Okaaay...
So, as some of you know, since I lost this chapter I've had to re-write it. It's taken me longer than I wanted and for that I apologize, but now it is finally here. I cannot garantee that it is as good as the first time, but I've done my best to get it as close as possible.
That being said, thanks for being so patient guys and enjoy!
Burners Unite: Troubling Suspicions
"Wow! Mongrel? I love it!"
Julie squealed in excitement, momentarily letting go of her hold on Mike to clap in joy before nearly loosing her balance and snatching hold of him again quickly. Mike just chuckled lightly.
"I hoped you would," he responded, "You're the first I've told, so if you're happy I'm sure the others will be too,"
Julie blinked in some surprise. She'd been the first he'd told? Why... how... flattering... Boy did that make her feel good! He hadn't even told Foxy?
"Wow... I'm the first? Even before Foxy..?" she inquired.
"I'll tell Foxy after I've informed the others," Mike replied with a shrug. Julie's heart nearly melted right there, but she didn't let herself be carried away just yet. He didn't care about her that way... right? Right. That's why he was dating Foxy and not her after all. Still...
"Why me? Why was I the first?" she couldn't help but ask. Mike shrugged.
"Because,"
"That's not an answer!" Julie berated.
"I don't know," Mike shrugged again. That wasn't a very satisfying response. Julie was about to smack him on the shoulder when he suddenly continued.
"I guess I just thought that it would... make you feel special. You know... after our fight... I just didn't feel good about what happened. I wanted to make it up to you," he explained. Julie couldn't keep the tender smile off her face at his explanation. This man was proving to be far more thoughtful than she would have ever given him credit for.
"That's really... sweet," she replied, "It does make me feel special. Thank you..."
Despite herself, Julie found her previous awkwardness in holding Mike's torso slip away, and slowly her grip around him became more comfortable and relaxed. Mike was a good friend. A blind douche bag sometimes... but a good friend. And maybe... eventually more? Julie sighed to herself. Why she continued to dare to hope, she didn't know, but no matter how hard she tried she could not suppress the wishes of her inner most heart when those desires were so incredibly powerful. Powerful and persistent. Whenever she thought she finally had them bottled, they would spring forth again, and there was no way of stopping them. Julie allowed herself to smile and lean a little closer to Mike's back as he drove the motorcycle with expert skill. She was having a good moment and she wasn't going to let her pesky thoughts ruin it... She could believe for the best... couldn't she?
Just as Julie was feeling really good about her situation, Mike received an incoming call.
It was Foxy...
"Hey there Mike," Foxy's voice cooed on the line. Julie felt a hot burning fire engulf her chest at the mere sound of the Amazon leader's voice. She wasn't even all that bad of a girl, and yet, dating Mike Chilton was just enough of an offense to earn Julie's secret, undying hatred.
"Hey Foxy," Mike replied back smoothly, as calm and friendly as ever. Julie strained to hear if he sounded in any way... overly friendly.
"I just wanted to call to check on you," Foxy explained, "That was some pretty rough stuff that happened yesterday. You okay?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine," Mike assured.
"And what about the team?"
"They're good," Mike answered.
"Great... So you doing anything later?" she asked, sounding a bit too hopeful for Julie's liking.
"Nothing much, just working on cars in the garage with the guys. You wanna stop by and hang out?" Mike offered. Julie felt her blood boiling. WHY, WHY did he have to invite her over?!
"That'd be cool. I'll bring my own wrench. I'll swing by this afternoon," she replied happily. Julie groaned.
"Cool, see ya," Mike responded.
"Bye,"
With that Mike hung up. All warm and cozy feelings Julie had previously felt were now no where to be found. The ride continued in awkward silence, the rumbling of Mongrel the only sound that helped to sooth Julie's temper. It just wasn't fair, having her emotions tossed around like this all the time. Would it ever stop?!
...
When the Burners finally arrived at the Duke's Palace it was Babs and a set of a suited lackey's that met them at the entrance. The Burners parked their cars all around, each getting out to linger by their rides until they were admitted. However, this time, it seemed Duke was not as inviting...
"The Duke is busy," Babs informed, blowing a large pink bubble with her gum as she stood with her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry to hear that, because I have some questions to ask and I'm not about to stand around and wait," Mike responded, stepping forward and onto the set of stairs that led to the palace's grand double door entrance.
"Hey! Stay back!" Babs snapped, the lackey's stepping in his way. Mike didn't move, instead pursing his lips and fingering the iron skull staff inside his jacket pocket.
"We can rumble if that's what you want," Mike stated, his tone dark and serious, his gaze unwavering and crisp.
"Whoa!" came the sudden cry of none other than the Duke.
Babs and the lackeys each stepped aside to let Duke through.
"Shillax people..." Duke grinned lazily, pinching Babs by the cheek and stepping forward to stand mere inches away from Mike before his entire demeanor changed to one of complete and utter seriousness.
"What do you want Chilton?" he questioned, cocking his brows over those red lensed sunglasses.
"I want to know what those spies of yours saw while in the Terra Village. You got the day with Julie, so now it's time to settle your part of the bargain," Mike demanded. He wasn't going to deal with any of the Duke's shenanigans today.
"Ehem... how do I put this lightly..." the Duke braced his fingers against each other calmly and then... he exploded...
"MY SPIES WERE CAPTURED! I DIDN'T GET ANY INFORMATION!"
Mike leaned backwards to avoid the full blast of the Duke's breath in his face, but he kept his composure.
"Don't lie to me Duke, they must have gotten something," Mike retorted.
"I'll have you know, they were lucky to have even gotten out alive, okay?!" the Duke shot back.
"It's not like you didn't know the risks when we settled on the deal. You said, you could deliver," Mike responded, not allowing Duke to heap any amount of guilt on top of his head.
"Look," Duke spat back, "My men barely got out alive... and because they were caught... I don't have the information you want," he explained, trying to keep his tone civil as he stared at Mike with sharp eyes.
"In other words, you can't own up to your part of our agreement," Mike stated.
"Call it what you will!" Duke barked grumpily.
"Yeah, well guess what, consider yourself back on my list of untrustworthy backstabbers," Mike stated. Duke just snorted and rolled his eyes.
"I'm just sorry Julie had to waist an entire day with the likes of you," Mike added lastly, folding his arms.
"Well I'm not," Julie piped up. Mike turned his head to look at her, as did Dutch, Texas, Chuck and the Duke. Julie hesitated slightly at being the center of attention, but she cleared her throat.
"I'm ... I'm glad I spent the day with Duke," she clarified, sending a chill of icy shock through Mike's chest.
"I had a good day. We did lots of fun things and I enjoyed myself," she continued shyly, each statement plunging the cold knife further into Mike's heart. How could she be so blind? Why was she allowing herself to be pulled into Duke's charming trap? Couldn't she see he was a slime ball, unworthy of trust?
Duke smiled broadly at Julie's confession, plunging Mike even further into frustration.
"Well I enjoyed it too sweet cheeks!" Duke beamed, "In fact, I was going to further the invitation, and dare to inquire if you should care to spend yet another day with me in my fine palace, considering our last date ended so...drolly,"
Mike could not refrain from groaning in exasperation.
"I'd like that," Julie replied brightly. Mike wanted to face-palm. This couldn't be happening. Whose side was Julie on here!?
"I mean... if it's okay with Mike," Julie added hastily. Well, that was nice. At least she was asking for permission now! NOT!
How could Mike possibly say yes when everything in him wanted to shout a loud, solid "NO!" But this was what Julie wanted... regardless of his own opinion or feelings... Wouldn't it be selfish of him to keep her from being where she really wanted to be? Mike wished more than anything he didn't have to be put into this position. And there Julie was, looking at him with those big brown eyes, waiting for his answer. He had to say something.
Mike swallowed, every muscle in his body taught as result from his inward struggle.
"If that's what you want..." Mike managed to grit out.
"There!" Duke crowed in victory, "Come on up here sugar mama!" he beckoned, waving Julie towards him. It took every ounce of self restraint Mike had left within him not to flatten Duke right there. Instead, he watched as Julie ascended the palace's front steps and came to stand next to the Duke.
"Guess we'll be seein' you later Burner Boy," Duke said, waving nonchalantly towards Mike as he wrapped an arm around Julie's shoulder. Mike clenched his fists, hoping his face wasn't burning as bright a red as it felt.
...
Julie forced a smile, feeling more uncomfortable than anything else as Duke squeezed her tightly to his side. As genuine as Julie had acted in her wish to stay with the Duke, it was actually a decision she had made at the last minute, and for a completely ulterior motive.
Amidst Mike's conversation with the Duke, she had seen a certain devious look in the Duke's eye when he was speaking about his spies and how he had no information. Julie had spotted it as clear as day, and now her curiosity as to what had really happened would not be shaken. She knew it was crafty on her own part to fake wanting to stay just to be with the Duke, but honestly, what other option did she have if she wanted to discover what was really going on behind Duke's curtains?
On the other hand, Mike looked rather upset. In fact, if Julie didn't know better, she would have said he looked furious. Seeing him so pent up about her wanting to stay with the Duke did give her some added satisfaction. But even if he was upset, it served him right. He had Foxy to spend the afternoon with anyway, so it was none of his business who she decided to spend her time with right? Right.
As the Burners drove away, the Duke turned Julie inside the palace and guided her through the main entrance hall. Babs and the lackeys followed.
"You and me are going to have lots of fun today Julie bell. I was thinking we could watch a movie on my big screen," he promised with a grin, "However, I do have the slightest bit of business to finish up with and I'm afraid I'll have to leave you in the waiting room for a few minutes. I won't be long. 10-15 minutes tops," he promised, leading her into a side room off the main hall way where a big red couch and several red upholstered chairs sat around a coffee table and some magazines. A large tray of biscuits and sweets also waited on the coffee table, but Julie could tell they were all old. It wasn't like the Duke entertained guests very often...
"You won't mind waiting do you?" the Duke inquired as Julie sat down and picked up a random magazine to flip through.
"Oh not at all," she replied, "I'll just be here waiting," she smiled. This would actually be perfect, considering she could sneak around while he was busy. Maybe she would find something in the palace that would clue her in as to what was really going on.
"Great! Be right back!" Duke cried, swirling out of the room and striding out the double doors before turning down the hall and out of sight. Julie swallowed, her eyes flickering up to notice the motion detection cameras at the corners of the walls. This wasn't going to be easy...
Okay people, how'd I do? For new readers, I hoped you liked the chapter! And for returning readers, was this chapter close to-or as good as the first? Let me know! :) Leave some reviews!