Aiden is scheduled before me. I'll just do and say whatever he does. I'm sure Hal already advised him what to tell the judge.
"Aiden Mills."
As his name is called, Aiden stands up with Hal right beside him. The man up front says something about Aiden's rights and what he's being charged with but I'm so nervous I'm barely able to focus on what's happening.
"Guilty," I hear Aiden say. I immediately pay attention, my eyes going from Aiden to the judge.
The judge looks down at the paper he's holding and mumbles something to himself. He's old, with a pudgy round face and thick white hair. His black-rimmed glasses sit low on his nose, which is red, like he has a cold.
"You want to explain why you were littering?" the judge asks, his eyes going to Aiden.
"It was an unfortunate accident," Aiden says. "The papers were on my dashboard and flew out the window. I would've stopped but—"
"But you didn't," the judge says, shaking his head. "Fine of $200. Next time you visit, I suggest you keep your windows closed."
"Yes, Your Honor."
That's it? I drove all the way up here for that? Why couldn't I just stay in New York and pay the fine? Does the judge not have enough to do so he makes people show up in court for minor offenses?
"Sophie Chambers."
I hear my name and slowly stand up as Aiden sits down. The process repeats with my rights being explained and then I'm asked how I plea.
I pause a moment. "Guilty."
The judge stares down at me, eyes narrowed, lips pursed. Why does he look so angry? He didn't look at Aiden this way. He seemed annoyed with him but not angry.
"Go ahead," the judge says. "Explain to me why you threw a bottle out the window."
"Well, I didn't actually throw it," I say, hearing my voice shaking. "It fell when I grabbed the steering wheel. Honestly, I don't even remember dropping it."
"Of course you don't." He chuckles but he's not smiling. His eyes remain like little slits as he leans back in his chair and folds his arms, resting them on his protruding belly. "Miss Chambers, do you realize the harm plastic does to the environment?"
Actually, I do. Tanner told me all about how plastics are clogging up the oceans, forming actual mountains of trash under the water. He even showed me pictures. Most of our conversations are about the environment and especially the evils of plastic water bottles. I'm surprised Tanner even agreed to date me after hearing why I was ticketed, but I told him it was an accident and that I'd start using a reusable water bottle from now on.
"Yes, Your Honor," I say to the judge, answering his question about plastics in the environment.
"And yet you still chose to toss a plastic bottle out the window, knowing the damage it would cause, both to our environment and to the beautiful scenery that we here in Vermont value and hold dear, and that supports our tourist economy."
"Your Honor, I regret that it happened and I am very sorry that it did. I agree that Vermont is a beautiful state and it was not my intention to take away from that beauty."
I hear Aiden clearing his throat. I glance back at him and see him tightening his lips. He's telling me I'm talking too much. He's right. Why am I talking? I need to keep quiet.
Looking back at the judge, I watch as he looks over the sheet of paper he's holding. He sets it down and looks at me.
"Miss Chambers, I'm glad to hear you say that."
Say what? What is he talking about?
"It's always nice to hear city folk say how much they enjoy visiting our state, taking in its beauty."
Why is he still talking? He barely said anything when it was Aiden's turn. He just gave him the fine and that was it. He didn't give him a speech like he's giving me.
"I think it would be good for you to continue to enjoy its beauty by helping to keep it that way. I'm sure you would agree that seeing our beautiful country roads littered with plastic bottles and other trash is an abomination that can't be tolerated."
I feel Aiden looking at me but don't dare glance his way. I keep my eyes on the judge, anxiously waiting for him to hurry up and give me my fine.
"That is why I am not going to fine you," the judge says.
He's not fining me? This is amazing! I'm finally getting a break. Ever since I moved out East it's been one bad thing after another, but now, finally, something good happens.
"Instead," the judge says, "I'm ordering you to do community service."
My moment of happiness comes to an abrupt halt. Community service? He's giving me community service? Meaning I have to come back here?
"You'll participate in our roadside cleanup program starting as soon as possible. You will complete forty hours total, to be done within two months of your first day of service."
"But Your Honor, I don't live here. I—"
"I am well aware of that," he says with a slight smile. "You can serve your time on weekends if you choose. I know how you New Yorkers hate to leave your precious Manhattan but perhaps spending some time here in Vermont will show you that small town life isn't so bad."
Small town life? I already know about small town life. I'm from a small town!
I want to shout that to him but can't, so I remain quiet and wait for him to continue.
"Sentencing of forty hours community service." He bangs his gavel and the next case is called up.
That's it. The hearing is over. The decision is made. And I can't do anything about it.
Chapter Ten
Sophie
Aiden and Hal get up and I follow them out of the courtroom.
"I can't believe this," I say, still shocked by my sentencing.
"Sophie, I'm so sorry," Aiden says. "Maybe
