Strings

The Captain

STEF POV

Scanning the last section of the GED book my head was pounding as I tried to get through the last hour of work. But it was proving to be useless as the diner was dead this evening and I could barely keep my eyes open. With Lena leaving soon and still no word from Bill I was trying to keep it together, but I had to admit it wasn't easy.

"Why do you bother Stef. That shit is useless. When will you ever use physics anyway? It's bull." Jenna said coming behind me and staring at the book with her back leaning on the counter.

"Who knows it's on the test so I need to study it." I said neglecting to look up.

"Why do you need that test anyway? Blow that crap off and come hang with us tonight."

"I can't I'll miss curfew."

"No you won't I'll have you back in time. That shit will give you a migraine. Skip it."

"Jenna leave me alone. Please." I said looking to her as she rolled her eyes.

"Fine Goldilocks. Keep pissing your time away with useless shit. If you change your mind you know were to find me." Looking up and watching her walk off to the back I could only roll my eyes. Not only was my relationship complicated with Lena at times but Jenna had been the cause for many of our fights. Why I had remained friends with her was beyond me for she really was anything but that and had proven time and time again to do nothing but get me in trouble. It was her who introduced me to weed which at times I still got high from, it was her who I got drunk with and smoked with to point were I had black out and we screwed. That had been a big a mistake and in the end it had been my own fault and caused Lena and I not to speak for almost a year. If I had any sense at all I would have cut all ties from her, but right now I owed it to her for getting me this job and letting me stay at her place from time to time when I exhausted all my resources. It was never easy for me to justify why I continued to have her in my life. Never.

"You should watch your company. Some people are just no good." I soon heard and looking over I saw that cop. Furrowing my brows I was wondering what she was doing in here at this time for she usually showed up for breakfast and I had no idea she had overheard my conversation. In all honesty I was surprised she even spoke for she had never even uttered more then five words to me.

"Oh, well I don't pay her any mind." I shrugged grabbing a menu and my pad to take her order. "What can I get you?"

"Just coffee."

"Ok." I nodded pouring her a hot cup and sliding it to her as she took a sip.

"Your friend there, if that's what you want to call her, people like that will rain on you every time. Just because they don't want to go far in life doesn't mean they should discourage other people from doing it. That's no friend and you seem better then that."

Swallowing hard she looked more intense at me then ever for I wasn't really sure what her motive was for talking to me or telling me this. True she did always over tip me for some reason but I didn't think she took much notice.

"Yeah well I try I guess." I shrugged as I continued to feel more and more uncomfortable.

"Just keep studying. I use physics everyday in my field and math."

"Oh as a cop?"

"Yes. Well, I am not out on the field as much mostly behind my desk but when I was on the street I used it quit a bit. You would be surprised."

"Oh. Well I can't say it's easy. It's actually a pain but I'll try."

"Nothing in life is easy and most of the time we need to work for it. Sometimes more then others. But keep studying it will pay off. And have some coffee yourself you look like you need it." Glancing to her once again she let out a small smile.