Under Different Circumstances

Chapter 32

I passed the first test at the academy with flying colours, receiving a 98% score. Aidan and Mei passed too.

The next few weeks went by quickly. We were taught the proper use of handcuffs and different interrogation techniques. We learned how to write reports, how to direct traffic and were tested on motor vehicle laws. Our daily physical training continued, and Mei and I continuously improved our times on the obstacle track. The rapid progress we showed was in great part due to Mei's mentor Claire's help who had offered to train with us every weekend. Aidan would occasionally join us.

As I'd promised, I had begun mentioning Jay in conversations with Aidan and had been relieved when it hadn't changed our friendship at all. Instead, it continued blossoming just as it had done before. Many possible reasons explained the lack of deviation in Aidan's behaviour towards me, but I didn't know which one applied and was too content with how things were to find out.

On the Saturday after my first week at the academy, Intelligence was assigned to a case which was the first in a long row of cases that followed. Every time the unit closed one, they were immediately assigned to the next case which meant that Jay and I rarely got to spend time with each other during the day. He worked long hours every day including the weekends, and I spent my days during the week at the academy and studying, and on the weekends, I worked out with Mei and Claire, had dinner with Martha, spent time with my mum, and studied some more. This left only the nights for Jay and me to see each other. Every evening, I'd either wait at my or Jay's apartment for him to come home, and we'd tell each other about our days. He had begun seeing Dr Charles regularly, and I was happy to witness gradual improvements in his psyche and mental state. Sometimes, he would sleep through multiple nights in a row without waking up from a nightmare.

On the Friday of the sixth week of my training, a quarter way through my time at the academy, we had our first major exam. I had studied for it throughout the entire weekend and week prior.

The hard studying ended up paying off. The following Monday, we got our exams back, and I had scored 100%, topping my class along with Mei and three other recruits. In addition, in the afternoon of that same day, I managed to complete the obstacle track in new record time, cutting a full 30 seconds off my time from my first try on the second day of training. Mei still struggled with the seven-foot wall, but her time had also drastically improved, and she'd even managed to overtake a few recruits on the scoreboard.

Exhausted but still high on endorphins from my exam score and the achievement on the obstacle track, I unlocked the door to my house, dropped my bag onto the floor in my hallway, and took my jacket off. Intelligence was in the process of closing their current case, and Jay and I had made plans that morning to celebrate his team's success as well as me hopefully passing my exam with a dinner date that night. I couldn't wait to tell him my score.

Quietly humming along to the music I had put on, I began cooking. My phone buzzed on the kitchen island behind me, and I opened Jay's message.

Two more reports to go, and I'm out of here! Give me an hour. Tops.

I grinned and typed out a reply. Don't jinx it! I can't wait!

He replied with a heart emoji, and I reverted my attention to the stove with a smile permanently plastered onto my face.

When the casserole was baking in the oven, I set the plates and cutlery out on the island and went upstairs to get changed into something nicer.

A few minutes later, I returned downstairs and stared at the setup on the island for a moment before deciding to elevate the mood and ambience by adding a candle. I retrieved a candlestick and candle from the back of one of the cupboards and lit it. Feeling unsure whether or not it was too much, I blew it out and relit it a few times before leaving it lit. The oven binged, and I took the casserole out. Its delicious smell wafted through the kitchen.