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"This won't help your case at all. This judge has a reputation for his strictures, he won't take kindly to any jokes-"
"Its not a joke, Mr. Day. I really need to know."
"But the jury! They'll think you're not taking this seriously; you'll lose favor with them!"
The judge peered down at them, over the top of his wire-rimmed glasses. "Care to share with the class, Mr. Day?"
Kevin stood. He tugged at his collar. God, this was embarrassing. "Your Honor, my, um, my client wants to know," he stuttered, his heart thumping in his chest. Was an old college buddy really worth his reputation? "My client wants to know if you think he's cute?" He rushed through the words, and they ended with a question.
Judge Minyard quirked one eyebrow. "The defendant wants to know... if I think he's cute?"
"Yes, Your Honor." Kevin wanted to crawl under the counsel table and never come out. He barely kept from cringing away from his own words as it was.
If Kevin didn't know any better, he'd say the judge was smirking. Surely not, with his spotless reputation, both professional and social. Judge Minyard, attractive as he was, was rumored to never even date. Kevin had his own suspicions.
"Well, Mr. Josten, that is entirely out of line and completely inappropriate for the court room. Not to mention that I hold the outcome of your future in the palm of my hand."
Neil didn't shrink back from this rejection, but instead lifted his chin, and smiled at the judge.
Dear God, what was he doing- this was insane. There was no way they could win now. Why had Kevin agreed to help Neil out? They hadn't even been that close in college, they just lived on the same floor. Christ. Kevin's spotless record was completely fucked.
"We're going to take a recess for lunch now. Mr. Josten, please meet me in the hallway."
Oh. Oh shit.
Kevin rushed out into the hallway after Neil. "Neil! Hang on!"
Neil paused and turned around, "Yeah?" He had the dopiest look on his face. He had definitely misinterpreted Minyard's words.
Kevin softened his tone- "Neil, I think- I think you just got rejected?" He tried to be kind and gentle, but these things were not in his nature. Kevin ended his sentence by scrunching his nose into an expression bordering on disgusted.
"Not hardly." Kevin jumped. The judge had managed to sneak up on him.
"In fact, I do think you're cute," Neil's face split into a grin at Minyard's words. "However, not the best time for an attempt at my number."
"What about now?" Kevin wanted to die. He really did not need to be witnessing this.
"Try again after the case." With those words, Andrew gracefully walked away from them.
"Oh, shit." Kevin whispered.
"Yeah." Neil agreed.