Maryland State Trooper #1153
The Test Trial Uber
by Red Hope
Chapter 3
Katia returned from dropping her best friend, Mike Sunn, off at the car dearlership. She was also just bubbling with happiness because she learned that Ashley Carver had moved to the local area. She now approached her room, dug out her key card, and swiped it through the lock. She entered and discovered Erin and Sara just watching television together.
Sara was on Katia's bed. She had her sneakers dangling off the bed so she wouldn't mess up anything. She switched her attention to Katia, who was wandering over to the desk chair. She furrowed her eyebrows at Katia's odd look. "What happened?"
Katia slowly sat down then gazed over at her friend and roommate. "You won't believe this."
Erin turned down the television because her interest was peaked. She repeated Sara's earlier question. "What happened?"
Katia slouched her side against the chair's back and combed her bangs back. "After I dropped Mike off, I was headed back, and I... I was pulled over."
Sara laughed and shot up from the bed. "No way? That's so funny. How fast were you going?"
Katia slightly smirked and replied, "Just under sixty."
"What?" Erin asked first. "Why were you pulled over?"
"It's not a why," Katia explained, "it's a who."
Sara stared at Katia like she was a crazy person.
Erin now sat up too and murmured, "Ashley?"
Sara glanced at Erin then back at Katia. She shook her head and debated, "That's impossible. She lives and works all the way over on the western sh..." She lost her words because Katia's expression seemed to confirm Erin's idea. She dropped her jaw.
Katia laughed at Sara's look and fully confirmed, "It was Ashley."
Sara kept her jaw hung open and rotated her head to Erin.
Erin smirked at Sara's look, but she focused back on her roommate. "She moved here?"
"Yeah... apparently," Katia replied. "I had no idea."
Sara snapped her jaw shut and hastily jumped back into the conversation. "Why'd she move here?"
"I don't know," the petite blond admitted. "She really didn't have a chance to say why."
Sara had her own idea, and she slyly smirked. "She moved here to be closer to you, Katia."
"Oh give me a break," Katia snapped.
Erin shifted some on her bed to get more comfortable. "She didn't tell you sooner?"
"No, I had no idea." Katia shrugged and added, "She just... surprised me."
Sara dramatically sighed and sweetly chimed in, "Isn't that just cute?" She then smirked and teased, "She's so after you, Katia."
Katia narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Ashley is not like that, Sara." She ignored Sara's smug features and tried to guess why the trooper did move to this area. "Maybe she wants to be closer to home. She was born in Harbeson and raised in Galena."
Erin hadn't realized that her roommate and Ashley had both been so close to each other in distance. She'd heard of the small town of Galena, which was twenty minutes north of Katia's hometown of Chestertown. She considered why the pair hadn't crossed paths prior.
Katia then recalled she'd forgotten to fuel up her car. She groused and stood up from the chair.
"Wait, where you going?" Sara demanded.
"I forgot to put fuel in my car," the petite blond explained. She was at the door.
"I'm coming," Sara declared. She bounced off the bed and hurried over to Katia's side while Erin spoke.
"See you guys later."
Katia smiled and started out the door but she hesitated at what Sara said to Erin.
"See ya, Er."
Erin shot a glare at Sara for the nickname that was suppose to stay between them.
Katia caught the look and smirked. She pushed out the door with Sara behind her. She come out into the main hallway and questioned, "Er?"
Sara pretended to act stupid. "What?"
"I heard you," Katia insisted. "You've never called her Er."
Sara shrugged and tried to be casual.
Katia suspiciously studied her friend's face then asked, "Are you two dating?"
Sara instantly laughed and shook her head. She waited until they passed a few other students and entered the stairwell. "Come on, Katia. Erin likes guys." She peered back up at her friend, who was a few steps above her. "I couldn't touch Erin with a ten foot dildo."
Katia almost tripped down the steps because of Sara's unexpected joke. She gripped the handrail and hesitated. "Sara," she hissed.
Sara evilly laughed and hurried down the remaining steps. She beat Katia to the Mercedes, but she could only get into it once Katia unlocked it. She buckled up just as Katia drove them through the parking lot. "Let's go to the Wawa that's down by the stores."
Katia groaned just after she made the right turn onto Camden Avenue. "Sara, it's too far. What's wrong with the one nearby?"
"It's too dirty," Sara protested.
"All Wawa's are dirty," Katia argued.
Sara chuckled and shrugged. "Just drive, Jeeves."
Katia reached over and smacked her friend on the leg.
Sara hissed and mentioned, "I still have a mark on my leg from last time."
"Serves you right." Katia made her way out onto Route 13. She gave into Sara's idea and headed for Wawa that was further north on Route 13. She then mentioned, "We should pick up Quiznos subs for the gang."
"You think Mike will be back by then?"
"Text him," Katia insisted.
Sara agreed and pulled out her cell phone from her back pocket. "I am getting hungry." She busied with texting Mike to see what his status was currently.
Katia turned up her radio, which was playing the Lasgo CD from Ashley. She focused on her driving through the busy town, but she was coming closer to the Wawa.
"Alright, Mike says he'll be back at the dorm in twenty minutes."
"That's perfect," Katia decided. "What's he want?"
Sara grumbled and replied to Mike's last text. Just when she sent it, she peered up and saw they were pulling into the Wawa.
Katia found an empty pump, which always seemed hard to accomplish at any busy Wawa. She parked her car, shut it off, and grabbed the door handle. She hesitated and stared out her window at the Ford Explorer that just pulled up to the next pump over but on the opposite side. "Oh my god."
Sara had the door open, but she twisted around and became confused about what was wrong. "What?"
"I... I think that's Ashley." Katia waited to see who would step out of the dark Explorer.
Sara grew excited and waited to see what this mysterious state trooper looked like up close and personal. She leaned closer in Katia's direction when the Explorer's driver side door opened. Gradually her jaw began to lower as the dark beauty seemed to grow taller from stepping out of the vehicle.
Trooper Ashley Carver came around the front of her undercover car. She didn't have her trooper hat on, and her hair was still pulled back in a bun plus her bangs were pinned back. She approached the gas pump, but she stopped and gazed through the open space between the pump and concrete column. She stared over the roof of the small car on the other side of the pump and eyed the familiar Mercedes Benz. She smirked at how both Katia and Katia's seeming friend were staring right back at her in pure awe. She started to chuckle quietly to herself.
Sara smacked Katia out of her shocked demeanor. "Come on. We look like a couple of high school idiots." She climbed out of the car and insisted, "You have got to introduce me to her."
Katia fumbled for the door handle and got out of the car finally. She desperately tried to calm her returned anxiety.
Sara bounded around the front of the Mercedes and came to Katia's side. "She is hot, Katia," she uttered.
Katia had no response. She instead became stiff when the state trooper started to come over to them. She desperately tried to relax, and she nervously smiled at the approaching trooper.
Ashley returned the smile, but she sensed that Katia was taken by surprise. She stopped a couple of paces from Katia's space. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Uh yeah... I... have to get fuel. I forgot to fuel up." Katia mentally groaned out how stupid she sounded. Why was she so nervous? She assumed it was because Sara was here too.
The state trooper refused the laugh that wanted to take her, but she was highly amused and it showed in her voice. "I can see that."
Katia groaned and blew up a breath that made her bangs lift slightly.
Ashley tilted her head at Sara and asked, "You must be one of Katia's friends."
Sara brightly smiled, stepped forward, and held out her hand. "I'm Sara Miller. I'm Katia's lesbain friend." Her gaydar was on and beeping quite loudly in Ashley's direction.
The trooper was shaking hands, but it took all her control not to laugh at Sara. Never once had any other lesbian done that to her, yet she could easily figure out Sara's mission. "Ashley Carver... Katia's personal state trooper." She also filed away the information that Katia had a lesbian friend. It made Ashley far more at ease about certain aspects of her life that she hadn't told Katia yet.
Sara chuckled and caught Katia's bright blush. She stepped closer to the trooper and mentioned, "I like your style."
Katia softly groaned and wanted to sink through the concrete. She bowed her head and shook it slightly. She prayed that Sara would reserve herself on some level. Please Sara, she mentally pleaded.
Sara continued the conversation. "I've heard a bit about you from Katia." She showed a wicked grin and inquired, "Do you mind if I call you Ash?"
"I mind," the trooper quickly replied.
Katia softly laughed at Sara's surprised look. She jumped back into the conversation before Sara decided to ask Ashley for a date next. She revealed a sly grin and amusement laced her tone. "So how was your first day here, Ash?" From the corner of her eye, she saw Sara's wide-eye expression.
Ashley enjoyed Katai's smooth joke, and she thinly smiled. She actually liked how Katia could say the nickname that she was never fond of, until now. "It was a good day." She cocked her head to the side and teased, "I did pull over this speeding Mercedes earlier." She glanced at Katia's car then back at her friend. "It looked a lot like yours."
Katia laughed and joked, "I swear it wasn't me, officer."
The state trooper chuckled and smiled more. "I better keep moving." She started to step forward but around Katia. "I'll call you later, K." She then was gone and headed for the Wawa store to prepay for gas.
Katia twisted her head around and briefly watched the tall trooper go. Then Sara voiced her exact thought.
"K? I've never heard that one." Sara shook her head and shook it more at Katia's smirk.
The petite blond agreed with Sara. She'd never once been called that for a nickname. Her sister, Lisa, often called her 'Kat' for short, but she'd never been called just simply 'K'. Although Katia had to admit the nickname sounded perfect coming from Ashley.
Sara sighed and mentioned, "Wow, Katia." She wickedly grinned and repeated, "She is hot."
Katia rolled her eyes but went along with Sara. "She looks hot in uniform huh?" She started to go back to the gas pump on the other side of her car.
Sara smirked and walked to the rear of the car. She leaned against the trunk and folded her arms. She waited until Katia stood by the gas fill and was holding the lever up for the fuel to flow. She turned her head to Katia and mentioned, "I bet she's hotter out of her clothes."
Katia lost her grip on the pump's handle. She accidentally shut off the flow, which caused a loud snap from the handle. "Sara," she hissed.
"Oooh look." Sara discreetly signaled the returning trooper. "Here comes tall, dark, and sexy now."
"Lesbians," Katia muttered in an annoyed tone.
Sara leaned closer to Katia, but she had her eyes on the moving trooper. "You won't be cursing us if you find out Ashley is gay." She again heard the fuel handle snap. She lost sight of Ashley so she turned her smug face to Katia.
"She's not gay, Sara," Katia lifted the handle yet again. "Besides why would it matter to me?"
Sara gave a dubious look and chuckled. "Katia, I'll bet you a date with Ashley that she's gay."
Katia snapped the fuel handle a third time, and she hotly growled, "She's not a lesbian, Sara." She then heard a throat clear behind her so she gazed back at the older woman, who was on the other side of the fuel pump. She smiled sweetly then quickly returned her earlier dark look on her friend.
Sara didn't care though what people thought of their conversation. "Alright, Katia who is the lesbian with gaydar?"
Katia finished fueling her car and returned the nozzle to the pump. She went back to put the cap on the tank and finally had a response for Sara. "She probably has a boyfriend, Sara." She shut the door and listened to the pump's receipt peep.
Sara glanced once over at the Ford Explorer, but she couldn't see Ashley. She met Katia's gaze and lowered her voice. "Alright, I'll make you a bet."
"No," Katia hissed. She turned and ripped a receipt from the pump. "I won't make a bet."
"That's because you know I'm right. You got that gaydar thing too," Sara tormented.
Katia slotted her eyes at what may have been a keen observation from Sara. "I don't have it, and I won't bet."
Sara leaned closer then challenged, "You won't because if it's true, and I find out you know I'll ask her for a date. Then you'll be jealous of me when she says 'yes' to me."
"Oh please." Katia rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't care."
"Alright." Sara straightened up from the trunk and declared, "I'll go ask her out now." She got only two steps before Katia yanked her back by her wrist. She was shoved back against the trunk and dangerous green eyes bore into her. She just held back her smirk.
"Don't you dare." Katia's tone was menacing.
"You're jealous," Sara egged on her friend.
Katia seethed at her friend then slotted her eyes. "Fine. I'll make a stupid bet. What's the stakes?" She wasn't about to let Sara go over and ask Ashely out. She couldn't image how Ashley would react or herself for that matter if Ashley agreed to it.
Sara had a slick grin on her face. She kept her voice down while she setup the bet. "You have to find out if she's gay or not and tell us."
Katia sighed because she knew this would include Mike and Erin too. "What's the stakes, Sara?"
Sara leaned closer to her friend and posed the stakes. "If she's straight then you win." She shrugged and offered, "I'll have to do all the project work for bio class that Mike and I are doing."
Katia suddenly grinned because she loved the idea of Sara doing all the work while Mike could relax. "Alright. And if you win?"
Sara was ecstatic about her stake. "And if I win then you have to go out on a date with Ashley."
"What?" Katia almost yelled.
Sara glared at her friend for being loud. She held up her hand. "And I mean a real date, Katia." She waited for Katia to take her hand. "Is it a deal?"
Ashley Carver gradually arched an eyebrow when Katia Danforth and Sara Miller shook hands. She ticked off her back molar and smirked. She then murmured, "It's a date then, K." She chuckled and started for a walk back to the Wawa store to get her change and receipt for the gas. On her journey back to the store, she considered what she'd overheard between Katia and Sara because of her excellent hearing.
Sara was getting back in the car and so was Katia. Katia had the door open and was poised to get into the car. She saw that Ashely was headed into the store. She wanted to see Ashley before she left, but she didn't want Sara tagging along. She then chuckled evilly at an idea.
"Get in the car, Katia," Sara ordered. She then noted that Katia shut the door without getting in first. She saw Katia inserted the key into the door outside then the doors were locked. "Katia!"
Katia pulled out the key and tapped it against the window to get Sara's furious attention. "Don't go anywhere or the alarm will go off. I'll be right back." She darted off to catch up with Ashley.
"Katia!" Sara yelled but she received no response. She hotly cursed, "I can't believe this! That damn straight girl!" From the rear view mirror, she spotted the bounce in Katia's walk to the store. "And she's just so happy to see that cop without me." She punched the dash but hissed at the pain. "Katia Danforth!"
Sara shook her hand and hotly promised, "Just you wait, straight girl."
Katia entered the store and easily spotted Ashley over by the drinks. She eased her way over there after she dodged around a few people. She neared Ashley's side and greeted, "Hey."
Ashley warmly smiled at her friend, who she was none too surprised to see. "Hey." She looked about for Sara and questioned, "Leave Sara behind?"
Katia shrugged and casually informed, "I locked her in my car."
The trooper gave a surprised look then laughed.
Katia laughed too and came closer to the taller woman. "She was driving me crazy. Sorry about her."
"She's fine," Ashley insisted. She turned back to the cooler that had mostly every kind of water a person could ever need or want. "So how are you doing?" She stepped forward and grabbed the doorhandle.
Katia nodded once. "Pretty good." She scanned over the cooler to the left of where Ashley was fishing out a water. "How about you?" She waited until Ashley was out of the way, then she entered the neighboring cooler for a bottle of Lipton tea.
"Really well," Ashley honestly admitted. She was happy to be back on the Eastern Shore, and she was glad to see Katia too. But then there was the actually move itself. She sighed and mentioned, "My new house is a mess though."
Katia first let the cooler door slam then she asked, "You're not all moved in huh?" She watched Ashley nod so she inquired, "Do you need some help?"
The trooper started the walk for the register, but she went slowly. "I could use some." She already had hopes that Katia would help because she really didn't know anybody else. She wasn't friendly enough with her coworkers yet because she was new.
"I could come over tonight," Katia offered. "I'm finished classes for today."
Ashley already knew that Katia only had classes on Tuesdays through Thursdays, which left the rest of the week open. She smiled at the offer and replied, "I'd like that." She stepped into the line and set her water on the counter. She eased down the line as people ahead of her paid one by one.
"What time do you get off?"
Ashley considered her schedule and replied, "I'm headed to the barrack now. I have to do some paperwork then I'll be off."
"So you think you'll be home in about an hour?"
"Close to it," Ashley agreed.
"Well my friends and I were going to share dinner, but you and I can get something before we go to your home."
Ashley instantly took to the idea. "Alright." She smiled and came up to the cashier. She quickly snatched Katia's tea and put it with her water. She paid for them both then handed the tea back to Katia.
Katia groused at the trooper's quick move. "You know..." She sighed because she just couldn't win.
Ashley stepped out of the way of the line and brought Katia with her. "Meet me next door at the Chickfila in forty-five minutes or so."
Katia smiled brightly. "Alright."
Sara was seated in the Mercedes, and she still fumed at Katia's trick. Although she had to admit it was a good sign that Katia was spending time with Ashley. It meant that the bet would be well underway, but still she wanted to talk to Ashley too.
"Alright, straight girl. You've had enough fun with the lesbian cop." Sara debated how to break up Katia's little party. She looked at the locked door and smirked. "I set the alarm," she mocked Katia. "Fine. I'll set the alarm off." She grabbed for the doorhandle.
Out in the Wawa parking lot, a distinct car alarm sounded. The Mercede's head lights also flashed brightly but the door locks wouldn't pop up just for security reasons.
Ashley instantly snapped into duty at the alarm. She calmed and raised an eyebrow at the flashing and beeping Mercedes.
Katia peered through the front windows of the Wawa store. Her jaw dropped for a moment then she hissed, "I'm going to kill her." She quickly darted out of the store.
Ashley chuckled and strolled out behind her rushing friend. She stopped a few feet behind the Mercedes and waited until Katia had the alarm turned off and the door reset.
Katia sighed once she shut off the alarm. She opened the door and before she could talk, Sara got the jump on her.
"Welcome back, straight girl." Sara folded her arms and smirked. "You're not mad, are you?" She enjoyed the very dark glare from her friend.
Katia pointed her bottle of tea at her friend. "I could really..." She instead tossed her tea at Sara.
Sara neatly caught the cold drink and chuckled. "Mmhmmm."
Katia shook her head and straightened up. She met Ashley's curious gaze. "I'll meet you later, Ashley."
The trooper smiled warmly and hoped it would easy Katia's temper. "I'll see you then." She went to her waiting Explorer.
Katia sighed and felt her temper burn off. She got into the car finally and buckled up. She started the car and put it into drive. She first got back on Route 13 then took her tea back. "You're ridiculous, Sara."
Sara stretched out her legs in the car. She sighed happily and replied, "Thank you." She put the window down then dug out her pack of cigarettes from her font pocket. "You'll really thank me later when you have to go out on that date with her."
"If," Katia emphasized, "she's gay."
Sara had her cigarette lit and took a long draw from it. She blew the smoke towards the window then confidently stated, "She's gayer than a drag queen, Katia."
Katia had taken a sip of her tea and choked on it. She almost lost control of her car because of the gagging and holding the bottle all at the same time.
Sara hastily took the tea back and ordered, "Swallow, Katia." She recapped the glass bottle and waited until Katia had her senses back. She sighed in relief then went back to her cigarette. "So, you have... you're going to Ashley's house tonight?"
Katia rolled her eyes at Sara intended slip up. She challenged, "How did you know?"
Sara chuckled and removed the cigarette from her lips. "I could tell." She blew out the smoke. "Are you having dinner with us?"
"No, I promised Ashley I'd meet her at Chickfila."
Sara laughed and flicked the cigarette butt out the window. She half blew and laughed out the last of the smoke from her lungs. "She's going straight to your heart, Katia and it's through your stomach."
Katia took her tea back after she got through another intersection. She knew what Sara meant because it was no secret that Chickfila was Katia's favorite place. "She probably researched it up in the police system."
Sara laughed and turned up the music slightly. "You're probably right." She then bobbed her head to the dance song's beat. "She's got good taste in music though."
Katia capped off her tea and handed it back to Sara. "She's just sooo dreamy," she swooned for a joke.
Sara laughed loudly and patted her friend's knee. "You're too cute, Katia." She relaxed back in the seat. "We'll stop at Quiznos?"
"Yup." Katia had promised to get dinner for her friends. She and Sara made their next stop at the small restaurant. She helped Sara get all the subs ordered for everybody then carried them back to the car. She then drove them through the backstreets to the college.
Katia helped Sara get the subs upstairs to the room. She didn't stay long and greeted Mike just before she left. She imagined that Sara would chat away about their Wawa adventure and go into great details about the bet. Katia was already starting to doubt her bet.
But right now she had no time to think about it. She headed out of her dorm and returned to her still warm car. She climbed into it and first sent a text message to Ashley that she was leaving the college. She didn't receive a response until she was near the hospital, which said that Ashley was leaving work now.
Katia arrived at the busy restaurant, and she spotted Ashley's red Mercedes. She grinned and pulled into the open marking spot to the right of it. She then got out and carefully crossed the busy parking lot.
Ashley stood off to the side of the door and had folded arms. She smiled warmly when her friend arrived. "You hungry?"
"I'm starved," Katia admitted after she came through the door.
"Come on." Ashley led the way to the order line. She was still fully uniformed and even carried her gun at her side. She didn't have her hat on though and also had freed her hair. She subconsciously brushed her bangs aside because they were in the way. She'd started growing them out recently.
Katia stood next to her tall friend. She had a strange thought and peered up at Ashley. She really took in the true height difference between her and Ashley.
The trooper sensed Katia's curious gaze. She peered down and grinned at Katia's look. She couldn't imagine what Katia thought about every second. She lifted her left hand behind Katia's back and signaled her to go ahead of her.
Katia moved forward just as the person ahead of them picked up his order. She put in her order then went for her wallet while Ashley put in her order too. Katia saw Ashley's motions to get her wallet, but she was prepared this time. She instantly butt back in front of Ashley as the cashier read off the total. She handed over a twenty dollar bill before Ashley even had her wallet open.
"Katia, let me..." Ashley held her tongue because of the nasty look she got. She chuckled silently and put her wallet back in her pocket. She waited until the cashier was gone, and Katia was organizing her money. "Thanks, K."
This time Katia smiled and warmly replied, "My pleasure." She still fooled with her money because the bills were upside down and out of order thanks to the cashier. She had to have them in the right order and faced properly in her wallet.
Ashley grabbed the bags from the cashier but hoped Katia would get the drinks.
The college student finally had her wallet away and got the drinks. She also requested a few barbeque sauces before she left the counter. Soon she and Ashley were seated at a booth and sharing the sauce for their fries. She chatted away with Ashley about how the week went and what day Ashley moved into the house. She discovered that Ashley actually lived in Mardela Springs and not directly in Salisbury so it was a good twenty minute drive to Ashley's house. Then Katia got to the topic about why Ashley moved to the area.
Ashley had taken a sip of her tea after Katia's question. She set the drink down then explained, "I wanted to come back to the Eastern Shore for a number of years. I just couldn't because the Salisbury Barrack didn't have room for me until now."
Katia shook her head and challenged, "Why Salisbury though? Why not Centreville?" She knew that Centreville was far closer to Galena than Salisbury.
The trooper swirled her waffle fry around in the sauce and explained, "Mother moved back to Harberson about two years ago. So this is the closest barrack to her."
"You should have transferred into Delaware," Katia countered.
Ashley grinned and shrugged. "I thought about it especially because Delaware troopers are paid better. But I like Maryland better, and I really don't need the money anyway." She didn't go into details about how she was pretty well off financially thanks to her financial skills. They were financial skills she'd learned at an early age thanks to her father and his job as a stock broker.
Katia revealed a wicked smile and teased, "Is that statism I hear?"
Ashley chuckled and ate another fry. "Somethin' like that." She went more serious. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I wanted to surprise you."
"Oh you did that," Katia agreed. She laughed at what happened earlier today on Route 13. "I couldn't figure out why a cop would pull me over."
"You're just suspicious looking," Ashley teased.
Katia grinned and shook her head. She popped another chicken nugget into her mouth. She thoughtfully chewed on it. "I really can't believe you're here."
"I am." Ashley smiled at Katia's happy features. "Now you're stuck with me here until you graduate from college."
Katia sighed deeply and murmured, "I have three years to go."
"It'll go quickly," Ashley insisted. She knew it would because her time in high school and in the army sped by her. She missed those days and simply because she felt like she'd lost time. She moved away from her sadder thoughts and focused on her pleasant dinner with Katia.
After they finished dinner, they cleaned up and left the restaurant. Katia promised to follow Ashley to her house especially because she didn't know Mardela Springs at all. They climbed into their respective car and went onto Route 13 South. They then zipped onto Route 50 West and headed for the small town of Mardela Springs, and it didn't take long. They eventually pulled into the paved driveway of a recently purchased house.
Together the friends started working on getting things out of the packed garage where Ashley's stuff had been deposited. The boxes slowly migrated from the garage into the house, and then the friends went through the tedious and hard job of getting Ashley's leather couch into the house. Katia thought she was going to sprain a few muscles, but she discovered Ashley was quite built up. Katia felt more like Ashley could have picked her up and tossed her around like a sack of potatoes.
Later into the night, Katia was in the room that Ashley had elected as the office room. They'd just moved the desk into the room along with the computer and its peripherals that were all over the floor. She stood with her hands on her hips and stared at everything.
Ashley entered the room and studied her friend's thoughtful profile. She gazed down at her Dell computer and mentioned, "I really need to get that hooked up. I have all my financial records on it and just everything else."
Katia smirked up at her friend. "Basically your life?"
The trooper laughed. "Almost."
Katia picked up the box that contained the monitor. "Give me thirty minutes, and I should have it up." She caught Ashley's raised eyebrow. "Maybe twenty." She grinned at Ashley and added, "Your brother isn't the only techie." She opened the box and went to work to get the computer together.
Ashley chuckled and left the room. She decided she leave Katia to it while she unpacked the boxes for her room. She really needed to finish that up first. Next she would deal with her entertainment system in the living room so her and Katia could relax later and watch a movie.
Katia was quite efficient in getting the computer hooked up. She also made sure to properly do the wires so they wouldn't make such a bird's nest. She opened one box in the room that she hadn't touched and checked to see if there were any computer accessories in there. She pulled up short though when the top item caught her eye.
Very carefully, Katia lowered her hands deeper into the large box and grabbed the black edges of a picture frame. "My god," she murmured when a distinct seal became recognizable to her. She gingerly lifted the picture frame out of the box and let the ceiling light fully reveal the framed document to her.
Ashley Carver had been passing the open door and peered through. She hesitated when she spotted her high school diploma in Katia's hands. She sadly sighed and came up behind her friend. "It's kind of silly I still have that thing."
Katia turned her head to her friend. She revealed her awe struck expression to Ashley.
The trooper stopped short and looked at the framed diploma then back at Katia. "What's wrong?"
Katia looked at the diploma, reread the schools' name and diploma recipient's name again. She then studied Ashley Carver in a new light, and she was positive now. She awe strikingly whispered, "You're thee Ashlinn Katherine Carver?"
Ashley furrowed her eyebrows and stepped closer. She glanced at her diploma then back at Katia. "Yeah. My real name is Ashlinn, but I hardly go by it." She realized Katia wouldn't shake the praising expression. "What?"
Katia lowered the picture frame some and let the edge lean against her hip. "You're... you're a legend at Oldfields... everybody talked about you after you graduated." She shook her head and quickly recalled her high school memories from eighth grade. "You were student president, you ran Dubious Dozen, you were the captain of the soccer and softball team. They said the varsity soccer team won the championship two years in a row because of you. You always won the coach's award for best player." She then paused, stared down at the diploma again, and softly added, "And you won the Taylor Smith Prize for First Honors. You were rumored to have the highest SAT score."
Ashley had a lifted eyebrow. It struck her that the only reason Katia knew all her history from Oldfields School was because Katia went there too. "Don't believe everything you hear." She placed her hands on her hips. "When did you graduate?"
Katia licked her lips and whispered, "2004." She shook her head and regarded Ashley with new respect. "I started the year you graduated... 1999."
Ashley reached over and retrieved the picture frame from her friend. She carried it over to the wall and set it against the wall next to the desk. She turned back and commented, "Oldfields was a long time ago."
"You were damn popular," Katia informed. "The seniors and juniors talked a lot about you when I came in eighth grade."
"You started in eighth grade?" Ashley chuckled because there were usually between six to twelve eighth graders at the school.
Katia brought out a proud smile and declared, "I was a five year senior." She then tilted her head. "I had awful Senior high too because of it."
Ashley laughed and came back to her friend. "I had to curb mine because I was the student president."
Katia shook her head and dropped her hands from her hips. "I can't believe this." She swept back her bangs and kept staring at Ashley like she was a celebrity. "I heard so much about you... I got so sick of it too."
Ashley dropped her head back and laughed. She settled down and waited to see what else her friend had to say.
Katia pointed a finger at her friend and shifted her weight to her right foot. "I started on JV soccer in the fall then I made it to varsity that winter. I ended up with all those Seniors and Juniors." She now started to wag her finger at Ashley. "All they could talk about was you!"
The state trooper folded her arms and became smug.
"They would not shut up," Katia ranted and waved her hands to animate her words. "They would go on about how nobody could out run you. Or that you could kick a soccer ball from one end of the field to the other. And that you carried the teams to the championships."
Ashley sighed and waited to see if Katia was done yet. Apparently she wasn't by far.
Katie now fisted her hand and dropped it to her side. "I got so tired of hearing about you. I swore to myself if I ever met you at some alumni event or something that I'd have some words for you."
"Really?" Ashley encouraged. She now stepped up to the petite blond and imposed herself. "And they would be?"
Katia suddenly smiled impishly and her voice took on a sweet yet nervous tone. "Just... you know... how wonderful of a player and captain you were."
"Mmmmm." Ashley bared her teeth in a wicked smile. "Are you sure that's what you really wanted to tell me?"
Katia slightly bent down because she felt dwarf size when Ashley leaned over her. She nervously laughed and insisted, "Oh yeah... definitely." She nodded a few times. "I loved always hearing about you every practice and especially just before the games. It was just like worshiping a god each time. I'm surprised we didn't sacrifice a soccer ball to you or somethin'."
Ashley hadn't expected the joke, and it broke her threatening attitude. She cracked up laughing and rocked back on her heels.
Katia now relaxed and glanced back at the diploma propped against the wall. She peered up at Ashley and had to double check. "You're really her huh?"
Ashley sadly smiled and replied, "I am... not quite the legend I use to be though." She completely lost her smile at the fact she'd never had and never would live up to the prodigy people thought she'd be. She felt like she'd not only failed them and her family but mostly herself.
Katia saw the sadness hit her friend, and she felt extremely low that she'd caused it. She grabbed Ashley's arms and tried to bring her out of the dark thoughts. "I'm sorry, Ashley." She squeezed the muscular arm then came closer. "I don't think any less or more of you regardless of who you are or were." She shrugged and explained, "You're my friend and that's what really matters to me." She signaled the diploma with her chin. "Not some piece of paper."
Ashley smiled at the meaningful words from her friend. She felt them touch deeply and especially because it was the first time she'd heard them from somebody. She lifted her arm that had Katia's hand on it. She adjusted it so that she now held Katia's hand. "Thank you."
Katia squeezed the large hand tightly. "Don't get down on yourself." She shook her head then reminded, "You do so much good everyday by being a state trooper. I'm an Oldfields graduate too, but I couldn't do what you do every day although I wish I could." She confidently smiled. "I'm really lucky to be your friend, in my opinion."
Ashley softly laughed, but she still had a smile. She did feel mostly better because of Katia's words and attempt to help her. "Thank you." She squeezed Katia's hand. "It means a lot."
Katia revealed a beautiful smile, which was warmly mirrored back to her.
Ashley squeezed one last time then let go. "So let's see if this computer will start." She turned and went to it.
Katia chuckled and followed behind. "Fire it up." She watched Ashley lean forward and hit the power button. She folded her arms and grinned when the monitor read out its boot up sequence.
Ashley nodded a few times. "Not bad, cornfield."
The college student swatted her friend's side and peered up with bright eyes. "I know a few things."
"Computers and technology are just a tool to me."
Katia tilted her head and argued, "For some, it's a way of life."
"Mmmm." Ashley grabbed the mouse then promptly shut it down. "So are you any good with setting up a network?"
The petite blond considered her friend's question. "You want cable or DSL internet?"
"Whatever I can get, but I'd like to make it wireless."
Katia revealed a grin. "You just need the right wireless router."
"What if I want to print wirelessly from my laptop?" Ashley challenged.
Katia laughed and shrugged. "You just need a little printserver."
"Printserver?" The trooper shook her head in confusion. She then saw that Katia was about to dive into a long explanation so she held up her hand. "I'll just take your word for it."
Katia smirked and held her tongue. She did though mention, "If you ever want computer stuff or any kind of electronics you should buy it from new egg dot com."
Ashley stared oddly at Katia and gradually lifted her right eyebrow.
"It's just way cheaper than going to Worst Buy."
Ashley chuckled and muttered, "You're a geek squad alright." She softly laughed and headed out of the room.
"I prefer nerd squad," Katia chided. She followed her friend and went into the bedroom where Ashley had been unpacking for hours. She scanned the room then saw Ashley went into the lit bathroom. "I think you pretty much have your bedroom finished."
"Yeah mostly." Ashley came back out but turned off the light. "I think I'm finished for the night though." She approached her friend, and she could tell Katia was worn too. "Although there is one other thing I'd like to setup." She placed her hands on her hips and smirked. "You might be able to help, geek squad."
Katia tilted her head back and slotted her eyes at her friend. "Nerd squad thank you." She grinned just like Ashley. "What's the last project for tonight?"
"My electronics system." The trooper stepped around her friend and headed back to the living room.
Katia entered the living room too, and she studied the scattered parts of the home theater system that Ashley owned. "Thirty minutes definitely."
Ashley rolled her eyes. "Come on, K." She came to the right side of her television that rested on the floor since last night. "Let's get this up on the theater stand."
Katia strolled over and moved her hands around on the side of the huge television until she felt she'd have the right grip. "Please don't lift it too high or I'll be smooshed."
The trooper bit her lower lip, and her eyes twinkled. "One... two... three." She and Katia lifted it and easily carried it then lifted it slightly higher so it'd go into the theater stand. She then moved to the front of the television and wiggled it in deeper.
Katia let out a deep breath and mentioned, "Get a flat screen, Ash." She clenched and unclenched her sore hands. She and Ashley then worked at getting the wires all hooked up and the sound system done properly. Katia could tell that Ashley had made a deep study on the home theater setup. Ashley had everything just a certain way by the time they were done.
Ashley stepped back until the back of her thighs touched her coffee table. "I think that does it."
Katia groaned and flopped back into the soft leather sofa. "I think that does me too."
The trooper twisted around and shook her head. "We're not quite finished yet, K." She enjoyed the bug eyed look given to her. "We still have a movie to watch now."
The petite blond sighed in relief and sunk deeper into the sofa. "I can handle that." She shifted some then asked, "What are we watching?"
Ashely knelt in front of her home theater and opened up a box that had a plethora of movies. She thumbed through them. "What kind of movie do you want? Action? Adventure? Mystery?" She didn't know it, but Katia was shaking her head as she went through the list. "Horror? Romance?"
"Oh stop!" Katia stretched out her neck some. "What's in the horror section?"
The trooper smirked because at first she thought Katia wanted romance. She tilted her head and went through her mental inventory of horror movies. "Let's see, I have the first two Saw movies, Seven, The Bone Collector, Silence of the Lambs, Silent Hill, Red-"
"Silent Hill," Katia voted. "I've heard a lot about it."
"You've probably played the game, nerd," the older woman muttered. She searched for the movie in the box.
"I heard that," Katia chided.
Ashley grinned, but she pulled out the movie from the box. She opened up the case, shifted to the player, and powered it up.
Katia kicked off her shoes and decided to get comfortable. She pulled her legs up onto the sofa and sat cross legged. She soon had Ashley on the sofa once the lights were turned off in the room. "You know," she mentioned, "I'm not that nerdy."
Ashley chuckled and hit the play button when the menu showed up on the screen. "I know, K." She leaned forward and set the remotes down on the coffee table. She fully sunk back into the sofa and sighed contently. "You haven't seen this?"
"No." Katia peered up at her friend. "Is it that scary?"
The trooper shrugged. "Its a thriller... it's a bit bizarre but after you watch it, you'll understand it better at the end." She glanced at Katia, who was getting quite comfortable.
Katia carefully watched the opening and was already confused by the opening. She figured it'd make sense by the end like Ashley suggested. She bit back a faint yawn and went deeper into the sofa.
Ashley stretched out her legs better and leaned into the sofa too. She sat right next to Katia, which she didn't mind at all. Typically she was funny about sitting close to people because she liked her personal space. That was even the case with Laurel too.
The movie quickly moved along the plot and came to the portion where the main character and her daughter came to a gas station. At the gas station a helmeted police officer on a motorcycle appeared in the scene. It wasn't long though before the police officer was on the bike and in pursuit of the main character and child, who were trying to drive to the town of Silent Hill.
Ashley slightly grinned when the motorcycle officer finally removed the helmet to reveal the soft yet striking features of a woman. Now Ashley recalled the main reason why she'd bought this movie; Laurie Holden. In Ashley's opinion, Laurie Holden was quite sexy with her short blond hair and acting as a police officer. At that thought, Ashley gazed down at Katia and briefly wondered what Katia would look like with short hair.
Katia hadn't expected the officer to be a female. She was inwardly stunned so she glimpsed at Ashley. She caught Ashley staring at her so she amusingly inquired, "What?"
Ashley revealed a sly grin. "Ever think of being a cop?"
Katia laughed and turned back to the movie. "I have, but I'd be shot dead in the first week." She tilted her head. "Why?"
The trooper shrugged then suggested, "You'd probably look a lot like that cop."
The petite crinkled up her nose. "If I cut my hair short... and actually dared myself to wear slick leather pants."
Ashley laughed. "Okay, okay."
Katia suddenly jumped when those strange creatures appeared on screen. "What in the world?" She squeezed closer to Ashley. "Eeew." She listened to Ashley's low chuckles. "This is really creepy, Ash."
The state trooper patted her friend's knee. "I'll protect you."
Katia squealed and not because of Ashley. She suddenly huddled up to the tall, dark trooper. "Great. You do that." She squeezed the muscular arm as the movie reached a dramatic, thriller spot. "Oooh don't go in there!" she hollered at the television. "Of course she's going to go in there."
"Of course," Ashley's voice echoed.
Katia jumped at another scary part. She also gripped Ashley's arm harder.
"Katia," Ashley started, but she was cut off by Katia's next squeal. Ashley inwardly groaned for her mistake at letting Katia pick a scary movie. She needed a solution real fast before her arm muscles were squeezed to another location on her arm. Plus she felt the need to lay down.
Katia loosened her hold some once she realized what she was doing. She sheepishly peered up at her friend. "Sorry." She let go. Then the next scene of the movie just made her grab at Ashley all over again. "What the Hell is that?"
"That would be Pyramid Head," the trooper explained. "And we need to fix this..." Ashley dissected her arm free from Katia's amazing grip. She then kicked off her shoes too.
"Wow that is a big... sword," Katia murmured. Then she recalled Ashley's last words about fixing something or another. Before she could question, she found a set of strong arms around her waist, and she was neatly snared by the trooper. Next Ashley started to lift her and adjusted her on the sofa.
"Lay down with me, K."
Katia was dumbstruck, but she was efficiently maneuvered around until she was horizontal on the couch with her friend snuggled behind her. She lost track of the movie and tried to get plenty comfortable in her unexpected position. She was amazed there was enough room for both her and Ashley but there was plenty.
Ashley positioned her head right on the arm of the sofa, which was very pillow-like.
Katia became refocused on the movie. The new scene was grotesque to her. She held her breath when the barbed wired janitor was snaking across the dirty bathroom floor. "Oh..." She swallowed and turned her head down some.
Ashley sensed something else slightly wrong. Something in the plot of the movie had bothered Katia, but she couldn't quite decide what. "You okay?" she murmured into the small ear nearby. She had her arms still around Katia's waist, and she gently squeezed in reassurance.
"Yeah," the petite blond softly replied. She focused back on the movie and set aside whatever had bothered her. She tucked her hands under the loose part of the armchair's cushion.
Katia didn't really think much about how her and Ashley were laying together on the sofa. She was comfortable with it, and she felt quite safe in the spot too. The movie truly scared her so Ashely's closeness helped her stay settled. There was just something about the movie that struck a small cord in Katia, and she refused to face it tonight.
Ashley kept silent during the movie unless Katia had a question about the plot. She was watching the movie, but her thoughts were wandering too. She considered what she needed to do to finish getting moved into her house. She then back tracked to the earlier conversation she'd overheard between Katia and Sara at the Wawa.
The conversation had intrigued Ashely quite a bit. She hadn't overheard it until Katia had suggested she probably had a boyfriend. Ashley rolled her eyes just at the thought of a boyfriend. One of those hadn't existed in her life for some time, well except for that one time. But Ashley had her confirmation that she only liked women and that was that.
What really sparked Ashely's interest was Katia's reaction to Sara asking Ashley for a date. Ashley wanted to know if Katia reacted to protect Ashley from Sara's antics. Or was Katia just plain jealous? By the time this little bet ran its course, Ashely would need to thank Sara for it. Because if there was one thing often consistent among gays it was that most did have gaydar. Ashely had it, and she had supposition on what may be hidden in Katia.
Now Ashley just had to be careful how she dealt the cards. She wasn't about to let this blow up and especially in front of Katia's face. Ashley cared too much for Katia.
The movie started to wind down closer to the end. Katia was beginning to put the pieces together. She hoped the mother and daughter would make it out of Silent Hill safely. She was already saddened by the fact that the cop had been killed. Briefly, Katia considered whether or not Ashley had bought the movie just because of the police officer. She pushed that idea aside though.
Finally the movie ended, and Katia felt mentally wiped out. She took a deep breath and slowly let it trickle out. "They could definitely do a sequel."
"Mmmm." Ashley leaned closer to Katia but slightly lifted from the sofa. She stretched out her right arm and scooped up the television remote. She switched the television back to the satellite television, which she had installed almost the first day she moved to the house. She went through the channel guide until she came to a local news station out of Baltimore.
Katia had been slightly tense from the movie because of the scary scenes. She now relaxed better and seemed to settle deeper into Ashley's body. She had heavy eyelids too.
The trooper managed to balance the remote on the top of the sofa in usual habit. She then positioned her arm back over Katia's stomach. She carefully listened to the latest news in Maryland. She also wanted to see what the weather would be like this weekend.
Katia was quiet, and she started to doze off from her long day and week. She drifted off after a bit and became molded against Ashley's body completely.
Ashley peered down and studied her friend's sleeping features. She had a tender grin. She felt a brief desire to kiss Katia's temple, but she refrained from it. She instead watched the news. Once she'd seen enough, she picked up the remote and turned off the television. She then decided Katia shouldn't drive back to campus in such a state.
Katia slightly roused from Ashely's movements. She was going to try and sit up, yet she remained still just as Ashley got off the sofa. She lifted her head some and sleepily peered up at her friend in the dark room. "Ash?"
"Right here." The trooper leaned down and slipped her arms under the younger woman. "Come on, bed time for us." She straightened up and easily lifted Katia up from the sofa.
Katia was still confused, but she muttered, "I can walk, really."
"Show me tomorrow," the trooper joked. She started for the bedroom. She was going to have to share the bed with Katia since she was obviously far from having a guest room ready.
"I can drive-"
"No," Ashley softly cut off. "You're too tired." She'd made it around the minefield of shoes and boxes and started down the hallway.
Katia sighed and leaned her forehead against Ashley's neck. She closed her eyes again and simply went along for the ride. She was neatly deposited onto the made bed in the dim room. The only light source was coming from the bathroom.
Ashley pulled back the bedsheets, and Katia helped her. She had them out of the way and gently instructed, "Let's get your jeans off."
Katia didn't argue and easily did what her friend told her. She soon had them off, and she only did need her teeshirt anyway.
Ashley pulled the covers over Katia and took the jeans. She neatly folded them then set them on top of her dresser. She hunted around for her nightwear and disappeared into the bathroom.
The small blond in the bed snuggled deeper into the warming bed. She felt the sleepiness return to her. She only turned onto her right side when Ashley climbed into the bed next to her. Through her heavy eyelids, she watched Ashley get settled into the bed.
"Get some sleep, K." Ashley had her alarm clock in hand and was fooling with the time. She had to be up early for work tomorrow. "Sleep in tomorrow."
"I will," Katia promised. She could tell Ashley wanted her to do just that.
The trooper set the alarm clock back on the nightstand. She became more comfortable on her back and adjusted the covers. She closed her eyes and contently sighed.
"Hey, Ashley?"
The trooper had a grin twitch at her lips. "Yes, K?" She slowly lost that grin after the long silence. "What is it?" She turned her head to the left and found somewhat open eyes on her.
"That janitor, in the movie, he raped that girl." Katia had a distraught look on her face. "Why does somebody do something like that?"
Ashley sucked in her breath at the heavy question. She didn't have the answer that Katia probably needed to hear, and she doubted there was a right answer out there. She knew there were psychological answers that really never seemed to solve the riddle. Ashley summarized her best answer for the moment.
"It's hard to say, Katia." The trooper had come upon such cases in her past, but she'd never handled them being only a corporal and not a detective. "Every case is different and often the motive too. But typically the rapist has some kind of problem whether from their past or it's psychological."
Katia licked her dry lips. She agreed with Ashley's words, but she still couldn't piece one thing together yet. "But what exactly is the final reason that makes him rationalize the rape and choose to act upon it?"
Ashley didn't like the direction of the conversation. She was highly concerned. She turned onto her side and tried to look into Katia's eyes, but it was hard in the darkness. "I don't think you'll have that answer tonight, Katia... or anytime soon. It's still something trying to be understood to this day." She did catch Katia's distant stare so she stretched out her hands and drew Katia's attention back to her. She rested her palm against Katia's cheek. "Katia, has this happened to you?" She'd been there in time up in Pennsylvania when that guy almost had Katia.
Katia met Ashley's eyes and after a beat, she softly replied, "No." She swallowed and added, "I just don't quite understand why it happens. I've seen so many of those Law and Order episodes, I guess." She sighed and argued, "It's scary to think that those episodes are based off of real life."
Ashley ran her thumb across Katia's jawline. "It is scary." She then offered a sad smile and reminded, "But that's why there's people like me."
Katia covered her hand over Ashley's hand and sadly whispered, "Yeah." She wistfully smiled and took Ashley's hand from her face. She laced her fingers through Ashley's and held tightly. She closed her eyes and murmured, "I need a person like you in my life."
Ashley hoped Katia was just worn out. She didn't like this dark conversation, and she gently instructed, "Get some sleep, K." She decided to stay on her side, and she closed her eyes. The heavy conversation though left a strong imprint on Ashley's memory. Ashley decided she'd have to do some probing later on and see what response she'd receive from Katia. For now, she and Katia both needed some sleep. The day had turned out to be fairly pleasant, and Ashley was happy to be on the Eastern Shore and not only closer to her mother but also Katia. There was just something about Katia Danforth that made Ashley feel something different, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it yet.
Continued.