A/N: Phew! It's been a long time and I'm so sorry! I know this update is a little short, but I promise the next one will come a little sooner. Enjoy!

III. Wendy

"You have two new messages," the answering machine told me as I threw my bags onto the couch. "Hey, uh, Officer Corduroy. It's Stan Pines getting back to you."

I froze, my back straightening automatically as if it would help me hear him better.

When I called Stan Pines this afternoon, I didn't expect him to call back.

"Yeah, I got your message and-uh, man, this is weird. I'll-I'll just call back." Beep.

I tried to stop myself, but my ears still perked up for the start of the next message. "It's me again. Stan Pines. Just call back whenever."

As an officer, I'm not supposed to look too far into a suspect's background. Sheriff Blubs says that it makes you go soft, I don't think so. If anything, this will help me get the answers I need.

Because I know I won't be resting as long as these questions burn in the back of my mind.

Like, how could such a sweet girl turn so sour?

So bitter?

So against the world and all who are in it to the point of killing her own brother?

I'm sure they had a good relationship being twins and all, so why did things go down the way they did?

I'm not a detective. Not anything close.

But my gut was telling me Stan Pines was the closest to an answer I'd get.

For now.

I shuffled into the bedroom and changed out of my uniform and into a gray tank top and sweat pants. I picked up my uniform to put it away, but decided otherwise and left it on the floor. I figured I could afford to be a slob for one night.

Besides, it wasn't like I had anyone to impress here. I lived on my own in an apartment in walking distance from the station just in case of an emergency.

Some people would think it a pain to have to walk to work every day, but I liked it. It forced me to think about everything, everything right, everything wrong, just everything. I don't know, I just felt my best when I was walking, thinking about something. It made me feel more whole, more accepting of my own secrets.

Even sitting on my old, crinkled couch, I thought about how sometimes I missed living with my Dad and brothers. They did get on my nerves sometimes, but they're family after all. I couldn't blame them for it. That was just the way they were, especially my brothers.

But it's still been really lonely here.

It's been almost dead quiet here since Robbie stopped coming over.

Robbie.

I walked into my mostly empty kitchen, found a can of soup, poured it's contents into a mug, and stuck it in the microwave. I didn't feel like trying at something elaborate. I was too busy thinking about him now.

Robbie.

Man, that guy sure knew how to get my head spinning in the most confusing ways. He was a jerk and the most inconsistent boyfriend of all time, but he knew everything about me, my ambitions and fears, my likes and dislikes. He made me think that he understood me. I couldn't help but give him another chance every time he knocked on my door to apologize.

Except this time, I told myself, tightening my grip on the microwave handle. He walks all over me and I don't need that. I don't need him.

Then again, I've always told myself that. And time and time again, I prove to myself just how weak I am on my own strength.

And somehow, I convince myself that Robbie can give me that strength.

For a police officer, I'm really bad at staying within the law. Especially when it's a law from my own heart.

A/N: Oh, Wendy. Are you ever going to learn? Please leave a review if you read and I'll see you next time!