everlong| hocus pocus

010. a promise

     THE FOUR HAD BEEN running block after block, praying to find a cop—or really anyone for that matter that would be willing to listen. Jasper had approached every passerby, but the hostility in the air was palpable. Just as their hope was fading, Dani spotted a cop stationed outside the liquor store, seated on his motorcycle. Without hesitation, Dani sprinted toward him, shouting for help. "Officer! Officer!" The others followed, their hopes dim but nothing left to lose.
"Officer, we need your help!" Jasper pleaded as they reached him. The officer leaned back on his motorcycle, his demeanor casual.
"What's the problem?" he asked, surveying the group.
"Tell em', Max." Dani urged, though her own confidence was waning.
"Well, um..." Max stuttered once more, nervously walking off the curb to talk to the cop. "I just moved here, and, well, it's like this I..." Max planted his feet, trying to calm himself down and trying not to sound like an idiot. "I... I broke into the Sanderson house and accidentally brought the witches back from the dead. I even have the book." He pointed to Jasper, who was holding the book as if it were a trophy.
"You lit the black flame candle?" the officer asked in a low, intrigued tone, scrutinizing Max.
"Yeah..." Max admitted, his embarrassment palpable. The officer dismounted his motorcycle and approached Max on the sidewalk.
"And he's a virgin." Dani added, stepping forward to the man. The officer's expression shifted as he looked from Jasper to Max. He changed his body stance and glared to Jasper, then back at Max who diverted his eyes away from the girl, trying not to make eye contact with Max or the so-called cop. The man looked at Jasper one last time before walking closer to Max.
"Come here," the officer said, beckoning Max closer. "Are you a virgin?" he whispered. Max sighed in annoyance, glaring at the officer.
"Yeah."
"Really?" the officer asked incredulously.
"Look, I'll get it tattooed on my forehead, okay?"
"Officer we just need help we're not faking anything!" Jasper shouted, losing patience by the second.
"Really!" Dani whined, begging for his help.
"Hey!" The two girls jumped, Dani suddenly holding hands with the teen girl for comfort. Of course no one would believe them. "I put my life on the line to protect this community and you punks pull this? Get outta here."
Jasper rolled her eyes, shoving the book to Max's chest and taking him and Dani by the arm. "Come on guys." Tatum scoffed, dragging the two away.
"And take that cat with ya!" Binx hopped off the steps, following the trio. Jasper glared angrily looking back at the cop rode off with the town tramp laughing manically behind him.
"Ass!" Jasper yelled, releasing the Dennison's hands and burying her face in her palms. "The hell are we supposed to do now?" Max, without thinking, took Jasper's hand and looked into her eyes—something he had intended to do.
"Jasper, don't worry. We're gonna think of something and I'll protect you...I promise." Jasper nodded, trying to calm herself and resist the urge to chase after the cop.
Jasper nodded at Max's reassuring words, feeling a little comforted by his promise. It was nice to know someone cared, someone who vowed to protect her. She had expected Max to let go of her hand after a while, but he held on through their walk, their arms swinging back and forth, making her chuckle. Despite the confusion in her heart—torn between her feelings for him and her irritation—she found solace in his touch.
"Thanks, Dennison."