Stef POV
November 4th
I was standing in Captains Roberts officer, stunned. Captain was sitting at her desk calmly, her hands placed on her desk, fingers interlocked. She was staring right back at me "Is there a problem, Stef?"
"No, sir!" I answered not wanting to question her authority
"Good. You are free to go. I know you will do great!" She offers me a little smile at the end
"Yes, sir" I reply and head out of Captains office
For a brief moment, I stand just outside Captains office, thinking about what just happened. This wasn't exactly how I planned my first day back will go. These are going to be very long and very strange 2 weeks of my life.
When I was on my way to get car keys from the front desk, a man run up to me and asked me "Officer Adams Foster?"
I briefly glance to him, but I don't stop walking "That's me."
The man next to me was some head taller than me. By the look the guy seemed to be in good shape. He had light brown, short hair, blue eyes and a very strong jaw line. In my mind I can already hear Mariana say – He is so cute! He had a kind face, looked like a friendly guy. One thing I am sure about -even from afar I could tell that he is a rookie. He looks young and he simply stands out, like any other rookie does.
"Officer Roy Evans. Captain Roberts said I would train under you," He introduces himself to me
"You transfers here from 22nd?" I ask when I stop at the front desk and turn to him
"Yes, ma'am" He had taken the classic police stance, hands on belt, straight back, legs shoulder width
"Don't call me ma'am!" I answer him shaking my head lightly. For a short moment I turn to front desk to get keys to the squad car we will be driving today.
"Got it, Officer Adams Foster," he says when I get the keys
"It's Stef," I tell him and turn back to him "Why did transfer here?" I ask and gesture him to follow me out to the parking lot
"I moved. This precinct is a lot closer to where I currently live," he explains as he follows me down the hallway that leaves to outside
"Where did you live before?" I ask pushing open the doors
"In Mid-City region"
"Do you know the area here?"
"Not perfectly, but I am learning," He says when we are by the car "Can I drive?" Roy asks when I was up to the drivers side doors. I looked down to the keys in my hand and then up to my new partner.
"Sure, why not," I toss him the keys. Roy catches the keys mid air and grins at me. He was certainly excited about it.
I walk around the car to the passenger side. Once we are both inside the car and buckled up, Roy reaches for the key in the ignition, to start up the car. I place my hand on his forearm and stop him.
"Did I forgot something?" he asked looking around the interior of the care
"Few things before we head out," I say when he takes his hand off the key in the ignition
"Don't pretend to be a know it all! There is nothing worse than a rookie, who thinks he knows everything! You have been on the job for one month – you have barely seen 1% of this job!" Roy nods back and continues to listen to me carefully
"If you have questions – ask them. I will gladly answer every single one of them. I don't care if you think it is silly or stupid question – just ask me. Better to ask, than to make a stupid rookie mistake that screw up an investigation or even worse - cost someone his life! "
"Got it!" He says not missing a beat
"We do not use violence to solve the problem. You will use your gun only-" I put an emphasis on the word "-Only when it is absolutely necessary, when it is the last option! That is when either your life, your partners life or a civilians life is in grave danger and there is no other way to stop it! Most of disputes and brawls can be resolved without firing your gun! Is that clear?"
"Crystal clear!" He says in the most no nonsense tone of voice
"My job as your training officer and as your partner is to make sure you return home to your family. It is quite simple - I have your back, you have mine. We look out for each other!" I detained a little pause, to let the words sink in "We are both going home today!"
"We are both going home today!" He repeats seriously, looking straight to my eyes
"Good," I say back and turn back to my seat "Let's get to work, rookie!"
Callie POV
This was my first day back to school. Classes seemed harder than they were before. Partly because the teachers were covering new themes and partly because I was used to sleeping through whole day. And now - now I had to concentrate on stuff, I had to think and follow what the teacher was saying. It was hard. I want to crawl back in my bed and forget about everything and just sleep.
I was staring at the board, where the math teacher was writing some solution to one of the problems we had looked at 5 minutes ago. The formula he was using looking like something out of some Higher mathematics Math book which they use in College. I did not follow how he uses it.
I glanced over to Brandon, who sat on the other side of the classroom. He looked like he had no problem understanding what the teacher was saying and doing. B looked relaxed, carefree and he was just tapping his pen at the notebook, like he already had solved the problem minutes ago. Right about now, I hated him for no good reason.
I scoffed and looked back to the front of the class, where teacher was now explaining in details how to solve this problem. My phone next to my notepad buzzes quietly. Quickly I reached for it, to check who texted me.
I had received message from Gavin - What times does your classes end today?
I grab the phone in both of my hands and move it under the table, to text him back. But I stopped when I remember how Lena gave me detention the first time I texted in class. I glance to the time on the top right corner of my phone - the class will end in 5 minutes.
I think back to the lecture Lena gave me. This was in no way an emergency. I can wait 5 minutes to text Gavin back. The last thing I want is to get another lecture from Lena and detention for texting in class. The text can wait. I place my phone back on the desk and try to concentrate to what teacher was telling us.
Once the bell rang, indicating that the class ended, I immediately texted Gavin back - At 4:45. I didn't think much of the question. That was until I was walking in the hallway minute later and I received another text message from him.
Can I stop by your school to see you? After your classes of course.
I froze in my spot, when I read the text the first time. My eyes were on the text as I read it over and over again. I held my thumbs over the keyboard on the screen while I was thinking what to reply.
I wanted to type back– yes, but I hesitated. Part of me was scared, but other part was excited. I heard my mom's voice in my head, telling me to be careful. The scared part and mom's voice in my head, was what stopped me for replying to him instantly.
I heard Mariana's voice somewhere in the hallway. When I looked up from the screen, I saw her walking with her friend Tia in the hallway. I needed to talk about this with someone. Mackenzie had two gym classes in row, so right now she is not available. I don't think I can wait for 2 classes. But Mariana on the other hand was free.
I place my phone in my pocket and hurried down the hallway to catch up with her. When I was close enough, I heard part of their conversation.
"-what if we organize a party, just for our dance team. There isn't a better time and place to bond than at a sleepover!" I heard Tia tell Mariana
"Oh, I like that idea!" Mariana replied when I was just one step behind her "But I can't host this party. My home is always full and we don't have room as it is"
"We could do it at my place. My dad will be out of the city this weekend and my mom would totally be okay with it," Tia suggested, when I tapped on Mariana's shoulder. Mariana looked over her shoulder to me and stopped. Tia stopped along with her.
"Oh, hi! I didn't know you were back to school already!" Mariana said excited. She was always so happy and cheerful. Like a little ball of sunshine.
"First day back," I answer her "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure! About what?" Mariana asked and waited till I reply. Instead, I glanced to Tia next to her. Tia got the hint.
"I will see you in the next class," she said to Mariana and then continued her walk down the hallway
"Okay, sis...spill it" Mariana said ready to hear me out
"Can we talk somewhere a little bit more private?" I asked looking at the many students in the hall that were walking pass us
We walked out to the schoolyard and sat down at one of the tables. It was much quieter here. Sure, few students were out in the yard, but not as many in the hallways.
"What's going on?" Mariana now asked concerned "Are you still feeling sick? I can go get Lena-"
"No, no...I'm fine" I replied at once, so she doesn't worry "Nothing like that."
"Then what? You look very-"
"I met this boy" I blur out before she could finish her sentence
"Oh!" A huge smile appears on her face "Tell me everything! Where did you meet him? What's his name? Is he hot?"
"It was last week, when mom took me to the check up. I was waiting in line for the chest x-ray and he was there for his friend. Captain Roberts called mom, mom went a bit further away to take the call. When she was gone, this boy - Gavin-, he gave me this note, with his number and message that said – text me!" I explained to the her, nervously picking my fingernails
"You did text him right?" Mariana asked instantly, her eyes big. She was very interested in my dating life.
"Yes. And I have been texting with him ever since that day," I explain to her
"So, what's the problem? Why do you need me?" Mariana asks a little confused
"He wants to meet me! Today. After classes. I don't know what to reply back! Part of me really wants to see him, but the other part is much more…hesitant. After all I barely know him. We have only texted one another. And you know how easy is to lie about something or pretend to be nice online or in texts. Also, he is older than me..."
"How old?" Mariana inquires intrigued
"20" I said quietly and warily, afraid of what she would
"That's not that bad. Only three years-"
"He drives a bike!" I blur out
"Ooh, a bad boy!" Mariana squeak out excited
"I need advice. Like, do I meet him? Is that smart?"
"Where does he wants to meet you?"
"By school. He wants to stop by," I explain to her and look out to the street
"It is a public place. Lot's of people walk by this place at that time. It's not like it's isolated, where he could snatch you up," Mariana paused and screwed her face up "Did I just sound like my mom?"
"A little bit!" I chuckle back
"I think you have to trust your instinct on this one, Callie. You could meet up with him, but if your gut tells you that something is off, than just...leave. You can always go back inside the school."
"My instinct is pretty bad. It has deceived me before, which resulted in horrible consequences…" I say sadly looking down to the table, avoiding Mariana's look. Mariana didn't say anything. She sat quietly on the other side of the table. I felt her eyes on me. Slowly I lifted my eyes up to see her looking back at me, with sad look in her eyes. I looked back down to the table the next moment.
"How about…don't listen to your instinct, but to your mom's voice in your head. The cop thinking and instinct, has probably rubbed off on you as well. Just like my mom's thinking has rubbed of on me." Mariana suggested after a moment
When I didn't answer her and still kept my eyes on the table in front of me, Mariana added "You can't be scared forever and be afraid to live your life, Callie. That's no way to live!" I lifted my head up to look at Mariana as I think about what she just said
When I walked out of the school, after my last class, I saw Gavin on the street, on his bike, waiting for me. Once again, he was dressed all in black. He was sitting on his bike, his helmet was placed on the left handle. Time by time he lifted his right hand up to his face. It looked like he was holding his phone in his right hand, staring down to it.
The closer I got to him, the faster my heart started to beat. My hands got sweaty and I quickly wiped them by my pants. Suddenly, my mouth got dry. When there were only some 10 steps left between me and him, I slowed down my pace. Warily I took the last step.
"Hi" I say shyly to him. Gavin looks up to me and blew out smoke from his mouth. I didn't know he smokes. There was almost burnt out cigaret between his middle and index finger.
"Hey you!" He smiled at me and placed his phone in his jacket inner pocket. I moved my hand in front of my nose and mouth to make sure I don't breath in the smoke he just blew out. He raised hie eyebrow at me, watching me.
"Pneumonia," I remind him "I am not suppose to smoke or be around people that smoke!"
"Oh, right!" He said instantly and tossed his cigaret end to the sewer that was some meter in front of his bike "Sorry, forgot about that!"
"Don't worry about it," I brush it off
"How was school?" he asked not getting off the bike, yet also not taking his eyes off me
"You know...boring" I shrug it off
"It's nice to see you again, Callie. You look real nice," he compliments me
"Nice to see you as well. And you look-" I paused and looked at the whole sight in front of me – him, his black leather jacket, his black jeans,his black helmet and his black bike - there was only one way, how I could describe him "- bad ass!"
Gavin laughed softly back "I need to be back to work in 15 minutes, so I won't hinder you too much."
"Oh," I breath out a little saddened, that he has to leave so soon
"I just wanted to ask you something. And I don't think these things should be asked over a text message" I frown my face up, not knowing what he wanted to ask me
"Are you free this Saturday?"
"Umm...why?" I ask stunned by his words
Gavin chuckled back and explained to me in detail "I am asking you out on a date, Callie."
"Oh!" I breath out again, this time surprised and then screw up my face "Seriously? You wanna go out with me?"
Gavin laughed out softy once again. I think he found me being dumbfound funny."Yeah, I like you! So, what do you say, Callie? Do you wanna go on a date with me?"
While I was thinking about it, Gavin pulled out his phone. My heart was saying - damn he is good looking. My head was saying, still in mom's voice- be careful. My gut and instinct didn't give out any warning bells or code red signal about him.
"There is this ride, this Saturday" Gavin handed me his phone. There was a web site opened. It was something about a motor club "Me and few of my friends are participating in this event. I wanted to ask, if you would want to join me? I have a spare helmet and all the equipment needed, so you wouldn't have to worry about that."
I scrolled up and down the page, to read as much info as I could as fast as I could. I opened the gallery section and looked through few of the photos. It looked like he was telling the truth. There were different pictures of motorcyclist at different places in San Diego.
"Basically, every other week or so bike riders gather up to drive at some spots in San Diego or little out of San Diego. Usually it's some entertainment or culture place. You can look it up, it should be lower in the page" He points to his phone "This week we are riding to Orfila Vineyards and Winery. It is about hour long drive. There is going to be a tour around the Vineyard and Winery. And we will eat there as well."
"I have never been there," I mutter quietly looking at the schedule that was put in the web page. It really did say that in the plan. It also had written that they would eat at the dinner that is in the same spot. In total, they would spend ~3 hours at the place and then drive back.
"It's a chance for you to visit it," Gavin smiled at me
"I have never ride on the back of the bike before," I say honestly and hand him back his phone
"I consider myself a good rider. And I do take safe riding courses every other Sunday. And I promise, if it will be too fast for you, I will slow down. You won't have to ask twice." He answer back
"What do you say?" He asks looking straight to my eyes waiting for my answer "Will you go out with me?" This certainly wasn't the first date I had imagined. But to be honest, it sounded much more interesting than going to movie and stop at a burger stop after that.
"It's a date!" I smile back at him