I'd Love to, Cupcake
Caitlyn walked into the courthouse wide-eyed and visibly anxious. She had no idea what she was doing. After having been in said courthouse dozens of times, she should know what she's doing by now. Yet when she walked in this morning, she was practically in shock.
She awkwardly wandered the courthouse, trying to figure out exactly where she was supposed to be going, and searching for anything that could give her a sign. That's when she saw a blob of pink hair. The most comforting blob of anything she’d ever seen.
She stiffly wandered over to said blob, now no longer a blob, and stood behind her, not wanting to disrupt whatever conversation the lawyer had been having. The man speaking with Violet’s eyes widened at the sight of Caitlyn, causing Vi to turn around.
Vi greeted Caitlyn with a warm smile and an overly excited hug for an already overstimulated Caitlyn to handle. Yet she accepted the hug anyway because it was Vi.
“How ya doing, Cupcake?” Vi asked as she slowly let go of Caitlyn.
Caitlyn brushed off her pantsuit with a blank, zoned-out expression. “I've been better. You?”
“More confident than ever,” Vi smirked.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes before letting out a sigh, releasing some of the unwanted tension from her body since she was around Vi. “So what exactly are we supposed to do?”
Vi nodded toward a door. “We go into the courtroom, like usual. The judge announces our case to the spectators and jury. I walk up, plead our case, sit back down. Nolen’s lawyer does the same. Either of you may be asked to testify at any point, so be prepared for that, but that's the only speaking you'd have to do.”
Caitlyn nodded slowly as she processed the information. Seemed easy enough. Her gaze wandered the crowded hallway, dozens of reporters present to cover the story, many local civilians she had never seen before, and the perpetrator herself, Madelyn Nolen.
Caitlyn let out a shaky breath when she saw the ginger. She hadn't encountered her in almost a month now, and it was scarier than ever. But she could do this. She had to do this.
Caitlyn turned to look over at Vi, who happened to be staring at her intently. “Violet?”
“Yes, Cait?”
Caitlyn swallowed hard as she fidgeted with her hands. “Would you- would you like to go out to dinner with me after all this…?”
Vi tilted her head, “dinner?”
Caitlyn nodded, “yeah.”
Vi raised an eyebrow, “like a date?”
Caitlyn swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded nervously.
Vi smiled softly before responding, “I’d love to, Cupcake.”
And just as they had agreed to their date, the doors to the courtroom were swung open by two officers.
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Caitlyn sat down on the left of her trusted lawyer, straightening out her clothes to make sure she looked normal. Violet noticed the action and reached over to give Caitlyn’s hand a gentle squeeze. Caitlyn smiled softly at the touch.
Suddenly, the judge hit the gavel, making an ear-piercingly loud noise. The woman cleared her throat and began, “Good morning ladies and gentlemen. We are here to address the case of Caitlyn Kiramman versus Madelyn Nolen. Ms. Wick, you may state your case.”
Vi calmly stood up and walked over to the podium in the center of the room, resting her clasped hands on said podium. She cleared her throat before starting, “My client, Ms. Kiramman, whom I have been working with for about two years now, was at one point dating Ms. Nolen. The two had been intimate with each other on several occasions. Yet my client had discovered a few weeks ago that a video of her and Ms. Nolen’s intimate activities had been posted online, without my client’s consent. Not only does my client wish for the video to be deleted in every way possible, we wish for Ms. Nolen to be punished, for what is deemed by law as a crime, in whatever way yourself and the jury deem suitable.” The judge nodded at Vi, and Vi went to take her seat next to Caitlyn.
The rest was a blur for Caitlyn. She wasn't paying attention to what Maddie’s attorney was saying. She wasn't paying much attention to anything, except for Vi.
Caitlyn was acutely aware of every movement Violet made during the entirety of the trial. Every tiny hand gesture, every minuscule leg movement, the way her mouth moved when she spoke. All of it. Nothing else mattered to her. It should have, but it didn't.
Before she knew it, the jury had been called to discuss the verdict and she was snapped out of her gaze when the judge hit the gavel again.
Vi looked over at Caitlyn with a concerned expression. “You alright?”
Caitlyn nodded and reached out to gently grasp Vi’s hand with her own, seeking comfort while they waited.
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Caitlyn didn't pay attention to much other than the sentencing the judge had decided for Maddie; 8 months in jail, following with 1,460 hours of community service. Caitlyn wished they would lock her up for longer, but she knew it wouldn't happen.
Vi stood up, urging Caitlyn to stand up too. “We did it, Cupcake.”
Caitlyn smiled warmly. “You did it, Vi.”
Vi shook her head. “We.”
Caitlyn let out a soft chuckle. “Whatever you say”
Vi reached out and squeezed Caitlyn’s hand lovingly. “Ready for that date you asked me on?”
Caitlyn's face immediately flushed and she looked away as Vi let out a hearty chuckle. “Is that a yes, Cupcake?”
Caitlyn nodded, still not able to look at Vi since her face was bright red.
Vi smiled and squeezed Caitlyn’s hand comfortingly as they exited the courthouse, both with flushed faces, and both anxious for what's to come with the night.