Page 59 of Breathing Without You

“Mother fucker!” I whisper yell to myself, so he doesn’t hear yelling outside my car as he walks towards me. Not that my window is open yet but just in case. Don't want to give him any reasons to arrest me. He walks to my window the same time I start rolling mine down and I see in my side mirror that it's Officer Johnston, I swear he is the ONLY cop that fucking pulls me over. Wonder if he thinks I'm cute, he is pretty young, maybe I can use that to my advantage and try flirting with him. Maybe it'll help get me out of getting a ticket.

“Good afternoon.” He leans down to see me. “Emerald.” He smirks a little like he didn’t know who I fucking was when he was pulling me over…asshole. I swear he just does it for fun.

“Good afternoon, Officer Johnston.” I try not to roll my eyes in the process.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” He rests his arms on the roof of my car looking down as he talks to me. And I swear he’s looking down my shirt as he does.

“Nope, but I'm sure you're not going to waste any time telling me.” I give him a fake smile back.

“Getting smart with me isn't going to help you at all, Emerald. Now look, you and I both know that you came speeding around that corner while taking that turn.” His smile widens a little bit more.

“Sorry sir.” I pause trying to give him a little bit of a flirty smile along with it. “I'm late for work at Lisa’s Diner and now, I'm going to be even more late, but that's why I was speeding. I'm sorry. Honestly.” I let out the breath I've been holding while wiping my sweaty palms on my leggings.

“Ahhh Lisa, she's great, I love the food there.” I accidentally cut him off with an idea.

“I can give you a discount the next time you come in.” I give another flirty smile hoping I'm helping myself out here.

“Emerald?” He chuckles.

“Yes, Officer? I bat my lashes a little hoping to help myself out here.

“Are you trying to bribe me?” He smirks again and I think this idea might be working.

“Depends on if it's working?” I bite my bottom lip, the corner of my mouth curling up a little.

“How about this one time I let it slide and then maybe I'll take you up on that offer, but–” He pauses, tapping his chin. “Please try not to speed next time, or anytime in general,” he states. “Look, I get being stressed from being late, but that's not going to benefit you at all.” He taps the side of my car with his hands.

“Sorry sir. I honestly didn't realize how fast I was going,” I say, lying to him a little. I knew I was speeding but I don’t know how fast I was really going.

“Have a good day, Emerald, try not to speed.” He taps my car again and walks away.

“Thanks Officer Johnston,” I yell out my window before rolling it up.

I put my car in park and pulled out of the parking lot heading to work, my second attempt of today.

“Fuck, I hope this doesn’t mean I'm going to have a shitty night.” I whisper to myself as I pull into the parking lot of Lisa’s Diner. See I wasn't lying when I said I was so close to work.

I pull into a parking spot and look at all the cars.

“Fuck we look busy,” I say to myself again, since I love talking to myself apparently.

I put my car in park, grab my stuff and get out of the car locking it with my keys and rush in through the back door.

“Fuck, I'm so late,” I whisper-growl hoping no one is back here. I need to go find Lisa before anyone spots me, especially Stacy.

I rush through the door and into the locker room to put my apron on, grab my other stuff I need and put everything in my locker texting Creed first to let him know I made it so he doesn’t worry.

Emerald

Hey babe, I’m at work. I’m so fucking late. I’ll explain later just didn’t want you to worry since you haven’t heard from me. See you when you get here. Love you.

I place my phone into my locker and turn around to go and find Lisa right as the door opens to the back room. FUCK. Of course it’s Stacy.

“Ohhh look who is super late,” she practically sings out with a nasty smile on her face like she thinks I’ll get fired or something for it.

“Yes, I'm fully aware I'm late. Thank you for pointing out the obvious.” I give her my smart-ass answer. If she’s going to be a bitch, two can play that game.

“Oohh feisty today huh? It’s not my fault you can’t be on time, Emerald. You have regulars that have been waiting for you. If I was them, I would have left already or went to a different section, ya know to a section of an employee that actually shows up on time.” She has this disgusted look on her face as she crosses her arms while smacking her gum obnoxiously.

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