ii.

"Alright – I'm back."

Turning into the parking garage, I turn my stereo up a little more, announcing that yes, the redhead had returned…
The kickin' ass and takin' names would follow shortly.

A couple smacks to the horn, and I cut the engine, jumping out of my Silverado, green eyes glancing for at least some sign of life – of course, I didn't see any, which kinda pissed me off.

"Where the fuck is everyone?"

Maybe they'd forgot – around here, things like that happen.  People get wrapped up in their own little melodramas, and if you're not part of it, you're temporarily placed on the back burner.

It wasn't anything new –
But it was annoying as hell.

But still – I'd dressed up, at least a little.  There was a skirt involved – even if it was a denim micromini.
What could I say?  I'm looks, brains, and brawn…
Right now, I'm just capitalizing in the looks department.

I was a little bit bummed, though – while I was injured, the only person to visit me was Kari, and that was probably because she was dealing with injuries herself.

"Run for the hills, Hurricane Virginia has returned."  With a bit of a snicker, I turned around to see none other than Spike Dudley, Kari's boyfriend and one of my closer acquaintances. 

"Hey Spork…what's up?"

"Nothin'.  Any luck digging up stuff about your mom?"  Naturally, Kari had told him what was going on, mainly because Kari told him everything.

"Thought I'd hit something, but – Mama was pretty fucking vague."  Shrugging, I hugged the youngest Dudley, then glanced around.  "Where's…"

"Well, Kari's…somewhere, Rob's sleeping…"

"You poor souls."  I snickered, "I know what hearing that's like."

Just then, as if he knew we were talking about him, Rob staggered out of the door to the parking deck, and…
The second he laid eyes on me – I think there was a Boy Scout tent pitching record set.

"…and hello to you too…"

"Hey…"  And there was the dopey grin, and I couldn't help but remember that he had some serious mojo going on.

So…what do you think I did?

-*-


"I should put some clothes on and make my reappearance official…"  Sighing, I curled against Rob, curling up under the sheets. 

"Yeah, you should, but…"
"It can wait, really.  But…you know, I've got my eyes on a pretty big prize…"
"Oh?" 
"Like you don't know."

Everyone knew, I was sure.  I wanted invincibility.
I wanted the Women's title. 

And then, I wanted to show the Next Big Thing why this redhead was not to be messed with.