The Sirens Ring Out

Chapter 1

Mia pulled up to the restaurant Lumiere. She had already had a horrible morning after getting a ticket for speeding . What the hell did that cop think of herself anyway? With her big badge and her siren! She hoped her evening would go slightly better. After all, What could go wrong on a blind date?! Her friend knew her well enough to set her up with someone good.

She walked over to the desk and mentioned that her reservation would be under the name Charlie.

"The other party has just arrived. Follow me Ma'am."

She followed him to the table and noticed the woman's back was towards her. She walked over and they both turned to face each other. Their smiles turned into expressions of shocks.

"You?!" They both exclaimed simultaneously. Mia couldn't believe her shitty luck and Charlie was clearly dying on the inside. Charlie recognized Mia as the stubborn woman who refused to accept her ticket when she was clearly over the speed limit.

Mia sat down at the table as she didn't want to create a scene. Both of them had turned red and filled with emotions of anger and embarrassment. The waiter handed them menus and walked away.

Charlie decided to break the tension with a joke. "Well this is certainly awkward."

"Ya think?!"

"Maybe we should just start over? I'm sure we could both do with a clean slate." Charlie was grasping at straws. 

Their food arrives and the conversation starts to pick up. 

"Well I'm all caught up on what you do for work because of this morning, so I'm sure we can skip that question." Mia chuckles. 

"Hey, C'mon. I wouldn't have had to give you a ticket if you weren't speeding. I'm a cop and making sure you and others aren't put into danger is kind of a major part of my job." Charlie tried to get onto Mia's good side. "Speaking of jobs, what is it you do for work. So much so that you were in a hurry this morning." 

"Smooth transition." Mia hesitated. Should I tell her? It's for sure going to make me look bad. Screw it! It's not like we're going to meet again. "Well, I'm a lawyer." 

Charlie gave her wide eyed look, and burst out laughing. "No way, You basically practice the art of following the rules. You learn law and stuff. But by God, can you make a good argument! I guess that's the whole reason you're a good lawyer."

"What makes you think I'm a good lawyer?" Mia was confused by Charlie's response. 

"Well you had such a strong argument, and I almost wasn't going to give you a ticket. But then you said the worst thing you could say to a cop, at least in my book it is the worst thing." 

"Well  go on... What did I say?"

"You told me to buzz off and get myself a box of donuts." Charlie laughed to ease the tension.

"Hey! Everyone loves a box of good donuts. Even you I'm sure."

Mia hated to admit it but she was actually having fun. They had even exchanged funny childhood stories and talked about their first pets and first crushes. Mia get a grip, you're a lawyer who doesn't have time for a social or personal life. You've come on this date to make your friend happy and you've done that to the best of your ability.

Charlie was enjoying the company but she was a bit apprehensive about meeting Mia again.
There's no way she'd want to date a cop and also I'm in the field every hour of every single day, I don't have time for dating at all. It's better to leave it at this, a happy memory.

Mia and Charlie walked out of the restaurant. The air around them was awkward once again.

"I had a great-" Both of them started and laughed.

Mia gestured for Charlie to go first.

"Well I had a great time tonight. Maybe we can get together again soon or something" She shrugged. It's not like I'm going to meet Mia again.

"Yes of course. I'll text you." I would like to text you but it wouldn't be fair to you or my job.

Mia and Charlie exchanged numbers and a few awkward nods and got into their cars. Mia placed her forehead against the steering wheel. No matter what, her job would come first. Maybe that's why my previous relationships didn't work out.

Charlie sighed as she revved her engine. Working as an undercover cop wasn't going to be easy. The FBI needed her full attention to crack the case, she needed to find the mole and a girl couldn't be a distraction.

~~