by Eden Rose
A guard came into the room with a video tape and walked towards the judge. The judge asked for my lawyer and the prosecutor to follow her. Sammy came up and led me towards a private room. As much as I want to ask questions, I am well aware that this is not the time.
I kept looking back to see if Vincent was following us. He wasn't. I won't deny the disappointment that I feel from that.
This room was dank and sterile. A long wooden table sat in the middle with a few rolling chairs with arm rests that were made of leather. There is a huge window that overlooked the justice complex but thick horizontal blinds blocked the view. Upon further viewing, a huge television sat on a shelf opposite of the window and there wasn't anything else on the shelving. Each wall was painted a neutral color with white trim.
The guard put a DVD into the player and I noticed that the room looked familiar. This is like a nightmare that has been replaying in my head however now I get to actually see it. Feeling is one thing but putting an actual visual is completely a different story.
"Judge, this DVD was given to me in privacy. As you can see," he points to me on a couch, "that is the defendant, and there is the victim." The tape played when I was hit and the potential sexual assault that I was being subjected to and showed Joel holding my ankles and Millstone unzipping my dress. I was waiting for the part of the tape when Vincent came in, but it stopped when the gun was pointed in my face. The video isn't something that I never seen before because I did while my shell and soul separated.
Sammy coughed and I looked at him. "Your honor, I believe that this video shows and depicts my client's defense perfectly. I move for an immediate dismissal."
The judge excused herself, and I was left in the room with the attorneys. Sammy patted my hand and the prosecutor looked at me.
"I understand why you shot him. I would have done it too. I wonder what will happen." I am completely shocked on the difference of her actions. In the court room I was half expecting a lynch mob to take me out.
Solidarity sister!
The guard came back and told us it was time to go back into the court room. As we all sat, the judge addressed us. Fingers crossed.
"Due to mitigating evidence, and the real evidence that was just delivered, we have no choice but to dismiss this case."
The whole court room started to scream and hoot. My face was deeply warm and I was waiting for the but. There has to be one, right? Like probation or community service... something to atone for my wrong doings.
"However, Joel and Savannah, until further notice you are not allowed to be within one hundred yards from one another. That stands for the both of you. You are not allowed to have any contact with each other. Mr. Castile, I do believe that you were the catalyst in the death of a man. I will look into your involvement. Ms. Cavanough, you are free to go."
I shot out of my seat and Sammy embraced me. He led me out of the room, and Ronnie, Anne and Vincent were waiting for me. Anne crashed into me and hugged me. I hugged her back and burst into tears. Out of everyone here, this girl is my family. Anne is the smartest and most loyal person that I know and I will do anything for her just like she did for me.
I really wanted to hug Vincent and have him hold me. Sammy let go of my arm and Vincent walked towards me and I met him half way as I am deeply desperate to have him hold me.
His chest was trembling and I felt the raw need exude him. "Baby doll, that was so dumb! You could have been in prison right now!" He said to me as I pulled out of the embrace. "You are a dumb woman, but I love you more than I could ever explain." He rains kisses all over my face and fisted his hands in my hair. I knew what he was doing. I do the same thing. He is using me as his anchor and as long as he knows that he is mine too, then we will be fine. Vincent turned towards Sammy and hugged him but I still hung myself on him like a baby monkey. "Thank you. Words can not express how thankful I am to you."
"Vans, are you okay?" Anne asked as I tried to control my breathing and to not cry harder. Which immediately happened when Vincent let go of me.
"I am just scared. I didn't realize that they recorded it," I let Anne hug me and I hugged her back with everything that I am. "Do you know who handed the video over?" I asked the group that I am in. My eyes were closed but I heard and smelled a group of people walking up to our group. As I opened my eyes, I noticed that everyone that is in front of the court room is now standing right here.
"Hey guys," Vincent said as he greeted everyone. All of the guys did their weird hugs where they kiss each other on the cheek. Some of them tried to get me to join in on big bear hugs but Vincent wouldn't let me go once he reclaimed me. That is something I couldn't complain about.
"Hey, let's all go to the social club for a celebratory lunch!" John exclaimed as I pulled out of my hug with Anne who was the only one to get through Vincent's stare.
Vincent kissed my cheek while wrapping me into a full on hug. "Did you want to go?" He asked as I nestled my head into his chest. I pushed my arms through his suit jacket to hold on tighter.
Truth be told, I didn't want to go anywhere. I wanted to get my things situated in the new apartment and get my life back in order. I was about to tell everyone to get lost but I could see the excitement in his eyes. These guys are his family and I need to understand that before we fully move on with each other. "If you want to. I am probably not going to be much fun." I tried to give myself an out in case it were possible for me to ditch.
Anne hugged me from the other side and begged for us to go. As we were leaving the court house, I seen Joel and he smiled at me. It was almost as if all of these years passed and we were back in high school again. Joel didn't look like the bad person he became but like the boy he used to be. I looked away from him and stayed right under Vincent's hold.
"Baby, I am so sorry. I couldn't let you take the fall for me. Are you mad at me?" I asked him as we followed a group of suited men into a restaurant. Throughout the trial, all I could think about was how much Vincent could be angry with me.
A lot of different emotions flashed past his face. Anger, hurt, pain and something else. "I am mad that you confessed to something that you didn't do. However, I love you for doing it." He kissed me silly and then placed his hands on my shoulders before putting his lips against my ear. "I have half a mind to chain you to our bed and never let you go."
Our bed? Surely he means bed in general. Right? "Where exactly is our bed?" I meant to be teasing but my nerves came out and I wanted to know where this place was.
Vincent tipped my chin up with his fingers and kissed my nose. "Until we get everything settled, I had Anne and Rossi move your stuff into the house." He must have sensed my anxiety because he smiled and then pulled me into such a strong hug. "Baby, wherever you are is home."
Swoon.
That just made my knees shake.
We walked into the door and I spun so I was able to hug him from the front. Just can't get over touching him. His skin in like a drug to me. Its so soft and smells way too good. "I love you. Did you see the new apartment?"
"About that... it wasn't nice apartment. I found us a better one. Its a penthouse above the apartment that you leased," he pulled out my chair and I sat down. When he sat down, I put my hand on his leg and he fingered my bracelet. "Anne and Ronnie live there too," he said as one of the men ordered wine.
So, he took it upon himself to handle this? I didn't like that at all. This was supposed to be our thing and now the situation has been changed. "Um, so what did you do?"
"I told Masters that the apartment was junk and my lady doesn't deserve to live in filth." Vincent picked up a water glass and took a sip completely unaware of my feelings. "What's wrong? I thought you would be happy."
"Well, I am confused, Vincent." I had to take a break in what I was saying in order to not start yelling. "I just don't know what is happening. So," I gulped my wine down and then held it out for someone to refill it, "where are we living?"
He ran a circle around my nose with his index fin
ger and then winked. Smug bastard. "We are living in our house until the penthouse is ready."
Is he trying to confuse the hell out of me or is this a benefit? "Our house?"
The look he gave me made me wonder if I have gone insane. "What's mine is yours." Vincent turned and started to talk to other people so I am assuming that our conversation is over.
I felt the glow come over my whole body. Vincent has the ability to say these things and I eat it up like chocolate. I love this man so much and by him hearing say that, I feel as if I matter to him.
"Here is to Savannah and Sammy! Congratulations on your win!" I didn't know the person who yelled but he grabbed a goblet and raised it.
Sammy and I locked eyes and I said thank you. Vincent was rubbing my back and Anne sat next to me. I relished the feeling of being in between these two. It made me feel as if things were going to get back to normal. Man, I need normal bad. It feels good to be in public.
"So, how is everything going for your wedding?" I asked Anne and smiled at her. "How many more days do you have left now?" Everything that is happening has taken the spot light away from her and she deserves everything magical on her day. Anne is my best friend and no matter what, she needs a good day and I will kill someone in order to make sure she gets it.
That probably isn't such a smart thing to declare considering my previous arrest.
"The wedding is going so well. Vincent is so nice to let us have it there. My parents are so happy to see you and to meet Ronnie. We have three days left!" The smile on her face and the glow in her cheeks makes me feel so much. My emotions are already all over the place and now I am fighting back tears of happiness.
Wow, I didn't realize that it was Thursday already. "That is so cool! I am really looking forward to it!" Lately, everything has been focused on me and I never wanted the spotlight. Even though they are already married, Anne deserves to be in the spotlight.
The waiter came and brought a procession of food. Everyone at the table was talking about how great the food looked. I wasn't very hungry, I was still nervous from earlier. But I did put some food on my plate anyways and picked at it.
Vincent placed his lips on my ear and whispered, "I have a surprise for you." He placed a bag on the table and everyone turned to stare at us. My face turned beat red. Who knows what is in the bag. "You aren't going to find out what it is until you look at what's in it."
"Okay, okay. I am opening it," I peeled the wrapping from the bag out and seen a box. My heart started to beat harder because I really thought he was going to propose to me. I smiled and pulled the box out. To my surprise, I was completely wrong. "You got me a phone?" I demanded as I opened the box and looked at my new smart phone.
"Yes, no one has this number but me and Anne. This is your personal phone and this," he reached into the bag and pulled out another box, "is your work phone. Anne already emailed your clients."
I turned on both phones and put a french fry in my mouth while waiting for them to turn on. "Thank you, baby." I puckered my lips and he kissed me. "I am surprised!" Surprise is an understatement. I didn't think that it was phones.
"Yeah, she probably thought it was a ring!" Johnny yelled and got slapped in the arm by Ronnie.
Which is exactly what I thought was in the non-descriptive bag. The bag is black for fucks sake. Anything could have been in that bag and since I was talking about him proposing a few days ago... Well let's just say that this was the last thing I expected.
"Let them do their own thing, you asshole!" Ronnie said and turned to wink at Vincent.
"What are they talking about?" I asked as I shoved another fry into my mouth and looked through each phone to see what it had. While looking, I did notice that my most important contacts were already in the phones.
"Nothing, they are crazy," he replied and rubbed my cheek with his palm.
"So Vans, where are you living now?" Anne asked me as I listened to everyone talking about random stuff.
Ha ha. Isn't that the question of the day! I wish I knew where I was living because I am so tired of being a nomad. I want to set up shop some place and make it home. "I am not sure when the penthouse will be done. Vincent?"
"In a couple of weeks," was his reply.
"Where are you going to stay until then?" Anne asked and I gave her half a smile.
"Not entirely sure."
"Savannah, why don't you stay at the house for a little bit until we get our place set up?"
I thought that we already had this worked out. Man, boys are confusing. I swear I don't know which way is up anymore. I feel like I am in that alien ride at the fairs right now. You know the ride? The one that spins very fast but you can move your body but its hard to do it? I want to say it was called The Flying Saucer or something.
"Is there a Mrs. Savannah Castile here?" A waiter asked as he approached our big table. I looked up from my phone and looked at a teenager w dark blond hair. He was cute in that "bring him home to mom" type. Probably a ladies man.
I started to laugh and replied, "Not anymore!" The waiter gave me a strange look and looked at me trying to figure out if I am who I am. My sarcasm is in rare form today.
"Are you Savannah?" He asked.
"Why, yes I am. What can I do for you?" I placed my phones on the table and stuffed another french fry in my mouth. Fries are my weakness. Every meal could be fries to me and I would be a happy person.
"You have a delivery outside, please come with me. They need you to sign something," he stood there waiting for me to get out of my seat to follow him.
"Vincent?" I asked trying to see if this was one of his surprises. He didn't show any recognition. "I guess I will be right back." I stood up and followed the waiter outside.
There was about three men standing in front of a brand new Lincoln MKZ that is black on black. This car was gorgeous. I wanted to get down on my knees and kiss the car. Wait. Why does it have my name on it? I swear, if Vincent got me another car, I will scream. He has bought me too much as it is.
"Savannah? Is that who you are?" A man in overalls asked as he handed me a clip board. I nodded and took it to see what this was about. "This is yours as soon as you sign this. Here is a note," he handed me a piece of paper and I signed the release paper.
I circled the car as I opened the note.
My Dearest Savannah,
I owe you a new car, I seen this and knew that you would love it. Please forgive me, Joel.
I turned back to the man who was holding the keys out to me and handed back everything. "Take it back. I don't want it." I turned away and walked back inside. Vincent was standing behind my chair waiting to pull it out for me. "That bastard bought me a new Lincoln! What an asshole!" I sit down and turn to Anne and show her the note.
Walking away from that beautiful car is definitely difficult. The car in itself, is a vision on beauty.
"That is crazy. Why would he do that?" She was shaking her head back and forth almost as if she were trying to get rid of a bad thought.
Well, that is something easy to answer. Anyone could answer this question. "Because he is psycho." Or maybe he wants me to owe him something, I added this quietly.
John started to speak from the head of the table, "You could have sold it, you know? I would have given you full retail price for it." I am beginning to think I underestimated John. He used to scare me because he had this intimidating look about him but after that suggestion, I knew what he was. John is a business man and he knows how to make money.
"Thanks, that is a nice offer. But I don't want Joel to think I owe him." Well, looks as if I will say it out loud. I didn't want everyone to know the truth of our torrid affair and that Joel only did things because he expected something in return.
As Vincent was rubbing my shoulders and Anne started talking. Her brown eyes were looking very suspicious. "So, we dropped off your clothes from his house at Vincent's. Your Chanel suit wasn't there and neither was your jewelry box."
I slammed my hand against t
he table. "Fucking shit head. It is one thing to trash my car but to take my suit too? Anne, let's go shopping." I need some retail therapy badly. Lucky for me, I still have a nice little goose egg of savings.
"Yes!!! Ronnie, I will see you later," she kissed him and he handed her a couple of hundred dollar bills. "Thanks. Love you."
Vincent pulled out his wallet and handed me a thousand dollars all in hundreds. "Go shopping and I will see you later."
I looked from the money to Vincent's face. "Are you sure? I do have my own money." This man has given me so much already. Even without the money or the gifts, this man is beautiful. He truly cares about everyone and especially me. I feel special and adored around him which is... I can't even put a label on the feeling.
He flicked his wrist and shoved the money into my purse. "You are so getting laid when we get home," I whispered in his ear as I walked away and he smacked my ass.