ultraviolence // kai anderson

granted

    We both leave the store in new outfits that are, as Kai put it, not either of us at all. With these limited options, I was only able to scrounge up three new outfits, two of which share the same top; Kai's less picky than I am and has a full bag of items when we check out. When it's just he and I alone again in the car, he looks over what I'm wearing with an amused grin, looking like he's fighting a laugh.

    "What?" I say defensively. "It's the snobbiest bitch thing I could find in there."

    "I believe you," he says as he starts reversing, then chuckles. "But it looks like you're starring in a disco movie with John Travolta."

    My mouth falls open and I look down and over myself again. Now that he's said it, I see the white halter-neckline bodysuit in a whole different light. At first I saw it as elegant and stylish, but now I feel like an extra in Saturday Night Fever. He cackles when I look back to him, my mouth a thin line.

    "Come on it was between this or a floral print mini dress that's no where near fit for this weather," I defend myself playfully. "Well, at least you look great."

    He'd managed to find a white button up shirt and a tie with muted green plaid patterns, and a pair of brown pants to pair them with; though they looked a bit itchy. "Pretty nice, right? For a thrift store."

    "Pretty nice," I admit. "If you're Spongebob Squarepants."

    "God damn it y/n," he shakes his head at me and gives me a brief death glare and reluctant grin before returning his eyes to the road. "I'm tired of you comparing me to annoying sea creatures."

    "Ha, you started it."

    Our banter is short-lived, as Kai is cut off before he can respond by fast approaching red and blue flashing lights in the rear view mirror. Both of our smiles drop immediately and he straightens in his seat as every muscle in my body tenses. Praying he doesn't see my fear, I ask quietly, "What are we doing?"

    He looks back in the mirror one more time then says, "Speeding off would only worsen things. Maybe we just have tail light out or something. Get your poker face on and don't say a word."

    There's no time to argue as he flips the right blinker on and begins pulling to the side of the road. The car soon comes to a stop, as does the cop car behind us, and Kai looks to me once more just to raise his brows, a silent Get Your Shit Together if I've ever seen one. He cracks his knuckles then rolls his window down, the picture of self-assured composure. I'm taking a more confused innocence approach, as it's all I can manage. My heart is in my closing throat and it feels like I'm waiting at the top of a roller coaster, in that painfully extended moment before the dreaded and nauseating drop.
    Finally, I hear the officer's footsteps over the gravel getting closer and closer to us, and I wish I could just disappear altogether. Kai is still unbothered as a large body appears next to his open window, dressed in dark blue, the man's head not yet visible. I hope my trembling isn't visible either.

    A face appears in my peripheral but I refuse to look. That is, until I hear a familiar voice ask, "Did I scare ya?"

    I whirl to face him, and involuntarily I'm matching his wide smile as Kai shuts his eyes and exhales deeply. I exclaim, "Sterling, holy shit!"

    He laughs joyfully as he rests his forearms across the drivers' side open window then addresses Kai. "How's it going boss?" He's met with a true death glare in response, and his smile falls before he mumbles a few unintelligible words, clearly trying to avoid outright apologizing. "I uh... well I come bearing good news!"