Kidnapped

False Security

Chapter 14:

Everyone shuffled back into the courtroom after the brief recess, I kind of ditched my dad and Darren to talk to Andrew, then ducked back into the empty courtroom a few minutes before to sort out my feelings. They wouldn't have let me talk to him. I shouldn't have talked to him, much less hugged him, he was warm, gentle. He understood everything, he KNEW, and I could feel it radiating off of him. The hug lasted too long, I was too comfortable in his arms.

I shouldn't have done that. I looked down at my left hand, trying to admire the silver band Darren had given me. I promised myself to him, I shouldn't be feeling this way toward Andrew. Andrew shouldn't have this effect on me. This is wrong.

Darren seated himself beside me and I leaned against him, trying to force thoughts of Andrew out of my head. Suddenly, his cologne was almost foreign to me, I couldn't focus. I closed my eyes but that did nothing to help, all I saw was Andrew. I reached up and gently guided Darren's face down to mine, pressing our lips together. His alien touch familiarized, his cologne blanketed me.

"It's almost over, baby." He whispered in my ear. Everything returned to normal. My heart slowed to a normal pace and Darren's warmth spread over me. My boyfriend. My fiance.

We stood for the judge again, remaining up until he seated himself. Andrew was beside his lawyer again, nervously running his fingers through his hair. He wouldn't look at me, his eyes were locked on the jury. I wrung my hands, my nervousness matching his.

"The jury has declared the defendant," he huffed, I held my breath. "Guilty."

"WHAT?" I stood without realizing it. My dad gripped my shoulders and pulled me back to my seat.

"SH!" He hissed in my ear. "Don't say a word. Let him finish."

All eyes were on me, the judge's were the most patient of them all. Andrew's head was in his hands, his shoulders were dropped.

"But due to the special circumstances," he continued. "he is sentenced to one year probation with one thousand hours of community service."

Andrew's head jerked up. He locked eyes with the judge and Hefly winked at him, a large grin split Andrews lips.

After everyone had cleared the courtroom, I waited for Andrew in the commons holding Darren's hand to avoid being sucked into a confusing sea of emotions. My dad tried to convince me that we should just leave, but I wanted to see Andrew again, possibly for the last time. When he approached us, I could tell he wasn't very fond of Darren, when I felt Darren stiffen beside me I knew the feelings were mutual.

"Hey." I smiled as he came near.

"Hey." Andrew returned it. He was dressed in the t shirt and jeans he had ran away in, but they looked fresher, clean. His hair was disheveled and unkempt, but held an unnatural charm to it.

"I'm glad you got off." I said awkwardly. There really wasn't much to talk about. "Um- where are you going to stay now?"

"Officer Spick has family here. He said I could stay with them until I got my feet back under me.

"That's nice of him." I brush my hair away from my face. A small, compelling force is pulling me toward Andrew.

Maybe I do have Stockholm Syndrome.

"Well," I said. "I have to get going. I'll see you around."

"Yeah." He looked down and his shoulders slumped slightly. Both of us knew it wasn't likely. "See you."

Darren tugged me away from Andrew and outside. I glanced back at him, but he was already gone.

Darren stayed with me the rest of the day. Light conversation between him and my dad drifted over to me from the kitchen as I laid on the couch scratching behind Daisy's ear. It was impossible to keep my mind from Andrew, I mean- I spent half a month with him trying to get out of a traumatic situation. It's natural to think of him for a while.