“This is a heinous crime. I have it on good faith that Mr. Arkett is a beloved member of the community and wouldn’t harm a fly, let alone provoke such a violent attack. He won us the conference championship eight years ago. Everyone loves him. Now, he’ll be recovering from hisinjuries for months. What do you have to say for yourself, son?” The judge asks, acting as if he cares what I have to say.
I don’t speak. I don’t even stand. My lawyer nudges my shoulder, but I don’t move. Fuck him, fuck this place.
“Your honor, I’d like to make a plea deal. My client will plead guilty to aggravated assault and a four-year sentence.” My lawyer adjusts his tie, waiting for the judge’s response, but I don’t get my hopes up
Things never go easy for guys like me.
“This young man has shown no remorse. I recommend updating his charges to attempted homicide and a twenty-year sentence.”
My head snaps up, “What?”
The room buzzes with reactions to the judge’s harsh recommendation, but my ears only focus on Liv’s sobs behind me.
“Prosecutor?” The lawyer on the other side shrugs and nods, clearly as confused by this as the rest of us.
The judge raises his gavel, and I realize the gravity of a single fucking mallet. He’s about to end my life.
“NO!” Liv screams, and the room grows louder with chatter. “You can’t do this!”
Court deputies come barreling towards her to take her out of the room, and my chair tips as I lunge for them. “Don’t touch her!” I yell, shoving my lawyer’s hand off.
“Order! Order!” The judge yells.
“No!” She screams as one of the deputies grabs her arm.
“Get off of her!” I yell again as arms wrap around my shoulders, holding me back. Two deputies strong-arm me as I fight with no sense of reason, no logic.
It’s Liv, nothing else matters.
“Order!” The judge pounds his gavel.
“He was only protecting me! He was protecting me!”
“Liv, no!” I don’t want her to get involved. She doesn’t need to be dragged into this and tarnished by the actions of men.
“Son, stop fighting, or I’ll throw your girlfriend in jail, too!” He yells, and as soon as I process his threat, I go limp. “Now,” he huffs. “I want to hear what she has to say.”
My strong, brave Liv pulls her bicep from the deputy’s grasp and wraps her arms around herself instead. “Jensen is my best friend. Not my boyfriend. He witnessed Mr. Arkett initiating a relationship with me. That’s why he attacked him.”
“That is no grounds for the level of violence displayed.”
“Liv, don’t. That’s enough,” I beg as tears stream down her cheeks.
“I’m only 17. Mr. Arkett is my chemistry teacher.” The room gasps collectively.
“He was behaving inappropriately?” The judge asks.
“Yes, your honor. He liked to drive me home after hours. He would talk to me about boys and college. He complimented my appearance often. The night this event took place, he asked me to attend a study session at his house and hoped we’d be alone. He was touching me out of sight of the other teachers and rubbing circles on my back. He was underneath my shirt, touching my bra when Hayes found us.”
I rock back and forth in my chair, gripping my head in my hands as I hear her speak.He was touching her. He would have done worse.
“It’s my fault, your honor,” she cries. “I should have known better.”
“No,” I mutter.Don’t martyr yourself for me.
“I was too afraid to tell him to stop. If I had told him no, this wouldn’t have happened, but I froze,” she cries.
“Young lady, this is not your fault. I have daughters, and I can appreciate your bravery today, but your friend nearly killed a man.” He taps his fingers against his podium. “I’ll allow the plea deal, but six years instead of four.” He bangs the gavel and seals it.
