Here you guys go... so sorry about the long wait. After spending so much time in the vet clinic, my dog has picked up ticks and now my life and house are a mess. Luckily things are getting under control. I hope you enjoy!
We pulled up outside of the tiny market at the gas station, and once again I donned the jacket that I used to disguise myself. I pulled the hood over my head, and swiftly I got out. "Keep your scanner peeled." I muttered as I shut the door, the rain softly falling on my head.
"I will." KARR promised, and subconsciously I adjusted the comlink on my wrist. I headed in, and looking around I saw an older woman at the checkout. She was writing something down on a notepad as I came in, but when the bell above the door rang, she looked up and smiled.
"How may I help you?" She said, pushing a grayish-brown strand of hair out of her eyes.
"Do you have any lemonade?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Of course! Right over here." She said, stepping around the counter and leading me over to a refrigerator with a glass door. Pointing to one of the glass bottles, she told me, "It's fresh, it was just made this morning. Just a dollar a bottle."
"Thanks." I said, opening it and selecting a bottle as the bell rang again and she hurried back over to the counter. I gazed around the store, and my eyes fell on a display of chips. Mentally I counted the money in my pocket as my stomach grumbled. I suppose I had enough to buy some potato chips as well… I grabbed a bag of chips and made my way to the counter, my head down. My comlink beeped, but I gazed down at it and just pressed a button, telling KARR that I knew he signaled me but couldn't talk. I made plans to contact him as soon as I could.
Suddenly I bumped into someone, or more like we bumped into each other. I stumbled back, nearly dropping the chips and lemonade, but I recovered as fast as I could. It wasn't enough, however, and I found myself teetering backwards. Hands shot out to grab me, pulling me forward and helping me right myself.
"You okay?" The person, who I now identified as a male, around his twenties, asked. He had curly brown hair, and a black leather jacket. The jacket was sprinkled with rain.
I nodded. He looked very familiar, although I couldn't quite place where I had seen him. He grinned, pearly white teeth flashing at me like they were straight out of a toothpaste ad. "I'm fine, thanks." I muttered. He grinned again.
"Good. Sorry about that, I had some things on my mind and didn't see you." He apologized, thrusting a hand out. "I'm Michael. What's your name?"
I accepted it cautiously, giving it a firm shake before withdrawing my own. "My name's Quinn."
"Quinn… what a lovely name." He paused and looked closely at me. "Say, you haven't seen a black T-top around, have you?"
"A T-top? Is that like a T-shirt?" I asked, tilting my head, trying my hardest to appear confused. In truth, I was stalling for time. He laughed. "You lost a black T-shirt?" I muttered, shaking my head. "People these days… What will they lose next? Their house?"
"No, a T-top is a type of car." He explained. "It's black, and it's a Pontiac Trans Am. Have you seen it?" He looked anxious.
"You lost your car?" I exclaimed. "How on earth did you lose your car?" I peered past him, into the parking lot. "I think it's parked outside, where you left it." I knew it wasn't KARR, it was different. It had a different… feel.
He whirled around so fast I thought his back might snap. He stared for a second and then said, "No, I drive that one."
Grimacing, I glared at him. "You're looking for a black T-top that's not the one you drive? What, you want to replace it or something? 'Cause you've got me really confused."
He sighed. "Never mind." He nodded towards my food and suddenly the smile was back. "Wise choice, although I'd personally get the hot chocolate. Always suits a rainy day when you're walking, doesn't it?"
I got the hint immediately. He wanted to determine whether or not I drove here or walked. "I think it gets awfully watered down though…" I muttered, shaking my head.
"Right, never thought of it that way." He said. "You'd better be careful wearing that jacket."
I instinctively looked down at it, and then back up at him. "Why?"
"You look like you're part of a gang or something." He explained. It was then that I noticed the comlink on his wrist.
Alarm bells rang in my head. He was driving the other car! "Not currently." I said smoothly.
His left eyebrow quirked up. "Not currently?" He echoed. "You've been in a gang before?"
I shook my head. "I just met you, and now you're giving me an interrogation? What are you, some sort of cop?" I gave a fake gasp, took a step back, and looked at him. "You're hunting me down? Oh, mother dearest, I'm sorry for breaking your favorite vase! I was only a baby at the time!" I fake wailed, falling to my knees and holding the lemonade and chips to the sky.
He laughed, looked at me, and laughed some more. He offered his hand out to me and I took it, rising to my feet again, a smile of my own lips. "You're a good actress… Have you considered going to Hollywood?"
"Hollywood?" I muttered. "Oh, no, I was considering becoming a doctor."
"Really?" He looked interested. "So young…" He muttered, running a hand through his hair. "You already know what you're going to become? When I was your age, all I thought of was just adventures."
"Adventures? That's just a bunch of lies. Life is so much harder than that, it's not like you can just run around saving people all the time."
"It's not just about that… It's risking your life, time after time." Michael told me, leading me to the counter and placing his candy bar on the counter, then he took my lemonade and chips and placed them on the counter. When I raised my eyebrow, he said, "I insist."
Meanwhile, I was thinking. He seemed so arrogant, but kind and unique at the same time. Was this really the person that drove the other car? That person seemed so persistent, like a lion stalking its prey. This person seemed so at ease, laughing and cheerful. Was KARR really going to defeat them? Could we bear it, knowing that he was only human, just like us?
