PART 1 – Contempt
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"... pending appeal, we'll convene on this again two weeks from today; next case?"
Charlie yawned as a court aide read the details for the next case out loud. He wondered when they'd get to Brock's sentencing. After being charged for the assault and robbery upon Charlie, Brock had pled guilty and was awaiting the final word on what his punishment would be. The judge was scheduled to make his decision that morning; Charlie had come to bear witness.
Miley was seated right next to her man. Her blue jeans had big holes in the knees and she was picking at one of the strings hanging out, "When are they gonna get to Brock?"
The two young lovers were talking quietly, trying not to bother any of the other spectators seated around them.
"I don't know," Charlie whispered.
"I can't wait to see the look on that jerk's face when the judge tells him how many years he'll be in jail."
Charlie grinned. That notion was rather pleasing to him as well. It's not that he enjoyed wishing ill upon anyone, but Brock had made Charlie's life miserable since middle school. If anyone deserved to spend some time in prison, Charlie figured it was Brock Edwards.
"This is taking forever," Miley complained quietly.
"Are you sure you'll be okay missing class, today? You've only been back to school for a week."
Miley murmured, "Stace is in my Ethics class so I can catch up with her, and Eric is taking notes for me in stats."
Charlie glanced aside at Miley, "Who's Eric?"
Miley pushed a curly dark tendril behind her ear, "He's this guy at school who has a total crush on me."
Charlie didn't appear bothered. If he got jealous over every male who showed interest in Miley, he'd have been getting into a fight every five minutes.
"He's a really nice guy," Miley described Eric, "but he's got a nose out to here."
Charlie smirked as Miley held a hand out two feet from her face.
Both of them perked up when it was announced that Brock's sentencing was next. Brock was led in by a uniformed guard to stand at the defendant's table. Miley gave him a suitable glower, but Brock wasn't paying attention to anyone in attendance and didn't see Miley or Charlie.
"Mr. Edwards..." the middle-aged judge started, pausing to peer over some paperwork. "It appears that your 'guilty' plea is conditional on a partial stay of sentence. Is the prosecution still acceptable to this plea bargain?"
"We are, your honor," the prosecuting attorney said.
"Does the defense have anything to add?"
"No, your honor," Brock's lawyer replied.
"Very well. Given your cooperation in this case and others, I'm willing to go along with this. Mr. Edwards, I hereby sentence you to six months at the county penitentiary with an additional two years stayed pending the satisfactory completion of four years' probation."
"What!?" came a shrieking voice from the seats.
The judge squinted towards the voice, reaching for his glasses.
The rest of the court officials turned around to look as well, as did everyone else in the room.
"Miley!?" Charlie hissed. "What are you doing?"
Brock's eyes went wide when he saw who the voice belonged to, remembering Miley all-too well from high school.
"Are you completely crazy?" Miley aimed her ire right at the judge.
"Excuse me," the judge fit his glasses on and got a good look at Miley. "But who are you?"
"My name is Miley Andrews."
The judge sounded curious, "Is there some reason you have interrupted this case to question my sanity?"
Miley set balled fists against her hips, "Brock beat and nearly killed my fiancé. Charlie was in the hospital for a week. And you're only giving Brock six months? What would you have done if Charlie had died, sent him home without dinner?"
"Oh my god," Charlie shrunk in his chair and covered his eyes with a palm.
"Miss Andrews," the Judge tried to keep his cool, "Mr. Edwards has shown remarkable cooperation in helping police make arrests on several other muggings and robberies. It is the tendency of this court to show leniency among those who cooperate so fully."
"He's just trying to save his own ass!" Miley barked.
The entire courtroom gasped.
The judge frowned, "I suggest you take your seat, young lady, and remain silent. If you disrupt this courtroom again with such language I'll have you held in Contempt and levy a significant fine."
Charlie reached for her arm, "Miley, please. Sit down -"
But Miley batted Charlie's hand away, "Don't you 'young lady' me. I'm not afraid of you! Six months? That's a joke! You should be putting him away for five years!"
The judge smacked his gavel down several times, creating a sharp report that echoed through the courtroom. "Bailiff! Take her into custody. Miss Andrews, you are now in Contempt of Court!"
Charlie's eyes went wide, "What? You can't –"
Miley leveled an icy gaze at the approaching bailiff, "If you so much as touch me... I swear you'll regret it."
The bailiff actually paused.
"Enough!" The judge pounded his gavel again, "Bailiff, please! I will have order in this court!"
"You can't arrest her!" Charlie rose and stood between the bailiff and Miley. He didn't know how things had taken such a wrong turn so quickly, but hoped a quick apology and an even quicker exit might get him and Miley out of there without the cuffs.
Charlie was wrong.
"Detain him as well," the judge instructed. "Is there anyone else who would like to disrespect this court?"
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Out of breath, Brian leaned over near the curbside and placed palms on his knees so that his lungs could catch up. He had been pushing himself during his morning run, something Brian did whenever he needed to clear his mind. With the status of his love-life the way it was, Brian felt like he had a lot of clearing to do.
After admitting to Sam that he had been sleeping with Haley, Brian wasn't surprised when she put an end to their developing relationship. Sam couldn't trust him, she said, and Brian didn't blame her. At least she was willing to continue managing the publication of Brian and Charlie's comic book; they needed her industry contacts. But Sam made it perfectly clear their relationship would be strictly professional from that point on. Brian wasn't sure how he felt about that; he liked Sam but the two of them never had a chance to get overly close.
Brian definitely liked Haley, he knew that much. What straight male wouldn't enjoy the company of a gorgeous fun-loving blonde like Haley? Not that it mattered, she dumped him too. There was too much drama and baggage in his life, according to her, though Brian had no idea what that meant. He simply assumed Haley broke it off because she didn't want to deal with an irate Miley again. Either way, Brian went from two women to none in record time.
Hearing a car from behind, Brian turned around to see someone slowing down and pulling over. He recognized Stacy and lifted a wave. It didn't surprise Brian to see her, as they both lived in the same neighborhood.
"Hey stud," Stacy called as her passenger window slid down, "looking good."
It was true, Brian did look good. He was wearing a pair of baggy running shorts, but his tee was tight around the shoulders and biceps. Stacy thought he must have been working out lately.
Brian leaned against the passenger door of Stacy's car to peer through the window, "Hey beautiful. Are you on your way to school?"
"Yeah, though it was hard getting out of bed this morning and I'm late. It's only been a week since classes started back up but I already want to start skipping and sleeping in."
Brian grinned, "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean."
Stacy rolled her eyes at Brian's sarcasm, "I can't believe you and Charlie are taking the whole year off school to work on that comic. You guys are such slackers!"
"You're just jealous," Brian winked.
Stacy smiled, "Maybe a little."
Brian lifted his chin, "So how have you been? I mean, after the abortion and all. I'm sorry I haven't called, things have been a little crazy."
Stacy smirked when she recalled the scene at the movie theater, after her and Miley caught Brian with Haley. "It's okay, I get it. And I've been fine. I still get a little depressed sometimes, like maybe I did the wrong thing. But time heals all wounds, right?"
"Charlie told me you're seeing that kid he works with. What's his name, Chip?"
Stacy's cheeks colored a little. Brian was her last boyfriend and talking about their new relationships still felt a little uncomfortable, "We went out a couple of times. He's nice, but we don't have any chemistry."
Brian silently wondered why that news pleased him so much.
"So what about you," Stacy asked, "are you still seeing Miley's lesbian kissing partner?"
Brian couldn't help but laugh helplessly at the drama of it all, "No, I guess it was all too much for her."
Stacy made a slight wince, "I'm sorry?"
"It's okay," Brian made a dismissive wave. "I'm pretty sure it wasn't anything long term –"
"Wups," Stacy said as she heard her phone ringing, "hang on."
Fishing the phone out of her purse, Stacy glanced at the face and didn't recognize the number. She answered, "Hello...? Miley? Where are you calling me fro-"
Brian watched Stacy's expression grow worried.
"What?" Stacy gasped. "No, I don't have a thousand dollars... wait, Charlie too? Okay, okay, I'm on my way. Brian is here, we'll scrape it together somehow."
Brian's curiosity was growing as he heard only half the conversation.
Stacy huffed, "What? No, we're not getting back together. I... no, Miley, god. I just passed him on the road! Why are you asking me about this when you're in jail? Okay, yeah, I'll see you as soon as we can get there."
"What was that all about?" Brian asked when Stacy hung up her cell phone. "Miley's in jail?"
"Get in," Stacy hurried. "Charlie and Miley both, they need us to bail them out."
Brian's eyes widened as he pulled open the car door, "What the hell? They weren't having sex in public, were they?"
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"... this is ridiculous. All I did was question that old crabby judge and now you're treating me like a common criminal. Do you really have to fingerprint me? Be careful, you're getting that stuff all over my nails and I just got a manicure! It's only a fine we have to pay, right? Because my friends are on the way to pay it. I swear, if you put me in a cell with a bunch of hookers or something, I'm gonna..."
Charlie sat near a police officer's desk as he watched Miley across the room. He sighed, feeling bad for the officer who was getting an earful of Miley's mind. After being detained by the court Bailiff, Charlie and Miley were taken across the street to the county police station and jailhouse for processing. They were told it would be a five hundred dollar fine each, payable by cash or check only. (Evidently they weren't interested in daddy's credit card.) Never once did Miley seem distressed at the situation, though she was certainly giving the police a handful.
Once finished, the officer fingerprinting Miley led her to sit in the chair beside Charlie. "I don't want to hear any more out of you," the large man said. "Don't move from this chair and try to keep your mouth shut."
Miley glared at the policeman, "Whatever, just because I have the right to remain silent doesn't mean I have to."
The officer growled, shook his head, and happily moved to occupy himself elsewhere in the office.
