Human Nature [PARKER]

FIVE

[ word count: 2863 ]

[ FIVE | POLICE STATION BLUES ]

TWO DAYS AFTER SHE WENT TO THE BOXING GYM, ALISON TOLD HER FATHER THAT SHE WAS GOING TO THE LIBRARY WHEN SHE WAS REALLY GOING TO THE POLICE STATION. She decided that she was tired, she had spent the previous two days and the night of their last encounter questioning herself. She wondered if going to the police and telling them was worth it, then she reminded herself that they might be dangerous and came to a conclusion. It was time that Alison stopped acting like the defenseless victim and made a decision that could be for the greater good.

After a thirty minute walk and a twenty minute ride on the subway, Alison found herself in front of the station. She squinted at the harsh rays of the sun and nervously glanced at the officers walking in and out of their workplace, quietly going over what she needed to say to them as she walked in. She seemed to be like a deer in the headlights as she stood still in the lobby amidst a sea of uniformed officials who could barely stay still, slowly she gravitated towards the front desk. Her widened eyes scanned all the messages and posters on the wall behind the police officer, they all had something to say about preventing drug use, harassment, sexual assault, among other things. The officer in front of the brunette cleared his throat, and, with the same widened eyes she had earlier, she glanced down at him. He looked too pretty to be a police officer, with his porcelain skin, sea blue eyes and perfect lips. Alison shook herself out of her thoughts and recollected herself, licking her lips before her quiet voice spoke out. "I would like to file a police report," she requested, her voice barely audible. After almost two minutes searching through his papers, the officer handed her a clipboard with a paper and pen attached to it, Alison took it gratefully and walked to a bench where she could write down all the information they needed in peace.

Having been almost ten minutes hunched over writing, Alison straightened up and rolled her shoulders, looking for any kind of relief she could find. She stood up and handed back the clipboard to the pretty officer. "Someone will be with you shortly," he informed her. Alison nodded and headed back to the bench where she took out her phone and scrolled through her social media accounts. After waiting for another twenty minutes Alison stood up and walked across the hall to a vending machine where she got a bottle of water. As she purchased her beverage she was able to hear a familiar voice ring out through the station.

"No you don't understand," Enya said to the other person on the other line, Alison glanced at her out of the corner of her eye only to find her standing a few feet away from her. "Mom I don't want to be here anymore I want to leave." There was a pause before she continued talking.  "Why? Because all Mama does is let me ride with her when she's out on watch, she won't even let me sit in the passenger's seat. Besides," she stopped before whispering. "It smells like coffee, sweat, and donuts here Mom, I'm bored and miserable."

Enya sighed and stomped her foot childishly once her Mom told her that she couldn't pick her up from the station, turning her body as she crossed her arms across her chest. The frown that was on her face disappeared when she noticed that Alison Rivera was standing across from her and her look of boredom was replaced with one of both satisfaction and interest. "Love you Mom, I'll see you at home," she finished and hung up the phone, shoving it in her back pocket. A pair of footsteps near her stopped her from walking toward her estranged sister. Plastering a small smile on her face she turned to see her Mama standing in front of her. "Hi," she greeted.