"Roxie, what are you doing here?" A dissheveled Carlin asked.

"I can't do this anymore," she said, her almond eyes piercing him.

He sighed. "Roxie, not now. It's 2:30 in the morning," he whispered.

"Please, just end it. Do what you want: fail me, have my expelled. I don't care."

He moved her into the apartment by her shoulders. "You're talking crazy. Let's sit down."

"Don't do that. Don't try to mollify me."

"Roxie, you don't know what you're saying. You're taking a very big risk here- one that will not end well for you."

"But it always ends divinely for you, Arthur! What happens to your other "nymphets?"

"Keep your voice down!" he hissed.

"Oh, is someone else here? Is Zelda here?" she screamed, walking to the bedroom.

Carlin grabbed her by the arm and pressed her against the wall. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but it's got to stop. If you do this, you're going to be the only one who gets hurt," he whispered. "Is it that kid? Did he talk you into this? Roxie... he cant do anything for you." He placed a hand on her knee and drove it forward.

"Arthur... what are you doing?" Zelda's voice questioned from the hall. Carlin sucked in the slice of air that separated him from Roxie and moved back, terrified.

Zelda didn't wait for an explanation, but commanded that Carlin get her things. "Roxie, let's go."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Roxie... what were you thinking?" Zelda asked in the Spellman kitchen.

"Ms. Spellman, I was...I was terrified, you know? I didn't want to get kicked out of John Addams. It seemed like a viable option."

"God, Roxie..."

"I know... Ms. Spellman. I know, but what can I do now?"

Zelda scoffed. "You can get that brute fired! I'll help you."

"Just don't tell Sabrina."

"I don't think I can stop her from finding out."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The trial was the pinnacle of the highly publicized accusation. The campus roared as past conquests came forward to testify against Carlin and Zelda pledged her bi-realmed word. Two days, Carlin was fired.

"So what now?" Carlin looked up from packing to see Roxie sweeping her finger along her desk. He chuckled. "Well, you keep going to John Addams on sponserships and I find someone rich and retire."

"So it works out for both of us," she smiled.

Carlin sealed a cardboard box and faced her. He opened his mouth as if to say one thing, reshaped it, and said "If you ever want to find me." He handed her a card with his name and number scribbled on its back.

She looked at him in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

"Just because I lost my job, doesn't mean I'm not the same person."

"Good to know," she mumbled and left the card on the desk of his old classroom.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Miles."

"Roxie," Miles said in surprise. He removed the maps and notebooks sprawled across his bed and sat up. "I haven't seen much of you lately."

She sat beside him. "Yeah, well. I've been busy."

He chuckled. "I know."

They played with their hands in a bout of silence. "Thank you," she said, breaking it.

"You didn't need me."

"Yeah... I really did." Miles smiled at her and bit his tongue so as not to mention the last time they were together.

"Miles..." she whispered.

"Roxie..."

She moved close to him, lightly kissed his neck, and rested her head against his chin. "I really enjoy this alternative."