A/N: This is just a random idea that came to me a few months ago, it'll only be a two part story. I hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think.

XXXXXX

The oil in the fryer sizzles as she drops in the basket filled with her most popular dish – her spaghetti and meatball mozzarella bites. She didn't really have to be here for another half hour or so but she figured she'd get a head start, knowing how busy the weekends are for them. All her focus goes into prepping that she doesn't even notice when Nadia walks in.

Erin had originally planned to do this by herself but after her first few weeks she realized she needed help. So when Nadia lost her most recent job as a waitress – Erin figured who better to help her out then her best friend and roommate. And they have become quite the team – making way more than either of them had ever imagined and she's already paid off half the truck.

She finally lifts her head to look over at her friend as she stands anxiously beside her with a wide smile on her face. Erin just chuckles as she stops prepping for a moment and turns her full attention to Nadia.

"What's up Nads?"

Her eyebrows furrow briefly before she asks Erin how she knows something's up.

"Maybe because I've known you since we were in first grade and you've just been staring at me instead of helping prep. So spill." She crosses her arms over her chest as she waits for Nadia to tell her what's going on.

"Ok but don't freak out." She tells her as she turns around to dig through her backpack. Erin mumbles something about not making any promises as Nadia faces her again and hands her a letter – or rather an email that was printed out.

Erin scans over the words once – twice and then a third time to make sure she's reading it correctly. "Nadia you can't be serious."

"Come on Erin, you've said more than once that we're doing good. This could be our chance to really take The Fried Ride – your truck and your ideas to the next level."

Erin just shakes her head – handing the piece of paper back before she continues making the food.

Nadia sanitizes her hands and then pulls on some gloves before she starts to help.

"You know I'm right." Nadia nudges her shoulder as Erin thinks about the opportunity.

"Nadia we've been doing this for six months. And you signed up to compete with trucks that I have no doubt are some of the best in the country." Erin argues and Nadia scuffs.

"She's right Nadia. There'll be some of the best competing to get their own segment on the Food Channel and that prize money." A guy comments from the back of their truck.

"Let me guess. You're competing." Erin rolls her eyes at the teasing tone of his voice and the smug grin on his face. She hasn't had a problem with any other food trucker that she's met until she was introduced to the owner of Slàinte, a health food truck.

He's just too cocky and thinks because he went to culinary school that he's better than everyone. Which is why he's gets under her skin with every interaction they have. And the fact that woman fawn over him at all times doesn't help – don't get her wrong she knows he's hot as hell. From the way his dark hair compliments his blue-green eyes or when that crooked grin of his makes lines appear on his cheeks and his body even when covered looks to be that of a god - she even finds herself gawking at him at times. But she wouldn't be surprised if his looks were the reason his truck was so sought after.

"Are you saying I'm one of the best in the country?" He questions, his grin still not leaving his face. "I mean I know I am but I'm touched that you think so highly of me Lindsay." He knows how much she hates being called by her last name, since she's told him such when he started calling her that.

"Why are you here, Halstead?" She snarls back at him.

"I'm here to make and sell food, same as you."

"No, why are you here, in my truck?" Erin elaborates as she lines dozens of paper boats with thins sheets of wax paper.

He shrugs as he watches her quickly prepare for the customers lining up outside the window. "Just wanted to say hi and see if you were going to compete."

She rolls her eyes and gets back to work.

"And now that I know you are, how about we place a bet?"

She only raises her eyebrow at him and nods for him to continue.

"Whoever makes the most today keeps their spot in the competition. The loser drops out."

She shakes her head. "Why? You afraid we'll beat you?"

"No." His nose scrunches and his cheeks become pink. "Don't be ridiculous."

"You so are." Nadia laughs.

"Don't worry Halstead, we won't tell anyone you're afraid that you'll lose to us of all people." Erin adds and it seems to be enough to get him to leave without another word.

Once Nadia sees him step into his truck, she turns to look at Erin. "Why are the hottest guys always the biggest of assholes?"

Erin just chuckles and shrugs as they get back to making their food before Nadia brings up the competition again. "So we're competing right?"

"I don't know Nadia."

"So you're just going to let him win?" Nadia asks and she can see Erin think about it before she agrees to compete.

XXXXXX

It's the first day of the competition. There will be eight days in total, with the competitors having a day a week where they compete in different challenges. And every week the judges will pick the best trucks as well as eliminating the bottom two.

She's a little overwhelmed as she takes in the other trucks parked in a square around them. Her eyes are still taking in her surroundings when she sees him. He's talking to his friend Mouse and she can't help but watch as the taller of the two men talks animatedly – moving his hands around as if it helps make his point. She admires him from afar for a while but then he looks at her. She averts her eyes quickly and steps forward in line. Once they are checked in and have what they need they go to stand by their truck.

Each team turns their attention to the judges table as the judges themselves make their way out and the host introduces the trio.

She was listening to the rules and how things will go when she feels someone come to stand next to her.

"So are you just going to pretend that you weren't just checking me out?" His breath against her ear causes her to shiver and she hopes he didn't notice.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She whispers back, her gaze still set forward.

"I don't blame you, few women can resist my rugged-good looks." A smug grin comes to his face with that and Erin tries but fails to roll her eyes.

"Could the two of you flirt with each other some other time?" Nadia whispers to them and comes to stand between them just as the host lets everyone know what their first challenge will be.

"The teams with the highest scores will advance to next week, and the bottom two teams will be going home." The enthusiastic TV personality reiterates just as the clock in front of the judges begins to count down from an hour. Each of the teams are quick to get back into their trucks and begin preparing their food.

Erin and Nadia plan out what they're going to make before setting out to do their tasks – pretty much spending the entire time allotted in silence as they focus. When time is up they both breathe out a sigh of relief as they look down at the food in front of them.

The teams go out one at a time to have the judges critique their food.

To say she's nervous would be an understatement as her and Nadia carry their platter of food to the three judges. The feedback is better than she anticipated with the exception of being told their food is a little too greasy by one of them. She's afraid that alone could cost them their chance of continuing on to next week.

After every team has gotten judged they all come out to once again stand in front of their trucks.

It's no surprise that Slàinte reigns in one of the best scores of the week, giving Jay a small nod of her head when he looks over at her. But Erin's heart drops when her and Nadia are in the bottom four. And when the host says their truck along with one of the other team she thought for sure they were going home and she actually had tears forming in her eyes as he takes a dramatic pause. "You are safe for the week."

At first she doesn't believe it but when she looks at Nadia she knows that they weren't eliminated.

XXXXXX

She was just getting back from throwing their trash away when she notices Jay leaning against her truck.

"That was close." He comments as he pushes himself off the back of the vehicle.

"If you came here to gloat, save it." She goes to walk past him but he gently grabs her wrist and pulls her back a little, so his breath is ghosting against her face.

"You actually have me pegged as this awful guy, don't you?"

She shrugs, trying to ignore the tingling feeling that's currently making its way up her arm from where is hand is still wrapped around her wrist. "You haven't really given me a reason to think otherwise."

"Fair enough." He drops his hand to his side and makes to leave as she climbs up the back stair of her rig.

"Just for the record I came to see how you were. I saw that disappointed look on your face when they said you were in the bottom. I just thought I'd check on you." He admits, getting her to look back him. The small smile he gives her makes her instantly feel bad for the way she's acted towards him.

She whispers her thanks and continues into the kitchen of her truck.

XXXXXX

On the days they aren't on the show, they take The Fried Ride to their usual spots.

After she gets ready Erin goes out to the kitchen where she pours herself a cup of coffee and waits for Nadia to come out. But she becomes concerned and even a little confused when Nadia doesn't make an appearance. Eventually she goes to the Nadia's room but she finds the door is locked. Her knuckles gently rap against the thin wood and she hears some rustling around on the other side.

"Nads we should probably get going soon."

Then the door opens, revealing a very tired Nadia who looks as though she may be hungover. Her hair is a mess and she has dark bags under her eyes.

"Are you feeling ok?" Erin asks as she takes in her roommate's appearance - noting the oversized t-shirt she's wearing.

"Not really, I think I have a stomach bug or something." Nadia sniffles a little to help try and make her point.

Erin can tell there's something else going on and if she had to guess, her best friend had a guy spend the night with her but she won't call her out on it. So she just nods "Ok, well I'm going to head out for a couple hours. Call if you need anything?"

Nadia nods back and thanks her before closing the door again.

XXXXXX

When she gets there she sees Slàinte parked in lot of the mall. Before she starts cooking she sets out their sign with the specials of the day written on it.

"Come on Mouse pick up." Jay mumbles from behind her.

The frustration is evident on his face and it looks like he almost throws his phone to the ground.

"Everything ok?" She asks with genuine concern.

"He spent the night at some girl's house and said he'd meet me here and now he's not answering his phone."

She raises an eyebrow at him and it confuses him. "Nadia claimed to be sick today but I'm pretty she had someone with her."

"You don't think?" Jay questions once he catches on to what she's insinuating.

She just shrugs with a shy smile on her face.

"So we're both on our own tonight I guess."

"Or uh…" She stops, telling herself it was a ridiculous thought.

"Or we could work together and split the pot at the end of the day?" He finishes for her as if he could read her mind.

"I don't know Jay." She shakes her head as she adverts her gaze to the ground, feeling a bit bashful in the moment.

"Come on Erin. It'll just be for tonight." He takes a couple steps closer to her. "I'll even teach you a few things." He adds with a smirk as he comes to stand in front of her.

She's suddenly rendered speechless as she stares up into his blue-green eyes and she thinks about his words.

He feels the heat rise up his neck to his face at the sight of the pink tint on her cheeks. Her mouth looks so alluring as it opens and then closes again as she tries to think of something to say. Then she nods and he can't stop himself from smiling at her before he goes to his truck.

She flips her sign around and writes that she'll be at Slàinte for the night with an arrow pointing toward the truck next to hers. Then she grabs some ingredients from Fried Ride before heading over by him.

She takes a cautious step up into the fancy truck. Everything about it is state of the art from the stove and fryer to the matching stainless steel fridge.

Everything is so organized and she thinks about how she never would have pegged him as a neat freak before but now seeing this space – it makes sense to her.

"So there's what Mouse calls cheat sheets on the wall for the things that aren't your average dish. But a lot of it is pretty cut and dry." He explains and she nods taking in the recipes on the lamented sheets adorning the wall between the window and the fridge.

"Can I use the fryer, if someone orders something of mine?"

"Of course, make yourself at home." He says with light chuckle as he moves to turn the fryer on to let it heat up.

If they were being honest they were nervous as hell. But even with the slight awkwardness they felt in the moment both of them were determined to make it work.

It got easier with each customer and before either of them knew it they were busting out orders as if they had been working together for years.

At the end of the night they both clean up the truck and then he counts their profits while she stands a few feet away from him. True to his word he gives her half in cash and then they bid each other goodnight.

"Thanks by the way." He says to her just as she was about to step out the back door. "Don't laugh but I actually had fun." He adds when she looks back at him.

She feels herself blushing again. "Yeah, I guess I did too. Turns out you're not so bad Halstead." She sends him a wink before turning to leave again and he immediately feels weak in the knees.

The thought of asking her out for a drink runs through his head more than once as he finishes putting everything away.

When he sees that her truck is still parked in the same spot, he musters up the courage to go ask her.

As he was about to knock, he gets a glimpse of her cooking again. She's completely oblivious to his presence – or so he thinks as she stirs the contents of the small pot on the stove. He finds himself smiling as he takes in the look of concentration on her face – her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed.

"Did I forget something?" She keeps her eyes casted down.

"No I uh…" He stumbles over his words – as if he hasn't spent the last few hours with her. "What are you making?" That's not what he wanted to say but he got distracted by the delicious smell that's currently wafting his nostrils.

"I'm just making some soup because I felt like my stomach was seconds away from consuming itself."

He chuckles at the dramatic statement as he walks towards her.

She reaches into one of the drawers and takes out a tablespoon. She scoops up a little of the soup and brings it up to her mouth. Her lips purse again as she blows on the liquid before bringing it to her mouth to try. The look on her face as she tastes her soup tells him it tastes as good as it smells.

Before she can stop herself she collects more soup on the spoon and lifts up to his lips. It's not lost on him that the spoon was just in her mouth.

The moan he emits does something to her but when he opens his eyes she snaps out of it and takes a step back.

He clears his throat and tells her how good the soup is as he too takes a step back. His hand moves to scratch the back of his neck as he tries to refocus and ask her out for a drink like he originally planned.

"Do you want some?" She asks sweetly as she grabs a Styrofoam bowl.

"Yes please." He answers as he nods sheepishly.

She turns off the stove and moves the pot over once they both have their bowls. She jumps up to sit on the counter. "So did you come over here just to see what I was making?" Her dimples pop as she looks at how nervous he becomes – seeing his usual confidence practically melt away with her question.

"No I wanted to see if you'd like to maybe get a drink with me?" He takes his bowl to the small garbage can in the corner when he's done, not being able to look at her in case she rejects his offer. He almost convinces himself to just leave before she gives him her answer as the silence stretches on.

"I think I'd like that." A shy smile comes to her face as she hops off the counter and comes to stand in front of him. He feels his confidence return with her answer and he takes her hand in his as they move towards the door.