Tallahassee
Her palms tingle as her eyes scan her surroundings. She needs to touch something to calm the itch, so she readjusts her black framed glasses that she only wears on these rare occasions. She takes a deep breath and triple checks her desired piece. Her grip tightens around her tool as her heart races at a speed she hopes her feet can keep up with.
She glances over to her left and barely sees him hidden in the dark shadows. She sighs in relief, his presence kick starts her feet toward the black Audi. She doesn't bother glancing around any longer, her eyes must stay strained to the prize.
She approaches the car and slips the long metal between the glass and the door frame. With practiced ease she pops the lock and opens the driver's door. She drops to her knees and begins removing the paneling that's keeping all the wires hidden beneath the steering wheel.
She finds her necessary cords and twists them together, hot wiring the expensive car she desired. The engine roars loudly, forcing an aching heartbeat rapidly against her chest. Her palms become slick with anticipation and the fear of getting caught, despite how many times she has accomplished this undetected.
She jumps into the black leather seat and softly closes the door behind her. Her gloved hand wraps around the cold wood and she slams the stick into first gear while her feet move in sync with her actions. The car takes off down the ghostly alley as green orbs flick toward the rear view mirror. Two round glowing headlights come into focus, provoking the smirk across her lips.
She skids off onto a ramp and shifts into second, climbing the gears as she drifts along the ramp. With ease she slides between two semi trucks and slams the stick into third gear. Her heart races with adrenaline, matching the race coasting down the interstate.
Green orbs flick toward the rear view mirror once again to find those bright round headlights trailing behind at a safe distance. Her eyes dart back to the road to follow the semi trucks into the far left lane as her foot slams into the clutch and she drops the car into fourth gear.
Her heart flutters as so many old memories come flooding back to her. There's nothing more that she craves in this moment than to kick this Audi into fifth gear and tear up this interstate, but she refrains. She knows what that could cost her and she is better than that.
She checks the mirror one last time for those old familiar headlights and smiles when she sees them following behind. She reaches for the radio and leaves whatever station the owner was previous playing. An over obnoxious beat pumps into the speaker causing her to cringe but the music will do for now. Besides, it will be a great distraction to keep her awake for her four hour trip to Atlanta, Georgia.
XXXXXXXX
She softly closes the door and glances around the dark alley, making sure no disturbances were made.
"Emma," he whisper shouts out the window, demanding her attention from her whereabouts. "Let's move baby!" He squeals in excitement.
Emma's Converse connect with the pavement below as she jogs toward the little yellow bug. She climbs into the front seat and shuts the door behind her. Her smile is as broad as her cheeks will allow, forcing her boyfriend to mimic the giddy grin. The most adorable squeal rips from her throat as her long fingers slide against his scruffy cheeks. She pulls him in with determination, connecting their lips into a searing kiss from the pending high she is riding through. Her body is buzzing with too much adrenaline from stealing that car that she needs some type of physical connection to calm her anxious nerves.
"Are you happy now?" He mumbles into her mouth as she continues kissing him with every ounce of electrifying energy.
Emma pulls away and shivers from the exhilarating trip. "Fuck yeah I'm happy," she breathes out her words and falls back into her seat. "We haven't done that in a long time, Neal."
"Well we agreed we were gonna give it up," Neal reminds her of their original plan before they moved to Tallahassee.
Her boyfriend slowly backs out of the alley and spins their tiny bug back into the busy street. Emma brings her knees to her chest and balances her toes against the glovebox.
"I know but come on, that was a good lift. We made bank," Emma confesses as she taps her fingers against her thighs and sways her feet to a song she's more familiar with. Her boyfriend sighs but he chooses not say another word on the subject. "Baby didn't you miss that rush?" Emma leans across the center console and slithers her fingers between Neal's. "That pure excitement and high," she exhales and throws her blonde locks against the headrest. "It's been so long."
Neal sweeps his thumb against the back of Emma's silky hand. He doesn't want to be a buzzkill right now but the words are already falling from his lips.
"I know baby, but you promised me we could be done."
"I know," she mutters mostly to herself because her confirmation is only spoken in half truth.
Emma swore she would desert this reckless life of theft. She remembers that vow she made five years ago, but that declaration was never for him. Her pledge to be good and stay safe was promised to someone else, to her.
She cannot stomach those haunting thoughts again so Emma does as she always does, neglect. She neglects her true feelings and shifts her body to stare aimlessly out the window. Truth is, she hasn't thought about Regina in awhile now, she has become very good at deflecting her feelings of the brunette who stole her heart. Regina is the true thief, no? She stole Emma's heart and that's more valuable than all the cars the blonde has stolen in her lifetime.
"Please don't be upset," Neal squeezes Emma's hand to bring her back to the now. "I just don't want to risk anything if we want to start a family soon."
"I'm not upset," Emma lies through her teeth and leans over to peck her boyfriend's cheek to solidify her reply. "I know you're just looking out for me."
"You know it Emma. I want our baby to have a safe and stable environment. Nothing like my piece of shit parents or yours. Fuck the foster system!"
Emma rests her head against Neal's broad shoulder and curls her arms around his bicep. He smells of gasoline and oil from his day job, but Emma doesn't mind. To her, the smell is now home. She inhales sharply and nuzzles against his green zip up that she believes is on its last life.
"Our babies are gonna be so stinking cute!"
"Can you imagine coming home and spending the evening on the beach with our baby, making sand castles?" Neal enthuses as his voice grows higher and higher with every word spoken. His enthusiasm is palpable and Emma can't help but feel the flutter in her heart return.
Even though there's whispers in the back of her mind of a brunette pressing her against an old Camaro.
XXXXXXXX
Three days after Emma's midnight job that went beautifully, according to her, she was back to her regular job. She was in her jumpsuit working on a new Mercedes when she heard an old familiar voice.
"I would say you look good, but flattery isn't really my thing and I was also told never to lie."
"August," Emma cheerfully acknowledges his friendly voice as she removes her head from beneath the hood of the car.
"Are you always this dirty?" He laughs as Emma wipes her hands against a towel covered in oil. Her old friend eyes the filthy towel and wonders how the hell thats even going to help her hands right now.
"Shut up," Emma rolls those big green eyes and smirks as she accesses her friend up and down. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Coron," August deadpans and stalks his way toward his estranged friend.
"Where the hell is that?" Emma scoffs and tosses her useless towel aside.
"Philippines." Emma purses her lips and shakes her head. "What about you? You've been a bitch to track down lately."
"Have I?" Emma chuckles and plays innocent just as Neal enters the garage.
"Baby, you got that Mercedes ready?" Neal questions, but stops dead in his tracks when he sees Emma's old friend from the foster system. "August," he states flatly as his nostrils flare in response to seeing this jag off.
"Neal," there's a condescending undertone lacing August's greeting as he glares at Emma's boyfriend through hooded eyes.
"Alright, too much testosterone in here. You two hate each other, we got it, move on," Emma commands persuading both men to relax their shoulders before they both start peeing to mark their territory like a bunch of dogs.
"So what's up August? Why the unexpected visit? I know you aren't here to catch up," Emma implies while folding her arms across her chest and leans back against the Mercedes.
"Yeah uh," August runs his hand down his face and through his scruffy beard as he works up the courage to explain his sudden appearance. "Look um, Regina is in some trouble," he cautiously admits provoking Emma's stomach to drop out from under her.
The blonde feels as though her soul is being torn from her body and now she is being forced to watch this train wreck of her life from above. Her lungs seem to have forgotten what their purpose in life is, as she stumbles to take in one single breath.
"Wha-" her word coughs out through a dessert like mouth, so she clears her throat and tries again. "What happened?"
August's hand finds the back of his own neck as he nervously pulls at the tightening area. The tension is rapidly building and he's unsure of what to truly say next.
"She was just...caught...in a bad situation. I think she's gonna need your help," August admits as he peeks a glimpse of Emma's reaction through his eyelashes.
The old friend doesn't have the courage to look Emma in the eyes. Not after everything he's done in his past or is about to do in his near future. August has always been a fuck up, this is nothing new. He wants to be a better man, he just...doesn't believe that he is programmed to be the best that he should be.
"How can I help?" Emma questions as panic rises just below her heated flesh. She takes a hasty step forward and ducks her head down so she can meet August's baby blue eyes. "Where is she?"
"Emma, I-I don't think this is a good idea. Baby we shouldn't be getting involved with anything that can screw up our future," Neal quickly interjects with his opinion because he knows too much about August to trust a word that fuck-boy has to say.
Emma takes a few rushed steps forward and takes her boyfriend's hand into both of hers. She wants him to understand her feelings and the necessary pull she feels in her gut to save Regina. She's always saved Regina and she won't stop now, no matter how high the stakes are.
The messy blonde pulls Neal's hand to her chest, knowing he will feel the overactive organ thumping wildly out of fear for her friend. Well...sort of friend...
"Neal, please. You know how much Regina means to me. You know I have been there for her and she has been right there for me since we were five years old. I can't bail on her now. Come on, I know you don't want to either."
The blonde's eyes are glossing over despite her struggle to mask her emotions, so Neal understands if Emma's tearing up this is important. He's never once seen her cry since the day Regina was forced to leave. He knows that Regina means far more to Emma than he ever could and he was always fine with that because he thought Regina was officially out of their lives.
"Alright August where are we headed?" Neal questions as he focuses his attention to the man he despises. The man he has indeed been hiding Emma from for the past nine years.
Neal was never an ignorant man. He understands exactly what type of man August is and has always been. Emma's old friend has always been the type of person who only looks out for himself. He's selfish and would sell Emma to the devil himself him the opportunity presented itself for a good chunk of change. Yet, Emma forgives August time and time again because they were in the foster system together.
August meets Neal's gaze for a brief second before he sighs and turns his attention to Emma. His gut is screaming for him to keep his mouth shut and abandon this whole plan, but he just can't help himself.
"Maine."