though most weren’t a fan of the station, understandably so, as long as Rowan could remember it had always been a place of comfort to her. not always, certainly but growing up she spent far too much time disrupting the officers from their work, not thinking much of it. after all, until now, the crime rate in hawkins was low, mostly petty crimes and deaths from natural causes. but now, after she was given the opportunity to help assist the station’s coroner, Rowan was starting to see a completely different side to the place.
that week, however, Rowan was off due to upcoming exams and both her and her father insisting it was necessary unless something extreme came up and a hand was needed. still, she made the time to stop by and have a quick bite to eat with her co-workers, hoping to get the chance to catch up with her father but still, he was busy out and about with the case. not that she blamed him, a kid was missing.
stepping out from the break room, mild laughter escaped the tousled brunette, soft doe eyes lighting up in amusement as she carried on conversation until the inevitable interruption of them having to get back to work. turning away, emerald hues spotted casey out of the corner of her eyes. flashbacks to high school hitting her with little warning as the smile faded to something more of a forced smile. she couldn’t really blame anyone, making her a target was easy for most, but still, the rumors, the events that led to it were always very real to her and that pain never left.
“ hello,” a soft, almost forced whispered spoke in echo, eyes still locked on casey. “ huh? ” she asked in mild confusion at the question, shrugging it off as a slight mix up. “ I think he may be out on a call, but if you’d like to leave a note for him, i’m sure you’d be able to leave it at his desk.” she spoke out, the confidence finding its way back to her voice. “ i’m only here for lunch, otherwise i’d try to be more of assistance..”
the urge to get out of the police station was more than a fleeting sensation. Instead of only looking at her hands she began to fiddle with them, anxious to end the conversation with an ‘ okay, i’ll come back later ’ and be done with that. it was the right thing to do. still, she was never any good at following her gut instinct, much preferring to let her heart get in the way of things. Casey remained where she sat, silent.
“ hope you’re doing well, Rowan. ” an obligatory act of courteousness. her eyes never left the cheap flooring, even as she spoke, focusing on the harsh reflection of fluorescent light that bounced back off it. the nerves never wore off despite the many years spent stepping foot inside all hours of the night for the exact same routine, to get the assurance that neither of her brothers were caught up in something.
hands raised in urgency. “ oh! no, i wasn’t too clear on that, sorry, ” she babbled. “ not THAT one. ”
the good one. the straight edge younger brother who never seemed to put a foot wrong. she didn’t need to worry about him. the oldest, however, was an entirely different story. “usually, i’ll just go to the secretary to see if anything’s come up. i’m comin’ to see if my older brother hasn’t done something. he needs bailing out and usually forgets to call, if he has. ”
there was no need to call. even if he didn’t, if he forgot, there’d be no doubt in his mind nor Casey’s that she’d be there. the unspoken agreement had never fallen in on itself. rather, it only became more concrete as time went on.
“ won’t need to leave a note, i think. ” not that they spoke all too often. she offered a weak smile. “ you would’ve heard about it by now if somethin’ happened, anyway. ”
