Sixteen

Jessie's POV

My night in the overnight police cell meant that my mum's trial had had to be postponed until the prosecution's witness was 'sufficiently calm enough to speak and act rationally'. I was rational. I was completely rational. This was my brother being carted off to prison for three months, how did they expect me to react. I was also banned from the courtroom except for when being a witness. I was sat back in the same room as the day before. Lauren was sat with me. She was the prosecution this time round. Still on my side, seeing as I was trying to prosecute my mum. The only issue with my banishment from the courtroom meant the main prosecutor, me, wasn't going to be in the room which could look badly on my case. On the plus side Josh's sentence of guilty under duress also helped our case against mum as it meant that there sufficient evidence to prove mum had threatened Josh and me, which was perfect evidence.

Lauren left me to go into the courtroom and I sat and stared at the black walls of the small room I was sat in. I was getting fed up of being carted around places. I don't know how long I was sat there but finally I was called for. I walked back up onto the witness box.

"Hello Jessica," Lauren started. I smiled. "Have you sufficiently calmed down enough to be rational today?" she asked first.

"yes," I mumbled and she began the questions. A lot were similar to the ones from yesterday and like the day before I had to show my injuries to a new set of jurors and the same judge as the day before. The defence didn't cross-examine me but I assumed that was because mum was pleading guilty of GBH to me, bruises and cut hips, and was now having to plead guilty of GBH to Josh and for threatening behaviour towards Josh after yesterday's verdict. I was led back to my room and sat there staring at the paint. I think even watching paint dry may have been more exciting than that day. I mean at least something happens during paint drying, it goes from wet paint to dry paint. I was just staring at dry paint. Finally Lauren came in with Mike.

"She's got life," she told me. I smiled.

"Thank you so much for your help Lauren. You've been a lifesaver. You really have," I told her, giving her a hug. Mike nodded in agreement.

"yes you really have. Hopefully we won't have to see you again though," he said. Lauren laughed.

"yes hopefully," she said. She turned to me. "he'll be alright in the YOI. He might even be out quicker than you think," she said. She slipped her coat on and walked out. Mike placed his hands on my shoulders and led me out towards the doors.

"I should point out you've become a bit of a celebrity after this, not just at Elm Tree," Mike told me. We walked out the courtroom and thousands of camera bulbs flashed in my face. I blinked in astonishment. People were asking me questions but I just ignored them.

I looked up at Mike. "can you just get me home please?" I asked softly. He nodded and dragged me through the milling press and public to his car. He made sure I was safely strapped in before speeding off back towards Elm Tree. I guessed everyone already knew the verdict and had heard about the fact I'd been locked up over night as Mike had returned to Elm Tree soon after it had all happened. We pulled up and I stepped out. It felt like my first day there all over again only this time there was no big brother to hide behind and no safety net. Just me. Tears started welling up in my eyes. Mike unlocked the front door and I ran past and up the stairs, ignoring everyone calling my name to come back. I couldn't face them all. Not just yet.

A/N: Ok this one is very short but to be fair the last two chapters have been some of my longest. I hope you are still enjoying this and I have plenty more ideas to do but if you have any suggestions please let me know, Indigo :)