"Have you heard anything yet?"
"No, Reina. I haven't heard anything since you asked me two minutes ago."
Since we've reached home, I've been nothing but a nervous wreck. I'm just waiting for someone to call Calvin's phone and tell him that he's fired.
"Stop worrying about me."
"I can't," I confess.
He smiles sympathetically at me before sitting on the sleeper bed beside me.
"Go to sleep. If anything is wrong, I'll find out tomorrow. Nothing we can do about it now."
He pulls him self off of the bed and strolls into his bedroom, seeming way too relaxed for someone who's probably about to lose their job.
"Wake me up if you get a call!" I shout.
"You have my word!" I hear him reply. That's what he told me before he went up and talked to all of those people. Still, I'd be lying to myself if I told myself that I didn't need him.
With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I realize that the only reason why he needed to talk in the first place is because I froze up in fear. I want to kick myself. Now, if anything happens to him, it's probably my fault.470Please respect copyright.PENANAs3k6O5UsZw
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"Reina."
"Huh?" I ask, flying out of my bed. I'm usually very grumpy in the morning, but due to our current predicament, I ride with no complaints.
"Did you get sacked?"
"No. Look at this," he says, passing me his phone.
At first I don't understand what's happening in the video, but when I look at the signs and the expressions on the people's faces, it clicks.
"Protests."
"In Columbus. Someone taped the community meeting. They've been happening all over wake, too."
"It's been less than twenty four hours," I say in amazement.
"It's not just that," he replies. "Someone posted the video on YouTube. It's had over four thousand views."
"Damn," I mutter. I had no idea that people would be this passionate.
"Brian Francis fled town."
"That doesn't look suspicious at all," I mumble, trying to keep a straight face, but I know that he notices my pain.
"Well, at least you don't have to see him again," he says in a reassuring voice, but I can hear the curiously. Letting out a deep sigh, I decide to tell him.
"I went to elementary and high school with him. He bullied me. My parents didn't believe me."
"That's why you don't visit them?" he asks timidly, trying not to pry. Briefly, I remember that he would have overheard my mother's complaints of me never visiting home.
"Well, it's hard to face the people who abandoned you when they were supposed to protect you. You see, they are friends with Brian's mother, and we're of the belief that such a good woman could never have a racist son.When Brian finally went public with his beliefs - and broke his parents' hearts - my parents finally believed me. They had to hear it from him to believe me, their daughter."
"Did they apologize?"
"Yes, but so much damage was already done, you know? I just don't know if I can forgive them."
"You should try. Don't give up on them; from what I saw, your parents love you very much."
"Well, I'll do what I've been doing; I'll keep trying."
"Can't really ask you to do any better than that, now can I?"
Something occurs to me.
"If Brian is gone, can I go back-"
"No."
"Why?" I growl in frustration.
"He didn't work alone. And, he could always come back."
"This is becoming absurd. I need to go home."
"Reina—"
"You're the same person who said that people needed to take risks to be brave. You need to let me do the same thing."
"Don't use my own words against me."
"Then say what you mean. Besides, I'll have my pepper spray," I tell him jokingly. He just scowls at me. "I'll install a security system, if you want. I'll get a stun gun, too."
"A stun gun and pepper spray versus a firearm. I wonder—"
"Please, Calvin," I beg. I wonder where my dignity has gone to, because I'm standing here, begging someone to let me go home, as if I'm a child.
"Fine."
"Yes!"
"But you have to install the security system and get the stun gun before you move back in."
"Yes, father," I reply, mocking him.
He rolls his eyes at me. "You know that it's only because I'm worried about you right?"
"I know. Thanks for caring, by the way." I lie back on the bed and stare at the ceiling, while he sits beside me. "Do you know that you're the only friend I have?"
"No way."
"Really!" I insist, sitting up again to look him in the face. "Brian destroyed my self esteem, and I became the biggest introvert to ever live. As I aged, I've become more confident. I'm not shy anymore, but I don't attempt to make friends. I guess I'm afraid of being victimised again."
"Well, I'm honored that you consider me a friend," he tells me with a smile, bumping my shoulder with his.
"Yes. Well... wait we are friends, right?" I ask, just to clarify. How embarrassing would it be if he didn't view me the same way?
"I believe so," he confirms.
"No one apart from my family has ever been as nice to me as you have. Hell, even they suck sometimes, as you know."
"Yes, well, I do try to be a good person," he tells me with a cheeky smile.
"You are, Calvin," I tell him honestly. "You're amazing."
He beams at me, as if I've just given him the greatest compliment ever, and I can't help but feel happy that I've made him happy.470Please respect copyright.PENANAkDmgU0HFZX
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It's been a few days since the community meeting, and to my surprise, Calvin is still working. I guess his Captain really does love him after all.
According to him, the protests and the spamming has been driving the department crazy. He told me that it won't be long before they break, which is good to hear. All I ever wanted was for them to do their job.
I've moved back into my house; as promised, I installed a security system, and got a stun gun. It's not that I disliked Calvin's house, or that I'm not great full; it's just that I wanted to feel independent again.
I got a new couch and new mattress, and I restored my piano. Almost broke me.
It's four thirty, and I'm in my room, painting my toenails a deep burgundy color, when my phone rings. I groan; I only had three more. Carefully, so that the toes don't smudge, I walk to the dresser, where the phone is.
"Hello?"
"Hey. I'm outside."
"What's wrong?" I ask with concern.
"Nothing, just— let me in, please?"
I'm already walking to the front door, before he even hangs up the phone.
"Calvin? What's up?" I ask him when I open the door to let him in, not bothering to turn on the light in the living room.
"Nothing bad," he says gleefully.
"Why didn't you call me on your way?"
"I found out while I was driving. Can't talk and drive, and I didn't want to pull over."
"Okay, so..." I begin, sitting on a new couch and gesturing for him to sit beside me. "What is this fantastic thing that you can barely keep to yourself?"
"They're reopening the investigation here, and the one in Columbus," he tells me with the zeal of a small child speaking about their favourite ice cream flavor.
"You're joking," I whisper. For some reason, I can't believe that this is happening. Maybe it's just too good to be true. Either way, I never expected them to repent the investigation, pressure or not.
"No, I'm not. And guess what?" he asks, actually stopping to give me a chance to guess.
"What?"
"They want us to help with the cases, since we've been doing it on our own, anyway."
No way on Earth is this actually happening. I would have expected any other reason under the sun than this one.
"Why are they doing this?" For them to do this so quickly with no fight, no resistance, no press conference — nothing — there must be an ulterior motive.
"I dunno. Maybe it's to change people's views of them; the world is against them right now. Either way, it gives us a chance to make a difference."
In all honesty, that is what I'm after: making a difference. I'm not looking for fame or glory; I'm seeking justice. So with a face full of assurance, I nod my head slowly, once more pledging my commitment to this cause.
"So were in this together?" he asks rhetorically with a smile. "I'm beginning to think that this is a lifetime commitment."
"It probably it," I admit, "but if it means that I can make the world a better place, then it's completely worth it." As his blue eyes bore into mine, I know that he feels the same way.
"I couldn't agree more," he says with a smile, as we share this moment of victory with each other on my tiny, new couch in my dimly lit living room. But the place doesn't matter. It's the feeling of victory that counts, and it has never felt better.
Then again, I've never had someone to share it with me.470Please respect copyright.PENANAiIKQl7Mig5
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