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The courthouse was cold. Tense. Very uncomfortable for any confrontation.
Penny and Zoey’s aunt, who was a lawyer, were sitting at one desk, with her family and friends behind them in the first two rows. Damien and an older-looking man were sitting on another bench from the other side. His mom, Ms. Brady was sitting behind them, looking anxious and her hands fidgeting on her lap.
The jury had just come back from making their final decision regarding Penny’s defamation lawsuit against Damien, not to mention the severe hacking he did to Penny’s devices, plus the doxing. Zoey’s aunt was kind enough to help them out after hearing their case.
“Your honor, in light of Miss Cochran’s stirring evidence, we find the defendant… guilty.”
There were sounds of protesting in the back, saying how he was “just a boy,” and “he didn’t know any better.” But the judge just banged her gavel saying “order, order!” which shut everyone up.
The judge spoke.
“Damien. I sentence you to 9 months in a Therapeutic Youth Camp in another town, with no access to any device without strict adult supervision. And the family must pay the Prouds a compensation of $200,000."
BANG!
"NOOO!"
Ms. Brady couldn't bear for her son to be so far away, with possibly no way of contacting him. She didn't care if she wasn't allowed to speak yet, she needed to be heard.
"Isn't that a bit harsh, your honor? I mean... all of this over some squabble online? How do you expect me to keep in touch with my boy?" She asked in despair.
The judge wasn't convinced. With a straight, stern face, she stated, "Ma'am... your son violated a young girls' privacy, spread false rumors about her, and potentially put her as well as her entire family in danger when he made the choice to dox her, all because he couldn't handle losing to a girl."
Penny remembered that all too well. After the tournament, she had to change all of her passwords, her email, and phone number because she kept getting hate emails from online trolls.
"Now he must face the consequences and learn a little thing called, 'discipline.' Something you didn't provide enough," she said with a disgusted look on her face. "That is my final word."
Another BANG!
With that, everyone got up from their seats and started heading out, while Damien was being taken to another room by a police officer. Penny quickly left the room, with her family and friends quickly following her.
"Penny, sweetheart," Trudy called from behind. "You ok baby?"
"Yeah, I'm ok mama. I'm just... kind of mad that it came to - all this," she said, gesturing toward the whole courthouse.
"I know. I know it was hard for you, but you were so brave in there and we're all so proud of you." She then pulled her daughter into a hug, which Penny quickly reciprocated.
"Thanks mama."
Once they let go, Penny and her friends let went to the other side and sat on a bench to talk, while the adults handled some final details involving the case.
"Girl, you were on fire back there," Maya said, placing a hand on Penny's shoulder.
"Thanks Maya. How's KG?"
"Eh, he's fine. Still a little sore about being grounded with no devices and all. He still has three more weeks in solitary confinement, but he'll get over it."
Dijonay jumped in. "Weeelll, served that jerk right y'all! Always goin on about how girls can't play these games. But Penny and that Breadwinner chick showed him!"
Everyone chuckled before Penny's folks called them over to the car, where they left to get ice cream, to celebrate their victory.
Hopefully Damien will have turned around after his sentencing, but Penny hoped he wouldn't go online for at least a few more years.