Legalness (i like to invent words): Don't, won't, never.
Jackie was sitting at the kitchen table in her house, holding the letter from New York City. She had a strong sense of deja vu, remembering the time when she had sat in the kitchen of her parents' house, holding the acceptance letter from Julliard. It wasn't a good sense.
The doorbell rang, and Jackie knew before she even opened it that it would be Booker. She had called him ten minutes ago.
"Hi," Booker was in plainclothes, being off-duty at the moment. "What was so important?"
Jackie lifted her face up for his kiss, and led him into the kitchen. They sat down at the table and Jackie unfolded the letter once again. She looked up at her boyfriend. "This is the stupidest thing. I'm having the dumbest sense of deja vu." She sighed. "I don't know what to do."
Booker sighed also. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told you eight years ago."
Jackie closed her eyes and shook her head. "We're not seventeen anymore. I don't have to take this."
Booker took her hands. "I want you to. This is what you wanted. This is what Julliard has prepared you for. Go."
Jackie's eyes opened: she was angry. "Jesus Christ, Booker! Can't you think of yourself? What do you think I want to hear, and what do you think you really want to say?"
"I'm saying what I want to say, Jackie. I love you and I want to see you follow your dreams." He covered her hands with his.
Jackie snatched her hands out from under his and flew up out of her seat. "Damn it! You just don't get it! I don't want a repeat of what happened to us in high school! I love you, God damn it! And I am damned if I am going to let it happen again."
"What do you want me to say, Jackie?"
"Tell me you love me and that you don't want me to go!" Jackie's eyes were filling with tears.
"I love you. And I want to see you on Broadway."
"You could come with me?" Jackie's voice was shaking. "I mean, it's possible."
Booker shook his head. "I can't, Jackie, I'm a deputy. I have a job here."
Jackie sank back down into her chair. "This isn't going to work."
"What are you going to do?"
Jackie was quiet for a long moment. "I want this role. It means a lot of money..."
"Then do it." Booker smiled slightly.
She turned brimming eyes on him. "I'd have to leave in two days."
"So be it."
Jackie lowered her head into her arms and her shoulders started to shake. Booker could do nothing but hold her. He was making the sacrifice of his life and she wasn't willing.
Two days. Two days, he thought. What was he going to do? He couldn't let her go. He knew he loved her. He knew he always had. This was the second time they were presented with this challenge, and this time they were going to do it right.