Disclaimer: If I was Tamora Pierce, then I wouldn't be doing this, would I? I would be rich, and what a glorious life I would have¼we all know that this isn't true with me.PRIVATE
"Turn left¼right about¼.now!" Kel shouted. Joren slammed on the brakes while trying to turn at the same time. Unfortunately, this didn't work too well, and the black mustang ended up in a ditch. A loud hissing sound came from under the hood as the engine automatically shut off.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" Joren repeated, trying to start the car. It refused to respond. He thumped his head repeatedly on the steering wheel. Kel looked at him, her face blank.
"Now what?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm. Joren lifted his head to glare at her.
"What makes you think I know?!" he snapped. Kel closed her eyes momentarily, chanting to herself silently, I will be stone, I will be-oh, to Hell with it! Her composed face took one of complete rage and hatred.
"Because it's your damn car!" she yelled. Joren was unnerved by this outburst.
Usually Kel didn't swear, let alone scream. As a child she lived in the Yamani Islands, where they believed that emotion was a sign of weakness. She had lived there for most of her life before moving back to Tortall when she was 10. At that age she had started training for being a spy.
Kel was still fuming. Joren glared at her once more for good measure, before getting out and checking under the hood. Kel sat in silence for a few moments. Dimly she could hear Joren tinkering around under the hood, as she began to count.
"10¼. 9¼. 8¼. 7¼. 6¼. 5¼. 4¼. 3¼. 2¼. 1!" as soon as she said 'one', a string of curses came from Joren's mouth. She mentally smiled. He was so predictable. She gave a slight frown when the cussing didn't stop after a few minutes. She warily got out of the car before coming towards the front of the beat-up mustang. She instantly saw the problem. The engine was blown. That car was done with-there was nothing they could do to fix it, unless they got a new engine. Kel groaned. They didn't have time for this. Neal and the others were going to be executed soon, and they were stuck here on the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town was 50 miles away.
Curse Scanra to Hell! She thought. Joren glared at her.
"This is all your fault!" he yelled. Kel was taken back.
"My fault?! How in God's name is this my fault?! You were the one driving!"
"If you would tell me when to turn, maybe before we reach it, then we wouldn't be stuck in this mess!" he yelled.
"I have no idea what your problem is, but I'll bet its hard to pronounce! What are you smoking, Joren? I did tell you when to turn, did I not?" she screamed back.
"Ahhhh¼I see the fuck up fairy has visited us again. Now, if I could only get rid of it," he said, pretending to think. Kel closed her eyes, and almost instantly calmed down.
"Look, Joren. We aren't going to get anywhere insulting each other. So what are we going to do about this?" she asked, gesturing to the damaged car. Joren shrugged, composing himself.
"I guess we could hitch a ride with someone for the next 50 miles, and then buy a car," he said. Kel nodded.
"Okay," she said. They sat by the car, next to the road, waiting for a car to come by and offer them a ride. Within a few minutes, a white pickup truck came by. Kel's jaw dropped visibly. "Oh, no, it can't be," she mumbled, before putting on her mask. The truck stopped next to the black mustang, and three familiar faces popped out of the window.
"Well, look at this, Keshan," a blonde haired, hazel-eyed man said. "It's the pretty lady from the gas station a few weeks ago," he leered. Joren's eyes widened visibly. He glanced from the man to Kel, and then back again.
"My, my, my. What's a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?" the man named Keshan said. He had dark brown hair and piercing jade eyes. He looked at the man that had first spoken. "well, now. We can't just leave this pretty young creature alongside the road, can we, Meshif?" Meshif shook his head.
"what do you think, Warriv?" the third man, who had kept silent, locked his dark blue eyes with Kel's. He seemed to be considering the question.
"Where are you off to?" Warriv asked.
"Just down to Jerhen," Joren spoke before Kel did. The three-some looked at him, they had forgot that he was there. "Would you mind giving me and my fiancée, Jess, a ride?" They whipped their heads around, looking at Kel's left finger. Sure enough, there was a ring on her finger. The sunlight made the diamond ring sparkle. She was happy that she had kept it on. Kel smiled at Joren, a true, genuine smile. She hadn't done that in what felt like years. Joren smiled back and gripped her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Is that true?" Keshan said. He seemed to be the leader. Suddenly he grinned wolfishly. "Well, then. Give you're betrothed a kiss and hop in." Kel rolled her eyes before leaning towards Joren. Their lips locked. Kel felt a something as hot as fire run through her body as he lifted his hand to cradle her neck. Kel was surprised to find that she didn't seem to mind the kiss. They ignored the cheers from the three men and continued to kiss. Joren didn't seem to mind that she hadn't pulled away. It was then she realized that he hadn't either. It also seemed that Joren put some actual emotion into the kiss. Usually, it felt as if she was kissing a robot, stiff and cold, but this time she felt like she was kissing someone she cared about.
They pulled away, breathless. Kel couldn't meet Joren's eyes as she gathered up her luggage and threw it in the back seat of the truck.
Mkay, sorry this is so short…oh, and I'll be coming out with the sequel to if it ain't you soon…along with a new fic. It's a Kel fic, with someone else that's never been done before…mwahahahaha! Okay, here we go again:
Pinky-you'll find out soon enough. Be patient. And don't worry. It's my policy to finish all of my stories. I'll never just stop one dead on.
Miamouse- you'll just have to wait and see!
Alanna-wannabe – thx. I'm glad u enjoyed it!
Eat Paper- good, I love it when more people write k/j's!
alianne of conte – this is actually a mission that Kel herself decided to go on-Wyldon forbid it from her(sound familiar?), but she's gonna do it anyway!
Dreamerdoll- you are so sweet! You are one of my most supportive reviewers, and I really love that!
Nolee- I love my self convo's! mwahahaha!
Mepb- thanks. You are really supportive!
Allimba- here ya go!
Aevrum-its funny. Well, at least it is when I write it. Its not funny when others put up things like that!
ALRI the Crazy Alaskan- there! Don't have a snizzy fit!
Death Goddess Assassin- yes, I am very glad that she persuaded you to do that!
SYaOrAnRoXmiSoX- aw, hell no! Neal is SOOOOO mine! :::steals Neal:::
Okay, r&r!