𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗲

London

Erin walked through the streets of London, in search for a place to stay. She and Alan recently broke up. and when the place she originally wanted to stay appeared to be full, she was bummed to say the least. It was cold for a night in June, Erin tightened her scarf. The hotel employee told her that almost all hotels would be full due to a convention downtown. If her luck was like it appeared to be, she would be spending the night on the streets. It wouldn't be the first time, but comfortable wasn't the word she would use for it. Erin sat down, her feet had started hurting and thought it was time for a break. She impatiently searched through her purse for the pack of cigarettes she always brought with her, she didn't smoke much; Only in times like this, times where she was so stressed her head could burst.  She grabbed her phone, scrolling through an app which sorted hotels on budget, space and reviews. A notification popped up, showing a shady motel to stay in only 5 minutes away from her. Knowing she wouldn't get any better until the end of the weekend, she decided to go there. Smoking up her cigarette and throwing it away, she started her trip.

Erin looked at the building in front of her, it looked old and abandoned, as if no-one had renovated it in a decade or two. She opened the door and stepped inside, immediatly greeted by a smell of wet dogs and beer. The smell itself was almost enough to make her throw up, but she kept her composure. A lanky man with messy hair and old clothes approached her, stepping way too far into her personal space for her liking. "And what is a rich girl like you doing here, doesn't your kind go to the 4 seasons or anything like that?" He sneered, spitting the words out. "Uhm, i am sorry.. the hotels are all full and i need a place to stay, could you please let me pass sir?" She asked somewhat scared. Her parents had taught her that she should avoid these places. She felt out of her place and freaked out. "Filthy bitch, the counter is over there. You might get a discount if you do the guy a favour." He spat at her shoes on his way out Erin shuddered. She couldn't stay here, so she walked out.  Leaving as quickly as she could,calling a cab as soon as she entered the living world.  

Erin got out of the cab, tripping over the curb. She stumbled forward. Preparing herself for the fall, Suprisingly it didn't come. Erin felt two arms wrapping around her waist. Looking up, she saw a familiar face. Although it took her some time to realize who, it soon clicked. "A-Alexandra?" she stuttered, unsure of what to say. "Erin, are you alright?" Alex asked, "Yeah, i guess so. I think i sprained my ankle, but aside from that i'm fine." Erin answered clumsily wiggling herself out of Alex's arms, but failed miserably due to her back starting to hurt like a bitch. 

"Erin you are clearly hurting, hold on to me."  Alex commanded with no room for argueing.

"What? no,  i am fine. Just a little backpain, nothing i can't handle." Erin tried to argue, but failed miserably trying to walk, tripping back into Alex's arms.

"You are coming home with me and that's final."

Alex wrapped her arm around Erin's waist. ignoring Erin's mutters of protest.

They arrived at Alex's house, a small cottage close to the park. Erin stared in awe, not expecting Alex to live like this. Alex had always been more of a city girl. "It was the best i could get at the time, as you know i would've preferred something closer to the city. Alex explained. 

They sat on the sofa in Alex's living room. Alex had made them tea, somehow remembering Erin's favourite. "So, Erin. What exactly brings you here? I would have expected you to go to Grasmere?" Alex asked, curious. "Well, Alan left me. And since it was his house i had nowhere to go. But since my family moved out of Grasmere a long time ago, i didn't see fit to travel there." Erin answered with tears in her eyes, even though she and Alan didn't love each other anymore. It still hurt. Alex seemed to take notice and cautiously wrapped her arms around the frame of the other woman. 

"Alexandra, can we please talk?" Erin asked, wrapping her arms around herself. "Ofcourse, what do you want to talk about?" Alex answered, "The case, us. how we havent spoken in a year? Everything?" Erin muttered, insecure. Alex's face went from calming to sad within a second. She hadn't expected it to still hurt her so. "Alright..." Alex answered, sighing. "First off, i want to apologize, what i did was unforgivable and i shouldn't have let you take the fall for it, i am so so sorry. Secondly, If you want to come back. we have a position open as SSA. And i would love to have you back on the team." Erin spoke, sniffling. "Erin, what you did was fucked up yes. But you did what you had to do and i reacted poorly. I am so sorry for that, And i would love to come back. Teaching is nice, but profiling was my thing. " Alex answered, also crying by now. Erin wrapped her arms around Alex, offering her comfort. They stayed like this for some time. "I am 2 years sober today" Erin muttered into Alex's hair. "Oh Erin, i am so proud of you. Congratulations! i knew you could do it." Alex knew about Erin's problems with alcohol. "Erin, i don't have a gift. i am so sorry, but i hope i can make it up with this?" Alex offered.                               "Alexan-" Erin got cut off with a kiss.

the end