~*~

Pictures and Racecars

"Give me a couple of minutes?" Kip said, moving quickly from the living room down the narrow hall.

The disheveled house smelled like cars. Avery wasn't sure how that was possible but the air was lightly tinted with a mixture of gasoline and that sharp new car smell.

Kip had switched on a light when they'd come in, it hung limply from the low ceiling, illuminating a worn brown leather couch and miss-matching fabric armchairs. Their was a television that seemed better suited for the early '90s propped up on an old crate. The floor between it all boasted car parts instead of a coffee table.

She watched as Kip moved from room to room, carrying what looked like sheets and pillows; but the light in the hall was dim enough she could only guess.

"You know," She called, shrugging off her purse and tossing it lightly into one of the armchairs, "I could just sleep on the couch."

Her eyes flashed back to the couch, but shrugged off her thoughts and didn't retract her offer.

Kip paused in the hall, looking at her, "Pretty thing like you? Nah."

Avery turned her head towards the window so he wouldn't see her smile.

He started moving back and forth from the rooms again.

"Besides," he said, "Tumbler and Memphis would be confused as hell tah see yah there."

"Tumbler and Memphis?" Avery questioned, moving towards the shelves.

"They live here too," Kip replied, "Tumbler was in the bar earlier…he tossed the keys at me."

"Oh," Avery said quietly. She twirled her hair nervously, though in truth she was starting to feel emotionally numb. It was like everything that had happened in the past 14 hours was just a dream; she'd wake up, in her bed, surrounded by her cloths, her things, her friends.

Avery sighed, not mentioning people she actually knew or places she recognized, her clothes were still locked in Tommy's trunk. "Perfect," Avery mumbled to herself, "best vacation ever."

She let her eyes run over the room some more, in desperate attempt to distract her mind. Tommy was gone, her clothes were gone, and she was probably a couple thousand miles from anywhere familiar.

The shelves were littered with trophies, pictures and various memorabilia. She smiled, picking a picture off the surprisingly sturdy shelf.

"Is this you?" Avery asked; she'd seen Kip re-enter the room from the corner of her eye. He may have been her knight in shining armor, but knights could turn out to be baddies too.

"Yea," Kip smiled, looking over Avery's shoulder. "I was ten – maybe eleven?"

"So you race?" She asked, looking up.

He ran a hand through his slicked back hair. "I used to…my family's kinda into cars," He paused, sitting heavily and sinking into the couch, "I mostly just help in restoring 'em now."

Avery nodded, searching for conversation. "So, uhm…who are the other people?"

Kip patted the cushion next to him on the couch; Avery sat, sinking back into the cushions. He noticed for the first time she was wearing perfume; it wasn't sweet, or strong, just a soft clean smell.

"That's my ma," Kip pointed, pulling his attention back to the picture, "And my older brother Memphis."

"Oh, your roommate?" She began twirling her hair again. Forcing back the thoughts of how she'd just totally agreed to a sleepover at a stranger's house; a stranger she'd met while he pulled her out of a seedy, burning bar, complete with drug dealers and waterfront location.

He smirked, "The one and only."

She handed him the picture; he noticed her nails were short and painted black.

"That's an interesting color." He commented; hoisting himself up and placing the picture caringly back on the shelf.

Avery nodded, "I like it." She replied simply. She'd almost gotten her thoughts quelled; but the constant butterflies in her stomach didn't help any.

Kip studied her a moment "You know cars?" He asked.

Avery snorted, then blushed lightly after registering that sound had come from her. "Way to be un-lady like," Avery thought, mentally kicking her self.

"Barely," continued, recovering her complexion, "But I know which ones I like. I kinda have a checklist of the ones I want."

It was Kips turn to snort. He didn't blush, "You have a car?" he asked pointedly. "How many cars do you have so far?" Was what he had thought.

Avery shook her head, "Nope, I mean…I've got my license, I just don't own a car. I wish."

"Oh," Kip said, shrugging, "Huh."

Avery twisted her hair, which fell just below her shoulders; straight and a dusky blonde.

A few seconds passed in semi-awkward silence. Avery cleared her throat. She'd thought about asking for a tour and nixed it. "What would I do if I found something disagreeable?" she thought, "It's not like I could go anywhere now."

"So…you work in a garage?" She asked. Trying to regain control of the butterflies that had stirred at the thought of how stuck she really was.

He smirked. "Yup," he stretched, yawning, and glanced at the clock, "I'll probably be there by the time you wake up tomorrow."

"Oh" Avery mouthed silently, nodding slowly.

Kip stuck out his hand; Avery accepted, and he rescued her from the bowls of, probably, the most comfortable couch she'd ever sat in. "I'll leave directions and a phone number." He said reassuringly.

"Ok," Avery tugged her shirt back in place. "I'm gonna try the hotels tomorrow morning. So with any luck I'll have a room by the time I see you." She smiled.

They walked down the cramped, dimly lit, hall. More family pictures decorated the walls; unevenly. Kip swung open the first door on the left, "Bathroom," he instructed and kept on walking.

Swinging open the second door on the right revealed a freshly made bed, two roughly folded towels, and a motorcycle. Or at least part of a motorcycle, rested at the foot of the bed. A narrow desk, stool, and short chest of drawers were the only other occupants in the room. It was on the small side; but felt homey.

Avery smiled wider, she couldn't stop herself, "Planning on driving it 'round the house?" She asked teasingly.

"I'm building it," Kip laughed, "It's no where near done. I had another one, but sold it a while back."

"Huh," Avery replied, still smiling. She sat stiffly on the bed.

"Yea, so…" Kip started, digging through the chest, "Those are fresh towels and sheets. You saw were the shower is…you kinda hafta wait a couple of minutes for the water to heat up."

He said it rushed; Avery cocked her head slightly to the side. Since when was a knight ever embarrassed?

"No problem." Avery said, smoothing out invisible wrinkles in her jeans.

Kip tossed something from the drawers at her, "Sorry," he said earnestly, "It's the best I've got, it should be big enough to … uh…work?"

Avery held up a large Metallica t-shirt. "Perfect," She smiled.

Kip nodded, heading out the door. He paused at the frame and turned to face her. He opened his mouth to ask something, but decided against it.

"Uhm," He stated, "The door locks, if you're…uncomfortable?" He shrugged unsurely and trudged lightly down the hall.

Avery tilted her head again at the now vacant door. Shaking out her ponytail she stood up, shutting the door, changing, tossing the towels and her clothes to the foot of the bed. She admired the semi-built motorcycle a few moments before flicking off the lights and sinking into bed. She was awake just under a minute before drifting off to sleep.

She left the door open a crack, letting a sliver of soft yellow light in from the hall.