Page 53 of Motion to Dismiss

Just us.

The first man I’ve ever fucked.

The man I want to be my last.

It’s been so long since I’ve had him that I can’t hold on for long, and I bite into his shoulder to keep from screaming his name.

“There’s nothing like falling in love with someone you hate…”

The first line comes to me with ease.

“I, um…” I struggle to catch my breath. “I need to get ready for my performance, Jameson. We should talk after, though.”

“We will.” He kisses my forehead.

“What happened to Cole?” he asks. “Is he still in the picture?”

“I dumped him after we talked on the phone that night,” I say. “I realized he would never be you.”

“You can’t possibly want to be with a murderer…”

“Some people deserve to die…”

He kisses me again, pulling me closer.

I try to push him away, but I can’t.

And deep down, I know I don’t really want to.

I never want to let him go again…

NOT GUILTY (N.):

PLEA OF A PERSON WHO CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE COMMITTED THE CRIME OF WHICH HE/SHE IS ACCUSED, MADE IN COURT WHEN ARRAIGNED (FIRST BROUGHT BEFORE A JUDGE) OR AT A LATER TIME SET BY THE COURT.

SCARLETT

After the Curtain Closes

The theater is nearly empty by the time I step outside.

My mother left twenty minutes ago after hugging me twice, crying once, and making me promise that moving back to New York doesn’t mean I’m allowed to disappear from her life again.

The rest of the cast is somewhere inside celebrating another successful show.

And Jameson is standing in front of me with another bouquet of roses.

This time, I take them.

“What happens now, Jameson?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Are the scales of justice balanced enough for you?”

“They’ll never be completely balanced.”

“You know what I meant…”