"I know you're not having a trial but you still have to let me help you pick out an outfit. One that is a cross between I'm innocent and don't fuck with me." Katie said. We were in my room the night before I was going to be meeting with Kelsey and her lawyer. It was set for March 7th.
"It's almost like you'd rather I have a trial. I trust you to choose that exact thing for me." I said to Katie. I noticed she kept on looking at her phone and texting, way more than usual. I also caught her smiling at her phone a few times. "You keep smiling at your phone. You got a secret boyfriend or something?" I joked.
But Katie's face flushed. She looked at me and put down her phone. "Connor and I have kind of become...more than friends."
Her roommate. The one I always thought she liked.
"No way! That's awesome!" I said, "When did this happen?"
"A little over a month ago. I went out with him and Aidan and we got drunk. And I guess the alcohol revealed our true feelings because we wound up hooking up that night." Katie said.
"Hooking up as in...?"
"Fucking." Katie rolled her eyes and smiled.
"So are you two like officially a thing?"
"We are. And I'm really happy about it. I think he will finally treat me with the respect men haven't shown me before." Katie said.
I went over and gave her a hug. "I'm glad. You deserve it." I said.
Katie always had a tough time with guys. It seemed as though she was either the second option for them or they just used her for a fuck and that was it. They didn't want to date her. I just hoped Connor would be different for her.
Of course I could barely sleep that night. I had to be at the courthouse at 9 am- my mom and dad both took off work- it was a Friday- to go there with me. They couldn't be in the room, but they were going to wait in the lobby.
Katie had laid out a pencil skirt, white button up, and loose black blazer. I decided to put on minimal makeup, straighten my hair, and put it in a ponytail. Ava had class- but she still texted me wishing me luck. I knew she was nervous. I was nervous too.
My parents were dressed up nicely as well.
"Are you ready to go?" my dad asked me at 8:45.
"Yes." I nodded.
"It'll be okay." he said, and pulled me in for a side hug.
"Let's hope." I said.
I met Adam at the front of the county courthouse. He said the room we were going to be in was just basic, with a long table and chairs for me and him on one side and Kelsey and her lawyer on the other. He said there would be a judge at the end to listen and accept or deny the plea deal that was worked out.
Adam and I were there first in the room. I was feeling shaky.
"Take deep breaths, Josephine. It'll be okay." he said.
I had to hold back from rolling my eyes as Kelsey walked into the room with her lawyer- who was a woman that looked to be in her 50's with fire engine red hair to her shoulders and glasses. Kelsey definitely was playing up the innocent act. She had on a baby pink dress and a white cardigan. Her long brown hair was in a braid, and she had a cast over her nose. All I could do was just stare her down when she sat down across from me.
The judge, an older woman and with curly gray hair, Judge Bautista came in and sat down.
"We have everyone here. Adam Goldman is representing Josephine and Helen Vane will be representing Kelsey." Judge Bautista said. She then looked at me. "Josephine C. Fiori, in the charge of simple assault, how do you plead?"
"Guilty, your honor." I said.
"This shall proceed then. I am here to accept or reject a plea deal based on the information presented." Judge Bautista said.
When Kelsey recounted what happened that night, it pissed me off. She made herself sound like the complete victim, like I was some crazy animal who just attacked her out of nowhere- twice. Her lawyer was asking the right questions to paint me in a terrible light.
"I just came up and introduced myself and said I knew her sister. Yes, I wasn't a fan of her sister and I did express that. But Josephine punched me in the face. Even after she saw I was bleeding, she punched me again." Kelsey said.
I was gritting my teeth. She did more than express that she wasn't a fan of April. Yes, I hurt her. But she wasn't innocent.
"Josephine, can you describe what happened the night of the assault?" Adam asked me. He was standing up at this point.
"Yes." I said, and then described that I went to the Salt Rim to see if I could find any information out about April. I told them how I had spoken to Dave and Carly, and then Francesca.
"Kelsey came over to where Francesca and I were standing. I introduced myself, and then she made a comment insinuating that my sister ran off with a married man. It caught me off guard, and I said 'fuck you' to Kelsey. She then said that April got what she deserved. And I am sorry for it, I shouldn't have done it, but it made me so mad. I punched her. And then she screamed at me and I did it again. And violence shouldn't have been my reaction- but you have to understand. My sister, my best friend, has been missing for 7 months. I don't know if she is alive- and then to hear she deserved it. It made me so mad." I said.
"That's not true. I didn't say she deserved it." Kelsey said.
"Yes, you did." I said.
"Let's focus." Judge Bautista warned.
"I want to call in a witness." Adam said.
A witness?
"Who is the witness?" Judge Bautista asked.
"Francesca Giannotti. She is a server at the Salt Rim- the one who Josephine was talking to before what happened." Adam said.
Let's hope she tells the actual truth.
"Call her in." Judge Bautista said. I saw Kelsey tense up.
Adam walked out of the room and then back in, Francesca following him. She had on a tight black dress, white blazer, and very high heels. She looked a bit more like she was going to a club. I could see how her and April were friends.
She gave me a small smile when she walked in. I hoped that meant she was going to vouch for me.
She sat down at the far end of the table across from Judge Bautista.
Adam faced her, "Francesca, thank you for being a witness. Now, can you describe what happened when Kelsey came up to you and Josephine?"
"Of course" Francesca nodded, "Josephine and I had just met that night. We were talking. Kelsey came over to us and asked Josephine if she was related to April. Josephine said yes, and that she was trying to find answers. Kelsey then said that April probably ran away with a married man. That angered Josephine. It angered me too. April was my friend. Kelsey then asked Josephine if she was there to steal someone's man. Josephine said that she had a girlfriend. Then, Kelsey said that April deserved to go missing."
There it is.
"Judge Bautista, as you can see, our witness has the same account my client has." Adam said.
"I've heard everything I need to hear." Judge Bautista nodded. "Josephine and Kelsey, you may leave the room. We are going to discuss the plea deal."
Kelsey walked out of the room first and then I followed. We were ordered to stay apart, and I was going to follow those orders.
I went up to my mom and dad. "I think it went okay." I said, "The witness Adam called in stood up for me."
"Good." my mom said, and to my surprise she hugged me. I hugged her back.
It felt like a while that I sat there on a bench waiting with my parents. I texted Ava that I was waiting for a verdict. I wished she could be next to me right now- but she had a major test in one of her business classes. And I thought it would be best too if I just did this myself.
A waited a while longer. Finally, Adam came and got me. "We have a plea deal." he said, "Let's head back in."
I sat next to Adam at the table and waited for Judge Bautista to come in. I felt nauseous and shaky. And cold. I just wanted this to be over with. Was I going to go to jail?
I noticed Kelsey was avoiding my eyes the whole time. At first it had been really weird being in the same room with her- now it didn't phase me.
Judge Bautista finally came back in and sat down. I sucked in my breath.
She turned to me directly. "Josephine, in this case, I do not think jail time is going to do you any good."
Even after that sentence I felt like I could cry. No jail time.
"You are going through extreme emotional trauma right now and you need to be with your family. This is also your first offense. However, I want you to learn that violence is not the answer. I order you to
8 weeks of anger management therapy and you must pay a $1,500 fine. This offense will be able to be expunged from your record in three years. Do you understand the terms of this condition?"
"Yes, your honor." I said. I felt a weight fall off my shoulders.
"This session is adjourned." Judge Bautista said.
Kelsey was staring me down as I got up and walked out with Adam.
"Thank you so much." I said to him as we walked toward my parents. "How did you know to bring Francesca in?"
"I have my ways." he grinned.
We went up to my parents. I saw Francesca was standing with them.
"No jail time." I said, and my mom and dad hugged me. They looked beyond relieved. "A fine and anger management courses."
"How much is the fine? I'll write a damn check right now." my dad laughed.
"Thank you." I hugged Francesca.
"Of course." she hugged me back, "Now that this is over, let's find your sister."

A/N: My apologies if this was not accurate at all to a plea deal. I researched it and tried my very best. I still hope you enjoyed!