The English Tutor

Josie had left the Saltzman house before the sun even went up. Josie could not bring herself to give her family more pain than she already had. It was just too much for her to bear at the moment. Josie would make it to the courthouse on time she just needed the morning to get herself together. She needed the morning to gather her thoughts and prepare herself to answer every question that was thrown her way truthfully, knowing very well that the truth was only going to hurt her parents. It was going to hurt Hope and her family who had done nothing but help her since they met her or remet her.

Josie took a few minutes to get herself together. She walked up the stairs of the courthouse. She could hear the chatter coming from the hall. Josie walked towards the voices she knew and came to stop in front of them. 

"Where is everyone?" Josie asked the couple. 

"Inside," Freya smiled when a familiar face approached them. "Josie this is my friend Damon Salvatore, he is also a lawyer. He will be helping me with your case." 

"A pleasure to meet you." Josie took the man's hand and shook it. She was grateful Damon did not mention they had previously met. Josie was sure if anyone knew about how she and Damon met they would question her tripping into a lake. "The Mikaelson and Saltzman are good friends of my family. Your mother is actually bestfriends with my wife." 

"So you knew me when I was a kid?" 

"My wife actually delivered you and your sister." 

Josie gave the adults a warm smile. Lizzie had mentioned to her something around those lines to her a while ago. Something about their mom's bestfriend never letting her live it down that she was the first to hold them. Damon and Freya started to talk about their strategy leaving Keelin and Josie to walk away. 

Josie could tell Keelin had something on her mind, of course, Josie knew everyone had something on their mind with everything going on. Josie wanted to talk to Keelin she wanted to ask her for a hug; for any type of reassuring gesture but the teenager could not bring herself to ask for anything. Instead, she stood there silently next to the woman who she trusted and hoped it was enough to give her some confidence.

"You ready for this?" Keelin said. 

"I have to be." Josie looked over to the lawyers talking. She looked back at Keelin. "Are you okay Keelin, you seem to be worried?"

"I'm fine sweet. It just going to be a long day for everyone." 

"You know something I don't." It was a statement. There was no doubt in Josie's mind that Keelin was keeping something from her.

"It's nothing important," Keelin assured and dismissed herself.

When it came time for them to walk into the courtroom sadly Josie could not have anyone next to her. Only those who were representing her. Josie looked at the benches full of people some she did not know. As she got closer to the table and chairs to the left of the Judge. Josie saw the three rows behind her filled with familiar faces. Her parents, her sister, her girlfriend, the Mikaelsons, and even Jade and Landon were there. 

Josie took her seat next to her lawyers. She looked over to her left and saw Finn and his lawyer. Josie locked eyes with him and she felt her heart stop. Finn had no malice in his eyes they were pleading as if he was silently asking for her forgiveness, he was pleading with her to not do this to stop this case before someone worse occurred, or as if in a way he was trying to get her to see things with an open mind. Josie pulled herself away and paid attention to Freya who assured her the case was as good as won. 

Josie watched quietly as the judge walked in. Judge Lockwood was assigned for this case and no one was sure if that was a good or a bad thing. Judge Lockwood had dealt with many cases. He was known for giving a harsh ruling but he was also known for having a soft spot for children. In this case, Damon and Freya were hoping that would help their case. 

Josie listened to Finn's lawyer give her opening statement; the statement painted Finn as a man who was being framed. How this situation was a whole misunderstand and there was someone else to blame. The real kidnapper was still out there. She made it very clear that Finn Mikealson was simply being a good man and helping a child. 

 After him, Freya went up. Josie listened to every word the woman said, Josie hated how Freya was painting her as this fragile girl who had been taken away from her family unbeknownst to her. A girl who was forced to live a life that she hated. A life that according to Freya no one deserved. A life that wasn't hers, she was living a lie. 

That did not sit right with the brunette Saltzman. Yes, her life could have been easy had she never been kidnapped but she did not hate her life. She loved what she had made for herself. She loved her family, the twins, and Jade. She loved that she refused to be knocked down, to be limited by the statistics that countless people gave her. She loved that she pushed herself as hard as she did because she knew failure was not an option. Josie wished Freya pointed those things out. That she painted her as something other than fragile. 

Opening statements ended and the questioning Finn began. His lawyer made things simple. Making Finn look like a charming man. A good citizen, with a good record and a future ahead of him. 

"And where did you see Josette Saltzman the day she disappeared?" Aurora De Martel, Finn's lawyer, asked. The woman had a streak she had not lost a case in four years, which made Josie feel uncertain about her odds. Freya was good she knew that. Freya assured her Damon was good as well but Aurora De Martel had an unbreakable streak.

"She was in the woods by the lake," Finn answered. "She was playing hid and seek from what she told me." 

"Was she alone?" 

"She was, there was no one in sight." Finn glanced at the jury, he wasn't sure how this case would end.

"At the time who was in charge of caring for the child?" 

"From what I recall my sister Freya's girlfriend." 

Josie turned around instantly looking for Keelin. When she found the woman she could see the tears in the woman's eyes. Josie shot Keelin a smile, the smile was genuine but Keelin didn't know that. The smile was to give Keelin some peace. Josie looked away and gave her attention to Finn. Her eyes were glossy, she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Damon was the one to cross-exam Finn. His question were simply, where he knew Josette from and how he was related to the Mikaelsons. Josie wasn't sure what the question were doing to help. Finn was answering and even Josie didn't think he was responsible for her being taken, but he was responsible for her torture.

"Josette accused you of being the one who took her. The one who tortured her. What reason does she have to lie about that?" Damon looked over to the jury, his question had done it. It spiked their curiosity. 

"She has no reason to lie. But memory can be a tricky thing. I'm sure Josette is certain it was me but she could be mistaken. She didn't even know who she was until recently. Her memory might still be coming back." 

"Did you take her Mister Mikaelson?" 

"She was alone in the woods, of course, I took her but took her beca-" 

"No farther questions your honor." Damon cut him off and went back to his seat. 

The tension in the room was obvious. Everyone was on the edge of their seat. Josie hated that there were so many emotions in one room. The trial had just begun and everyone was already jumping to different conclusions. 

A recess was ordered. They were to meet back in an hour. Josie was the next to go on the stand. She was going to be questioned and they were going to hear her testimony. Her parents thought it would be best if Josie talked with Camille before she went up there, but Josie did not want that. 

Josie explained to Camille her thoughts assuring her therapist that she was okay. Camille believed her but reminded the girl that her session the following day was not negotiable. Josie agreed as much as she hated the therapy she needed someone outside of the situation to talk to. 

Josie joined her family, she placed herself between Hope and Lizzie. Listening silently to what the adults talked about. 

"You ready to be on the stand?" Freya asked her. 

"Yeah," Josie looked around but did not find the person she was looking for. "Where's Keelin?" 

"Outside making a call to check on the kids." Josie dismissed herself and rushed outside to look for the woman. Josie found Keelin sitting by the fountain outside the courthouse. Josie stood in front of Keelin, waiting for the woman to look at her. 

When Keelin looked up at her Josie instantly noticed the tears. Keelin was not out here making a call she was crying. Josie hated seeing Keelin cry. The woman did not deserve to be in pain she was too kind. She had done so much good.

"You okay?" Josie asked. 

"I should be asking you that." Keelin chuckled. "You are the one whose life has been turned upside down." Keelin wiped her tears. "I'm so sorry Josie." 

"It's not your fault," Josie assured Keelin. 

"But it is." Keelin needed to explain, she owed Josie that much. "Your parents, they trusted Freya and me to look after you and your sister. We went on a family trip to the lake house. Your parents had some business to take care of and Hope's parents did as well. Freya and I saw no harm in leaving a day before them and taking yall with us. You, Lizzie, and Hope had a blast having a sleepover and getting to stay up late playing." 

"Keelin it's okay." Josie could see how much Keelin was affected by the past. Josie wanted to understand her but she couldn't, there were no memories of them, at least not concrete ones, there were fragments of her past her and there. From the day she was taking Josie only remembers Finn and his words. Josie only knows that she was at fault if there was anyone to blame. 

"Please let me be the one to tell you," Josie decided to let Keelin finish. "Your parents and Hope's arrival got delayed they wouldn't be getting there till the following day. Freya got called into an emergency case involving a close friend of ours. So she left me with you three. I had watch yall before so it wouldn't be hard. You three begged me to play hide and seek and I gave in. We went outside to play. A couple of minutes in my phone rang. I got distracted for ten minutes and the next thing I knew Hope and Lizzie couldn't find you anywhere. I looked everywhere but there was no trace of you. I should have never answered that stupid call." 

"Keelin, I don't blame you. There is no one at fault." Except me... Where words Josie left unsaid. Josie convinced the woman to wipe her tears and they made their way back into the courtroom. It was time for Josie to be in front of everyone.