Sugar & Spice

20|race to the future

Six different news channels, journalists and curious spectators had gathered outside of the courthouse on the morning of the trial. Peter, her lawyer, had warned her about it but as she was pulling up outside it still shocked her to see the crowd that had gathered. They had been working so hard for this and Aria had felt so determined but being faced with the people and the cameras made her retrieve back and since she didn't have her friends to lean on it all felt a little too overwhelming. The large black car that had transported her, Peter and her parents were now in park while Peter and John were explaining to Catherine and Aria what was going to happen now. It did feel good to have her father, an experienced lawyer, here too. Before they had left the house this morning he had been very particular about how he needed to treat this situation.

"When we walk in to court it's important that we keep a straight face, focus on the task at hand and don't give away anything to the media. Appearance is everything in situations like this." John had informed her. 

"So, how should I behave? Straight face sounds so broadly described." Aria had asked him.

"This might sound harsh but you can't smile or be too cheerful and you also can't look too cold and mean, especially in the courtroom. The jury will watch your every move just like they'll do with Brody. Treat this situation with the seriousness you have up until now and you should be fine." John had explained.

Now Peter was doing his best to repeat the plan they'd set and his eyes were pleading with Catherine and Aria to please follow it closely - John wasn't really a concern. What Peter was worried about was Aria's initial reaction upon seeing her attacker for the first time since prom night and how different Brody would likely be looking after having spent time in jail. 

"Aria, are you listening to me? I just said that you'll have to try your best not to look at Mr Jensen while we're in court. I can't say for sure but there might be a chance that he'll try to intimidate you or throw you off your game - so don't bait him." Peter said sternly. 

"Is there anything else I should think about or are we going to get out of the car soon? The longer we're here the more people seem to swarm it." Aria noticed how some of the news outlet had started finding interest in the large black car, staying in park.

With that acknowledgement made Peter nodded and gave Aria one more one over before he exited the car and opened the door to the backseat, letting her and her mother out in the fresh air. Everything about the air felt different this morning, it was dry and cold and making it hard to breathe normally. Rebecca and Jane were walking in with their own lawyers and she hadn't spoken to Tom in a while now but she yearned for him in this moment. He knew exactly how to provide a great distraction for her. 

No tears and no weakness, she told herself and put on repeat. As she walked up the stairs she could hear the reporters gawking at her, snapping pictures and asking questions. They asked her if this was all worth it, if she expected to win and how it would be like seeing Mr Jensen again - questions she all had asked herself at some point on this crazy roller coaster ride. Her heart was beating so fast and loud that it was all the noise her ears could take and it became a blessing since it was easier to ignore the sound of the people beside, behind and in front of her. 

A part of her lent her brain to think of Michael and how he was doing. Soon this would be him, if they were lucky, walking up the stairs to a courthouse to prosecute Laura Patterson. Had they really prepared him enough for this part of the journey, because going to trial doesn't mean that it was over - it was never over. When this trial was over Aria wasn't sure what would happen to her, Rebecca or Jane. If Brody Jensen won her life would change for the worse, that she knew, and possibly into a dangerous one. If they won she couldn't tell what would happen; perhaps she could finally let this part of her life go a little bit and focus on her future.