Closure Part 14
Authors note: I'm not a police officer so sometimes I may get things wrong. It fits in the story, I use it. Simples.
Authors note 2: Talking of my proof reader, if you like this couple, check out her YT channel at h t tp : / / www . you tube . com/ user / spof monster In-between proof reading for me, she puts a lot of effort into them. Leave her some reviews if you feel like it. Ta ;) She has a great new vid too.
Authors note 3: My characters swear. I've told them to pack the effing hell in, but they carry on regardless. And ref's= refreshment break.
x-0-x
Oh for fucks sake. This truly couldn't get more fucked up could it?
Dan's expression would have been comical it I hadn't felt so wrong footed at seeing Sophie's mate from uni. Well, Sophie was in Manchester, why not her I guess.
I nodded. "Yeah, hi Katy." Thinking quickly, I looked at Dan, "I'll check the windows are all locked upstairs again before we leave." I made a sharp exit. Jogging up the stairs to check the windows as I said, I managed to successfully not snoop around in what was obviously Katy's room, and after checking the windows on both her room and the bathroom, I checked the remaining room, appeciating the order in the room compared to the mess of Katys. The fact you could see the floor was an advantage, and I cast a quick look around appreciating the minimal nick nacks littering the shelf above the desk which contained neatly stacked files and pens in a red mug. Leaning across the small bed and checking the window, I realised I felt calmer after using my excuse to get some space. Still, you knew that right? Windows secured, I shouted a goodbye to Katy and waited for Dan by the car. Knowing he was doing everything by the book. Knowing he'd leave a contact number if she heard noises again. A contact... great
I let my head rest back, looking up at the stars. Breathing in the cold air. Opening one eye as I heard Dan exit the house, knowing I'd have to tell him who Katy was. He unlocked the car and we both got in in silence before driving off, driving round the neighbourhood for a while just to check.
"So..." Ahhh, here we go. I carried on looking at the pavements, wanting to find something to do to avoid the soap opera my life really was becoming. It was getting to be a joke. I reckoned I'd bump into Lee next. Yeah, that'd just about make my fucking life wouldn't it? When would I get away from them?
"Yeah?... Nothing over here still mate."
"Katy says she knew you in uni"
"Yeah, she wasn't too bad until the end." I shrugged, still not looking at him, doing my job, watching the streets; "quiet over here Dan."
"Yeah, nothing over here, I think he's long gone. Let's check another area." Looking ahead, I nodded as Dan drove us to a different area to check for anything that shouldn't be there.
"Yeah, she said there was a big mess over why you left." Sighing, I looked at my partner.
"Dan..." I really didn't want to do this...
"Yeah, so why DID the police come and question you Sian?"
x-0-x
I sighed, leaning back in my nice comfortable seat in the car, letting my head rest back on the headrest. Avoiding eye contact, desperately falling back on old skills. Avoidance. "Dan, we're in work, looking for a burglar. Or any other crime. We're not going over this. Not here, not now."
It wasn't going to work. Dan looked at his watch. "Well, we're due a ref's break, so you can start telling me can't you." Grabbing his radio, he called into control that we'd take our break while we out as we wanted to stay in the area to check for the guy.
He wasn't going to let this go was he? I sighed, still refusing to look at him. Trying to do my job.
"Cause you know, criminal records and joining the police generally don't mix."
Silence stretched through the car for five minutes. Bright light surprised me into blinking and stopping staring out of the window as Dan pulled our car into a KFC drive thru; knowing me well enough to order one of my favourite meals. A large bag of gorgeous smelling food shoved into my lap along with a drinks carrier.
"No spilling anything in here, the next shift'll have a hissy." I smiled. Dan was right over that. Still, parked up next to a park would give us time to eat our food, and time for me to tell him about that last month at Lancaster. The fact a marked police car sitting there would deter some of the local muppets was a happy coincidence. Grabbing my part of the food parcel he'd ordered. I sighed and started telling him, in-between both of us inhaling our food.
"I don't have a criminal record before you start." pausing for a minute, I carried on. "We got caught kissing, by Lee, I think I know when, and it basically went tits up from there..."
x-0-x
We'd spent most of the Christmas break shagging. Well, OK, maybe not ALL of it. Like I'd said, we had gone out for a bit every now and then. We'd been wrapped up in our love I guess, no one else had existed. We did spend some time talking and just being Sian and Sophie. Getting to know each other, and if it was even more possible, I think I fell even further. She was gorgeous and funny and sarcastic and clever.
Perfect, just perfect.
Christmas Eve had found us giggling and handing hands as we staggered back to our rooms after spending the afternoon in a pub in Lancaster. We'd even ended up in a photo booth in the supermarket while getting some more beer. Posing for a photo and then giggling as we ripped them into 2, giving both of us 2 photos. Nicely merry and for once, not too horny. I think we both just wanted to snuggle and watch crap movies eating junk food. We'd ended up agreeing to watch two films, so we could both pick our favourite. We'd sat and mostly kissed our way through It's a Wonderful Life (Sophie's choice) and were watching my favourite Christmas film, Scrooged. This was heaven. We'd spend every Christmas like this. We'd both decided. Sophie happily agreeing, snuggling into my neck as we watched Bill Murray's character being systematically beaten up by a demented fairy.
Christmas Day had been perfect. Swapping presents, Sophie squealing with delight at the bracelet I'd got her. I was thrilled with my haul of presents. Happily wearing the necklace she'd bought me and playing the CD's Ryan and Ben had got me very, very loudly.
New Year was similar, we'd decided to stay in after spending the early part of the evening in the pub. Midnight found us swapping sweet kisses before driving each other insane in bed again.
And then sadly, the holidays were ending and people started trickling back to campus. The walls to our sanctuary being eroded. Eventually our flat mates returned too, and giving Sophie the time she wanted to play catch up with Katy (and sadly Lee) I'd spent time with my mates too. Ryan happily taking the piss out of me and Sophie finally "getting our act together" and "was it good" which earned him a smack. Ben had been happy for me but looked preoccupied with something. I could see him drifting a few times... his mind a million miles away.
Ryan had explained when he'd walked me back to Cartmel. Ben had found an athletic scholarship offer waiting for him at home. He'd applied for it before he'd applied for UK universities, but thought he'd blown it. He could still transfer apparently, but he didn't know what to do. To be honest it was an easy choice to me. Ryan agreed. He could go to the best swimming programme in the USA or stay in the cold UK.
Total no brainer as I told Ry. He'd agreed with me,saying he thought Ben might take it. He was just thinking about the distance to his girlfriend. I'd given Ry a kiss on the cheek thanking him for walking me back and jogged upstairs to hear the glorious sound of dickhead laughing. Knowing that Sophie would probably retreat back into mostly timid mode, I sent a silent thanks for the great month we'd had and quietly opened my room door, having absolutely no idea what to do now everyone else was back. We'd never discussed it. Shocking eh? I know what I wanted and hoped for, but was Sophie ready?
Leaving my door open a tiny amount to let Sophie know I was back, I sat on my bed. My ears picked up when I heard Lee's laughter. "Yeah, so your mum and Rosie's face was a picture. Carla's niece, Danni and Rosie had been on a few nights out, and then Carla let slip that Danni was a big old lesbian." I could hear a murmured comment from Sophie and I think Katy, but I couldn't be sure. "So all hell broke loose in the Rovers. You know what your sister and mum are like when they get going. God they were totally 'but we're not gay, there's no dungarees in our house'". Again I could hear Sophie's voice, raised a little this time, followed by Lee whining about 'only having a laugh'.
Footsteps heading down the corridor and I caught a glimpse of my girlfriend as she opened her door. She turned around and looked at me, I sat there like a nice useless lump. Boy, could I understand her reasons even more. Standing up I opened my door a little and she almost ran across into my arms. Holding her while she sobbed at me. "See? See why I don't want to tell anyone? Imagine what they'd call me".
Kicking my door closed, or so I thought, I manoeuvred Soph to sit on my bed and, sitting next to her, just wrapped an arm around her, kissing her cheek. "S'ok, we'll work something out eh?" I kissed her cheek again. Trying to let her see that I actually could see the problem here. Wasn't happy over it, but yeah, I COULD see it.
Turning her head to me, she wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and tugged my head down to hers kissing me. Her lips were urgent, caressing mine, her tongue demanding entrance. Who was I to refuse? I damn well loved her and she was upset. I kissed her back just as hard, passions quickly rising until I heard a noise. I think Soph heard it too, sitting back a little breathing hard.
"Shit." She followed my movements as I stood up, my door was slightly ajar. Swiftly poking my head out into the corridor, I saw a broad back duck into the kitchen.
Shit shit shit shit.
Lee? It was too big to be skinny Ches. Deciding not to freak Soph out any more, I shut the door and turned around. "Door must have blown open. I only kicked it shut." I forced a smile and sat down on the bed again. "There was no one out there Soph." Rubbing her back, I pulled her into another hug. "Your family are really that bad?"
She nodded into my neck. "Not taking the chance with them Sian, I'm sorry, I know you're probably disappointed".
I held her tighter. "No I'm not, don't be daft." Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, I smiled. "We've got all the time in the world to tell your folks. They may surprise you Soph." She mumbled something I couldn't make out and then mumbled something I could. Laughing gently, and telling her yes, I let go of her so she could go and get ready for bed, taking the chance to check the kitchen. Nope, no one in there. Acting off a hunch I checked the fridge; nope it all seemed OK. Turning around I checked the lock on my cupboard door, no all was in place.
I wandered back to my room, getting my night clothes on just in time as Soph tapped on the door lightly and sneaked in.
"OK?" She nodded as she climbed into bed and waited for me as I locked my door and turned off the light. As she nestled into my embrace after we'd spent a few minutes gently kissing I felt complete, despite that nagging little worry in the back of mind.
Lee knew, I was sure of it, and he'd never made any secret of his dislike of me. What would he do next? He wouldn't hurt Sophie would he? Sighing I'd nodded off to sleep, that uneasy prickle still there on the back of my neck.
x-0-x
"So this shit head saw you kissing then?" Dan mumbled around the disgustingly sized burger he was chomping on, making me feel sick when he dunked it in his tub of gravy.
"Jesus Dan you fat bastard, that's gross" He just laughed at me as he chewed, both of us sitting in comfortable silence. "Yeah, I think it's pretty safe to say he saw us kissing. Perv." I grabbed a handful of my chips and dunked them in my own tub of gravy, chewing quietly for a minute.
"So, the food theft then." I looked at Dan, raising my eyebrows in a 'yes?' expression. "That was the wanker wasn't it?" I'd finished chewing and grabbing a gulp of my Pepsi nodded.
"Yeah, I think so."
"THINK so?" Dan looked at me. "Surely you know Sian? What kinda copper are you?"
I laughed bitterly. "I wasn't one then Dan was I?" Shrugging I continued. "I was a dopey 18 year old, head in the clouds wanting to be a PE teacher and drunk on the idea that love'd conquer all. And no, it wasn't the food theft that got me questioned by the local bizzies OK. There was talk of arrest..." I waited for the explosion to come.
"ARREST?" Yup, there it was. "FUCKING ARRESTED?" I waited for him to calm down slightly.
"TALK of arrest you idiot."
"Yeah, well you better talk lady." I nodded, grabbed our empty food wrappers and, being the good citizen I am, hopped out of the car and shoved the rubbish in the bin.
Getting back in the car, Dan was radioing that we'd finished our break and were headed back onto shift. A quick toilet stop later and were back onto the mean streets of Blackley.
It was an art, but we were pretty decent at doing our job and talking at the same time. Sadly for me, there were no other shouts in our area to stop me from talking to Dan. It had started raining heavily. Always the best natural policeman, heavy rain. Even the crims could never be arsed to stay out in it.
Staring at the rain hammering down on the windows, I was reminded of the shitty January weather in Lancaster that year.
Authors note 2: Talking of my proof reader, if you like this couple, check out her YT channel at h t tp : / / www . you tube . com/ user / spof monster In-between proof reading for me, she puts a lot of effort into them. Leave her some reviews if you feel like it. Ta ;) She has a great new vid too.
Authors note 3: My characters swear. I've told them to pack the effing hell in, but they carry on regardless. And ref's= refreshment break.
x-0-x
Oh for fucks sake. This truly couldn't get more fucked up could it?
Dan's expression would have been comical it I hadn't felt so wrong footed at seeing Sophie's mate from uni. Well, Sophie was in Manchester, why not her I guess.
I nodded. "Yeah, hi Katy." Thinking quickly, I looked at Dan, "I'll check the windows are all locked upstairs again before we leave." I made a sharp exit. Jogging up the stairs to check the windows as I said, I managed to successfully not snoop around in what was obviously Katy's room, and after checking the windows on both her room and the bathroom, I checked the remaining room, appeciating the order in the room compared to the mess of Katys. The fact you could see the floor was an advantage, and I cast a quick look around appreciating the minimal nick nacks littering the shelf above the desk which contained neatly stacked files and pens in a red mug. Leaning across the small bed and checking the window, I realised I felt calmer after using my excuse to get some space. Still, you knew that right? Windows secured, I shouted a goodbye to Katy and waited for Dan by the car. Knowing he was doing everything by the book. Knowing he'd leave a contact number if she heard noises again. A contact... great
I let my head rest back, looking up at the stars. Breathing in the cold air. Opening one eye as I heard Dan exit the house, knowing I'd have to tell him who Katy was. He unlocked the car and we both got in in silence before driving off, driving round the neighbourhood for a while just to check.
"So..." Ahhh, here we go. I carried on looking at the pavements, wanting to find something to do to avoid the soap opera my life really was becoming. It was getting to be a joke. I reckoned I'd bump into Lee next. Yeah, that'd just about make my fucking life wouldn't it? When would I get away from them?
"Yeah?... Nothing over here still mate."
"Katy says she knew you in uni"
"Yeah, she wasn't too bad until the end." I shrugged, still not looking at him, doing my job, watching the streets; "quiet over here Dan."
"Yeah, nothing over here, I think he's long gone. Let's check another area." Looking ahead, I nodded as Dan drove us to a different area to check for anything that shouldn't be there.
"Yeah, she said there was a big mess over why you left." Sighing, I looked at my partner.
"Dan..." I really didn't want to do this...
"Yeah, so why DID the police come and question you Sian?"
x-0-x
I sighed, leaning back in my nice comfortable seat in the car, letting my head rest back on the headrest. Avoiding eye contact, desperately falling back on old skills. Avoidance. "Dan, we're in work, looking for a burglar. Or any other crime. We're not going over this. Not here, not now."
It wasn't going to work. Dan looked at his watch. "Well, we're due a ref's break, so you can start telling me can't you." Grabbing his radio, he called into control that we'd take our break while we out as we wanted to stay in the area to check for the guy.
He wasn't going to let this go was he? I sighed, still refusing to look at him. Trying to do my job.
"Cause you know, criminal records and joining the police generally don't mix."
Silence stretched through the car for five minutes. Bright light surprised me into blinking and stopping staring out of the window as Dan pulled our car into a KFC drive thru; knowing me well enough to order one of my favourite meals. A large bag of gorgeous smelling food shoved into my lap along with a drinks carrier.
"No spilling anything in here, the next shift'll have a hissy." I smiled. Dan was right over that. Still, parked up next to a park would give us time to eat our food, and time for me to tell him about that last month at Lancaster. The fact a marked police car sitting there would deter some of the local muppets was a happy coincidence. Grabbing my part of the food parcel he'd ordered. I sighed and started telling him, in-between both of us inhaling our food.
"I don't have a criminal record before you start." pausing for a minute, I carried on. "We got caught kissing, by Lee, I think I know when, and it basically went tits up from there..."
x-0-x
We'd spent most of the Christmas break shagging. Well, OK, maybe not ALL of it. Like I'd said, we had gone out for a bit every now and then. We'd been wrapped up in our love I guess, no one else had existed. We did spend some time talking and just being Sian and Sophie. Getting to know each other, and if it was even more possible, I think I fell even further. She was gorgeous and funny and sarcastic and clever.
Perfect, just perfect.
Christmas Eve had found us giggling and handing hands as we staggered back to our rooms after spending the afternoon in a pub in Lancaster. We'd even ended up in a photo booth in the supermarket while getting some more beer. Posing for a photo and then giggling as we ripped them into 2, giving both of us 2 photos. Nicely merry and for once, not too horny. I think we both just wanted to snuggle and watch crap movies eating junk food. We'd ended up agreeing to watch two films, so we could both pick our favourite. We'd sat and mostly kissed our way through It's a Wonderful Life (Sophie's choice) and were watching my favourite Christmas film, Scrooged. This was heaven. We'd spend every Christmas like this. We'd both decided. Sophie happily agreeing, snuggling into my neck as we watched Bill Murray's character being systematically beaten up by a demented fairy.
Christmas Day had been perfect. Swapping presents, Sophie squealing with delight at the bracelet I'd got her. I was thrilled with my haul of presents. Happily wearing the necklace she'd bought me and playing the CD's Ryan and Ben had got me very, very loudly.
New Year was similar, we'd decided to stay in after spending the early part of the evening in the pub. Midnight found us swapping sweet kisses before driving each other insane in bed again.
And then sadly, the holidays were ending and people started trickling back to campus. The walls to our sanctuary being eroded. Eventually our flat mates returned too, and giving Sophie the time she wanted to play catch up with Katy (and sadly Lee) I'd spent time with my mates too. Ryan happily taking the piss out of me and Sophie finally "getting our act together" and "was it good" which earned him a smack. Ben had been happy for me but looked preoccupied with something. I could see him drifting a few times... his mind a million miles away.
Ryan had explained when he'd walked me back to Cartmel. Ben had found an athletic scholarship offer waiting for him at home. He'd applied for it before he'd applied for UK universities, but thought he'd blown it. He could still transfer apparently, but he didn't know what to do. To be honest it was an easy choice to me. Ryan agreed. He could go to the best swimming programme in the USA or stay in the cold UK.
Total no brainer as I told Ry. He'd agreed with me,saying he thought Ben might take it. He was just thinking about the distance to his girlfriend. I'd given Ry a kiss on the cheek thanking him for walking me back and jogged upstairs to hear the glorious sound of dickhead laughing. Knowing that Sophie would probably retreat back into mostly timid mode, I sent a silent thanks for the great month we'd had and quietly opened my room door, having absolutely no idea what to do now everyone else was back. We'd never discussed it. Shocking eh? I know what I wanted and hoped for, but was Sophie ready?
Leaving my door open a tiny amount to let Sophie know I was back, I sat on my bed. My ears picked up when I heard Lee's laughter. "Yeah, so your mum and Rosie's face was a picture. Carla's niece, Danni and Rosie had been on a few nights out, and then Carla let slip that Danni was a big old lesbian." I could hear a murmured comment from Sophie and I think Katy, but I couldn't be sure. "So all hell broke loose in the Rovers. You know what your sister and mum are like when they get going. God they were totally 'but we're not gay, there's no dungarees in our house'". Again I could hear Sophie's voice, raised a little this time, followed by Lee whining about 'only having a laugh'.
Footsteps heading down the corridor and I caught a glimpse of my girlfriend as she opened her door. She turned around and looked at me, I sat there like a nice useless lump. Boy, could I understand her reasons even more. Standing up I opened my door a little and she almost ran across into my arms. Holding her while she sobbed at me. "See? See why I don't want to tell anyone? Imagine what they'd call me".
Kicking my door closed, or so I thought, I manoeuvred Soph to sit on my bed and, sitting next to her, just wrapped an arm around her, kissing her cheek. "S'ok, we'll work something out eh?" I kissed her cheek again. Trying to let her see that I actually could see the problem here. Wasn't happy over it, but yeah, I COULD see it.
Turning her head to me, she wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and tugged my head down to hers kissing me. Her lips were urgent, caressing mine, her tongue demanding entrance. Who was I to refuse? I damn well loved her and she was upset. I kissed her back just as hard, passions quickly rising until I heard a noise. I think Soph heard it too, sitting back a little breathing hard.
"Shit." She followed my movements as I stood up, my door was slightly ajar. Swiftly poking my head out into the corridor, I saw a broad back duck into the kitchen.
Shit shit shit shit.
Lee? It was too big to be skinny Ches. Deciding not to freak Soph out any more, I shut the door and turned around. "Door must have blown open. I only kicked it shut." I forced a smile and sat down on the bed again. "There was no one out there Soph." Rubbing her back, I pulled her into another hug. "Your family are really that bad?"
She nodded into my neck. "Not taking the chance with them Sian, I'm sorry, I know you're probably disappointed".
I held her tighter. "No I'm not, don't be daft." Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, I smiled. "We've got all the time in the world to tell your folks. They may surprise you Soph." She mumbled something I couldn't make out and then mumbled something I could. Laughing gently, and telling her yes, I let go of her so she could go and get ready for bed, taking the chance to check the kitchen. Nope, no one in there. Acting off a hunch I checked the fridge; nope it all seemed OK. Turning around I checked the lock on my cupboard door, no all was in place.
I wandered back to my room, getting my night clothes on just in time as Soph tapped on the door lightly and sneaked in.
"OK?" She nodded as she climbed into bed and waited for me as I locked my door and turned off the light. As she nestled into my embrace after we'd spent a few minutes gently kissing I felt complete, despite that nagging little worry in the back of mind.
Lee knew, I was sure of it, and he'd never made any secret of his dislike of me. What would he do next? He wouldn't hurt Sophie would he? Sighing I'd nodded off to sleep, that uneasy prickle still there on the back of my neck.
x-0-x
"So this shit head saw you kissing then?" Dan mumbled around the disgustingly sized burger he was chomping on, making me feel sick when he dunked it in his tub of gravy.
"Jesus Dan you fat bastard, that's gross" He just laughed at me as he chewed, both of us sitting in comfortable silence. "Yeah, I think it's pretty safe to say he saw us kissing. Perv." I grabbed a handful of my chips and dunked them in my own tub of gravy, chewing quietly for a minute.
"So, the food theft then." I looked at Dan, raising my eyebrows in a 'yes?' expression. "That was the wanker wasn't it?" I'd finished chewing and grabbing a gulp of my Pepsi nodded.
"Yeah, I think so."
"THINK so?" Dan looked at me. "Surely you know Sian? What kinda copper are you?"
I laughed bitterly. "I wasn't one then Dan was I?" Shrugging I continued. "I was a dopey 18 year old, head in the clouds wanting to be a PE teacher and drunk on the idea that love'd conquer all. And no, it wasn't the food theft that got me questioned by the local bizzies OK. There was talk of arrest..." I waited for the explosion to come.
"ARREST?" Yup, there it was. "FUCKING ARRESTED?" I waited for him to calm down slightly.
"TALK of arrest you idiot."
"Yeah, well you better talk lady." I nodded, grabbed our empty food wrappers and, being the good citizen I am, hopped out of the car and shoved the rubbish in the bin.
Getting back in the car, Dan was radioing that we'd finished our break and were headed back onto shift. A quick toilet stop later and were back onto the mean streets of Blackley.
It was an art, but we were pretty decent at doing our job and talking at the same time. Sadly for me, there were no other shouts in our area to stop me from talking to Dan. It had started raining heavily. Always the best natural policeman, heavy rain. Even the crims could never be arsed to stay out in it.
Staring at the rain hammering down on the windows, I was reminded of the shitty January weather in Lancaster that year.