Welcome to the Family

”So you did it?” Renee screamed into my ear excitedly while Michelle just grinned. Matt and I had arrived in Huntington early in the morning and the first thing I did was make plans with my girls. I had a lot to tell, but so did Renee.

“Yeah, we did it,” I admitted, feeling a rush of happiness float through my body when thinking about our little vacation together. Michelle laughed, “Well, why do you even ask, Renee? I mean, I did kind of expect him to smash her on the first day.” Is he that bad? Should I be acting weird? Was it too soon after all?

“Anyway, Vicky, I hate to bring it up but… You know, my wedding is in two weeks. I sent out the invitations when I didn’t even know you, and of course consider yourself invited. It’s just… You know Val’s my maid of honor, and Matt is Brian’s best man. We… expected them to show up together, and I don’t know if you guys are together now or something, but... I would like to ask you not to show up as a couple. You know I totally want you guys to be together, I just… don’t want any trouble at my wedding day… You can, of course, dance with each other, but… Do you get what I mean?” Michelle proposed.


“Well, first of all, thanks for the invitation, I’ll come. And secondly, of course I’ll respect your wish. Don’t make a big deal out of it, Michelle. It’s fine,” I reassured her. Renee inserted, “Let’s just go together, Vicky, I’m kind of in the same boat. Zacky’s ex is one of the bridesmaids.” I laughed and agreed.

“Speaking of whoooo… Renee, any news?” I asked her. Her eyes started glowing with joy, and I knew something was up. “So… we’re together now…” she admitted shyly, and we started cheering for her. “To Renacky!” I proposed a toast as we raised our glasses and drank to them. “And to the fact I was right,” Michelle added while throwing me the ‘I told you’ look.


Two days later, I dressed in my Sunday best, a beautiful white blouse with long sleeves and two narrow golden stripes on the front and a black knee-long skirt. I picked up Matt, who was wearing a white button-down shirt and black jeans, Michelle and Syn. The three of us had been invited as witnesses to the Sanders versus Sanders trial, which took place at this day.

We met my mom outside the courthouse. She was already wearing a black lawyer’s gown, and her hair was done beautifully. Whenever I met my mom, I had to admire her for her courage and strength. Her mere appearance gave her an aura of authority and respect. “Hey Vicky, hey Matt. And you two must be Brian and Michelle, I’m Edith, Vicky’s mom,” she introduced herself and shook their hands before hugging me and Matt.

I felt nervous as I was sitting in the witnesses’ room along with Brian and Michelle. What if I screwed something up? “Miss Harper, please,” I heard the loudspeaker and then got up. “You go girl,” Michelle reassured me while Syn just playfully hit my ass. Creep. Lovely creep, though.

I entered the courtroom.I was just so bewildered with the whole situation that I didn't even panic or feel any nervosity. Which was a good thing, I guessed. To my right, there was a podium with all the jury members. Seven were white, one mixed, three black and one Hispanic. In the first row, right in front of the empty spectators’ rows, there was one table where my mother was sitting with Matt and another one with Valary and her lawyer.

Directly in front of me there was a massive wooden desk where an elder, sternly looking judge was sitting, and right next to him a secretary was placed. She was feverishly taking notes. On his other side sat a young, dynamic DA with blond hair and icy blue eyes. I took my stand on the witness stand.

“Miss Victoria Aloisia Harper, born on September 21st, 1986, in Saalfeld, Germany” the judge stated, his loud humming voice filling the whole courtroom. I loudly replied, “Yes, Your Honor.” “To Mr. Sanders you are not related by blood or marriage?” he then questioned, rather a statement than a question. “Neither to him nor to the other party, your Honor,” I replied. He nodded and the secretary scribbled so fast that her earrings started bouncing up and down.

So, let's get it over with. Don't screw up, Vicky, don't even think about it for a second. Just do what they told you. And breathe, just breathe. It will be fine.

“Hand on the Bible and Constitution, Miss Harper,” he summoned and I did as I was told. “You do solemnly state that the testimony you may give in the cause now pending before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God. “ I repeated his words with an uncertain feeling in my guts.

I’m doing this for Matt, the man I love, I reassured myself. It's going to be alright. “Good. Mrs. Harper, your witness.” The judge motioned toward my mother. She got up and walked to the witness stand.

“Miss Harper,” she smiled at me, “How long have you known Mr. Sanders?”
“I started working for his band, Avenged Sevenfold, in mid-January and I met him the very first day.” I replied.

“What was your first impression of his relationship to Valary Sanders?” she then asked, and I slowly began to recount the events of my first weeks when they were still together, but fighting constantly.

Sometimes she asked some more questions or wanted more detail, although I knew she knew the story. “You and Mr. Sanders became a couple,” she then stated after I mentioned the charity ball.
“Yes,” I replied and briefly looked at his face. He just looked away, obviously wishing to be anywhere but here. I wondered if he was even paying attention. After all, it was his life that we were discussing.

“Would you say that your relationship caused the Matthew and Valary’s relationship to crash?” she wanted to know. Like we rehearsed, I pretended to think for a second before I answered, “No, certainly not. Our relationship started to form when the previous one was practically dead.”

“Can you explain what happened on March 17th, 2010?” Mom then asked, and like she told me to, I slowly explained everything. “Matt, I mean Mr. Sanders, and I were out in town and when we returned, Mrs. Sanders was standing in our driveway. They started arguing loudly, but since I remained in the car, I can’t tell you what exactly they said.

"After a while, I opened the window. I heard her scream that she hated him. He told her he was divorcing her and that was when Mrs. Sanders,” I motioned toward Valary, who was just sitting there with a neutral expression, “got really mad. She insulted me, called me a slut.

"She started blaming me for their current situation and then threatened to kill me twice. Matt got really mad and a little overprotective, so he shoved her and she fell down onto the ground. That was everything. She got up and left the property, and I haven’t seen her since. You might know that I have a pending restraining order against her.”

Mom smiled at me. “Thank you, no more questions. Mr. Thompson,” she motioned toward the other attorney, “Your witness.”
She sat down and in exchange, the other attorney got up and walked in front of me. Like Valary, he had evil eyes and a very harsh expression.

“Miss Harper,” he shot, “When did you and Mr. Sanders start to consider yourself as a couple?” “I don’t know,” I blurted out, mentally cursing myself. “I mean, ever since we met we’ve been… attracted to each other. I mentioned the charity ball earlier, didn’t I? Of course we danced closely, and I don’t think we could deny that, back then, we already had feelings for each other. If I had to pick a date, then that would be it.” Phew, that wouldn’t even be a lie.

“Are you sure you are in a relationship?” he asked. Damn, I have to lie. “Yes, absolutely.” “What makes you so sure?” he asked. Uhm… Help? Can I call someone or use the 50:50 joker? Please? Help came, namely my mother. “Objection,” she hissed, “unimportant.” The judge said, “Objection sustained, rephrase the question.” What rephrase? No, don't rephrase, don't ask the question at all, I thought, feeling my palms getting wet.

Mr. Thompson then threw me a sly grin as he asked, “Miss Harper, when was the first time you and Mr. Sanders had sex?” He spat the last word out as if it was something poisonous. “Sir, I…” I stuttered, feeling my cheeks turn red. “Objection,” I heard my mom. Thanks heaven, I thought.


After about another twenty minutes, they finally released me and on my way out, I saw my mom give me thumbs up, and my handsome pretend-or-maybe-real-boyfriend threw me a beautiful dimpled smile. I stayed in the witness room until we were called into the courtroom again. The jury had come to a verdict.

Notes

Cliffffffhanger haha :) What do you guys think happened?