Disclaimer: I don't own The Expendables or One More Night by Maroon 5
Lights Chapter 2: Of Ex's and Ohs…
A few days later I'm woken in the middle of the night by the low rumble of motorcycles making their way into the garage. I count about five different makes and models of bikes and know that this is Uncle Barney's team coming back from their mission in Brazil. I mentally debate whether or not I want to go down and meet everyone now or wait until tomorrow. Since I still haven't heard back about that job I decide to get up and see what's going on, it's not like I have anywhere to be tomorrow anyway... I throw an oversized hoodie on before heading downstairs to the garage. Before I get to the bottom I can hear the laugher of the men in the room echoing off of the concrete walls.
I smirk as I see several men sitting around the shop drinking beer and recounting the heroics of the mission they were just on.
"Ah… there she is!" Uncle Tool exclaims.
"Who's your new girlfriend?" laughs one of the men.
Tool casually flicks his knife, but it embeds itself in the wood right above the man's head just millimeters from him, "she's my niece you asswhip." Tool glares at the men individually and they all hold up their hands in a 'surrender- like' pose before looking back over towards me. I grin cattily at them all and give a tiny wave before I rush over to give Uncle Barney a hug. He happily returns it before he pulls away and looks down at me.
"When did you get here?"
"A few days ago…"
"You didn't tell me you were coming in… I would have got you somethin'."
"She didn't tell me she was coming either!" yells Uncle Tool as he takes another swig of his beer.
I roll my eyes at the two men, "It was kinda a last minute decision…"
"What kinda last minute decision?" Questions Uncle Barney suspiciously.
"The kind that doesn't need a lecture and for you to mind your own business…" I quip with a Cheshire smile to cover the hurt that memories evoke.
Uncle Barney holds his hands up in the surrender sign this time, before he gives me a smile and another one armed hug.
"Well it doesn't matter… all that matters is that you're here."
I smile as I look up at him, "So are you going to introduce me to your team?"
He chuckles before he begins to point out everyone, "That's Toll Road, Gunnar Jensen, Hail Caesar, Yin Yang, and Lee Christmas."
My eyes pause on the last one; he's handsome, especially with that cute little smirk of his. My eyes slide from him as I wave sweetly at the men before me. They each give me their own form of greeting, usually in the form of a nod before I turn back to Uncle Barney.
"So how long are you in town for?" he asks as he sits down on the chair and most of the others go back to what they were doing. All except one that is…
"Depends…"
"On what?" questions a raspy British voice from behind him. Christmas is leaning up against the support beam giving me a calculating look.
"On if I get a job or not…"
"You know you can just stay with us Baby Girl. We'll take care of you," Interjects Uncle Tool.
I shrug, "I'm a little too old to be a moocher."
"You're not a moocher… you're family," says Uncle Barney with a finality that leaves no room for questions.
I just smile as I nod to please him, "Regardless… my pride won't let me not make money…"
"An independent girl!" Exclaims Christmas in almost surprise as he looks at me before taking a swig of his beer.
I roll my eyes, "Why yes… we do exist…"
"Never said you didn't…" he says as he gives me a cocky smile and a wink.
"Christmas… Don't flirt with my niece…" says Barney in exasperation as he sends the Brit a warning look.
I merely giggle as I turn to head back upstairs.
"Where are you goin?" yells Christmas, I can hear the cheeky smile in his voice.
"To bed… I don't have time for flirting Brits tonight…" I say with a laugh as I head up the stairs.
"Awww com'on!"
I can hear the other men laughing at Christmas as I head up the stairs. There are a few jabs thrown his way but he seems to just laugh them off.
"Nope," I say popping the 'p' before I shut the door to the garage. I decided a long time ago that… okay well more like a few days ago… that I'm not getting involved right now. Not after what happened last time. Plus it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get mixed up with Uncle Barney's right hand… That just spells trouble… No matter how gorgeous or British he is…
The next morning when I head downstairs I'm not too surprised to find the men chilling out in almost the exact same spots as last night, the activities just vary now. I am, however, surprised when the first to greet me is Mr. Lee Christmas. I had decided after going to bed last night and pondering him that he was just messing with my uncles.
"Mornin' Beautiful… how did you sleep?"
I smile at him, "Just fine thank you! Do you happen to know where Uncle Barney is?"
"Now why would you want to talk to him when you could talk to me?"
I could see the other men in the garage stop what they were doing to listen in on our conversation, even if they weren't being obvious about it.
"Well… I'm going to the store we need food and I thought I would do some shopping and I wanted to know if him or Uncle Tool needed anything."
"Well in that case you need someone to go with you and I just happen to be the man for the job…"
"Mmm hmm… I'm sure you would be delightful company, but I think I can manage alone…" I say with a falsely cherry voice.
"Are you sure? It's quite dangerous out there…" he says as he leaps in front of me and leans against the support beam with his arms crossed.
"Dangerous?"
"Dangerous… never know what could happen to a beautiful girl like yourself."
"I think I can manage, thanks." I say flippantly as Uncle Tool and Uncle Barney come sauntering out of the back office. Smirks are playing across their faces indicating that they clearly heard the conversation.
"I'm headin to the store… you two need anything?"
The two men exchange a look with a smirk, "Naw… we're good… you go right ahead…" says Uncle Barney with a nod.
I nod before I head over to my car. I can hear the men chuckling and giving Christmas a hard time as get into my car. I don't pay them any attention as I start my car up and back out of the garage.
You and I go hard, at each other like we going to war
You and I go rough, we keep throwing things and slammin' the door
You and I get so, damn dysfunctional we stopped keeping score
You and I get sick, yah I know that we can't do this no more
I glance down at my purse where the tell-tale song is blasting from. I frown because I know exactly who it is… But baby there you again, there you again making me love you
Yeah I stopped using my head, using my head let it all go
Got you stuck on my body, on my body like a tattoo
And now I'm feeling stupid, feeling stupid crawling back to you
So I cross my heart, and I hope to die, that I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night
I reach into my purse and fumble for the phone that should be in the side pocket. I pull it out and look down at the caller id screen. A picture of Arthur flashes up on the screen. Trying to tell you no, but my body keeps on telling you yes
Trying to tell you stop, but your lipstick got me so out of breath
I'd be waking up, in the morning probably hating myself
And I'd be waking up, feeling satisfied but guilty as hell
I almost answer as I look into his dark eyes. In a pure moment of weakness my finger hovers over the green answer key… But baby there you go again, there you go again making me love you
Yeah I stopped using my head, using my head let it all go
Got you stuck on my body, on my body like a tattoo
And now I'm feeling stupid, feeling stupid crawling back to you
…But I don't…
So I cross my heart, and I hope to die, that I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I've said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night
I feel the tears prick my eyes as I throw my phone back into my bag in disgust. Yeah baby give me one more night
Yeah baby give me one more night
Yeah baby give me one more night
The picture of him in bed with that…
But baby there you again, there you again making me love you
Yeah I stopped using my head, using my head let it all go
Got you stuck on my body, on my body like a tattoo
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
…whore… So I cross my heart, and I hope to die, that I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I've said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night
Tangled in her arms…
So I cross my heart, and I hope to die, that I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I've said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night.
The image stays with me until I get to the mall. When I've parked the car I pull down the visor and proceed to fix my makeup, before I get out of the car and head inside. My phone is practically burning a hole in my pocket due the voicemail that I know that he left. I try to put him out of my mind as flit from shop to shop blowing an obscene amount of money on things that I could never even begin to need. I know that I'm just trying to make myself feel better and why shouldn't I? I deserve to feel better!
It isn't long until I hear the sound for my text messages. I pull my phone out of my bag, dreading who it could possibly be. I'm oddly relieved when I see a number that I don't recognize and open it to see a message from the last person I would think would text me.
6548648: You havin fun love?
Me 3: Christmas…?
6548648: Who else would it be love?
Me 3: Good point no one else has the balls to call me love XP
Christmas: Really now? You don't seem that scary.
Me 3: That's what they all say until…
Christmas: Until?
Me 3: Wouldn't you like to know? A lady doesn't reveal her secrets… ^.~
Christmas: Well I would never ask a lady to reveal her secrets.
Me 3: A true gentlemen
Me 3: So how did you get my number?
Christmas: Swiped your uncle's phone
Me 3: No you didn't!
Christmas: Sure did love
Me 3: Why?
Christmas: Just wanted to talk to a beautiful girl
Me 3: Careful Christmas I might take that the wrong way
Christmas: I hope you do
I glance down at my phone and feel just the hint of a smile as I read his last message. I may not be able to get involved with him, but that doesn't mean I can't let the man make me feel better about myself.
Wow! 17 Reviews! Count them! 17! I know it's been forever and a day since I updated this story… that's what I get for starting stories at inopportune moments… But I'm really pleased that you all wanted me to continue so bad otherwise I may not have! So let's keep the excitement going dolls and REVIEW! Also! If anyone would like to create a banner…. That would be cool… ^.~