A/N: Wow... I never expected such a response. Now, I don't want to go back on my word, but seeing the initial two reviews has admittedly inspired me to revitalize the story while taking things slowly.
1.1) TheWriterForGod4: If I may make a statement, though while the story does have similar things to other stories, the events that happened for those things are a bit different. Plus, unlike the other authors that you found inspiration for this story, there are different characters and some of the plot is potentially different as well. I do think that it's a good story and can only ask that you keep writing it in your own way. :)
2.1) Dragonsfire1995: Well hell, least your honest. I would love to see what your creativity can come up with.
Karen Johnson was a rookie detective working for the police department. Sharing more than a few qualities with her best friend since grade school, there was one crucial difference that distinguished her from her: her cynicism was dialed up to eleven. She stuck with her best friend through thick and thin despite knowing of her dark and troubled past, but it was her own doubt in for her in the slightest and her acknowledgement of the dark and troubled past that ultimately did their friendship in.
There were a number of times where she found her trust in her tried, tested, strained, and even stretched to their absolute limits. The "Incident" back in high school was just one example, but it was the one that found their relationship almost irrevocably damaged. Even if it was not her who was behind the social media attacks, Karen was heartbroken to learn that she had transferred to another school to finish her studies before eventually moving. Deciding to place her focus on the law enforcement scene, the rest was history.
She still could not help but wonder what if...
"Hey, Johnson."
A "colleague" of hers approaching from the right, Johnson chuckled to herself as she turned to face him with one arm remained outstretched as she hung the Christmas decorations...one day after Halloween ended.
"What's up?"
"There's a Thanksgiving festival in a few weeks. You up for it?"
"It depends. Are we there on duty or not?"
"Are we playing 21 Questions?"
"Are we?"
A momentary silence filled the space between them before Johnson's colleague chuckled, "I guess we are...and I guess I'm breaking the cycle by answering yes and no. To clarify, those who attend will be assigned as off-duty security but still be able to attend to the festivities."
"I guess crime never takes a holiday?"
"You guess correctly."
Johnson scoffed to herself as she finished hanging the decorations, "I'll think about it, Ramirez. For once in my life working here...I need a distraction."
"From a past boyfriend or girlfriend?"
"From a past friend..." Karen clarified to Ramirez, "...who just happens to be a girl."
"Well, you're angsting over her as if she is your girlfriend," Ramirez joked, a joke Karen could not help but smile at.
"She's like a little sister to me. She looked up to me and I...looked down at her. The point is, I let her down and I haven't seen her since."
"When was the last time you saw her?"
"I don't know. Five years ago at the most."
"Five years?" Ramirez expressed disbelief, "That's plenty of time to cope, right?"
"You would be surprised at the amount of people who can hold on to grudges for a very long time, Ramirez," Karen poured herself a cup of coffee despite her not being fond of the beverage, "And believe me, Kayla has a very good reason to hold on to that particular grudge."
Taking a long swig of her coffee, Karen sighed and tossed the plastic cup into the nearest trash bin before walking off. Being something of a replacement friend in the past five years for Karen, Ramirez, of course, took off after her and walked by her side.
"A wise person once said this: Every day is like...a different game you're playing in and that you could never win. You won't get what you give sometimes, but you gotta hold your head up. That's the use is trying."
When she turned to face him, Karen could find a faint of sincerity in Ramirez's eyes, surprising herself for the first time in...well, forever.
"That was...oddly wise. Who was that wise person?"
"Ah, my little sister," Ramirez shrugged, "She heard it through a song by one of her favorite singers and said this to me on one of my very bad days."
Surprise seeped through again, this time mixed with a dash of amusement.
"Huh. I don't know why I listen to you sometimes, Ramirez...but I'm glad I did just now."
"You know me, Johnson. I'm your friend, your pal, your amigo, your shoulder to cry on. You can always count on me...except on Sundays. That's Mass."
"Of course it is."
The two of them shared a brief but heartfelt hug before they pulled away.
"Think about it, will you? The festival?"
"Of course I will."
Taking a brief glance at her watch, Karen sighed.
"Well, this is my fourth shift. I gotta go to my fifth one."
"I hope that's not some bullroar excuse."
"If it is, then I apologize beforehand. We all need a holiday sometime, Ramirez!"
"Yes, we do, Johnson," Ramirez chuckled as he waved goodbye to Johnson, who waved goodbye back as she exited the station.
The moment she stepped outside, Johnson's smile dropped and immediately replaced with a small, somber frown. Walking to her car, a cherry-red 1962 Chevrolet Corvette with a convertible top, she stepped inside, closed and locked the door behind her, and slumped in her chair. Burying her face into her hands, she resisted the urge to cry before turning over the engine and turning on the radio as she drove off.
("The Use In Trying" by Alessia Cara) [Original Song From PAW Patrol: The Movie]
As Karen drove away the station, the song switched up the mood from happy-go-lucky to dour and depressing.
Of course. How convenient...
Nonetheless, she turned up the volume and sulked to herself during the drive.
[Intro]
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
A contemporary pop song that sounded cynical and optimistic at the same time?
How typical...
Karen did not want to sing along to this particularly pedestrian piece of pop...or did she?
[Verse 1]
Just a jump away from where you wanna go
But you're too afraid of doing it alone
So getting half way there is all you've ever known
I've been down that road (Mm-hmm, mm-hmm)
Everyday is like you're playing in
A different game that you can never win (Alone)
Indeed, in spite of herself, Karen found her head slightly bopping to the beat of the song, followed by her softly humming the chorus.
[Pre-Chorus]
Hold your head up
You'll find your way home
You won't get what you give sometimes
When the dust done settles
And the smoke all clears up
There's pieces of yourself you're gonna find
Maybe that's the use in trying
That soft humming eventually transitioned to gentle singing as the tune wormed its way into her ears and eventually her brain.
[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah
There's pieces of yourself you're gonna find
Maybe that's the use in trying
Ah, ah-ah (Maybe that's the use)
Ah, ah-ah (Maybe that's the use)
There's pieces of yourself you're gonna find
Maybe that's the use in trying
Bobbing her head to the rhythm as she sang the chorus, Karen found her spirits being suddenly lifted.
[Verse 2]
Just a search away from what you wanna find
But digging through the dirt won't get you diamonds every time
Seeing the sun's a good enough reason to get through the night
So close your heavy eyes (Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh)
And everyday is like a figure eight
Too impossible to navigate (Alone)
But not too suddenly, as the memory of her fallout with Kayla still lingered.
[Pre-Chorus]
Hold your head up
You'll find your way home
You won't get what you give sometimes
When the dust done settles
And the smoke all clears up
There's pieces of yourself you're gonna find
Maybe that's the use in trying
The end of said memory was somewhat bittersweet, with heavy emphasis on the "bitter".
[Chorus]
Ah, ah-ha
Ah, ah-ha
There's pieces of yourself you're gonna find
Maybe that's the use in trying
Ah, ah-ha
Ah, ah-ha
There's pieces of yourself you're gonna find
Maybe that's the use in trying
...but at least there was a hint of "sweet" to be found...and that was worth fighting for.
[Outro]
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Maybe that's the use in trying...
. . .
BUZZZ!
When Karen's phone buzzed in her pocket, she pulled over to a gas station to answer the call.
"This is Karen Johnson."
"Hey, Karen."
. . .
"K-Kayla?"
"Yeah. It's been a long time, huh?"
"Far too long. How are you?"
"Life's been treating me well thus far. What about you?"
"Life's been good to me. Listen, about what happened..."
"It's fine. In fact, I don't think it's important right now. Are you busy?"
"No. No, not yet. Why? Is there something wrong?"
"No, not really. It's something...strange."
"Strange how?"
"I can't explain it over the phone without sounding like an idiot. Where are you?"
"I just left the police station and was heading home. Why? Is it far away from where I am?"
"Well, Karen, just because I said I was moving doesn't necessarily mean I was moving far away."
. . .
"Oh."
"Wait, you actually thought I was moving far away?"
. . .
"No, of course not."
"You hesitated. Anyway, should I come to you or do you want to come to me?"
"I'll come to you and save you the trouble; I'm already on the road. I'll...see you in a few hours?"
"Sure. I'll send you the address."
With that, the call ended and Karen's spirits were...not yet fully lifted.
Don't get your hopes up, K. Kayla may be still mad at you for what you did...or what you didn't do...despite her stating the opposite.
. . .
But why else would she call me if it wasn't so urgent?
A hopeful smile slowly but surely growing on her face, Karen turned over the engine after receiving the address and placed the car in reverse before speeding off.
Maybe... Maybe that's the use in trying...
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Max fired his SIG-Sauer P226R at makeshift target dummies while listening to the latest reports about the bombing. A moment later, his phone rang and he scoffed before answering the call, knowing who exactly was calling him at this time.
"What now, Humdinger?"
"I know that your business thrives on the concept of theatricality, but have you stressed it a bit too literally?"
"What do you expect say or do about it? It was my boss's idea to apparently involve an explosive diversion, so blame him. Or better yet, you shouldn't have accepted the deal with him."
"Oh, please, if I hadn't accepted the deal, you and your brother would've been knee-deep in debt."
"And if you hadn't accepted the deal, my niece would've stayed safe. This better be worth it..."
