2. Julian
2
JULIAN
I 'm walking around the exterior of the mall, the sun casting long shadows across the pavement, when my phone suddenly starts ringing. I pull it out of my pocket, my heart racing, and glance at the screen to see Heather's name flash across it in bold letters. My first thought is a surge of alarm—somehow, Tobias must have tracked the girls to the mall, and I scramble to answer, a wave of concern washing over me as I brace myself for the possibility that I’m going to have to confront some poor, defenseless man and deliver a well-deserved beat down. But if he doesn't leave my sister alone, he's certainly going to earn it.
Instead of relaying a dire warning about being in danger, Heather spins a web of elaborate lies, claiming she's worried about her ex at prom. It's clear to me that this is all one grand attempt to maneuver me into being Savannah's date for the evening. I can see right through her ruse because Heather, despite her usual bravado, has been the least afraid of Tobias out of all of us. She possesses no sense of self-preservation, yet she'll go all out and fight tooth and nail for her best friend any day of the week, without a second thought.
Savannah and Heather have been inseparable, truly attached at the hip, since they were just ten years old. Their friendship began in fifth grade, sparked by a moment when someone was cruelly making fun of Savannah on the playground. My tough-as-nails sister, despite being the smallest in her year, boldly attempted to fight off three other girls to defend Savannah. Both of them ended up getting suspended, but that rebellious act only solidified their bond, and the rest became a cherished history. Since I was fourteen, Savannah has been a significant part of my life, and I can't help but feel protective of her as I navigate this tangled web of friendship and threats.
Some people believe that knowing someone on such an intimate level naturally fosters a brother-and-sister-type relationship, and initially, that was precisely how I perceived ten-year-old Savannah Krish. However, everything shifted when she hit puberty at fourteen and began to develop curves that hinted at her emerging femininity. It was then that I started to see her in a new light, as a young woman rather than just my sister's friend.
One particularly sweltering summer day, Savannah arrived at our house to sunbathe with Heather. While my sister flaunted the skimpiest bikini she could find, much to our parents' chagrin, Savannah confidently donned a sassy, black one-piece that accentuated her figure beautifully. I was eighteen at the time, acutely aware of the boundaries that came with this newfound awareness, yet that did not stop me from stealing glances at them from my bedroom window. Those lazy afternoons were a bittersweet reminder of the proximity I had to her, at least during the days when I was home.
Just three months after graduating high school, I enrolled in the police academy. The training I underwent transformed me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I had already built a solid physique from years of dedication to high school baseball and track, but the rigorous regimen at the academy sculpted my body with a new definition and purpose. After completing my training, I moved back in with my parents for another six months to save up enough money to find my own place. However, even after moving out, it didn’t mean I had severed ties; I still frequently returned home, eager to see my sister and her blossoming best friend, each visit a reminder of the complex web of feelings I was trying to navigate.
I came home every other weekend for our family dinner, and I was often greeted by the warm sight of Savannah seated at the table with us. It felt perfectly normal. Her home life was stable, yet her parents worked long hours, leaving her without the comfort of a family dinner to return to. Instead of letting Savannah navigate that loneliness on her own, Heather took it upon herself to invite her best friend over as often as possible, ensuring that she felt included and cared for.
So, I enjoyed the explicit joy of seeing Savannah every other week, and in that time, I could see how she matured, just like Heather. Her hips widened gracefully, and her breasts continued to blossom, each change marking her transition into womanhood. I watched with a sense of misunderstood longing, a deep ache within me, knowing that I couldn’t have her, even though every part of me wanted to. She was stunning, with a perfect body that many would envy, but occasionally, I would walk past Heather’s room and hear her voicing insecurities about herself. I felt a strong urge to burst through the door and tell her that she was beautiful just the way she was, but I hesitated, holding back those words, wrestling with the fear of complicating everything.
I hadn’t realized Savannah had celebrated her eighteenth birthday just last week. A wave of guilt washed over me as I wanted to kick myself for forgetting such a significant milestone, but what could I do now? The moment had passed, and I couldn’t turn back time.
When Heather asked me to accompany Savannah to prom, it felt like a golden opportunity to help make up for my oversight. Not to mention, it would give me a chance to see her one-on-one for the first time in years, at an age where we were finally both legal to flirt and engage in meaningful conversation without any societal restrictions. The thought of sharing that night with her filled me with a mixture of excitement and nerves.
I considered asking Heather later, when Savannah wasn’t around, how she’d feel about me taking her best friend on a date. That idea lingered in my mind, sparking a flicker of hope, but I was forced to push it aside when my walkie-talkie crackled to life. The dispatcher’s voice broke through the air, reporting a carjacking happening just three blocks away, pulling me back into the present.
I should tell Heather that I’m leaving, but the urgency of the situation leaves me with no time to spare. I quickly radio back to dispatch, confirming that I’m on my way to the scene. I guess I’ll have to save my thoughts about what it means to take Savannah Krish to prom for another time. Right now, there are criminals to catch, and my duty comes first.