Traffic steadily and noisily flows by as Aurie walks at a brisk pace. Despite the bright afternoon sunshine beating down, causing her to perspire, she ignores her discomfort to put as much distance behind her as quickly as possible. It would've been nice to catch the bus at the stop near BBQ Bob's, but the next one wasn't for another hour, and she needed the distance.
Everything was going fine until Steve decided to act like an obnoxious jackass. She doesn't understand why he started giving her the third degree. Why does he have to know everything now? And she hated that he'd embarrass her like that in front of strangers.
Ignoring the world around her, Aurie wonders why he'd ask about stuff she already told his dad. It seems like Mark's really close with his son, so it makes sense he would've shared everything with him. She's okay with that. She's just not okay with being pushed and embarrassed.
Paranoid, nosy cop. Must be ingrained in him to be overly suspicious. She had hoped Steve would be as friendly as his dad but guessed wrong. Now she wonders if he was adopted and just happens to resemble Mark because there's no way in hell they're related. The apple rolled far from that tree and rotted.
It sucks she had to disappear on Mark when she was enjoying the day with him, but it was too embarrassing to stay. It was stupid to get caught up in the argument and lose control instead of ignoring Steve. Either way, getting away is for the best. She'll try apologizing for taking the bait and arguing with his idiot son, but not for what she said.
Slowing her pace, Aurie thinks it's likely Steve won't take the paternity test now. Not that she gives a shit. Mark said she didn't need him to take it anyway. Mentally she kicks herself. Had she listened to Mark none of this would've happened. At least it means she can get some money back.
"Hey!"
Not bothering to stop, she looks around, wondering who's yelling.
"Hey! You girl! In the red shirt and jeans!"
Surprised that someone is yelling at her, she stops on the sidewalk and looks around the small parking lot next to her.
"Over here!"
Her eyes land on a young Hispanic man standing next to the open door of his car like he had been sitting inside of it.
"Yeah, you girl!" He beckons her over. "C'mere."
"Why?" she calls back, warily.
"Because I want to talk to you, c'mere," he answers with a smile.
Aurie hesitates, unsure of what to do. He's nice-looking and doesn't look threatening. He's probably about eighteen and is dressed simply in a gray T-shirt and jeans. She doesn't know a lot about cars, but thanks to a couple of her friends being car geeks, she recognizes his ride as a late '70s Camaro. He takes great care of it, judging by how the dark blue finish was buffed to a high gloss.
Nice car or not, she doesn't think hanging with a strange guy is a good idea.
"I don't feel like talking," she yells back, taking a few steps away.
"Then how about a ride?" he offers. "You might feel like talking while I take you where you wanna go."
"Still a no and it's a nice day for walking. Thanks anyway," she half-heartedly waves goodbye as she turns around and picks up the pace.
Undeterred, the young man grins as he slips back into his car and turns the ignition. Pulling out of the space he heads toward the driveway, losing precious minutes trying to merge onto the street. Soon he has the cute girl back in his sights.
Settling behind the wheel of his department-issued sedan, Steve starts the ignition and fastens his seatbelt before backing out of the space. Once he's merged with traffic to head back to work, he starts thinking about lunch.
He didn't mean to upset his dad, but questioning his new friend was too good an opportunity to pass up. Initially, he would've preferred it if Jesse and Amanda weren't there, but their presence helped keep the girl off guard.
Despite the teen seeming harmless enough that also increased his suspicion, especially when it was obvious she was withholding information and being evasive. Then there's no avoiding the fact her mother is Amalia Acevedes. Maybe the girl isn't like her mother and maybe isn't intending to try swindling his father, but he's not willing to rely on 'maybes.'
Steve's thoughts are interrupted when his attention is drawn to the traffic in front of him. The delivery van he'd been driving behind had turned off a block ago and now he's stuck in the right lane behind a slow-moving, swerving Camaro. He can see the driver leaning over the passenger seat yelling at a young woman walking on the sidewalk.
He frowns when the Camaro suddenly swerves, screeching to a stop in the driveway of a small office building. The car almost hit the woman as it blocked her path. He decides he's seen enough when the driver jumps out of the car to approach her. Maneuvering around the Camaro into the parking lot, Steve is surprised the woman is his dad's new friend.
Aurie is beyond pissed at Camaro dude. He wouldn't stop following her and offering her a ride despite her no longer telling him 'no' politely to angrily telling him to fuck himself. She didn't get why some idiots like this guy think 'no' means 'maybe' or 'she's teasing'. Either way, she's scared when he nearly hits her with his car to block her way.
"What the hell, dumbass!" she yells as he gets out of the car. "You almost hit me!"
"I wasn't gonna hit you, I'm just tryin' to get your attention. Why do you keep dissing me, baby girl?" he demands, coming around to her. "I can take you where you wanna go," he adds, gesturing to his car.
Still scared, but fed up, she stands her ground.
"You're dissing me by ignoring the message, pendejo. I don't wanna go with you."
"Why you gotta be like that? C'mon," he coaxes. "I've got a sweet ride that'll get you there fast."
"So?" she asks unimpressed. "I don't know you and for sure I don't like you now. I'm not goin' anywhere with you, cabron."
"Why you gotta be a bitch like that?" he angrily demands, stepping closer. "I'm just bein' nice and neighborly by offering you a ride, baby girl."
Glaring hard, Aurie considers her options. Despite being scared, she's aware there isn't anywhere she can run to, so she might have to kick his ass. At least, she hopes she can. The dude looks like he can handle himself.
"Then if you're so nice, accept she doesn't want a ride from you and go home," a familiar voice interrupts.
Startled, both look over at Steve standing near them, closer to Camaro guy than to Aurie. Neither noticed him approach and the look on his face makes it clear he's in full cop mode. Though not one of her favorite people, she couldn't have been happier to see him.
"Hey, Lone Ranger, why don't you mind your own damn business and fuck off? Can't you see we're trying to have a conversation?"
"What I see is a guy driving below the speed limit and now parked illegally in a private driveway. So, I'm making it my business," Steve replies.
"Who do you think you are, a cop?" Camaro guy challenges.
"As a matter of fact," Steve begins, pulling out his badge and flipping it open. "I do."
"Aw, man! Are you fucking kidding me?" Camaro guy yells, briefly rubbing his face in exasperation. "Look, I was mindin' my own business when she came along. Looked like she needed a ride. Ain't my fault she's giving off mixed signals. Leadin' me on. Playin' hard to get. Tell ya, I ain't doin' nuthin' man!"
Outraged, Aurie opens her mouth to let the jerk have it when Steve cuts her off.
"Doing nothing but drive recklessly and then almost hit this young lady with your car," Steve nods in Aurie's direction. "Otherwise known as assault with a deadly weapon."
Steve ducks his head slightly to glare hard at Camaro guy. His body appears relaxed with his hands casually at his side, but Aurie has a feeling he's ready for anything. She's amazed at how fast he took control and isn't afraid anymore.
"Now if you don't want me to charge you with anything and impound your ride, I suggest you get back in your car and go home."
Realizing he's on the losing side of this argument, the Camaro driver's face changes to a look of disgust.
"Aw, man! That chick ain't worth it!"
Stalking around his car, Camaro guy hops in and speeds backward out of the driveway. A pickup truck barely screeches to a stop to keep from rear-ending him, horn blaring. Ignoring the noise, the Camaro peels out, leaving skid marks on the asphalt.
"Are you all right?" Steve asks, finally turning to Aurie and looking her over in visual confirmation.
Caught off guard and confused by his genuine concern, she nods. Then again, cops are supposed to do stuff like that, right?
"Yeah, thanks," she hesitantly states. "That jerk was starting to freak me out."
"How long had he been following you like that?"
"Since that strip mall back there with the Frosty Freeze and the Vietnamese restaurant," Aurie gestures behind her.
"That long?" Steve asks in shock, getting another nod in answer. "Why didn't you call the police?" he demands.
"I tried," she answers defensively, wondering why he's jumping on her case. "The payphones I found were all broken."
"You could've asked to use a phone in any of the businesses you passed," he points out in exasperation.
"Tried that too, but none let me even when I said why," she explains. "And when I tried another place, he'd park and walk towards me, pulling the same bullshit. I figured if I kept going he'd go away and leave me alone." At his incredulous look, she defensively adds, "It made sense at the time."
"But he didn't lose interest and leave you alone, did he?"
"No," she quietly answers, dropping her eyes briefly and shaking her head.
"Do you realize what could've happened to you? If he had the chance as he did right here?" Steve demands, stepping closer and pointing to the ground between them. "He could've easily grabbed you and anyone witnessing it would've initially dismissed it as a lover's fight because you two don't look that far apart in age. You could've been hurt, or worse, ended up dead. What you should've done was call the police when he started following you."
Steve stops lecturing, placing both hands on his hips and glaring down at her. Aurie opens her mouth to argue but quickly closes it, knowing he's right.
"Yes, sir," she concedes with a defeated sigh.
Realizing she got his point, he relaxes slightly. He then studies her for a moment and comes to a decision.
"C'mon," he jerks his head toward his car.
"Huh?" she frowns in confusion.
"I'll give you a ride, c'mon."
He turns and starts walking to the car, leaving Aurie to wonder what the hell he's doing. After what he pulled during lunch, he's nuts to think she'd go with him.
"No thanks. I can manage from here."
"I'm sure you can, but it's safer if I give you a ride," he replies over his shoulder. Reaching the passenger side, he unlocks the door.
"You did your sworn cop duty and the bus is more environmentally friendly," Aurie retorts, staying rooted to the spot.
"And your 'friend' with the nice ride could come back and easily follow your environmentally friendly bus," he points out, pulling the door handle and opening the passenger door for her.
"Oh. Good point," she concedes with a sigh of resignation.
Reluctantly she walks over to him and gets into the car. She starts fastening her seatbelt as he closes the door, and she watches him walk around the car to the driver's side.
Once Steve settles in behind the wheel, he starts the engine and proceeds to pull out of the parking lot. Uncomfortable, her left hand absentmindedly fingers the seatbelt across her lap, and she rests her right elbow on the door, cradling her chin in the curve of her hand.
"Where to?"
"Huh?"
Startled, Aurie looks over at Steve.
"Where do you want to go?"
"Um, the hospital." At Steve's quizzical look, she hesitantly adds, "Please?"
Rolling his eyes, he fixes his attention back to the road. Aurie continues staring out the window.
After several moments of silence, he speaks again.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you have to go back to the hospital?"
He grips the steering wheel tighter in frustration. They haven't been around each other for more than five minutes and already he's struggling to stay civil with her, especially after the scare she just had. He doubted she'd admit to how scared she was, even to herself, but he saw it in her eyes.
Aurie exhales in frustration. She can't figure out what his problem is.
"Because I left my backpack in your dad's office. All my stuff's in there. Your dad said to leave it there and I'd like to get it."
"Why didn't you just wait for my dad and go with him? Or at least wait for the bus? There's a bus stop outside of BBQ Bobs. You wouldn't have had to deal with that guy if you got on the bus sooner."
"Seriously?" she asks, looking at him incredulously. "I didn't think it was a good idea to stick around after lunch and the bus wasn't coming by for another hour. I thought it was better to disappear for a while."
"And why did you think that?"
Steve thinks talking to this girl is like pulling teeth and then driving them back into place with a hammer.
Closing her eyes briefly, Aurie takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before answering.
"We argued and embarrassed your dad. 'Cause of that, I didn't want to face your dad just yet and I didn't think he'd want me around anymore today, okay?" Anxiously she lightly slaps her palm against the top edge of the door. "Just thought it'd be a pretty obnoxious thing to do, that's all."
"I wasn't the one arguing. I was just trying to get some straight answers out of you. If you answered my questions instead of being evasive, it wouldn't have gotten to the point it did. You're the one who got defensive."
"Me?" Aurie gapes at him. "Bullshit! You knew most of the answers. And some wasn't any of your business. You got all suspicious and shit, thinking I'm up to something." Steve opens his mouth to retort when she cuts him off. "Look, you think I'm out to con your dad, fine. You'll believe what you want, and I can't convince you differently. I can't," she emphasizes quietly, meeting his gaze with a shake of her head and a shrug.
Steve can see the sincerity in her eyes but isn't ready to let go of it yet. Arriving at Community General he drives onto the parking lot. Pulling into a space he turns off the car. Shifting in the seat to face her, he rests his right arm on the back of the seat and leans the other on top of the steering wheel.
"You're asking me to take a paternity test to prove whether or not I'm your father, though I'm sure, without a doubt, I'm not. I think the least you could do is answer my questions."
He watches her slump her shoulders in frustration and looks down briefly before looking up at him again. When she doesn't say anything, he continues.
"But since you think some are too personal, at least answer this one. Why are you looking for your father now?"
Searching his eyes, she can see this is more than just being nosy. She could see his genuine interest and concern. For his father? Maybe. Well, probably.
"Like I told your dad, I'm not trying to discover my roots or any crap like that. My mother never got her citizenship, and I wasn't born here. But I'm here now and want to stay by making everything legal. And that'd be easier if my biological father is a U.S. citizen." She pauses to watch him process her words before continuing. "I know there's a really, really good chance none of you guys are my father, but I have to try."
Steve waits as she looks down at her lap and her hands play with the still-fastened seat belt, sensing she's got more to say. Taking a deep breath, Aurie looks out the windshield before meeting his gaze.
"I get it," she begins quietly. "My mother was a manipulative user and blatant schemer, so everyone thinks I'm exactly like her. And I get you're just trying to protect your dad. That's great, but I swear I'm not out to screw him in any way. I don't want any money or anything."
"And what happens if you do find your father?"
"Nothing," she answers honestly. At Steve's confused look and before he can ask, she continues. "Like I said, I don't want money or anything. Not even a relationship. It's too late for that and you can't miss what you never had. Knowing we exist to each other shouldn't change anything."
"Have you thought about the possibility he may want to be a part of your life? I know if you were my child, I'd want to get to know you," Steve reasons with a slight shake of his head. "I don't understand why you wouldn't want to try getting to know your father."
"Because it'd complicate things to hell. It'd be like trying to force a puzzle piece into a completely different puzzle. If you've seen those talk shows where adopted kids find their real parents it's all happy at first, but later on, their parents cut off contact with them. No reason. Just leaves them hanging with more questions than before. Was it because they didn't meet expectations or what? I don't want to deal with that."
"Expectations?" Steve frowns in confusion.
"Well, yeah. What if I don't live up to my father's expectations? That he wants me to be something I'm not. Like I'm not smart enough, or worse, he thinks I'm just like my mother. I'm already getting shit for admitting that, so the prejudice is already there. And even if I wanted my dad in my life before, I don't need him now except to get naturalized. I don't want to screw up his life or have him screw up mine. It's easier if we continue living our lives without each other."
The silence stretches out again before she breaks it.
"Does that answer your question? Or will you be pulling out your baton and flashlight to work me over?" she smirks.
Stunned at first Steve quickly recovers, noting the mischievous glint in her eyes and that she's relaxed.
"No need to worry," he grins. "We only save the baton and flashlight for very special interrogations."
Unable to help herself, Aurie grins back as she unfastens her seatbelt. She thinks that maybe he does take a little bit after his dad after all.
"It's getting kinda late and I have to go. Thanks again for helping me with that jerk and giving me a ride."
Exiting the car, she starts heading toward the hospital entrance when Steve thinks of one more question. Standing in the open door of his car he calls after her.
"And what happens if you don't find him?"
She stops in her tracks and turns around to face him again.
"Jump through whatever hoops I need to and get my green card."
Steve watches as she turns around and disappears into the hospital before getting back into his car to return to work.
Pendejo- stupid or idiot. Pronounced pen-deh-ho
Cabron- bastard or asshole. Pronounced ka-brohn