Playlist

You Me At Six - Little Bit Of Truth

I just needed you to know; that when in front of you... I feel invincible

Scars on 45 - Beauty's Running Wild

So much to say, so much she'll never know

Chapter 9: Remember when, there was just black

It seemed like every single day we were all getting dragged to the fishing place so Sean could practice his drifting. It was becoming tedious.

Twinkie was lounging on a beach chair with a handheld gaming device in his hands - going by his expression he was getting right into it too.

Reiko and Earl sat with Tosh and another guy I hadn't been introduced to. Going by the way he wasn't talking to anyone except Tosh, it was probably one of Tosh's friends who'd soon be bunking in Han's garage with us.

I was sat on a dusty couch with Han next to me, his sunglasses obstructing my view of his gorgeous eyes as he read a magazine. Our legs were outstretched, our feet resting on the plank of wood used a table to put our beers on.

Han looked good today. His jeans were worn but I swear that man could wear anything and still look like a supermodel. His tight blue shirt was covered with a navy sweatshirt that made his biceps look enormous.

I made sure to look at my nails when I felt Han's eyes on me though. I didn't want to look suspicious.

Sean sped around the fishing place several times. The screeching tyres becoming so annoying it made my head pound. I clutched my head and groaned.

'Noise getting to you too?' Twink asked from my right side and I saw Han glance my way before going back to his magazine.

'He needs to calm down.' I said rolling my neck backwards and forwards to roll out the kinks.

'Here,' Han said and to my surprise, he touched the back of my neck gently with the palm of one of his hands and slowly and carefully, he kneaded the skin there.

It was strangely making my headache better because all I could think about was his hands touching my skin and the parts I wanted him to touch-
I need to stop.

Sean made another screeching turn and stopped finally.

'Boy needs to chill.' Twink grumbled and Sean got out the car, marching towards the stack of tyres.

'Twink, I'mma grab another set!' He called and I flinched when Twinkie stood up so fast from his seat it gave ME headrush and rushed over to Sean, knocking my legs from the table but conveniently missing Han's.

'Hold up! Another set? No, look that was your third set today. Those tyres aint cheap.'

They weren't. I knew that, it came out our paycheck if we wanted a set of tyres.

Han's hand had stopped rubbing my neck and only sat on my skin now leaving it scorched. I controlled my breathing but then a set of tyres coming from the distance made me turn around.

It was DK and his evil minions.

Oh no, I thought and felt my stomach clench into knots. I knew why he was here.

That fuckin' Sean! He never listens to me!

Han must've triggered too. He took off his sunglasses and stood up, catching my hand in his own in the process. I was then subsequently pushed behind him and I had my hands on Han's marvellous back.

He took a step forward and being the laid back guy he is, tried to calm his business partner. 'DK, grab a chair. We're about to roast some marshmallows.'

Han was forcefully pushed back and he fell into me, his hand gripping my waist to keep my steady. I couldn't breathe when DK marched towards Sean and throwing him a heavy punch, he landed on the floor.

None of us moved as Morimoto and another one of DK's pitbulls stood on guard ready to lay a smack on anyone who tried to intervene. I couldn't watch as DK pounded Sean's face and hid my view in Han's tanned neck.

'Stay away from her. Or the only thing you'll be driving is a wheelchair.' DK warned and moving back, he stopped in front of me and Han. His eyes stared me down but I didn't lose eye contact with Flat Face.

'Stop putting things in her head.' He said to me and went to move forward but Han blocked DK's way. I wanted to push him out the way and lay a few on DK myself but I wouldn't last long. I didn't put anything in Neela's head.

Obviously, the insecure guy couldn't handle the fact that he might be the reason his girlfriend is straying.

'Find a new driver.' DK said to Han before finally moving away and back to his car.

Morimoto then spat at Twinkee and it landed on his face. 'Asshole.' I muttered but he heard me.

I could tell by the way Han's grip on me tightened and his annoyed expression that I'd overstepped the mark and should have kept my mouth closed but Twink didn't do shit to the guy.

Morimoto laughed manically and taking one finger, he managed to trace the outline of my cheek before Han took his arm and pushed him away roughly. 'Stay away from her.'

The bleached haired pitbull found the ordeal amusing but before he could utter a word, a honk from DK's car sounded and it was his signal to lay off and leave.

Once the cars left, I sighed heavilly. Han walked away from me and I knew to apologise later.

Reiko rushed to Sean. 'I'm alright.'

'Sean you idiot!' I rushed at him and kneeling down, managed to grab a handful of his shirt collar. 'I told you to leave her alone!'

I was soon pulled off by Tosh but my anger was boiling over. I was furious he'd brought DK here. Just because he wanted some Neela-time. I texted him and told him not to bother with Neela.

'What'd you expect?' Han asked Sean with a disapproving look, 'you didn't just play with fire, you soaked the matches in gasoline.'

Sean wiped blood from his lip and shrugged Reiko's attempts of looking him over off.

I ran a hand through my hair and looked at the sky. I couldn't believe this. It was too much drama. Before, Neela would only talk school and clothes to me. Now she was asking my advice on Sean and Sean seemed to be annoying everyone.

'Come on.' I heard beside me and flushed when Han bowed his head to whisper in my ear. 'Let's go home.'

I walked a little way with him to his car as everyone else scattered to theirs. 'I'm sorry.' I said before getting in his Skyline. 'I didn't want to say anything. I wasn't going to. But.. I hate that blonde haired prick.'

Han only nodded and ushered me into the car. 'You didn't get hurt, all that counts.'

The next morning, I didn't bother waking up before anyone else and stayed in my bunk until I heard everyone leave for school and heard Tosh leave for somewhere else.

I hadn't heard Han get up yet and wanted to wait it out a little longer but decided that my bed was too warm to stay in all day. I showered and dressed and then made my way upstairs. I could see Han leaning over his desk doing some paperwork.

'What's up?' He acknowledged me and I took a breath.

There wasn't something specific I wanted to talk about. In fact, there wasn't anything at all I wanted to talk about but I loved seeing him. Hearing his voice.

'Nothing.' I answered dully and ran my finger along some of the stationary on his desk.

'You're up late.' Han still hadn't lifted his head from his paperwork and his tone was montone as pure always.

'I've been awake.'

'School's almost over.' He pointed to the clock and sure enough, Sean, Twink and everyone else would be pouring in at any moment wanting to work on the things on Sean's car that needed fixing up. I ran a overview last night and some engine tweaks were necessary.

'Han,' I got his attention now and his eyes lifted to meet mine. My mind went blank and I wanted to shake it. It wasn't like me to go all Disney Princess and stop breathing just because someone looked at me.

I mean, Han had a new girl every night... didn't he?

'Where are all the girls?'

Han faultered for a moment and looked around the empty loft. 'I didn't think you rolled that way but whatever suits your needs.' He joked and I laughed.

'I mean, there hasn't been a girl that has left your room in about two weeks. Perhaps more than that... Wait... A month?' I was thinking now when the last time I'd
seen a crying girl with hardly any clothes come running down the stairs to hail a cab shouting cursewords on her way.

Han paused and ran a hand through his lovely hair. 'They don't seem to interest me anymore.'

That was new... 'That's new.' I voiced aloud and saw him smirk.

'It's that odd that I don't want to sleep with someone?'

'Yes,' I answered quickly with a coy smile, 'you're a manwhore, Han.'

His expression changed and he sunk in his chair a little. Noticing the bland atmosphere now, I sat on the arm on his desk chair and sighed. 'That came out wrong.'

'No I get it.' He said and looked up at me considering I was next to him and the way I was sitting made me tower over him a little bit.

'Han! We're working on the car!' Earl shouted from the garage doors.

He couldn't see us from where he was standing and Han didn't answer. Instead, we continued to stare at eachother until a blush appeared on my cheeks and Han smirked, noticing it.

And then we did something I knew we both had wanted for a while. Since that first peck on my birthday party - we kissed.

His lips covered mine and our breaths mingled as his hands ran from my shoulders to my arms to my waist before slightly lifting me and placing me on his lips.

Straddling his legs, I deepened the kiss. Asking for entrance to which he granted, our tongues danced together and of course, he won the dominance match. I couldn't help but moan when he pressed my body closer to his and I could finally run my hands through his hair while kissing him passionately.

The hard planes of his chest moulded to my body perfectly.

And then, because all great things must end, air was becoming scarce.

Pulling away, I got my oxygen back while staring deeply into his eyes. 'What was that?'

Han didn't speak and only brushed my face with the backs of his hands while I closed my eyes. I don't know what happened now. What did happen now? Are we friends still?

I got up from Han's lap reluctantly when I heard my name and leaving Han to remain in his desk chair, his chest heaving and his lips bruised, I leaned over the balcony to see Neela. She was crying and Sean immediately spotted her.

'Neela!' I called. I saw Sean approach her and hug her tightly. 'Sean, keep her there, I'm coming.'

I didn't spare Han a glance when I walked away and back down the steps. I was a little mad he couldn't answer my question. I wanted him to give me some sort of sign that the relationship had changed between us.

Anything at all would've satisfied me.

That kiss was amazing. More than amazing.

I ran to Neela and hugged her. She didn't have to say anything. I knew she'd left DK and come running to Sean. Of course, something told me DK wasn't aware of that.

'Shit,' I whispered under my breath. I looked at Sean who didn't seem to share my concern about this situation. I looked at Han who was descending the stairs, he'd fixed his shirt from where I was grabbing it and we exchanged the same worried look. DK would be pissed.

Not wanting to alert my Neela though, I faced her, smiled and said, 'hey, come on. Let's get you coffee.'

It was a few hours later when Han began fixing Sean's car that had gone forgotten as Sean sat with Neela. I was laying on my back on the lounge chair with Reiko about to turn into bed when a screeching of tyres alerted our attention.

'Here he is.' I said to Reiko and we all got up. The loft was busier than usual but nobody wanted to be stick up for anyone. I saw Sean and Neela stand from their spots upstairs and I stood beside Han who was approaching DK.

I was confused when DK wasn't marching towards the stairs to search for his girlfriend though and instead stalked towards Han, decking him right in the face.

I squealed in surprise and ran to Han who was being held against Sean's car by DK. His face was red with anger and I held Han's face in my hands. 'I vouched for you!'
DK was yelling and Han then stood up straight, putting an arm across my stomach to keep me beside him. DK was still yelling though and I was becoming more scared than angry when I realized that DK had found out Han's secret.

'I put my reputation on the line for you! We were partners!' Grabbing Han's collar, he got in his face, 'you think you can keep your side deals from me?'

I suddenly clawed at DK's hands and Han pushed him away. 'Come on. This aint the boy scouts. This is what we do!'

Morimoto and some other of his minions were at DK's side. They watched the scene unfold and I was gripping onto Han's shirt at his waist. DK wasn't devastated, he wasn't furious. He was both of those things.

A deadly combination for anyone to lose themselves in violence.

I mentally face palmed when I heard Neela.

'Takashi!'

DK's face fell when he saw Neela with Sean. I tried pulling Han away from DK but he stood firm. His arm was still wrapped protectively around me and I think a part of him wanted to push me away from the angry Japanese nephew of Yakuza.

And then as if time couldn't be more slower, a gun was pointed at Han's head. Everyone gasped and I couldn't breathe. I swallowed everything I wanted to say and a tear fell from my eyes.

I couldn't imagine Han dead. I couldn't imagine surviving in Tokyo without him.

The loft's people all ducked from the crazy man with the gun and Morimoto shrugged Sean away when he tried to intervene.

'What about now? Is this what we do?'

Han was shaking, I could tell by his arm on my skin but he still got cocky. 'Man, you need me.'

More tears fell down my cheeks and the expression on DK's face had me petrified. The barrell of the gun was daunting and made me feel sick.

'You'd still be shaking down teahouses for chump change if it wasn't for me.' Han said confidently. But it wasn't working because DK cocked and loaded the gun.

Letting out a whimper, I gripped Han tighter and DK's attention then fell on me. 'I know,' he said as his expression turned crazy to manic, 'what will hurt you.'

And then the gun was pointing at me. The barrell was in my face and I couldn't breathe. Not if I tried and my eyes were going starry eyed as if preparing me for my life story before I go to the other place. I don't know what happens to someone after they die.

I was about to find out.

'Takashi!' Neela yelled and then the sound of the garage shutters sounded and they fell on the cars.

Using the distraction, Han knocked the gun from DK and punched him to the ground before clutching my hand and dragging me through the garage towards the closest car which happened to me, my birthday car.

Feeling it wasn't the time to talk to Han about my new rules, I only got in the passengers side as Han took the wheel I saw some of DK's men following us but he sped away too fast.

He needed both hands to steer the car as we made our getaway but I needed to feel him to ensure he was okay and that I was okay and that he offered some sort of solace so, breathing heavily, I put my hand on his stomach first and then his neck.

'I just need to make sure I'm not dead. I can still feel you.' I said lightly and then grabbing onto the dashboard as Han sped this way and that way avoiding all the alley's and other cars.

As we cut across an alley, I saw Neela and Sean in his car speeding away from Morimoto and DK. It was like the time on the mountains when they'd both been drifting together. Back then it was friendly and light hearted and now it was for survival.

The city lights lit up the night and the headlights of cars bounced off our skin as taillights followed our lead. It was a normal night for everyone else. We wove in and out of traffic, expertly avoiding the cars and I kept looking behind to check if Sean and Neela was okay.

A sound behind made me look back and I saw Morimoto crash into Sean's car. I gasped and gripped my chair tightly. Turning back to the road where Han was speeding through traffic, I saw in the mirror that Morimoto had collided with another car.

Sparks flew everywhere as pieces of metal littered the road like glitter.

Whether he was alive or dead, Morimoto would be missed by someone. The crazy driver in the black sports car that was now tailing on us... Fast.

Just like Morimoto, DK began slamming into Seans car relentlessly only he was more skilled at it and saw no signs of stopping. 'Can we help them?' I asked desperately and Han looked in the rearview.

Pulling into a slower gear, he almost stopped completely throwing DK off track and allowing Sean to pass us.

DK prepared to slam into us but Han managed to gain speed. He was so close to us that the adrenaline pumping through my veins was exhausting. I felt high on every single blood cell that went through my body.

Sean had cleverly cleared the road of the busiest city in the world as bundles and bundles of crowds formed a neat line allowing the cars to pass. I saw the faces of all the women and men and children and saw their worry and some sort of admiration for our driving skills.

If only they knew...

I had my feet pressing against the floor of the car and I wanted to reach out to Han again but knew I couldn't. I was scared and to make matters worse, DK had turned his car around so he was front to front with us.

Catching his crazed expression, I stared wide eyed at the gun barrell again as he shot at us.

'Get down.' Han yelled and I cowered, the windsheild was breaking, spraying pieces of glass at us but DK missed every time. Then I saw Sean clip another car. Their car skidded to a stop outside a market stall and I was slightly relieved.

Han shifted gear and threw DK off but he'd stopped. His gaze following ours when I turned to Han and saw blinding headlights...

'Han!'

It was too late. All I heard was noise and a ringing in my ear. I felt myself go upside down like a roller coaster but then there was nothing.

Just black.