Flying with Crows sample 3

The closer we get to the jail and police station the more my heart lightens. Each stop, where one or two people get on or off, seems to take forever.
I see the station get closer and closer. I see the barred windows, the signature brick and the cop cars sitting in the parking lot. I pull the call string to let the driver know to stop. As uncomfortable as it is to be around a bunch of cops, it’s worth it to see Aedian.
I pull my sweatshirt tighter around me. I walk up the steps and pull the heavy doors open. The big open reception area is vacant except for the officer at the desk. The empty chairs and lack of life makes walking in even more eerie and awkward.
I walk up to the desk, which is set into the next room and protected by glass/Plexiglas. I grab out my ID. The female officer looks up at me and says “yes?”
“I’m here to see Aedian Bryant” I say as I slide my ID under the small hole in the bottom of the glass in front of the officer.
I’ve been here enough times that the officer knows who I am so she doesn’t check my ID. She goes into the desk drawer and pulls out Aedian’s file. She opens the file and grabs the top paper. She slides it through the hole in front of her. The paper is the same one it always is. My visitor approval and sign in sheet. It’s got my information that I submitted to get me approval to see Aedian and spots to sign and date when I do visit.
I quick sign my name and jot down the date and time. I pass it back through to her.
“Have a seat. Someone will bring you back momentarily” she says.
“Thanks” I say as I grab my ID and turn to pick a random chair.
I take a seat fairly close to the door. These chairs are deceptive; they look comfortable but are no more than glorified folding chairs. The officer must’ve moved quick, because she’s already returned from telling a guard I’m here.
I stare at the door, trying to will it to open. The wait seems to take forever. Each moment drags on. So close, yet so far away.
Finally an officer opens the door and steps through. He motions for me to come back.
I get up and follow him. He stops a few steps beyond the door. I get more anxious. I just want to see him.
The desk attendant grabs a plastic bin and sets it on the counter. I let my backpack slide off my shoulder and into my hand. I set it in the empty bin then empty my pockets along with it. I take off my sweatshirt and set it in the bin as well then push the bin back across the desk.
I turn back to the officer standing next to me. He does a quick pat search and when he finds nothing he motions to me again to follow him.
He leads me down the bare hallway to the visiting area. He opens the door and ushers me in. Except for one other officer, it’s just me and Officer Silent. Officer Silent takes post at the door, the other officer taking post off towards the side of the room.
The room is fairly spacious and open. Tables and chairs are spaced evenly throughout, giving enough space between the tables so that as people visit they’re not right next to eachother. There are no decorations or anything to make it more inviting.
I pick a random table and take a seat. The chairs in here are only slightly more comfortable than the ones in the lobby area. If it means that I can see Aedian, I’ll deal with it.
I only have to wait a few moments before another officer opens the door opposite where I came in from, which leads to the cell blocks.
Aedian steps through the doors. The officer follows and pulls the door tight behind him. I get up from the chair and wait for him to get to the table. The officer who led him in takes post at the door.
When Aedian gets to the table he pulls me into a hug and gives me a kiss. His embrace is strong but warm. He is deceptively strong for how his body is built, and he’s incredibly aware of his strength. The hug doesn’t last long though, because rules don’t allow too much physical contact.
He takes a step back. We just take each other in, smiles spreading across both our faces. Except for being slightly thin, he looks well. His black hair is a little shaggier than he normally keeps it, but it’s slicked in his normal style. The signature, tacky, inmates clothing hides most of his tattoos, only the bottom part of his sleeve tattoos are showing.. His brown eyes are shinning, but there’s a slight weariness as well that I’m not used to seeing in him. I can tell he’s looking me over for any signs of injury or harm as well.
We sit and begin to talk. He asks how “babysitting” is going. I know he’s really asking about Scorpio and the gang, but can’t actually mention them by name. I can tell he’s trying to hide the worry in his voice. He’s making sure they haven’t done anything to me, not just seeing what they’ve been up to on the weekends. Without missing a beat I smile and say it’s going well.  I say that the kids have been behaving but the pay could be better. He chuckles and winks slightly, letting me know he understands what I mean, that they’ve not hurt me. His expression lightens and I can see his tension melt. With that, he knows I’m okay.
I begin to tell him about my semester’s start. He listens intently, drinking in every word I say. I complain about how my classes are going to be boring and how the professors are lame. I tell him about Steven. I see a flash of fire behind his eyes. He doesn’t say anything but it’s obvious that his jealousy kicked in. It dies down and he calms again quickly after I explain is just my lab partner.
He tells me more about some of the people he’s met while in the block. Some he likes, some he loathes. He tells me about some punk who started shit with him, says that if the guards hadn’t separated them it would’ve turned into a fight (which he claims he would’ve been able to win).
My smile turns to worry. Any trouble and his sentence could be extended. He senses my worry and quickly reassures me that they’ve been separating him from the other guy. That puts me slightly at ease.
The rest of the visit is a blur. Light-hearted banter boosts both of our spirits. It feels so good to be with him. Seeing him once a week for two hours is not enough.
The visit goes by too fast. Before I know it, the officer that brought me in is saying it’s time to go. Aedian and I both get up. We wrap ourselves in each other’s embrace, not wanting to let go. We have enough time to a quick kiss before the officer clears his throat to let us know to hurry up.
We say one more quick goodbye as the officers are opening the doors and nudging us through them. I’m led back out the door into the hallway. We pause at the desk as the attendant grabs the bin with my things in it. She passes me the sheet to sign out.
I quickly scribble my name along with the date and time. I quickly collect my things as the officer is opening the door for me. I remember at the last moment and pass the schedule to the desk officer, telling her what it is, and ask if she could please give it to Aedian. She says it should be okay. I smile, hoping it’ll clear any rules.
I walk into the lobby and lookout the window and see that it has started to rain. I set my things on one of the chairs so I can put my sweatshirt on. I can see where the bus pulls up so I decide to wait inside. I check the time. It shouldn’t be long.
The bus pulls up. I quickly bolt out the doors ID in hand, not wanting to be in the rain any longer than needed. The driver quickly opens the doors for me. I give her a smile and a thanks as I scan my ID.
I sit and look out the window. The sky has darkened. The dreariness reflects how I feel after leaving Aedian in an almost too perfect way. I realize my life has become one huge cliché. It’s almost comical. I’ve become the poster child for why parents should keep an eye on their children. I sigh and think that there’s nothing I can do about it. Even if I could do something, I don’t know where my life would be if I left. I’m stuck.