching Fireflies: We shall see ;) I'm glad you like it!
DramioneForever123: We shall see soon :D
MahoganyMagic12: Mwahahahaha and yes, this is that trial. :)
cursed to curse: Cool new name! I like it!
TARDISRose: Oh... please don't die!
Alexandra Jackson rocks Hades: Congrats! I hope to hear more updates about your new baby girl! And I'm glad you like it :)
MewWinx96: Sorry, one more court chapter after this one... :)
Buttons301: Me too... :)
ExplodingAaron: Aww thank you so much! That is incredible to hear! Thanks :)
Happy people: We shall see :)
FallenPetals712: I am glad you do mini!
pumpkinking5: I am glad you liked it! I wrote the dance because I was getting bored writing the court, to be honest. It was not preplanned at all.
HP-LotR-SW-HG: Heck yeah! And my parents are Gryffindor. They had two Ravenclaws (my younger sisters) and a Hufflepuff... How? And District 9... that is where I picture my 13 year old sister belongs...
MeaganOneDirection: Heck yeah we are! I love 1D! I am so excited for their new movie. I am glad you like the story :)
sugarcubes: I'm glad I inspired you :) I am glad you like it! And happy update!
Chapter 21- The Court (Part 2)
Peeta
"We would like to call Peeta Mellark to the stand." I nod and make my way to the front, where everyone just looks at me with different expressions of pity in their eyes. Their pity is what I hate the most. It makes me uncomfortable and shrink under their gaze. I take my seat on the cold, unforgiving wood in the front of the court. "Peeta, do your swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"
I nod. "Yes." If I don't say what these people need me to say, how can I possibly help save my home and sanctuary?
I look around and look into the eyes of the man questioning me. "Peeta, can you tell us about your life before you came to the home you affectionately call Graceland?"
I look up at the man. "At first, my home life was good. I had a mother who cooked and bought the necessary items for our survival and she did a wonderful job at it. I had a father who loved me and would give the world to make sure my brothers and I were safe. I had two older brothers who would taunt and tease me, make me be the villain and the one who got the worse end of the stick during wrestling, but they're my older brothers and I put up with it out of respect and love for them. It was a great life. Our family owned a bakery and we often got to dine on fresh bread at dinner and have the leftover pastries for dessert. There was nothing to complain about.
"Then dad got sick. He would stay in bed days at a time until we –my brothers and I- finally convinced him to go to a hospital. It was the most refreshing feeling we have had for a while because we finally thought he was going to get better. Instead, life was turned upside down with the news he had cancer.
"We sacrificed everything to help him get better but it was only a matter of time before he died. He used his money to buy us all final gifts, a used suburban for Asher, my oldest brother, a paintball gun for Ryan and an art set for me. He died three days after giving us these gifts.
"Mother stopped loving father as soon as we discovered he had cancer. She stopped loving us too and treated us like we were the gum on the sole of her shoe. She ignored us until dad died. She gave the three of us full precedence to take care of everything in the funeral. When we told her everything was taken care of and released the date of the day of the funeral to her, she didn't care. She didn't even come.
"After we got back from the funeral, she got real cold. She asked us where we were. She gave Asher a shattered cheekbone from beating him with the rolling pin and gave Ryan a black eye for trying to retrieve ice from the freezer to help him. During this, I dropped a loaf of bread in the oven and she went crazy. She threw me against the wall and caused me to black out. I don't remember what happened after that but my brothers told me she tried to stuff me in the oven. I lost my leg because she hit it just right with a butcher knife." I look at the jury. All twelve of them look green.
"I was told we were going to Graceland while I was at the hospital. At first, I was scared. I had no idea what would happen to us while we were there. I had never heard of this place. Haymitch had come to pick Ryan and I up while Asher followed in his car. When we got there, we were all assigned to our rooms and I realized how difficult life without a leg would be. I didn't think I would get through the therapy with the crutches. I didn't have my fake leg then.
"Haymitch bought me a fake leg as a surprise and took me to get fitted for it. While I was there, he told me we were going to have therapy not only at the hospital but at the home too and everyone supported me. For the first time since my father died, I actually felt happy. I met the greatest people and my best friends there. I don't see why all of you would allow this home to be taken away. Haymitch and Effie gave me a second chance and gave a first chance to many of the people here. Ask Johanna, Finnick or Annie! They all got their first real parents here."
The lawyer looks at me with different eyes, but it still doesn't change his intent. "Peeta, can you tell us the worst thing you have experienced since coming to this home?"
I think about it for a moment then say what it is. "My leg is the worst thing, but that is of no fault of Graceland. My mother is the one who took that leg from me. Graceland is the place that gave me another leg so I could have another chance. The worst thing I have experienced here is repercussions of the evil doing my mother did."
The lawyer nods and asks me very few additional questions because he knows I will answer them honestly and in detail others may not want to know. "Are there any final words you would like to say to the jury, Mr. Mellark?"
I nod. "If you take Graceland away from us you will take away the only home we have ever really known. You will separate a family by putting us all in different homes that will not understand us the way we understand one another. Would you want to be separated from your family?" With that, I stand up and leave. I hope I did my part in helping Graceland stay to those who rightfully deserve it. I smile a bit to myself when I see Snow's brow break into a bit of a sweat.
Finnick
The jury has all called to go and deliberate over the decision of who Graceland will belong to. Both sides put up a fair fight, but I feel the odds are slightly in our favor after the testimony Peeta gave. That kid could make an entire city jump off a bridge if he wanted them to. I look at Annie, who sits to my right. She has her head laying on my shoulder and her hands intertwined with mine in my lap. Her dark hair is beautiful and as soft as ever. The only thing I can think is I am glad my parents never got her. They would have made so much money off of her.
"Finnick." I look up from my book and go to where mom is. If she is calling for me then that can only mean a woman is here for me. She will pull down my shorts and touch me in ways that make me feel guilty. I don't know why I am the one that feels guilty if she is the one doing it though. Still, I would rather it be me than my sisters.
I straighten myself up and make myself look as presentable as possible. Mother gets angry when I don't look perfect. I go to the living room where there is a woman, forty to fifty years in age, sitting on a couch with her hands folded neatly, but a hungry look is in her eye. I hold out my hand for her in a handshake. "Hello there. My name is Finnick. Is there anything I could do to help you tonight?" My voice is charming, but there is a hidden venom in it. No one hears what they don't want to hear though.
She smiles a toothy smile and I see nothing beautiful in her. I see nothing beautiful in any of these women, yet if I don't do this then mom and dad will beat me. I stopped caring if they would beat me a long time ago, though. Then they brought Eloise and Daisy into the picture. They said they would beat them if I didn't do as I was told. I cannot let my loved ones be punished. "I would like a drink, my dear and then you can meet me in the bedroom." I gulp and do as she is told.
I walk into the kitchen and see a single, beautiful cross hanging on the wall by our kitchen. Mom and dad use it to make people that are not clients believe we are a loving, Christian family. We go to church on Sundays, attend life group on Mondays and go to church on Wednesday evenings but every other time that isn't consumed with pleasing the men and women who come through our doors seeking pleasure.
I make the woman a vodka with cherry and sprite in it. I make myself a sparkling grape juice since it is illegal for minors to drink alcohol, but it apparently isn't illegal for them to have as much sex as their parents want. I am incredibly bitter about the ordeal my parents put me through, pretending prostitution isn't a crime.
I take her drink to the bedroom mom and dad reserve for clients. We call it the guest room when people from church are over though. I shudder at the thought of what they would do if they knew what it was really used for. I know what they would do.
I went to my youth minister two Sundays ago and confessed to him on an anonymous note what happened at home. He made sure we knew we could talk to him and said he had received a serious note and after class, during second service, he would be up here to talk if we wanted it. I went to the bathroom after class until everyone cleared out and went to my youth minister. He said I should text him during my next client. He has already contacted the police and they will come as soon as they hear the signal. I already sent him a text.
As I walk down the hall to the room with the drinks in hand, there is a knock on the door. I can hear my father answer it and hear calmness, like the calm before the storm. I enter the room to see the disgusting woman wearing nothing over her. I shudder as I see the loose, baggy skin and see the veins on her. I place down her drink and she invites me to take a spot next to her on the bed. I remove my shirt, and then yell.
The police are in here in a matter of moments and my parents and the woman are arrested and my personal hell has finally come to an end. Eloise, Daisy and I stay at my Youth Ministers house until we learn about Graceland, in the same town and attend the same church as we do. I smile. Life is going to get better.
"Finnick?" I turn my attention to the girl resting on my shoulder.
I kiss her forehead with my lips. "Yes Annie? What is it?"
She looks hollow and scared, as if her mother is here once again, as she will be in December. "What if we lose the case?"
I shake my head. "That isn't possible, my love."
"But what if we do?" Her voice is shaking, nervous. I can feel her heartbeat against me.
"We will still run away. I still have my plan and we will follow through with it. You have nothing to worry about, Annie."
She nods and I bring her close to me once again. I let myself smell the shampoo in her hair and I feel myself calm down, yet her heart is still beating like a bunch of racehorses. I wish I could take all of this away from her, I feel awful for my everything. She means the world to me.
We hear a cough and see the verdict is about to be announced. "We find the defendant-"
Cliffhanger, don't hate me! Sorry people...
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-Juliet