[A/N] I know it's been awhile guys! I've been busy planning my wedding actually. YAY! I'm so very excited about it. :) But I swear I haven't forgotten about updating this story. Hope you guys didn't mind the wait, but if you did, I hope I can make it up to you with the chapter ahead. It's a fun, light chapter to prepare for what's ahead. Enjoy loves! :)
DISCLAIMER: Nope. I WISH!
Chapter 9
Rocky attempted to punch Jet, which proved unsuccessful as Jet stopped it then immediately retaliated. Rocky did a backward somersault to avoid Jet's attack. As soon as Rocky landed, Jet attempted to kick him, but Rocky blocked it and grabbed Jet's leg effectively immobilizing him, but only for a second.
Rocky shook his head. "You dare try that move on me?"
Jet smirked. "Yeah, I dare…"
He flipped backwards to free his leg and then proceeded to throw a series of punches and kicks at Rocky, which he evaded, ducking or blocking each of them. Rocky then threw his own set of offensive moves, but Jet was much too fast.
It was early evening. Rocky and Jet were sparring each other after a playful argument had arisen on whose ninja technique was superior. Despite the long day at the carwash, exhaustion didn't seem to affect the boys' battle morale. As far as they were concerned, it was nothing that a good sparring match couldn't fix. Thus, the boys ended up outside in the Russo's spacious backyard, the ideal place for a fight, with Tum Tum watching Rocky and Jet from the sidelines, his head spinning wildly back and forth as he tried to keep up with the match.
The boys were on equal ground; Rocky was strong, but Jet was fast, much like Colt. The difference, however, was that Jet's speed came in his surges of attacks, while Colt was consistently fast. Either way, Rocky's strength embedded in his well-calculated techniques was a suitable match, and neither of them seemed frustrated that they were unable to surpass the other. In fact, they were having a lot of fun and considered this friendly battle great practice.
Rocky and Jet simultaneously threw an attack at one another, which caused both of them to toss themselves backwards to avoid it. They paused, facing each other on opposite ends of the backyard, in their fighting stances and out of breath.
"Man, Colt is missing out," Rocky told Jet. "He's much faster than I am." This was his way of complimenting a formidable ninja.
"Well, right now, I think he'd rather date my sister," Jet joked. "But if he hurts her, I will have a reason to fight him."
On that note, the faint sound of the doorbell ringing was heard from inside the house. The three boys turned towards the noise, and Rocky and Jet relaxed their stances. The fight was now over. Since Rocky and Tum Tum were visiting (and River was upstairs in her room), it could only be one person waiting at the door.
The three boys went inside, Jet running after the doorbell while Rocky and Tum Tum made their way into the other room.
The doorbell rang again. "I'm coming, jeez," Jet muttered. As expected, he opened the door and saw Colt standing beyond it.
"Hey," Colt said, greeting his friend with a low-five.
"What's up, man?"
Colt cocked an eyebrow as he noticed the beads of sweat that flowed freely down the side of Jet's face. "What the hell happened to you?"
Jet smirked. "Sparring Rocky."
"Oh, I see…"
"What's that? Is that jealousy I hear?" Jet teased, his hand cupping his ear for effect.
Colt grinned. "Fine Airplane, I still owe you one."
"Okay, Horsey, you're on," Jet said amused. With that, the boys pounded their fists together as if to convey that the promise had been made, the gesture being the guy's equivalent to the 'pinky swear.'
"By the way, is she ready?"
Jet scoffed. "Pfft no, of course not. But I'll go get her anyway. Rocky and Tum are in the living room."
"Cool." Colt nodded, going into the living room as Jet rushed up the stairs, taking the steps in two's.
Tum Tum, who had a bag of candy in his hands, saw his brother first. "Ooo, Colt's got a date!" he teased. "Are you gonna kiss her?"
"Shut up," Colt shot.
Rocky grinned. "You didn't answer the question, Colt."
"Well, yeah…"
"Alright Colt!" Rocky and Tum Tum bellowed, giving each other a high-five.
Colt smirked. "But it won't be the first time…."
Surprise crossed his brothers' faces. "What?" they cried in unison as Colt merely posed a goofy grin.
From behind, a pair of hands covered Colt's eyes. "Guess who?" a female voice cooed, followed by a very telling giggle.
"Hmm… I don't know…" Colt replied in mock ignorance.
"It's me, Jet. Who'd you think it was?" the undoubtedly male voice of Jet announced.
Colt's grin vanished, and he turned around abruptly only to face River, who succumbed to a fit of giggles.
Jet had been standing next to him, but had since made his way towards the living room with one hand on his stomach and the other on the couch armrest. He was hardly able to contain himself. Witnessing the whole thing, Rocky and Tum Tum roared with laughter.
Colt frowned. This wasn't exactly the way he had pictured the beginning of his date.
River caught it and apologized instantly. "I'm sorry, Colt. It seemed like a good idea at the time." She smiled.
To her relief, he smiled back. The sight of her was enough to make him forgive and forget. He shrugged. "Well, as long as you make it up to me."
"And how do I do that?" she mused.
"I have something in mind." His grin was back, this time adorably lopsided, and her knees buckled from under her. Colt was incredibly good-looking. "So you ready to go?" he asked, offering his hand.
River nodded as she took it. "I am."
Colt waved to the others as she led the two of them out of the door. "See ya guys later."
"Have fun kids!" Jet teased, yelling after them.
"Don't be out too late!" Rocky added as the three boys continued to laugh hysterically.
…
Colt and River headed to a local restaurant, not exactly a fancy one, but perfect for a casual first date. After their atypical meeting and even more unusual first kiss, the two of them needed a dose of normality. Colt speculated that this date would be just the ticket, and it would also get their minds off of the troubling events of the past twenty-four hours. Furthermore, it was quite refreshing to be able to spend some quality alone time without their brothers hovering around.
River leaned on his shoulder and smiled up at him after finishing dinner. "So tell me, Colt…" she began, poking him in the chest. "You said I needed to make it up to you. What did you have in mind exactly?" Her green eyes sparkled curiously.
Colt smirked, but did not answer immediately. Instead, he continued smiling at the girl opposite him. River was definitely different. Not only was he attracted to her, River had just as much spunk as he did, her fiery personality complimenting his rough, bad boy persona. She always challenged him, but was also able to smooth his edge at the same time, which was far from easy.
"I'd rather show you," Colt whispered.
River beamed just as he leaned over to kiss her. She wholly allowed it as Colt's lips claimed hers. It was gentle at first, but Colt deepened the kiss, much to her delight, as both of them savored the contact. It was nothing short of amazing.
"Okay," River breathed when their lips parted. "Was that—?" But the question was interrupted by an eager Colt whose lips craved for more. After a few more moments of shared passion, River's cell phone rang. She smiled against his lips and whispered, "I should get that."
"It can wait," Colt insisted, intensifying his kiss, to which River surrendered willingly and allowed the ring tone to play.
…
Jen dialed her friend's phone number in frenzy. "C'mon, come on River. Answer your phone!" she urged with panic in her eyes.
Staying true to their mission, the same two men who had been threatening Peter and his family for the past few days had followed the sisters and broke into their house. They had grown tired of waiting for Peter to repay his debts on top of their boss putting additional pressure on them. Thus, after discovering the sisters' identity at the carwash, they decided to use them as leverage if they could not get to him.
Peter was not home when they arrived, and the two men had initially interrogated Jen and Sarah on his whereabouts, but the girls bravely refused to turn their brother in. In the midst of their frustration, the two men kidnapped the little sister, Sarah, and promised her safety as soon as Peter responded with the money he owed.
Completely helpless, Jen was left stranded at the house, so she could deliver the message to her brother. Unaware of Sarah's whereabouts and unable to get a hold of Peter, she initially contacted the police who took her report and promised their imminent arrival. Still, Jen thought an investigation would take hours, time she didn't have, so she called the next person who came to mind.
After several rings, Jen got River's voicemail. Flustered, she hung up and dialed again. "Please, River. Please answer!" she cried.
…
When they finally parted, Colt was grinning from ear to ear as River rested her head on his shoulder. River's cell phone rang again. "I really should get that," she told him as she reached into her purse. With his arm around her, Colt said nothing and merely nodded in permission.
"It's Jen. It looks like she's been trying to call." River bit her lip nervously and looked up at her date. "You don't think—?"
Colt's face stiffened. "Only one way to find out…"
River picked up her phone tentatively. "Hello?" she answered. Immediately, the expression on her face transformed to one of shock and concern. She sat up straighter, leaving the comfort of Colt's shoulder. Colt did the same, giving the phone call his undivided attention. Jen had been crying, which confirmed their worst suspicions. "Jen, what's wrong? Tell me what happened."
River listened intently as Jen managed to explain the situation in between forced breaths and sniffles. River's face transformed once again, this time, to a look of anger and disgust. "We'll be right there. It'll be okay, Jen. Just try to relax."
Realizing that the situation had turned for the worse, Colt turned to River as soon as she hung up. "What's wrong?" he asked.
River couldn't look even at him. Instead, she focused on a bread crumb on the table until her eyes glistened and she could no longer see it.
"It's…" She shook her head in disbelief. "It's… Sarah."
"Riv—"
"They took her, Colt." River swallowed and finally looked at him. "Those guys… took Sarah."
"I can't believe this," Colt said. Not only did those guys ruin his date, they kidnapped an innocent girl. He stood up, gave River an apologetic look, and then held out his hand for her to take.
River nodded, and when she took his hand, Colt squeezed it, both in mutual understanding that the date must end.
"Let's go," Colt sighed, leading both of them towards the exit.
[A/N] Please REVIEW! And the rescue is on! 'Til next time. :)
