Page 43 of In the Air Tonight

“You, too. It’s good to have you home.”

“Thanks.” I want to tell her this will never be my home, but she doesn’t need to be reminded that all my problems began when she brought me to her hometown, where I never stood a chance of assimilating with kids who’d been together their whole lives. At least at my old school there were tons of military kids like me, so it wasn’t as complicated to be new. There were some military kids in school here, but for whatever reason they had none of the problems I did.

Maybe it’s me. I must’ve done something to cause them to take an instant dislike to me. I’ve thought a lot about that over the last few weeks, picking over every second of those first weeks in a new school. For the life of me, I can’t think of anything that would’ve caused them to hate me so much.

Kane says it’s because they were intimidated by how pretty I am.

I think that’s silly. A lot of them are prettier than I am.

He said he doubts that.

I told him he’s biased, and I refuse to believe that the kind of things I experienced could be caused by something so superficial as how someone looks.

Being back in my old room triggers the trauma. I’d give anything to not have to spend even a single night in that room, but since Kane is with me, I get through it.

When I walk into the courtroom the next morning, the trauma hits like a tidal wave when I see Ryder sitting at one of the tables in the front of the room, next to a man with gray hair who is leaning in to hear what Ryder is saying.

I feel the eyes—or I should say the glares—of everyone in that room on me as I walk to my seat in the front where Neil told me to sit.

Kane’s hand on my lower back reminds me to keep breathing, to get through this so I can get out of here as soon as possible.

My parents follow us in and sit next to me. Kane holds my right hand while my dad has the left one.

The sheriff’s deputy tells us to stand when the judge enters the room.

“The Honorable Judge Morgan Denton presiding.”

“Please be seated,” Judge Denton says.

She’s younger than I thought she’d be, forty at the most, with brown skin, dark eyes and a no-nonsense expression on her pretty face.

“We’re here today to consider the defense motion to dismiss this case due to a lack of evidence. Before I can consider the merits of the motion, I’d like to hear from Ms. Sutton.”

Kane gives my hand a squeeze before he releases it.

I thought a lot about what to wear today and decided on a navy dress I wore to my cousin’s wedding right before school started last year. I left my hair down and other than lip gloss, I’m not wearing any makeup. I was surprised when Neil askedme about what I’d wear and suggested I keep it as simple as possible.

When I’m seated in the box next to the judge, the bailiff appears with a bible and swears me in.

“I appreciate you being here today, Ms. Sutton,” the judge says. “I requested you be sworn in because it’s a crime to lie under oath. You’re accusing Mr. Elliott of a very serious crime. I want to hear your story from you before I rule on the defense motion. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

Over the next half hour, Neil leads me through the events of that evening, guiding me in the telling of my story. I try very hard to remain unemotional, but when I get to the part where I have to describe the attack in detail, I can’t help the tears that spill down my cheeks.

“Ms. Sutton,” the judge says, “what contact had you had with Mr. Elliott before that night?”

“I only knew him from school. I mean everyone knew him.”

“Had you spoken with him or had any direct interaction with him?”

“Once or twice, but just to say hello.”

“And yet he said you’d been looking at him like you wanted to fuck him? Was that the way he said it?”

I nod.

“I need you to say the words for the court stenographer.”

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