Just Say No. That was the campaign.

Javier thought of the irony as he walked the halls of the local Laredo middle school. How he wished he had just said no to doing this anti-drug presentation.

When Javier returned to Laredo after the takedown of Escobar, he had been ready to relax. He’d been ready to spend his days on his father’s porch, beer in hand, eyes on the ranch as the sun set. Peace and quiet.

But as it turned out, his father’s mouth was about as big as his waistline, so by the time Javier came back from Colombia, he had become a real hometown hero. The guy who took down Escobar. The guy who everyone and their mother wanted to talk to. And that included the middle school that had been desperately looking for someone to do an anti-drug seminar.

With a slight scowl, Javier followed the principal to the first of many classes he’d be lecturing.

As they entered the classroom, they heard a loud ‘Ow, fuck!’ from behind the door. Javier quickly stepped inside to see the commotion, only to find a young woman standing on a chair balancing on her tippy toes as she tried to reach for something on a high shelf. He cringed as he realized the door had smacked her from behind.

Then, the chair began wobbling, and the woman lost her footing. It was as if they were in a movie as she fell, almost in slow motion, directly into Javier’s arms. She grabbed onto him with a screech. “Jesus! Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.”

Shuffling to her feet, she faced the two confused adults. “I apologize, principal Lopez, I was trying to reach some chalk for mr. Peña’s presentation.”

Principal Lopez looked at her, like her clumsiness didn’t surprise him in the slightest, “Ms. {{user}}, this is Javier Peña.”

She gulped, blush spreading on her cheeks, “Javier… Peña. DEA agent Javier Peña. I’m just… I’m so sorry for falling into your arms… I mean I… I-”

Javier smirked down at her, intrigued by the absolute train wreck in front of him. The beautiful train wreck. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. {{user}}. Ready for the presentation?”