“No, really, why are you here?”

The smile drops from his face; I had never seen Vance without a smile.

I pause for a moment before something clicks in my head. “You shouldn’t be here today! Tonight is opening night in the play. You have a lead role and… why are you here?!”

“When I found out what had happened, I had to come,” he pauses. “To support you, you know?”

“You missed your opening night for me?” I squeeze him in an unbelievingly tight hug. “You shouldn’t have done that,” I scold.

“Well, yeah I should have. I wanted to come, and…” He rubs the back of his neck, as if he isn’t sure how to continue.

“What?”

“Well, the subpoena made sure I came,” he mumbles.

I give him confused look and he continues. “A bunch of us were subpoenaed,” he explains. “But I swear, Spencer, I’m not going to say anything that could get you or Ms. Davies into any trouble. I would never snitch like that. None of us will.”

“Us?”

“Look around.”

Looking around the courtroom, I see an odd pair sitting closely to the front: Ty and his boyfriend, Lance. They were both in my gym class, although I never talked to them regularly. Then again, they were on my football team at the beginning of the year…

And Madison!

Paula and Aiden had definitely done their research.

“Well, now I have to put on my bad boy face,” he giggles. “I’ll talk to you soon though, okay?”

“Of course,” I say, wrapping him in a huge bear hug one more time before he leaves.

The stout bailiff enters, announcing, “All rise. The honorable Judge Alexander Finnegan is now presiding.” Once the judge was seated, he tells us, “You may be seated.”

“Mr. Scott,” the judge grunts, “I take it you are ready to present actual evidence today against the defendant. I’d just like to reiterate the fact that the court’s time is precious, as our caseload is exponentially large these days. I ask that you keep that in mind as you proceed.”

“Of course, your honor. Before I begin, I’d like to present to the court Ms. Davies criminal record prior to being employed at King High.”