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I needed to tell Jasmine and Mia the good News. So I texted them the situation and they agreed to come over for a chat.

By the time Jasmine, Mia, and surprisingly Lexi showed up, the weight in my chest had started creeping back again. We were all sitting on the back porch, the summer breeze barely doing anything to cool the heat sitting on my skin. I had the court notice folded and crumpled in my pocket like it was poison I couldn't throw away.

"He better not get some light slap on the wrist," Jasmine muttered, curling her legs beneath her. "After everything he's done, he should be in prison. Like, real prison. Adult prison."

Lexi crossed her arms. "I mean, he's harassed you all year. The stuff he said to you—just because you're Gender Fluid? That alone should've been enough to get him expelled way back."

Mia nodded. "I still remember when he told you that if you're pregnant, you 'can't be Gender Fluid.' Like he knows anything. Like he even knows how to spell Gender Fluid."

"I swear," Lexi said, shaking her head, "half the time he opened his mouth, it was either ignorant or cruel—or both."

I looked down at my hands, picking at the edge of a bandage on my finger. "I just don't get how someone like that keeps getting chance after chance."

"Not this time," Jasmine said firmly. "This time, it's in front of a judge. This time, there's proof. And we're all behind you."

That made something in my chest loosen just a little.

"Thanks," I said softly.

"Always," Mia said, leaning in and nudging my shoulder. "Now, if this trial doesn't end with Trevor crying in orange behind a barbed wire fence, I want a refund from the justice system."

We all laughed—maybe a little too loud—but it felt good. Like for a second, we had the power again.

Just as the laughter started to settle, the porch door creaked open.

Lily stepped out, her popsicle halfway gone and her cheeks sticky. "Are you talking about Trevor again?" she asked, not even trying to hide her curiosity.

I raised an eyebrow. "What gave it away?"

She shrugged and sat down beside me. "You always get that mad-but-tired look when you talk about him."

Jasmine snorted. "She's not wrong."

Lily looked around at all of us. "So what now? Is he going to jail or something?"

Lexi leaned back on her hands. "Hopefully. If the court sees everything he's done—including what he did to Emily—then yeah, that's where he belongs."

"He's been awful all year," Mia said. "Calling names, starting rumors, being a total creep. And no one ever did anything."

Lily frowned. "I never liked him. Even before... everything. He always looked at you like you were doing something wrong just by being happy."

I swallowed hard and looked at her. "Thanks, Lily."

She gave a little nod and leaned against my side. "I just want you to be safe. And the baby too."

Lexi gave me a soft look. "You've got a good sister."

"Yeah," I whispered, hugging Lily gently. "I really do."

Lily picked at the edge of her popsicle stick, her voice quieter now. "So... if he goes to jail, will we ever have to see him again?"

Jasmine answered before I could. "If the court rules like it should? Nope. He won't be anywhere near you, Emily, or any of us."

Lexi crossed her arms. "And honestly, the fact that he was allowed to get away with so much for so long? That's what really ticks me off. The teachers. The office. They knew."

"They let him push Emily around all year," Mia added. "They only started caring when it got... serious."

I nodded, the lump in my throat growing. "It's like I wasn't enough of a person for anyone to defend... until I got pregnant."

Lily looked up at me sharply. "But you are enough. You always were."

That nearly broke me.

Jasmine rubbed my shoulder. "They're gonna see it now. All of it. The stalking, the bullying, the threats—especially once the paternity test comes back."

"Which it will," Lexi said. "And when it does, they can't pretend anymore. Not the school. Not the court. Not him."

We all fell quiet for a moment, the weight of everything hanging in the air.

Then Mia broke it with a sigh. "You know what he really deserves?"

Jasmine smirked. "Mystery meat and gravity."

Lily's eyes widened. "You mean when he slipped on his own food?"

Lexi burst out laughing. "Yes! The 'I will get revenge!' moment."

Even I couldn't help but laugh. "Trevor versus cafeteria physics: the ultimate showdown."

"He lost so hard," Jasmine snorted. "Honestly, we should've known then—gravity wasn't the only thing ready to take him down."

The laughter rolled in waves, and for a few precious minutes, everything else melted away.

Until Lexi leaned in and said quietly, "He picked the wrong person to mess with."

And I believed her.

Just as our laughter started to fade, a knock echoed from the front door.

We all froze.

Mom was outside with Dad, and no one else was expecting anyone.

Jasmine looked at me. "Want me to check?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, but... be careful."

She crept to the front window and peeked through the curtain. Her expression changed instantly.

"It's someone official," she whispered. "Like, clipboard-and-badge official."

Lexi stood. "Court person?"

"Maybe. Definitely not a pizza guy."

Another knock, firmer this time.

Before I could say anything, the front door opened—Mom had already spotted the car pulling up.

She stepped into the entryway, wiping her hands on her jeans. "Can I help you?"

A woman in a navy blazer held out a folder. "Evelyn Blake? I'm Rachel Diaz with the county prosecutor's office. Sorry to drop in unannounced—this just came through and we didn't want to wait."

I stood, heart thumping.

Rachel turned toward me. "You must be Emily."

I nodded.

"Can I speak to your mother," Rachel was firm in her words.

"Mom!" I yelled.

Mom stepped into the living room, drying her hands on a towel and stepped outside.

"Evelyn Blake?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"I'm Officer Reese from the county clerk's office. I'm here to hand-deliver a subpoena for Emily Blake. The judge has scheduled a pre-trial evidentiary hearing this Friday. Emily will be required to attend."

My stomach dropped.

Friday?

That was only a few days away.

Mom took the envelope with a polite but tense nod. "Thank you."

The woman gave a small smile. "If you have any questions, the number for the victim witness coordinator is included in the packet. Good luck, and take care."

Once the door was shut again, we all just kind of... stood there.

Lexi broke the silence first. "So... it's really happening."

Jasmine looked at me, concerned. "You okay?"

"I don't know," I said quietly, fingers gripping the edge of the envelope. "But I guess we're about to find out."

Dinner that night felt heavier than usual.

Not because of the food—Mom had made spaghetti and garlic bread, and the house smelled like comfort.

Mia, Jasmine, and Lexi had already headed home not long after the court officer left. They didn't want to overwhelm me, even though I could tell they didn't want to leave.

Now, it was just me, Lily, Sam, Mom, and Dad around the table. The clinking of forks on plates was the only sound for a while.

Dad finally broke the silence. "So... pre-trial hearing is Friday."

Mom nodded slowly, setting down her fork. "It makes sense, since the trial itself will begin next week."

I twirled my spaghetti, but I wasn't really eating. "What's a pre-trial hearing even like?"

"It's usually where the lawyers present some of their key evidence ahead of time," Mom said gently. "Sometimes it's to argue about what's allowed in court, sometimes it's to prepare witnesses like you. They don't always make people speak, but they need you there."

Dad added, "It's not a full trial. But it's serious. It's the last step before everything really begins."

Lily shifted in her seat, her voice quiet. "Do you have to talk about... everything?"

"Not Friday," Mom said before I had to answer. "But soon, yes."

Sam hadn't said anything yet. He just pushed his bread crusts around his plate. Finally, he spoke. "Will Trevor be there?"

I nodded. "Yeah. He'll be in court."

Sam's expression darkened. "I hope they keep him locked up forever."

"Me too," Lily said fiercely. "He's been mean way before the first day you moved here."

Dad gave a tired sigh. "I'm just proud of you, Emily. It takes strength to do what you're doing. And no matter how it plays out, you're doing the right thing."

I blinked fast, swallowing the lump in my throat. "It just doesn't feel real yet. Like... we've been through so much. And now we're just... waiting for the next storm."

Mom reached over and squeezed my hand. "We'll face the storm together."

We all went quiet again.

Then Sam, out of nowhere, said, "Hey, at least you didn't put ketchup in your spaghetti."

I stared at him.

He grinned. "Too soon?"

Everyone groaned.

Even I laughed a little.

Maybe it wasn't a normal dinner.

But it was ours.

After dinner, the table slowly cleared out. Sam wandered off to play video games. Lily disappeared down the hall with a book. Dad headed outside to check on something with the car.

I stood up and started gathering the plates, stacking them carefully and bringing them into the kitchen.

Mom followed close behind. "Sweetheart, you don't need to do this. I've got the dishes tonight."

I shook my head, already turning on the faucet. "I want to help."

She gave me that look—the one that said she didn't like it, but wouldn't stop me either. "Okay. Just don't overdo it."

I smiled faintly as I started rinsing plates. "I'm pregnant, Mom. Not made of glass."

Mom snorted. "You're still my kid. Glass or not."

For a few minutes, we worked in quiet rhythm. The hum of the dishwasher. The clink of silverware. The soft scent of garlic still lingering in the air.

It felt... normal.

Safe.

And in this house, "normal" was something I'd learned not to take for granted.

Mom dried a plate and set it aside. "You were really brave today."

I didn't say anything. I didn't need to.

She bumped her shoulder gently into mine. "I'm proud of you."

I bit my lip, blinking fast. "Thanks, Mom."

We kept working in silence, side by side.

Not as mother and adopted daughter.

Just... family.

After the kitchen was clean and the lights dimmed for the night, I slipped outside onto the porch.

The air was cool and still, crickets chirping somewhere off in the trees. Above me, the sky stretched out like a dark velvet blanket, dusted with stars. I wrapped my arms around myself, not cold exactly—just... needing to feel something real.

Out here, things felt quieter. Less complicated.

The screen door creaked open behind me.

I turned to see Mom walking out, holding something behind her back with a sneaky smile.

"I brought you something," she said, sitting beside me.

"Please don't say it's more prenatal vitamins."

She laughed. "Nope. Something better." Then she revealed it:

A mason jar filled with sparkling blue liquid and floating pieces of fruit—strawberries, blueberries, and little slivers of mint leaves.

"What... is that?"

"It's called Star Punch. My grandmother used to make it during summer campouts. Blue raspberry lemonade, lemon-lime soda, fruit, and a dash of something fizzy and magical." She winked. "No caffeine. I triple-checked."

I took the jar and sipped carefully.

It was cold. Tart. Sweet. Slightly sparkly.

My eyes lit up. "Oh my gosh."

"Right?" Mom grinned.

We sat in silence for a bit, passing the jar back and forth and watching the stars blink above the trees.

Then—

The door slammed open behind us.

"I SMELL FRUIT!" Lily called, stumbling out in her socks and oversized pajamas like some kind of wild raccoon child.

Mom burst out laughing. "It's just juice, honey—"

"I don't care what it is, I want it!"

She scrambled up onto the porch, arms outstretched like a zombie. "STAR JUICE! GIVE IT TO ME!"

I tilted the nearly-empty jar toward her. "You're a little late to the star party."

Lily narrowed her eyes. "Then I'll make my own and call it... Moon Soup."

Mom lost it.

I snorted into my drink.

And right then, in the cool night air with laughter around me and stars above me, I felt okay.

Maybe not perfect.

But okay.

And that was enough for tonight.