The Last Confession
-or-
Five times Barrel tried to tell 'I love you' to Lockstock, and One time Lockstock understood.

/-/

I don't know what Lockstock looks like to you, but to me, Barrel will always be the guy in this production:

youtube watch?v=z Vt1NN4IDr0 & feature= related

/-/

The First Time

It was Tuesday night. The kind of night that not much happened on—the kind of night police officers loved the best. All the Cops in the city were gathered- even some of Mr. Cladwell's private guards had shirked their duties and found a place in the small hall.

The sole officer to find anything wrong with such relaxation was Officer Lockstock: the narrator and chief of police. Already he had paced around the small hall half a dozen times, nibbled through three donuts, and had gone over the timetable records. He finally took his station at the front of the room, clearing his throat loudly.

"I need someone to pick up the evening patrol with me. Any takers?"

The office space fell quiet as all the cops averted their gazes. Some looked out the window at the lovely brick wall beyond, some grew further involved in the round of poker being played, and some further began a round of coughing. Only one man answered the call of duty.

"I'll do it!"

Half the cops in the room groaned under their breaths, half grinned in relief.

"Trust the suck-up to make the rest of us look bad," one particularly bulky cop whispered to his table-mate. The other kicked the first's leg.

"Are you kidding? Barrel's anything but a suck-up…he's too clueless to even know how to be the teacher's pet. Nah, take a look at his face. If you can get past the creepy expression, you can see it clear as day. Barrel's in love."

The first officer snorted into his hand. "You've got to be shitting me!"

"He's got to be shitting you about what, sir?"

The cop looked up to see Lockstock towering over him. Sending a dirty glare to his partner, he sputtered a moment before answering.

"Um…Barrel does so many rounds…er…I just can't believe how dedicated he is to the town."

The answer seemed to pacify Lockstock, even earning a look of admiration over to Barrel, still eerily grinning.

"That's the kind of man I'm looking for, mister. That dedication is what makes me proud to call Barrel a fellow policeman." If anything, that declaration caused Barrel's face to flare up in a blush—a blush Lockstock was completely unaware of. "Now come on, Mr. Barrel. I'm anxious to meet the streets."

"Yes, sir!" Barrel only took another moment to grab his truncheon, then was out the door with Lockstock. The two went down a few major roads before cutting into an alley, emerging close to Mr. Graffin's amenity.

"So…not paying Ms. Pennywise a visit, then?" Barrel leaned against a lightpost, trying to make small talk. He would have been the picture of contentment, if it weren't for his shifting eyes. Rather than answer the question, Lockstock gazed out at the town.

"I appreciate you taking the beat with me, Mr. Barrel. I know these are usually the dead hours, but you never know around amenity number sixteen."

"It's okay, Officer Lockstock. I love doing any beat, as long as it's with you."

"Why thank you, Barrel."

"In fact, I… I love you!"

The streets were silent, except for the drip-drip-drip of a leaky amenity. Finally Lockstock turned around, a rare soft smile on his face.

"Thanks, Barrel. I think it's important for policemen to care about each other as much as they care about the city. You work so much harder to protect what you love."

He strode over to Barrel and slapped his back. "Come on, let's get to Pennywise's hutch. You're right, we owe her a visit." He started ahead, leaving behind Barrel, vague as ever. The junior officer gazed after Lockstock, a goofy smile spreading on his face.

"Well…maybe next time…." he mumbled before following. There would always be another day to tell Lockstock.

/-/

So much for first time being the charm! I love it when people put my stories in their favorites or story alert them…but I love it even more when people review! Please let me know how I'm doing!