A/N: Sorry it's such a sudden transition in time… I wrote about 9 versions of this chapter before deciding on this one… WOO-HOO SCHOOL'S OUT!!! Well… for me, at least. Summer-themed chappies on the way!

To Raiona: I'll try and explain that better, thanks, though. So far, only two more cars might be added, and I'll try and work them more into the plotlines somehow.

Wind Cat: Thanks. I've been trying to make those interactions good.

Random Nameless Person: "Spooky" by the Young Rascals

Pink Panther Lady: It's kind of explained in this chappie. And, as for the cars… well… two more.I wasn't originally planning to have the Mustang play too big a part in this, but… it can change…!

Anyways, now… to the story.

Chapter 8

Walking In Cali

Nita looked up from her game of Solitaire, her gaze on Kit, who sat on the edge of the springy hotel bed, chewing thoughtfully on his index fingernail and reading a book on muscle cars. She sighed a couple times before Kit looked up at her.

"Something caught in your throat?" he asked bemusedly.

Nita rolled her eyes, turning her head so that Kit couldn't see the grin that, despite all other commands from her brain, spread across her face.

"Nah… I'm fine. You go back to your reading. Though I don't see, exactly, how this is going to get you a new car…"

She caught the faint mental imprint of a grin from Kit.

"You'll see," he said mysteriously.

Nita nodded and returned to her game. Her curiosity promptly overcame her, and, heaving a sigh, turned back around to Kit's irritatingly knowing look and sparkling eyes.

"How?" she said, trying her best to look disdainful.

Kit merely shook his head, further vexing her. "I told you, you'll see!"

"When?" Nita persisted, trying to gain more knowledge.

"By tomorrow. Now go back to your game!"

Nita stuck her tongue out at him but obliged, rolling her eyes yet again as she did so.

Kit listened for a while as Nita muttered to herself, working her way through her game, then returned to his book and a page on the famed Shelby Cobra. He ran his finger along the materials and build statistics, then grinned and turned a few pages to the factory blueprints, where he began eagerly taking notes, pausing now and then to rub one temple with a finger as he pondered and thought.

They spent the best part of two hours in their own separate worlds, and it was only when three PM rolled around that Nita stood up, finally having won her battle against herself, and declared, "I'm going down to the beach. Coming?"

Kit looked up and rubbed his eyes, giving Nita a quick smile that left her heart thumping just a bit faster in her chest. Feeling her face go hot, she fervently hoped that it wasn't too obvious that she really was crushing on him, having spent the whole drive to their current location in Huntington Beach persuading Kit that their shared kiss was 'merely a friendly thing.' The only reason she had attempted to convince him was the amount of teasing that Dairine fed her, and the fact that there was no other leverage that would bother her little sister, as Dairine's relationship with Mark Hinlek didn't matter to 'The Runt' any more.

Dammit… she thought to herself. He really is hot…

Her thoughts were rudely interrupted as Kit's voice cut across her train of thought.

"Alright… might as well. There's not much else to do."

Nita nodded, shut off her laptop, and, making for the door, glanced over her shoulder at Kit, smiling coyly at him.

"You coming or what?"

Kit blushed slightly, muttered something, and closed the book, getting up to go follow Nita.

As he followed her out to the beach, the golden spots of light rippling in her wavy hair caught his eye, and he spent most of the walk down to the beach just watching the lights dance through her auburn hair. She glanced over her shoulder curiously at Kit, who promptly snapped back to attention.

"What?" she inquired curiously.

Kit blushed, and, knowing he'd sound like a total idiot saying what he was really doing, merely put on a straight face and lied, "There was a piece of lint in your hair. It's gone."

Nita seemed satisfied with this explanation, and passed no further comment as she stepped onto the welcoming white-sand beach off the coast of Southern California. Kit caught up with her, casually slipping his arm around her. She blushed, rolled her eyes, and slapped playfully at his hand. He pulled back, looking scandalized.

"What was that for?" he asked, a faint aura of laughter hanging in his eyes like a low, permanent fog. Nita looked into Kit's clear brown eyes and found that she could see straight through to his soul. Reluctantly ungluing her gaze, she looked at his worn-out Nikes instead, trying to hide an unexplainable grin and said in her best puppy-dog voice, "I dunno… sowwy, Kit…"

She burst into a fit of laughter as Kit, also laughing, gave her a good, hard shove.

Her t-shirt hit him full in the face, followed quickly by her jeans.

Before Kit could recover, Nita gave him a gentle push.

"You coming or what?"

Kit folded Nita's jeans and tossed them onto the ground. He looked at her and realized she'd put on a bikini after her quick shower she'd taken to wake herself up. She grinned at him. "You bring trunks?"

Kit nodded and, reluctantly turning away, pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the ground. He turned to Nita, who rolled her eyes and made for the diving platform. Heaving a sigh, Kit followed her into the brisk, cool waters of the Pacific Ocean.