Second Chances

[TheMuscleGuru]

Second Chances (closed for xxerikamariexx)

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I jadedly watched steam slowly coil around my hand-painted Artisan coffee mug as I tried my best to concentrate on my case briefings. I was set to defend an eighteen year old African-American male for attempted murder and alleged rape of a sixteen year old female classmate tomorrow morning at around ten. I knew the case would take up the bulk of my day and was going to be one hell of a headache. I had just made partner at my firm, Johnson and Troy, and was given my first hard-hitting case right out the gate. With the scandal being made into national news that stirred much racial and ethical controversy, my involvement was either a smart career move on my part that could greatly influence my current salary and position at the firm, or it was an unwise choice, my boisterous ego and overzealous persona getting me into deeper waters than I can swim in-yet again, that could finish to my law career before it even began. It was already two in the morning and I needed sleep, the five hour energy drink I took earlier now waning. To make matters worse, I was to be in front of one of Chicago's more ruthless judges, Judge Irvine. She was known to be a bitch in and out of the courtroom and was rumored to lack any sympathy in her cold, calloused being. She was twice divorced due to infidelity issues with her two late husbands and was without children; so I can see why she was a bitter and angry old woman that envied anyone with a sliver of happiness in their spirits. To top to top it off, I was starving and the dry, stale bagel I had stolen from the coffee room was making me even more frustrated. There wasn't any cream cheese or jelly either. My morning was certainly turning out to be quite the experience.

I took a small bite out of one of the coffee room's many dry, stale bagels I had snatched to ease my late night hunger, sipping my hot chocolate I had just prepared shortly before from my mug. I had a sudden craving for Chinese food but resisted the urge to call Chin's. I was currently on a low-fat, low-calorie diet that restricted my consumption of all sweets, sugars, and, my favorite, fast-foods. With me being a former college athlete with a bit of a weight problem, according to Cosmo magazine, it truly was hard to avoid going through the McDonald's drive through and getting my usual ten piece nugget meal after a long day's work. I did not really consider food to be an addiction before, but since going on this diet I came to realize that those tasty treats I love munching on during my drive home from work, while watching my late-night reruns of Jerry, and my rainy evenings snuggled up in my backwards robe, were causing me to become addicted to their tantalizing flavor. I never knew I could miss the sweet and tangy taste of sweet and sour sauce mixed in with the flavor of fried chicken so much.

Fuck my life.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

Erika Miller did what she loved, being a prosecutor was her calling in life. She got a thrill of being in the courtroom, knowing that she was doing her small part in keeping the city safe. Sure, it didn't make for a good personal life but she accepted that a very long time. Many years ago she was in love and the guy was wonderful. At times she even thought that maybe he was the one but they were both two career driven and wanted to focus on their careers. She never really got involved with anyone after that. Her girlfriends tried to set her up here and there but nothing ever came about.

She looked down at her phone and the time read 9:25. Court was going to start at 10am sharp. She was going to be in front of Judge Irvine who was particularly hard on defense and prosecutors alike. Erika could handle it though. This world of law had made her heart very cold over recent years and her faith in people was not as strong as it once had been. Erika was prosecuting an eighteen year old man for alleged murder and also the attempted rape of a sixteen year old girl. She had prosecuted dozens upon dozens of alleged murder cases but only a handful of attempted rape and those got to her. She hated having to call the victims because most of the time they were just young girls. As hard as that was, it was satisfying to know that in the end there would be justice served, if she had anything to say about it.

She walked into the empty courtroom. She was alone, as she figured she would be. She always liked to be early, especially when Judge Irvine was involved because she didn't want to run the risk of being late. She took a seat at her prosecution table. She knew this would be a very long week of testimony and evidence but she was ready.

 

[TheMuscleGuru]

Adrian packed it in shortly before 3am, only to be woken by the shrill of his alarm a mere 4 hours later. His hand swatted at the clock, knocking it to the floor with a deafening clang. He groaned and forced his aching body from the bed. He put his two feet on the floor and focused his mind on the huge task for the day.

2 hours later, cramped into an overcrowded underground car, his mind filtered through all the information it had digested the night before. If there was one thing he could count on today, it was his mind's ability to process large amounts of information and pick out the important points at ease. It was going to have to be extra sharp to stand a chance of winning this case.

9.40am. Twenty minutes until the hearing started. He made his way to Courtroom One. The high degree of the case had landed them in the biggest courtroom in the state. Was he nervous? Too right he was, but he never let it show.

He walked into the room. There was a woman sitting at the prosecutor's table. His opposition. It wasn't until he closed the twenty metres or so to the top of the room did he realise who it was. He couldn't believe his luck. Of all the lawyers in the city, it had to be her. He composed himself.

"Hello Erika".

 

[xxerikamariexx]

She had been prosecuting for the last five years pretty steadily. So it didn't surprise her that most defense attorneys knew her by name. But that voice...she recognized it. She lifted her eyes from the documents in front of her, seeing a male figure to her left side. Out of all the defense attorneys in this city...it had to be him.

"Adrian." She said softly. Adrian had been a big part of her life a very long time ago. And in some aspects, he was the one that got away.

"Rumor is you're a hot shot lawyer from one of the firms." She stood up and leaned against her desk. It had been a long time since she saw him and the feelings flooded back. He was a good looking as she remembered, too.

 

[TheMuscleGuru]

He smiled,

"The first time that I forget to ask who my opposition is, and here you are."

He quickly studied her. It may have been five years, but time had been good to her. She looked phenomenal.

"I don't know about hotshot, but my record speaks for itself. Not one loss in three years. Guess that's what made me the youngest partner in the city."

He set his bag down on the table opposite,

"You look good."

 

[xxerikamariexx]

"Congratulations, truly." She said with a smile. Adrian was probably her most serious boyfriend, there hadn't been one like him after their breakup. It was mutual but she'd be lying to herself if some days she didn't think about.

"Seems like we've both been working hard, no rest for the weary as they say." She laughed. She often spent long nights working in her office. She worked as if she had something to prove. She had to prove to herself that it was all worth it; that being alone and the long hours were worth it.

"You look good, too." She smiled. There was something about seeing him again that was both sad and wonderful at the same time.

 

[TheMuscleGuru]

Seeing Erika brought back all the memories of their wonderful time together. For a short while, he had entertained the thought of asking her to marry him. But things went south shortly after that. The one that got away? For sure. But for now, he had to put all nostalgic though to the side. He had a case to win, and a reputation to protect.

A few minutes, his defendant was led by the court marshalls in handcuffs. After a brief discussion with him, he readied his notes. Then in stepped Judge Irvine. He could have sworn that the room took on an icy chill as she stepped up to the bench.

The tension in the room was palpable. The case had drawn some national media attention. It added to the already intense pressure on his young shoulders. But he knew he could handle it. The question was, could the young lady he knew so well five years ago handle it?

Only time would tell...

 

[xxerikamariexx]

Out of all the judges she ever faced, Judge Irvine was her least favorite. She was incredibly smart but her attitude in court was cold at best. She called the court to order and from that moment on, she couldn't think about her past with Adrian. She refused to think about how much in love they were at one time. She thought about the sixteen year old girl sitting behind her, this case was for her...to get justice.

Erika went along with her opening arguments, which were firm but also made sure to connect with the jury. She had a few women on the jury and she hoped she'd be able to convince them of what had happened that terrible night between Adrian's client and her victim.

She took a seat, waiting for Adrian's opening arguments. It was going to be a long, emotionally tiring trial, she had that sense already.

 

[TheMuscleGuru]

Adrian listened to Erika as she made her opening statement. She was good, he thought to myself. Of course, she had been good when they were together 5 years ago, but she had picked up a few new tricks since then.

When she finished, he stood to make his case. He nodded at Judge Irvine.

"Your honour, ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Over the next few days, I intend to show that my client acted out of self-defense, and that the allegations are rape are fake."

He reeled off the speech he had prepared and rehearsed for the past three days. Of course, most of it was down to how it was received. No emotion from the jury. He had a tough few days ahead.