Chapter 5
Next Morning
Kaja paces back and forth in her bedroom with one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead, she is still thinking about Eric's behavior and what she can do about it. Which is the best course to take? Everyone has different advice to give about the situation. Something her mother said to her when Kaja got home last night has her thinking the most. About how Eric refused to tell Derek what happened and how they got into a scuffle because of it. It has her second guessing on the boot camp idea involving Derek to put pressure on Eric to straighten up.
If Eric doesn't want to talk to Derek about getting caught shoplifting, Kaja doubt Eric will listen or even talk to Derek about anything else. She's starting to regret going out last night even though she enjoyed herself and returned home in a better mood than when she left. Dammit, why does everything suddenly feel out of control? She stops pacing then sits on the foot of the bed and looks out of the window. The sun shines bright in the morning sky. Kaja worries she going to mess things up with Eric and she's afraid if that happens, she will lose him forever. I feel like I am failing him and I worry about him more than he will ever know. Or at least after he has his own family He needs something I'm not providing and I need to know what it is, so I can provide it. If possible. If I asked would he even give me an actual answer? Shit. I miss you so much, Cass. I know Eric misses you, but I can't bring you back. I wish I could, but I can't.
"Come in," says Kaja when she hears a knock on the door.
Eric enters Kaja's bedroom and closes the door behind him, "Momma, can we talk?"
"Of course, Eric. I want you to always feel you can come and talk to me," answers Kaja. She pats the spot next to her on the bed. "Have a seat."
Eric sits on the bed, but he is not sitting close to Kaja. "I'm sorry, momma, I accidentally broke this last night. Can we get it fixed?" He hands his momma the broken picture frame with Cass' picture already removed.
Kaja takes the frame, glances at it, then puts it on the bed next to her. "Mind telling me how it broke, Eric?" She already knows how the frame was broken, but she is curious to what vague answer he gives her.
"It fell on the floor," answers Eric as he shrugs his shoulders.
The asari pats on the frame, "Yes, you can get a new frame. Where's the picture that was in it?"
Eric grins when he says, "In a book to keep it protected until I get a new frame." The youth did want to talk to his momma, but now that he is alone with her, he doesn't want to talk to her.
"Did you want to talk about something, Eric? Or did you just want to ask about getting a new frame?" Kaja feels Eric uneasiness. He's not sitting close to her and gave her the vague answer she thought he would give.
"I do, but I don't know how to begin," replies the youth. He fidgets some and he stares at the floor.
Kaja leans her head to the left then grins at him. Her tone is soft and calming. "The beginning is usually a good starting point."
Eric glances at his momma to see her being her normal calm self. He looks away to stare at the floor. He leans forward with his forearms on his thighs. There she goes again, being so damn calm looking. I'm sure she'll say she's still angry. Not that I want her in my face again. Yet having her yell at me yesterday made me feel something and it wasn't fear or anger. Well, I was a little afraid, but I think that was the point "I don't know what I should say." He looks at Kaja to gauge her reaction to his comment. She shows her normal calm demeanor and it's starting to unsettle him and he is unsure why. "Never mind."
He stands and takes a step towards the door when Kaja grabs his arm, "I don't think so. Sit. We do have things to talk about. What's wrong, Eric? I want you to be honest with me. Tell me what is wrong, so I can help fix it. If I don't know what is wrong, I can't help you."
"Can you bring mom back?" asks Eric. His brown eyes stare into Kaja's with a mix of anger and sadness with anger being the dominate emotion.
The asari shakes her head. She sees his anger brewing to the surface and she's willing to let him vent at her, "You know I can't."
"Why did my mother have to pay for your mistakes? WHY?!" Eric's face turns redder with each word he utters and he's no longer thinking about what he is saying. He is just spewing the things in his head. "I wish you'd died and not my mom!" He moves his arm from Kaja's grip then moves towards the door again.
Kaja steps between him and the door, but keeps her calm demeanor. His words cut her to the core. He isn't saying anything Kaja, herself, hasn't thought about at one point or another over the years. However, she isn't going to allow her son push those emotional buttons to gain an upper hand. "What mistake did I make that your mother paid for? Don't you think I have wished a billion times over that son-of-a-bitch had killed me instead of your mother? We have to play the cards we are dealt, Eric. Life isn't about one bad hand, but what we do with it and the hands that come after."
"I don't know. You did something and mom paid for it. You know it's true," Eric leans closer to Kaja. In the back of his mind, he hope she starts yelling at him, but from the look in his momma's face, he doubts it.
Sighing, Kaja responds, "You want to know what I did? I did my job, Eric. That's all I did. I was in the military, but I was doing the same job as I do now. I'm a cop. I arrest criminals. I never arrested or had any case involving Nichols. Not until he came after me while on shore leave. The only thing I'm guilty of is loving your mother. Have I really been that bad of a parent, Eric?"
The youth steps back when he realizes his momma isn't going to yell at him. She will continue to talk to him calmly. How in the hell does she do that? Stay so calm. I hate it when your like this. "No, momma." He steps backwards to sit on the bed. "I don't know what is wrong with me. I knew what Randy wanted to do was wrong, but I did it anyway."
"Why can't you say what you actually did, Eric?" asks Kaja as she sits next to her son. "Why can't you tell your brother?"
"Why does Derek need to know? It's my life, not his," says Eric.
Kaja has to admit, he has a point, it is his life. "You're right, it is your life. But wouldn't you rather Derek find out from you than from your friends at school? He will find out Monday when you go back to school. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you and Randy's exploits on Friday are what your friends will be talking about on Monday."
Eric glances at the door then to his momma. He's thinking about heading to the door again, but gets a feeling he won't make it before his momma stops him. "Let them talk. I don't care. If they do find out, it's because Randy told them. I have not told anyone. It's no one's business. I'm not proud about what I did. Randy might be, but I'm not. I don't feel I need to go around telling everyone about it. Is that okay with you, momma?"
"Yes, Eric, I am okay with that," says Kaja as she reaches over to squeeze his shoulder. Hearing him say he's not proud about what he did makes her feel he might turn things around. Time will tell if he will or not, but she is seeing him at least thinking more about things and what he wants with his life. "You have two more years of school after this school year is over. Have you thought at all about what you want to do after graduating high school?"
"I have a little," replies Eric. He shrugs his shoulder and gives a 'I don't know' look to Kaja.
Kaja pats his shoulder. "I'm going to say this not only as your momma, but also as a police officer. So, that's two strikes against me to get you to actually listen to what I'm going to say. What ever you think you might or might not want to do once you are old enough to move out on your own. If you continue to down the path you are already on, it will make it harder for you once you do move out. You have one arrest already with a court date pending. Any more arrests or convictions and you risk not having your juvenile record getting expunged when you turn eighteen. Employers do run background checks and if they see arrests pop up during a check, the chances of the person getting hired goes to zero. Theft charges and convictions are a job killer, Eric. No one wants to hire someone they feel might steal from them."
"I know that, momma. I don't know why I did it. It was something to do, I suppose. I didn't have any credits to pay for it and Randy..."
Kaja finishes his sentence, "Talked you into it. I can demand you stop hanging around Randy. I'm not naïve enough to think you'd actually do it because I told you. The only person you are getting into trouble with is Randy. Not Lee, Rosey, Drè, or any other of your buddies, just Randy." She places her forefinger against Eric's arm. "You need to decide if having Randy as a friend is worth the trouble you've been getting into. Is following his lead worth it? Not all leaders are worth following, Eric. Some are very bad people and they get good people to do bad things. I'm not saying Randy is a bad person, but you didn't start skipping school or getting into as many fights until you became friends with him last year."
Eric nods slightly as he stares at the floor. She's right about Randy. Why do I hang out with him? All he does it get me into hot water and yesterday was the worst. I might not know what I want to do yet, but I do know I don't want to live my life as a convict. She's right about picking who to follow and I wonder if she's even the one I should be following. "Why should I follow your lead? You've made your fair share of mistakes." says Eric bluntly as he stands. He doesn't make a move towards the door. He just stands there, looking down at his momma.
Kaja glances up at Eric before standing. She furrows her eyebrows at her son, but keeps her tone even and calm. "No, I'm not perfect. No one is perfect, Eric. We all have flaws. It's how we overcome those flaws that defines who we are. What type of person you want to be. Let me ask you this, Eric. Have you once thought about what your mom wanted for you and your brother? If you miss your mom as much as I think you do, then think about her and what she would have wanted from you? If you think what you are doing is what she wanted for you. By all means, continue down that path." Kaja never takes her eyes off her son while she stretches out her arm
Urgh, same fucking question grandma asked me last night. You two are so alike and I hate it. Eric glares into his momma's eyes. "Why ask me that? You should already know the answer. Grandma asked me that last night?"
Kaja doesn't like Eric's accusatory tone and inhales/exhales before responding. "I didn't know she asked you anything, Eric. She did tell me about the picture and your scuffle with Derek and that she talked to both of you. She did not tell me what she said to either of you. It seems we both have the same concerns if we are asking you the same questions. Shouldn't that mean something, Eric?" He is starting to push buttons he might not want to push. Kaja is willing to let him vent and rage at her. She will continue to do her best to keep her emotions in check. He's making it harder with his tone and choice of words.
"It just means you two are alike. That's all. No, I haven't thought about what mom would have wanted from me. You wanna know why! It doesn't matter what she would have wanted because she's not HERE! That's YOUR fault! You did nothing while he killed her. You know it's true, momma. You know it's true!" Eric pushes Kaja away from him. She takes the step back when Eric pushes her, but she doesn't allow him to leave the bedroom. Kaja flares her biotics to hold the door close. After a few minutes, Eric stops struggling with the door. "Let me leave!"
Kaja has always known deep down, Eric would blame her for Cass' death. Hearing him finally say it, guts her, but she won't let him gain the upper hand by saying it. Her anger is bubbling to the surface and yet she's able to keep it under control. "I don't think so. Sit your ass down, NOW! I won't say it again." Kaja's tone is no longer calm, but she is in total control. She releases her biotic grip on the door when Eric sits on the bed. "Now, you listen to me, young man. That was the only time you can vent and rant at me like that. I won't take it a second time. Do I make myself clear?" She puts her face close to Eric's and stares at him. Her hands are clasped behind her back. She wants nothing more than to slap him and grab him by the collar and yell until she cries, but she refuses to give in to that temptation.
Eric looks at Kaja to see the rage in her eyes, but there is a calmness to her that again has him questioning how she does it. He is getting the reaction from her he wanted. There is something about having his momma in his face, that makes him feel something. He is unsure what it is, but seeing something besides calmness gives him something. "Yes, ma'am."
Hearing Eric say, "ma'am" has Kaja wondering if this is what he needs from her. Being in his face with controlled anger. Even if the anger if fake like what she want through in boot camp. Maybe Neena was right. Maybe this is what Eric needs. How do I treat Eric like a raw recruit and not treat Derek the same way? I'm not sure I can split myself like that and keep my head about things. This isn't a boot camp, this is our home. I don't really want controlled chaos. Kaja leans close enough for their noses to touch, "Stand up, Eric." Once Eric stand, Kaja looks him over like she was looked over by her drill instructors. "Well, what have we here? Looks like you need to shave and get a hair cut, young man. Is this what you need, Eric? For me to treat you like you are a raw recruit?"
"I don't know. I feel something when you do. I realized it after you left last night. You're calmness unsettles me at times, momma. I don't understand how you stay so calm all the time." Eric's tone has softened as he speaks.
"Do you feel you need me in your face every time we speak or just when you've done something wrong? If I tighten the reigns with you, I will also have to with Derek as well. I will not treated you two differently," replies Kaja. More like I can't treat you two differently and keep my sanity. I'd prefer not to run our home like a military boot camp.
Eric keeps his eyes on his momma. He doesn't look away like he normally does. He isn't proud about his behavior, but he isn't ashamed either. His feelings are confusing him. They are all jumbled and no one feeling is dominate over the others. "I'm not sure. I do know that's not fair to Derek. He shouldn't have to pay for my mistakes anymore than mom shouldn't had to pay for yours."
Kaja puts both hand on Eric's upper arms, "Eric, I love you. Don't think I don't because I do, but you have to stop blaming me for your mother's death. You need to move on. For you own sake, not for mine."
He stares into Kaja's eyes, unsure what to say, so he doesn't say anything. Eric only asks, "How long am I grounded for and do I really have to cut my hair and shave?" You're never going to really yell at me are you? Why do you have to act so different from my buddies' parents? Dammit, I really don't want to shave. It's taken me weeks to get this mustache to look like something.
"Until next Saturday. Yes, you do, Eric. I know you've been working on that mustache of yours since school started,a couple of months ago but it has to go. And it will stay gone until I say other wise. Understood?" Kaja looks Eric over again.
"Yes, ma'am. May I go now?" Eric looks away defeated even though he got the reaction from his momma he wanted to see. It didn't do for him what he thought it would do. He wants to feel something besides the emptiness he feels most days. Even though he feels better after venting, it's not enough. Yelling at her and for her to not yell back annoys him and Eric isn't really sure why her calmness annoys him.. His friend's parents yell at his friends all the time. Especially Randy's parents, he bitches about it all the time.
Kaja steps away from Eric to give him room to leave. "Yes, you may." She watches him leave. He looks defeated with his shoulders slumped with his head down. Goddess, what else can I say to him? Better question is how much more can I take from him if he continues to blame me for his mother's death. She shuts the door behind him, leans against the door, then covers her face to fight back the tears. I don't need him adding to the guilt I still feel about Cass' death.
Kaja walks to her bathroom to wash her face. She stares at the sink, waiting for the water to turn hot. I'm sorry, Cass, I failed you and I'm failing Eric. I'm doing my best, but it never seems to be good enough. I don't know what to do anymore. She gets the washcloth soaking wet, wrings out the excess water, then holds it against her face. The heat from the water feels good against her face. Her smirk appears when she thinks about Neena. It disappears when she thinks about Eric and his reaction to her getting close to someone. How do I bring Neena into my life when I fear Eric won't handle it very well? How is that fair to her? Goddess, didn't I question being with Cass at the beginning too? Hell, things happen for a reason and Neena's in my life for a reason. I just have to hope things can work out between us. I'm falling for that sexy turian who happens to be Garrus' descendent. Who would have thought that? Kaja's smirk reappears when she thinks about Neena and how she hopes her dad and Garrus are getting a good laugh about them getting together.
A Few Hours Later
Derek exits the hallway bathroom to hear Eric telling their sister, Karrera, about his upcoming court date. A frown appears when he realizes Eric is telling Karrera what he did with Randy on Friday. Dammit, Eric. You have court on Wednesday? No wonder everyone is upset with you. Asshat, why can't you tell me about it? I don't get you anymore, Eric, I really don't. Derek shakes his head at his thoughts about Eric. It is bothering him, Eric won't talk to him about the trouble he is in, but he can openly tell Karrara. He goes looking for his momma to talk to her about Eric
Kaja is riding on the stationary bicycle with music being played in the background. Derek walks over to the controls for the music and turns it down. "Momma, can we talk? I need to ask you something."
"Sure, Derek. What's the problem?" asks Kaja as she stops peddling. She gets off the bike to grab her water then walks over to an old torn sofa so she can sit down.
Derek follows Kaja and sits next to her. "Why won't Eric tell me what happened yesterday, but he can tell Karrera? I just overheard him telling her about his court date on Wednesday. What did he do? I didn't hang around and listen to find out more. It bothers me he won't talk to me, momma."
Kaja wraps her right arm around Derek's shoulder then gives him a hug. "I know. I really can't say why Eric has cut you off. My only guess and it's just a guess, Derek, remember that. Karrera is away on Thessia and not here. I think it's easier for him to talk to her than it is for him to talk to you or even me." She runs her hand over his newly cut hair. "You didn't have to cut it, too."
"I know that, momma. I wanted to cut it. Maybe not this short though. I did say the same as Eric's before I saw how short Eric was getting his cut." A goofy smile appears on Derek's face. "I know he got arrested but for what? Won't you tell me?"
Kaja pats Derek's shoulder, "Let me ask you this. Would you want me telling Eric because you don't want to? Or would you want me to keep that between us?"
The question has Derek thinking before speaking. "I'm not sure. I don't normally keep things from Eric though. If he had asked me about it, I would have told him and not keep it a secret that everyone else in the family already knows. I'm sorry, momma, but this is bullshit."
"Please, Derek, watch your language." Kaja sighs then thinks quickly if she should just tell him or not. He already knows Eric has court, just not the reason for the hearing. She is still not comfortable telling him. She still wants Eric to tell his brother. He is willing to tell Karrera, but not Derek. Kaja knows she can force him to tell Derek, but all that is going to do is cause the tension in the house to grow and that is the last thing she wants to have happen. "No, I'm not telling you. You might be able to get more out of him if you tell him what you heard. This is between me and Eric and it doesn't concern you. I know you feel the tension and I'm sorry about that. However, telling you won't relieve that tension, but it might add to it."
"I'm sorry, momma, but Eric's being an asshat." Derek nods at his momma with a mischievous grin on his face.
Chuckling at the word "asshat," Kaja thinks Derek is right when he calls his brother that. Eric is being an asshat, but she'll never tell Derek she agrees with him. She smiles at her son then says, "You've been talking to your aunt Liv too much. You shouldn't say that word either." The asari's smiles grows. "Are you sure you want to cook dinner tonight? It's usually my night and I did tell Neena I was cooking dinner."
Derek's face lights up with both excitement and pride. He wants to cook dinner for his momma's friend and he hopes he can make a good impression on the turian because he's never cooked anything for a turian before. If there is one thing Derek loves doing besides drawing is trying new recipes and cooking for others. "Oh no momma, I want to cook dinner for you and your friend, Neena. I can't wait to meet her. Isn't she the turian you met on the Citadel last year when Eric and I were visiting with grandma and grandpa Mitchell?"
"Yes she is," says Kaja. Her face light up when she thinks about Neena. The turian has been on Kaja's mind all day and it has put her in a better mood since her talk with Eric this morning. "I think you'll like her, Derek."
Derek stands to head back upstairs, "Well, I like her already, momma."
Kaja tilts her head to the left with a curious look on her face, "Why is that, Derek? You've never met her."
"Because I see she makes you happy, momma. I know I'm just fifteen, but I can tell she makes you happy when you talk about her. It's the artist in me." Derek flashes the Shepard smirk as he taps on his chest. "Momma, all that matters to me is that she makes you happy. You are in a much better mood today than you were yesterday and I think your friend has something to do with that. You were out with Neena last night were you not?"
"I was, so you don't mind if Neena and I start dating?" asks Kaja. She has her right arm on the back of the couch and her left ankle on her right thigh, looking up at the older twin.
Shaking his head, Derek replies, "Not at all. I'm going to get my chores done. They sooner I start, the sooner the chores get done." He smiles at his momma then heads back upstairs.
Why can't Eric be more like Derek? Derek has an upbeat attitude about everything and because of that he makes things easier for Kaja. She knows and appreciates it. Sipping on her water, Kaja smiles thinking about how Derek likes Neena already and he hasn't even met her yet. He is going break a few hearts before he finds the one for him and that is going to be one lucky person. Maybe I'll get lucky and Eric will like Neena too. For some reason, I highly doubt it. He is in a bad place and I don't know if I can get him out of it. Kaja finishes her water, heads up stairs by taking the steps two at a time to take a shower so she can get cleaned up before Neena shows up in a few hours.
After Eric finishes talking to Karrera, he has his headset on, and goes back to talking to his friend Lee while they play Age of Dragons together, "I told you, Lee, I'm grounded until next Saturday. I can't afford to get into any more trouble right now either."
Derek stops to listen to Eric's conversation with someone and he knows it not Karrera. Eric has his headset on and has his MMO booted up.. The older twin only hears what his brother is saying, but he is sure Eric will tell their friend what happened. It pisses Derek off that Eric can tell others what happened, but refuses to tell him. So, Derek leans against the door jamb with his arms across his chest, listening to what Eric is saying to Lee.
"Yea, Randy and I got busted by a rent-a-cop at the shopping center. By momma's ex- fucking partner too. Embarrassing." Eric pauses while Lee asks a question. "It was just a bottle of water." He moves the headset away from his ear because Lee's laughing loudly. "Yea, yea, I'm glad you find it funny. I got court Wednesday morning, so I'll be late getting to school."
Derek shakes his head, but continues to listen to Eric. You are more than an asshat, Eric. You're a fuckwad too. No wonder momma was so pissed off yesterday and why you've been so quiet. Fuck you, asshat. You can tell Karrera and now Lee, but you won't tell me. I should move my stuff to Karrera's old room. I think I will. The older twin flips his brother off, but Eric doesn't see it then walks away to move his stuff to Karrera's room.
Kaja walks down the hallway, peeks her head into the study, sees Eric playing his MMO, talking to his friend, then proceeds down the hallway. She stops when she sees Derek carrying the clothes from his closet and taking them to Karrera's room. "Derek, what are you doing? I thought you were doing your chores? Eric isn't working on his."
"I moving my stuff to Karrera's old room. She told us when she moved to Thessia if either one of us wanted her room to take it. So, I'm taking it. I now know what he did, momma. I don't want to share a room with him." Derek starts hanging his clothes in the closet. Shirts to the right, pants to the left.
"Does your brother know your moving to Karrera's room?" asks Kaja.
"Nope. He can't tell me what happened with Randy, but he's told Karrera and he's playing with Lee and I overheard Eric telling him. So, I can't be bothered to tell him I moved out." Derek leaves to get the last of his clothes. He still has his art supplies to grab and a few other belongings.
Kaja can't blame him for being angry with Eric. She has already decided to cut back on Eric's freedoms and to get into his face more often when speaking with him. She is going to attempt to treat Derek and Eric differently. They're becoming two very different people and they are needing different things to help them grow into adults. Rubbing her neck, Kaja starts wondering if she should contact Neena and tell her today is not a good day to meet the kids and come over for dinner. She senses a fight brewing between them once Eric finds out Derek moved to Karrera's room. Or maybe Eric won't care. That is where he is most days, not caring.
Kaja says when Derek brings the last few items from Eric's room, "Derek, this dinner with Neena tonight means a lot to me and I'm tempted to call her and postpone it because I feel a fight is brewing between you and your brother. The last thing she needs to see is you two at each other all night."
Derek thinks quickly before he says, "I know, momma. Grandma asked me to leave him alone, so I have been. Now, that I know what is going on, I don't like him very much. I don't want to share a room with him either. I'll move my stuff back if you want me to, but I'd rather not. I do want to cook dinner for you and Neena." He smiles with his teeth showing.
Kaja ruffles Derek's short stubbly hair. "I appreciate your eagerness to show off your cooking skills to Neena. I do think tonight is a bad night. If you want your own room, I'm fine with it. Karrera did talk to me about it before she told you and your brother it was okay for you to take the room." She gives her son a warm hug. "Finish your chores, I'll make sure Eric does his when I get done taking a shower."
"Yes, ma'am. Momma..." Derek smirks, "...I love you. I'll do what I can do make sure Neena has a good time."
"I love you too, Derek. Thanks." Kaja hugs Derek again then leaves his room. She wipes the prideful tears from her eyes. Derek makes me so proud and Eric makes me feel like I'm failing him. How can the twins be so different? Eric, what can I do to help you change what path you are on. It's only going to lead to more bad things happening to you. The asari turns on the shower, but continues to think about how she can help Eric turn behavior around. She doubts he will change much because she is making him keep clean shaven, hair kept short, and in his face more when she talks to him. He did ask for it, so she will do it and see what happens.
Eric has turned the extranet terminal off in the study and is dusting the bookshelves. He runs the feather duster over the memory shard. Eric removes the shard from the case and holds it close. It's the one item he knows his mother cherished the most. Wiping his finger prints off the shard, Eric puts it back then finishes his chores before Neena comes over in about an hour. The memory shard is one of a few things in the house Eric treasures the most besides the pictures of his mother. He runs the duster over the shard's case again while thinking about the things his momma and grandmother have said to him in the past twenty-four hours.
How do they both know what mom wanted from me or Derek? Has she come back from the grave and told them or are they just saying this shit to get me to change? I just want to be left alone to do what I want, but I'm waiting until I'm done with high school. Which can't end soon enough. I miss you, mom. I wish momma had died instead of you. Just because momma's a cop, doesn't mean I trust everything she says. Same with grandma, I'm not sure how much I can trust her either. She's an information broker. All the information at her fingertips and it didn't help keep my mom alive. What good are either of you?
Eric smacks the duster on the desk, causing dust to fly in the air. He waves his arm to settle the dust then runs the duster over the desk. Momma will inspect the room shortly and if she doesn't like it, he will have to clean it again. Eric would rather not clean it a second time when it looks fine to him. Hell, it looked fine to Eric before he started dusting. This is one chore he's been doing since before his mom died, so he doesn't complain too much when told to do his chores. To him, its busy work and work to justify his weekly allowance.
The younger twin starts to leave the study to let his momma know he is done with his chore so she can inspect his work when Kaja and his attorney, Paige Davenport, enter the room. "Oh, there you are. I'm done, momma." Eric moves his arm to show his momma he is done cleaning the study.
Kaja takes a quick look around the bookshelves, checking for dust. It's not perfect, but it's good enough for the time he has before she is expecting Neena to arrive. Now with Paige stopping by unexpectedly, he doesn't have the time he needs to detail clean the bookshelves. Kaja isn't happy with Paige about last night and isn't pleased she stopped by the house without calling first. "It looks fine, Eric." The asari points to the small sofa, "Have a seat. Paige wants to talk to us both some more before Wednesday."
"Okay," answers Eric as he sits on the sofa. He looks at Kaja then to Paige.
Paige sets her briefcase on the desk. She finds Eric's case file under a wrapped package for Kaja. A peace offering for her behavior last night, which is the real reason she stopped over. "I know I said to meet before court on Wednesday, but I decided to take care of it now. " Paige glances over to Kaja, who is sitting next to Eric on the sofa. She grins at the asari then continues, "I want to make sure you understand everything that is going to happen on Wednesday, Eric. Normally, we would plead not guilty at your arraignment hearing. After seeing the evidence and the signed affidavit by Ben Livingston, we'd only be delaying the guilty verdict. It's your first offense. I've talked to the ADA assigned to your case and we have an agreement, but the judge has to agree as well."
Paige pauses to give Eric a reassuring smile as she reads over her notes from her talk with the ADA. "The agreement is an eighteen month probation with fifty hours of work detail assigned to you by your probation officer. The max sentence is two years and one-hundred hours. I would not be surprised if that is what Judge Lomas gives you the maximum sentence." She moves the chair closer to Eric. "Eric, I want to make sure you understand the seriousness of what is going to happen after you are placed on probation. First thing is you will be assigned to someone who you will report to on a regular basis. If you do what your probation officer tells you then you shouldn't have any problems. But if you don't, Eric, you will have more legal problems. As much as I like clients who get into trouble because it keeps me working, I don't like seeing someone your age getting into trouble with the law. Understand?"
Eric nods his head, "Yes, ma'am. I understand."
"Good. Because you are going on probation, your school will be notified and the school will inform your probation officer if you skip class or get into any trouble at school. What happens after that is up to your probation officer. You will be drug tested randomly. So, if you are doing anything, I suggest you stop. If you continue to get into trouble, your probation officer can and will revoke your probation then you'll spend the rest of those two years in Shatta House. Trust me, you don't want to go there. Those who go to Shatta House don't get their records expunged when they turn eighteen. That is important, Eric. Getting into trouble once shouldn't ruin your future which is why they expunge juvenile records, but they won't for habitual offenders."
Hearing his lawyer mention Shatta House has gotten Eric's attention. He's heard stories about that place and it all bad. It's the last place he wants to end up. He'll suffer through the boring classes if it means he doesn't have to move to the juvenile detention center with a nice name. "What does the work detail involve?"
"That is a good question, Eric, and one I really don't have an answer for. There are over two dozen different jobs for your probation officer to choose from. They vary too. You could be part of the crew cleaning up the parks on the weekends to digging ditches. If you do what is required of you, Eric, without bitching at your probation officer or getting into any more trouble and get your work detail done, there is a good chance of being released early from your probation after a year."
"So those people I see at Shepard Memorial Plaza picking up the trash are people assigned work detail?" asks Eric.
Kaja answers Eric's question. "Yes, Eric, they are."
Eric rubs his chin. "I did not know that." It's not lost on Eric the irony if he gets assigned to clean the park with his grandfather's statue. He thinks about what his grandpa would think about that then quickly dismisses the thought as who cares, she's dead too. "So, if I stay out of trouble, my probation could end early? Does that always happen?"
Paige shakes her head, "No, it doesn't always happen, but I think it's something to work towards. This is your first offense and it's a misdemeanor charge. I think if you can stay out of trouble and do what you are assigned to do and do it without complaining or causing problems, yes, I think you can get released from your probation early. Eric, I am not guaranteeing it because I am not the one who decides it. Your probation officer does. Do you have any questions for me? Now is the perfect time to ask."
"No, ma'am. I think I understand the legal system well enough and I think I understand what I need to do," answers the youth. Eric looks at his momma, who is smiling to reassure him everything will work out fine if he does what he is supposed to. He understands what will happen if he gets into more trouble, but Eric knows at times, he just doesn't care enough to not do something to get himself into hot water. Yesterday's activity is the perfect example. Now, Eric, is paying the price for breaking the law.
Paige puts Eric's case file back into her briefcase, but leave the case open. "I do believe that is everything I wanted to go over with you before your hearing on Wednesday. You can meet me at the courthouse at 0915 instead of at 0830." She stands then offers her hand to Eric.
Eric stands to shake Paige's hand. "Thank you." He turns to his momma, "Is this room clean enough, momma?"
"Yes, Eric, it is. Thank you for doing a good job too." Kaja stands then nods to Eric. The youth waves to Paige then leaves the study and heads to his bedroom. The asari grins at Paige. "I know you didn't come over here just to talk to Eric, Paige. I'd like to know why you left like you did last night. You finished my drink then abruptly left the club. Why?"
Grabbing the wrapped package, Paige hands it to Kaja. "Here, have this. I owe you an apology, Kaja. I'm sorry for what I did last night." She makes sure the door is closed. "I will admit, I'm a little jealous of your turian friend. You have something with her I wish we had. She knew about me and I know nothing about her and it threw me off. I didn't know you were seeing anyone living on the Citadel. Plus, I asked you to join me and my friends and you showed up with her and that bothered me too."
Kaja accepts Paige's gift, but doesn't open it. "Um, I, hmm." Paige's candor takes Kaja by surprise and she's unsure what to say in response. She rubs her hand over her lips, thinking about what to say. She really wasn't seeing Neena until last night, but they have been kept in contact with each other for over a year. "Wow, Paige, I, um, really don't know how to respond. I..."
Paige cuts Kaja off, "You don't owe me an explanation, Kaja. I felt I owed you an apology and doing it Wednesday morning felt wrong. Which is why I came over today. I did use your son as an excuse to stop by and I should have called first, but I didn't want you telling me no. I figured if I was here, I could at least give you the gift. It's a bottle of turian whiskey. I know you were drinking ice brandy. I thought your turian friend was drinking whiskey and since she's a turian. It's my way of saying I'm sorry to her too."
"I appreciate that. I really do and maybe I shouldn't have shown up with Neena after you asked me to join you. I didn't even know she'd moved here until after you said I should join you and your friends. She did keep that as a surprise. Paige, I like you. At most we're friends, but really you're my family's attorney. I would very much like to keep it that way." Kaja hopes Paige doesn't get upset with her comment and decides to not represent Eric in court on Wednesday. If that happens, she's scrambling to find someone to replace her.
The human reaches out to pat Kaja on her upper right arm. "I can accept that. I'll do my best to make sure Judge Lomas doesn't screw Eric over. I know this goes without saying, but it looks better if you are also in attendance. Some parents don't attend these hearings and it looks bad to the judge." Paige closes her briefcase, grabs it, then heads towards the front door.
Kaja follows Paige outside and walks Paige to her car. "Don't worry, I'll be there. I have already marked the time I need off on my calender at work. Thank you for the gift. It wasn't necessary."
A taxi descends from the traffic and parks on the street in front of Kaja's house. Neena exits the taxi, pays the fare, then sees Paige giving Kaja a tight hug before getting into her car. She waits until the human leaves before approaching Kaja. She's unsure what she just witnessed or even how she feels about it. Neena knows how she feels about the asari. Her only question is, does Kaja share those feelings?
A/N: This is the half way point. There is the chapter I am working on then an epilogue. So, there will be ten chapters total. Then I am going to attempt to finish something I started on before I started this. More on that story at a later date.
Enjoy this ride. See you next week.