The Chronicles of Tim and Lucy

First Impressions

Lucy Chen stood outside the massive glass doors of the precinct, heart pounding in her chest, hands slightly clammy. This was it—her first day as a rookie police officer. The crisp, new uniform felt foreign against her skin, the weight of the badge heavier than she'd imagined. She had worked so hard to get here, yet now, staring up at the imposing building, doubt crept in.

It didn't help that her father had been skeptical of her decision to join the LAPD. She could still hear his words echoing in her mind: *Are you sure this is the right path?* But this wasn't about proving something to him or to anyone else—it was about proving something to herself.

With a deep breath, Lucy squared her shoulders and pushed through the doors, stepping into the bustling heart of the precinct. Officers were everywhere, moving with purpose, chatting amongst themselves, or gathering paperwork. The air buzzed with a mix of voices, radios, and ringing phones. It was chaotic, but Lucy felt an odd sense of belonging already.

She approached the front desk, feeling the weight of curious stares on her. A grizzled sergeant barely looked up from his clipboard. "Chen, right?"

"That's me," Lucy replied with more confidence than she felt.

"Your T.O. will be here any second. He's... uh, a little intense, but you'll figure it out." The sergeant's half-smirk was unsettling.

Before she could ask what he meant, a tall figure loomed behind her. "Chen?"

Lucy turned, and the first thing she noticed was how *rigid* the man looked. Officer Tim Bradford stood in front of her, arms crossed, with an expression that was all business and no warmth. His jaw was set in a way that made him look like he chewed nails for breakfast.

"Officer Chen, right?" Tim asked, his voice clipped and formal, his eyes scanning her from head to toe as though she was a piece of equipment he was inspecting for flaws.

"That's me," she repeated, trying to keep her tone upbeat.

"Great." He didn't sound like he meant it. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door, expecting her to follow.

Lucy blinked. No introduction, no small talk, not even a 'Welcome to the team.' Just... *that*. She hurried to keep up, trying not to let her irritation show.

Outside, they approached his black and white patrol car, parked neatly in front of the building. Tim didn't open the door for her, didn't even glance in her direction as he slipped into the driver's seat. Lucy fumbled slightly as she climbed in after him. She had expected a little more warmth, maybe even some words of encouragement on her first day. But Tim Bradford wasn't about that, apparently.

For a few moments, they drove in tense silence, the city passing by in a blur outside the window. Lucy stared out, trying to mentally prepare for the long day ahead.

"So, Officer Bradford," she started, forcing some lightness into her voice, "any advice for a rookie on her first day?"

Tim didn't even glance her way. "Yeah. Don't mess up."

Lucy blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness. "That's it?"

He shot her a quick look, his expression flat. "You're a rookie. Your job is to listen and learn. Not ask a million questions."

Lucy clenched her jaw. *Wow. Okay, so this guy's a total ass.* She had heard stories about Training Officers being tough, but this wasn't tough—it was rude. Still, she kept her mouth shut, reminding herself that she was new, and he probably wanted to test her. She wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of seeing her get rattled on her first day.

As they cruised through the streets, Tim's voice broke the silence. "Look, Chen, I'm not here to be your friend. I'm here to make sure you don't get yourself or anyone else killed. You wanna survive this job, then you need to learn fast. Got it?"

Lucy glanced at him, biting back a sarcastic retort. She'd seen his type before—guys who thought they were invincible, who believed toughness equated to respect. "Got it," she replied, her tone icy.

Tim gave a curt nod but said nothing else. The silence between them grew thick, punctuated only by the crackle of the radio.

Lucy's irritation simmered as they continued the patrol. She had worked hard to get where she was, endured countless hours of training, and sacrificed a lot to wear this uniform. Yet here she was, stuck with an arrogant, self-righteous T.O. who clearly had no interest in mentoring her.

As they responded to a few routine calls—nothing too exciting, just a shoplifter and a minor traffic accident—Tim barked orders, expecting Lucy to follow without question. She did, but with every terse command he issued, her frustration grew. He barely explained anything, just rattled off instructions like she was supposed to have been born knowing them.

By the end of the shift, Lucy's patience was wearing thin. As they pulled back into the precinct's parking lot, she took a deep breath, determined to say something.

"Look, Bradford, I get that you're not here to be my friend, but you don't have to be such a—"

He cut her off with a sharp look. "You think I'm tough now? Wait until something actually happens out there. You won't have time for complaints, rookie."

Lucy's mouth snapped shut, a flood of retorts bubbling in her chest. But she held back, reminding herself again that this was just day one. She had to prove herself, not just to him, but to everyone.

Still, as she walked back into the precinct, she couldn't help but think, *This guy is going to make my life hell.*

But if Tim Bradford thought he could break her, he was in for a surprise. Lucy Chen wasn't the kind of rookie who backed down easily.