Adum gets behind the wheel and waits until Ryan is in his seatbelt. He feels a measure of pity for Megan, but he always had. Turning in his seat he reaches over and puts the seatbelt around her, buckling her in. Then he does his own and starts the engine, pulling away from the curb. "Hey, litter box duty can get rugged." he knows that isnt what she means but ... "My dad had like eight cats at one point .. and who do you think got to change the boxes every Friday night?" he grins at her and drives a bit before he notices lights behind him. His eyes widen. "Oh ... you've GOT to be kidding me." he's being pulled over.
Ryan leaned over in his seat, craning around "What the.... Oh for fucks sakes it's a code Nault!"
Megan felt her cheeks go hot after Adum buckled her in. It was bittersweet to know he cared so much and a tad embarrassing that she seemed to be radiating such neediness. Wasn't he supposed to be the one in crisis? Distracted by the flashing lights and Adum and Ryan's reaction, she turned to look too "Oh it's that Cody guy..." she muttered.
Cody Nault got out of his cruiser as the SUV stopped and hitched up his duty belt as a display of I'm a bad ass cop posturing. With one hand resting on the pistol and holster but not outright pulling it out he swaggered up to the SUV. With his other hand he drew his flashlight and used it to tap on the driver's side window insistently before turning it on and shining it in the direction of the face of the figure behind the wheel.
In the back seat, Ryan burst out laughing.
Adum pulled over and parked the car, turning the engine off. He watched the cop hitch up his duty belt and put his hand near his gun. He tapped on the window and then shined the light into Adum's eyes, just as Ryan burst out laughing. Pressing the button for the power windows, Adum rolled it down and squinted. "Yes, Nault? Can I help you with something? I'm not speeding, don't have a broken tail light or anything that I know of. So why am I being pulled over?" he was annoyed, amused, but not angry. He'd hear the man out first.
Cody Nault gasped and blanched in the reflected glow of his own flashlight just before he fumbled and almost dropped it. Catching it awkwardly he blurted out "Sorry Sir, I didn't recognize you...Sir Chief...Cheif Brate.....thought it was a joyride with...." He lets his stunned gaze drift to Megan briefly and then looks down "My m..m..mistake..." he stutters.
Adum watched him fumble his flashlight and then his words. He watches the mans eyes move and, as he knows where the passengers in his car are, he knows he was speaking of Megan. "Thought it was a joyride with ...." he repeated, calmly. "Who, and why would you think it was a joyride?" he asks, his voice beginning th take on only the slightest of edges. So slight Nault may not even see the pile he's stepped in.
Nault tries to dodge it "I just got it wrong Chief. Sorry to bother you....in your time off." he hasn't seen Ryan yet because he's been sitting quietly in the back since the window went down but he shoots another look at Megan like she's been scooped right up off the low track by the visiting Chief for his personal entertainment. Nault chuckles a bit and steps back from the car "Enjoy your stay Sir."
Adum was not about to let this man off the hook. If he wanted to get some frustrations out, the Cedar Point Police Departments rookie seemed like as good a person as any. When the rookie begins to back away, Adum undoes his seat belt and steps from the car. "Hold it right there, Officer." he uses his best command voice. "When I ask a question, Nault, I damn well expect an answer. Now you can say I am not YOUR Chief, which would be absolutely right, but if you think you can disrespect me because of that, you are sadly mistaken." his voice has not risen very much at all. His tone is conversational, and yet threatening. No doubt he can be hears clearly by those in the car. "So before I decide to call the Chief, of even Angie. Answer. My. Question. Do you have a problem with the company I keep?" and if the boy makes him REPEAT the question, Adum was going to get REALLY mad.
Cody Nault backed up as the Chief stepped towards him and started to look nervous. He held up his hands as he took another step back "Sir it's none of my business....I won't even say anything to anybody...." he offered as if suggesting he'd cover for the guy.
Adum arched both of his brows. "What the FUCK is THAT supposed to mean, Nault?" he demands. "Are you suggesting I am ... engaged in illegal activity?" he almost says 'soliciting a prostitute', because that seemed to be what Nault was implying.
Cody looks increasingly nervous "Chief Brate, I don't understand what you're asking of me. But whatever it is, I didn't see anything. With all due respect, we're all human Sir. I respect your authority."
Adum looks at him as if he doesn't understand what he is looking at. But he begins to relax his posture a bit ... a sign that, like a snake, he is prepared to strike.
The back door of the SUV opens and Ryan jumps out "Nault seriously man, what are you doing? We're three old friends hanging out." He sees Adum's posture and steps in range to get between them if need be.
Cody jumps "Yamada, what the? What are you?"
Adum doesn't react at all to the door opening. "He's ACTING like he thinks hes got a pros bust." city cops know pros is short for prostitution. But his eyes do not leave Nault. "What is he??" he looks at Ryan. "Is he ... retarded?"
Ryan steps between the two "Alright let's work this out. Nault, tell us what...CONFUSED...you about our situation?"
Megan crawls across the front now and sits quietly looking out from the driver's seat. Her expression is one of tired resignation. She's been judged this way many times before in this town. most of it unwarranted for how far the rumours have gone.
Nault looks awkwardly at Megan and then meets Adum's eyes and lowers his voice "I'm sorry Sir. It's just I've seen her...police...records...I didn't know you were friends."
Adum frowns. "What police record?" he glances at Ryan. The last couple or three years he's had his head in his own problems .. trying to get divorced, dealing with all that .. his new career.
Ryan looks at Megan and then back at Nault "Buddy you are way out of line here. Megan was a witness, so some stuff came out about her that got blown way out of proportion. She's never been convicted of anything illegal and she's NOT a prostitute."
Megan slides off the seat now and walks over to Nault, her expression stoney "I see you in my father's bar watching stippers and shoving your dirty bills into their strings. You spend the rest of the night hitting on women who have no desire to talk to you, including my own sister. It borders on harassment. And you're calling me a whore over some dumb stuff I did that got dragged into a case file you read because I screwed the wrong guy? Pot....meet.... the fucking kettle." Both Ryan and Adum's defence of her has given her a bit of a confidence boost to finally say something.
Nault looks way less intimidated by Megan and actually scoffs at her "Whatever you say Ms. Munroe..."
Megan shrinks into herself when he uses her old screen name but still glares.
Adum listens and is glad to see Megan get out and defend herself. It tells him a bit about Nault, as well. The name Ms Monroe is new to him and he sees Megan react, but he looks at Nault. "Alright ... you got that shovel. Use it. WHo is Ms Monroe and why are you saying that name like its supposed to mean something?
Megan sighs and walks up to Adum, not looking him in the eyes "I was really broke for awhile and did some cam work. I wore a blond wig and called myself Meg Munroe. It was very short lived and I'm assuming all that shit came out when I was being questioned about David Leonard Martin."
Nault puffed up again and nodded "Yeah it did."
Ryan rounded on Nault now "Dude, I interrogated Megan. I knew her file back to front. THAT wasn't in it. What the hell are you playing at?"
Megan's eyes went wide and she stared at Nault "Are you...were you...." she can't bring herself to finish the question.
Nault raises a brow and cracks a half smile "Alright you got me. You were pretty fun and hot, still are."
Both Megan's hands forms into a tight fist but she stands unmovable.
Ryan drops his head and shakes it slowly "You are one stupid sonofabitch Nault."
Adum listens to Megan and nods. At least he had heard about the mess with Martin. He places his hand on Megans shoulder. "Thats all over now. Get in the car." he tells her. He glances at Ryan. "Let's go." he looks evenly at Nault. "You finish your patrol. Go home. Do what you have to do." he says calmly. "My report will be on Callahans desk in the morning, Officer. Conduct unbecoming. You have a good night." and unless someone has something to say, he will get in the car, close the door and roll up the window.
Nault skulked off like a bad puppy with his tail between his legs. He quietly got in his cruiser and drove away.
Ryan sighed and got in the SUV and did up his seat belt again.
Megan did the same, turning slightly away from Adum in an awkward pose.
Adum drives to the cabin without another incident. Once he pulls up, he parks the SUV and turns to look at Megan. He gets out of the car and moves to the passenger side, leaving Ryan to get out on his own. He opens the door and offers his hand to Megan with a soft smile.
Ryan watches Adum go to Megan and looks relieved. He's not always sure what to offer her when she gets put through that kind of stuff and he suspects it would all be better received from Adum anyway. Seamus barks and greets him with excited jumping around. Ryan is cautious around the dog but gives him a few pats.
Megan had a nice long drive to let a bit of it go and slides her hand into Adum's, allowing him to be the sweet guy that she knows he is. She swings her legs around and stands saying "Well you're still being nice to me so that's a good sign." in a joking tone.
Adum half watches Ryan in his caution. Then he looks at Megan. "I'm supposed to be mad cause you cammed?" he shrugs. "We got a lot of girls at The Blue Door who cam too. And strip. But it keeps them from prostituting themselves, so who am I to judge?" he cups her face in his hand. "But you're Megan." he sighs. "And I feel that whole mess is partially my fault." he hears the dog and looks down. "You agree, eh?" he raises his brows. "No sirloin for you!" he chides and heads for the door, taking Megans hand and pulling her if she doesn't come along. His other hand is in his pocket fishing for the keys.
Ryan hung back and let them talk. He looked around at the trees and the road. Callahan really was in the middle of nowhere. It suited the guy. He followed his friends up the steps when they moved that way.
Megan's eyes watered as he cupped her face. Tenderness in her life was uncommon. Tenderness from Adum was overwhelming her in a way she didn't even know what to do with. She smiled at him, swallowed and blinked and then allowed him to lead her by the hand to the cabin.
Inside, Adum took in the lay of the place. "Alright .... whose hungry? Ryan, you want to get those beers for you and Megan? And lets see what kind of movies the old man has, Megan. I'm looking for popcorn or something."
Ryan looks around with Adum for a second and then says "Microwave...but no microwave popcorn bags...." He sees the vingage popcorn popper cage by the fire and gives it a slight nod "I'll make a fire. Let me know if there's kernels or something to roast." The fireplace has a well stocked woodpile beside it and a stack of recycled newspapers for starting. Ryan crouches down and sets to the task.
Megan notices Ryan and Adum busying themselves and withdraws a bit to snoop in the cabin she's only heard about. She wanders around the living room, looking at all the family photos of the Callahan's. Eryn is on every wall at different ages. Megan sighs, her heart aching for the Chief, and Jennifer, Eryn's mother, who are no longer married because of the stress of the tragedy. Megan also thinks of her sister who was so in love with Eryn Callahan for so many years, her life forever changed. She knows it all too well as her mother had been taken by a quake 4 years before. Making her way up the stairs she calls casually to the guys "I need to pee." and heads for the bathroom and a bit more exploring.
Adum checks the cabinets. "Yes! Popcorn!" he set it on the counter and looks for a large bowl. He hear Megan announce shes heading upstairs and calls from inside a bottom cabinet. "Don't let the dog on the bed!" and then he finds a bowl and brings it to the fireplace, to watch Ryan start a fire. "This place is nice." he looks around the place. "I'm feeling relaxed again."
Ryan sits back on the bench in front of the fire, now that it's alive and crackling "Yeah it's nice here. Thanks for inviting me." He looks upstairs in the direction Megan went, trying to assess if she's still in the bathroom because she's being very quiet up there. Lowering his voice he says "Listen, I'll come out for that bonfire, but if you...if and Megan...want time alone, just give me a signal. I'll bring my laptop and running stuff. I can be pretty self entertaining and out of the way...if that's....um helpful."
Megan had used the bathroom while the guys were rummaging and starting the fire. After emerging from it she tiptoes into Eryn's old room. It's an eerie sort of shrine to her where nothing was ever removed since her teenage years there. There were pictures of Tamela and Eryn around the end of high school era when the two got together and both came out. Megan had seen copies of most of them through her sister's collections too. And there were lots of pictures of the four friends who ran as a tight gang growing up; Eryn, Tamela, Anna and Stephanie. Megan looked wistfully at the pictures. She'd always envied her sister her steadfast lifelong friendships. Megan had never really had a group that lasted like that. She'd drifted through a few, some bad crowds. The closest thing to a best friend she'd ever had was Alison, until Alison broke it in the most unforgivable way possible. Megan had never trusted another female friend fully since. She trusted Adum, and even Ryan, but it was different from that bond between women where you know that person will always be a safe place to land. she shifted her weight picking up a photo frame and the floorboard gave a tiny creak.
Adum is staring into the fire when Ryan speaks. He looks at him and chuckles. "Thanks man." he replies. "But ... I don't know whats wrong with me. Didn't know how much I missed her around until I left Cedar Point. But ... it'snot like that. I mean I love her .. but ... I don't love her. If that makes sense. I can't be with her if I don't love her. Not Megan. She means way too much to me." he sighs deeply and prepares the popper. He glances up at a noise. "Nosy." he murmurs, although he would have looked around too ... may still before he left in the morning.
Ryan nods and then looks up after Adum "I get it. Should we bust her. or just let it happen?"
Megan puts the picture frame down and winces at the creak. She carefully avoids that floorboard and backs out of the room quietly. She silently crosses the hall, hearing the guys voices but not clear enough to know what they're talking about. Glancing surreptitiously down the stairs she then creeps into Chief Callahan's bedroom. It's a simple room with worn old furniture and a tall triple window with a glorious view of the forest. She glances at the bed, trying not to think too hard about Adum sleeping in it later and then notices Seamus, lying on the end of it looking delighted with himself, tail thumping. Megan stifles a giggle and tiptoes in to pet the dog "Shhh...I won't tell on you...." Seamus starts rolling over looking fro a belly rub and when she obliges he lets out a happy little yip.
Adum chuckles. "I should sent you, Light foot, but let me try. Maybe I can pat her down and my hormones will be happy and leave me alone." he gets up and moves carefully to and then up the stairs. Bathroom ... empty bedroom... panting dog sound he follows to ... find Megan. He leans in the door frame and whispers. "Busted. Both of you."
Ryan rolls his eyes and laughs and then mutters "Uh huh..." He watches the fire and pulls out his phone to amuse himself with social media while he enjoys the crackle and warmth.
Megan is half sitting, half side lying on the bed beside the dog, giving him a good hearty scratch. Seamus's tongue is hanging out and he's shaking his left back leg with a look on his face like he's just robbed a butcher. Megan looks back at Adum a bit guiltily but then says pleadingly "But look at him...he's so happy!"
Adum shakes his head at their guilty faces .... Well, Megan's guilty face. The dog is shameless. "I was happy too, when my Dad was gone and I had the house to myself. But I never invited you to roll around on the bed with me." he sighs and rubs his temple, trying to understand why his mouth keeps betraying him. He approaches the bed and pets the dog. "I'm going to tell your father." he tells it and sits beside Megan. "And you ...." he sighs. "What are you doing to me, Megan?" maybe she knows .. maybe she can tell him what to do about it.
Megan shifts her position away from the dog to face Adum and sit up a bit more. She laughs a bit and then the shyness creeps up on her unexpectedly again and she hunches her shoulders a bit, unable to look directly at him "I dunno how to answer that Adum...."
Adum looks at her and reaches for her face. "Honestly?" he suggests, cupping her face and fiddling with her hair. "I mean, I don't think you're doing anything .. intentional ... I mean ... my feelings have always been .... " he looks up at the ceiling, frustrated and growls at it.
Megan feels her heart quicken and forces herself to look at Adum's face, almost suspended in the moment. Her voice breaking a bit she quietly manages to get out "Always what?" She's worked so hard to shake this all off and now here it is smack in her face again. If he has an answer, she'll take it, good or bad.
Adum lowers his head and looks at her. "You've always been my friend." he begins. "I'd come to see my Dad and there you'd be. From the first weekend .. you and Ryan. But ... " he inhales deeply. "I mean ... after a while ... it was like .. I missed the train. It was just gone. We were friends. And I didn't want you thinking I was like ... those ass holes ..." he blows out a breath. What was he thinking even telling her how he felt when ie was fifteen ... or sixteen .. or any of the time since then.
Megan tenses up looking like she's in sudden and complete agony and then tries to catch her breath, fighting a burst of emotion she's been holding back for too many years. The dam just breaks and suddenly she can't stop crying. Hurt and anger well up in her and she blurts out bluntly "But you chose HER! You didn't miss the fucking train...I was fucking crazy about you. You just got on another train you dumb fuck!" It came out so fast and so out of control she claps her hands over her mouth after like she wished she could have contained it. Muffled though clear she repeats "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." crying hard again and closing her eyes.
Adum's jaw drops. She'd been crazy about HIM? But ... he ... she ... Was he really THAT blind? He reaches for the hands covering her mouth and tries to pull them away. "No. No, Megan. *I'M* sorry. She just .. came at me like ... a bat outta hell. And ... I was ... a dumb fuck." he sighs deeply. "I ... don't ... I mean .. I don't know what to say now...." he's at a loss.
Megan lets her hands be taken from her face, pulling one back to wipe at her eyes "No I'm sorry...I know she came onto you. She did it to hurt me. She knew how I felt about you and she decided to claim you just to prove she could. Then it looked like you really wanted to be with her...and I wanted you to be happy...even if I wasn't the one...."
Adum stares at her. Much is falling into place ... like why Alison ever wanted him in the first place. "I'm so sorry, Megan. I ... I didn't know ANY of this." he moves one of his hands to cup her face and wipe away any tears. "Will you go out with me?" he says the words and they seem a little stupid to his ears, like he is a stuttering fifteen year old boy. "You know ... dinner? Maybe a movie in Vancouver? A date?" he chides himself. It sounded like he didnt expect her to know what a date was and shed surely been on plenty ... but ... maybe not .. with her ... reputation ....
Megan is taken aback by the question and then can't help but start laughing through her tears "Yes Adum. I'll go out with you.....anywhere..." she giggles a bit more and pulls his body closer to hers by grabbing the front of his sweater. Her eyes dart between his lips and his eyes "Do you kiss before dates ever or is there a strict rule like the dog and the bed?"
Adum chuckles. "For you, I'll make an exception." and he leans in to kiss her if he can.
Megan smiles slightly and then lightly licks her lips before parting them and catching Adum's. Considering her reputation, her kiss is surprisingly timid at first, becoming lingering and tender as it grows. The more their lips connect, the more she feels this warm tingling feeling. It starts to make her feel almost dizzy and she wraps her arms around his neck and holds him tightly, one hand eventually working her way up the back of his neck as her fingers run through his hair.
Adum relishes the kiss and savors it for what it is; something hes wanted for over a decade. He allows her fingers to play in his hair and then he breaks the kiss and looks into her eyes. "Well do something after the bonfire, eh? Maybe someplace in Alexandra? Maybe even Vancouver? I don't know. We'll figger it out." he was glad he'd broken the kiss. It was ... almost overwhelming and already he wanted another one. Thirteen years worth of kisses.
Megan lets him break the kiss, meeting his gaze with intensity. She keeps two fingers lightly brushing through the back of his hair "We will. don't over think it. Just keep in touch and it'll be..."She breaks off not knowing how to describe what it will be because she never thought it would even be a possibility. She closes her eyes hoping she's not going to wake up from this as a dream and hugs him, burying her face in his shoulder.
No comments:
Post a Comment