Authors note: I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to HIT Entertainment. And please excuse my poor english, I'm norwegian and didn't pay too much attention in my english class...
Playing with fire
Chapter 10
Mavis woke up on Valentines Day, her whole body was filled with joy. Life felt so good!
She threw a glance at the engine sleeping beside her, his breath was heavy but he didn't snore like she had expected from an engine like him. But then again, there was many things who surprised her when it came to him. He had many hidden qualities.
She opened the door to the shed, driving outside, looking around in the quarry. Just a few days ago, she had thought of it as dull and grey, boring and lifeless. Now, she could see the different shades of brown and grey, small patches of grass and stubborn plants who forced their way up from the desert-like ground, determined to love. She noticed birds and the blue sky, all the familiar noises. Every detail she had never noticed before. Her engine was singing of happiness and she really felt like she could fly!
She turned at the turntable, driving back to the shed, waking up Diesel with a soft kiss. He smiled as he opened his eyes and blinked towards the sunlight from the open doors.
"Good morning!" Mavis whispered, placing another kiss on his nose. "Happy Valentines Day!"
Diesel yawned, stretching himself as much as an engine can. "Morning, Mavis! Same to you.""
Mavis giggled, he was so incredibly cute when he still was a bit sleepy. She couldn't resist kissing him again and again.
"Get to work, you two! Damn slackers!" Bert's grumpy voice shouted from outside, he was already pulling a truckload of rocks.
"Happy Valentines Day, Bert!" Mavis replied with a huge smile as she backed out of the shed.
"Shut up!" The ironworker didn't seem very happy about the day at all.
Diesel came out of the shed too, looking after the hazard-striped diesel. "My guess is that he doesn't have a date for tonight's party… and that Arry and Alex threw him out of the shed tonight."
Mavis giggled. "I second that!"
They joined the grumpy ironworker, trying to cheer him up a little bit at least. They had to suppress their laughter as Arry drove into the quarry for today's shift. If Bert looked like a thunder cloud, his brother looked like the sunshine itself! Arry had obviously had a great night, Mavis and Diesel couldn't help but chuckle when they saw the envious glares Bert threw in his twin brother's direction.
Mavis just couldn't resist teasing him. "Maybe you should try to shave?"
"Do you have a deathwish?!" Bert sneered, trailing off to pick up more trucks. He worked hard and with aggressive movements.
Diesel laughed as he coupled up to some trucks full of shale, taking them to the docks.
Thomas was nervous as he approached Rosie near Knapford Station. He still wasn't comfortable by the thought of her and the irontwins, but he was determined that it was not going to ruin their friendship. He wanted to apologize and ask if she still wanted to go with him to the party tonight.
"Rosie." He said as he chugged closer. She stopped, looking at him, waiting for him to make the first move.
Thomas bit his lip, forcing the pictures of her and the irontwins, satisfied in the shed, enjoying the afterglow… Rosie in the middle sweaty, blushing and smiling flirtatious to the two rugged diesels. He pushed the inner picture away. "I… want to apologize. I was foolish. Your past relationships are none of my business and… I shouldn't let it bother me…"
Rosie looked at him, not even giving him a smile to comfort him.
He swallowed. "The truth is… I… I really like you a lot… and I got jealous… I'm sorry."
Rosie smiled mildly. "It's ok, Thomas."
Thomas almost panicked when she was about to puff away with her passenger coaches. "But, Rosie… about tonight…"
Rosie looked serious at him. "Oh… I thought you didn't want to go, so I asked Arry and Bert instead. I'm going with them."
Thomas looked like she had just told him that his bestfriend had died. "Arr… and… uhh.. Both of them?!"
Rosie didn't move an inch, no smile to take the sting out of her words. "Yup! Both of them!"
"But… but… Arry… isn't he going with Alex?"
"I'm going with her too!" Rosie declared. "Oh, just imagine how much fun we'll have… after the party… in the shed at the ironworks… two powerful, experienced and hot diesels and two willing girls… oh, yeah! It's going to be one hot night, I tell you that!"
Rosie bit her lip and moaned, looking sideways at Thomas, seeing his shocked expression. His face was painted with disbelief and horror, like his worst nightmare had come true. She cracked up and laughed heartfelt.
"Oh My God, Thomas! You should have seen your face!" she gasped while laughing. "Oh, my… ha ha ha! Priceless!"
Thomas looked confused at her, then it came to him. She was joking with him! "Damn you, Rosie! You really got me there!"
Rosie chuckled. "It was worth it! You looked like you were struck by lightning! Of course I'm not going with them! I'm going with you!"
Thomas breathed out, but still the little shock was tickling his boiler. "Phew! I really thought you meant every word! You looked so stern and serious, how did you do that?!" he laughed.
Rosie grinned. "Natural talent. I can assure you I am NOT going with the ironbrothers or Alex… or all of them together. I'm going with you only!"
Thomas smiled now, looking forward to the party. "See you tonight then!"
Rosie blinked at him, then rolled forward and placed a light kiss on his cheek. "Meet you there! I have to take these passengers to the castle now. See you later!"
Thomas looked after her with a smile on his lips. She was vivid and full of twisted humor, and he quite liked it! Even though she nearly scared the wind out of him with the joke about Arry and Bert.
Lady and Diesel 10 were also getting ready for tonight's event. They had both been to the wash and were as shiny as ever. Lady had begged Diesel 10 to pick her a few flowers with his claw, so she could decorate herself with them. He had complained and growled all the time, from they went to the field, while he was picking them, and all the way back to the abandoned mine. But he had done it. For her.
"All the weird things one have to do for love…" he sneered as Lady ordered him to put the flowers here and there.
"Look at it on the bright side, D! You're making me pretty!" Lady chuckled.
"You don't need flowers to look pretty." Diesel 10 said, giving her one of his rare smiles.
Lady stretched as much as she could and placed a quick kiss on his nosetip. "Aren't you the sweetest engine ever!"
Diesel 10 snorted, but liked her compliment.
"Are you sure this is a good idea… You know I'm not a very popular guy around here…"
"Getting cold wheels, D?" Lady whispered mild. "Don't worry… I promise we'll leave if they get too mean, ok?"
Now the warship looked insulted. "I'm not afraid of some silly old steamies!"
Lady blinked at him. "I know you're not. So we're going!"
Diesel 10 rolled his eyes and sighed. There was no escape. "Ok, I guess you've already made up my mind, so we're going…"
Lady just giggled, taking a flower in her mouth, putting it on his buffer.
"No! I draw the line at flowers!" he protested and threw it away with his claw. "I'm not wearing any flowers, then they will definitely think I've turned soft and mushy!"
"But you ARE soft and mushy!" Lady teased.
"Watch what you're saying or I might fall back into old habits!" the warship threatened, clanking his claw in her direction.
Lady licked her lips, her eyes glossed over with lust. "Punish me! Or are you too soft…?"
She sneered and made a purring sound, trying to imitate an angry diesel motor. "Come punish me, you big plushie! Prove to me that you're not a softy! Rawr!"
Diesel 10 grinned as she started backing towards a safety buffer, blinking flirty, obviously wanting him to come after her. There was still some time until they had to leave for the party, this would be a nice way to pass the time…
To be continued…