Chapter 5

That night I got no sleep, so I decided to lay and watch Howie
sleep. I would cry every now and then, stroke his cheek, smile.
Whiskers jumped on the bed as I pet him, sighing as I got up and
put on my robe. I walked into the kitchen as looked at the time.

'Damn, 6:34,' I thought to myself as I looked into the fridge and got
out my bottled water. I hopped onto the counter and drank my
water, watching Whiskers playing with string on the floor.

I jumped down and looked out the window seeing tons of people
parked out of my house, hoping I came outside…knowing Howie was here.

I sighed and put my water on the counter, taking Whiskers in my
arms and walking into the bedroom. I put him down and watched
him jump up aside Howie and lay down. I grinned and walked into the
bathroom turning on the shower water.

When I got out I wiped the water from the mirror, looking at my
reflection at my red rimmed eyes and my tangly hair. I bit my lip and
wrapped a towel around my body, then brushed the knots out of my
hair. I plugged the hair dryer in and shut the bathroom door so the sound
wasn't as loud in the bedroom. I dried my hair and brushed my hair, looking
at myself and wiping my teary eyes. I opened my closet door and
pulled out my lucky outfit I wore to cases. I put on the purple skirt and
white silk spaghetti strap shirt. I put on a pearl necklace and
matching bracelet and my purple heels.

I stood looking at Howie and I burst into tears. I couldn't look
at him without crying, I knew this case was hard to win especially because
of his fame on his side. I shook my head, wiping my tears off my face as I
sat down at my vanity mirror. I put my hair up in a tight bun as I felt two
arms wrap around me, I saw Howie's face in the mirror as I felt
him kiss my cheek softly.

"You look nice," he said as I grinned.

"Thanks," I said as he kissed my neck softly. "You need to get ready too,
we have to leave soon," I said as I brushed my hands across his arms.

"I will, but I want to see you first."

"Here I am," I grinned. I got up and he pulled me into his
arms. "I have a lot of stuff to do before we go," I said as he
brushed the tears that were on my face.

"You're going to win this, I believe in you," he said as I shook my
head. I didn't believe it, I couldn't handle pressure like this. "Look at
me," he said as I shook my head walking away.

"I'm not going anywhere with you or into court until you look and me," he
said angrily. I walked into the kitchen and pulled out my water,
ignoring him as I felt tears rise in my eyes.

"Veronica," he said agitated.

"Come on Howie we're going to be late," I said putting the water back in
the fridge. I turned around to see Howie standing in front of me.

"I'm not going anywhere until you look at me and talk to me," he said as I sighed.

"Don't be like this we have to go." I started walking away as he
wrapped me in his arms and kissed me softly. Tears welled up in my eyes as
I sighed.

"Now why did you have to do that?" I cried as tears streamed down my face.

"Because I love you," Howie said, his voice breaking. I looked up in his
eyes and saw tears coming down his face.

"Don't say that unless you mean…"

"You think I'd lie about this?" He said angrily. "I want spend the rest of
my life with you I would kill myself for you, I would give you anything
you want!" He yelled slamming the bathroom door. I sat down on the
couch and just sat shocked. I couldn't cry, I couldn't move.

~*~*~*~

Howie would talk to me on the way there, he would even look near
my direction he was either too mad or too sad about me, whatever it was
just killed my heart. I made him feel this way…

"Yo Howie! Where have you been buddy?" A.J. asked as I watched Howie hug all of the guys.

"Traffic," he said with a shrug.

"Um…I have to go talk to the plaintiff, I'll see you guys inside?"

"Yeah, see ya!" Brian said as all the guys said bye. Howie still wouldn't
look my way, I couldn't take it…if he loved me why was he being like this?

~*~*~*~

"All rise," the cop said as Howie and I stood up. "The honorable
Judge Neman presiding."

"You may be seated," Judge said as Howie as I sat down. I opened my
briefcase as the Judge went through his papers. "Mr. Dorough how do you plead?"

Howie got up and cleared his throat, "Not guilty your honor."

"Well, let's get this started then. Ms. Keelson will you start please."

"Yes your honor," I said putting on my reading glasses.
"Defense calls A.J. McLean to the stand."

A.J. walked up to the stand and said what needed to be said,
and sat down adjusting the microphone to his level.

"Mr. McLean you and Mr. Dorough have been friends for how long?"

"Almost 8 years."

"Would you describe your friendship to my client please?"

"Dependable, kind, caring, and always honest," he said as I thought of
an hour before when Howie and I were arguing.

"Where were you when this incident happened Mr. McLean?"

"In the dressing room changing."

"Isn't that next to the broom closet where this was said to happen?"

"Yes."

"Did you hear any straining? Any screaming or anything remotely close to signs of rape?"

"No I did not, I heard nothing."

"No further questions your honor," I said walking back to my seat
and watching the little girl shake her head.

"So you were next to the broom closet?"

"Yes I was."

"You heard nothing? Are you sure?"

"I think I would know if I heard something like that," A.J. said defensively.

"Was the only thing you were doing was changing? I mean did you hear any music or were you singing?"

"I had on the television."

"How loud? I mean the screaming could have been small for this little girl,
are you sure you could hear everything around you? What were you watching?"

"Objection your honor, does it really matter what he was
watching? It's useless to this case," I said standing up.

"Over-ruled, continue."

"Some horror movie," A.J. said agitated.

"Mr. McLean how do you know that the screaming wasn't the horror
movie it was coming from the broom closet? Could it be possible
that it was not the television?"

"I suppose so if I was an idiot," A.J. said as Howie laughed.

"No further questions your honor."

"Ms. Keelson your next witness please," the Judge said as I went
through my papers.

"Your honor I would like to call Bobby Johnson to the stand please," I said
standing up as I saw the little girl's father stand up and walk over to the stand.

"Sir how much did your daughter want to see my client and the other gentlemen in the group?"

"She couldn't stop talking about it, it was her dream come true."

"Was she one of those…stop me if I'm wrong…a teeny-bopper?"

"I guess you could say that yes."

"So she had posters the whole thing?"

"Yes, her walls were covered and her mind filled with them."

"Do you think she loved their music or them in general?"

"A little of both I guess."

"Who was her favorite, I mean she had to have one."

"It was Mr. Dorough mam."

"Does your daughter fuss if she doesn't get her way sir?"

"Sometimes, if she really wants it."

"So if she wanted something and you said no she would do some drastic?"

"Yes, but only when she really wants what I won't let her have."

"Sir can I ask you a serious question?"

"Yes mam you sure can," he said in a southern drawl.

"If your daughter wanted my client and he didn't think it was right
do you think she would do something drastic?"

"Good heavens no mam! She would never hurt someone
like this, she would never ever mam ever."

"No further questions your honor."

I sat down and sighed. I could tell this was going to be hard.
With the parents in denial of the truth and the little girl who probably
was going to cry when it was her turn for her testimony…this was going to
be harder than I thought.

~*~*~*~

After that day, I sat in the courtroom thinking. 'I love you,' Howie's words
rung through my ears so hard I felt I was going insane. I sighed and
picked up my papers. I needed to do some more research on this,
being just plain out wasn't working. I needed to dig into this family.

I came home and shut my door, putting my laptop on the kitchen table and
setting my briefcase next to it. I threw my hair down out of its bun and took
off my jacket. As I walked into my bedroom I pulled off my heels as I
saw Howie in the corner of my bedroom I jumped. My stuff fell on
the floor and I put my hand over my head.

"You scared me," I said kneeling down and picking up my things.

"I'm here because I'm keeping my promise to you to stay with you, and that's all."

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to stay Howie," I said
putting my jewelry in my box and my suit on the rack.

"I'm keeping my promise…" he said firmly.

"Okay." I sighed and changed into a spaghetti-strap cutoff gray shirt
and navy blue shorts. I pulled my hair in a ponytail and
looked at Howie sitting next to my window.

"I have to do some work," I explained as I fidgeted with my
fingers. "Do you want to come and talk to me or…"

"I'm fine where I am."

"Okay…" I turned to the kitchen as I felt tears build up in my eyes.

"Veronica?"

I stopped and sighed, "Hmm?"

"I wanted to thank you on how well you're handling this thing for me."

"Sure…" I nodded and walked over to the kitchen table. I sat down
and plugged in my laptop as I burst into tears. I took the vodka out of
the liquor cabinet and started drinking it hard as it burned down my
throat. I wiped my eyes and closed them tight as the hurt in my throat went away.

I took another gulp and walked over to the kitchen table. I opened
my briefcase and pulled out everything I could get on this girl. It wasn't
much; they were trying to keep something from me…

~*~*~*~

I walked into the bedroom around 3 in the morning to see Howie
asleep on the chair next to the window. I grinned at the sight of his
beautiful sweet face and got into bed. I turned off the light and closed
my eyes, wondering what the next day would bring. I opened my eyes
again and looked at Howie. I walked over to him and kissed him softly as
I felt him waken. I kissed him again pushing my tongue into his mouth as he put
his hands on my cheeks, kissing me back. He picked me up and carried me to the
bed as we kissed each other with passion and need for one another. I ripped the
shirt off his back as he did mine; I needed him and wanted him so
bad. His taste was something I needed.

I pinned him down and licked down his chest, I felt nasty, I wanted
to feel him inside me so bad.

He got on top of me as we kissed so hard I felt my breathing almost
stopping. He brushed his hand down my body as I brushed my fingers up and
down his back. He kissed down my neck and my chest down to my stomach,
kissing it and messaging it with his tongue as I moaned softly. He pulled my
shorts off and kissed my thigh softly and my other one before coming back
up to my mouth. He stopped kissing me as I looked at him, he
got up and shook his head.

I sat up and watched him pace back and forth as tears rolled down my
cheeks again, my eyes burning from crying again. I got up and stopped him
from pacing. I took his hand and kissed it softly, then kissing him passionately
as he lifted me. He stopped and pushed me away.

"Not anymore," he whispered.

Tears streamed down my face as I wiped my eyes. I walked into the
closet and put on a pair of jeans and a shirt. I put on some sandals and looked at him.

"Do you hate me that much? Do you not love me anymore? Am I just
someone you had fun with and that's it…someone you could mess up with
confusion and pain to where I didn't even know what my life was for anymore?
Break your promise to me because I don't want you around me except in that
courtroom, I loved you more than anything in this world but I swear to God love
doesn't help shit," I cried. I walked past him as he pulled my arm.
I pushed him away and managed, "Don't touch me."

Index