*James*

The entire courtroom gasps. Even Colton West looks a little surprised at his win.  I'm being incarcerated. I committed a crime. I killed a man. It's only fair I go to prison for breaking the law.

Oh God. What have I done?!

The courtroom is in an uproar. I can hear my sisters crying behind me. I can hear Lindsay and Trisha crying but I'm too stunned to turn around.

"Order!" Judge Capriotti bangs the gavel for the commotion in the room to cease. "Order in the court!"

Everyone sits down and gives the judge their attention, but I can still hear the familiar cries from my family. Joe is going to have a field day with this one. I won't be able to protect the girls now. My whole life has been spent doing whatever I can to protect them. For fucking nothing!

"Mr. Gallo. We have rules and laws for a reason, you are aware of this son." The judge looks at me with empathy as I break down into silent crying, thinking of so many things right now. I'm not even thinking of how I will survive in prison, I'm thinking of how this affects everyone around me.

 Maggie has jumped up to put her front paws on my lap. Oh my God, I won't have Maggie! She's going to be so confused.

I'm going to jail and won't have anyone. Not even my dog.

"The jury's votes on your sentence with a seven/ five vote to abide by the laws of California." The judge sighs heavily. There's a long pause where he stares at me before speaking again.

"I cannot, in good conscience, agree with the jury's verdict."

The room is now silent. All reporters, cameramen, people of the court are frozen. What the hell is happening?

"I am filing a motion for a continuance."

Colton jumps up clearly pissed. "What? Your Honor."

"Mr. West, have a seat or I will hold you in contempt." Judge Capriotti takes off his wire rimmed glasses and rubs his eyes. He shakes his head again and puts his glasses back on.

"Mr. Gallo. Filing a motion for a continuance is when a judge needs more time to respond. I do not agree with the Jury's decision and have the right to decline the verdict. But a punishment still needs to be set for your offense. I need to review the case further so we will have a recess until further notice. I am, on the record," He looks at the woman typing feverishly to keep up with the transcription. "Filing for a continuance. We will resume trial at 3pm unless further time is needed. Court is adjourned."

Judge Capriotti bangs the gavel loudly, grabs his folders and quickly exits the room before half the room can even stand.

"What the hell is happening?" Nate rushes to our lawyer.

"It means he doesn't agree with the verdict so is coming up with his own sentence. This is good news, Mr. Hollan."

"Good NEWS? GOOD NEWS!?" Nate is making a scene and his bodyguard stands in front of him now.

"Eyes and ears everywhere, Nate. Cameras are all focused on you now."

"I don't give a fuck! That jury thinks James would survive in prison? Are they fucking kidding me?!" All the reporters are eating this up. Nate's reaction will be all over the news now.

"Escort him out. Quickly before they do. Hurry." Addison glances at the courtroom guards now noticing the commotion and against Nate's will, Evan and three of his security take him out the side door.

*******

*Trisha*

James hasn't said one word. We sit in the holding room waiting for Addison. We will be here for a while because we have to wait for things to die down outside. James is in a deep shock.

"Is he ok??" I cry as Casey sits with James on the couch.

"He's in shock. He will be ok, though."

"What does any of this even mean?!" Nate is still having his tantrum. "And where the hell is Addison?"

"Nate. Sit down." Jonah and Evan both say simultaneously. Nate sits down next to me at the table and Maggie jumps up on the couch to be with James.

Addison walks in holding her briefcase and a bunch of folders. Nate's tempter gets the best of his and he bolts up to get in her face.

"I don't fucking pay you to lose! I don't fucking pay you to send him to JAIL!"

"Someone control him." She rolls her eyes unaffected as Evan harshly pulls Nate away. "You're already all over the news for your outburst in the courtroom."

"This is good news." Addison looks at unresponsive James, frowns at his lack of reaction and turns to me. "I know that was shocking to hear.,,the jury siding with West. But they don't have the final say." Addison begins. "I have a feeling they only sided with Colton to abide by the state laws. They were scared. They know the laws are put in place for a reason and they are trying to follow them. I don't want to put false hope in anyone, but the judge obviously doesn't agree with James serving time in prison."

"So, what happens now?" Jonah asks, his hand on the back of his neck while pacing the small room.

"We wait. We wait as long as we need to wait. If the judge is ready, then at 3pm we go back into the courtroom. If he needs to prolong the continuance, it could be days."

"I need a fucking drink." Nate mutters.

"No... you don't. You need to stop drawing attention. The reporters are eating this shit up, Mr. Hollan. Listen, James." She talks to James, and he look at her but says nothing. "You are a giver. You contribute and do good deeds for others without expecting anything in return. Colton West? He's a taker. He's going to try to get as much out of you as possible to make this case look like he won. Whether it be jail time or a lump sum of money to shut his client up and make her feel like he accomplished something. Now it's out of his hands. He should have taken the plea bargain right from the beginning and now he's kicking himself for not doing so."

I know what Addison is saying now. Before this even went to trial we tried to settle with the prosecution. But they denied the offer.

"This is good news. It means that maybe, just MAYBE the judge doesn't want you to serve time in prison. Maybe he will lessen the time. Or maybe he will come up with something not involving incarceration."

"So what would his punishment be then?" Nate asks, now beginning to calm down a little more.

"Could be anything. Could be a huge fine, or maybe house arrest for the amount of time sentenced to prison. Either way, you are convicted of reckless driving. That will permanently be on your record. That won't go away. But, and I hate to sound insensitive here but, you are on disability and cannot work so it's not like that is going to affect you getting a job."

Addison sits down and puts her long hair in a low ponytail before looking down at a bunch of documents.

"Wait, house arrest?? Seriously? We were gonna go on tour. We we-" I begin to ramble.

"Trisha. Shut up." Nate snaps. "I couldn't give two fucks about tour right now. This is someone's life! Shit," He looks down at his phone. "It's Paul."

I feel my face redden in embarrassment. I didn't mean it how it came out. I meant, How are we going to leave James in a few months? With who? His sisters? If Home Confinement is what may happen James will need to decide where he wants to stay right away. I didn't mean it the way Nate thinks but it's no use trying to explain myself right now. It's not important.

"Paul, you're on speaker. I know why you are calling and don't fucking feel like relaying it to the nurses." Nate snaps again, putting his phone on the table.

"I know I've said it before, but this was a bad one boss." Paul tells Nate everything. How Julia threw the remote at the TV, her tantrum and then needing to be sedated. I had a feeling this would happen but this time, I can't blame the woman. Nate slams his fist on the table and bolts up to pace.

"Jesus Christ!" He kicks the chair in frustration. 

"I'm going to make sure she's fine, Nate. You know that. But the dose was high. The detox is going to be a bad one. I didn't want to call but I knew you would want to know."

"I appreciate it, Paul."

"How's James? And Trish..." Paul asks. "How's Trisha?"

I look away. With everything going on Paul is asking how I AM? 

I did get it all wrong, didn't I? I have made so many fucking mistakes in my life. 

I think this one may have been my biggest.

*******