Ultraviolet

Chapter Thirty-Six: Starting Over

We found ourselves at a cafe. I ordered a caramel latte, Hadeon ordered a black coffee, and we headed back to the apartment holding the hot drinks close to our chest.

"Is that what you want to do then?" Hadeon asked, continuing our earlier conversation. "Photography?"

I thought it over. I never considered it. Living with the Wilkes, I wasn't exactly fantasising about my own idea of perfect. I just wanted to get out of there. That meant part-time work and eventually a degree that could guarantee a job. When my guidance counsellor at Sunshine High asked me what my plans for the future were, my answer was always "accounting". Math has always been my best subject, I had already learnt the basics in high school, and it felt like a safe option.

Now, I had options. I had stability. I could pursue photography if I really wanted to. Although, I don't think I did want to.

"No, I think it's more of a hobby."

"So bartending is your calling?"

"Definitely not." I sighed. "I mean, I like working at the bar now, but it's too stressful. Too many people and it's loud."

"So, what then?"

I tried to remember back to living at my grandparents. It was only three years ago that they passed, surely I had some clue. All I can remember is vaguely being interested in psychology, but I'm fairly certain that was a copying mechanism used to justify my mother abandoning me at a grocery store. I thought I could find a reason behind her actions. I feel like if I were to try my hand at psychology, I'd just be reopening that wound, reigniting that obsession.

"Maybe... communications? Or marketing?" I pondered. "Or maybe law. I'm pretty good at arguing. Couldn't you just see me as a badass lawyer? Objection! Your honour! My client is innocent!"

"Wow, you really painted a picture for me there." He mumbled sarcastically, an unmistakable grin on his face.

"I could, you know." I sighed. "Despite living in hell, I actually did pretty well in school. Valedictorian. I opted out of giving a speech, but I still got to keep the title."

Hadeon looked down to me, his eyebrows raised. I smiled smugly. We found ourselves back at the bar.

"You're full of surprises." He said, his mouth perked into a small smile.

The moment was shattered by a loud ringing in my pocket. I pulled out my phone, a familiar number flashing across the screen. Deputy O'Connor. I never saved his number to a contact, but I knew instinctively it was him.

"I have to... I'm gonna take this." I mumbled as I shooed Hadeon. He looked hurt for a moment, but quickly recovered, clenching his jaw as he followed to the back of the building where the door to the apartment was.

I pressed accept and pulled the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

"Esme?" He questioned. "Is everything alright? Are you okay?" His interrogation seemed calmer, less frantic than when I called a week or so ago.

"I'm good. I'm really good."

"So you heard."

"About Sherif Geiger? Yeah, I heard." I said quietly, taking a seat on the bar steps. I wasn't sure how much to say. By getting Geiger and the Wilkes' arrested, I had done the one thing he warned me not to do: don't get caught up in the shady business occurring here at 283 Washington Street.

"You're really lucky." He said. "I did everything I could to try and fight those charges put against you-"

"I know you did, thank you."

"Don't thank me." He warned. "I didn't do this. I really tried everything. I contacted higher authorities, I looked for evidence through any legal channel I could, I even met with an officer in the FBI to try and fight Geiger. Nothing worked. I don't know how this even happened, and how they could get that evidence legally."

"What are you saying?" I questioned, all my willpower dedicated to hide my voice shaking through the phone. Was this an accusation?

"I don't know." He sighed. "Just... be careful and stay safe, Esme."

"I will." I muttered. "I promise."