"Oh my god, oh my god--!" I rushed through the fire door and stepped into the garage, where my car had been for almost an hour in a half, "It's so late!" I muttered to myself, while fast walking to my vehicle's parking spot."How did the meeting take so long?! I still have to go to the bakery first!" I threw my bag and other belongings over to the passager's seat and got inside the car, pushing the doorway too forcibly. "Damn it. Naomi is so going to chop my head off! I'm so dead!" I inserted the key into the ignition and, as I twisted it down, I lubberly pressed my foot down on the speeding pedal, feeling the familiar hum of the vehicle below me."Time to get out here." So, with a rough start, I rolled out of the parking spot and followed the exit sign.
(...)
I turned the corner, nearly tipping the car over in the process."Wow--!" My eyes widened in surprise, and I turned the steering wheel the other way around. I almost lost control there-- I have to be more careful if I want to get there in one piece! I thought to myself, recognizing that I was being a danger to everyone using the road and sidewalk. Reckless behavior always brought trouble, but desperate times required desperate measures. So, it began a period of hasty measures and reckless decrees for the next minutes. Still, I couldn't help thinking that my driving could kill someone and making me get arrested. The lights came on and I breathed a sigh of relief, I shook my head, sending that thought away. "No time for predictions now, Sarah. Eyes on the road." I turned left and drove a few meters until I realized the road I wanted to take was packed with traffic."Goddammit!" I cursed loudly, slamming violently my hand onto the steering wheel. "Wonderful, just wonderful." My voice tone hung somewhere between sarcastic and annoyed. Taking that route would take me at least half an hour or so to get to the city. As I skimmed the area, I noticed a side road that was clear of any traffic jams. On the spur of the moment, I whipped the car around, crossed the opposite track straight-up fair, and nearly climbed up the sidewalk, quickly squidding like a lunatic. "Next stop, Chicago city." Nail thoroughly on the pedals, my tires skid as the car went up and making a long skid mark behind me. Then, a sudden flashing blue 'nd red lights followed by alarming sirens caught my eye's attention, startling me since I was too focused on getting to my next destination on schedule. I looked through my car's rearview mirror but wasn't surprised at all at what I saw. Great. Just what I needed. A police car was already on my tail; I guess they have been staking out today since there's going to be a big game this afternoon and, trying to find an idiot who wasn't following the speed limit. I happened to be that idiot. They must have seen my stunt back there. Yey, me. I sighed resigned, thinking that I had absolutely picked the wrong day to be late.
"Pull over." A man's voice through the speakers ordered.
Despite being late as hell, I still complied and immediately pulled the car up to the sidewalk. I shut the engine down and let my head fall onto the steering wheel; the fact that I knew I was getting a speeding ticket or having my license seized cast a gloom over my features, I cursed at my so-busy life. The light knock on my window door and a 'open up, please' typical catch-phrase, made me pull back and fully lean on my seat's backrest. I let out a heavy sigh, before finally pressing the button down and rolling down the window.
"Good afternoon, ma'am. That was quite a dangerous maneuver back there. Did you know that you were also driving way past the limit speed?" He asked with a frowned eyebrow while already writing down my car's plate.
"Please officer, can I not get a speeding ticket? I know I was way too out of line but, you see, I was stuck in this business meeting for the past hour and a half and, I was already running late to an event later this evening and still have to go somewhere before showing my ass there, being why that I pressed on the accelerator a bit too much. I know that's no excuse but, either way, it's my first infraction, please let me go on a warning, I--" When I finally gazed up at the law-enforcement man, my jaw dropped. I blinked hard, not believing what my eyes were seeing. He was 5'9 inches tall; his skin was of a pallor shade that implied a serious lack of vitamin A, he had messy light brown hair and emerald green eyes. Despite his constrained police garment, I could see how muscular and tailored he was. An unexpected thought had crossed her mind – briefly. I felt like slapping myself in the face; I was going through a needy phase right now. Nevertheless, he was quite a handsome man. Thank you, God, for this blessing!
"Your license and registration please." He asked, still not establishing direct eye contact with me.
"Oh-- Y-Yes, of course!" I reached out to the car's glove compartment and searched inside for the documents required. I had them stored in there, except for my license, which was always in my purse. "Here sir." After finding them, I passed them on to him through the window gap.
He remained in silence for a few minutes, inspecting thoroughly my documents."Could you please step out of the vehicle ma'am?" He finally spoke up.
"W-Why?" I asked confused. For what reason did I have to leave the comfort of my car?
"Please step out of the vehicle ma'am." He simply repeated.
I frowned."Why? What's wrong?" I asked already starting to unbuckle my seat-belt. Could someone tell me what was going on?! Could him?!
"Ma'am..."
"Okay, okay... I'm stepping out of my car... geez..." I complied and stepped out. "So bossy for a hot guy," I whispered more to myself than to him.
"Hey! Who are you calling 'bossy', you doofus?!" He asked, apparently feeling a bit offended by my choice of words. "I'm not my brother, who's always bossing everyone around!"
"Y-You weren't supposed to hear me say that, I--" I murmured out of instinct, kind of flustered. "Er... what... did you just called me....? Who's brother are you talking about? You speak as if I know you... " I glanced upward, my mouth pursed but slightly open and loose. That rang a bell somehow. 'Doofus'. It seemed like a nickname of some sort. I don't remember having heard it before but, why does it sound so familiar tho?
He leaned sideways momentarily, pulling up his sleeves and crossing his arms over his chest. "And yet, I've heard."
"W-Well... b-but what I said was only the truth, you were kind of bossy just now!" I placed both hands on my hips feeling now a bit annoyed. Who did he think he was for addressing me so casually? "I see I am before an officer that allowed power to come to his head." I counter-attacked.
"And I see I'm before a girl who doesn't mince her words." He wasn't kind on his choice of words either. "Yes, a girl."
"Uh-- Rude!" I mouthed, angered with the cop's cocky attitude.
"Do you always hit on people you just met?" He crossed his arms, and met my gaze, watching me intently.
"Uh?! Wha? N-No--! It-It was just an expression! I mean, you're hot but it's an expression nevertheless... wait, I-I mean--! Y-You're hot but NOT that way I-- ugh" I face-slapped myself for my lack of self-control.
"What did you mean, then?" He asked; he was smiling a little, a smile with a twist associated with it, like he was holding in a laugh.
"W-What I truly meant was... er-r..." I sighed and awkwardly rubbed my left arm. "S-Sorry, I meant no disrespect..."
"You're way too cute!" He laughed ruefully.
"S-Stop it... it isn't funny at all..." I could have easily replied in kind, however, his approach caught me off guard. "Why am I even having this kind of conversation?"
"Don't be like that, you know you want a lil' piece of this, even if unconsciously, and there's no shame in that. I got that honey, boo." He bragged on shameless.
Now, was my turn to cross my arms. Enough of being a damsel in distress in the hands of hot, handsome men. "Are you flirting with me, officer..." I bent over and squinted my eyes to read the surname engraved on the pocket of his uniform. "... Hoops. Officer Hoops. Do you know how inappropriate that is? I could sue you for sexual harassment"
"You wouldn't." Teasing, he moved his head closer to mine, 'till our noses were only inches away from each one.
"Try me." I said.
"Then, I would like to see you do it."
I rolled my eyes at him and poked him on the forehead, he was impossible to deal with. Somehow, a small giggle ended up being rip out from deep my throat."So obnoxious. You sounded just like Erik back when we fir--" I couldn't finish my thought out loud as the next words seemed to have just left me. A strong sense of nostalgia stroke me just like a wild tornado doing his unpleasant job and my facial expression took a 360 turn.
"Hey, what's wrong?" The officer placed a hand over my shoulder after seeing me too long in the space-out-zone. "Ahm, are you okay ma'am?" He asked concerned.
"Uh? Y-Yeah... Do you need anything else, officer? Can you give my license and documents back? I really need to get going."
He scratched the nape of his neck, clueless to what had happened just now. "No," and, handed me over the documents. "This time I'll let you down with only a warning. Next time make sure you have the right documents on you and that they match with your vehicle. Ah, also, please don't exceed the speed limit next time."
"I... Won't. Thank you, officer." I said absently, while my hand automatically opened the door to the driver's seat and my body hooped inside rather heavily.
"Have a nice day, m'am." He raised his cap and kindly smiled, leaving for the patrol car, shortly after.
To be continued.