Undercover: Book 3 — Chapter 21

Ten minutes later the paper was mostly dry and I was ready to read them, ignoring the pounding on the door.

"SPD, open up." A cop yelled making us both freeze.

“Hurry up and read it!" Nick whispered looking at the door nervously. I sat on the ground and looked at the papers hesitantly. I cleared my throat and rubbed my sweaty hands on my leg and started to silently read it.

“What does it say?" Nick asked me taking a quick glance at the rusty colored door that you can clearly see was once beige.

“It's notes,” I said, slowly my eyes skimming the paper.

“Notes for what?" he questioned, watching as the door started to open a little as if it was being hit with something other than fists.

“A wedding,” I said tears welling up in my eyes.

“No, does that mean . . .” He didn't finish his sentence but I knew what he was asking. The door looked as if it was going to break open any moment and so I quickly took a picture of the papers and moved into the only stall and leaned over the toilet. I tried not to gag and held my breath.

“What are you doing? What's wrong?" he asked, putting his hand on my back.

“We need a reason for not opening the door. Hurry and open the window. Our story is we came in here to dry the papers but I started feeling sick and threw up. But someone who was already in here locked the doors and started to try to fight you,” I said, my words slurring together as I start talking faster. Once he opens the window and comes back to his spot before I let my fist connect with the same spot Caiden hit him and Nick’s eyes widen wincing a little.

“The guy went out the window right before they got in here,” I said and before Nick asked why we were making up a story I told him, “If we say this story then we may not get into too much trouble.” The door burst open and I flushed the toilet and stood up slowly holding my hand to my forehead.

“Hands up!" a cop ordered keeping his gun pointed at Nick. He stands up slowly and slowly walks out of the stall. I do the same and we both keep our hands above our heads. “Face the wall.” I was confused at which wall and the three cops focused their gazes intently on us. “Turn around and face the wall. Keep your hands up,” he said louder this time. We slowly turned around and face the wall and kept our hands up. I didn't dare to look anywhere else besides that wall. "On the ground."

We let our knees touch the ground and I could hear the cop’s footsteps slowly coming toward us. My hands were grabbed and handcuffs were placed on them. Tightly, I may add.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you...." The officer said going through our Miranda rights. He had us stand up and we started making our way out the doors and Nick paused before leaving.

“So does that mean we don't get our food,” I snorted and Nick winked at me. From the corner of my eye I could see my dad and the blonde woman standing and watching the whole scene. If only he knew it was his daughter being arrested right now or my bad, the officers have clarified that we were only being detained until the situation was fully understood. We were both placed in the back of the cop car with the door shut while the officers talked to each other and the manager. Well, I guess I should tell you this isn't the first time I've been in the back of one of these cars.

***

It was currently eight o'clock and I was no longer detained and I was actually far from it at the moment. We were let go with just a warning about causing disturbances even though the owner was dramatic, but it’s all good. “You got a strike!” I yelled jumping up from the chair and Eddie turned around, looking at me with wide eyes as we finished the game. “Holy shit!” He said and my eyes widened.

“Y-you just swore!” I sputtered in surprise.

“I did1 I just swore!” he said, throwing his hands up.

“Look, six or more weeks of bowling and we’re already killing it. We should truly invest in a bowling kit, you know the one’s with the fancy shoes and that really pretty, yet shiny ball,” I said smiling suggestively and he gave me a tight smile and shook his head quickly.

‘No, bad, bad idea,” he said and I frowned.

“We come every week, though,” he shook his head again, “Trust me, Claire. That would be a waste of money. Those things are expensive,” he said and my jaw dropped.

“You totally already looked into it,” I said pointing at him accusingly and he winced. “Maybe once.”

“Edward Sterling, have you been playing me this whole time? Don’t tell me, you can actually bowl,” I said and he chuckled as he slipped on his regular shoes.

I leaned my head forward, gathering all my blonde hair up before bringing it back and putting it in a ponytail. “No, trust me, I honestly sucked from day one,” he said and I let out my own laugh.

“Okay, maybe a little, but look. It took weeks and you’re already the first one of us to get a strike. I’m slightly jealous,” I said as we started walking out of the bowling place.

I paused, stretching dramatically, you know the whole break your back type of thing.

“Want to get dinner?”

I asked and he easily agreed. We headed next store to the Bob Evans and picked out nice breakfast meals for dinner.

“So how is everything?” I asked curiously, referencing his constant struggle he had with his home life.

He shrugged. “My parents keep making me think we’re okay every time I go over there for the weekly dinners, but by the end of the night they’re always screaming at each other, blaming each other for me being gay. Next thing you know, I’m getting told to leave and they’re telling me how their five seconds from taking me out from that school,” I felt my heart clench slightly, which it often did around Eddie. It seemed the only time there was always a smile on his face was our bowling nights. Every other time was filled with a slight sadness that I didn’t completely understand.

“What’s the point of taking away your education? You’re eighteen, they really can’t,” I said and he rolled his lip in his mouth.

“That’s debatable really. If they stop paying then I can’t attend there anymore. I can’t afford those loans,” he explained and I nodded in understanding. The only funds we had were the retirement fund my grandmother left me before she died. Why she left it to me? I had no idea, but it was definitely paying for all of my school loans. I frowned.

“Well, I would be very disappointed if you weren’t attending that university anymore. You’re the only bearable one,” I said and he snorted.

“Nick would say otherwise,” he said giving me a knowing look and I smiled innocently.

“Even so, you can never quite prepare for what will happen next,” he said frowning slightly and I couldn’t help but agree.

“You can’t pick what happens next, but if you keep going and fighting for what you believe in even while the world is against you, it’ll be worth it,” I said before sipping my drink loudly.