Episode 57: Scene Two
"Becca!" Shannon attempted running up the steep steps that led to the courthouse's front doors, but ended up collapsing after making it a couple of steps up. She began clutching her stomach.
Becca quickly skipped down the steps an took Shannon by her shoulders. "What's wrong? What happened, Shannon?
Shannon laughed at the concern that was notably invading Becca's voice. She waved a hand at Becca before attempting to get up. When she plopped back down, she said, "Okay, so I don't have those Suzanne Somers abs. Does that mean I can't jog a couple of blocks?"
"That's it? You've just been jogging?" Becca stared at Shannon in confusion, her head cocked slightly to the side. "Aren't you supposed to be at the carnival?"
"Well, I didn't feel like waiting fifty hours to get to the front of the ferris wheel line, so I decided to head over here to see how things are going. How's Christian?"
Becca shrugged and turned away. "I don't know. He hasn't really been talking to me lately. I mean, he doesn't seem mad or anything, just really depressed." Becca unexpectedly clutched Shannon's arm. "Do you think he's going to make it through this? He seems really torn up about it, and I'm worried about him."
Shannon nodded as she patted Becca's hand. "Yeah, I can't even begin to imagine how rough it is on him. But has anything else happened in the case?"
Again, Becca shrugged. "We're no longer allowed to go into the courtroom. They say it's something about how they only need the parties involved or some garbage like that."
Shannon leaned back involuntarily. Becca's voice had taken on an edgy tone which was completely out-of-character for her. "How do you know it's garbage?"
"Because they want to take care of these things behind closed doors so that when people start breaking down and having emotional outburts, no one will be there to see it. They're heartless monsters, Shannon. I don't want Christian to get hurt like..." Becca's voice trailed off.
"Like what? Becca, is there something going on you're not telling me?"
"No," Becca drew her hand out from under Shannon's. "Like I said, I'm just afraid Christian will get hurt. It's not everyday that things-"
Becca was interrupted by someone rushing past her. "Hey, watch where you're...Christian? Christian, wait!"
Shannon turned to see her fleeing friend just before Sarah Harris came running out of the front doors. Shannon just managed to block Sarah's path before she got past her.
"Please move, Shannon. I have to catch Christian," Sarah attempted pushing past Shannon. When Shannon didn't move, Sarah put her hands on her hips and glared down at the teenager. "I said move!"
"What did you do to him?" Shannon's question was deep, calm, quiet, yet deadly.
"What makes you think it was something I did to him?"
"Because it's always what you do to him, and if it's not you then it's your hair-brained ex-husband. When are you going to learn to either love him or leave him alone?"
"Excuse me? I do love my son, Shannon. You of all people should know how much I've sacrificed for him! It's because of Nelson that everything I've worked so hard to build for him has fallen apart."
"Well if you two didn't do anything, who did?" Becca inquired quietly.
"It's not exactly someone." Sarah's eyes lingered on the steps before she inhaled deeply and looked at the two girls. "Chris overheard a conversation between my lawyer and me."
"I knew it!" Shannon interjected.
"What were you talking about?" Becca broke in before Shannon could continue.
"My lawyer was saying that it would be a good idea if we called Christian to the stand. The reason why he ran out is because he learned that he would have to testify against one of his parents."