Maryland State Trooper #1153
The Test Trial Uber
by Red Hope
Chapter 2
Corporal Ashley Carver stepped out of her car after she parked it in the garage. She shut the door and briefly scanned her driveway and yard through the open garage door. She strolled out of the garage and went down to her mailbox. She pulled out her mail and thumbed through it while she walked back to the garage. She stopped in front of her car's trunk, and she furrowed her eyebrows at the hand addressed card in her pile of bills and junk mail. She extracted the seal card, plopped the rest of the mail on the car's trunk, and flipped the card over.
Ashley was stunned to see the return address was Katia Danforth. She considered how Katia had gotten her mailing address, but when she gazed back out her garage she noted the clear address number on her mailbox. Ashley shook her head, smiled, and opened up the card.
The card was silver and in the center were the striking letters 'Thank You', but inside was a more whimsical handwriting. Ashley noted how Katia's handwriting was more like a mix of cursive and print plus it was quite small like Katia. Ashley focused on the lengthy note that her friend had written her.
Ashley,
I know this may seem silly, but I wanted to thank you for all you did this past weekend. Not only did you stop a crime while being off duty, but you made a difference in my life. All in a day for a trooper, right? I personally don't think so, and it has meant a lot to me what you've done. I hope some day I'll have a chance to repay you.
And do you think that guy is still running through the cornfield thinking you're coming after him? Now that I look back on it, I can start to laugh. But remember, you found this friend between the cornfields! Please keep in touch, and I still owe you back the cd. Although I think you planned it that way. Thank you again.
Love,
Katia
The trooper lowered the card and softly smiled at Katia's sentiment. She really hadn't expected the gesture, and it truly warmed her. She carefully slid the card back into the envelope, then she decided to fish out her cell phone. She flipped it open, entered her contact list, and drew up Katia's name. She hit the send button and lifted the phone to her ear. Within a few rings, she was greeted by Katia's voice.
"Hey, Ashley."
"Hey," Ashley replied. She faintly picked out the sounds of other people chatting in the background. "Are you busy?"
Katia had sat at her desk, and she glared at her rowdy friends in the room. "No, I'm not busy." She then noticed how her friends instantly went silent. She inwardly sighed because she knew they just wanted to hear her talk to Ashley. "How are things?"
"They're well... quite busy," the trooper admitted. She leaned against her car's trunk then scanned the inside of her double garage. In the other car park, she had mountains of boxes for her pending move to a new home. Today had actually been her last day of work at the barrack until her new job would start next week. "How's college?"
Katia stretched out her legs under the desk, but she was selective in her words because of her friends in the room. "I'm getting into the swing of things."
"I'm glad." Ashley already suspected that Katia wanted to say more but wouldn't because of whoever had been noisy in the backdrop earlier. It would just have to wait until a more private moment. "I received your card today. Thank you, Katia."
The college student slightly straightened up, yet she didn't want her friends hearing everything. "Well like it said I appreciate it a lot."
"Yea I bet!" Sara hooted from her seated spot in Erin's desk chair.
Ashley actually heard the comment over the phone. She wasn't sure she exactly wanted to know what that comment meant.
"Sorry about that," Katia apologized. She sent a dark glare at Sara then went back to her phone conversation. "That's one of my charming friends."
"I can tell," Ashley joked.
Katia chuckled, but she switched topics quickly. "How's work been?"
The trooper bobbed her head then replied, "It's been busy... the usual too."
"Get shot at lately?"
Ashley actually laughed. "Not lately, no. Just handing out plenty of speeding tickets."
"I feel deeply for those innocent people," Katia teased.
The trooper rolled her eyes, but she had a grin. "My radar gun didn't see it that way." She listened to Katia's low laugh. She then changed topics. "Classes are going well?"
"For the most part," Katia replied. "I'm taking an accounting class that's been hard. Math is just never my strongest suit."
Ashley shifted against the hard trunk. She considered the class, and she tilted her head. "You like English but you're taking an accounting class?"
"I know it sounds strange, but right now my undeclared major is business management." Katia stretched out her legs under the desk. She continued to ignore her friends in the room, who were intently listening except for Erin. "My father wants me in the major."
Ashley sympathized with her friend. She understood how that felt, but she decided they could talk about it later. She needed to stay busy with getting her house packed. She then thought of an idea, but she hesitated. She decided to give it a shot and started to ask, "What are-
"What are you..." Katia had started with the same words as Ashley. She lost her words like Ashley and started to giggle. "I'm sorry." She cleared her throat and insisted, "What were you going to ask?"
Ashley lowered her head and stared down at her black boots. She scuffed the rear sole against the concrete in her garage. "I wanted to see if you'd like to meet in Baltimore for an afternoon." She felt somewhat idiotic because here she was a grown woman that was dating somebody. Yet now she felt like a single teenager asking another high school kid out on a date. "I was thinking maybe on Saturday... if you have time."
Katia straightened up, which she noticed redirected Sara's attention away from the television to her now. "Yeah definitely. That would be fun." She couldn't believe her luck. She was going to ask Ashley if she was free this weekend. She hadn't expected it to be turned on her, but she was warmed by it. "What day?"
"Saturday afternoon?" Ashley prompted. "I have to go to Lancaster Friday night to visit a friend. Then I'll be back Saturday morning or so." She straightened up from the trunk. Now it was clear to her that she was excited by the prospect of seeing Katia on Saturday. "What you say?"
"I'd love to."
"Can you meet me in Baltimore? Near the harbor."
Katia blinked, yet she hastily replied, "Yeah." She then saw the looks coming from Sara and Mike.
Sara had actually gotten up from her spot and sat beside Mike. She and Mike simultaneously stared at Katia and leaned towards her.
"Can I give you a call later, Ashley?" Katia waited for a positive response. She then thanked Ashely and ended the call only after they agreed to see each other on Saturday. She closed her phone and glared at her two friends. "What?"
Sara smirked and nudged Mike to say it.
Mike chuckled deeply, stood up, and went to the door. "I'm going to the bathroom." He sashayed out and had the same smirk like Sara.
"What?" Katia repeated at Sara.
Erin was laying back on her bed. She turned her head to her roommate and mentioned, "You have a date, that's what."
"It's not a date," Katia darkly stated.
Sara snickered and twisted her head to Erin. "Katia has a date with another girl. Isn't that cute?"
Katia sighed, rolled her eyes, and slumped into her chair. She brushed back her long, blond strands and mulled over Sara's words. Maybe it was a date? So what did it matter anyway. There were plenty of straight girls that went out on dates together.
Mike returned to the door that he'd left slightly ajar so he wouldn't be locked out by the automatic lock. He shut the door all the way and sat in Erin's desk chair. "So where's the date?"
"It's not a date," Katia snapped at Mike. She groused at Mike's smug look, but she answered the question anyway. "We're going to meet at the Inner Harbor."
"Wait, wait," Sara cut in like always. "You're going to drive," she emphasized, "in Baltimore?"
Katia mentally repeated Sara's question then it dawned on her, and she blanched. "Oh god." She felt her palms already coated with sweat. "Maybe I can meet her outside of the city."
Erin chuckled from her spot on the bed. "You'll be fine, Katia. You can drive in the city."
"Besides," Sara cut in again, "it wouldn't look too cool to tell Ashley you can't drive in cities."
Katia slotted her eyes at Sara. She could almost kick Sara in the shin for some remarks. "I'm glad not all lesbians are like you."
Sara couldn't help it, but she tilted her head and tormented, "Yeah. You're nothing like me."
It took about three seconds for Katia to catch onto the joke. She tossed her phone onto the desk then jumped to her feet. "Sara," she snarled and lunged for her friend.
Sara screamed when impact came, and she fell back into the bed. She had no problem getting the upper hand by tickling her friend into a fit of giggles.
Katia squealed and laughed, then she broke away. She flopped onto her back and sighed deeply. "I really hate you some times."
Sara was on her back and chuckled. She folded her hands over her stomach and mentioned, "But you love me more."
"Oh get over yourself," Katia chided. She turned her head to the left and stared at Erin and Mike. "Anybody else hungry?"
Erin picked up the television remote from her thigh and patted it once. She then questioned, "Quiznos?"
"No," Mike replied. "I think we should do Mexican."
"Beef burrito!" Sara chimed into the discussion.
Mike rolled his eyes at the comment.
"Chickfila," Katia voted.
Erin turned off the television. "Chickfila if you're driving, Katia."
Katia had no problem with that arrangement since it was her favorite restaurant. She popped up onto feet off the bed and picked up her cell phone from the desk.
"The only other time I see her get up that fast is when Ashley calls," Sara joked. She then squealed when Katia smacked her leg quite hard.
"Get up." Katia smacked Sara's leg again but much more lightly.
The friends shuffled out of the room, down the cluster hallway, and into the main hallway. They went to the stairs and wound down them until they were out of the dorm. Katia did indeed drive them to the restaurant, and they had a chatty time at the restaurant for a couple of hours. Katia recalled one of the reasons why she'd come back to college, and it was because of her good friends. She hated looking in the mirror everyday, but that feeling always eased when she saw her friends.
The day Ashley had called was Wednesday and the rest of the week slowly moved for Katia. Katia had classes all day Tuesdays and Thursdays then there was one lab class for Wednesdays. She kept fairly busy with her mixture of classes, but she mostly liked them. The accounting class was her hardest subject next to her science class, but she enjoyed the science class. It was also the science class that she shared with her roommate so they were always together.
Finally when Saturday did arrive, Katia was tired from not sleeping yet so excited to see Ashley. She could barely keep her wide smile from her face. She knew Erin noticed, but luckily Erin kept the slew of comments silent. Katia had talked to Ashley on Friday afternoon, and they'd planned to meet at the Inner Harbor around one o'clock so they could get a late lunch. Ashley had told Katia that she was in charge of picking out their lunch spot.
Katia was getting ready by ten, and she'd found last night that'd take her two and half hours to make it to Baltimore. She needed to leave by ten-thirty then. She quickly prepared after getting a shower and cleaned up. She had to admit that she did feel like she was getting ready for a date, but she brushed it aside. Katia was soon ready and only had to get her purse, phone, and dorm key.
Erin strolled into the room after having breakfast. She smiled at her roommate, who was about to leave. She'd caught Katia's excitement since last night, but now she noticed Katia was nervous too. She rarely saw Katia fumble for her cell phone or key card. "Be careful driving there, Katia." She closed the room door and approached her friend.
Katia wiggled the cell phone into her front jean pocket. She picked up her key card, which was attached to a lanyard. "I gotta fill up my car too." It just dawned on her.
"Don't rush over there," Erin insisted. "The traffic could be bad. You're better off being late than dead."
"Thanks, mom." Katia chuckled at Erin's look. She pulled her purse's strap across her chest. She rarely used her purse unless she was going out like this. She just didn't want to be paranoid about whether she was being pick pocketed by some stranger. "I better go, Erin."
Erin stepped into her roommate's path. She grinned, hugged Katia, and whispered, "Have a good time."
Katia smiled at the sentiment. She appreciated the fact that Erin rarely picked on her like Mike or Sara, but she was use to it from that pair. She pulled back from the hug and asked, "What you doing today?"
"I think Sara and I are going to do something." Erin shrugged. "You better go."
Katia hurried to the door but added, "I'll see you tonight." She quickly left and closed the door.
Erin smirked at the closed door and muttered, "If I do see you tonight, I'll be surprised."
Katia ran down the hallway and practically jumped down the steps. She raced through the lobby, came outside, and hurried over to the champagne colored Mercedes-Benz. She unlocked the car with the old style key and climbed into the clean car. Her car started right away and purred happily. Soon enough, Katia was bounding down the Salisbury roads like any college student. She'd fueled up quickly at the Wawa on Route 13, then she was really on her way.
The traffic wasn't that bad because everybody was driving eastbound to go to the beach. The eastbound traffic was usually much thicker during the summer time, but after Labor Day it started to tapper off. The drive was surely long and the drive across the Bay Bridge was somewhat slow. Once across it, Katia was able to open back up to seventy miles per hour, and she breezed past Annapolis. Finally once she made it to Route I-97, she was able to go almost eighty on the speedy highway that would connect her with I-695.
Katia was somewhat nervous during the drive, yet as Baltimore approached her, she became paranoid. She hated to drive in cities. She always felt she'd lose her way in a city. She'd been in Baltimore numerous times but always as a passenger or just walking around by foot. She knew the city well thanks to her high school days.
When she came off the I-95 exit and came into the city, she was suddenly breathing hard. She turned down her music and told herself aloud, "You can do this, Katia. You know this city, you read the directions last night, and you have a set here in the car." She drove on Place Street then made a turn onto East Pratt Street, which was packed like always.
Katia hit her brakes hard at seeing the traffic. She sighed that she'd stopped in time. She traveled past the harbor but didn't look that way unless she wanted to lose focus. She made a left onto South Gay Street, which made her chuckle because Sara had suggested this route. She then made another left but onto Lombard and searched for the first parking facility, which promptly popped up on her the left corner at the end of a block. She pulled in and grabbed a ticket.
"Not so bad," the college student muttered. She buzzed through the parking garage and found a spot around the fourth floor. She got out and tucked the ticket into her sunvisor for later. Katia gathered her purse and cell phone from the passenger seat. Just after she locked her car, her cell phone rang at her.
Katia fished out her phone and saw Ashley's name on the front display. She flipped it open and warmly greeted, "Dominos."
Ashley laughed and teased back, "Oh wrong number. My mistake."
"Ashley." Katia laughed and started her walk to get out of the parking garage. "I just parked so I'm headed down to the harbor. Where are you?"
"Oooh I'm just standing around here... waiting for my company to get here." Ashley scanned the Inner Harbor and watched the people, boats, and smelled the breeze. "So what's for lunch?"
Katia had a wide grin and stepped into the elevator. "Isn't there a Cheesecake Factory there?"
Ashley pucked her lips then lifted her left hand. Already wrapped in her hand was a restaurant buzzer, and it had the Cheesecake Factory logo stuck to it. "I think so." She kept her secret though until Katia would show. "Is that where you want to go?"
"I think so," Katia agreed. "It's been a long time since I've been." She strolled out of the elevator. "I'll see you in a bit."
"Alright," Ashley replied. "Bye."
"Bye, Ashley." Katia hung up the phone. If she thought she'd been nervous about driving in the city, it suddenly did not compare to how she felt about seeing Ashley in a few minutes. She'd never experienced jello legs until today on her walk to the Inner Harbor. She had to clear her head during her walk because it couldn't be that serious anyway. Why was she making such a big deal of this? She concluded that Sara and Mike were getting to her anymore.
Ashley stood at the entrance of the small shopping strip that had mostly restaurants. She'd been on the harbor side earlier but now crossed over so she could spot Katia in advance. She patiently waited by the entrance and kept scanning the people's faces. She then finally saw the one face she'd been wanting to see for several days. She smiled and retrieved her cell phone.
Katia was coming across the crosswalk when Ashley buzzed her. She pulled out her cell phone and answered it. "Papa Johns."
"Yes, can I get a large pizza with..."
"Ashley," Katia chided and laughed.
Ashley watched Katia in the mix of people, but to Ashley it was easy to pick out the fair haired blond despite her small stature. "I like your navy blue jacket. Who makes it?"
Katia narrowed her eyes and scanned her neighboring area, but she didn't see the tall trooper. "Brooks Brothers." She kept looking for her friend.
Ashley noticed the motions, and she grinned wildly. "Oooh yes, Brooks Brothers," she teased in a snobbish tone. She listened to Katia's low laugh, but she went more serious. "Make a left now and come down this way. I'm down by the highway entrance."
Katia turned before she entered the harbor. She came along the building and wiggled past people. She then finally spotted the tall, dark trooper that she'd missed. "I see you now." She watched Ashley grin even from here. "Bye." She hung up and casually approached her friend.
Ashley tilted her head and smiled warmly. "Hi."
Katia mirrored back the smile. "Hey." She felt awkward and her anxiety was suddenly multiplied by ten.
Ashley stepped closer and opened her arms for a hug.
Katia met her friend for the hug, and she felt her nerves become cut in half. She had a long hug that made her feel better. She then pushed back her bangs and asked, "Were you waiting long?"
"Not too long," Ashley replied. She wouldn't confess that she'd been there for at least forty minutes. She'd come early just so she could get seating in the restaurant. She knew the place was always packed on weekends for lunches and especially at dinner. She'd taken a wild guess that Katia would want to go to it.
"We better put our names in," Katia mentioned. "There's always a wait... if I can wait long." She was about to start for the door then she heard a vibrating sound from Ashley's hand. Then the bright flashing color grabbed her attention at the item Ashley held.
Ashley lifted the vibrating, litup buzzer and declared, "Our table is ready."
Katia dropped her jaw and stared in disbelief.
The trooper had a wicked smile, turned, and casually started for the door. "Come on before somebody else gets it."
Katia broke from her stupefied moment, and she hurried after her friend, who had a wide gate. She tried to comprehend how Ashley managed the trick because these restaurants were always packed on weekends. She didn't have long to think when Ashley's voice broke her concentration.
"How was the drive?"
The college student had fumbled through her response. "It was... I had... well it wasn't that bad." She mentally groaned and dipped her head just as they went into the Cheesecake Factory.
Ashley decided to ask later what the problem or problems had been. She handed over the buzzer then followed the hostess to their booth table.
Katia removed her navy blue jacket, which was tailored neatly to her body's frame. She set it aside and placed her purse on top. She then got comfortable and opened the menu.
The trooper briefly took in Katia's white blouse that had three-quarter sleeves. She decided it was a classic white that perfectly fit to Katia's petite shape. She then discovered that her higher position and Katia's shorter stature gave Ashley the perfect view of cleavage.
Ashley mentally groaned, slightly shook her head, and focused on her menu. She mentally pinched herself and thought of her girlfriend up in Pennsylvania. Yes, all the way up in Lancaster where she'd decided to move not so long ago and sprung on Ashley.
"I have to admit," Katia started, "the one thing I don't like is how there's sooo much on the menu." She peered up and found inquisitive blue eyes on her. "I can never decide. I like almost everything on here."
The state trooper softly laughed and returned her attention to the menu. "Will it be bad with the cheesecake later?"
"Worse," Katia joked.
Ashley chuckled but kept her head down. She was debating between the grilled skirt steak and the hibachi steak. She grumbled with herself. She finally made her choice just as the server arrived.
"Welcome to the Cheesecake Factory, ladies. I'm Lindsey, and I'll be your server. What can I get you to drink?"
Ashley signaled for friend to go first.
Katia already peered up after she'd flipped to the back of the menu. "Can I get the raspberry lemonade?"
Lindsey wrote down the order then glanced over at the older woman. "For you?"
Ashley dared herself and replied, "Tropical tea."
Lindsey chuckled and scratched it down. "It's quite nice," she promised. "Any appetizer to share?"
Katia peered over her menu and waited for Ashley's choice.
Ashley bit her lower lip, scanned over the appetizers once, and met Katie's curious gaze. "Pot stickers?"
Katia chuckled and nodded.
The server took that as a yes and jotted it down. "I'll be back shortly to get your entree order." She then disappeared into the crowd of people around her.
Katia made her choice for her main dish. She closed up her menu and inquired, "How was your friend?"
Ashley took a second to recall that she hadn't explained to Katia that her 'friend' was actually her girlfriend. She wasn't quite sure how ready she was to have that conversation either. She closed up her menu and rested back in the booth seat. "Laurel was doing well."
"Y'all must be close," Katia openly observed. "Lancaster is a long drive."
"It is." Ashley fully agreed, and once she moved it would be an even longer drive. She put that to the back of her mind though. "Did you have problems driving here?"
"No," Katia insisted. "It's just been awhile since I've been in this area is all." She wasn't about to admit that she had a phobia about driving in and out of cities. "My friend, Sara, also helped me out by telling me the best place to park."
"Good." Ashley gazed up just when the server returned. She received her drink then she and Katia were asked for their entrees.
Katia quickly filled her order for the miso salmon. She grinned at the fact that Ashley got the hibachi steak. She waited until the waitress left, and she asked, "So how long were you really waiting, Ashley?"
The state trooper gradually inclined her right eyebrow into a perfect arc. Those fulls lips slightly thinned, but she refused to reveal her secret. "I wasn't waiting long for you."
Katia slotted her eyes because she sensed a game at those very specific words. She leaned against the table and challenged, "How long were you waiting for the table?"
Ashley felt her throat slightly dry now that Katia gave the best view of her cleavage. Ashley desperately had to keep her eye level above Katia's neck and not drift down. This was ridiculous in Ashley's opinion, especially because after she'd had sex with Laurel last night. She just had to be having an overactive moment so she mentally chastised herself.
"Ashley?" Katia prompted when she realized she'd lost her friend.
The trooper came to the present and finally replied, "Does it matter?"
"Don't answer a question with a question," Katia argued. "Tell me."
Ashley sighed, yet a faint grin pulled at the corners of her lips. "Long enough that it was worth it."
Katia sighed because she wasn't going to get an answer. She slumped back in her seat and shook her head. "Thank you for waiting." She felt bad on one side of the coin, but the gesture also warmed her. She couldn't guess why Ashley had done it. Then another thought occurred to her, and she inquired, "How'd you know I'd want to eat here?"
The trooper touched her glass of tea, but replied first, "I didn't." She picked up the glass and drank from it.
Katia grinned and broke her focus on Ashley when the server returned with their appetizer. She realized just how hungry she was because she hadn't eaten breakfast. She'd been too nervous to really get anything down but some fruit at the cafeteria.
The friends split the appetizer just as they'd done at the Outback. They also chatted away about any topic that came to mind. Katia quickly eased from her nervousness that she'd felt earlier. She'd been shaking her right leg under the table but unknowingly stopped by the time they were done with the appetizer.
When the entree arrived, Katia started quizzing her friend about her career as a state trooper. She was so curious to learn how Ashley had taken the career and why. She first started the topic with something easy that didn't seem too intrusive.
"So out of curiosity, what's your badge number?"
Ashley had picked up her steak knife, but she paused and raised an eyebrow again. She did answer though. "Eleven fifty-three."
Katia tilted her head then mentally pictured the numbers in her head. She then whispered, "One one five three." She bobbed her head and reached across for her fork. "How long have you been a trooper?"
"I've been a trooper for five years," Ashley replied. She could tell her friend was curious about her officer background, and she didn't mind at all discussing it. She was a proud trooper, and she'd worked hard to achieve her rank and title. "Before that I was in the army for two years."
"In the army?" Katia was surprised yet it also made sense. She knew many troopers were either in or had been in the service. "You didn't like the army?"
Ashley was busy cutting her steak, but she answered the question. "I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it so that's why I finished my two years and joined the academy."
The college student slightly smiled. "How long were you in the police academy for?"
"It takes twenty-five weeks," Ashly replied, "and you live on campus between Monday and Friday."
"So you couldn't go out during the weeks?" Katia clarified.
Ashley merely nodded then quietly ate some of her food. She could tell Katia was processing the information carefully. Ashley had faint grin at her friend's curious nature about her trooper history. She understood it because it was what drove her to become a trooper.
Katia mulled it over a bit longer while she ate. She then posed yet another question. "How long have you been a corporal?"
The trooper hastily did the math in her head then replied, "It'll be a year this November."
Katia smiled at the news. She then decided to switch topics. "Where are you from originally?"
Ashley chuckled at all the questions coming at her. She knew Katia was trying to get to know her, and it was rare anybody asked her much about her life. "I was originally born in Harbeson, Delaware."
"Oh I'm sorry," Katia taunted.
The trooper stopped eating her meal and slotted her eyes at the smug college student. "What's wrong with Harbeson?"
"Oh nothing... it's the Delaware part," Katia further teased. "And isn't Harbeson by Rehoboth Beach?" She reflected on her mental map.
"It's on the bayside," the trooper confirmed.
"Mmmm." Katia bobbed her head and muttered, "Slower lower."
Ashley easily heard the smart comment and set her knife down on the edge of the plate. "Do you have problem with people from slower lower Delaware?"
Katia had wide eyes, but she caught the gleam in her friend's eyes. She realized just exactly how blue Ashley's eyes could be according to her mood. "No, I have lots of Delamoron friends... I mean Delaware friends."
The trooper mocked her offense and curtly stated, "You must have statism."
Katia crinkled up her nose at the made up word, but it was true. She always pretended to have a preference for her state over the rest of them. She softly chuckled.
"I was raised in Galena, Maryland for most of my life," Ashley informed. "I'm more of a Marylander than anything."
Katia sadly sighed, shook her head, and wistfully informed, "You're just a transplant, Ashley. I'm sorry." She gave a very sympathetic look to her friend.
Ashley dramatically rolled her eyes and went back to her meal.
Katia enjoyed the fact she could torment her friend, yet she wondered if it'd get turned on her later. She had a sneaky suspicion that Ashley was the type to get even later. She'd just have to wait and see. "So what are your brothers like?"
Ashley set down her glass of tea after getting a drink. "My oldest brother, Thomas, lives near my mother. He's married and has two children." She then considered her young brother, who she was closer too compared to Thomas. "My younger brother, Lucus, he's about your age. He's in college too."
The college student had perked interests and asked, "What college?"
"UMD... College Park," Ashley answered. "He's majoring in criminology."
Katia chuckled and teased, "He's taking after his big sister."
Ashley shrugged then argued, "He'll do something completely different though. He's a bit of a techie guy so I think he'd like to get into CSI work."
"Really?" Katia tilted her head and considered the information. "It is pretty interesting."
The trooper faintly raised an eyebrow at Katia's distant look. She wondered if that was because of her brother, his major, or a little of both. She decided she'd rather not know so she mentioned, "He has another year then we'll see what happens."
Lindsey arrived and inquired how were the meals. She found everything was in good order so she left them to finish up.
Katia thought of what she knew about Ashley. She found it all quite intriguing, but she had to admit she still felt like she didn't have all the pieces. She could sense it, and she didn't know what she was missing. She set the feeling aside and decided to keep probing as much as she was allowed.
"Why didn't you go to college, Ashley?"
The trooper had finished off her meal and slightly pushed her plate aside. She set her fork and knife down carefully on the plate then rested back in her seat. She observed that her friend was almost finished. She considered how much to tell her friend about what'd happened in her younger days. She concluded the glazed version would be sufficient.
"After high school, I just wanted to travel... seem some of the world." Ashley laced her hands over her full belly. "So I went to Europe for awhile. I really enjoyed it, and I wanted to keep traveling. My parents though weren't too keen on the idea, and I had to go home. I'd been accepted to go to UMD right after high school, but I'd differed for a year."
"What happened?"
Ashley stretched out her legs, but carefully so she wouldn't hit Katia's legs. "Once I got home, my parents and I fought about what I should do with my future. I wouldn't give in and nor would they at all. I really didn't have any money, but I wanted to travel."
Then it dawned on Katia what'd probably happened next. "So you joined the army?"
"Mmmhmmm." Ashley chuckled and shook her head. "It was the cheapest way I could think of traveling. Nor would I be dependent on my parents for financial support." Ashley had kept it to the simplified version.
Ashley didn't reveal that half the reason she wanted to return to Europe was because of a young woman she'd fallen for, who lived in Spain. Ashley also didn't tell how furious her father had been once he'd learned the reason why Ashley truly wanted to go back to Spain. Her hidden secret since high school had turned her family upside down, but she'd been honest at the time. Since then it'd been a daily struggle for her and her family members, yet the intensity varied between each member. Today her mother was second best at accepting it behind Lucus. Lucus was the only member that was proud of Ashley for coming out to the family, and he swore he'd known since the start about Ashely's gay tendencies.
"You think you'll ever go to college?" Katia carefully tried.
"Maybe some day," Ashley wistfully replied.
Katia felt her chest tightened at the sad tone. She could tell that Ashley probably expected never to make it to college, and she would always be locked to her trooper career. Katia felt deeply for Ashely despite she knew Ashely enjoyed her duty as a trooper. It was the simple fact that Ashley's options were now limited and chances were slimming over time.
Ashley twisted her head when the waitress came with the bill and to clear the plates. She was full, and she knew Katia was too. She made a mental note to come back and pick up cheesecakes after they were done with their fun in the harbor.
Katia patted her full stomach and mumbled, "I feel like a fat lard ball."
Ashley had the checkbook open, and she peered up from it. She smirked and teased, "That was so Marylander."
The college student laughed and nodded. "Yes it was... thank you." She patted her stomach once more and felt that lard ball in her stomach. "It'll be time for Maryland beaten biscuits soon. I have an aunt that makes them homemade every Thanksgiving and Christmas."
Ashley fished out her wallet from her back pocket. "I bet those are good."
Katia hummed happily. "Oh yeah." She then recalled the bill so she picked up her purse. "How much was mine?"
"I forget," Ashley answered.
Katia stopped fumbling for the wallet and glared. "Ashley."
"Don't worry about it. You drove here... and I work full-time."
Katia grumbled and fought again. "Come on, Ashley. How much?" She decided to reach across, but the black book darted away from her. "Damn it, Ashely. Come on."
The trooper slipped in her debit card, closed it, and set it on the table. She kept her arm on it just so Katia wouldn't try any move.
Katia had a glare, and she shook her head. "You know, I do plan to get even."
Ashley slowly shaped a sexy smile and taunted, "Oh I can't wait to see."
Katia's breath was hitched by the rich blue shade that shined from Ashley's eyes. She was convinced they reminded her of an October day when the trees had turned, the air was brisk, and the there weren't any clouds. She blinked away her stare and replied, "You will. Promise."
"Promises, promises," the trooper muttered, and she picked up the checkbook and handed off to the server when she came. She turned back to her friend. "So how about the aquarium then the IMAX?"
"You know how much those damn tickets are to the aquarium now?"
"Cheaper than a tank of gas," Ashley joked.
"Barely," Katia chided.
Ashley tapped her left foot against Katia's left leg. "Be a sport. Come on."
Katia slowly grinned because she couldn't have said no anyway. "Alright." She held up her hands. "Let's go fund the dolphins." She listened to Ashley's low laugh, and she put her hands down. "I haven't been there since high school. They've done a lot of construction."
"Mmm, yeah." Ashley retrieved the check and thanked the waitress. She then quickly dealt with the bill.
"How much is the tip?" Katia tempted.
"Nothing," Ashley replied. She'd already done the tip, added her math, and put the total down. She jotted down the total on her copy and put everything in its proper place. She then closed up the book and asked, "Ready?" She grinned at Katia's annoyed look, and she barely resisted from laughing. She slipped out of the booth seat then saw how Katia kept glaring at her and wouldn't move. She quickly taunted, "Come on, cornfield."
Katia sighed loudly, picked up her purse and jacket, and climbed out of her seat. She put on her light jacket first then put her purse across her chest. "That's between," she emphasized, "the cornfields."
"Yeah, yeah." Ashley strolled off, but she sensed her friend right on her heels. She was glad to get out of busy restaurant and onto the harbor walkway that wrapped around. She headed for the aquarium first.
Katia strolled along side and was tempted to zip up her jacket. She was slightly chilled with fall setting in lately. She peered up at Ashley and asked, "You're not cold?"
"Nah." The trooper was dressed in her jeans, black boots, and a plain black top that had a deep v-cut that accented her already ample bust. She slipped her hands into her loose jean pockets and easily went through the people.
Katia noticed how the people seemed to part for her and Ashley. She wondered if somehow everybody knew Ashley was a state trooper. Or was it just Ashley's tall and dark composure that made people move out of her way? Either way, Katia was grateful because she hated dodging through crowds.
Finally they made it around the Trade Center building and over to the aquarium. Ashley managed to distract her friend by telling her to check on the dolphin show times. That gave Ashley plenty of a chance to get down the line and to a ticket booth. She paid for both tickets and strolled over to a very annoyed Katia Danforth, who had her arms crossed.
Ashley handed her friend a ticket, which was promptly snatched out of her hand. "You're welcome."
Katia sighed and started the walk to the front entrance of the aquarium. "What's wrong with me paying for something?"
"Alright, fine. You get the IMAX tickets."
"Oh thanks," Katia chided. "I'm glad I could get the cheapest thing."
The trooper softly laughed, but she handed off her ticket to be ripped. She followed the petite blond into the busy place. It'd been a long time since she'd been here too. She came up behind Katia, who had stopped to scan the changed inside. Ashley just naturally grasped her friend's shoulders and bowed her head close. "Where to first?"
Katia shrugged, and she felt the weight of Ashley's hands. She slightly smiled. "You lead, trooper."
Ashley gave an aspirated sigh and ordered, "Come on, cornfield."
Katia clicked her tongue and quickly caught up to her friend's side. She noticed they eventually found their way up to the tropical rain forest area at the top of the glass triangle. She almost was close to removing her jacket but decided against it. She then spotted Ashley next to some soft green vegetation, which made Ashley stand out all the more. She slowly approached the trooper and wildly grinned.
Ashley was leaning against the wood handrail. "What?" she questioned Katia's look.
"Just... stay like that," Katia insisted. She dug out her LG cell phone, which was a fondly known as the EnV. She flipped it open, fired up the camera, and slid open the cover over the lens.
Ashley slumped against the rail once she realized Katia's intent.
"Humor me," Katia demanded. She raised the phone once she'd put the phone onto its highest resolution. "Smile." She also made sure to be a smartass by telling her LG to use its shutter sound, which was quite unique to the phone. Katia got the right angle she wanted then clicked on the button.
The LG briefly unfocused, refocused, and chimed out it's shutter sound. From the speakers, kids voices called out, "Say cheeeeeese!" Then the shutter sounded.
Ashley laughed at the phone's charming sound.
The phone took the picture and displayed it back to its owner. There on the screen was Ashley Carver's true smile and amused features caught right after the shutter's humorous sound.
Katia found the picture to be perfect. She instantly saved it as Ashley approached her.
"Let me see." Ashley nudged her friend, who was busy getting to the photo gallery.
Katia clicked on the picture then tilted the phone towards Ashley.
The trooper slightly grinned then mentioned, "I look like a dork."
"You're a pretty cute dork," Katia fought. She closed up the phone, slipped it into her jacket's pocket, and strolled off.
Ashley raised an eyebrow at Katia's back. "Huh," she murmured and followed behind several paces.
Katia moved along the path through the rainforest. She noted ahead there was a couple standing off to the side, and they were two women. Katia stopped walking when it struck her odd. She discreetly glanced over at the pair, but she was positive they were indeed a couple. How in the world did she just know that about them?
For a moment, Katia recalled her discussion with Sara about that entire gaydar concept. She didn't believe a damn word of it, but Sara insisted it was true. It was often how gays first connected before they started to come out more nowadays. Katia thought it was just some legend. Yet when Katia looked at the two women, she knew they had to be a couple.
It wasn't so much that they were obvious because they really weren't by far. They stood close but not so close that it was intimate. The woman on the right had her head tilted closer to her partner, and they were talking quietly. The woman on the left brushed her partner's arm, smiled, and walked down the path.
Katia shook her head some. Didn't Sara also specify that only gays had gaydar? So how was she able to pick up on those two women being together? She didn't find the answer because two strong hands on her shoulders shocked her out of her thoughts. She almost jumped.
Ashley slightly frowned and assuringly squeezed her friend's shoulders. "You okay, Katia?"
"Yeah." Katia twisted her head up and smiled at her friend. "Come on. We'll miss the dolphin show."
"So you did see what the times were huh?"
The college student shot a glare at her friend for the reminder about the tickets. She wouldn't put it past Ashley if Ashley tried to also pay for the IMAX tickets too. She wouldn't let it happen though.
The friends continued their way out of the rainforest and made it to the next dolphin show. Katia then was guided through the aquarium. She, like Ashley, was dumbfounded by all the changes made to the place and how much it'd expanded. No wonder the tickets were so expensive now. Katia figured they had a huge bill to pay off.
Finally, they left the aquarium and made it across to the opposite side of the harbor. Katia scoped out the IMAX movies and voted for the movie on the whales, which was about to play shortly. Ashley had no quarrel, and she actually let Katia pay too. Katia didn't expect it, but she wondered if Ashley was up to something else.
Katia was soon in the IMAX next to her tall friend. She kicked back in the comfortable chair and waited for the movie to get started. She stretched out her legs, but she noticed how Ashley really could not do that. "How tall are you?"
Ashley tilted her head the replied, "Five foot."
"What? From your shoulder down to your hand?"
The state trooper laughed and shook her head. "Six foot and one inch."
Katia gave a low whistle. "I believe it." She often felt half Ashley's height when they stood side by side, yet it didn't bother her at all. She imagined it had to be nice to see that well from so high. She slightly grinned but became focused on the screen when the few previews started.
After the movie, Katia decided they needed to make one more stop while they were at the harbor. It also entailed hiking all the way back to the other side of the Inner Harbor. Ashley pretended to grouse about having to go there just after being on that side of the harbor. She only stopped teasing once Katia gave her a nasty look, which made Ashley chuckle. On the walk back, Katia struck up another topic.
"So do you have to work tomorrow?"
"No, I typically get weekends off." Ashley slipped her hands back into her pant pockets. She had an idea about where Katia may want to go. She beelined for the store that was located in the Power Plant building. She grinned when they came to the wood bridge that would take them to the Power Plant, and she locked her eyes on the Barnes and Noble.
"Do you like coffee?"
Ashley focused back on the question. "I do sometimes."
"Would sometime be now?"
Ashley caught Katia's teasing tone that was laced with hopefulness too. "I think so." She revealed a broad grin at Katia's smile.
Katia entered the Barnes and Noble first, but she paused at the front. She scanned over the latest books that were best sellers. She shook her head at the latest Harry Potter book on sale.
Ashley leaned closer to Katia and softly mentioned, "Did you know Harry Potter is gay?"
Katia blinked then asked, "What?" She peered up and caught Ashley's amused face. "Where did you hear that one?"
"Everybody knows that," Ashley insisted. She chuckled at Katia's doubtful features, but she joked, "Any guy that rides a stick is gay." She walked away and went to the escalator to go upstairs. She paused and waited for her friend.
Katia stared at older books behind the recent edition. She smirked at the Sorcerer's Stone and how Harry Potter was flying on his broomstick. "Some people, I swear." She shook her head and caught up with Ashley. She went up the escalator to the second floor. She could already smell the coffee brewing from the Starbucks.
Katia and Ashley each got a cup of coffee in grande size. Katia voted to sit outside on the balcony so they'd have a view of the harbor. Ashley wasn't about to argue, and she followed behind. She took a seat and stretched out her legs easily while she sipped on her warm brew.
Katia held the cup between her hands, and she was glad the coffee kept her warm on a cool day. She tilted her head and gazed over at her friend. "Hey, Ashley." She found inquisitive eyes on her so she posed her latest question. "How old are you?" She shook her head, grinned, and mentioned, "I realized I don't know."
Ashley chuckled and relaxed deeper into the iron chair. She sipped her coffee first then challenged, "How old do you think I am?"
Katia shrugged and tormented, "No more than forty."
The trooper darkened at the smart comment. "I'm charmed... really."
The petite blond laughed and shot back, "That's what you get for not answering my question."
Ashley crossed her legs, and she had a sly grin. "Alright. I'm not in my thirties."
"Well you do act more like..." Katia lost her words at the warning look she was given again. She became more serious and guessed, "Twenty-five."
"I remember that year... fondly. My first year as a trooper."
"Wait," Katia cut in at that piece of information. "If you were twenty-five for your first year, and you've been a trooper for five then that makes you... around twenty-eight."
"Twenty-seven," Ashley corrected. "I'm holding out for a few more months before it gets any closer to thirty."
Katia laughed then took a drink from her warm cup. "I'll be twenty-one this coming summer."
"I'm sure you don't drink either."
"Not at all, officer," Katia promptly replied in a professional manner. "I don't even know what beer looks like."
Ashley laughed and fondly gazed at her friend. "I'm sure." She considered her information about the Salisbury area. "I know that college is fairly big about parties."
"What college isn't?" Katia argued.
"True," the trooper granted. She drank more of her coffee.
Katia held her coffee in both hands again. She studied it briefly then gazed over at her friend. "Thanks for today, Ashley."
The trooper warmly smiled. "You're welcome. I'm glad we had time to spend together."
"Me too." Katia crinkled up her nose in a cute manner. She turned her head away and studied the few people that past them. Then her view of the harbor was cleared again. "Its been some time since I was here."
"Mmmm." Ashley slowly released her breath then took a sip from her coffee again. She let her thoughts wonder until she grinned over at Katia and softly tormented, "No more questions?"
Katia pretended to not hear the question. She turned her head to the left, away from Ashley. "I thought I heard a voice somewhere." She shook her head and went back to her coffee.
The trooper laughed, and her smile stayed in place. She really enjoyed her friend's company. She had to admit she enjoyed it far more than she did her girlfriend's. She inwardly sighed at her thoughts of Laurel and how bumpy their relationship could be at the best of times. It'd only been three months for them, and she was hoping to last another two to three just to see if it was worth her wild or not.
Katia caught Ashley's wistful features. "Where are you?"
Ashley focused on Katia's concerned face. "Sorry. I was just thinking."
"I can tell." Katia set her coffee on the small table. "What about?"
The trooper shook her head but answered, "Just some complications in my life." She noticed her words didn't help ebb Katia's worries. She quickly insisted, "It's nothing serious."
Katia slightly dropped her shoulders, although she offered, "If there's anything I can do... just say so."
"Thanks, Katia." Ashley smiled appreciatively, and it had meant something to her. She wasn't very open about her problems with anybody, but she felt like she could respond to Katie with them. She just didn't want to get into the discussion about her sexual preference out here in public. Sometime later maybe they would have the talk, but she knew she'd have to do it eventually.
Once the coffee was empty from their cups, the pair debated whether to go in but didn't budge. The sunset was fast approaching so the reds, yellows, and oranges streaked across the blue sky. Katia remained silent and enjoyed the beauty of nature's show. She always adored an amazing sunset such as this, and it meant more when she could share it with somebody. She gazed over at Ashley and softly smiled at the faint fire color that painted Ashley's face.
Ashley met her friend's gaze, and she couldn't hide the smile that wanted to show. She received a smile back, yet she returned to the sunset. She realized just how content and peaceful she felt around Katia's presence. There'd never been anybody that was able to give her that feeling, especially during a hectic period of her life.
Katia sadly sighed once the sun was gone, and she turned her head to Ashley. "You ready?"
"Mmmm." The trooper collected her empty cup and stood up. She waited for Katia to come around the table, then she followed the petite blond back into the busy coffee shop. They tossed their cups and went to the down escalator.
Katia stood in front of Ashley on the way down. She twisted her had up when strong hands had her shoulders.
"You want anything while we're here?" the trooper inquired. She had a feeling Katia may want to browse the books.
Katia developed a silly grin and honestly replied, "I do, but if I do then we'll be here all night." She chuckled at Ashley's amused features.
"You're sure?" Ashley checked.
"Positive." Katia stepped off the escalator and headed right for the door without stopping for a book. She didn't want to tempt fate.
The trooper casually strolled out and joined her friend outside. She noticed the bite in the air this time, but it really didn't bother her. She started the walk back across the harbor again. "Cheesecake to go home?"
The college student had a brightness in her eyes at the idea. "I think so." She mirrored Ashley's grin. She walked slightly closer to the tall, dark woman that to her was mysterious. Katia had learned a lot more about Ashley today, yet she felt like there was something she was missing. Or maybe it just seemed that way when it wasn't the case.
Katia quietly cleared her throat then nervously asked, "So when will we... catch up again?" She heard the stammer in her own question. She mentally groaned at herself.
Ashley withheld from raising an eyebrow so it wouldn't make her friend uncomfortable. She wondered what other word Katia would have used instead of 'catch up'. She licked her dry lips then shrugged. "It may be awhile." She saw how Katia's features dimmed some. "I have a busy week coming up."
Katia wanted to badly pry, but she held her tongue quite well. She nodded.
"Once I get past this week," the trooper explained, "you'll probably see more of me than you'll want."
Katia laughed and relaxed because of the joke. She shook her head and considered how in the world she'd see more of Ashley when they live so far apart. "I wish."
Ashley smirked and her voice deepened with her next words. "Be careful what you wish for, Katia."
The college student decided not to push it. She shook her head and kept her grin. She and Ashley made it back to the Cheesecake Factory and picked out cheesecake slices to take home. The process had turned into a huge ordeal for Katia because she simply could not decide on what she wanted. Finally though she ordered a slice of the pumpkin cheesecake. Ashley, however, selected Godiva cheesecake, which was rich with chocolate. She'd revealed her wicked sweet tooth to Katia that night.
They then made their way across Pratt Street and past the Galleria mall. Ashley had insisted on escorting Katia back to her car, and Katia teased her friend for it. The trooper wouldn't reveal the fact that Baltimore's local police were crooked and didn't uphold their sworn duties as officers. It was a constant struggle between the local police and the state troopers about the mess.
Katia led the way from the elevator to her car. She strolled along side her friend in the poorly lit garage. She actually felt relieved that Ashley was with her. She also didn't like the idea of Ashley walking out alone. She peered up and offered, "How about I drive you down to your car?"
"I'll be fine."
The petite blond considered it, shook her head, and only stopped a few steps from her car. She lifted up her freehand and just kept from touching Ashley. "Let me put it this way. I'm going to drive you to the garage where you're parked."
The state trooper gradually arched her right eyebrow. She then slowly developed an amused grin. "Aaalright," she drew out. She could tell Katia would have her way.
Katia nodded then went to the driver's door. She unlocked it first then opened the rear passenger door. She neatly set the bag that held the cheesecake down on the floor. She shut the door and noted Ashley setting her cheesecake on the car's trunk. She had twisted features.
"We won't be able to hug later," Ashley explained.
Katia softened at her friend's consideration. She chuckled then stepped closer for a long, warm hug. She squeezed extra hard and murmured, "Thank you so much, Ashley."
The trooper tightened her embrace then softly replied, "Anytime." She pulled back, collected her cheesecake, and walked around the car.
Soon enough, the Mercedes was backing out of the parking spot. The headlights were switched on, and the car buzzed down the ramps to the exit. Katia paid for her parking then listened to Ashely's instruction to get to the garage. She pulled her car into the far lane, drove down a few blocks, and came to the garage that Ashley had pointed out earlier.
Katia glanced in her rear view but saw no cars coming up behind her. She was in luck. She slowed, stopped, and put on her hazard lights quickly.
Ashley grabbed at the door but there was a small hand on her leg that made her stop. She tried to ignore it and requested, "Text me when you make it home safely."
"I will," Katia promised. "You be careful driving too."
The trooper grinned. "Always." She had the seatbelt off and was prepared to open the door. "And don't speed."
Katia laughed, but she sadly smile. "Never, officer." Then she didn't know why she did it, but it'd felt too natural to refuse. Katia stretched over, placed her left hand against Ashley's cheek, and kissed Ashley's other cheek softly. She then whispered, "See you soon."
Ashley had caught her breath from the unexpected gesture from her friend. She was suddenly cotton mouth and blank minded. She regained her thoughts when Katia pulled back. She smiled and promised, "You will." She opened the door and carefully dissected her large form from the small car. She held the almost closed door and called, "Bye, Katia."
"Bye, Ashley." Katia waited until the door was closed then she glanced in her rear view mirror. She saw cars were getting ready to come at her from the intersection. She released the brake and drove ahead slowly. She watched Ashley disappear into the garage's entrance then she pushed on the gas.
Ashley Carver twisted her head to the left and watched the champaign colored Mercedes buzz off. She shook her head and recalled the tender kiss to her cheek. She made a mental note not to tell her girlfriend about that aspect of her day with Katia. Then she realized what kind of problems Katia could accidentally cause between Ashely and Laurel. However as far as Ashely was concerned, she much more preferred Katia's friendship over Laurel's relationship.
The drive back to Salisbury had gone quickly for Katia. Once she made it back to her dorm and finally her room, she was absolutely exhausted. She ended up tucking away her cheesecake in the small fridge that her and Erin shared. She discovered that Erin was gone, which was fine by her. Katia readied for bed, climbed into her cool sheets, and clicked on the television. Once she was settled in, she collected her cell phone off the floor where she'd placed it earlier.
Katia flipped her phone open and started a new text messages to Ashley. She thanked Ashley yet again for the wonderful day. She then sent the message. She wiggled deeper under the comforter, and it wasn't long before her cell phone lit up with a new message.
Katia smiled at the text from her friend. She said goodnight to Ashely, closed the phone, and set it back on the floor. She had heavy eyes, but she watched television until finally she drifted into a deep sleep that she hadn't seen in a long time.
Saturday may have gone quickly for Katia, but the upcoming week inched past day by day. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday she'd stayed fairly busy with her classes. They were finally picking up and papers were due or exams were on the horizon. Soon enough midterms would rear their ugly heads if the teacher so decided to fate it to a class.
After her Thursday classes, Katia crashed in her room with her heavy bookbag hitting the floor loudly. She heard the key swipe in the door just when she sat down at her desk in an exhausted lump. She heard two sets of footfall so somebody was with her roommate. She turned her head and sighed at seeing Sara.
"Do I always have to merit that type of response?" Sara chided.
Katia smirked and dropped her head against the chair once she slouched low enough. She rocked the chair with her feet. "Pretty much, Sara."
Erin smirked and set her bag down on her desk chair. She then sat on the edge of her bed and gazed over at her roommate's profile. "How were classes?"
"Let me see..." Katia held up her right hand in a fist. First she stuck out her thumb. "Paper in econ." Next was her index finger. "Pop quiz today in science." Her middle finger now. "Exam in accounting next week." Then her ring finger was fourth.
Erin shook her head at the long silence and encouraged, "And?"
Katia dropped her hand. "And that's it."
Sara laughed and sat down on Katia's foot of the bed. She propped up her feet on the bed's wood frame. "We have group projects in bio. I'm working with Mike."
Katia lifted her head and laughed. "Poor Mike... he'll be doing all the work."
"Asshole," Sara snapped, yet she had a wicked smirk.
"Lesbo," Katia shot back.
"Wannabe Lesbo," Sara fired right back.
Katia slotted her eyes, but they were bright. "Wannabe straight girl."
"Plllleaseee," Sara aspirated. She laughed and waved her hand at Katia. "Cop lover."
Katia promptly grabbed her eraser off the desk and chucked it at her friend. "Jerk!"
Sara dodged the eraser and smirked back at Katia.
"Alright, kids," Erin called. She flopped back into her bed. "Any plans tonight, Katia?"
"Not really," Katia reminded.
"Perfect," Sara broke in.
Katia tensed at Sara's excited attitude. "Why?"
Sara suddenly became sweet and leaned closer to Katia. "Could you do us a favor?"
Katia grumbled and laced her voice with annoyance. "What?"
"Mike mentioned he needed a ride to pick up his car," Erin explained.
"What's wrong with you taking him, Erin?" Katia challenged.
Erin lifted her head and reminded, "Who's his best friend?"
Katia chuckled and released a deep sigh. "Alright." She picked up her phone from the desk. "I'll take him." She opened it and called him.
Katia's call was answered, and she offered Mike a ride to get his car. Of course Mike had his car serviced nowhere in Salisbury but outside of Salisbury and all the way in Seaford, Delaware. Mike just couldn't go to anybody but the dealer it seemed. So Katia met her friend out in the parking lot and was soon driving him up Route 13 to go to Seaford.
The ride went quickly because Mike and Katia always had plenty to chat about together. Mike finally heard the entire story about Katia's weekend with the mysterious state trooper. Mike could tell from his angle that something was brewing between Katia and Ashley, but he wasn't a hundred percent sure. He did though have a certain feeling, and he was often quite right.
Finally Katia dropped off Mike at the dealership and made sure he would get his car okay. She then headed back down Route 13 at a regular paced speed. She blinked into the fast lane and pushed on the gas to get around a few slower vehicles after she was out of Seaford. She idled her car at about sixty miles per hour in the fast lane.
Katia glanced in her rear view mirror and noticed a dark Ford Explorer coming up behind her. She estimated that the Ford had to be pushing almost seventy-five, which was far over the limit. Suddenly the Ford came right up on her rear and tried to push her down the highway faster.
Katia instantly became annoyed. She hated when people tried to push her, yet she went back into the slow lane after she passed another car. She was surprised when the Ford Explorer came behind her after he'd just been on her rear. Katia debated whether to break just to get the driver to back off her tail. She started to draw her foot off the gas and go for the brake, but suddenly the Explorer lit up like a Christmas tree.
A mix of fear and surprise struck Katia all at once. She couldn't believe it was an undercover cop, yet there were flashing red, blue, and white lights. She glanced at her speedometer, which was just slightly under sixty.
"What in the world?" she yelled at her dash. She flipped on her right blinker and pulled onto the shoulder. She hoped the Explorer would just speed past, but why wouldn't he have just gone into the fast lane. Katia quickly had an increased heart rate, especially when the undercover cop followed her.
Katia slowed her car down once she was far over on the shoulder. She stopped, parked her car, and put her window down. She took several deep breathes and muttered, "I didn't do anything. My lights are fine, I don't have tinted windows, and my registration is fine." She peered up in her mirror and saw the Maryland State Trooper swing open the car door. "Oh god," she groaned.
The state trooper walked with a bowed head and jotted something in a small book. Slowly the trooper strolled up to the driver's side, lowered the book, and peered into the open window.
Katia was staring out the driver's window and tried to comprehend what law she'd broken.
"I'll need your license and registration, ma'am," the trooper spoke in a silky tone.
Katia's head snapped to the left. She had wide eyes at hearing the familiar voice, and her jaw dropped when she found amused blue eyes staring at her.
The state trooper tilted her hat back by the brim. "Ma'am?"
Katia closed her mouth then suddenly smiled. "Ashley?" She knew that stupid, dumbfounded look was still on her face, but she didn't care.
State Trooper Ashley Carver chuckled and replied, "It's Trooper Carver, cornfield."
Katia laughed between the joke and being surprised. She put her car in park and quickly grabbed at the seatbelt.
Ashley backed away when the driver's door opened. She put her small notepad and pen away and smiled at the petite blond that stood in front of her.
Katia wasn't sure what to say, but she quickly hugged the trooper.
The state trooper chuckled and warmly hugged her friend back. She came out of the hug and commented, "I wish everybody was this happy to be ticketed."
The college student rolled her eyes and shifted closer to her car to stay away from the traffic lane. "What are you... how..." She shook her head in disbelief.
Ashley folded her arms and teased, "Surprise."
"It... it is." Katia pushed back her bangs that'd been blown into her face. "What are you doing here?" She glanced past Ashley and confirmed it was indeed a licensed trooper car for undercover work.
"I've been transferred to the Salisbury Barrack," Ashley explained.
Katia focused back on the conversation and questioned, "Transferred? You mean you moved here?"
"Yes," the trooper explained, "I've spent all week moving here and getting things settled." She couldn't go into more details because a sports car suddenly flew past them.
Katia gazed down the highway at the car and muttered, "Now that was stupid to do." She saw Ashley was poised to go and needed to chase down the person. "You better go."
The state trooper was back peddling but promised, "I'll catch up with you later."
Katia smiled at the promise. "Alright. See you later." She watched Ashley get into the Explorer then floored the SUV back into the slow lane.
Katia rotated on her heels as the Explorer roared past her. She murmured, "Go get 'em, tiger." She then decided she better get in her car too. She got in, buckle up, and took a moment to process the fact that Ashley Carver now lived in or near Salisbury. Katia never saw it coming either.
After a moment, Katia started down the shoulder and picked up speed until she found an opening in the traffic to merge. She laughed randomly because she thought about the fact that Ashley was here in Salisbury. She couldn't believe it, yet she was so ecstatic that her friend had moved here. She couldn't wait to hear what'd brought this up and how come Ashley never told her. Yet Katia thought on it more, and she recalled Ashley's remark about being careful what Katia wished for because it'd come true. All along Ashley had been planning to surprise Katia with the move, and Katia couldn't be anymore surprised or thrilled. She couldn't wait to get back to the room and tell her friends, who would undoubtedly torment her too.
Continued.