Morning Dew – Thanks a bunch girlie. Sorry it took so long to update! I was stuck on a brainstorming fit for a while. :) Hehe!
Blinks-Tiger – I'm so glad you'll keep reviewing. That makes me undeniably happy.
Gypsy – First of all, sorry I haven't finished the story yet! Yikes! I feel horrible. I'll make that my project for tonight after everyone else is in bed. Hehe! Thanks for the review and all the sweet comments!!! :D
Gemini Kelly – **Mondie gets a smirk on face** LOL, I'm not in the story either, so we'll start an HONORARY Clover Gang. Haha!
Tuffy – Yes, that little shoutout meant what you thought it meant… LOL! Just give me time to think of something. And finish a few other stories. Yikes.
Stress – Thanks hun! You'll have a bigger part … eventually. I don't think in this chappy, but soon. I promise!!!!
Mads And Alex – Okay, I already emailed you back, so no excuses. WHERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER??? ((If it's up and I just overlooked it somehow, I'm gonna feel stupid)) Oh, and no, I have yet to see American Psycho, though I don't doubt that CB is sexy in it… I shall have to remember to rent that next week when I take back the 4 movies I just rented today.
Hades – Thanks hun!!! I can't wait to write your chappy with you and Mushy Darling.
kimimay85 – Hrm, your review had nothing to do with the chapter. Hahahahaha! I'm glad you wanna see my CD player, tho. It's nothing too fancy, I just enjoy the fact that it has a remote… LOL! Sorry I couldn't go to Pine Lake today. Grrr to babysitting. I did get $22, though…
Aki – Thanks so much! Your part is coming, too. Yikes. Don't worry, I'll get you in, and it'll be GOOD, too. Just cuz you leave me nice reviews. ^_^
Pegasus – Thanks hun! Hey, I haven't gotten an email from you in a while, have I? :(
Dragonfly - **Mondie laughs** Your bowler *is* coming, m'dear. Don't you worry.
Holiday – Thanks for the review! LOL, I know what you mean about checking ff.net more often… if I skip even one day, the next day is hell cuz there are sooo many stories I read that have been updated!
Taffee – This chappy is ALL about you, babe. Hope ya like it.
Moody – Thanks! I was glad to see you updated your story, too. Keep going!
Braces – Thanks! And the next chapter's out… right now! LOL!
Emu – THANKS HUN! I haven't heard from you in a while, MDLF! What's going on?? Been to any llama shows lately? **Mondie laughs**
Tunes – Whew! It's a relief that I'm not butchering your character so that you hate me by the end of this story. I enjoy your character in this fanfic… LOL how was that for modesty? "I love how I write you!" Gah!! *Mush hits Mondie over the head*
Misprint – Run-on review this time, you promised!!! ^_~ LOL. YOU UPDATED ECLIPSE! I was so happy I nearly cried! Now hurry, get on a spree and write MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE of it!!!!!!!!!!!!! **Mondie hugs Mis and Shade**
Lucky – I speak French too! LOL. Well, somewhat. Okay, so I'm not fluent or anything, but I suffered my way through Les Mis… And yeah, I'm not really sure what you and Eldorado ((Danielle)) are gonna do yet. I'll figure it out soon, though.
~Hey, this is totally random, but I just had this idea… maybe. If you want to be in this story but missed the CC or whatever, email me your fanfic profile ((looks, background, personality, real first name)) and put "Untouchables 2nd CC" in the subject… i_shot_andy@yahoo.com is the email addy… thanks!!!~
Untouchables
Chapter 4
Kat, or Taffee, as she was now called, screamed aloud in agony as she hit yet another red light. She had already overslept, and now this?
Nikita, now known as Relic (something which was very hard for Taffee to remember, indeed), had called a meeting this morning for the Clover Gang. Their debut into the school the previous day had been a smash success. Fellow students had thought it was a great gag, and even the teachers went along with it, learning the girls' new names and even using them, much to Spot Conlon's great disapproval.
The meeting was supposed to be at 7:15, and it was already after 7:20. Taffee was never late to anything. However, that morning she'd not only slept through her alarm, but her little sister, Katarina (who was called Kitty because the obvious choice for a nickname had been taken by Kat herself), had gotten angry at her and thrown orange juice all over her outfit. Taffee had had to change as quickly as she could.
Finally the light changed and, grumbling, Taffee made it quickly to school, pulling into the parking lot at 7:23. Then she halted her car and stared.
All the front spaces were filled.
This would be nothing new, if it weren't so early in the morning (school started at 8:15). Also, if the front seventeen spots weren't "owned" by the Crimson Gang.
When Spot Conlon had debuted his Crimson Gang, he'd gone to school extremely early, before any car got there, and spray-painted a crimson "X" on the first seventeen spots. Then he'd parked his car in the first one and watched carefully to make sure no random person parked there. Since then, no one had ever had the guts to park in a Crimson Gang member's spot, just like how no one crossed (or stepped on) the Quad. Another factor of the mystery was the fact that the Crimson Gang was famous for never being early. They seemed to have an invincible hold on the school, where neither teacher nor principal seemed to care who was late and for what reason. So the fact that all their places would be taken so early was not even fathomable.
Then Taffee realized something. Sitting in Spot's usual parking place was Relic's car. And over there was Hades' Mercedes convertible. Taffee inched along to the last of the Crimson Gang's places, number 17. The large red "X" had been painted over in sparkly dark green. Taffee gasped to herself, then let a slow smile spread across her lips. Leave it to Relic.
She eased her car into the place, and then remembered how late she was. Grabbing her purse and books and car keys, she hustled out of the car and slammed the door shut.
"HEY! YOU!"
She looked over, and groaned. Not now… she thought to herself, wondering how she had missed this upon her entrance.
In the middle of the deserted second half of the parking lot stood Spot Conlon's vintage Corvette. Sitting on the hood of the car as if it were his throne was Spot Conlon, the intense black of his outfit contrasting immensely with the bright orange of his car. He wore a scowl which matched the dark gray of the sky.
She walked over as quickly as she could, keeping her face ducked.
"What's this all about?" Spot growled, as soon as she was close enough to hear his growls audibly. "What happened to my parking places?"
"I don't know," Taffee whispered, keeping her eyes on the ground. She didn't need this now, she really didn't…
"Aw, lighten up, Spot," came Swifty's voice, and Taffee's head snapped up. She hadn't even seen him, what with Spot's car being angled the way it was. But there he was, sitting on his prized possession, his crimson-colored (of course) motorcycle. "I think it's pretty funny, myself." He gave Taffee a shy smile. She involuntarily smiled back. "Let the girls have their fun."
"Are you joking?" Spot nearly screamed. "Let them have their fun?! I don't think so, Swifts! This is serious!"
Swifty started up his motorcycle and roared around the car, zipping through the parking lot. He parked it in the spot next to Taffee's Mitsubishi. Then he came walking over, his lanky limbs dangling. Taffee couldn't help but grin at how adorable he was.
"Let me carry your books," Swifty said, and before she could protest, he had already grabbed them and was setting off, his scarecrow-like gait seeming to fill the whole parking lot.
"Wait up!" she said, running after him.
Spot glowered from his seat. "TELL YOUR FRIEND, THE LEADER, THAT THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" he screamed at her retreating back, and then scowled at the cars invading what he figured was his turf.
"Taffee! Where ya been?" Relic asked, looking up. She'd gotten permission from Mme Durouge to use her classroom, which is where the Clover Gang now gathered. "You've missed all sorts of stuff. Like…" Her voice dropped off as Taffee stepped further into the room. Outlined in the doorway was a certain spindly silhouette. Relic nearly clapped her hands. "Oh, Swifty!"
Taffee took her books from his arms and smiled at him. "Thanks, Swifty."
"You're welcome. I'll see you in biology?"
"Yeah." She couldn't keep the gigantic smile from her face.
"See ya, girls." He waved a goodbye into the classroom, then disappeared down the hallway.
Tunes, who had convinced her family the night before no longer to call her Kerrie, stood up and stuck her head into the hallway, watching him disappear. As soon as he turned a corner, she turned back to the classroom, her eyes afire. "How did that happen?" she squealed.
Sitting down in her French desk, Taffee told the story, her cheeks blushing a little whenever she mentioned Swifty. As soon as she finished, the room's before-silent air erupted with catcalls and whoops.
No one, however, save maybe Taffee, was as elated as Relic. "Spot sent a message to me! Spot sent a message to me!" she squealed, jumping up on the chair of her desk to do a little dance. "Say it again, Taffee."
"He said to tell you that this isn't funny." Taffee couldn't see why Relic was so excited over so angry a message.
Relic hugged herself. "Sa-weet! My man loves me!" she screamed, throwing her head back and letting out with a jungle cry.
It took quite some time for the room to further quiet down, and the rest of the meeting was mainly for gossip and such. At around 8:40, Relic remembered that the parking lot was visible from Mme Durouge's room, and stuck her head out the window to catch a glimpse of Spot.
"He's gone," she said in disappointment. "I bet he won't be here for classes today."
Sure enough, there was no sign of the sandy-haired, blue-eyed leader of the Crimson Gang. Nobody really took note of it, though—Spot came to school about as much as he skipped it, at least for the first half of each school year's first semester.
Taffee really didn't notice, what with her head up in the clouds and her feet barely touching the tiled floors. Swifty was waiting for her outside the biology room. "Let's skip and go riding around on my motorcycle," he suggested lowly, his eyes twinkling as they locked on hers.
She was genuinely shocked. "I can't do that! I have to study!" she said, then realized how lame she sounded. "I mean…"
Swifty didn't seem to mind. "Oh, I guess you're right," he sighed. "It's my senior year, so I really should be buckling down on my studies, right?" He gave a little laugh which nearly melted whatever resolve was left in Taffee's heart. "How about… well, I have cross country practice right after school, but that's over at five. What do you say I pick you up at five thirty, to give me time to shower and all, and we'll go out for dinner and then just ride around on my bike?"
Taffee's heart thudded in her chest. "That sounds great," she whispered. She'd never ridden on a motorcycle before, and certainly not with a boy, and definitely not with a Crimson Gang boy.
The bell rang, and Taffee's thoughts skidded to a halt. She'd never been late to a class before in her life. Mr. Swan, the bio teacher, had closed the door. "Oh, no!" she said.
"Don't worry," Swifty told her, and knocked on the door. Mr. Swan answered it, and let them in.
"Don't let it happen again, Swifts," he said, but there was a twinkle in his blue eyes. He, like every other teacher in school, was easily duped by any Crimson Gang member.
"It won't, Mr. Swan. I was just setting up a date with the lovely Miss Taffee, here," Swifty answered conversationally, sitting in his usual seat.
Any talk in the classroom was silenced, as everyone turned to look at Taffee. She felt incredibly self-conscious. BonBon was the only other Clover Gang member in the group, and Taffee searched for her almost frantically. BonBon gave her a thumbs-up and a huge grin, which relaxed Taffee slightly.
"Good choice, Swifts," Mr. Swan said, grinning. "And now, let's get back to Lepidoptra…"
Five-thirty came very quickly for Taffee. She wondered if her outfit was good—she wore jean shorts, a loose rugby shirt with white and black stripes, Skechers with no socks, and of course her dark green armband. She'd fixed her hair up in a fancy bun with Relic's help.
It was 5:29 when a new thought occurred to Taffee—did Swifty know which house she lived in? She hadn't given him her address. The thought distressed her greatly, but she didn't have his number to call him and tell him…
A moment later, the doorbell rang. She sighed in relief.
She opened the door and stepped outside, pulling it closed behind her. "Hi, Swifty," she said, smiling at him as she felt her legs turn to jelly.
"You look beautiful," Swifty answered, taking her in with his wise, dark eyes. His hair was wet from his shower, and he was dressed in the same outfit from school: a pair of nondescript jeans and a cross country t-shirt.
"You do, too," she answered, and meant it whole-heartedly. She'd never seen anyone look better in her whole life.
"Shall we go, then?" he asked, smiling at her. She was a bit upset when she realized that, to put her helmet on, she'd have to take down her hair, but Swifty didn't mind: he instead picked up a strand of her long hair, twisting it between his fingers. "I love your hair," he said softly. "And your eyes. And your lips…" For a moment, his eyes rested hungrily on her lips, and she wondered if he was going to kiss her. Then he abruptly turned and shoved his helmet on. She did the same.
She wrapped her arms securely around his stomach, feeling his carved stomach muscles expand and contrast with his rhythmic breathing. She felt herself relaxing slightly, too. Until the motorcycle started.
Such an exhilarating ride Taffee had never imagined. The wind ripped past, causing her shirt to billow behind her. Her arms ached from holding them around Swifty's waist so tightly. It was so liberating, so freeing. She closed her eyes and let the wind take away all her worries and concerns…
It started to rain. Dark thunderclouds had threatened all day, but this was the first time it had actually let loose with the moisture confined within it. Taffee smiled, wishing she could rip off her helmet and sacrifice herself to the playful drops. She loved the rain. But her safer, sensible side assured her that if they slid on the puddles now forming in the street, she'd want her helmet on. So she just enjoyed the feel of the rain soaking the back of her shirt, tangling with her hair that peeked out from underneath her helmet. So this is heaven, she thought to herself. Who knew it'd be so perfect?
Perfect, that is, until the sputtering started.
They'd been cruising around the countryside, two silent riders connected in one moment, suspended forever. But the motorcycle began to make its odd noises, and Swifty pulled over and halted it. He climbed off his seat and, cursing quietly, kicked at his tires before checking a few other things that could be wrong. He took off his helmet and Taffee followed suit. The rain began to soak all of her hair, for the raindrops, pleasant and lilting while riding with speed on back roads, became suddenly fat and angry when standing still. She lifted up her head and stuck out her tongue, laughing as rain splashed off her.
"I'm out of gas," Swifty said in disbelief, finally finding the problem. "I've never done this before…" He ran a hand through his slick, black hair, which was as drenched as hers. "I'm sorry, Taffee. I was just so happy to be going out to dinner with you…"
"I don't mind," she said, looking over at him. He had to note that she'd never looked quite so alive to him before. Her cool eyes sparked with the essence of pixies' dreams, and her mouth was decorated in a full-blown smile. "I love the rain. I love riding on your motorcycle. And I love…" She cut herself off. Don't scare him off, Kat, she reminded herself.
"You love what?" he asked, walking over so that he was as close to her as he could get without standing on her. His eyes sparkled, and he blinked rapidly to keep the water rolling down his face out of his eyes.
"Never mind," she said softly, a little scared by the intensity in his eyes.
"Me?" he guessed, bringing his face all the much closer to hers.
"You," she agreed, swallowing hastily.
He leaned forward and brushed his lips to hers, then intensely kissed her. She shivered, but she wasn't sure if it was because the rain was cold or because of her feelings for Swifty. She kissed him back, and his hand brushed lightly against her cheek before tangling in her wet hair.
"You're amazing," he whispered to her.
Taffee smiled, disbelieving this could be happening to her. How could one of Relic's plans possibly work? It had never happened before.
At that moment, a lone car's headlights flashed on them. Taffee and Swifty separated long enough for the kind stranger to give them some gas out of a gas can he kept in his trunk. The only part of them which didn't separate occurred when Swifty caught ahold of her hand and didn't let it go.
"Are you ready for dinner?" he asked after the stranger had driven off with a wave and a honk.
"Can we just go somewhere and talk?" she responded. "I'm not hungry, Swifty. I'm just… happy."
He smiled sweetly at her, then shoved his helmet on his head. She put hers on too, and then they climbed on the bike. He started the engine, and she'd never heard anything sweeter in her whole life.
Except, of course, Swifty's comment to her: "You're amazing."
When she finally got home that evening, her face flushed and lips red, she could only fall onto her bed with a contented sigh. She reached for the phone to call Relic and tell her how it had gone … but then paused. She brought her arm slowly back to her body, then pressed the hand, which had been the one Swifty had held, to her cheek. Relic could wait until the next day. The only person Taffee wanted to think about right now was Swifty. Beautiful, amazing Swifty… she looked at her left arm and smiled. Proudly tied there was not her green Clover Gang ribbon, but a red Crimson Gang ribbon. Swifty had untied her ribbon and his, and switched them, so that everyone would know that they were now boyfriend and girlfriend. And crazy about each other.
Swifty's girl… she could get used to that title.