Eve

I heard my name being called and I didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Around here, it could have been either one. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew that I wasn’t allowed another phone call for another couple of days, so there really was no telling what it was about. I liked to think that it was good news, but it was long and in between around here.

After being here for ten days now, I knew to let hope die a little. Every time I heard my name before I would think that it was someone coming to save me. No one had yet, and I was not going to hold out for that possibility. It didn’t seem to be one that was going to happen.

I moved to the front of the large cell that had almost twenty of us in it and I waited for the guard to tell me what to do. I didn’t understand any of them and it pissed them off, but there was nothing that I could really do about it. All I could do was follow them when they would lead me somewhere and do my best to try and do what was asked of me. I still don’t know if I did most things right, but I didn’t get hit with that stick very often, so I figured that it was a good sign.

Recognizing who it was almost immediately, I was suddenly worried about how I looked. I wasn’t vain in most scenarios, but I had never looked so horrid either. This was far worse than going to work with a hangover and not wanting to do much with your hair or makeup. I hadn’t showered or been able to use much clean water in ten days. This was a whole new kind of disheveled and of course I didn’t want Stan to see me this way.

He’d gotten older. His jaw was cut now, and Stan was a full-grown man. He had been before, but age looked good on him and I couldn’t help but have a moment of wonder. Of course, this is where I would see him. This is where we would meet after all these years.

The guard let go of my arm and I was able to sit down on a chair. This sounds like a small thing but considering that I hadn’t done that in almost ten days, again, it was a small luxury that I had until this time overlooked like it was no big deal. Now it was the best thing that had happened all day and I was an optimist as much as I could be.

The guard said something to Stan and the man that was with him. He thanked the mystery man and he went outside of the small room that was set up. It didn’t look like a regular interrogation room and I just couldn’t believe that Stan was here. I needed some good news.

“Thank you for coming. I didn’t believe Carl when he said that you were coming to see me. I appreciate it so much.”

I didn’t know what else to say and I waited for him to start. He was the man with the plan hopefully and I would say and sign whatever I could to get us out of here.

“It’s no problem. Your brother was always a good friend to me. I need to know a little more about what happened. I have pushed for us to have a hearing tomorrow so that we can try to set a bond for you to get you out.”

“That sounds really good. If I could get out of here, take a shower, I would feel more human. This place is kind of rough.”

It was the understatement of the world, but I was trying not to complain. He was here and if he was here to get me out, then I was going to have nothing to talk about but sunshine and rainbows.

“I can imagine that it’s not a place that a girl like you would be used to, huh?”

I ignored the ‘girl like me’ comment that he made, and I was trying to get some information to take back to Callie.

“What about Callie?

His smile dropped a little bit and he had me worried. “I’m not really here for her Eve. I’m here for you. I promised your brother that I would get you out.”

I didn’t know what to say, but I knew that I couldn’t leave my friend out in the cold. She wouldn’t do it to me.

“You have to help her too Stan. She’s my best friend and we came here together. I’m not going home until she is out too. I just can’t. You understand, don’t you?”

He reluctantly said he did. “What if it is one or the other of you get out?”

I didn’t know if it was a serious question or if he was just messing with me. I knew that I didn’t want to stay here, and I certainly didn’t want to have that decision to make. It wasn’t one that I would look forward to all that much and I refused to even think of it.

“Well then you’re not a very good lawyer.”

“I guess I’m about as good of a lawyer, as you are as a hiker huh?”

I made a face and I couldn’t believe he was here. He wasn’t the serious lawyer that Carl made him out to be. No, it was the same old Stan, but there was something new in his eyes this time. Now he was paying attention and I liked the way he was looking at me as an equal. Before I was just Carl’s little sister and he’d never paid me much mind. He sure was now.

“Well you get ready for tomorrow. I think I have enough here that I can get started. It’s going to be okay. I’ll do my best to get you and your friend out of here Eve, but my primary concern is you.”

I thanked him because I knew that I owed him a lot. He stood up, towering over me and I moved forward to give him a hug. I don’t know why, but just the idea that someone was finally going to help me made things so much easier. I was so worried about how everything was going to turn out and now at least, I wasn’t here alone. That meant everything to me.

His arms were big and warm. He was holding me against him and the heat of his body was penetrating my cold one.

I heard the guard walking up and I pulled away, but I wanted to be back in those arms. I felt safe there and I thanked him again before I was led away. I hoped that everything was going to be okay.

Callie asked what happened and I told her. But instead of saying that Stan was going to get me out, I told her that he was going to get us out because there was no other alternative as far as I was concerned. I wasn’t going to let him give up and leave her there. We came together, and I was determined that we were going to leave together as well.