A.A.P.I

Stand by the Shade

"Justin!" Belle called.

"Belle yes I'm here." said I.

"I need to meet you at the Carlitos right away."

"Sure but what's wrong?"

"I think I've run into a bit of trouble. Serious trouble."

I hung up the phone and went for my AAPI jacket.

"What happened?" Marc asked.

"It's Belle. She called and said it was urgent for me to meet her." I said.

No one else was in the room except for Andréa and Kenton.

"Her?" Marc asked.

"Who's Belle?" Andréa asked inquisitively.

Kenton clicked his tongue twice and left.

"Listen babe we'll talk later and Marc if you're coming with me you should take your badge."

Marc and I headed to my car in the AAPI garage. We got in and took a drive into the city to Carlitos.

"So why are we in such a hurry to see Belle?" Marc asked.

"Because she said that she needed our help." I quickly responded.

"Whipped as usual. You all wrapped around her little pinky finger."

"Bruh what?!!"

"I'm just saying you marched out of HQ real quick and couldn't even explain things to your woman right."

"What the hell she could be into some serious trouble. That's why we're going to talk to her."

"I'm just sayin... I mean the way she did you in the high school and the second year in college. You two were real close. Always best friends as she would call it and she tears that apart for a boyfriend just 'cuz he's threatened. Naw, that's being fake in my book."

"Listen it wasn't all her fault. You know 90% of that was because of her boyfriend. And why are you acting like she did some horrible thing to you?" I retorted.

"Look man you do you in terms of whatever...stuff you've got goin on with her. I'm just sitting in just in case any info of criminal activity is mentioned. Take the drama for yourself." Marc said waving his hand as he got out the car.

We walked inside after parking and saw Belle sitting at a table in the corner. She stood up the moment she saw me and gave me a big hug and shook Marc's hand then sat down.

"I missed you so much." Belle stated.

"I missed you as well." I said.

"Hey Marc. How are you?" she greeted smiling.

"Okay...pretty good." Marc answered.

"Justin I um... I called you down here because um... it's a long story." Belle stuttered.

"No go ahead we've got time." I assured.

"Okay so it's my boyfriend William or fiancé rather. I was engaged to him 2 and a half weeks ago. He's in trouble with two lone sharks. He borrowed $4,000 from them to help pay for a nice condo. He paid them back what they lent him plus interest but then they tagged on extra interest. He told them it wasn't right but they said if he didn't pay in three days bad things were gonna happen. Today is the last day and tomorrow he has to pay. If he goes empty handed..."

"Lemme ask you a question. Why isn't William here right now? It seems like something he should be concerned about getting help with, right?" I asked.

"He doesn't want any help from authorities no matter how many times I suggest it." Belle answered, "He technically doesn't know I'm here. He wants to fix things on his own."

"Oh...well in that case I'm sure he can. He's a pretty smart guy and a 2nd degree black belt in Judo." Marc stated.

"He tried fighting but that just got them angrier—"

"So Belle, the job is to bail out Judo-Will and take down some lone sharks." Marc questioned.

"No it's not just that. I'm guessing the bad things to come was getting to his closest friends and family. The lone sharks came to my current apartment and asked if I knew William. I told them that I was his fiancé. They started telling me how William owed them money. They started breaking things like two of my lamps and a vase. I grabbed one of the men's arm but I was pushed back onto the sofa. I was scared. He knelt one of his knees to level his face with mine to say something but before he could, I smacked him hard. Part of my hand hit his eye and he was knocked down. The other man grabbed me tight around my arm, yanking me up and said that it was bad to cross them. With that they walked out. I was angry and scared but I didn't tell William."

She pulled up her sleeve showing the bruise which wasn't too bad but was still noticeable. Part of me wanted to beat the life out of those lone sharks.

"Could you help me Justin...pleeeaaase." Belle pleaded.

"Yeah. We're in. We just need to meet William before the meeting. Alright?"

"Yes thank you soo much." she said as she gave me a long hug.

Marc and I walked back to the car.

"That's that." he sighed.

"Yeah, you in for the job?" I asked.

"Yeah but we'd better finish quick cuz we have that LIR mission coming up."

"Sure thing. It'll only take a day."

When we got to HQ it was around 9:00. I walked to Andréa's room and she was putting a book away. I walked over to kiss her on her soft lips. She kissed me back with her hands on my cheeks.

"I see you've been reading." I observed.

"Yep. But I want you to tell me a story baby." she said.

"A story?"

"Yep. A nice one. About anything."

"Okay babe, you got it."

I sat down and pulled Andréa to my lap with her feet dangling over the side of my leg. She rested her head on my chest.

"Once upon a time there was suave and intelligent boy named Justin. He had known a beautiful girl named Belle. Strangely, we had first become friends by sharing candy in the 5th grade. The simple hi-s and bye-s lasted for three years. When we reached the eighth grade simple hi-s and bye-s turned into hugs and small conversation. Then graduation into high school came and it was in the freshman year that I knew I really liked Belle. I tried to go for her towards the middle of the year. I wrote for her, hung out with her and bought her some things. I always knew how to make her laugh and it seemed like if I was near her I was happy. Back then Marc was the wingman for me, finding me any opportunity and Shani always gave me advice which truly turned out to be suffice. She seemed to like me and things were going well for me especially. But for some reason I couldn't muster the courage in that season. Tenth grade came along and so did a new trade. A new love came from above and carried her away like. Long story short Belle was a high school crush but is a long time friend So no worries because she has her finest and I have mine. The end! And that is the story behind Belle."

"So you guys were close."

"Yeah and we still kinda are but now we're just great friends."

"Wow...you're such a loving person and I'm glad I have you in my life."

We kissed some more and I told her how much I loved her.