Over An Espresso

AN:  I wrote this as an english assignment.

           Jade ran through the pouring rain, half dragging, half carrying her twin sister Sapphire.  She entered the apartment complex.  Jade jammed on the elevator call button; Sapphire couldn’t have handled the stairs.  She warily pulled her sister into the elevator.

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            Katy awoke to a knocking on her door; she looked to her alarm clock to see it was three a.m.  She quickly got out of bed and woke Abby, telling Abby to wake Johnny.  Katy was always ready for someone to come to the door in the middle of the night since her uncle, Sam Railex, and older brother, Cliff Sharp, were Feds.  Abby and John waited by the window while Katy unlocked the door throwing chains.  Jade knocked again—on Katy’s nose.  Katy’s hands flew up to cover the spot, thinking it a punch until she looked to Jade.

            “Jade…oh my god!  He hit you two again, didn’t he?” Katy asked immediately.  Jade nodded as Katy took Sapphire off her shoulder.  John came over, followed closely by Abby.  “Abby, make some of that herbal tea Darien sent us.  John, get some towels and blankets from the hall closet.”  This wasn’t the first time Jade and Sapphire had come to Katy after their stepfather, Martin Veske, had come home drunk and “released stress on them.”  They still refused to talk to the cops, which was hard for Katy to believe.  Maybe since she’d grown up around cops and such she thought they were the best answer and she put her faith in them.  Katy had to take control of the current problem her friends were bringing to her, not for the first time and certainly not for the last time in Katy’s already troubled life.

            “Thanks Katy,” Sapphire murmured.  Katy knew Jade was afraid of Martin and turning him in, but Sapphire didn’t have a reason.  Sapphire wasn’t afraid but there still was something Katy didn’t understand that kept her from telling.  Sapphire’s judgment left her thinking about it when she couldn’t sleep at night.  Martin’s abuse had been an ongoing threat for almost two years now.  Katy had grown up with Jade and Sapphire because they were twins, and Darien was her twin.

            “This has to stop,” Katy said firmly.  “You guys have to tell the cops, tell Cliff and Sam or anyone!  I know people who can help; this is illegal but I’m going to respect your wishes of ‘quiet’ because it isn’t my place to tell and you guys have to realize it on your own.  If I do it for you…it’s not the same.  I can’t really do anything if you don’t verify any claims I make to abuse anyways.”

            “We’ll be eighteen in four months.  We can move out then and never look back,” Jade replied softly. 

            “Will that be soon enough?” Abby asked from the “kitchen”; it was too messy to actually be considered a kitchen.  Katy never cooked anymore so what was the use.  She hadn’t cooked since…she pushed the thought from her mind; it had nothing to do with the matter at hand.

            “He could do this to someone else,” Katy added, trying to get her point of how it wasn’t just them in this across.  “He could remarry or even just do this to a girlfriend and because you had to keep quiet about abuse.”

            “We promised,” Jade whispered.  “Moms asked…we…should stay with him, family, we promised.”

            “Would she want this for you?” Abby asked.  Katy admired her little sister, she had such a way in life, such freedom and an optimistic way of looking at things that Katy envied.  John came back with the blankets and towels.  “Would she have made you promise if she’d known what that promise was?”

            “Abby, you’re getting smarter by the day,” Sapphire whispered.

            “No,” Jade murmured into the uncomfortable silence.

            “Then talk to the cops,” John cut in.  He felt a bit out of place in this conversation. He was headed for Hollywood and all with his acting career, and was going to have an easy life compared to the girls in this room.  “My sisters are smart people.  If they agree on something, which is rare, then I’d go with it without question.”

            “Easier said than done,” Sapphire whispered.

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            Sam Railex waited in the doctor’s office alone for the test results.  He was uncomfortable, and dreaded what the test would prove.  He knew it had been going too good lately.  He and Cliff had been doing first-class jobs on their recent cases, Katy had taken custody of her younger brother and sister and was working not for minimum wage, Darien got to go to Brazil and such, and he hadn’t been shot recently which was a huge bonus.  Getting shot hurt.  Then he’d gone in for a check-up when his boss had pressed the department’s annual physical at him. The doctors told him there might be something wrong with his only kidney.  Getting shot had cost him his other kidney.  The doc walked in with a grim look on his face.

            “Mr. Railex, I’m afraid the news we have is bad,” Dr. Jackson said.  “You do need a kidney transplant if you are to live.  Normally we don’t stress a lot over kidneys because there’s usually a donor available but in your case…you have a rare blood type and it’s hard to find donors with that blood type.  We’ll see what we can do but…Sam, I’m not going to lie to you.  We might not find one in time.  I suggest you spend time with your family while you can.”

            Sam simply nodded.  That’s why he’d come to Dr. Jackson, wasn’t it?  Jackson always told him the truth.  Now could he tell the truth to Katy?

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            “Matt, don’t you dare, don’t you dare!” Katy yelled at her best friend.  He had her face an inch from fountain water; his intentions were crystal. 

            “Why don’t I dare, Katy?” he asked lightly.  “You are sooooo coming to lunch with us and meeting Caleb Raymonds.”

            “No, I am not!” Katy jerked around and with one quick motion threw Matt in the fountain.  Will stood laughing a few feet away.  “Don’t mess with a black belt, Matt, I thought you’d learned that lesson.  I have important things to do today.”

            “The wet look is definitely you, man,” an unfamiliar voice said from behind her.  She spun, ready to throw the owner of the voice into the fountain, too.  It was a handsome blond guy with his hands casually in his pockets.  Where did handsome come from? she thought.

            “Private conversation going on here, thank you very much,” Katy snapped.

            “You’re welcome,” the blond replied.

            “Hey Caleb,” Will said to the “handsome blond”, composing himself.  “Katy and Matt were having an…argument. They’ll be done when Matt cries.”
            “No, as much as I’d like to make Matt cry, we’re done now,” Katy said.  She made her exit without saying anything else to them.

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            “Okay, Connor, four words…” Abby was saying to her newfound friend.  Jade and Sapphire were talking with Cliff, so she and John had free time.

            “Oh please, cut that out,” John chided.  “I have to—”

            “Blah, blah, blah, John shut up.  You’re only young once, go skate board with your pathetic excuses for friends or something and stop being so …Johnish,” Abby retorted with triumph.

            “Good to see you have a nice, healthy relationship with each other,” Connor said sarcastically. 

            “Not everyone gets along with their brother like you do, Raymonds,” John answered.  “Abby is a perfect specimen for study.”  Katy walked in, stopped, and looked around.

            “Where’s…” Katy asked and trailed off.

            “Talking to Cliff,” John replied.  Katy’s face brightened considerably.

            “Oh good,” Katy smiled.  “Who’s your boyfriend, Abster?”

            “He is not my boyfriend,” Abby said high and mightily.  “He’s my love slave.  Boyfriends are so out, love slaves are in.  Where have you been?”

            “I’m Connor, Connor Raymonds.  Nice to meet you,” Connor said. 

            “Ditto,” Katy said in response.  “If Matt or Will calls or anything, I shattered my knee again and the doctors decided it wasn’t worth it to fix it again so they just shot me like a race horse.”  She was referring to her hockey days when she’d been on the verge of going to a specialized high school because she was the best female player that the school had seen that year. Then a defender slammed her into the boards and her knee shattered.

            “What’d they do this time?” John asked stupidly.

            “ They tried to set me up with another all-looks-no-brains kind of guy,” Katy said irritated.   The buzzer on the door rang, or buzzed, seeing as it was a buzzer.

            “That’s probably my bro,” Connor said quickly.  He couldn’t wait to tell Caleb about how crazy Abby’s sister was…  Katy pulled open the door with a fake smile on her face, which quickly faded to a horrified look.  There stood the handsome blonde guy,  also known as Caleb.

            “What are you doing here?” they both said simultaneously.

            “I live here, Bucko,” Katy said sharply.  “And of course you knew that because Matt and Will sent you.  Don’t try to deny it, I know they sent you!”

            “They didn’t send,” Caleb said.  “I have got to have the wrong place…”

            “No, you got the right the one, Caleb,” Connor squeaked and peered around Katy.  “Is this that all-looks-and-no-brains guy you were telling your brother about?”  Katy narrowed her eyes at Caleb as she nodded.  “You’re wrong, Caleb doesn’t have the looks.”  Caleb narrowed his eyes at Connor.

            “Katy, can’t you be nice to a guy for once?” Abby asked in a tiny voice.  “Caleb is nice, if you just give him a chance.”

            “The squirt is meddlesome,” Caleb said.

            “Agreed,” Katy said.

            “There’s something,” Caleb said.  “ ‘Agreed’ is a good sign.”

            “If one can call it a sign.”  Katy turned and walked down the hall to her room.

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            “He wants us to testify against Martin in court,” Jade said to Katy.  “We can’t do that.”

            “He?  Didn’t you talk to Cliff and Sam?” Katy asked, getting off subject.

            “No, Sam wasn’t there, something wrong?” Sapphire replied.

            “He just said he’d be at work today is all,” Katy mused.  She felt like something was wrong, but she had nothing to justify the feeling.

            “Katy, did you hear what I said?” Jade asked, a bit angrily.  “Your brother wants us to testify against Martin.  He said the case won’t hold up unless the charges are warranted and for them to be warranted, we have to testify.”

            “Jade, we have to,” Sapphire urged her sister.

            “‘My brother is right.  It won’t hold up.  You might be able to get out of his custody but he could get off,” Katy said.  “Trust me, my godfather used to be a lawyer.  I know.”

            “See Jade?” Sapphire continued.  “Katy thinks we should and I agree.”  Katy let a small smile touch her lips, thinking of Caleb and agreeing, then let it fade.

            “We can’t!” Jade pouted indignantly.

            “Jade, it’s the right thing to do,” Sapphire said firmly and calmly.  “They need a decision soon, Jade come on.”  An uncomfortable silence settled in.

            “When are they gonna take Martin into custody?” Katy asked.

            “If, and when, we decide on what we want to do,” Sapphire responded, giving Jade the evil eye.  Katy considered this for a moment.

            “If you testify, Sapph, I can make this work.  Are you going to testify?” Katy asked pensively.

            “I guess so.  Even if Jade doesn’t, I guess I will,” Sapphire replied slowly.

            “SAPPHIRE!” Jade whined.

            “Jade.  Shut.  Up.” Katy said, losing her temper.  “That doesn’t help at all.  If you want to be a whiney coward who can’t make her own way in life then get out of this conversation, hell, get out of my apartment.  If you want to be Martin’s punching bag for the rest of your pathetic life, go home.  You wanted my help, you got it.”

            “That was harsh,” Sapphire stated, “but the truth.”  Silence once again engulfed them until Jade picked up the phone and told Cliff they’d testify.

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            They stood and watched as Cliff pushed Martin, handcuffed, into the cop car and shut door.  Sam leaned against his black Suburban.  Katy walked over, leaving Jade and Sapphire with Cliff.  Sam’s face was a mask of sadness.

            “Where were you all day?” Katy asked him.

            “Katy, I was at the doctor’s office,” Sam replied after a moment’s hesitation.  “All day.  He…said I needed a kidney transplant, or else…I’ve been meaning to tell you…  Peaches, don’t be mad, this is hard for me.”

            “That’s not funny, Sam,” Katy lost her composure and willed it to be a joke.

            “No, it’s not, it’s true,” Sam said.  “I’m on a priority list but…they don’t really think they’ll find a match unless I get a specific donor.”

            “A priority list?  The greatest cop in Chicago is on a priority list?” Katy stammered.  “Aren’t Johnny?  Or Cliff?  Aren’t they matches?”

            “No, they aren’t, there isn’t a match,” Sam almost whispered.  Katy felt the hot sting of tears in her eyes and, determined not to let him see her cry, she ran.

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            Katy’s duffel was packed.  She wasn’t staying, it was too painful.  Why was it always her getting the raw deal?  Now all that was left was the letter.  She pulled a piece of paper from a notebook and a pen from the cup on the counter, and sat down at the table:

Dear All,

            I don’t like doing this, so get that in your heads.  I can’t stay, it’s too hard to bear.  I just want to escape.  For once, I don’t want to have to worry anymore.  I’m not thinking suicide; I’m not stupid.  I’m just…I don’t know, maybe a road trip, maybe a cruise, maybe Europe, I’ve always wanted to hike across it after all.   I luv u guys.  Take care.  I know I will.

                        Katy

            Katy jumped as a knock on the door startled her.  She cursed and folded the letter, shoving it into her pocket.  She went to the door and jerked it open, threatening to pull it off its hinges.  It was the last person she expected to see: Caleb.

            “What do you want?” Katy demanded.  Caleb looked awkward for a second then got himself under control.

            “I, um, heard about what’s been going on in your life with your friends and your uncle from Matt,” Caleb said uneasily.  “Can we go and talk somewhere?  We need to.”

            “Why?” Katy snapped.

            “I’ll explain but can we go somewhere?  Over coffee or something?” Caleb said, trying to ignore the acid in her tone.

            “There’s a coffeehouse three blocks away.  You have five minutes upon arrival,” Katy said, not taking her piercing green eyes off of him.

            “Sold,” Caleb replied.

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            Katy ordered an espresso from the waitress.  Caleb said same but didn’t drink it, just sat stirring. 

            “Dude, you have four minutes left,” Katy glared at him angrily.

            “Come here often?” Caleb asked, glancing around.

            “Do you have a death wish?  What do you want!?” Katy growled.  “You’re wasting precious time.”

            “About your uncle—” Caleb started.

            “My business, mine, me leaving,” Katy said with venom.  She stood and he grabbed her arm, pulling her back down.

            “They found a donor, you ungrateful brat, now sit down and listen,” Caleb was tired of being nice to her and getting…this.

            “Let go, Caleb,” Katy demanded.

            “Sit down, Katy,” Caleb demanded equally back.  She sat and glanced at her watch.

            “Three minutes.  What does the donor have to do with you?”

            “I am the donor.”  Caleb locked eyes with her for a brief second.  “There.  Didn’t even take five minutes.”

            “Caleb, look, you have no idea, this doesn’t make things all better,” Katy replied.  “Sure, it helps, but there’s other things you have no idea about so just—”

            “Yeah, there’s other things.  I do have an idea though,” Caleb cut her off.  “I’ve come to the conclusion you could have handled this, you would have but on its own.  With every other thing eating at you, it’s easy to just blame it on one thing when really it’s something else.  I don’t have to care, you made that clear.  You don’t want me to care, you made that clear.  I want to care, I have no reason why.  I don’t understand it.  Maybe it’s the fact you’re so objective to closeness, or I’m insane, or there’s a challenge.  Whatever it is made me come talk to you.”

            “You are way out of line here,” Katy whispered forcefully.

            “Okay, I can live with that,” Caleb shot at her.  “Just, don’t leave.  I saw a duffel.  That’s how I know, so you don’t have to ask ‘how do you know’ or something.  Truth is, I like you, and I think you could like me if you gave me a chance.  And since sweet talking you is just a stupid idea, this is what you get.”

            “Are you done?” Katy asked.

            “I guess so,” Caleb said simply.

            “Thanks,” Katy said.  “I needed someone to yell at me for being a brat.  I was.”

            “Okay, I get it,” Caleb said.  “I just got myself a lawsuit.”

            “Men are such idiots,” Katy declared.  “I.  Was.  A.  Brat.  You wanted to know why because you didn’t buy my façade.  It’s a long story.”

            “I got time if you got time,” Caleb replied.

            “Good, you’re gonna need it,” Katy smiled and sipped her espresso.

END