A/N: Hey there. Sorry this update took a while, the next few will come quickly.
And I just got back from a fab trip to Paris so writing the France scenes will be a breeze now!
Also, the edit screen on my preview area has gone screwy, so there will be minoir changes in the formatting. Hope it doesn't bother you.
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"Ah, France! The country of love!" Marisol beamed, stepping off the charter jet and feasting her eyes on the lovely mountain vista surrounding them. "Just as gorgeous as I remember it! Right, Jean?"
"Indeed, mon ami," JP replied, placing a kiss on Marisol's glossed lips before heaving her pink Luis Vitton suitcase down the gangway. Seeiah followed behind them, scowling.
"I wonder if the people here really do eat snails," said Hailey, stepping out of the jet next.
Eddie, trailing in her wake, shook his afro'd head. "Seeing how weird our frenchman JP is, I truly wouldn't doubt it. I mean, I've roomed with the guy, and he's got these creepy, silky knicker things..."
"Okay, enough about Holeshot's boxer shorts, thank you very much," quipped Elise, who was lugging about almost as much luggage as Marisol had, all by herself. "Too much information."
"That's right, move along, kids," Rahzel said in a bored voice, waving the boarders off the gangway and ushering them to a queue of SUVs waiting for them. "Luggage in the trunk, bodies in the car. Come on, we're on a tight schedule!"
"Whose he shitting?" Zoe rolled her eyes. "We're gonna get to the hotel, listen to him bullshit us for a while, then he's gonna send us up to bed."
"Glad to know everybody takes my position seriously, Zoe," winked Rahzel. The punky brunette winked right back.
"Anytime, Razzy."
Slipping between Zoe and Psymon, Moby reached forward to help load Zoe's bags into the trunk of the first SUV.
Psymon grunted and backed off.
Mac had his headphones on as he deplaned, loud rock music pumping out of the speakers. Beside him, Kaori babbled in Japanese, bright eyes scanning the vista before them.
"Domo arigato, Maccie!" she beamed, watching Mac shrug and begin to carry one of her heavier suitcases.
He nodded, grinning at her while struggling with it's weight, "Yeah, anytime."
Brodi was among the last to exit the plane. He could feel the warmth of the gold medal pressing against his bare chest, tucked away under his loosest fitting t-shirt. It was customary for the gold medalist to flaunt their victory for a days or two until the crew got settled into the next venue, but Brodi really didn't like the attention. Having the press bombard him with questions, photo opts, and interview requests after the race was all the recognition he needed, and then some.
Like the others before him, he gazed up at the breathtaking scenery surrounding him, and smiled. Giving a quick nod back at their pilot, who was just sealing the door behind him, Brodi headed to catch up with the others.
"Hi there Elise," he said in his characteristically calm, smooth voice. "Don't you just love the alps?"
"Yeah, they're so... Zen," she said dryly, not even looking him in the face. Brodi frowned.
"Hey, pansy boy! Get the hell outta my way!" Luther rammed Brodi aside, pushing his slightly foul smelling luggage into the trunk.
Brodi straightened up and opened his mouth to speak, but Elise was two steps ahead of him.
"Hey, fatty," she retorted coldly, rounding on him. "Watch where the fuck you're going, huh? Urgh, you smell terrible. Aren't you late for your appointment to roll around with some pigs in a mud puddle?"
"Why I oughta!" Luther clenched his fists, sputtering out his words.
"Oughta what? Bathe?" Zoe said, smirking, from the other side of the van. She just couldn't seem to resist some wholesome mockery after a very long day of racing and travel.
JP approached the scene, backing up Luther, "You're one to talk, you great cow! With the crap all over your face and your dirtbag clothes!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot, your makeup's nicer than mine. What a shame," she said sarcastically, still grinning madly. "Well whatcha gonna do about it? Hit me again?"
"Come on, don't make me come back there," called Rahzel from the front of the convoy, where he was struggling to make all of Marisol's luggage fit into the trunk.
Zoe stood staring at JP, hand on one hip, until he turned away with a look of disgust on his face.
Eddie climbed into the back seat of a huge SUV, scooting across to the middle. He looked down at Hailey, who was just approaching the car, and reached out to pat the spot next to him, but extended his arm all the way when he saw Hailey reaching back.
"Thanks," she said, pulling herself up into the car with Eddie's help. A slight flush spread across his cheeks.
"No problem," he murmured in reply.
Marisol sat in front of the vanity in the lush suite she was put in with Seeiah, carefully applying mascara to her upper lashes. Dipping the wand back into the tube, she started on the other side.
"So why isn't JP staying with us?" asked Seeiah from across the room, where she was munching on cheese doodles in front of the TV.
"I told you chica," said Marisol, pulling tighter on the strings lacing up her hot pink corset top, giving new meaning to the word cleavage. "He owns an apartment in that little complex down the road."
Seeiah rolled her eyes. "Oh I see, that way it's easier for him to sneak Kiera into his bed and fuck her brains out."
"Really, stop it," said Marisol, an edge to her voice. "Tonight's our anniversary dinner and I certainly don't need you stressing me out. I'll get a zit."
"This may not be the time, but I really can't take this shit anymore!" Seeiah stood up, crossing the room and grabbing Marisol by the shoulders, looking her straight in the face. "Marisol, girl, he's cheating on you! He a dirty, cheap, cheating white boy! Open your goddamn eyes, all the signs are there!"
Marisol shook Seeiah off, standing up from the stool and brushing off her pleated black skirt. "If you mention this one more time, you'll be very sorry you did," said Marisol quietly, words dripping in vehemence. Seeiah's lips twisted into a scowl as she watched Marisol grab her purse, step into 6 inch heels, and strut out the doorway.
"Oh, that is it!" Seeiah yelled out, stomping over to her recliner and plopping down, defiantly folding her arms across her chest.
Zoe flopped down on her bed, counting the tiles in the ceiling. Folding a pair of jeans and stuffing them in her dresser, Elise peered over at her.
"What's with you?" she inquired, one eyebrow raised.
Shrugging, Zoe replied, "Nothing."
"Oh come on," Elise rolled her eyes, moving on to unpack her makeup. "Just tell me what's wrong. You'd be surprised, but I may be able to help."
Zoe snorted. "And have this end up reaching the ears of half the circuit, and then some? Pass."
"And you think they'd be interested in who you sleep around with?" Elise stopped, laughing loudly. "There's much higher issues circulating here."
Zoe looked back up at the ceiling.
"Oh come on now," Elise sat on the edge of her bed. "No snappy comebacks? You've got it bad."
"Fuck. Off."
"I know we're not the best of friends, but today I'm willing to give you some free advice and offer not to tell anyone," Elise offered smugly.
"I guess your morals are along the lines of mine anyway," relented Zoe, sighing. "So tell me, Sparky, anything wrong with taking a couple test drives before buying a car?"
Smirking, recognition dawned on Elise's face. "Oooh, so tired of sleeping around with Psymon without the commitment Moby would kill for, you taste a bit of both worlds."
"Something like that," she replied. "Just, fuckin', Psymon just wants to fuck once in a while, put on a show and act like a couple when we're around other people, then screw around my back. Moby acts all boyfriend-y and love-of-your-life. But he doesn't have that... I don't know, that spunk. The X-factor."
"Spunk," repeated Elise. "Is that what we call it these days?"
Zoe couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "Psymon's just got this... I don't know..."
"Air of a complete, raving lunatic who does drugs, has his own reserved cell in county jail, and damaged all is nerve endings in a freak bike accident?" clarified Elise. "Mmm, sexy."
Zoe didn't even snap back, she just propped herself up against the headboard. "What now?"
"Hmm, fooling around with both of them will lead undoubtfully to broken heart vis a vis Moby," said Elise. "Like last time. But it may be a chance your willing to take, eh?"
Frowning, Zoe traced her finger around the pattern of her down comforter.
Elise stood up, crossing the room again. "The tribe has spoken. Just don't fuck up Moby too badly, it's ugly seeing him cry."
"Hmmph." Hugging her knees to her chest, Zoe sighed. This was going to be one hell of a week.
A/N: Hokay, so please review on your way out. As usual, it is greatly appreciated.