[discontinued] I'm Listening... (Book 4 of the Can't Say series.)

The day had finally arrived. Court day.

Avi was trying to tie his hair up but ended up giving up entirely and left his hair down, brushing it so it looked presentable, sitting on his shoulders in waves. Kevin had been sat on the couch waiting for him to finish up, bouncing his leg, nervously and impatiently. Avi had been up there for a while.

Avi wasn't even brushing his hair anymore. He was just passing it through his hair as a distraction before it became a rather useless distraction, he put it down and just stared at his reflection, fixing his hair so it covered part of his face. Thinking to himself.

This is it, today's the day.

He felt nerves begin to build within him.

Remember all he did to you.

His hands began to shake.

Remember all he said to you

His heart rate sped up.

Stick to the facts.

He wanted to cry.

Stick to the truth. You will be fine.

His panic subsided, he looked at his arms thinking...

There are bandages under there...

There are cuts under there...

There is a world of hurt under there...

There's a relief under there...

But he knew he couldn't do such thing. Not when Kevin was trying so hard to stop him scratching. He gave himself one last look in the mirror...

You got this.

He left the bathroom and walked down the stairs to the family room. He spotted Kevin's leg bouncing up and down as he waited.

"Kev...?"

His head swivelled around to face him.

"Are you ready?"

"Mhmm..."

He slid on his jacket, feeling Kevin's arms snake around his waist.

"you'll do just fine."

He smiled before he felt a light peck on the back of his neck. Kevin pulled out his phone he messaged Esther, who was driving all of them to court, telling her they were ready.

"They're on their way. We only have to wait."

Thirty minutes passed and Esther had soon pulled up outside their house, announcing her presence by blaring her horn for all to hear. Kevin walked over to Avi.

"You ready to go?"

"Do I have a choice?"

They shared a laugh, Avi having to inhale really deeply before opening the door and walking out to the car.

"Hey Esther."

"Hi Av."

"Hey guys."

"Hi."

"Hey."

"Hey!"

"We ready everyone!"

"Like we have a choice but lead on Esther."

She drove them all off to the courthouse, passing the many people living normal lives, doing normal things... yet here they were... famous A Capella singers heading to court to file a rape, abuse, murder and kidnapping case...

*Outside the Courthouse.*

They had pulled up outside the courthouse 10 minutes before the trial, noticing their lawyer, Kia, stood outside waiting for them. Noticing their car, she smiled and waited for them to all exit the car, the group walked over to her, they somehow managed to avoid the press on their way up the stairs and left to meet Kia at the top of the stairs. 

"Good to see you all made it."

"Not that we had a choice but yeah."

"Oh Avi."

"I'll lead you all inside, the judge is already in there sorting out the case, we can enter."

She guided them all through the doors into the courtroom. They all seemed to tense as they walked through the doors of the courtroom, heading to the bench they were to sit on for the trial. The judge approached them.

"Mr Kaplan and Mr Hoying?"

"Yes, your honour?"

"Nice to see that you've arrived here on time... please take your seats, the defendant should be here soon and we can start the trial."

He walked away, not knowing what he had just done.

"Wait... Isn't Daniel the defendant?"

Just then, the doors swung open and in walked none other than Daniel, the man none wanted to see. They watched him walk over to his bench with his officer and his lawyer, Avi began to scratch at his sleeve as Kevin held Kia by the shoulder to lean over and whisper into her ear.

"I thought you said he wasn't coming?"

"The judge wanted him here. Standard demand for a court case."

"Not when the accusant doesn't want him there. He's made Avi his victim more than enough and I don't want to see him hurt anyone."

He thought Avi couldn't her but he could and frankly, he'd had enough.

Avi:

Why do they keep talking about me that way? I'm not some helpless, horrified victim who can't handle himself. 

"I can hear you, Kevin."

"I thought I was whispering..."

"You're not very good at it when you're mad, and I appreciate the concern but I'm not a helpless victim who can't bear to look his attacker in the eye. That's all you guys ever refer to me as. A traumatised, scarred victim. I can stand up to the guy and face him on my own if he doesn't get physical..."

I looked over and I saw him, staring at me... he was giving me that sickening smirk, one action holding so many horrible memories, but this time they didn't scare me... I returned the dirty look Esther says I was notorious in high school for giving my friends when they brought up him and how 'bad he really is.' I wish I believed them...

There was a tap on my shoulder. I turned to face my lawyer.

"You say you're strong and you can face him alone right?"

"I can."

"Why don't you show us that?"

The judge took the stand as the jury filed in and everyone else.

"All rise."

We stood up as the judge took his place in his chair, he picked up his gavel, banging it a few times for all to be seated.

"Court Case #146: Daniel Rindler versus the people. The defendant has been accused of Murder in the 3rd degree, Sexual Assualt, Kidnapped and Abuse. Defendant, how do you plead?"

"...Guilty."

Wait... What?

"May the lawyers please present their cases?"

Here we go.

"we've got this..."

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