"You told her?!" Cameron whisper yelled.
I mentally face-palmed. I had told Kylie that Cameron and I were a thing, and she hadn't taken to it very well. She kicked me out of her room, without even speaking and locked the door giving me no other choice than to go to Cameron's room.
"Cameron. She partially knew." I said.
"Mack", he whined leaning his head back.
He glanced down at the sleeping Alex in his bed, and then back at me slightly confused.
"Uh? Has he been there the whole time?" He said letting out a laugh.
I nodded. "Yes, but Cameron focus."
I snapped my fingers in front of his face, and his laughter disappeared.
"What are we going to do? She's going to hate us both." I said frowning.
"Well she already hates me, so you're on your own on this one." He chuckled.
"CAMERON." I whisper yelled back. "IM SERIOUS."
He blew out air and ran his hand through his hair.
"I don't know." He said sitting down on the foot of his bed. I groaned. I had lost my best friend, and not only that, but now she hated me. I looked over at Cameron, who was staring at the sleeping Alex in his bed. He turned back around to face me.
"What?" He asked innocently.
I couldn't help but smile. "Just, you. The way you look at him, like you hit the jackpot."
"I did. I found my brother." He said smirking.
I was proud of myself for doing this for Cameron. It truly made him happy, and even though Gina wasn't too happy about it, Cameron was ecstatic.
"Come on, let's go get a drink, and chill on the couch since we can't sleep here." He said giving Alex one last look.
We tiptoed downstairs and into the kitchen. I took my spot at the bar, and he took the bar stool beside me, after getting us both a drink from the fridge.
"If she's really your best friend, then she'll be happy if you're happy." He said softly.
He was right. Kylie had been my best friend for 9 years, and if she was willing to throw away our friendship just because I might have a chance at dating her brother she has a serious issue. I gave him a smile, and he returned with one of his best ones.
"You're right." I said quietly.
He nodded sarcastically. "You don't have to tell me twice!"
He was always so conceded, although I kind of admired it. He was confident in himself, something I had always hoped for myself, but never could I bring myself to be as confident as him. The rest of the night, we laid on the couch, watching movies, and occasionally making small talk, until I slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Mackenzie", I sat up and looked around startled. Gina had been calling my name to wake me up. I peered at Cameron, seeing that he was still sound asleep.
"We have to go to court today.", she said giving me a small smile.
I nodded letting her know I got the message before stretching and standing up. I walked into Cameron's room, to grab one of my bags, since Kylie had kicked me out of her room the night before.
"Goodmorning!" Alexander said startling me. "Sorry I didn't mean to startle you."
"No it's fine! and goodmorning to you too!" I said as I grabbed my bag.
After taking a shower, I made my way downstairs to meet Gina in her car.As I was opening the front door I felt someone grab me from behind and I let out a small scream before I realized it was Cameron. He spun me around and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Have a good day today. I'll be here when you get back." He said kissing my cheek.
"You too." I said giving him a smile.
Once Gina and I made it to the court house, we went ahead inside, and waited to be called. Once called inside I took my seat.
"Mackenzie Roberts to the stand please."
I had never been more nervous in my entire life. Hearing my name called took me back in time in my thoughts to when I was a 2nd Grader. I had been sitting at my desk, quietly doing my assignment, when the intercom came on. "Mackenzie Roberts to the principal's office, please." I had stood up and left the classroom making that long walk to the principle's office. I was terrified that I had done something wrong. But when I arrived to the office, they were just awarding me with a certificate for student of the month.
This nervous feeling was the same feeling, except this time I wasn't receiving a certificate for student of the month, I was walking to testify against my mother.
"Place your right hand on the bible please. Mackenzie Roberts Do you swear to tell the the truth, The whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do." I replied.
I took my seat on the stand and placed my hands in my lap. A man in a nice suit who I assumed was my mother's lawyer stood up and sauntered over to me. His hair was slicked back, and his mustache made him appear as a 45 year old pedophile.
"Mrs. Roberts, how long had you lived with your mother before being removed from the home by Mrs. Dallas?" He asked.
"Ever since I could remember." I replied.
"And when was you first encounter of "abuse" with your mother?" He asked inserting air bubbles around abuse significantly.
"I was 7. My father had just left, I had forgotten to do the dishes." I said shyly.
"And just what did she do to you?" He asked giving what seemed to be a sly smile.
"OBJECTION." My lawyer yelled.
"Overruled." The judge said declining his call to save me from recalling one of my worst memories.
I looked down at my hands. It had been a long time since I had thought about the first time she ever hurt me. I looked over to Gina who gave me a reassuring nod.
"She held, me down and burned me with her cigarette." I said cringing.
"Yes, so you say. Mrs. Roberts, your mother implies that her burning your arm with her cigarette must've been an accident. Would you agree?"
I wrinkled my face up at him. "An accident?" I said rudely. "My mother held me down, and pushed her cigarette into my skin on my left arm. She also slammed my head against a concrete wall, whipped me with an extension cord, and forced me to do all of her duties as a mother. I was 7 years old. I would not agree at all."
His face turned pale as if he had not heard those scenarios from my mother before. He turned his head to face her, and then back to the judge.
"No further questions, your honor." He said taking his seat back at the small desk beside my mother.
The jury wasted no time in giving a verdict after hearing my answer to the lawyers question. It angered me that he would have even asked such a question. To even assume that anything my mother done was an accident, would have made a moron look smart.
"The jury has reached a verdict. Margaret Roberts, you were charged with Child abuse and neglect, Failure to provide vital care with your child, and assault. The jury finds you, guilty. You are sentenced to life in prison. As for Mackenzie Roberts, she may stay in the care of the Dallas family."
When the gavel hit the hard wood, I wasn't sure whether my life was ending, or beginning. I had never wanted my mother to go to jail. To see her walk, handcuffed into the back of the courthouse, to see her eyes send me a death glare, hurt the most. The stare she gave me was filled with hatred, and despise. How could this woman, this woman with nothing but hate to give, had ever loved me?
I remembered back to before my dad had left. We had been such a happy family. My mother had loved me. But when my father left it was as if that love and joy that had once been there, left with him. It made me realize love could change a person. It can make them feel as if they are on cloud 9, but make no mistake when I tell you this, just because someone tells you they love you, doesn't mean they actually do.