Note
: A short, one-shot scene. It's rough, and I think I might rework it. But it was fun to write. Dedicated to Chelsea.Disclaimer: These are Janet's characters, in her world. I'll put them all right back where I found them.
The Big D
I tried not to listen to what was happening around me. I didn't want to hear it, didn't want to see it. Didn't want to be here, come to think of it. But it was necessary. I looked at the man beside me, and he smiled reassuringly. It was going well, underneath the screaming and accusations.
I had all the proof I needed, and my case was solid as stone. I looked back out the window.
"Don't do this! Don't be a bitch, Stephanie…" the 'b' word finally caught my attention, and I returned my attention to the immediate surroundings. The man across from the table was the one who had spoken. I looked at him disdainfully.
Once upon a time I couldn't look at him without feeling a rush of heat, without appreciating the chiseled features, the dark hair, the impressive physique. God, what the fuck had I been thinking? He was looking at me, his expression one of hostility and disbelief.
"How can you be so ungrateful?" he had said before. God, how many times had he said that? "I saved you! I love you!" Right. How do you love someone you don't know? Not once had he asked me what I wanted, not in all the time we'd been together. Looking at him now made me feel ill. I couldn't stand it. Couldn't stand him. I had thought he was so wonderful, so different. Looking at him reminded me of my ridiculous naivete. I shook my head wonderingly. I had married this person, pledged to spend my life with him, to love him. And I didn't have a god damned clue who he was. Of course I did now. And that would be why we were sitting here with our respective lawyers.
"You want the house?" I asked him, forcing myself to keep my eyes locked on him. My lawyer and I had discussed this point, and I already knew what I would ask in return. "Fine. Keep it, but I want a thousand dollars more in alimony."
He spluttered, his jaw tightening. Oh, he was mad. Good, I thought, watching his hands tighten into fists. Losing the house would hurt him, but the alimony would hurt worse. I wouldn't get the full amount I was asking, of course, but I would get a healthy amount. He knew this all, of course. And he hated me for it.
I didn't hate him, though. I didn't care enough to hate him anymore. I wanted my fair share, enough to start over with, and any discomfort cause to him was just a bonus. He had cost me so much already- my life, my friends, my career… damned if I was going to walk away from this without taking out some compensation for it.
"… are these terms acceptable?" I blinked at the other lawyer, and glanced at my own. He nodded. I let out a long sigh. It was almost over. Thank god.
"Yeah. Fine with me," I said, but my mind was already flying off, counting the hours until I could have my last name back. Not to mention the rest of my life. I glanced once more at the face of my soon-to-be ex-stranger. His brown eyes were neutral, and he had schooled his expression back to that calm detached 'cop face.' I suppressed a shudder. I really hated it when he did that.
