SOS - Talia Bishop

PLAIN CLOTHES DAY - Complications

"They grow up so fast, don't they?"

"Please, they're just as green as they were yesterday."

"Come on, they're definitely doing a better job. Improved much."

The TOs talked amongst themselves, standing beside the staircase, when the four rookies approached them, and they all turned to look.

"What are you looking at, Boot? I'm not even here." Tim scowled.

The rookies scrambled to get their gear as Tim shook his head.

"My washout number's three," Angela spoke up. "What about you?"

Talia nodded. "Same. I bet Tim's up in the double digits by now."

"Damn straight. I've had 11 rookies bounced from the program during Plain Clothes Day. Looking to make it an even dozen today."

Jason looked over at the rookies. "Hey, I mean, it's my first time. Is it dumb that I think they're gonna do great? I mean, I nailed my Plain Clothes Day back when I was a rookie."

Tim scoffed. "Well that's only cause your TO was McLean. Every day was practically Plain Clothes Day. Meanwhile these—" he nodded at the four rookies, "—got the top TOs they could possibly get. It's gonna be their last day."

"Do not listen. They're only trying to psych us out." Nolan whispered to the other rookies, while picking up two duffel bags from the counter.

"Already making a mistake." Talia shook her head at Nolan.

"If we're not here, why get two kit bags?"

Jackson came in for the save. "We're supposed to have two bags. Just in case they have to take action."

Tim grit his teeth. "First mistake avoided. So many more to make."

"Hey, mate, why're you so pessimis—" Jason trailed off as Bradford stomped away, "—tic." He sighed and fidgeted at the hem of his denim jacket, meeting eyes with Victoria.

"Uh, Officer Cain—"

"I'm not here."

"Okay, yeah, sure."

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"Okay, so, you're not here?"

Jason was scrolling on his phone, leaning leisurely on the passenger seat. "You could say I'm not. I don't know."

"What? What does that even mean?"

"Nah. Dunno." He kept his eyes glued to the screen.

Victoria clicked her tongue. "Ahh. I see you're doing here. You're trying to pretend you don't know anything which is technically a form of saying you're not here."

Jason knit his brows. "Don't know how you got that, but that's not what I'm doing. I literally just don't care what you do today."

"Okay, nonchalant."

She flicked some buttons on the radio and started singing.

"You make me feel like I'm living a, teen—age dream, the way you turn me on, I, can't, sleep, let's run away and don't ever look back, don't ever look back—" She turned to look at Jason. "Really? You're not going to do anything about that?"

"Nope— Just one touch, now, baby, I believe, this is real, let's take a chance and—"

"DON'T EVER LOOK BACK, DON'T EVER LOOK BACK! Best. Day. Ever!"

"Yeah, but, no, seriously though, turn that off."

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