For Amy. My biggest fan, and possibly the greatest person ever. This is for
always being there for me, for helping me through my shit and for making me
smile. You're a great friend whatever you may think and I don't know what
I'd do with out you! Happy 18th Birthday babe! My little councillor, my msn
buddy. My saviour.
And now, on with the show!!!!
Chapter 23.
.5.59pm.
Kip climbed into his beat up old Humvee and pulled out of the apartment lot quickly. The truth was, he didn't need to see his brother as much as he just needed to get away from Tumbler.
As much as he loved his best friend, today he needed something else. Tumbler always glorified everything that was going on, making it seem more light-hearted than it actually was. He coated everything in a sickly sweet layer of pride and tough man front, pretending that the day didn't bother him, laughing it all off. It was his way of dealing with things, but it eventually started to grate on Kip.
What he needed right now was to face up to his problems, not blatantly ignore them. Right now he needed someone he could feel close to without any underlying uneasiness. He needed to be able to feel he could be himself. He needed Sway.
***
.6.04pm.
The cold air of the bathroom was an unwelcome shock after the steamy haven that Sway had created in the shower cubicle. She shivered and dressed quickly in clean underwear and a fresh pair of leather pants. Wrapping her sopping dreadlocks up into a towel she padded quietly out of the bathroom and back across the adjacent bedroom where Memphis still slept soundly. She paused briefly and stole a glance at him, before heading out into the living room. She was not surprised to find Kip slouched on the couch.
"Hey." She greeted him.
Kip looked up from where he sat as Sway wandered past him into the kitchen, towel drying her hair.
"Hey." He returned, totally oblivious to the fact that she was half naked.
Sexuality had never really been an issue between the pair. Sure, when he'd first met her, Kip had found Sway irresistible. They all had. She had been the epitome of womanhood to them, the biggest boy racers sex symbol. All, dark hair, oil, tattoos and piercing blue eyes. It was why Memphis had gone so crazy over her, she was an equal, untouchable. Kip had thought so to at the time, but romantic thoughts never even entered his head nowadays, they seemed incestuous somehow.
"You hungry?" Sway yelled form the kitchen.
"No." He replied.
Sway's head appeared around the kitchen door, a frown on her face "You're always hungry."
He laughed "I just ate a whole pizza."
Sway gave a little shrug and ducked back into the other room. She returned a few seconds later, laden with Chinese food cartons, a bread roll clenched between her teeth. Kip chuckled as she sat down, transferring her cold, left-over's feast, onto the coffee table.
"What?" She asked settling back next to him.
"Healthy Sway, real healthy."
"You just ate a whole pizza!"
"Yeah, but at least mine was fresh! How long has that shit been in your fridge?"
"What are you? Department of health!? If it smells bad I don't eat it. That's worked fine for me for the past 28 years!"
He laughed again and she flicked a cold noodle at him and put a finger to her lips.
"Memphis is asleep."
He stifled his laugher and picked the piece of food off his shirt.
"How's he doin'?" He asked, not looking up.
Sway sighed "Hard to tell. You know Memphis."
Kip nodded rolling his eyes.
They paused for a second, whilst Sway ate some food, comfortable in each other's silence.
"What's up Kip?" Sway quizzed as she lent forward to inspect the other food cartons she'd brought.
He smiled wearily at her, grateful for her directness. She settled back so that she sat sideways on the couch, her back against Kips solid shoulder. And she listened. As she always did. Letting Kip talk whilst she ate, never once voicing her own fears. She was a pillar of strength in his world and took it upon herself to remain that way, at all costs.
***
.6.15pm.
Rachel shaded her eyes from the dipping afternoon sun as she reached up and basketed another perfect lay-up shot. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face as she ran to retrieve the ball. A scuffled noise made her instantly aware of someone behind her and she turned quickly. She was surprised to see Sphinx standing at the entrance to the small basketball court.
Curiosity flashed through her eyes and then was quickly gone. Nothing Sphinx did surprised any of them, not even that he knew where she lived.
She grinned at him and bounced the ball playfully at her feet. "You wanna play some B ball lurch?"
The corner of his mouth cracked up a fraction of an inch and he shrugged his eyebrows.
"What's the matter?" She skilfully flicked the ball between her legs and then back around to the front whilst Sphinx slowly approached her, "You scared? Hmmm?" She cocked her head and pouted.
Quick as a flash Sphinx stretched forwards and snatched the ball from Rachel's grasp, catching her off guard and sending a flash of shock through her whisky eyes.
He began to bounce the ball at his own feet and his stern face showed the smallest hint of playfulness.
Rachel threw Sphinx a malicious smile and cocked a finger at him in a come- to-me gesture, "Bring it on big boy."
***
.6.28pm.
Memphis stood at the doorway to the living room smiling at the sight before him. Sway lay across the couch, her head resting on Kips knees. She was laughing hard, so hard that tears glistened behind her eyes. Kip had a huge dollop of slimy noodles on the end of his nose and was trying unsuccessfully to scowl at the woman that had put it there. A mischievous gleam entered his features and he raised the food carton that he was holding high above Sways head. She abruptly stopped laughing and her eyes opened wide with panic.
"Don't even think about it." Memphis warned.
They both turned, shocked to see him there, looking like a couple of kids caught in the cookie jar.
Memphis laughed despite of himself and Sway grinned up at Kip.
"Busted!" She snickered as he lowered his arm sulkily and wiped the food off his nose.
In two long strides Memphis stood before the couch and scooped a still giggling Sway up into his arms.
She shrieked in shock and flung her arms around his neck. He bent in close, so his lips were millimetres from hers.
"Were you being a bad girl too miss Wayland?"
"Hell yeah." She murmured, the corners of her mouth twitching up a fraction of an inch before he kissed her, feverently.
He was freshly shaved and dressed in clean black jeans and T-shirt. Sway hadn't even noticed he'd woken up, let alone shaved and changed. Everything moulded to his body perfectly and he smelled edible. If she hadn't just had the mother of all orgasms she'd have had his clothes off before they reached the bedroom door.
"Jeeze." Tumbler whispered as he turned away from the couple's steamy embrace.
They pulled apart at his muttering and Memphis set Sway back down on the floor.
"Did we wake you?" She asked brushing the hair from her eyes.
"Yeah, but I needed to be up anyway. I have a couple of things that I have to do."
"Okay." Sway nodded. She didn't ask what, it was an unwritten rule in their circle. Ask me no questions and I shall tell you no lies."
***
.6.47pm.
Tumbler pulled his truck up to the doors of the garage. "Back again." He thought wistfully. He was going to go out and get *very* drunk when this was all over.
Glancing around he noticed that the only car missing was Memphis's. Tumbler had never been very good with names, but he *always* remember cars. He could tell you exactly what car a person he'd met once, for five minutes, drove. It was his talent, his memory for cars, and came in very useful.
Everyone else was there. There was Rachel's sexy Porsche 911 glistening in the twilight, Kips hulking Humvee, Sway 'vette, Donny's old Jag. Everything down to Junie's little yellow bug. Everything except for Eleanor.
It felt odd, unbalanced somehow, to have that particular car missing and it made Tumbler feel very uneasy and leaderless. For a brief moment he considered turning around and going back, but then it was gone and he reached for the door handle shaking his head. Maybe it was that pizza he'd eaten.
He ambled into the garage to find everyone in familiar situations. It soothed him. Not that he knew what he'd expected, he just felt better now that he could see everyone acting so normally.
Donny and Mirror were bickering good-naturedly whilst Toby sat back watching, idly chewing on his thumbnail. Sphinx stood in a dark corner, a band-aid on his head, doing what he did best. Nothing. Tumbler often wondered if the huge man might be a reptile. He just seemed to shut down. He didn't blink or visibly move. He just stood.
Kip and Sway sat on a desk, deep in conversation. He envied that, the relationship his best friend had with Sway. He'd never had that, the closeness they shared. Of course, he had an ulterior motive for wanting to be that close to Sway - she was hot! And speaking of hot. . . . .
He scanned the room looking for Rachel, and when he located her he sucked in a sharp breath. Rachel, along with everyone else, had changed into her darks ready for the night ahead. But, where as Sway, in her black leather pants and dark grey baby-T looked hot, Rachel looked lethal!
She sported baggy black cargo pants that hung low on her hips, and a tight back T-shirt that left a slither of her midriff bare. She carried black well, with her dark features, dark hair and pale skin. She looked dangerous and untouchable, and that fact made Tumbler want her even more.
As he gazed on, she slowly turned her head in his direction, obviously aware that someone was watching her. She gave Tumbler a long level stare, a cigarette poised between her fingers.
Eventually he looked away hurriedly and scurried off. Man, that girl had him whipped!
***
.6.55pm.
Memphis stepped out into the fading twilight and adjusted dark glasses over his eyes. He placed what he had just collected into the inside pocket of his jacket and sighed. He'd known form the second that that bomb had ripped through his garage that he had to do this, but it still terrified him to the core. The thought of what was to come, the possible upshot to his actions.
Looking down at his watch he noticed that it was 6.55pm and as he began to walk back to his car he pulled out his cell phone. He dialled a number and fished his car keys from his pocket as he stood besides a glistening Eleanor.
After 3 rings someone answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, its Memphis. Can you be at the garage within the next half hour? I may need your help with something."
"Do I get to find out what this 'something' is?"
"Can you make it?" Memphis repeated.
The other person paused for a second before replying. "Sure. See you in 20."
Memphis disconnected and climbed into his car. It was almost 7pm and he knew that everyone would be waiting for him, but as he drove down the street his thoughts were only of one person. For he knew that by the end of the day his and Sways lives would be significantly changed, one way or another.
.End Chapter 23.
AN/ sorry it's not so long or action packed, but it needed to be done. Next chapter, find out who Memphis was talking to and join the crew as they get back to business.
Happy 18th Birthday Amy. x
And now, on with the show!!!!
Chapter 23.
.5.59pm.
Kip climbed into his beat up old Humvee and pulled out of the apartment lot quickly. The truth was, he didn't need to see his brother as much as he just needed to get away from Tumbler.
As much as he loved his best friend, today he needed something else. Tumbler always glorified everything that was going on, making it seem more light-hearted than it actually was. He coated everything in a sickly sweet layer of pride and tough man front, pretending that the day didn't bother him, laughing it all off. It was his way of dealing with things, but it eventually started to grate on Kip.
What he needed right now was to face up to his problems, not blatantly ignore them. Right now he needed someone he could feel close to without any underlying uneasiness. He needed to be able to feel he could be himself. He needed Sway.
***
.6.04pm.
The cold air of the bathroom was an unwelcome shock after the steamy haven that Sway had created in the shower cubicle. She shivered and dressed quickly in clean underwear and a fresh pair of leather pants. Wrapping her sopping dreadlocks up into a towel she padded quietly out of the bathroom and back across the adjacent bedroom where Memphis still slept soundly. She paused briefly and stole a glance at him, before heading out into the living room. She was not surprised to find Kip slouched on the couch.
"Hey." She greeted him.
Kip looked up from where he sat as Sway wandered past him into the kitchen, towel drying her hair.
"Hey." He returned, totally oblivious to the fact that she was half naked.
Sexuality had never really been an issue between the pair. Sure, when he'd first met her, Kip had found Sway irresistible. They all had. She had been the epitome of womanhood to them, the biggest boy racers sex symbol. All, dark hair, oil, tattoos and piercing blue eyes. It was why Memphis had gone so crazy over her, she was an equal, untouchable. Kip had thought so to at the time, but romantic thoughts never even entered his head nowadays, they seemed incestuous somehow.
"You hungry?" Sway yelled form the kitchen.
"No." He replied.
Sway's head appeared around the kitchen door, a frown on her face "You're always hungry."
He laughed "I just ate a whole pizza."
Sway gave a little shrug and ducked back into the other room. She returned a few seconds later, laden with Chinese food cartons, a bread roll clenched between her teeth. Kip chuckled as she sat down, transferring her cold, left-over's feast, onto the coffee table.
"What?" She asked settling back next to him.
"Healthy Sway, real healthy."
"You just ate a whole pizza!"
"Yeah, but at least mine was fresh! How long has that shit been in your fridge?"
"What are you? Department of health!? If it smells bad I don't eat it. That's worked fine for me for the past 28 years!"
He laughed again and she flicked a cold noodle at him and put a finger to her lips.
"Memphis is asleep."
He stifled his laugher and picked the piece of food off his shirt.
"How's he doin'?" He asked, not looking up.
Sway sighed "Hard to tell. You know Memphis."
Kip nodded rolling his eyes.
They paused for a second, whilst Sway ate some food, comfortable in each other's silence.
"What's up Kip?" Sway quizzed as she lent forward to inspect the other food cartons she'd brought.
He smiled wearily at her, grateful for her directness. She settled back so that she sat sideways on the couch, her back against Kips solid shoulder. And she listened. As she always did. Letting Kip talk whilst she ate, never once voicing her own fears. She was a pillar of strength in his world and took it upon herself to remain that way, at all costs.
***
.6.15pm.
Rachel shaded her eyes from the dipping afternoon sun as she reached up and basketed another perfect lay-up shot. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face as she ran to retrieve the ball. A scuffled noise made her instantly aware of someone behind her and she turned quickly. She was surprised to see Sphinx standing at the entrance to the small basketball court.
Curiosity flashed through her eyes and then was quickly gone. Nothing Sphinx did surprised any of them, not even that he knew where she lived.
She grinned at him and bounced the ball playfully at her feet. "You wanna play some B ball lurch?"
The corner of his mouth cracked up a fraction of an inch and he shrugged his eyebrows.
"What's the matter?" She skilfully flicked the ball between her legs and then back around to the front whilst Sphinx slowly approached her, "You scared? Hmmm?" She cocked her head and pouted.
Quick as a flash Sphinx stretched forwards and snatched the ball from Rachel's grasp, catching her off guard and sending a flash of shock through her whisky eyes.
He began to bounce the ball at his own feet and his stern face showed the smallest hint of playfulness.
Rachel threw Sphinx a malicious smile and cocked a finger at him in a come- to-me gesture, "Bring it on big boy."
***
.6.28pm.
Memphis stood at the doorway to the living room smiling at the sight before him. Sway lay across the couch, her head resting on Kips knees. She was laughing hard, so hard that tears glistened behind her eyes. Kip had a huge dollop of slimy noodles on the end of his nose and was trying unsuccessfully to scowl at the woman that had put it there. A mischievous gleam entered his features and he raised the food carton that he was holding high above Sways head. She abruptly stopped laughing and her eyes opened wide with panic.
"Don't even think about it." Memphis warned.
They both turned, shocked to see him there, looking like a couple of kids caught in the cookie jar.
Memphis laughed despite of himself and Sway grinned up at Kip.
"Busted!" She snickered as he lowered his arm sulkily and wiped the food off his nose.
In two long strides Memphis stood before the couch and scooped a still giggling Sway up into his arms.
She shrieked in shock and flung her arms around his neck. He bent in close, so his lips were millimetres from hers.
"Were you being a bad girl too miss Wayland?"
"Hell yeah." She murmured, the corners of her mouth twitching up a fraction of an inch before he kissed her, feverently.
He was freshly shaved and dressed in clean black jeans and T-shirt. Sway hadn't even noticed he'd woken up, let alone shaved and changed. Everything moulded to his body perfectly and he smelled edible. If she hadn't just had the mother of all orgasms she'd have had his clothes off before they reached the bedroom door.
"Jeeze." Tumbler whispered as he turned away from the couple's steamy embrace.
They pulled apart at his muttering and Memphis set Sway back down on the floor.
"Did we wake you?" She asked brushing the hair from her eyes.
"Yeah, but I needed to be up anyway. I have a couple of things that I have to do."
"Okay." Sway nodded. She didn't ask what, it was an unwritten rule in their circle. Ask me no questions and I shall tell you no lies."
***
.6.47pm.
Tumbler pulled his truck up to the doors of the garage. "Back again." He thought wistfully. He was going to go out and get *very* drunk when this was all over.
Glancing around he noticed that the only car missing was Memphis's. Tumbler had never been very good with names, but he *always* remember cars. He could tell you exactly what car a person he'd met once, for five minutes, drove. It was his talent, his memory for cars, and came in very useful.
Everyone else was there. There was Rachel's sexy Porsche 911 glistening in the twilight, Kips hulking Humvee, Sway 'vette, Donny's old Jag. Everything down to Junie's little yellow bug. Everything except for Eleanor.
It felt odd, unbalanced somehow, to have that particular car missing and it made Tumbler feel very uneasy and leaderless. For a brief moment he considered turning around and going back, but then it was gone and he reached for the door handle shaking his head. Maybe it was that pizza he'd eaten.
He ambled into the garage to find everyone in familiar situations. It soothed him. Not that he knew what he'd expected, he just felt better now that he could see everyone acting so normally.
Donny and Mirror were bickering good-naturedly whilst Toby sat back watching, idly chewing on his thumbnail. Sphinx stood in a dark corner, a band-aid on his head, doing what he did best. Nothing. Tumbler often wondered if the huge man might be a reptile. He just seemed to shut down. He didn't blink or visibly move. He just stood.
Kip and Sway sat on a desk, deep in conversation. He envied that, the relationship his best friend had with Sway. He'd never had that, the closeness they shared. Of course, he had an ulterior motive for wanting to be that close to Sway - she was hot! And speaking of hot. . . . .
He scanned the room looking for Rachel, and when he located her he sucked in a sharp breath. Rachel, along with everyone else, had changed into her darks ready for the night ahead. But, where as Sway, in her black leather pants and dark grey baby-T looked hot, Rachel looked lethal!
She sported baggy black cargo pants that hung low on her hips, and a tight back T-shirt that left a slither of her midriff bare. She carried black well, with her dark features, dark hair and pale skin. She looked dangerous and untouchable, and that fact made Tumbler want her even more.
As he gazed on, she slowly turned her head in his direction, obviously aware that someone was watching her. She gave Tumbler a long level stare, a cigarette poised between her fingers.
Eventually he looked away hurriedly and scurried off. Man, that girl had him whipped!
***
.6.55pm.
Memphis stepped out into the fading twilight and adjusted dark glasses over his eyes. He placed what he had just collected into the inside pocket of his jacket and sighed. He'd known form the second that that bomb had ripped through his garage that he had to do this, but it still terrified him to the core. The thought of what was to come, the possible upshot to his actions.
Looking down at his watch he noticed that it was 6.55pm and as he began to walk back to his car he pulled out his cell phone. He dialled a number and fished his car keys from his pocket as he stood besides a glistening Eleanor.
After 3 rings someone answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, its Memphis. Can you be at the garage within the next half hour? I may need your help with something."
"Do I get to find out what this 'something' is?"
"Can you make it?" Memphis repeated.
The other person paused for a second before replying. "Sure. See you in 20."
Memphis disconnected and climbed into his car. It was almost 7pm and he knew that everyone would be waiting for him, but as he drove down the street his thoughts were only of one person. For he knew that by the end of the day his and Sways lives would be significantly changed, one way or another.
.End Chapter 23.
AN/ sorry it's not so long or action packed, but it needed to be done. Next chapter, find out who Memphis was talking to and join the crew as they get back to business.
Happy 18th Birthday Amy. x