decision being in his favor after his confession on the stand. However, in a surprising turn of events the jury found Chris not guilty. Since the end of the trial, life went on for both the Hartes and the Golds, but neither were the same after what had happened, nor were their friendships. Main Characters Christopher Harte: Protagonist; an 18-year-old boy who is in love with his childhood best friend, Emily Gold. He is very caring and compassionate as can be seen through his interactions with Emily, he is honest and noble, and he is a proficient swimmer. When he finds himself on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, amidst half-truths, lies, and foggy memories, he must decipher what truly happened that night and hope his love for Emily is as real to the jury as it is for him. Emily Gold: Chris Harte's best friend and love interest. She is a troubled 17-year-old girl who is very artistically talented. She struggles to maintain her positive image as she fights an internal losing battle. When she is found dead with a bullet wound from a gun that Chris' father owned and Chris is the last person she was with prior to her death, the only question remains, was it suicide or was it murder? Michael Gold: The kind and nurturing father of Emily Gold. He is a veterinarian who values every life and he has a very passive, non-confrontational attitude. He does not believe that Chris killed his daughter and tries to be open to other possibilities rather than immediately pointing a finger. Melanie Gold:The reserved and loving mother of Emily Gold. She works as a librarian and is a bibliophile. She is best friends with Gus Harte, whose firecracker personality complements her more mellow personality well. When her daughter dies she becomes resentful and angry. Her loyalties begin to shift when Chris Harte is found at the crime scene, alive. James Harte: The father of Chris Harte and a practicing ophthalmologist. He is a very composed man who values his reputation very highly and avoids anything that will taint it. The scandal of Emily Gold's death and his son's murder charge leads him to try and attain any semblance of normalcy to avoid addressing the issues facing him, and in this process he drives away his wife and son. Gus Harte: The mother of Chris Harte and wife