SisCoKid: Man! I totally thought that I already uploaded this chapter way back in August. I actually dont know why it wasn't uploaded back then. Anywho, by the time I realized this, Chapters 5 was done and I was writing chapter 6. Sadly, I had long since deleted chapter 4 off my computer, but I remembered most of it and worked from there.
Thanks for the patience and reviews.
disclaimer: I own nothing.
chapter 4
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'Thats three down. Wonder how many more cases I can crack today.' Ingrid sat all alone at her desk in the safety patrol office. It was after hours and she wasn't in the mood to go home, there wasn't much to do there anyway. But if she stayed here, she could keep busy until they kicked her out. This was actually quite fun for her. Well, as fun as life gets when you don't have any close friends. These were all just the throw away cases that the patrol usually wouldn't bother with because the size of the school and the number of problems it generates. Ingrid worked through them though, she had a thing against stuff being tossed to the side, things that are deemed not important. It struck too close to home with her.
Ingrid rubbed her temple. This wasn't as relaxing as it usually was. She pushed the giant stack of pictures, and folders to the side and rested her head on her desk. It helped slightly, but the problem wasn't physical. It was something inside of her that longed for a person who was running further and further away. In the beginning, it was only a small hole in her stomach. She could ignore the awkward feeling of unease. Time went on and things became worse, the hole grew bigger. Now the hole was her entire body. Ingrid didn't like the hole. It made her feel empty and sick. Fillmore abandoning her felt like a person with one leg getting their cane snatched out of their hand. Thats how her relationship with Fillmore was. He was the first friend she ever made and a lasting one. She tested the waters and decided to put her full weight on him. He proved to be more than trustworthy, he did more than support her, he picked her up and carried her around. Then without notice or warning of any sort, he dropped her, leaving her to do it all alone.
She rolled her head over and glanced at his old desk.
She never thought to see if he was leaning on her. She was just so lost in their friendship that she never checked. It never occurred to her that he would not be there. She just figured it in. She even thought they would go to the same college together, but whats the point of going to the same college if hes against breathing the same air as her. Why had she been so foolish back then? It should of been obvious that very few highschool friends end up going to the same college. It hurts to think that all she was to him was a highschool friend.
Ingrid chuckled into her desk.
She still was foolish actually. Otherwise her life wouldn't be so sucky right now. Otherwise, his being laid off wouldn't of mattered at all.
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After hearing the news from Daniel at lunch, Ingrid made her way straight to Tehama's office. She didn't bother knocking, she didn't need to. There were few officers with such a privilege.
Tehama hadn't changed the office much since Vallejos days. Across from the door her desk was placed with two chairs in front of it for visitors to sit. Tehama only changed the chairs to make them more relaxing and a few pictures here and there.
"I've been expecting you." Tehama said with out looking up from her work. Ingrid walked across the room and made herself comfortable in one of the chairs. Her plan was to someday nab one of these chairs before leaving for college. So comfortable, she could fall asleep in it if it weren't for the fact she was in her leaders office. Hence why she had to take it out of here eventually. These chairs have proven very effective on the Principals mood, making him easier to deal with.
"Why?" Ingrid asked. Though she knew why and she also would of probably made the same decision. She needed to ask though, it felt like an obligation for some reason.
Tehama sighed and put her work to the side.
"It wasn't easy. Believe me Ingrid. Even though hes pretty much done nothing since the semester started, his name alone does wonders for the patrol. Delinquents fear his name and other patrol officers look up to and respect him, BUT...." Tehama paused as she picked up a picture and looked at it. "When was the last time you saw him like this? Been a while right?" Tehama handed the picture to Ingrid. Ingrid remembered the picture, she remembered it well. It was a group picture of last years Christmas party in the office. Up front Vallejo and O'Farrell sat in a chair leaning on each other. They drank way to much hot cocoa and were paying the consequence. Anza stood behind them with his hands behind his head and a not a care in the world smile on his face. Tehama stood to his right with both Vehajos and O'Farrells mugs in her hands. She was smiling, but also rolling her eyes at the two conked out officers. Finally, Fillmore and Ingrid stood to Anzas left. Fillmores had his left arm resting on Ingrids shoulders and Ingrid had her right arm latched around his mid section. Fillmore had a gentle smile on his face while Ingird seemed to be smirking.
"Does he even smile anymore?" Ingrid asked as she handed the picture back. She couldn't stand looking at it any longer. It hurt too much seeing the proof of how close they once were.
"Fillmore heart isn't in it anymore. I don't know what happened, but the Fillmore we see today is definitely not the Fillmore from this picture." Ingrid could only nod at Tehamas words because what she said was the simple truth. Ingrid talked to Fillmores mother a lot over the summer and it seems that Fillmore is focusing all his energy to get into a good Criminal justice school. He made the clear cut decision to drop all unnecessary things from his life. First her and now the safety patrol as it seems.
"Have you tried talking to him?" Ingrid asked, hoping Tehama would have a little more information on Fillmore.
"Have you!?! The guy wont tell anybody anything. He dodges around when I try and see whats wrong." Tehama exclaimed. Tehama calmed herself. "Sorry." Tehama, Anza, O'Farrell, and Vallejo all knew Ingrid had something to do with this and they were all positive Ingrid knew this herself. They all agreed on not interfering in the twos business. It was hard sometimes though. It wasn't easy seeing two of your friends split apart and watching them transform.
"If anything, I let him off to try and wake him up. Maybe this will work as a big enough shock to get him back into gear." Tehama reached across the desk and put a supportive hand on Ingrids. "It was for the best. Its hard seeing him in that state every day. Don't you agree?"
"Your right, but I still....I." Ingrid stuttered to a stop. She didn't really know why she didn't want him gone. It was only logical for him to leave, but she wasn't that logical anymore. Apart of her at least wanted him in the same room at times. Even if it was only half of who he used to be.
"Maybe you should talk to him." Tehama suggested slowly.
Ingrid stared at her with tired eyes. She slowly pulled her hand out from under Tehamas grasp.
'Maybe not.' Tehama thought.
"I'm just saying, I think he would take your words more seriously then others."
"Maybe." Ingrid mumble as she got up to leave.
"Ingrid!"
She stopped with the door handle in her hand.
"Dont think I haven't noticed you over working. You cant do it all. Even though Fillmores out of comission, you dont have to react to his absence. Find your own groove okay?" Tehama noticed Ingrid go stiff.
"I just dont like cases being pushed to the side, no matter how small or unimportant." Ingrid couldn't turn to face Tehama because her face would betray her voice and show the emotions she usually kept in check.
Tehama almost got up to walk across the room, but remembered she wasn't to try and fic Fillmore and Ingrids problems.
"Just take it a little easier okay. This school is way too big for one person to tackle all the cases. Oh and your welcome to hang out with us any time. remember that."
"I know."
"Bye Ingrid."
Ingrid turned and nodded before opening the door.
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Maybe she was going crazy. Since when did she long just to have someone within sight? Then again, it isn't just anybody she was being effected by. Just having him in the same room made her feel more secure in a way. He was that essence of familiarity that made the patrol room what it was. When he was here, she could glance over and see him doing something that only Fillmore would do. Of course he wasn't who he used to be, but there were still habits that remained. Her favorite was when he would search almost everywhere for his pencil only to have some one point out to him it was on his ear.
Now that he was gone, the room seemed cold and empty. It was almost like she was in a completely different room...
A hand rested on her shoulder. On reflex Ingrid grabbed the hand as she got up, twisting it behind the persons back. She let go of the person immediately afterwards. Over the years of being a patrol officer, she'd been grabbed numerous times by people, pretty much at random. In response, her body began to react in such a way when ever anybody grabbed her shoulder, or a few other "parts" of her body.
"Shoot! I'm sorry Daniel. Reflex..." She sat back down trying to refocus her mind. She was really out of it this time.
"Man Ingrid. Thats the third time this week, I probably wont have a hand by the end of the month." Daniel rubbed his assaulted wrist.
"You should know how I'm going to respond by now..." Ingrid shot back.
"I was only calling your name....oh I dont know, since I entered the office! It was the only way I knew to get your attention." Daniel said as he walked back to his desk and took at seat.
Ingrid mentally slapped herself upside the head. She really had to get out of this rut. She didn't even realize he had been calling her name, never mind that fact that he was in the room at all. This was getting way out of hand, she should see a shrink or something.
"Well anyways, I was wondering what your plans are for homecoming?" He asked as he messed with a Rubik's cube.
"Aren't we patrolling that along with....whats his name again? The Asian guy?" Ingrid sat back in her chair. "Just what is that guys name?"
" I dunno...."Daniel held a blank stare before shaking his head and getting back on topic. "I called us both off for homecoming, two freshmen are replacing us, so we're free to do what ever."
Now Ingrid had never been asked out before because most people were intimidated by her and also a lot of people assumed Fillmore and her were a couple. Ingrid held no dating experience what so ever, but that didn't mean she didn't know when somebody was asking her out.
"I. Don't. Dance." Ingrid said each word slowly. Daniel laughed.
"I'm not asking you to dance! I'm just asking you to come with me." Daniel shot her a smile that worked on most girls, but not her.
'Why is he asking me out? Sure we're partners, but theres not a lot of friendship there. He always seems so nervous when we're not talking about safety patrol.' Ingrid mused to herself, forgetting that Daniel was waiting for an answer. This was quite flustering, she never imagined anybody asking her out...well that wasn't totally true. There was one person who crept into her dreams.
"You there Ingrid?" Daniel ask. He was getting used to her spacey nature.
Ingrid bit her lip. What could it hurt, not like she would be doing anything else with her nonexistent after school life. Besides for safety patrol, Ingrid was the president of the stay at home club.
"I'll go."
"Really!?!"
She nodded with a slightly forced smile.
"Really really? You'll seriously go with me?" With the look in his eyes, Ingrid knew she couldn't take her words back.
"Yes, I'll go with you."
This was as much a surprise to him as it was for her. "Awesome!" He hopped out of his chair and picked up his jacket and book bag.
"I'll see you tomorrow!" He all but skipped out of the room.
Ingrid look at the pictures still in front of her. There was no way she could concentrate on them now. Her brain was beyond concentration at the moment.
She sighed and rested her head back on the desk.
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SisCoKid: There we go! Chapter 5 and 6 are already done, but I'm going to reread them and make some changes here and there. So expect them out in the next couple of weeks.
