Chapter Two
Poe had gotten home to his apartment and put away all of his groceries. He had a decent apartment. Pretty nice bedroom and bathroom. A small but suitable kitchen, after all he was the only one living there and a nice sized living room. The Living room and dining room were kind of split, the end of the carpet marked the end of the living room and the start of the dining room. Then on the other side of the living room was a sliding glass door to his balcony. It was nice having a balcony especially on the fourth floor. Poe watched some TV until it was around six, then preparing a salad for dinner. He browsed the internet for a bit and finally got ready to go to the bar around eight. He also didn't have work the next day so he could stay out as late as he wanted.
He got to the bar and was disappointed when he didn't see her there. He still decided to have a few beers. New experiences were always good. It was decent little place. But it was also really close to Englewood, meaning a lot of people in gangs would show up and him having his badge on him would get him some dirty looks. He got a text from Finn asking where he was and if he wanted to go to a bar tonight. He texted him back telling him where he was, maybe the night wouldn't be a total bust, he would get to hang out with his best friend and partner. He waited a half hour for Finn to get there for about a half hour. Once he finally showed up he sat down next to Poe and ordered a drink.
"Why'd you come here?" Finn asked in confusion. "It's way further from your apartment than our usual bar."
"No particular reason." Poe replied. Poe lit up when he saw Rey walk in from the back, looking like she was about to take over for her shift. But what shift was she talking about earlier he thought to himself. Finn noticed him get a sudden happier look to him and traced to where he was looking. Finally fixating on Rey.
"Ohhhh." Finn said smirking. "That's why were here." He teased.
"Oh shut up already." Poe replied.
Poe tried not to watch her as she got behind the bar but their eyes met and he saw her smile a little before turning around. Poe and Finn finished their beers and Poe flagged down Rey to get two more. She handed them two Manhattans and Poe started to try and spark up conversation. Finn got up to use the restroom which was a lie. But Poe appreciated him leaving for him to talk to her./p
"So, long time no see right." Poe said sparking her to giggle a little bit.
"Did you come here just to see me?" Rey asked catching on to him and his plan.
"I came to enjoy a drink." He said which was a lie. She had caught him red handed, but he wouldn't admit it.
"What time do you get off your shift?" Poe asked.
"Around one."
"Woah. That's no time for a lady to be walking home alone. I could walk you home if you'd like." Poe said trying to pull his old moves out but was much less smooth than he thought he would've been.
"No, I couldn't keep you up that late."
"Well I have tomorrow off. So I don't have to go in early to report for duty." Poe said sparking another giggle in her.
"Well, if you insist." She replied with a smile on her face.
Finn came back when she left and sat back down in his seat. "So, how'd it go?"
"Well, i'm gonna be walking her home tonight." Poe told him.
"Nice man, where does she live?"
"Englewood."
Finn's smile quickly disappeared at the sound of that part of town. "Are you crazy? You are cop and you want to walk through Englewood in the dead of night?"
"Calm down Finn, i'll keep my gun and badge hidden under my jacket, no one will notice."
"I hope his girl is worth it." Finn stated blankly.
Poe looked over at her getting someone a beer. "Oh don't worry she is."
The next few hours went by, Finn left by eleven and left Poe to wait for the next to hours. Occasionally Rey would come over and maybe talk for a minute or so but had other customers to attend to. The place was actually pretty full and he was caught off guard when this big black guy sat down next to him. There was a story on the news about a black man being convicted of a crime and the guy turned to him and went.
"Fuck the police am I right?"
Poe couldn't believe the next thing he said. "I'm a cop actually." Did he want to die? He's in a bar full of gang members and announces he's a cop.
The guy straightened his back. "Then what you doin in here fool?"
"I'm..uh... waiting for her to get off work, so I can walk her home." Poe pointed to Rey who was getting another guy his drink.
The guy nodded his head. "Alright, I can respect that, helping out a nice lady. Maybe all you cops ain't so bad." The large man said before turning back to his drink.
"Thanks." Poe said. Holding himself back from saying anything else. Poe awkwardly sat there for another hour until the guy finally left. Rey was off her shift in less than ten minutes. He couldn't wait to get out of there. Suddenly Rey walked over to him quickly and put one hand on the bar.
"I'll be right out, I just want to change out of my work clothes."
"Alright." Was all Poe managed to get out before she was walking to the backroom. She had been wearing all black clothes that must've smelled like alcohol by now, not to mention how thin the material was so if she walked out wearing that, she'd be freezing. Poe finished the rest of his beer right when she got out and joined him on his side of the bar. She was now wearing light blue skinny jeans, an old pair of converses, a white sweater and a brown jacket over it. They walked out into the cool late November air and they started walking towards Englewood. On the way there Poe realized that he could have driven the both of them to make the trip safer but it was too late.
They had a small conversation on the way to her apartment. mostly about Poe's life. She didn't seem open to talk about hers and Poe didn't want to push anything. Poe was relieved on their walk it didn't seem like many people were still out and about and nobody had seemed to catch on to his badge and gun on his hip. That faded away though when they got to her apartment building and there were four guys outside. obviously intoxicated and high. One of them called out to Rey.
p style="text-align: left;""Hey." He slurred his words. "When're you gonna let me into your apartment baby." Rey got a nervous look and just kept walking inside. Poe decided he would walk her all the way to her door just to be sure she would be fine. Before they both got inside the man yelled again. "Don't make me let myself in now!"
They both proceeded up the stairs and to her door. As she turned to Poe she looked nervous and didn't say anything.
"Well, I guess i'll see you around." Poe said about to walk away but Rey grabbed his wrist to stop him.
"Do you mind maybe...staying for a little?" She asked with red rimmed eyes and a sad stare.
"Of course." Poe let out quickly.
Rey unlocked her apartment door and they walked in. Poe immediately after shutting the door behind him did not like how it looked. The entire building as a matter of fact. It was definitely not up to code but Rey did a good job of making her apartment look a lot nicer than the rest of the building. Poe noticed textbooks and a laptop on the kitchen bar and then a backpack leaning up against it on the floor. Rey put some water on the stove for tea.
"Would you like some tea?" She asked.
"Yeah, that sounds great." Poe said still looking around the entire apartment. It was about half the size of his. A small bedroom and bathroom. A kitchen that was surprisingly larger than his and then a very small living room that couldn't fit more than a couch, TV and a coffee table. Poe brought his attention back to the book bag. "I didn't know you were a student." Poe said trying to start a conversation out of the awkwardness that filled the apartment.
"Yeah, it's my third year at Columbia college."
That was at least ten miles from here. "Do you walk that everyday?" Poe asked concerned.
"No, I usually take the L-train. I can't afford to lose time. Between my shifts at work and my classes it's hard to keep up with everything." Rey paused to look out the window at a group of drunk men falling over all over the street. "What about you?" She asked suddenly.
"What'd you want to know?"
"I dunno, did you go to college?" She finally came up with.
"Yeah, actually I went to SUNY Albany in New York. I studied criminal justice." She nodded in acknowledgement. Then Poe added on to what he said. "I live in West Town, by myself. Get's lonely sometimes on my days off though. I thought of getting a dog but there's noway i'd have time to train it."
"I've always wanted a dog." Rey said cheerfully.
"Oh yeah? What kind?" Poe said suddenly more interested.
"I had a German Shepherd when I was younger and I loved that dog to pieces. So I'd probably get another." Poe fell for her even a little more now. They seemed to have a lot in common. But he couldn't be too sure since she didn't talk much about herself. Just school, work and a few other little things that didn't pertain to her personal life at all. The water for the tea was ready and Rey got two mugs handing him one as he followed her to the couch. Rey put her mug down on the table.
"I'll be right back, i'm just gonna change into some more comfortable clothes." He went to her bedroom not fully closing the door behind her. But she disappeared behind it so Poe wouldn't have to fight himself from looking. He tried his very best to always be a gentleman towards ladies. There was a sudden heavy knock at the door and Rey came out of the room in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, her hair up in a loose ponytail. Poe pulled kept his gun ready, only thinking it could be the guy from before and unfortunately he was right. Rey opened the door and the man leaned against the door frame./p
"Well are you gonna let me in baby doll?" The man said sexualizing her.
"No." she stated blankly. The man opened the door all the way and took one step inside. Poe sat up and got between the two of them.
"Who the hell are you?"
Poe pulled the badge from his belt and held it in his face. The drunk man immediately becoming more worried even in his current state.
"Why don't you get out of here and sober up before I lock your ass up for harassment and possession of drugs." Poe said in an almost yell.
"I ain't carrying drugs."
"Then empty your pockets." Poe demanded.
The same worried look came back on the man's face leading him to turn around an utter. "Man whatever." but Poe didn't let it go.
"Hey! You ever knock on this door again asking for anything more than the morning paper i'll drag you down to the station and get a warrant for your apartment." Poe shut the door and locked it. Then turning around to Rey who moved back to the couch, curled up with her knees to her chest and her mug in her hand. Poe sat down next to her and saw the red in her eyes. She looked like she was a about to cry.
"I don't know what I would've done if you weren't here." She said with her voice cracking and shaking.
"Thank you."
He reached over to touch her arm. "I'm happy to help." Rey felt his warmth immediately consume her. It was strange, she never thought she'd let anyone into her apartment like she did with Poe. But she was glad she did. If she didn't, things could've went very differently that night. Poe picked his mug back up and they sipped on their tea and watched what was on the television. Poe looked over to see Rey passed out on the couch. Her mug luckily didn't spill. He took it from her hand and put it on the table next to hers. He lifted her up and carried her to her bed. Laying her down and tucking her in. He left the room and closed the bedroom door behind him.
He felt a strange obligation to stay and sleep on the couch because of what transpired earlier. He brought the two mugs to the sink and sat back down on the couch. Taking off his boots and leather jacket and setting his badge and gun on the coffee table. The next thing he knew it was morning and the first thing he saw was Rey's bedroom door open and her bed empty. He sat up and walked into the kitchen to see the time was 7:03. It was still early and he couldn't imagine Rey had classes this early on a Saturday. Poe had alternating days off. This week it was Friday and Saturday. Last week it was Monday and Wednesday. He walked around the apartment and as he got close to the bathroom he heard the shower running confirming she was still in the apartment.
Poe started walking around. He was surprised the floor didn't creek because of the buildings old age. He eventually found himself in her bedroom. Where he shouldn't be, but something led him there for some reason. He looked to his right at her dresser. There were farmed pictures on top of it. One with her a kid and with that dog and one with four other people that he guessed must've been her family. He looked down and noticed a newspaper sticking out from under the dresser. he knelt down and picked it up, shocked when he read the headline and saw the person in the photo. emMan killed by drunk driver./em And it was a picture of one of the older men in the photograph on Rey's dresser. He put the newspaper back and left her bedroom, going back to the couch. Rey came out of the bathroom fully dressed with wet hair.
"Hey." She called out somewhat cheerfully.
"Hey. Uh how'd you sleep?"
She smiled. "You know it's weird I actually sleep really well. I usually don't."
"What about you?"
"Good, the couch was pretty comfortable."
She smiled again. "Well I have class in an hour so I've got to get going, the L-train is always slow."
"I can give you a lift if you want. My car's just parked by the bar. It'll be a lot quicker than taking the L-train." Poe offered.
"You sure? I don't mean to inconvenience you."
"No, not a problem, I have today off and all I usually do is sit around my apartment." She nodded and went to grab her things.
Poe put on his boots and clipped his badge and gun back onto his hip. then threw his jacket on. It was surprisingly warm when they got outside though, had to be in the mid fifties. They took the five minute walk back to the bar and hoped in Poe's car. The ride was mainly silent though they had a short conversation about her class. It was an engineering class and Poe found out she wanted to work on planes for her future job. Poe was surprised. He also enjoyed planes. He had actually taken flying classes before and the instructor told him he was "naturally gifted at it" but he still decided to be a cop. He dropped her off and she sort of gave him a half hug. Thanking him for everything. As she left Poe felt a sudden loneliness. After spending the past ten hours near Rey he felt as if she was the best girl he ever met. He didn't know it but Rey thought the same of him. Out of all the guys she ever met. Poe was different. He was a gentleman and carried a kind of warmth around with him that she could feel when she was near him.
