Closer

\"I knew this job was too good to be true.\" Rosalyn Harris thought to herself. A day filled withd ned news and happiness would of course eventually lead to complete and utter disaster by the end of the day.

She had just beaten the competition for the lead role of the new action/drama television show \"The Tigress,\" a supernatural heroine. She was especially surprised because she was black. She thought of the wonderful opportunity it would be for her acting career; well, that is, if the pilot show got excellent reviews with a large viewing audience to boot. But then, she found out who her leading male co-star was: her ex-beau, Sean Edwards.

The blue eyed devil always had a genuine passion for acting (as did she) and was marvelous. Word of mouth was he had acquired a few meaningful roles on Broadway and some modeling on the side. No real surprise there. There was no denying the sexiness of that man- natural dusty blond locks, perfect abs, intelligence, and that confident, slightly bow legged swagger. oh, stop. Gotta focus. Besides, it\'s been awhile. Maybe he got fat, ugly and stupid.

\"Ugh!\" She thought frustrated. It wouldn\'t be so awful if they\'d parted on good terms, but when was it ever that easy? She wanted to hate him, but she didn\'t have the heart. In spite of all of the bad times, she had to admit she had some of the best times with him too. Deep down, she probably still loved him, but she tried to not think about it. Naturally, this was going to make working with him hard and extremely confusing. No it wouldn\'t have to be. After all, they were professionals. This was merely business. The only emotions that she would show were the ones she would create for a scene. She wouldn\'t dare waste her energy and time on him.

She would just put on her resolve face. Yeah. It\'ll be simple. She\'d just make a barrier around all of her real emotions and put up a front. After all, she was a talented actress.

****************

This was exactly the kind of break he was looking for. Sean Edwards sat down and read the script for the pilot show.

\"A good idea with excellent writers. This could actually work.\" He murmured to himself. \"I hope this great script has excellent actors to portray the characters. So, Kari, who shall I be working with?\" Sean asked his agent, Karen Stevens.

Kari was not only his agent, but also one of his close friends (which were few and far between) for the past five years. She was, as the hackneyed phrase goes \"hot.\" About 5\'6\", emerald eyes, cascading red locks, and a perfect tan on a perfect body. They were very much compatible. But they never would hook up for two reasons: one- they never mixed business with pleasure, and two- she was gay.

\"Well, I went over the cast list and the only person you know is Gary Meyers.\"

\"Gary, well I\'ll be damned. Haven\'t spoken to him, since, well, it\'s been awhile. Nice guy. So, what\'s the name of the leading lady? Hope she\'s not some insipid bitch. Ya know how much I hate those. Well, unless she\'s hot!\" He said, waggling his eyebrows.

\"Her name is Rosalyn Harris.\"

Sean sat up straight in his chair and attempted to swallow the lump in his throat.

\"Uh, come again?\"

\"Rosalyn Harris. Why? Have you heard of her?\" He sat back in the chair and heaved a troubled sigh.

\"Yeah. I know her very well. I told you about her. You know, the love of my life that I foolishly lost?\"

\"Oh, you mean her whose picture you not so discreetly carry in your wallet?\" She said with mock innocence.

\"Yeah, and hey, the picture is only there for luck.\" He said feigning indignance.

\"Hey, maybe she wasn\'t the love of your life. Maybe a first love or a great love. Besides, you don\'t honestly think that the picture brings you luck, do you?\" She replied with a challenging look on her face.

\"Well, it got me this job working with her, for one.\" He said as he rose up to leave.

\"Right. And it had absolutely nothing to do with your abilities as a talented actor.\" She said, while learning in her office chair and crossing her arms. He turned form the door and looked back at her before leaving.

\"Well, maybe just a little.\" He said with a grin.

*************

Rosalyn went home that night alone (as usual) to celebrate her win - and to have a little drink. Boy, oh boy. Going to work never seemed to be such a hard task. But then again, nothing worth having was ever easy.


Summer- 5 Years Earlier

Tre just wasn\'t getting it. I wish I could have said that at age fifteen and a half, I was smart enough not to get involved with someone four years older than I was- but I wasn\'t. I was young and blissfully stupid. I was completely content to have an older boyfriend (who was fairly good looking) who had a job and a car, but I was a virgin. I suppose he suspected that after the gifts and the dates in only two weeks time, I\'d simply give it up. That was what he asked that night.

We had just come from the movies, and we were still sitting in his car, towards the end of the parking lot- at night. The tinted navy blue windows provided privacy for us to have our \"discussion.\" He said it was still early, and suggested we make it a night at his place. He said he had some drinks there and that it would be fun. I said no. I wasn\'t ready to make that kind of commitment.

\"Bitch, quit playin\'. You think I spent all of my money on you and not get no pussy? You must be out of yo\' fuckin\' mind!\" He said in an uproar.

\"What? Ah, hell naw. I am not the one, nigga. And who are you calling a bitch, bitch?! Hell, it\'s not like we\'ve know each other a long time anyway. I\'m sorry, but uh, I\'m not some cheap slut who-\"

\"Nah, babe. I know you\'re just scared. Afraid you won\'t like it. Just gotta get you in the mood.\" He said in softer tones.

Despite my protests, he advanced upon me. The odds were not in my favor. I was about five eleven and one hundred-fifty pounds while he was like six foot three and two hundred-thirty pounds; mostly muscle. He started touching and grabbing me, so I smacked him hard on his face; trying to snap him out of his lustful haze. But it was no haze at all. I was finally introduced to the real him. All I did was piss him off greatly.

The son of a bitch punched me in the saw, sending my head reeling to the side. The whole side of my face felt like there were a thousand needles piercing it. When the hit disoriented me, he slammed me down to the seat, wedging himself between my legs. My left leg was trapped between him and the seat. There was no way for me to maneuver to knee him in his balls now, and no one knew where I was. I tried flailing about to try and move his girth off of me, but to no avail. He then proceeded to unbutton my Capri\'s and thrust two of his large fingers inside of me.

\"Rape! Rape-!!\" I screamed as loud as I could and tried not to cry. He hit me again. This time, across my temple. It quieted me, but I still continued to struggle. I refused to just lie there.

He held my wrists above my head, and then took his fingers out of me in order to rip away my camisole tank top. The look in his eyes invoked pure terror in me. Then I heard voices. He must have seen the hopeful look in my eyes because he released my wrists to cover my neck with his massive hand. He applied enough pressure to keep me from shouting, but not enough to completely choke me.

But then a thought came to me: my legs, my long legs. I thought that maybe I could honk the horn with my foot, but my leg was in such a weird angle that I couldn\'t get to it. Then my panicking began to increase because the voices were growing fainter. So I started grasping at straws by using my (thankfully) long right leg and the three inch heel of my strappy, black sandal and began kicking as hard as I could at the driver side window. While doing this maneuver, it caused me to buck up against him. It distracted him momentarily, but he soon realized what happhappening. But thank God for me, he noticed too late.

The glass broke and the voices became closer again at a rapid pace.

**********

Sean Edwards decided to spend another lazy day at the movies with his friends. Of course, everything doesn\'t turn out the way you plan them. He didn\'t want to take the bus, so he waited until hisp dap dad came home so he could use his car.

Also, since he was the only person with means of transportation other than the CTA, he picked up thr three friends- Nic, David, and Alex. As he pulled into the closest available space, which was towards the end of the parking lot, he desperately hoped the lobby to the theatre was air conditioned, since it would inevitability take a long time on his eclectic crew to decide on what to see.

\"Hey, let\'s see the new Rob Schneider. His last one was hilarious.\" Nic said with a huge grin plastered on his tanned, handsome face.

\"No, his movies are stupid. Let\'s see that new action movie. \'Turbulence\' something or other.\" Alex replied, while taking off his glasses and inspecting them for spots.

\"Now, now guys. Let\'s be reasonable. How bout we see one of those chick flicks? I\'m pretty sure there are plenty of lonely, teen aged, sweet assed females in there, just waiting to be held.\" David replied with a thoughtful smile.

\"Oh stop. I\'m sure that any female in there, alone or otherwise, wouldn\'t wanna be bothered by a prick like you. Besides, you\'re already taken. Melissa, remember?\" Sean asked pointedly. He didn\'t mean any harm. It was just so damned humid and hot, even though the sun was set. Well, that was to be expected. Summer time in Chicago is never mild. Walking towards the theatre doors seemed an eternity away.

\"Yeah, well, Lis loves my prick. And believe me when I say.\"

Sean tuned him out. Whenever he started his lewd comments, it was always best to ignore him. He was jostled out of his thoughts when he heard the breaking of a car window. He turned around and saw a woman\'s shoe jutting out. Then, he ran.

Tbc