Court Out - By Elle Wynne Page 0,83

had posted comments about my arrest on my wall. All from concerned ‘friends’ of course, but it’s had the net effect of informing close to 300 people about my current predicament. Fantastic.

Sebastian comes in to the room and slams the door behind him. He doesn’t look happy. Scrap that, he looks furious.

“What’s up?” I query.

He runs his hand through his hair and looks up at me. His expression is one of fury, his eyes are blazing with something close to hatred.

“Sebastian? You’re scaring me”

In an instant, his expression snaps back to concern and he rushes over to take my hand.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to. I’m just, well, I’m totally…” he trails off. “Don’t, under any circumstances turn on the TV.”

I may be a bit dippy sometimes, but I’m not stupid. The reality of his comment hits me like a sledgehammer.

“Which, which channel?” I manage.

“It doesn’t matter. Just don’t turn on the TV, don’t go online and don’t buy the paper for a few days until the dust has had a chance to settle. Actually, I hate to suggest this, but you might want to consider staying in for the rest of the week. I’ve cleared my diary, so we can watch loads of crap telly and order in.”

“Which channel?” I repeat. There’s a note of determination in my voice which Sebastian obviously hears by the expression on his face,

“All of them,” he replies. “Someone has obviously tipped the press off. They’ve used the footage from your arrest and your Chambers photo.”

“For God’s sake!” I exclaim, “I’ve been arrested for something I haven’t done, exiled from Chambers and treated like a leper by people I thought were my friends. If that wasn’t bad enough they’ve used that sodding picture too?”

Sebastian ventures a smile. Before I can register what I’m doing, despite everything, I find myself returning it.

Chapter Seventeen

The next week goes surprisingly quickly. Sebastian and I (Despite my protests that he should return to the real world) move from room to room, finding tasks to keep us occupied during my period of self-inflicted house arrest. So far, we’ve painted the bathroom, baked some truly atrocious cupcakes and watched more American chat shows than I ever thought existed. We’ve steered clear of the UK channels for obvious reasons.

There was a sticky moment on the day after I found out about my newfound fame. I got up at the crack of dawn, crept downstairs and put the news on with subtitles. I didn’t have to wait long until my spectacular demise was shown as part of their regular loop of current affairs. I could only watch it for a few seconds, but in that short space of time I imagined all of my friends, my family and my peers judging me on the basis of some misinformed journalism.

Sebastian found me sobbing into one of the cushions from the sofa, desperately trying not to wake him. To my surprise, he immediately turned the set back on, flicked to a random music channel and began to dance like a crazy man to Lady Gaga. Given he was still in his boxers, with his hair unbrushed and sleep in his eyes, the effect was somewhat amazing. His routine had the desired effect and I couldn’t help but to crease up in laughter at his antics.

Serena has been amazing too. She came round the morning after our phone call with a box of wine and two huge bags of Malteasers. To her credit, after striding into the lounge and sitting cross-legged on the floor she got straight to the point.

“Hobbs has walked.”

It was a good job I was sat down at that point, as had I been standing I expect my legs might have given way. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t expected it, but even so, hearing it still hurt like hell. I asked the expected question

“Why?”

“Well as you know, it was the third trial so it’d only be in very rare circumstances that the prosecution would be allowed to try him again. Plus, well, given the circumstances of how the trial ended…” she trailed off.

“I know, I know,” I sighed, “Seeing as it looks to the world like I tried to pervert the course of justice on behalf of the prosecution, it’d look really shitty to start a fresh one against him. Interests of fairness and all.”

“Exactly, they can’t look like they’re that desperate to get him.”

I picked up another Malteaser and surveyed it. Deciding it looked appetizing I put it in my