She had never been more humiliated in her life!

Linda paced around the jail cell her anger over what had happened growing more and more by the minute, How dare she? How dare that bitch have her arrested! All it was a little slap for crying out loud. It wasn't like she hadn't deserved it-hell she deserved a lot more than that what with running around with Kathleen's boyfriend while poor Kathleen was going through a family crisis.

Speaking of boyfriends, where in the hell was hers? She had called him a few hours ago to post her bail but he was taking forever.

"You have a visitor." The guard announced unlocking the cell door.

"Oh thank God! It's about time you…" but it wasn't her boyfriend instead the guard escorted a well dressed woman in her early 30's into the cell. The guard shut and locked the door.

"When you're finished just yell for me. I'll be down the hall."

"Thank you." The lady smiled at her.

The guard nodded and walked off.

"Ok, so who are you?"

"My name is Caroline Spencer. I was chosen to be your legal council."

"Well thanks but no thanks I don't need a lawyer. This whole thing is completely ridiculous!"

Caroline sat down on the bench and removed some papers from her briefcase.

'Well the police and the District Attorney think otherwise. The D.A. wants to charge you to the full extent of the law but he said that he was willing to give you a plea bargain if you plead guilty."

Linda sat down beside her. "Okay fine I'll bite, what are my options?"

"If you plead not guilty and we go to trial he is going for the maximum sentence which is up to two years in jail."

"Two years?! For a little slap? "

"It was assault Ms…..?"

Linda sighed " Grayson. And it wasn't like she didn't deserve it!"

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that and I'm going to advise you never say that to anyone."

"OK. OK."

"Now I have watched the video of you slapping Ms. Bower and even though there was no sound it was evident that you were the instigator. Unless Ms. Bower verbally assaulted you?"

Linda thought for a moment. She could lie and say that she had. Unfortunately Tony had been there and no doubt would back Angela up.

"No, she didn't. I was angry because they are running around behind Kathleen's back while she is going through a family crisis."

"And Kathleen is?"

"We're co-workers at The Fair Eatery and also good friends."

"And I assume Tony and Kathleen are dating?"

"Right and when I saw them together looking so cozy I saw red. Kathleen is a great person and she is going through something horrible right now and her boyfriend is two timing her!"

Caroline read through one of the papers.

"If you plead guilty the D.A. is willing to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor. You will have to complete 500 hours of community service and pay a $2,000 fine."

"$2,000?! I'm a waitress for crying out loud! Do you know how many hours I will have to work to pay it off? And 500 hours of community service?! So I'll either be working at the diner or doing some stupid community service."

"Well it's either that or jail." Caroline pointed out.

Linda sighed. "Yeah, I know."

"The D.A. has given you 24 hours to decide. If you don't make a decision one way or the other he is taking the case to trial."

"Ok. So when I do make my decision how will I get a hold of you?"

Caroline pulled a card from her purse. "This is my business card. My number is on it. When you decide, call me right away."

"I will. Thanks."

Caroline nodded and stood up. She went to the front of the cell and yelled for the guard. A few minutes later the guard returned.

"Your bail has been posted." She told Linda.

"Thank God! Does this mean I am finally out of here?"

"Yes. Put your hands behind your back please."

"What? Why?!"

"It's standard procedure." Caroline informed her.

"Fine." She did what she was told and the guard fastened a pair of handcuffs on her wrists. The three of them walked down the corridor until they entered the front of the police station. Linda was relieved to see her boyfriend Keith.

"Keith! I'm so happy to see you!"

"Hey Babe. We'll be out of here in a few moments." He smiled at her.

"Sign here please." An officer said to Keith. He scribbled his name while the guard unfastened the handcuffs.

"Okay. You are free to go but do not leave town. If you do it will be a direct violation and you will automatically go to jail." One of the officers informed them.

"I won't."

Linda, Keith, and Caroline walked out of the police station.

"Remember you only have 24 hours to make your decision."

"I know. I'll get back to you."

'Very well. Have a good night." They watched her walk away and then went the opposite to Keith's truck. After they had climbed in and he pulled out of the lot he turned to her.

"Okay tell me again what happened?"

Linda told him about seeing Tony and Angela looking all cozy and how she went to confront them.

"I was just so mad! Kathleen is absolutely devastated because of her Aunt and Tony is two-timing her!"

"And you slapped her?"

"Damn right I did! I asked her if she knew what was happening with Kathleen. She said she did. I then asked her if she thought she could just sweep in and steal Tony away."

"What did she say?"

Linda shrugged. "I didn't give her a chance. I just slapped her."

Keith chuckled. "That's my feisty girl!"

Linda smirked. "Yeah, I know and boy did it feel good. But then the bitch had the gall to have me arrested! I could have torn her hair out by the roots!"

Keith leaned over and squeezed her hand. "Don't worry about it Babe. No one messes with my girl!"

################################################################

Tony ran across the parking lot where his jeep was parked. He got in and jammed the key into the ignition and sped off after Angela. She was about three cars ahead of him. He grabbed his car phone and dialed her number.

"Come on! Pick up! Please Angela pick up the phone!"

Angela wiped the tears from her eyes. Her phone was ringing but she didn't pick up. She knew it was Tony but she couldn't handle talking with him at the moment. She needed time to think.

Tony groaned in frustration and threw his phone on the passenger seat. 'Okay. Maybe it's better we don't talk while driving since we're both so upset." He breathed deeply. "All you have to do is follow her and hopefully she will pull in somewhere and then we can finally talk."

Angela sighed. Whether it was from exhaustion or frustration she couldn't tell. All she did know was in the past few hours her world had been turned upside down. She had been tricked by her Mother and the kids into having dinner with Tony, Then she had been slapped by a woman she had never met before and to top it off Tony had yelled that he loved her! To say that she had been thrown for a loop was definitely an understatement. It was something that she had wanted to hear for so long but she hated to admit that she couldn't help but question the validity of it. As far as she knew he only said it to shut Linda up.

"Because after all if you have to choose between two people choose the second. If you truly loved the first you never would have fallen for the second." Her breath quivered. So it was obvious Tony had only said he loved her to shut Linda up.

'All I am is his best friend and that is all I will ever be.'

Tony rubbed his hand over his face. If only she would just stop so they could talk! But she didn't. She just kept on driving. He signaled the car in front of him he was going to pass. He did and found himself with only one car between them. Fate must have been on his side because the car turned and he found himself right behind her. The light turned red and they both stopped. He tried to get her attention but she was looking everywhere else. The light turned green and she drove away. He drove after her but unfortunately at one of the crosswalks a family consisting of a mom, dad, little girl, and a baby chose that time to cross over. He had no choice but to stop and by the time he was able to drive off Angela was nowhere to be seen.