Episode 25 Recall (part 2/2) (Patreon)

Recall part 2/2

Jack Routh

As soon as they landed back in L.A., he immediately noticed the difference once he stepped off the plane. The people around him, the crew in the private hangar, the security teams, and even a few of Taylor’s staff that stayed in L.A. were giving him strange looks.

The internet was spotty at best inside Taylor’s private jet as they flew across the country and the pop star stopped checking her phone and opted on taking a few hours of sleep in her private room at the back. He wasn’t able to sleep at all, and he now realized about himself that he wasn’t a big fan of flying. Being stuck inside a small space without any control was stressful, and he was not able to catch a wink of sleep, unlike Angela who looked refreshed as he followed him down the stairs.

“We have to talk about our future. You were incredible, Jack.” Taylor told him and he felt her tight hug as she embraced him. “Thank you.”

He returned the hug and patted the tall blonde on the back. “So were you. I had a great time in New York.”

“We’ll talk soon.” Taylor gave him one last smile and stepped inside her waiting SUV. Her convoy soon left, and he was left alone with Angela, the flight crew and the mechanics.

“Mr. Routh?” The flight stewardess approached him, wearing a shy smile.

“Please call me Jack.” He replied. “What can I do for you?”

“Can I please have your autograph?” The stewardess held up a stationary pad and a pen. “I really love your songs!”

“What’s your name?” He asked as he took the pen from the woman’s fingers.

“Jeenie.” The stewardess replied shyly.

He ignored Angela’s teasing grin and proceeded to sign his name, and that must have given the others the signal as they too started to ask for his autograph. He spent more than a few minutes accepting the compliments, and thanked the small crowd around him for their support.

Taylor had generously arranged one of her vehicles to take them home, and he was very thankful that he didn’t have to walk back to the public terminal to get a ride.

“It’s really trending.” Angela observed as she checked her phone. “Like globally. It’s a massive hit. Here, take a look.”

He looked at the YouTube video, and it looked like Taylor’s channel had uploaded their performance.

[Somebody that I used to know – Performed by Sugar feat. Taylor Swift]

[Written and composed by Sugar.]

It already had tens of millions of views, and by the looks of it as he refreshed it once, it would breach the hundred million mark by tomorrow.

“This is really big, Jack.” Angela added. “I don’t think we’ll be able to do regular patrols anymore.”

“I think you’re right.” He handed back her phone. “Or maybe it will die down after a couple of weeks.”

“I don’t think you understand.” Angela explained. “The song you and Taylor sang is really catchy, and it’s stuck in my head even now. It’s a good thing I’m leaving patrol for detective training after Hawaii. I don’t know what you will do outside of your Metro duties.”

“You’ve got a point.” He replied. Agent Gaarza did mention before that he was welcome anytime to help in their field office to act as an official consultant, and that their head office personally approved of his new designation if he decided to help the field agents in cases.

Was it possible though? His primary job at Mid-Wilshire since he finished the program at Metro was to provide immediate tactical back-up to patrol in extreme scenarios. Ideally, he needed three more members to be assigned in Mid-Wilshire that will graduate from the new program at Metro to sufficiently fulfill his duties as SWAT back-up.

While he waited for the first batch to graduate from the accelerated program, he was stuck doing patrol and the occasional general meeting at Rampart whenever Hondo called for the whole platoon for more exercises and training.

“See you in a few days.” Angela waved to him as he got out of the vehicle first. He waved back and took out his now heavier luggage thanks to all the clothes he received from Taylor and entered the gate to his house.

It looked like no one was home, though he did notice that the house was a bit messier than usual. He spotted a piece of brown paper peeking out from under the island and wondered what his wife was doing with their secret bunker.

Once he deposited his luggage to their room, he moved the portion of the island hiding the entrance and opened the thick steel hatch. With a flick of a nearby switch he immediately noticed that his wife was busy while he was in New York.

 There was now a sofa bed inside the bunker, but what surprised him more was the few firearms hanging on the wall. An AR-15 with what looked like a Trijicon accupoint attachment immediately caught his attention. Beside it was what looked like a Remington 700, but it looked to be heavily modified. A closer look and a moment later he realized it was modified to look like the M40A5 that the marine corps used.

Beneath the sniper rifle was a handgun, similar to his service weapon, a Staccato P. This one though had a trijicon rmr attached, different to his Leupold Pro attachment. He knew Zoe was quite envious of his issued side arm and often borrowed it whenever they had time in the range. It looked like his wife finally decided to get one for herself and she even had a better attachment for her own weapon.

He needed to reward his wife for all her hard work and decided to give her a surprise she would like. He knew taking down those heavy beams of wood down the bunker was difficult, and she somehow managed to fit a mattress as well. There were no pillows and no bed sheet covering the mattress, but it was quite the achievement.

Thinking of the sexy costume of Red Sonja she wore before, he decided to make an improvise costume to surprise his wife. He missed the intimacy and waking up beside Zoe every morning. A ruined old leather suede jacket later, and he was ready.

Zoe Andersen Routh

She knew her husband was incredible, but this was on another level.

She must have watched the video if his first real performance with Taylor Swift half a dozen times already. Her new friends contacted her about her husband, and she quickly agreed to meet them after her shift. With her car currently at the garage for routine maintenance, Reese offered to pick her up at the station.

Thirty minutes later, they all met up at the beach side district.

“He was… wow… just wow.” Liz Winstead told her as they enjoyed a cold drink at the café she used to frequent while watching Jack’s performance on the tablet. Pam was still busy at the east coast so Reese was the only one who was able to show up.

It was heartwarming to see a new friendship group form before her eyes, two Hollywood actresses and her best friend forming a new circle. Jessica Chastain was the most outgoing, among them, while she realized that she and Liz share similar temperaments, meaning they were both a bit more reserved and observant.

“And Taylor Swift stole the show, no question.” Jessica added as she sipped her own drink. “What was that last song again? It was very touching.”

“I think it’s called Unwell.” Reese shared. “When is Jack coming back?”

“Tomorrow afternoon should be the earliest. It really depends on Taylor’s schedule.” She replied. She honestly didn’t know how to react to her husband’s sudden surge in popularity. That song really catapulted him into nationwide fame.

“Can’t wait to get a copy of his own album.” Reese added. “You said it was in the works, right?”

“He did a few recordings some months back with Taylor’s help.” She replied. “Maybe with the addition of the last two songs, perhaps Taylor’s company will finally release it.”

“It’s the right time for it.” Jessica stated. “Remind Jack to give me a signed, personalized copy of his album.”

“Hey, I want one too!” Liz chimed in. 

An hour more of gossiping and they decided to cool off at her Jacuzzi pool. Spending the past few nights alone without her husband was hard, and she welcomed the company of her friends. The sun was still visible despite the early evening and she opened the gate with her key. Behind her, the three other women were more subdued, the drinks put them in a relaxed mood that was amplified by the calming environment of her property.

They were all eager for a nice refreshing soak, but she was stunned to see the door open revealing Jack…

“Surprise!… Oh.”

No spoke at that moment. She gazed at her husband, only wearing what looked like a tiny leather loin cloth that would not look out of place in a Tarzan movie. The cut on the loincloth was jagged at the edges and it was very, very revealing.

She was torn between laughing and crying at the moment, but damn she was aroused. She felt her nipples harden as they rubbed against her thin bra as she gazed at exposed, muscled body of her husband. Her eyes trailed the faint hair trail that started below his navel, travelling down until they vanished under the loin cloth that did nothing to hide how gifted Jack was in the size department. She licked her lips as she noticed her mouth had gone dry.

“I’ll just… go back and change.” Jack quickly backed away from the door and practically ran back inside the house. The moment his figure vanished, laughter and giggles erupted behind her.

“Now I really need to cool off.” Jessica started to fan herself with her hand. She noticed her other friends were wearing faint blushes on their cheeks like the redhead.

“Me too. That was… damn!” Liz giggled. Reese seemed to be standing in place in a daze while wearing a strange, goofy smile on her face.

“Alright, show’s over.” She led them inside the house, barely keeping her excitement and happiness in check. “Make yourself comfortable… I just have to talk to Jack.”

“Of course, of course.” Jessica settled in the couch. “Go have that… talk with your husband then.”

“How long do you think will that talk last?” Liz asked.

“Maybe around twenty minutes, tops.” Jessica answered with a grin.

“Reese, stop drooling over my husband.” She told her best friend and rushed to the main bedroom.

She was just in time. Jack had just removed the loincloth costume and was practically naked. Perfect. She leapt into his arms and kissed him, hard. He tried to speak, but she covered his mouth with hers and bit his lip. She missed him.

The sight of her husband practically naked in front of her friends awakened the jealous monster deep within her. She ended the kiss and pushed him hard enough to fall into the bed.

She tore of her blouse so that Jack could play with her breasts and hiked up her skirt. She did not have enough time to get naked, she needed to claim him once more. She needed him inside her.

 “Mine!” She hissed as she impaled herself on Jack’s cock. She ignored the slight pain with a wince and pushed further and leaned forward once more to kiss her husband. “Fuck yes!”

“Fuck you’re so tight! And hot!” Jack growled beneath her. She felt his hands on her waist.

She matched his hungry gaze and a smile grew from her lips as she started bouncing on his cock. “I missed… you. I love… your surprise, husband. Now fuck… me!”

The first round was quick. They literally raced to their orgasms. Jack got there first, but he was still hard enough to let her reach her own climax. Then he got his second wind, and she felt her clothes getting ripped off as her husband turned them around. She spread her legs wider, allowing him to push deeper inside her.

Her hands travelled down his back as she felt his hands on her breasts, massaging them while his finger squeezed her nipples. She saw the hunger in his gaze and she knew to just surrender at this point and enjoy the ride.

She raised her hands above her head and she felt Jack’s hand capture both of her wrists, locking her into place, adding to the thrill of complete submission. She felt complete as Jack plowed her body again and again.

Ten minutes later she was resting beside Jack, his hands around her with one hand covering her breast. His other hand was making a trail from her hip to her waist and back.

“Taylor decided to cut her trip short.” Jack explained how he got home so early. “She didn’t like the scene in the New York.”

“I would have thought you would still be there for a couple of days.” She enjoyed this part of their relationship. Cuddling after sex was the ultimate relaxing moment for her. There was just something about feeling Jack’s arms around her, his breath tickling her nape that made everything feel alright. With her man beside her she felt the ultimate form of security.

“But I did enjoy your surprise.” She added. “Too bad I brought some friends over… what made you do that anyway?”

“I saw the bunker.” Jack replied. “I knew how much work you put in while I was gone and decided to surprise you.”

“Where did you even get that loin cloth?” She laughed. Jack really fit into that thing well. If it weren’t for their guests they might have fucked right there in the patio.

“I used an old suede Jacket.” Her husband replied. “I figured since you wore that amazing metal bikini costume, that I’d repay you with some of your barbarian fantasies.”

She looked down and saw the mentioned clothing on the floor. She started rubbing her ass against Jack’s crotch at the thought of her barbarian husband, wearing that loin cloth ravishing her and using her body for his pleasure.

“One more round?” She asked. She didn’t need to hear her answer as she felt his teeth playfully bighting her neck.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

“They’re certainly taking their time aren’t they?” Jessica observed. The redhead kept looking at the windows where she knew the master bedroom was located with its own entrance to the yard. They were all in the pool, cooling off, both from the heat and the accidental feast for the eyes that they just saw. Zoe was a lucky woman.

“I think they’re having an intense discussion.” Reese giggled. “I don’t blame her for rushing though. I’d do the same if I have a man like that waiting for me back home.”

She would too, judging from the bulge she saw.

“Any luck on the house hunting?” She turned to Jessica who had asked the question.

“No luck. At least, not one within my budget.” She admitted. L.A. prices were ridiculously expensive. She had been looking for a property in the area of West Hollywood diligently and so far, none suited her purpose. They were either too overpriced or lack the necessary privacy that this house or Jessica’s provided. She wanted a retreat, a home where she could relax and not worry about the outside world.

Projects were drying up, and she was having a hard time landing roles. Her early exit from Fargo due to the… incident really slowed down her momentum and damaged her image. At this rate she’d fall into campy roles for B-movies by the end of the year.

“I’ll ask my contacts if they know something.” Jessica offered. “Any new projects?”

“I was supposed to play a leading role with Will Smith.” She sunk back into the Jacuzzi until her chin touched the surface of the water. She wanted to drown herself. “Lost that as well.”

“What did your agent say?” Reese asked.

“We just have to wait it out, until another scandal distracts the public’s attention from me.” She shared. “There’s this one show, you know that survival expert, Bear Grylls?”

“He’s that ex British special forces guy that has a survival show, right?” Reese asked.

“That’s him.” She nodded. “My manager believes that joining the latest season will help the public get to know the real me, not the one being portrayed in the news as a home wrecker.”

“They did the man versus woman before in the previous season.” Reese was apparently a fan of the show. “What’s their plan with this new one? What’s the theme?”

“It’s about representing the most common workforce, and we get to see who will thrive in there for a week.” She replied.

“A whole week!” Jessica looked shocked. “Two weeks of living in the wilderness? That’s crazy!”

“That’s what got me worried. I’m supposed to represent a typical Hollywood actress.” She explained. “There would be a firefighter, a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, a cop, a nurse, carpenters… you know, the most common jobs. 24 individuals, twelve men and women.”

“That could prove entertaining.” Reese mused. “Even I’m intrigued with the concept.”

“What concept?”

They all turned to see Zoe, wearing a smile and her bikini as she joined them in the backyard.  It looked like their host took a quick shower, judging from how wet her hair was. She ignored the hickey on Zoe’s neck and upper thigh as she shared an amused look with Jessica. The redhead had noticed that too but was too polite to say anything. If Jack kissed her there, did that mean he went down on her? Damn.

“This new project I’m being offered.” She replied with a smile. “Sorry for not waiting for you, things got too heated.”

“Sorry, I missed Jack and had to take care of some things.” Zoe looked adorable while trying to skirt around the fact that she just had a passionate round of sex mere minutes ago. And judging by the muted sounds they all heard from time to time, multiple orgasms. Once again, damn. She’d burn out the batteries of her vibrator at this rate when she got back to her condo. That image of a caveman Jack was a feast to the eyes. Ooga Booga. Still, she vowed not to engage in a relationship until she was completely sure her future partner had no baggage attached.

“No worries, we understand.” Jessica replied. “Where’s Jack?”

“Sleeping.” Zoe replied with a smirk. “He wasn’t able to rest in the flight back and started sleeping after…”

“He finished?” Reese grinned.

“Yeah.” Zoe now had a definite full on blush on her cheeks, their host refusing to meet their teasing looks. “Taylor decided to cut their stay in New York short and flew back in just a few hours after the concert.”

“No wonder he’s so tired.” She noted.

“Yeah, normally he can last longer than that.” Zoe admitted. “I guess the performance in the concert, guarding Taylor and the flight back took a toll on him. He must not have been getting a good sleep in New York.”

“Let your husband sleep then.” Jessica replied. “I took the liberty of ordering our food. Hope you gals like pad Thai.”

“Perfect.” She had been craving something tasty but light. She continued explaining to Zoe about her current predicament. Her new friend seemed interested in her possible 1 week deserted island survival adventure.

“So where will this project be filmed?” Zoe asked.

“It’s a small island called Ni’ihau.” She replied. “Hawaii.”

“Oh.” Zoe simply replied and she noticed that the other woman‘s gaze turned to the entrance to the master bedroom.

She wondered why her friend suddenly looked worried.

Edward Michael “Bear” Grylls

“Hi! I’m Abigail, and graphic design is my passion!” The perky brunette grinned, showing off a pretty smile as she twirled her hair.

He shared an amused look with his producers and clicked the checkmark. They needed pretty and attractive people for season 4 to gain more viewers. It was crucial to get good ratings now, since they would use a new format for filming. With an army of editors, each potential cast member would bring with them two heavy duty portable cameras, one with a tripod and the other worn around the head like a headband.

It will be all get live streamed in real time for special paying viewers, and they all have the option to follow their favorite cast member. Then his editors will pick the best footage and establish a narrative and edit from there to create the eight episodes, two hours each of season 4 that will be released after the event had ended.

It was genius.

 Of course he needed it to have as much drama as possible, so he and along with his producers selected people from different end of the political spectrums.

Jerry, a red neck carpenter from Alabama and now Abigail, a feminist graphic artist from Chicago.

Lucy, a female fire fighter from Tacoma and Toby, a corporate lawyer from a male dominated law firm in Manhattan.

Then the big draw, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, an actress linked with a scandal by cheating with a married British actor. They were able to get her to participate since he knew she was desperate for proper, media exposure. He knew what her angle was. Too bad for her, she wouldn’t get exactly what she was hoping for.

There were many more others, and he even picked a vegetarian that worked for PETA for shits and giggles. He wondered how that woman, aptly named Karen, a passionate animal rights activist would get along with the truck driver they picked that also hunted wild animals as a hobby.

“They’re going to be at each other’s throats by the end of the week.” His producer snickered.

“I know, but that’s good for our ratings, but we need one more, the cop.” They already had a doctor and a nurse, and their secondary roles were to watch out for the health of the group during their seven day challenge. They needed to announce the line up quickly, and there was already a growing interest from the media.

“What about him?” He looked over his producer’s tablet and his grin widened. “That guy? He looks like he should be on the catwalk than patrolling the streets.”

“Yeah. Imagine him suffering through seven days in a remote island. It will also attract viewers, he has massive and growing fan base thanks to performing beside Taylor Swift.” His producer pointed out.

“That’s a good idea.” He wrote the name down. Jack Routh, also known as Sugar. That sweet, handsome face would surely attract female viewers. “Get in line with their department, and let’s call in some favors. Let’s lock this lad down before he grows a brain up and decides he doesn’t want to be a cop anymore. I’m sure the LAPD could be easily convinced that need much needed positive publicity with what’s happening in their city.”    

Wesley Evers

Jack Routh was strangest client he ever had.

 At first it was just helping his girlfriend’s rookie copyright some songs. It was a simple matter, and he was happy to do it for free. Spending more time with Angela made him realize that not all cops were power crazy maniacs. They also wanted change. Some just wanted to help other people and do the right thing. But that didn’t mean there weren’t rotten apples inside the basket, and he was still determined as ever to protect the public from their abuse of power.

Then he helped Jack and Zoe deal with the paperwork regarding a property purchase, from one Taylor Swift and everything he knew about Jack changed.

The process went smoother than he expected, and a short while later came the offer. By now he was Jack’s lawyer, not really full time but he allocated a few days out of his week dealing with the global pop star’s own team of lawyers. Contracts, agreements, partnerships, he read each line in every page carefully that the big label sent over before he forwarded them to Jack to sign.

Jack’s insistence that he donate a good portion of his share of the revenues to L.A. charities made sure the man wouldn’t have to pay taxes for the next five years. His own attorney’s fees meanwhile were staggering, enough to compete with the yearly salaries plus bonus of senior associates of big law firms.

Jack insisted, and told him it was his form of support for him due to his work as a pro bono lawyer for those that desperately needed one. With that he was able to buy the second unit beside his own office above the Ethiopian restaurant and hire an accountant as well.

He thought that was it until the matter of Jack’s salary for his work with Taylor’s label came to the spotlight.

“This can’t be right.” He stared at the many, many zeroes and looked back at the amused faces of the lawyers seating across from his desk.

“Wesley, I don’t think you understand how much money Ms. Swift made with Jack’s songs, and with his help in arranging the music for the past album and then of course, the performance.”

He had been on first name basis with Taylor’s team of lawyers. The relationship was so amicable since there was hardly any argument.

“Not just a viral sensation, but a global phenomenon.” Trevor, Ms. Swift’s lawyer added with a proud smile. “Ms. Swift is thinking of creating an album titled, Sugary Swift where all of their past collaborations and these new songs will be recorded. That amount is the least we could do for one of Ms. Swift’s closest friend and collaborator.”

“Think of it as a rebranding.” Anna, one of the other lawyers added. “Ms. Swift’s label is thinking of branching out, and we believe Mr. Routh

Fifteen minutes later his guests left. He was relieved that Taylor’s label was handling Jack’s P.R. issue, otherwise his phone would be ringing nonstop. Request for interviews, collaborations, appearances, his fellow lawyers revealed what they were handling in Jack’s name. Taylor’s team seemed to be protective of Jack and respected his decisions.

Still, he was getting swamped and decided to call Angela’s cousin. Camille Vasquez arrived an hour later, and he watched as his fellow lawyer quickly reviewed his proposal. He was hiding a smile, he knew she would accept the moment she saw the amount.

“You’re serious?” Camille asked once she finished reading.

“Of course.” He replied. “I wanted to concentrate more on my pro bono cases, and I need help.”

“But to get paid this much?” Camille asked.

“You’re representing Jack and dealing mostly with Taylor’s label. So you in?”

“Fuck yes I’m in!” Camille replied with a smile. “I can’t wait to tell Angela!”

“Just a word of advice. Don’t call Jack constantly, he’s still a cop and does patrol work. He values his privacy and independence too, so if you have questions, ask me first, or your cousin.”

“Fine.” Camille sat back down on her chair. “But do you think I can get an autographed album when his comes out?”

“Maybe.” He was planning to get one anyway, Angela made him promise. What was two, well three personalized signature albums from Jack?

Jack Routh

He needed more male friends. His wife’s new circle seemed to be at their house almost every day and was using it as their clubhouse. And though he tried to play off his… accidental show the other day, the shared looks and concealed smiles told him they were still thinking of that event. He never thought it, but he was starting to like the night shift.

There were no requests for autographs. People were too grumpy and sleepy to care if he was a rising musical artist that sang beside Taylor Swift. It was all monotonous, boring police work that mostly involved noisy neighbors, red light runners and older teens that had nothing else better to do than trespassing.

There was also the flat tire he experienced in the middle of the shift, and someone back at motor pool forgot to refill the air of his spare tire. Luckily he found a foot pump in the trunk and he experienced the most amusing time in his experience for night shift.

A group of young men started playing a track in high volume, in time with foot as he pumped the spare tire with air.

Don’t you know? Pump it up!

You got to pump it up!

Don’t you know? Pump it up!

You got to pump it up!

It looked like he was dancing to the music’s beat. He had a short laugh at the situation, feeling embarrassed and just waved at the slowly passing car filled with teens who now had their hands outside their car window as if they were egging him on to dance.

Amused at their antics, he raised both his hands to the beat of the other car’s music, causing the teens to laugh and cheer before they drove off. As his shift ended and since he was still feeling hungry, he passed by the grocery store near his area to buy ingredients for a good sandwich. It seemed like he was not the only one with a sandwich craving, as the man ahead of him nearly collected the same ingredients as him.

The blonde man noticed it too and made a comment as they both line up at the cashier.

“When you’re craving, you just have to go out, you know?” The man gave a friendly smile.

Oh he knew. He sometimes had cravings that had him making a meal in the middle of the night or going out to get that taste.

“Looks like you’re making a chicken sandwich.” He observed as he returned the greeting with a nod.

“Grilled chicken sandwich with the works. I just woke up with this dream, and I just had to have one.” The man extended a hand. “Nickolaj.”

“Jack.” He returned the handshake. “If you’re craving for a good sandwich, there’s a new food truck that’s serving the best cubanos I’ve ever had.”

“Cubanos?”

“It’s a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich.” He explained. He discovered recently discovered the food truck during his night shift and was disappointed it only opened at night. The food was good, and was operated by what looked like a husband and wife team. He even spotted their kid working as a line cook. “The food truck is called El Jefe, and it’s open at night by La Brea and West Olympic.”

“La Brea and West Olympic.” Nickolaj had written the instructions on his phone. “Thanks, Jack.”

Walking back to the parking lot, he noticed that he and Nickolaj were walking in the same direction.

“You following me?” Nickolaj joked.

“That’s my ride.” He pointed at his bike.

“Now I feel like getting one of my own.” Nickolaj sighed and pointed to his blue Prius parked nearby. “But with kids, not possible.”

As he made his way back to West Hollywood and to Zoe who he was sure was just waking up for the morning, he noticed the blue Prius was following him. The blue car stopped beside him at a red stoplight and Nickolaj lowered his window.

“Now you’re providing escort?” The other man grinned.

“If you want me to.” He bantered back.

As soon as he reached Rosewood, he turned to his home and pressed the button in his pocket for the control. As he waited for the metal gate to swing open, he heard a quick beep of a car horn and saw Nickolaj had stopped behind him.

“We’re neighbors!” Nickolaj grinned and pointed to a modern looking with minimalist accents a few houses over, just beside Jessica’s. “Small world.”

“Small world indeed.” He replied. He wanted to make his sandwich, but before he could save goodbye, a familiar read head, wearing a cap and a jogging outfit passed by.

“Nickolaj! Jack!” Jessica Chastain greeted them.

“You two know each other?” Nickolaj asked.

“We’re friends.” Jessica beamed. “How did you two meet?”

He shared a look with the other man and shrugged. “We started talking about chicken sandwiches.”

“Grilled chicken sandwiches.” Nickolaj added.

“I’m not grilling mine.” He replied.

“Men.” The redhead rolled her eyes.

Tamara Collins

She had been living in the streets for a while, she knew she shouldn’t have runaway, but when her drug addict mother’s boyfriend started eyeing her and saying inappropriate things when it was just the two of them, she knew she had to leave. The last straw was when she found him in her room, waiting for her just after she finished a bath.

She took off right after that, thanking her luck that she started dressing up inside the bathroom ever since the boyfriend started living with them. She only returned a few hours later when she knew he was asleep and quietly packed her things and then left a note at the fridge for her mom.

Her friends were generous, but there was a limit to their charity, and she didn’t want to impose when she started noticing the looks her friend’s parents gave them whenever they announced she was sleeping over. Breakfast conversations were awkward, as they asked pointed questions that made her feel uncomfortable.

Her boyfriend Oliver was a big help. With his mom being a doctor, she had plenty of time to stay at his house, shower and even take naps and study before the older woman arrived. She thought they were being discreet, until Oliver’s mom surprised her one day and entered the door while she was eating lunch.

Grace, Oliver’s mom was more observant than she suspected. After hearing about her predicament, the pretty older blonde generously allowed her to stay. Oliver was ecstatic, but that also caused friction in their relationship.

The inevitable break-up came and she left. He was too controlling and nosy and she didn’t like that he always brought up the ‘you’re living in my house’ card in every argument. She had her pride after all.

Nights were getting colder, and homeless shelters were always full. She didn’t know how the female officer tracked her down, but apparently Grace had shared her predicament with a cop she knew.

Lucy Chen poking her head through her camping tent was the best thing that happened to her. She gave her an alternative path by signing her up for a scholarship program, entirely funded by the charity organizations that supported the LAPD’s families.

The program did not only include full tuition, but an allowance as well for food, school materials, dormitory space and clothing. The best part was, the higher her grades were, the higher the allowance, and she always had top marks in school. The brand new laptop was part of the program, and she was thrilled that she didn’t have to use her allowance to purchase one.

How Lucy enrolled her in the scholarship program meant for families of police officers, she never knew. The perky but sweet officer just smiled and gave her an over the top wink and claimed she knew the organization that funded the program.

“You sure you don’t want to eat out?” Lucy asked once everything was settled in her dormitory. It was small and a bit cramped, and she was sure her knee would hit that table leg many times for the foreseeable future but she didn’t care. It was clean, it was warm and it was secure.

“I still have our leftovers from lunch.” She pointed to the plastic bag on the table. Living on the streets meant she couldn’t be too picky about stale bread and pasta. As long as it didn’t stink too bad she could happily eat stale bread and cold noodles.

“Okay, but if you need anything, just call my number, okay?” Lucy stated. “Anything at all.”

She felt touched. She had never experienced such compassion and warmth from an adult before. Lucy was awesome. Feeling a bit awkward, she decided to use humor to get out of the situation. She didn’t want to cry.

“If you could get him to appear in my dormitory, then my life will be perfect.” She pointed to the fan made wallpaper of Sugar singing on stage in New York in her laptop.

Lucy looked amused. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“And if he appears here and sings me a song I promise to always have weekend lunch at your place.” She rolled her eyes as she upped her sarcasm. “I’ll even wash your dishes after.”

“That’s a deal then.” Lucy took her hand and shook it once.

“Wait. Huh?” Lucy had to know she was joking, right?

“Nope! We already shook on it!” Lucy gave her a quick hug and left her room, closing the door behind her.  

She sat down on her new mattress, and wondered why Lucy played along with her obvious joke. Couldn’t millennials understand sarcasm?