Expect the Unexpected

Chapter 38

"Scarlet?"

"Yes dad?"

"We've gotta get going sweetheart."

I sighed. His voice was filled with gentility and concern. He knew I didn't want to ever do this. But if it meant that Nick Clark would finally be in jail, this is something I had to do. I smoothed out my black dress and attempted to put my shoes on. I sighed again in frustration. My baby bump had become fairly big over the past few months. Now at 6 months pregnant, the fall air was crisp and felt amazing considering I was hot all of the time. My baby bump was now very visible, no longer able to be hidden under sweatshirts and hoodies. I grabbed the shoes and made my way downstairs.

"Can you help me put these on?" I asked him quietly. He was dressed in tan slacks and a nice light blue button down shirt with a gray tie. This is the most I've seen him dressed up since my mothers funeral.

He nodded, and proceeded to bend down to zip up my boots. My feet were a little cramped because they were swollen, but they were the only closed ones I had. There was no way I would be wearing heels.

He stood back up and nodded at me then stared at me for a moment.

"What...?" I asked, suddenly self conscious.

"You're just a beautiful girl Scarlet...I'm so proud of you." He said hugging me.

I laughed a little, "I haven't done anything yet dad...don't be proud of me just yet."

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When we got to the court house my nerves started to build up.

Not because I didn't think they'd find Nick guilty, of course they would. I was more worried about seeing him again. Having him see me pregnant.

We walked in and were ushered to a row of seats at the front of the courtroom. The judge's chair was empty, and so was the seat where Nick would be sitting.

We sat next to several other teenage girls. Most of them looked around my age. I knew only one of them from my school. I had AP Language with her Junior year 6th hour. I looked at each of them. 2 of the 6 sitting there were pregnant, or it was very obvious that they were.

We sat there for a few minutes when the lawyer dad had called came and sat behind us.

"Scarlet I have all of the evidence right here, all you have to do is tell them truth. Detail by detail of what happened. Don't pay attention to Nick. Just tell the judge what happened that night. She's on your side." He comforted me. I had only talked to him a few times, but I felt as if he was very sweet to me. Like I wasn't just another client of his.

I nodded and thanked him quietly. The court room got very quiet as the judge, a short blonde haired woman looking around her mid to late 40's, followed by Nick. I did everything I could to keep my eyes off of him. He stood where he was supposed to, and the judge got up in her chair, which seemed to engulf her rather than make her look superior.

I tuned out her mono toned voice as I watched the first girl walk up to the podium. She explained her case thoroughly and her lawyer had evidence and a DNA taste stating that Nick was the father of her child.

Girl after girl stood up with their lawyers, almost, or already in tears, reliving their horror story in front of the man that turned their lives upside down. My body shook with fear and my head spun. There's no way I can do this. As if he was able to hear my thoughts, my dad gently set his hand on my knee, noticing my discomfort. I calmed down the slightest bit as the next girl got up and started telling her story. The more I sat here, the more I thought, Why the hell would someone do this to so many girls? Didn't he ever stop to think that what he was doing was completely wrong and horrible? Hell did he even think at all?! I snapped out of my thoughts as the girl at the podium, looking 16 and very pregnant, broke into violent shaking sobs. The Judge's eyes widened in fear and uncertainty as she shakily announced that we would be taking a 15 minute recess. I sighed in relief as we all stepped outside. I no longer had to be under the constant burning feeling of Nick's eyes staring through me. So far he had been counted guilty for each of the girls who had been up. There were only 2 of us left.

"How are you holding up sweetheart?" My dad asked me, handing me a bottle of water. Thankful, I took a sip and replied, "I'm doing okay I guess."

A few moments passed of us making small talk and then he smiled saying, "Someone's here to see you..."

I glanced around anxious to see who it was. Then I saw him, walking towards me with the most gorgeous roses in his hands. I ran as fast as a pregnant woman can, trying so hard not to cry.

"Scarlet..." He whispered, hugging me, tangling his fingers through my hair gently pulling me even closer. I sighed and breathed him in. His heart was beating a million miles a minute, matching my own. I shook with happiness and anticipation. I pulled back from the hug and he kissed me deeply. Kissed me like there was nobody else in that room.

Silent happy tears rolled down my face as my lips moved with his. We pulled apart slowly and stared into each others eyes for a minute. "My god they were right..." he mumbled. I looked at him confused. "Pregnant woman really do glow.."

I blushed and sighed kissing him once more, never wanting his lips to leave mine.

He pulled back once more and explained to me how dad had called him and told him when the court date was and all of those details.

I smiled widely, taking in his sweet voice that I had missed so much.

I was lost in the moment, staring at his gorgeous green eyes when my dad cleared his throat and said, "It's time to get back in there."

I sighed and glanced back at Jason.

"I'm right behind you blue eyes, we're going to do this together."

And with that, we both stepped back into the court room. This time I felt more confident, more prepared, and more proud of myself. With Jason behind me, I felt unstoppable. I was no longer scared to face Nick, to look him in the eye.

And it's a good thing I'm not scared anymore.

Because it's my turn to take the stand.

A/N: So happy with the way this chapter turned out! Hope you're all liking it! Sorry for the late updates, guard has been taking over my life lately. But we've been doing good in competition! I'll update ASAP. Love you all!

-The One and Only Ali Marie