Peter laughed when Nate landed on the couch. "Dude, are you okay?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day at school Peter walked into his classroom, excited that Justin will have someone testify for him at the trial. He plopped next to Nate. "Do you think we will be able to go to the trial?"

"Oh I don't know Pete, I was shot and thats the reason this whole thing is happening... DO YOU THINK I WILL BE ABLE TO GO?" he said with a sarcastic tone to his voice, But he was only kidding.

Peter got an idea. "You totally should go. In fact, you should be a witness at his trial! I mean, he was trying to protect you!" He wasn't mad. In fact, he was grateful for his cousin protecting his friend and would have been mad at his cousin if he didn't. Besides, Nate would tell the truth and that's what counted.

"Only thing is I'm not a nutral party" said Nathaniel glumly "I'll still be there though.

Darkness swept over Peter, as the air seemed to leave his lungs. What? Why couldn't Justin's friends stand up for him? Panic set in. "What if a witnesss pretends to be neutral and lies? What if someone remembers the wrong thing?"

"Thats why the federal court doesn't rely on witnesses to much" said Nate seeing the panic in Petes eyes.

Peter was not easily comforted. "That means Justin may still ahve to go to jial or die. What if they decide he's guilty?"

"Then" Nate said setting his teeth "You call me home, get Kevin and Chuck then we bust him out of prison before they kill him, then we skidadle out of this country as fast as we can" he added.

Peter reminded Nate, "Remeber your brother will have a trial also. He killed that one guy after the thug tried killing you." He kicked the leg of his desk.

Just then, he heard scissors snipping. Not even turning, he said, "Go away, John."

Nate sighed "By that time I'll have enough training that me and Chuck could do it ourselfs" he aserted with a shrug.

Ronald threw a pencil at Nate who could not restrain himself and turned around to glare a warning at Ronald. As he did he heard a ruler slap a desk behind him, "Nathaniel Greene! please keep you eyes foward"

The scissors got louder and felt like they were touching the hair at the top of his neck. Peter whirled around. "Stop it, John! Would you please quit it?" He felt the back of his neck to make sure his hair was still there. Relief spread through him, when he found that it was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miranda giggled, as she slipped a note to Nicole. "Looks like he's protecting his hair again. Let's see if he cries."

"Mr. Scrub! please" said Billy Ray, Nate stood up "Sir, could you-" Billy Ray cut him off "Mr. Greene, you just earned yourself deantion now sit down!" and sit down Nate did as he sat John pull his seat away. Billy Ray didn't even look up from his papers "You won't get any symphony from me that way Nathaniel"

Peter said, "Mr. Billy Ray, sir the reason Nathaniel turned around was because Ronald threw an eraser at his head and John keeps trying to cut my hair."

Miranda mocked, "Wah, John is trying to cut my hair, wah wah wa--shut up, Peter."
Defensive, Peter said, "I was just telling him why we turned around."
Miranda scoffed, "You are pathetic, did ya know that?"
Peter said, "I know. No suprise there." He slumped into his seat.

Jen was horrified. Sure, Peter worried too much abou this hair but if someone was trying to cut your hair in class there was a legitimate reason. It's not like he randmonly got up and started screaming for no reason. She whipsered to Nicole. "Hello? aren't you going to help?"

Miranda sauntered up to Peter's desk. "Your cousin is going to die. There is no way out of it, Pete. I saw the news this morning. A lto of people were near the police office with signs, ordering his immediate death after the trial."
Feeling a little uneasy, Peter said, "But someone just agreed to stand up for him."
Miranda laughed, "You think one person will help?"
Peter swallowed. "Oh there will be help."
Miranda laughed, "There are people threatening to kill him before teh trial. Sorry Pete." She was about to skip back to her seat, when Mr. Ray gave her a detention. She groaned, "Oh but Mr. Ray..."
When he wouldn't back down, she glared at Peter and took her seat on the other side of Nicole. She had been kicked off the newspaper because of the video. For soem reason they thought she did it. She made a mental note to ehrself to get Ally and Stacey in detention as well.

Peter felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. His cheeks flushed and his face turned pale as he lowered into his seat. Miranda's taunting voice told him over and over that his cousin, who he had come to love dearly over the past year, was going to die. He could not force himself to listen during the rest of class and after class, he walked in stiffly out the classroom. He put his hoodie over his head and kept it down. No, not Justin No. God, please do not let him die or go to jail. I need him. Please God help. Maralyn needs him. The baby needs him. Miley needs him. The thought of Justin's kid growing without a dad hung over his head like a black shadow.

Nate walked back out the door and to his locker he touch Peter's arm and he mouthed "I'm sorry Pete"

Peter felt a salty taste in his mouth. He turned towards Nate "I don't want my cousin to die." A tear rolled down his cheek. "We just started getting along this year." He shut his eyes to block the other tears. He kicked his locker. "I need to leave school early. I need to see him. What about Maralyn? What if they take him away without letting anyone know?"