𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

ALANNA'S POV

Mine and Jamie's hearing was later on the day , it was arguably going to be one of the the most important day of my entire life . Dependent on what the judge and jury say today may be the end of my life , not literally but either way it is definitely going to have a massive impact.

A couple of days ago , me and had been told by our solicitor that today we had to make our final decision on our plea . Whether we were going to admit if we were guilty or innocent . For me there wasn't much thought that had gone into my decision however I knew that wasn't the same for Jamie . It was very different for me and him . It was almost guaranteed that Jamie was going to get sent down for some amount of time , the pair of us knew the truth as well as there being hard evidence to prove it . However for me it was very much touch and go to whether what was actually going to happen by the end of the day .

" Alanna " Jamie spoke up as he came into the room and sat next to me

" yeah Jamie , you alright " I say with a light smile on my face

" you about out pleas , have you decided what your going to say "he said , looking like he was deeply thinking about something

" yeah , didn't even think about it I am obviously pleading non guilty " speaking as if it was obvious

" oh yeah of course " he says quickly before getting up and leaving the room.

Now it was just a waiting game until it was time for us to be transported to the court where everything could change.

" Alanna , we're leaving " one of the nicer guards spoke up .

I quickly jumped up and followed the guard through all of the buzzed doors and into the van , I just wanted to get this over with now.

At the start , the van ride was silent apart from the hum of the engine and the occasional bark of the radio . I focused on the scratched up window , catching glimpses of the city that I haven't had the privilege to see in months like the people walking quickly , cars honking like it was just another normal Thursday. For them it was just a normal Thursday but for me it could potentially be the last day I see the sky without bars in front of it.

" I'm going to plea guilty " Jamie spat out quickly

" what " I say , confused to why he would think about admitting it

" I've told my dad , I'm not lying anymore " Jamie says , a sad look on his face

I didn't say anything in reply to him , I wasn't sure what I exactly could say to make this situation any better.

The courthouse loomed like it does in the movies , stone faced and unforgiving. And as we stepped inside , it smelt like old wood with a mix of floor polish . My footsteps echoed along the marble field as me and Jamie were led to different holding cells . In the holding cell, I sat on a bench my palms filled with sweat , heart beating slow but heavy almost like it was preparing for an impact. In my head I ran through was could possibly happen in there ; what the prosecutor might push for , what the judge might say and what my lawyer had promised and was most likely not going to be able to fulfill.

When I heard my name called , I stood immediately. My legs didn't shake but I was shaking anyway . Not from fear , well not exactly. It was the knowing. The knowing that whatever my life was before this could be changed , possibly into wearing numbers , long schedules and cold walls . I walked into the courtroom, lights too bright, too still. Eyes on me—some judging, some indifferent. The judge's bench ahead, tall and distant. My fate perched on that platform like it belonged to someone else. But it didn't. It belonged to me.

As I looked around the courtroom I saw multiple familiar faces , my brother and all of his friends sat on one side of the gallery and on the other side was all of Jamie's family . Somewhere along the back row sat Katie's parents , when I made eye contact with them I could see the hint of disappointment behind their eyes . I'm guessing that they thought that I was actually involved in the murder of their daughter .

" Miss Johnson what is your plea to the offences that you have been charged with " the Judge spoke up

" not guilty " I reply confidently, when I lock eyes with my brother I could see a proud smile appear on his face

After I had been asked a few more questions I was moved away from the stand and into a holding cell within the actual courtroom .

" and now coming to the stand , Jamie Miller " Someone else in the courtroom announced as Jamie was brought into the room and onto the stand .

" Mr Miller what is your plea to the offences that you have been charged with " the Judge asked Jamie the same question he had asked me

" Guilty " Jamie spoke up quietly before the courtroom fell into silence

Jamie was instantly taken out of the courtroom, in handcuffs something that neither of us have had to be in up until this point . Now it just made me more nervous for my turn .

My heart was pounding so loudly I could hear it over the silence that gripped the room. The jury filed back in, their expressions unreadable. I gripped the edge of the defense table, knuckles white, breath caught somewhere between hope and terror.

When the foreperson stood, my world shrank to the space between their lips.

"On the charge of—" My ears rang. I barely heard the rest.

"—not guilty."

For a moment, I didn't move. It was like the words had to echo a few times before they sank in. And then—relief. Not the kind that gently settles on you, but the kind that slams into your chest and knocks the air out. My lawyer gave me a firm pat on the back, whispering something I couldn't register.

I looked at the Judge , and then at the Jury and the finally at the people in the gallery. Some faces looked blank , some slightly disappointed. But then I found the face I needed to see - my older brother's . His face was full of relief , he was looking at me with a huge smile on his face.

I stood slowly, legs shaky, and nodded in quiet thanks toward the jury box. They'd never know what they'd just given me. Freedom. A second chance. Life.

The bailiff opened the gate, and I walked out—not just of the courtroom, but out from under a weight I'd carried for far too long.

My brother was stood there his arms wide open ready for me to jump into . Just being in the arms of my older brother showed me over the last 8 months how much I have missed my old life. My normal life.

a/n: this is the end of the book so I hope you all enjoyed it and thanks for all the support !!