“One”
by Alex Sportello
Alex showed up for her
first day of work not knowing what to expect. She had heard rumors
that there were corrupt cops in every police force across the United
States and she was about to join one of the most notorious of these:
The Los Angeles Police Department. Dressed casual in bell bottom
jeans and a white t-shirt, black hiking boots and hair pulled back
into a tight ponytail, Alex walked in through the front doors and up
to the reception desk to report for her first day of duty. “Alex
Brown, reporting for duty.” The receptionist, a mean looking woman
dressed in a black street cop uniform with her badge and various pins
on her uniform, frowned, as she gave Alex a once-over and directed
her to the third floor: homicide. Alex found the elevators to the
left, pressed the going up button and waited for the next available
lift.
Larry was already at work,
headed for the coffee pot to pour his first cup of the day. Chief
joined him as he was adding crème and sugar, telling Larry to meet
him in his office within five minutes. Larry had forgotten that
today he was to meet his new partner. He casually strolled into
Chief's office and sat down in one of the chairs across from the
desk. Sipping his coffee and listening to Chief rap about Alex.
“Her name is Alex, she is fresh out of training, so keep a good eye
on her, Sportello. She's young and has a lot to learn, but I'm told
you just might be able to learn from her as well.” Larry rolled
his eyes and it was about at that moment that Alex came in through
the doorway. Larry looked up and, have mercy, spit out his coffee
all over his bell bottoms, denim button down shirt that was more
unbuttoned than necessary and his green army jacket. A little even
made it's way to Alex's crisp white t-shirt, to which she protested,
“Hey! I just washed this, man.” Larry stood while Chief
searched a desk drawer for some paper towels to clean up the
unexpected mess. “Sorry, I just....you're so....uh, shit,”
stammered Larry. Alex gave him a quizzical look. Chief yelled,
“Sportello! You got coffee all over my leather seats! Clean this
shit up, NOW!” Larry was noticeably embarrassed as he grabbed some
paper towels and first wiped off the seats and then walked over to
Alex and began to press a paper towel to her breasts where coffee
stains were starting to set. When he saw Alex looking at him even
stranger, he just handed her the paper towel and retrieved another to
clean himself up. He handed her his jacket and said, “You can wear
this for today to cover up my mess. I'm really sorry.” Alex put
on the jacket and found that it fit quite nicely and it was
comfortable, too. Once the mess had been cleaned up, Chief motioned
for Alex to sit down, however, Larry remained standing; he couldn't
sit down comfortably with the noticeable hardon he now was having
trouble controlling, much less hiding.
“Larry Sportello, or
should I say 'Spit-ello', this is your partner, Alex Brown. Alex,
Larry will show you around the office, where your desks are and then
you two have a humdinger of a case to work on today. Dismissed, both
of you.” Alex stood and nodded politely before heading out the
door. Chief stopped Larry before he could take one step.
“Sportello, she's just a kid. Have her back at all times and for
God's sake, go easy on her.” Chief nodding, “I can't give you
all the details, but you and her are very similar and she slipped up
and is now at the mercy of the US government. They have decided to
put her here as long as they feel necessary.” Larry nodded, not
sure what exactly it was, that they had in common, but sure as hell
felt like he needed to be her protector all of a sudden.
Alex was waiting by the
soda vending machine sipping on a Dr. Pepper, when Larry walked up.
“Hey man, dig your chops and long hair,” she said to him, trying
to act casual. Larry smiled, said thanks and led Alex on to a quick
tour of the facilities. They ended up at their desks, facing each
other and a box of file folders in between. Larry motioned for Alex
to sit down before he took his seat across from her and started
pulling out the top file. He opened it, winced and asked her if she
wanted to have a look. Alex nodded, took the file and upon viewing
the photograph therein, her eyes grew wide with shock. She quickly
turned the photograph over, swallowed hard and began reading the
paperwork in the file. Larry watched her intently and quietly for
several moments until Alex spoke. “Have all witnessed been
questioned?” Larry shook his head. “We have a few we need to
talk to today and should probably head out. The car is this way,”
he motioned before arising from his desk and walking toward a
different set of elevators that led to the parking garage. Alex
followed quietly until they got to his car. “Holy shit, you drive
one of these?! That's what, a 1970's Dodge Challenger with a, let me
see here, hemi under the hood?” Larry beamed. “You must get a
lot of pussy driving that thing around, huh,” Alex asked.
“Eh...not as much as you'd think, well as a matter of fact, none at
all,” Larry said embarassedly. “Bummer, dude,” was Alex's
reply as she slid into the front seat and Larry closed the door for
her.
Soon they were headed down
the 5 out of downtown Los Angeles and onto the 605 into Los Alamitos.
They found their destination on Drysdale Avenue and pulled up in
front of a decent looking home with a minivan in the driveway. Alex
cringed. “Ugh, if it's one thing I hate, it's those damn minivans.
People who drive them are nuts and it's not a car you want to be
driving if you're out looking to get some, that's for damn sure.”
Larry just looked at her, completely surprised. “What? Minivans
give me the creeps, OK?” Alex said. Larry shook his head and
laughed to himself before walking over to Alex's side of the car to
open up her door and let her out. “Ready,” he asked? “Ready
as I'll ever be. C'mon, let's get this over with,” Alex said with
little enthusiasm.
A little later, after much
questioning of the witness, Larry and Alex decided they were hungry.
“So, where would you like to get some lunch from m'lady,” Larry
asked smoothly. Alex sat and thought about it for a moment, trying
to ignore the obvious flirting behind the comment. “I dunno,
maybe, like Carl's Jr or something, or is Hooters more up your
alley,” she responded, trying to stifle a laugh. “Ah, so this is
playful banter eh? Something to lighten up the day?” Larry
quizzed. Alex just shrugged and Larry said, “Hooters it is, then.”
Alex gave him a playful smack on the shoulder. Larry turned and
gave her a hungry and piercing sideways look before stepping on the
gas and showing Alex firsthand just what the Challenger could handle.
His hardon was back full force with no intention of subsiding unless
he did something about it.
Alex, meanwhile, was
trying to keep her own desires in control. “So, like what, are
you, like 30 something?” She asked. Larry shook his head. “No,
25, to be exact, and just how young are you?” Alex was not sure if
she should answer, but did anyway. “17.” “Ah, jail-bait, eh?”
Larry continued. Alex gave him a 'yeah, so-the-fuck-what” look.
“I don't mind, just gives me even more reason to keep a close eye
on you,” he followed. “
“I don't need you to
babysit me,” she said offended.
“Wasn't planning on it,
but Chief gave me orders to keep you out of harms way.”
“I can take care of
myself.”
“Possibly. But it
wouldn't hurt to have a friend by just in case.”
“In case of what,
exactly, Sportello?”
“Let's just hope you
never have to find out.”
It was about that time they
pulled into the parking lot at Hooters, the Challenger's engine
purring loudly from her run. Larry parked the Challenger away from
the other cars, shut her off and once again, as what would become
second nature, walked over to open the car door for Alex so she could
get out. As they walked toward the restaurant Alex announced, “I
can pay for my own meal, just so you know k? So I don't feel like I
owe you nothin like 'at.” Larry rolled his eyes. “Ladies, no
matter how young, never pay for their own meal when in the company of
a gentleman.” Alex shot back, “You are no gentleman. Don't
think I haven't noticed your hardon ever since I walked into Chief's
office.” Larry glared at her. It was obvious her comment hurt.
Why exactly, he couldn't figure out. “Alex, what is your problem?
What happened to the playful banter?” Larry demanded. Alex didn't
answer until they were seated at a booth. Then she leaned across the
booth and whispered, “I was raped when I was 9 by someone my family
trusted. You frighten me.” Larry's eyes grew wide with shock and
started to water. He looked straight into her eyes, whispering,
“I....I'm sorry. I won't let that happen to you again. We are
partners and I will always have your back. Please don't be afraid of
me. I dig you, or what little I already know about you. You're fun
to be around with the joking and playful banter, that kind of stuff.”
Alex held out her pinkie. “Pinkie promise?” Larry wrapped his
pinkie around hers and nodded. “Pinkie promise,” he said. “For
what it's worth, even though I'm frightened, you are a groovy looking
dude,” she said, looking down at the table, embarrassed that she
had even had the nerve to say so. When she looked up, Larry was
smiling at her.
Shortly thereafter, a
waitress in a white Hooter's t-shirt and the trademark orange shorts
that your ass would most assuredly be partially, if not mostly
hanging out of, came over with their menus and took their drink
orders. “I'll have a Coors and a sweet iced tea. She would like
a, what...Dr. Pepper?” Larry guessed. “Yeah, I'll have a Dr.
Pepper and keep em coming,” Alex said without looking up from her
menu. The waitress added, “Your little sister is so cute.” Alex
stifled a laugh and Larry's cheeks became slightly flushed. “Thank
you,” he said politely, “you're kinda pretty yourself babe.”
The waitress blushed and said she would be back with drinks shortly.
Alex stayed hidden behind the menu, her face red with jealousy. She
was quiet for a little too long and Larry chimed in, “So, kiddo,
what'll it be? Chicken nuggets and fries?” He started laughing
and Alex kicked his shin from under the table. “Ow!” he whined.
“Serves you right, jeez Larry, keep it in your pants, will ya?”
“What did I say?” he protested. “Oh, are you jealous?” A
huge Cheshire cat grin spread across his face. “Uh....no...I mean,
stop trying to get pussy when I'm around will ya? Do that shit on
your own time.” Alex squeaked. Larry pulled down the menu and
looked at Alex's face all contorted in strange facial expressions
trying to hide her jealousy. “Yep, you're jealous,” the smile
still wide across his face. Alex melted when he smiled. His gray
eyes twinkled with mischief. “Shut up,” was all she could muster
and then when the waitress came back with their drinks she said, “Uh,
I want, like, the grilled chicken caesar salad, no tomatoes and can I
like, get some ranch with that?” The waitress smiled and said,
“sure hon,” as she was writing down her order. She turned to
Larry, “and what will you have?” Larry thought for a minute,
“Hmm. I think I'll have the hot buffalo wings with extra sauce”
Larry took Alex's menu and handed both his and hers to the waitress
who left to put in their order in the kitchen.
Alex stayed focused on her
food and Larry sat watching her as he munched messily on his buffalo
wings. At this point, Alex could no longer make eye contact with
him. They stayed this way throughout lunch and Alex momentarily
excused herself to the bathroom before Larry paid the bill and they
were back out on the road in search of more witnesses to interrogate.
However, Alex was silent. So, Larry turned on the radio to a local
station that played 60's and 70's rock. Alex was content to just sit
and listen to the music to try and drown out the growing feelings and
attraction she was developing for Larry. After a while, Larry spoke.
“Don't be hard on yourself. It's cute that you're jealous.”
“No Larry, it's wrong
and inappropriate.”
“Alex, it's not a big
deal.”
“Maybe not for you. I
feel stupid.”
“You shouldn't feel that
way.”
“Well I do. Here it is
the first day on the job and already I have a crush.”
“I don't mind. You're
the first chick to like me anyway.”
“You're 25, I'm 17.”
“Age is just a number.
I'm not offended. I'm flattered.”
“I feel like a fool.”
“You're not the only one
who is fighting feelings here babe.”
“Don't call me that. And
what do you mean I'm not the only one?”
“My highly noticeable
hardon remember?”
“Oh yeah, that.”
“I won't hurt you. I
promised that. I intend to keep that promise.”
“That covers a wide
range of territory. What exactly do you mean?”
“I won't do anything
that you don't want to do.”
“I don't want to do
anything but get to the next witness.”
“OK. Problem solved.”
“For now, at least.”
“You smoke?”
“Fuck yeah, light me one
up, maybe it will mellow me out.”
“Well, I have some Thai
stick, is that groovy?”
“Weed is weed, man,
light that shit up and let's get Chinese eyes.”
Larry laughed. “I see you
are also a fan of the Cheech and Chong variety?” Alex shrugged.
“Yeah, I got a thing for Chong, Cheech is just like, the wing-man,
or whatever.” Larry thought about it as he lit the joint and gave
it to Alex for the first inhale. Pot smoke filled the Challenger as
they headed to their next stop. After they finished, Larry rolled
down the windows to sort of air out the car and their clothes, but it
really didn't do a lot of good. However, Alex was pretty mellow and
was back to her sarcastic, chatty self, which Larry was beginning to
really like. Alex looked over at him, stoned out of her fucking mind
and very bluntly stated, “Hey man, nice Chinese eyes.” Then
proceeded to burst out laughing. Larry was laughing too and barely
managed to say “Yeah, you too,” in between attempting to laugh
and catch his breath.
At the end of the day,
Larry offered to drop off Alex at her home. Alex allowed him to only
come to the corner of Laurel Canyon Drive and Mulholland Drive. She
told him he could let her off there. “What time should I pick you
up in the morning?” Larry asked. Alex shrugged, “I dunno, I'll
be here about maybe 6am, groovy with you?” “Groovy,” Larry
said as he waved and drove off to his own home on Dunecrest in
Gordita Beach. Alex walked up the street to the home in which she
was currently staying, occasionally looking back wondering if the
days events had really happened or if she was imagining it all. When
she got home, she plopped down on the couch in front of the TV and
hoped to catch South Park, if it were still on.
Larry couldn't stop
thinking about Alex as he drove home. He was trying to hold on to
how beautiful she looked in her bell bottoms and t-shirt with his
jacket. Fuck! He forgot to get his jacket back. It's not like he
could turn back and expect her to be waiting for him on the corner,
so he would just have to wait until tomorrow morning when he picked
her up in that exact same spot for work. Would she sleep in it?
Would she still be wearing it tomorrow? He wondered. Thoughts raced
through his mind. What exactly did she sleep in, if anything at all?
What did she look like when she was sleeping? Did she sleep on her
side, curled up with a pillow, or sprawled out all over the bed?
Before he realized, he was parked in his garage underneath his little
beach house. He cut off the engine, shut the garage door and headed
into his home, still with Alex on his mind. For some reason, he
couldn't think of anything else. Nothing else mattered.
Alex realized when she was
getting ready to shower and get to bed, that she had forgotten to
give Larry's jacket back to him. She neatly hung it on the chair in
her bedroom after undressing and stepping into the shower. Her heart
was racing and all she could think about was Larry. His long, curly
brown hair, his mesmerizing gray eyes, the mutton chop sideburns that
her hands ached and longed to touch...the unbuttoned denim shirt that
showed his chest and a patch of chest hair and most notably, the
apparent large hardon that he couldn't seem to control in his sexy,
tight bell bottom trousers. Was this just a crush or was it
something more? Something real, something serious? Oh no! Was she
falling in love with him? She had never been in love before and
these new feelings and thoughts were overwhelming. So overwhelming,
in fact, that she cried and chastised herself in the shower for even
having these thoughts. “What the hell did he mean that he wasn't
the only one fighting with feelings?” she said to herself. Dozens
of questions swirled through her mind. “Does he like me too? I
mean, like, really like me, or is he just trying to get me in bed to
fuck? He said he would protect me, but can he protect me from
himself? From his 'feelings'? What if this is all just in your
head, Alex? What if you are over thinking this?” “AAAAAHHHH!”
she screamed, frustrated at all the confusion. She finished her
shower, got ready for bed, laid down and cried herself to sleep. She
dreamt of what it would be like if she were his and he were hers.
She wasn't the only one who
tossed and turned that night. Larry, naked and alone in his own bed,
dreamt of what it were like if he and Alex were together. Images of
romantic dinners, walks on the beach, lighting up and holding the
joint to each other's lips as the other inhaled, a marriage proposal,
a wedding, intense lovemaking....a baby swirled through his dreams.
Larry woke up, cold, sweating and for some reason, crying. Where
were all these feelings coming from? He had gone 25 years not really
thinking of any serious relationships, much less even marriage and a
baby. Now all of a sudden, he was seeing what his life could be with
Alex. He was actually wanting the life he had just woken up from in
his dream. He was wanting the girl he had just met the day before,
to be his for the rest of his life.
The next morning, Alex sat
waiting on the corner of Laurel Canyon and Mulholland, Larry's jacket
neatly folded in her lap and wondering if he had forgotten he was
supposed to pick her up. It was 6:30 and she had no way to contact
him, not only because there was no phone nearby, but also because she
did not have his number, and was about to head back home to call a
cab to take her to work. Just then, Larry pulled up, put the
Challenger in park, jumped out and opened the door for Alex,
apologizing for being so late. He looked different today. His hair
was pulled back into a tight ponytail, he was wearing a Panamanian
hat with a brown ribbon around the brim and dark sunglasses that hid
his eyes. He still wore tight bell bottom trousers and a long
sleeved button down shirt that was today, buttoned higher than usual.
Alex handed him the green army jacket as he closed the passenger
door and headed back into the driver's seat. He just threw it in the
back seat before pulling off and heading to the office to review more
files. “Um, did I do or say something wrong, Larry?” The
silence seemed to go on for an eternity. “Larry?” Larry let out
a sigh and then sharply said, “Call me 'Sportello', OK?” Alex
choked down the lump that seemed to cut off her breathing and speech.
“Sure thing, Sportello,” she said sadly. The drive to the
office was silent and Alex just looked out the window, feeling like a
fool for basically everything. More so, for allowing her to feel
anything for Larry and believing that he would keep his promise and
not hurt her. “I brought this on myself,” she chastised herself
silently. Tears welled up in her eyes and it was about the time that
they pulled into Larry's space in the parking garage that Alex bolted
from the car and ran up the stairwell, instead of taking the
elevator, to the office. However, she did not go inside. Instead
she curled up at the top of the landing, rocking back and forth and
crying. Well not necessarily crying, but sobbing. She did not hear
Larry's footsteps slowly coming up the stairs. He stood over her for
a moment, before sitting down beside her and reaching out to gently
touch her shoulder. Alex recoiled violently. Larry withdrew his
hand. “Get away from me, Sportello! I hate you and I hate myself
even more!”
“Alex, it's for your own
good.” Larry protested.
“For my own good?! Yeah
I guess you're right. You're a monster!”
“I promised to protect
you and this is the only way I know how.” Larry said, also crying.
“I can't believe I let
you affect my dreams and sleep or that I felt anything for you.”
“Alex...I....”
“Just leave me alone!
Go away!”
“I...never....wanted....to
hurt you.”
“GO AWAY SPORTELLO!”
But Larry didn't leave.
“I don't want to go
away, Alex.”
“Well I want you to go
away. I don't want to have anything to do with you.”
“Alex...I love you. I
don't know how, but all I know is that I'm in love with you.”
“Fuck off, Sportello.
You're a fucking liar.”
“No, Alex. I also had a
dream last night. Of a life with you. Of the life that I never
knew I even wanted, but want more than anything...with you and only
you. But I made a promise that I would protect you and that I would
never hurt you.”
“Oh, so you are pushing
me away because you love me? What kind of fucked up mindset is
that?!”
“I don't know, Alex.
All I know is that yesterday when you walked into that office that I
felt something that I had never felt before...in my heart...and as
we worked together and talked, that feeling grew stronger. No girl
has ever had that effect on me...not until you. I tossed and turned
all night because I couldn't get you out of my mind. Call me crazy,
but for me, at least, it was love at first sight. But in order to
protect you, as promised, we have to keep it professional, at the
office, at least.”
By this point, Alex had
uncoiled and was now sitting and staring at Larry, even more confused
than she had ever been up to this point in her life. She just
couldn't believe what she was hearing.
“No, Larry. This isn't
what love is supposed to be like. You don't flirt with a girl one
day and then completely shut her out the next. You don't play with
a girl's heart like that. You don't lead a girl on like that.....”
Alex didn't even get to
finish what she wanted to say before Larry had pulled her tight to
his chest, tilted her head back and kissed her more passionately than
he had expected. Alex pulled away and slapped Larry hard across his
cheek. “Don't ever do that again, Sportello!” The pain in
Larry's heart was far worse than the pain of the hard slap. Tears
ran down his cheeks, he got up quietly and headed into the office,
leaving Alex alone to compose herself before the workday started.
Larry made a quick stop to the men's restroom to wash the tears off
his face, assess the injury thereon and to pull himself together
before heading to his desk. It was going to be a long day, to say
the least.
Alex showed up a short
while later. “You're late, Brown,” Chief said sternly. “Sorry,
Chief, my cat died last night and I had to get my shit together
before coming in,” Alex lied. Larry looked up at her in disbelief.
“Problem, Sportello?” Chief inquired, noticing Larry's
expression. “Uh, no Chief. I just had no idea Brown even owned a
cat,” he lied. “Get to work, you two. And Brown?” Alex said
firmly: “Yes, Chief?” “Sorry to hear about your cat.” Alex
nodded and immediately got to work. She picked up another file and
began to scan the paperwork and notes inside trying to piece together
witness statements and suspect alibi's. A while later, Larry got up
to go pour himself a cup of coffee and came back also with a few cans
of Dr. Pepper for Alex. She nodded and went back to reading her
files.
A short while later, Larry
broke the silence. “We need to go have a look at the crime scene
this afternoon.” Alex looked up. “Yeah, ok,” she said as she
opened one of the cans of Dr. Pepper and took a huge gulp. Larry
leaned across his desk and grabbed the file Alex was reading. “Hey,
I was reading that,” she protested. He just shrugged. “Something
doesn't make sense here. This witness statement varies from this
other witness' statement.” Alex took a look. “Yeah, it does,
what do you want to do? Bring them in for further questioning?”
Larry thought for a moment. “Yeah. Need to get to the bottom of
this. The real issue,” he said looking at Alex as if he were
trying to say something that in reality, dealt with the issue at hand
between them and not necessarily, the case. “C'mon, let's go check
out that crime scene.”
Soon enough, Larry and Alex
were headed up to Griffith Park, which happened to be right around
the area where she was currently living. Larry parked the Challenger
and didn't even have her turned off before Alex was already out of
the car and headed to the crime scene. Larry grabbed his jacket from
the back seat and quickly tried to catch up to her. He was short of
breath before he finally reached Alex. Panting hard and holding out
his jacket to her he said, “Here, you forgot this.” Alex gave
him a 'fuck you, asshole' look before retorting back, “That's not
mine and I have no use for it.” “Alex, just take the damn
jacket, please?” Larry begged, annoyed at her refusal. Alex
ripped it out of his hand and threw it over her shoulder and
continued walking around in the area still lined with yellow police
tape. “What exactly are we looking for?” Alex asked after a
while, trying to figure out, exactly, what they were supposed to be
looking for. Larry led her into an area just inside the trees, away
from public view. Alex grew tense. Larry took the jacket and threw
it on the ground. “What the fuck are you doing, Sportello?” she
demanded, growing frightened at the hungry, lustful look in his eyes.
“I told you, getting to the real issue,” he growled. “NO!”
Alex protested and began to back away, but Larry grabbed her and
pulled her close into a hug. He held her close, not moving or
speaking. He ran his fingers through her hair and caressed the back
of her neck. His touch was gentle. “I think you and I both really
needed one of these today,” he said softly. He cradled her head to
his chest and she could hear his heart beating hard and at a rapid
pace. She let her guard down and returned the embrace. “We don't
have to be professional here, babe,” Larry whispered quietly in her
ear and added, “Let me just hold you in my arms so that I can once
again have your trust and maybe one day, your love. I don't want to
let you go.” “Then don't,” Alex whispered. “OK,” Larry
whispered back. They held each other for quite some time, then Alex
pulled back, looked deep into Larry's eyes and gently touched the
cheek that she had slapped only a few hours earlier out of anger and
pain. Larry winced, slightly, but kept his gaze locked with hers.
“So this is what love feels like?” she asked. Larry smiled,
“Yeah, I think so.”
They left the park and
headed out to find a place for lunch. Alex was now wearing the green
army jacket that Larry had given her. Both in the mood for something
light, seeing as their stomachs were in a state of distress given the
earlier events of the day, they settled on the soup, salad and bread
sticks lunch at a nearby Olive Garden. “This is one of my favorite
restaurants,” Alex quipped. “I'll keep that in mind for future
reference,” Larry said thoughtfully as he stuffed his mouth with a
bread stick.
No time to return to the
office, Larry and Alex were out in search of something to kill some
time. “Let me show you my part of town,” he suggested. Alex was
game. “But first, you need a swim suit and probably some
sunscreen, seeing as you have fair skin and all. I'm thinking you
would look great in a black bikini, I know just the place.” Alex
looked at him with a raised eyebrow before asking, “And what
exactly are you going to wear? You going naked or something?”
Larry laughed. “No, we are going to stop by my house after
shopping so that I can grab my shorts and towels and we can change.”
She squinted her eyes at him. “Don't worry, you can change in the
bathroom and I'll change in the bedroom so that I won't see you
naked, even though, I must admit...I really want to,” he reassured
with that mischievous grin that sent Alex into melt mode.
Shopping was actually a lot
of fun for Larry. He had heard stories and had seen commercials on
TV about men agonizing about having to shop for clothing of any kind
with the ladies in their life, but for him, it was exciting. He got
to see Alex in about 50 or so different styles of black bikini's
before they both decided on which one was just right. The top was
halter style that snapped at the back of the neck and a gold ring
held together the cloth that covered her breasts and showed off her
cleavage nicely. The matching bottoms were tied together at the hips
with thin strings that could be untied with only one hand from the
gold rings on each side meaning easy accessibility for Larry,
although he wasn't about to admit that. At least, not yet.
Back at Larry's beach pad,
he found his blue and white Hawaiian print board shorts and two tie
dyed beach towels. He put the towels and the sunscreen into a dark
blue drawstring backpack with a green marijuana leaf on the front.
Alex changed quickly in the bathroom and Larry in the bedroom before
walking barefoot down to the beach. Larry had the backpack slung
over his shoulder and with his free hand, he took Alex's in his own
and would occasionally bring it up to his lips for a quick kiss,
followed by that smile...oh THAT smile! They found a nice spot close
to the water and set their towels in the sand to sit on. Larry
pulled the sunscreen from the backpack and read the label, “SPF
100, Geez, I hope this works,” before sitting on the towel behind
Alex and beginning to softly massage it into her back and shoulders.
He was really good at massaging and by the time he had finished, Alex
was pretty much a puddle of jelly from being so relaxed. She then
took the tube and applied sunscreen to her arms, chest, belly, legs
and face. Larry sat and watched her. “Damn, I should have
remembered to get your chest before I gave you back the tube.”
Alex blushed. “Do you need any of this,” she asked, hoping he
would say yes. Instead, he shook his head and pulled out a bottle of
tanning lotion, sat down in front of her and handed her the bottle.
“Ok, you get my shoulders, back and chest and then I can get the
rest, k?” Alex nodded and began to grease him up. She could feel
the muscles in his back and chest. She was really enjoying rubbing
lotion onto them. Larry looked at her lovingly. She looked up and
their eyes met in a sweet gaze that neither one of them wanted to
turn away from. They each laid down their bottles of lotion and
sunscreen on the towels to keep them from blowing away and headed
down to the water. Larry stepped in first, holding Alex's hand and
telling her the water felt great. So she followed him in thereafter.
They walked further into the Pacific Ocean until the water was at
their chests. They kissed and held onto each other as the waves
crashed into the shore. The sun was beginning to set by the time
they were ready to get out of the water and most of the other beach
dwellers had already left for the day; the surfers were coming back
safely to shore on the last waves of the day. They walked for a
little while up and down the beach and before they were ready to
leave, Larry took Alex in his arms and told her that one day, he
would ask her to be his wife, right here, in this very spot and that
he loved her very much. That much he knew. And then he kissed her,
for the fourth time that day.
After nightfall, they
walked back up Dunecrest to Larry's place. He let Alex shower first,
while he waited patiently in the living room. When she was finished,
she came out with her hair wrapped in a towel, white bikini bottom
panties and one of Larry's Doors' t-shirts. Larry's jaw dropped. “I
hope you didn't mind,” she said quietly. Larry shook his head and
finally was able to say the words, “No, not at all. It looks
groovy on you.” Alex smiled and found a spot to curl up on the
couch. Larry went into the shower for a while and came out wearing
only a pair of blue boxer briefs and was drying his hair and face
with a towel. He looked good wet, fresh out of the shower. He came
back over to the couch and saw that Alex was very tired. He gently
brushed her cheek as he sat down next to her. “Hey,” he
whispered softly, “I know you are tired, but how about I order a
pizza and soda? You hungry, babe?” Alex nodded and Larry went
into the kitchen to find the phone and put in an order at the local
pizza joint. He came back to find Alex fast asleep, cuddled with one
of the couch pillows. He sat on the floor in front of the couch, lit
a joint and turned on the TV to see what was on.
Alex awoke with a start
when the pizza dude knocked on the door. She opened her eyes to see
Larry, now dressed in those tight bell bottoms again, no shirt,
paying for the pizza and bringing the delicious smelling box and
thirst quenching Dr. Pepper bottle over to the small coffee table in
front of the couch. “Dinner's here, babe. I'll be back with some
plates and glasses,” Larry said as he headed to the kitchen to
rummage through the cabinets to find what he was looking for. He
came back with plates and glasses in hand, set them down on the table
and proceeded to pour some Dr. Pepper in one of the glasses for Alex
to drink. Alex opened the pizza box and got out a slice of pizza for
both her and Larry, and they soon got into face stuffing activities
of the pizza variety. It didn't take long for them both to finish
off the entire pizza, either. Afterward, Alex glanced up at the
clock above the TV. “Shit! I've got to get back home and get some
more sleep before work tomorrow. Larry, will you take me home,
please? Oh and thanks for today, it was groovy.” He took her hand
in his and kissed it softly. “It's late, why don't you sleep on my
bed tonight and I will stay out here on the couch?” Alex looked a
little uncomfortable. “If you don't want to, I will take you home.
It just feels nice having you here with me. It's not so lonely,”
Larry said sincerely. “I won't touch you, I promise.” Alex
believed him when he said it and so she agreed to stay for the night.
He carried her into the bedroom and sat her down on the edge of the
bed. Grabbing a pillow, he kissed her goodnight and went to lay on
the couch. Alex grabbed the other pillow and curled up with the
sheet, falling asleep again rather quickly. She felt comfortable in
Larry's bed.
Larry woke the next morning
to the smell of breakfast being cooked in the kitchen. He sat up on
the couch and hoped Alex wouldn't notice his morning boner. When he
could finally stand up, he wandered into the bathroom to take a piss
and assess the mess his hair had managed to get into while he slept.
Still only dressed in the boxer briefs and the bell bottoms, he found
his way to the kitchen and leaned against the fridge, smiling a
sleepy smile in Alex's direction. “Food is almost ready, you wanna
pour some juice,” she asked sweetly. “Mmmm, something smells
good,” Larry beamed. “Haven't had anyone make me breakfast since
I lived back at home with my parents.” Alex shrugged, “Eh, it's
no big deal, just trying to be kind, 'at's all.” Larry came up
behind her and put his arms around her waist. Alex backed up from
the stove a little so that he would not burn his hands. Larry buried
his face in the side of her neck and he could feel Alex's pulse start
to quicken. His warm breath on her neck sent shivers up and down her
spine. Her breathing became heavy as he placed soft kisses along the
nape of her neck. He reached over her and took the spatula from her
hands and turned off the stove. Then reached up in the cabinet and
retrieved two plates and proceeded to put a serving of scrambled eggs
and bacon on each. Alex regained her composure and slid out from in
front of Larry to give him room. She went to sit on the couch and
Larry joined her shortly, plates full of food, silverware to eat with
and after a trip back to the kitchen, two glasses filled with orange
juice in hand. He and Alex sat quietly on the couch enjoying their
breakfast. When it was over and their bellies were full, they
proceeded to get fully dressed and headed out the door to the office.
Arriving at the office a
bit early, Larry and Alex resumed their professional roles the best
they could, but the way they kept looking at each other and their
body language revealed to the others at the office that this was more
than just a professional partnership. Chief caught Larry as he was
headed to the restroom. “Sportello, this isn't what I meant when I
said to take care of her.” Larry's shoulders shrank. “Couldn't
help it, Chief. She just...I dunno....has this effect on me.”
Chief gave him a pat on the shoulder and said, “Well, as long as
you two work hard to stay professional on the job, it's none of my
business what you do outside of work.” Larry nodded and then
headed into the restroom to rid himself of the already 3 cups of
coffee he had this morning. Chief walked over to Alex' desk and
motioned for her to join him in his office. “Close the door,
Brown,” he said as he motioned for her to sit down in one of the
leather chairs across from his desk. Alex felt nervous. She had
already seen him talking to Larry and was bracing for a possible
lecture. Chief just sat down in his chair and began a little
something like this:
“So, I see you and
Sportello are getting along well?”
“Yes, Chief.”
“Anything you'd care to
share with me?”
“Like what, exactly?”
“Let me put it this way:
How do you feel about Sportello?”
“He's ok,” Alex
shrugged.
“C'mon Alex, I think you
see him as more than just 'ok'.”
“Alright, I sort of have
a crush on him.”
“Is it just a crush, or
is there more?”
“Chief, why is this
relevant?”
“It's relevant because
ever since you showed up for duty, Sportello hasn't been his 'usual
self' exactly. He seems to be wrestling with some sort of 'inner
demon' if you get my drift?”
“If you are asking if we
have a physical relationship, Chief, then the answer is no.”
“Good to know, but will
it always be that way?”
“I don't know, Chief.
I'm trying to figure out why he seems to have the effect on me that
he does, trying to figure out what these new emotions and feelings
are that have been sending my mind into a tailspin.”
“Well, he's a young,
good looking guy and you, if I may say, are a beautiful young woman.
It's only natural to be attracted to each other. You both are at
the age where these emotions run free.”
“So, what do you
suggest, Chief? Giving us different partners?”
“God, no! You two are
good for each other, I can tell. You both share something rare in
common, that I know you both want to keep under wraps.”
Alex's eyes grew wide.
“You mean, he has 'abilities' like me?”
“That's exactly what I
mean.”
“Fuck! I mean,
um...sorry Chief.”
“No offense taken. As
long as you both keep it as professional as possible, I don't see
any problems. What the two of you do outside of work, well that's
your business, not mine.”
“Understood. Anything
else, Chief?”
“As a matter of fact,
yes. Take care of him, Alex. He needs you just as much as you need
him. You both just don't know it yet.”
With that last statement and
Alex having a completely dumbfounded look on her face, Chief
dismissed her from his office. Alex excused herself and told Chief
she was headed on break. He nodded approvingly and she made a
beeline straight for the bathroom. Larry saw her break into a sprint
and looked over at Chief with a 'what the fuck did you say to her'
look on his face. Chief just gave him a 'don't worry, she will be
fine' look and stepped back into his office. While Alex was in the
bathroom, Larry walked over to Chief's office and knocked. “Come
in, Sportello.” Larry thumped down in the chair.
“Chief, if I may ask,
what just happened?”
“Brown and I just had a
little chat.”
“A little chat? She
just ran from your office scared shitless!”
“She will be fine,
Larry.”
“How sure are you about
that?”
“I gave her the same
talk that I gave you. About keeping it professional?”
“So you basically
embarrassed her?”
“No, not exactly.”
“Then what, exactly?”
Chief sighed: “You
remember a few days ago when I told you that you both have something
in common?”
“Yeah?”
“Sportello, she has
'abilities' just like you.”
“What!?”
“Sportello, she is just
like you. That is why I put you two together. She was asking if I
was going to separate you and give you each different partners and
that is when I told her.”
“Shit!”
“I also told her to take
care of you and that you both needed each other more than you
realize.”
“So basically you...”
Chief cut him off:
“Careful, Sportello. Go talk to her. You both have the rest of
the week off to talk and sort things out.”
Larry swallowed hard and
excused himself from Chief's office to go find Alex. He found her in
the stairwell of the parking garage in full panic attack mode. Larry
sat down beside her and sighed. “Chief has given us the rest of
the week off. We need to talk, Alex.” He pulled her close and
wrapped one arm around her shoulder, gently rubbing her arm. “Fuck,
man,” was all she could say. Larry nodded agreeingly. They sat in
silence for a while. Larry gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“C'mon, babe, let's go somewhere we can talk, k?” He stood up
and reached his hand out to her. She took his hand, got up and they
walked to his car. Once inside, Larry lit up another joint, passing
it to Alex to take the first hit and said, “Here, this should
help.” They smoked all the way to the beach. Alex was more at
ease and felt like she was in her natural element when they arrived.
They spent a good part of
the day walking up and down the boardwalk and pier, talking about
what needed to be discussed. Larry would hold her hand, they would
walk with his arm around her shoulder and her arm around his waist.
Occasionally, Larry would pull Alex to his chest in a warm embrace
and kiss the top of her head. They sat on the edge of the pier with
their bare feet hanging over the side.
“Larry, was what Chief
told me this morning what you were trying to protect me from? What
you hoped I'd never have to find out?”
“Yes. That and the good
cops gone bad.”
“Oh.”
“Babe, I never wanted
you to see that side of me. Now that we both know we have
'abilities', maybe we should just get it all out in the open.”
“Yeah.”
They talked more about the
'abilities' in question. Turns out, they were both, well, vampires.
Alex had shifted from different bodies since the year 161 A.D. Back
then, she was known as Crispina, the wife of the infamous Roman
Emperor, Commodus. Commodus, was also a vampire and had transformed
Alex, or Crispina, on their wedding night, against her will, in the
throes of passion. As her body aged as Crispina, she left that body
behind and inhabited many others, ranging from poor peasants to
Czarina Alexandra Fedronova, wife if Nicolas II, mother to the famous
Anastasia, who had been rumored not to perish when the overthrow of
Nicolas began in the early 1900's. Here she was, now, as outwardly
appearing as your average 17 year old in 1999, that had made the
mistake of publicly showing her abilities and being placed in the
hands and at the mercy of the US Government as a powerful secret
weapon in training.
Larry, on the other hand,
was a very new vampire. He was born with his abilities back in 1974.
Both his parents had been born the same and their parents before
them. He wasn't exactly sure how exactly, the vampire curse, had
implemented into his family and he wasn't sure he wanted to find out.
All he knew, is that he had always been this way and had to be
careful around what was considered 'normal' people so that they would
never find out his secret. After talking at the pier for a while,
Larry guessed, “So that's why you have to have that SPF 9000 huh?”
Alex laughed. “But why don't you have to have it, Larry?” He
shrugged. He had no idea why. “I guess I'm just weird,” he
joked. Alex agreed, “Totally.” They sat looking out over the
ocean for a while, content just to be in a serene and calm
environment after another crazy day.
“Larry,” she said
after a while, cautiously. “If I asked you to make love to me and
take my virtue, would you?”
Larry swallowed hard. “Only
if that is what you really want, Alex. I don't want you to do this
if you don't really want to. I need you to be absolutely sure.”
“I want you to. I want
to know what it feels like to be loved by you.”
With that, Larry jumped up,
helped Alex to her feet and said, “We need to make a stop first, at
the drug store, so I can get some condoms.” Alex nodded and off
they went, back to the car and to the store.
to be continued....
Edited by moderator Thursday, September 4, 2014 3:02:26 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Made sticky!
