Lena
The next morning Sharon got us all some bagels from the local bagel store and we were enjoying some breakfast.
"I'm just saying it's suspicious" I heard Stef say in the other room. I felt curiosity get the best of me as I did everything to try and hear better.
"Don't you think it's a tad bit weird that he knew all this?" She asked. Who's is she talking about?
"Ok I understand but Martin was enslaved for three years he wouldn't know that" she said shocking me. Martin? They can't possibly believe Martin is bad right? He didn't do anything wrong and he never could of.
"Well what about the book of his plans to kill Fenderman and Ericson?" She asked. Martin would never try to kill them, right? Let alone plan it.
"I get that but how would he know all of their plans?" She asked. I know they don't get along but she can't actually believe this right.
"How am I supposed to get him to admit it?" How is this happening? Martin is in trouble with the law? Of course he is. Time hasn't changed, really changed. The cops are just trying to find a way to blame the black person. I definitely expected something like this from any other white person but I really started to think Stef was different. I guess I was wrong.
I felt myself get mad. She made me feel like just maybe the world is a better place than I thought but she's just like the rest of them.
She came back in after her phone call and sat next to me.
"How is it?" She asked and I nodded not wanting to talk to her.
"Everything ok?" She asked having caught on to the fact that I'm trying not to talk to her.
"Fine" I said quickly not looking at her. Stef looked over at her mom as if asking what my problem was and Sharon responded back with a shrug.
She was about to leave for work when she asked me to have a word with her.
"Is everything ok?" She asked again.
"Yeah fine" I said.
"Are you mad at me?" She asked and I shook my head. If I'm mad at anyone it's myself. I should have known. Shouldn't have let my guard down.
"No I should have saw it coming" I said and she gave me a confused look.
"Should have saw what coming?" She asked and I shook my head.
"You're wrong!" I said annoyed.
"About?" She asked not knowing what's happening.
"Martin. He wouldn't do that" I said and she sighed.
"Listen honey. Martin knew too much and we need to make sure he wasn't in on it" she said and I rolled my eyes before realizing I did it. Deep down I know I'm pushing my luck but I'm so mad I can't help it.
"He kept me alive in there, do you understand that? He brought me food and water, kept me safe. Does that sound like a bad guy to you?" I asked and she sighed.
"I know but sometimes the line between good and bad is blurred. There is a gray zone" she said and I shook my head.
"Yeah but his was stealing food from a drunk Ericson for me not being a part of white people's slave trade" I shouted annoyed at this conversation. I can't believe I just yelled at her and she still hasn't tried to hurt me.
"But you know what arrest him for keeping us alive. If he was white you would probably crown him a hero" I shouted still not getting control of my anger. She put her hands up in surrender.
"Whoa slow down this has nothing to do with race" she defended.
"Martin didn't do anything wrong and you still accuse him of being a bad guy and threaten to throw him in jail. Sounds like racism to me" I said having enough of talking to her.
"Lena this isn't like that..." She started.
"No it is I thought you were different but you're just like everyone else" I said and she looked like she's been slapped.
"Lena" she said shocked.
"You're gonna be late." I said and she sighed trying to recover.
"I love you" she said before leaving. I sighed taking out my phone and hovering over Martin's name.
Martin
I was looking for job options on the Internet when my phone rang. Julia, oh thank god. I was really starting to believe that she would never call me.
"Hey honey, is everything ok?" I asked hoping she's not calling because something bad happened.
"Yeah I really need to talk to you" she said and it was like music to my ears. Finally.
"Ok I would love that" I said so happy she's coming around.
"Can you come by Stef's house?" She asked.
"What's the address?" I said and she paused. I know she is realizing she doesn't know it. Great I'm relying on her reading skills.
"Um...2440" she said and I laughed.
"Great what's the street?" I asked and she sighed.
"Uh well that I don't know"
"Ok hold up, I'll look it up" I said pulling up the Internet on my phone. I called my friend Jack and eventually he agreed to drop me off.
"You know you are only asking for trouble right?" He warned and I shook my head.
"She said we need to talk it sounds important" I said and he glared at me.
"Her wife is the cop that's trying to put you in jail" he said as if trying to talk some sense into me.
"So what. All they have over me is a hunch claimed by the jealous wife" I said.
"Again she's a cop and if you didn't know this already you are black" he said and I sighed.
"Look I'm going..."
"So she can get you on a trespassing claim?" He asked.
"She's probably at work and that house is just as much Julia's as it is hers" I pointed out.
"So Julia is her dependent which means she is legally allowed to make choices for her" he argued back.
"That's her house" I said and he stopped.
"Please don't do anything stupid" he said and I nodded.
"Thanks I owe you" I said and he sighed. I got out of the car and she came out to me.
"hey" she said awkwardly.
"Hey thanks for calling me. What's going on?" I asked sitting on the porch and she sat next to me.
"Stef thinks you have something to do with him and you know" she said and I sighed. I didn't want her in the middle of this.
"I know honey, they're not right" I said rubbing her back.
"It's not fair, you don't deserve this" she said. She has come along way since she was saved. A couple of months ago she wouldn't have said something like that. She's starting to value herself (and other black people) more now. I like that she's starting to get better I just wish I was the one that helped her.
"I know babe. It's gonna be ok, I promise" I said and she nodded.
"I don't know what to do" she said and I know she cares for Stef and therefore feels torn.
"Look I love you. I want you to be happy. It's your choice. No one else can decide for you" I said and she seemed unsure.
"I don't know how to choose things for myself" she said and I sighed. She's finally at the point in time that she can make her own decisions and she can't because of that asshole.
"You just need to forget what will happen. Who all is gonna affect and how and just do what makes you happy" I said really hoping she comes around. I know she loves me and she just needs to stop fighting it.
She paused for a second not sure what to do before she completely made my day. She leaned in and kissed me and I pulled her closer. How I missed this. Finally things are starting to look up.
Stef
All day what Lena said played in my mind. She's not right, right? I have never judged people for something like race and I have always tried to treat people equally.
I hate the idea of Lena thinking that of me. She's been through awful things and she thinks I'm like those people that hurt her. I could never do that. I would never hurt her. I just want her to know that
I got into the car and started to drive home. I'm glad I can finally go home and see my family. I know Lena is going to be still mad at me but I need to talk to her. I do understand that this has to be hard on her. Martin was the first person who cared about her in her mind and I think she's always going to find a sense of loyalty to him. Not to mention that he kept her alive.
I pulled into the driveway thinking about what I'm going to say to her but I was stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn't even think logically at the sight of them kissing.
"What the hell are you doing?" I asked pulling Martin back and pushing him against the wall.
"Don't" Lena said pulling me a little out of my haze of anger.
"I'm not gonna hurt him, I just need to talk to him. Can you please go inside?" I said but she didn't move. She seems almost paralyzed in fear. I let go of his shirt knowing it's not helping matters.
"You have some fucking nerve" I said and turned towards Lena. I know she's scared and I know I caused it. I feel awful. Instead of making her feel safe like I should be I scared her. Man I'm just messing everything up today. I silently cursed myself.
As I was going to go over and talk to her Martin opened his mouth to make it worse.
"I have some nerve? For kissing my girlfriend? News flash for you princess you don't own her" he yelled and I almost turned around and punched him but thought better of it.
"Fuck you Martin. I know I don't own her she can make her own choice I said having enough of his act. I don't act like I control her. I have done everything in my power to make her realize that she has chooses. The only reason he thinks that is because I'm white.
"She already did" he said cockily. Again making me want to hurt him. I wanted to turn around and say that she won't see it that way when she realizes he really was a part of their plan. He's not worth my energy, I reminded myself.
"Leave, Martin" I said trying to be calm.
"Fine, come on Julia" he said and I shook my head standing in front of her.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You were about to hurt me I don't trust her here" He said grabbing her arm a little rough. She went to pull her arm away but he kept ahold of her unfazed.
"Martin" she said sounding scared and i'm not sure of who.
"Let go of her" I yelled not going to let this happen. He didn't loosen his grip.
"Come on, I'll call Jack…" he started to say.
"I said let go of her" I said and he let go of her only to turn around and punch me in the face.
"Fuck you she's coming with me" he shouted at me and I pinned him against the wall.
"No you are under arrest for assaulting an officer" I said.
"No" Lena said and I sighed. What does she have to break her loyalty to him.
"Lena honey. Can you go get Sharon for me?" I asked just trying to get her to leave. I handcuffed him and went too call Mike to take him away so I can stay here and fix things with Lena. She hesitated to leave and as if on cue my mom came out fresh out of the shower looking confused. She definitely heard what was happening.
"What's going on?" she asked and I motioned my head in the direction of Lena and she nodded.
"Come on, doll. Lets go get supper ready" she said and finally Lena followed my mom into the house.
"Good going" I said putting him in my car and driving him too the station. I got him out and walked him in.
"What happened? I was just going to go arrest him." Mike said taking Martin from me.
"Yeah well you can add assault of a cop too that list" I said and he looked at me concerned.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Fine glad it wasn't Lena" I said and he nodded.
"I wouldn't hurt her" he said and I rolled my eyes.
"You have the right to remain silent, please use it" I said and he rolled his eyes.
"I have to go fix things with Lena" I said and Mike nodded.
"Ok good luck, come on asshole" Mike said walking him too the holding cell.
I drove home not even sure how too even organize my thoughts on what I have to say to her. I have really not been winning today. She was afraid of me, she thought i'm a racist asshole and she was making out with Martin. How is that even after my life spins out of control completely my life can still proceed to spin out of control more? Literally i'm not even superstitious but did I break a mirror or something because all I have been having is bad luck for a year plus now.
I drove home knowing I need to explain to her that I would never hurt her and that i'm not a racist person and we really need too talk about Martin. I can't help the heart broken feeling I get when I think about seeing that. How can I still get my heart broken more?
Lena
I sat down waiting for supper too be done a feeling of guilt taunting me. I know I hurt Stef and I feel awful. Than I also didn't stand up for Martin. He was just arrested. I can't believe he hit her what is wrong with him? He never used too be like this. I didn't like seeing Stef like that and I know it's because I hurt her.
I also hate to admit it but kissing Martin wasn't the same as it used to be. I don't want to admit it but it took everything for me not to think of Stef while I was kissing him. I wanted to be kissing her. Why is this happening to me?
Ok Martin will be only in a few more chapters, I promise. Give me a few chapters and everything starts to get better. Hypnosis starts to give her her memory back just be patient. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews please keep reviewing like that next chapter should be up Friday.