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Authors note: I'm updating this along with Chapter 6 because Chapter 6 is kind of boring and I don't want you to give up on me …yet.

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Chapter 7

I parked up next to Pino's and took of my helmet. I shook out my hair a bit, and fluffed it a little; man did I hate helmet hair, good thing I had my handy mousse. I sprayed some into my palm and put into my hair scrunching my hair a bit to cause some curls and corkscrews. I smiled as I looked in my small compact, gorgeous.

I stood up straight and entered Pino's.

It took a couple of cops to do a double take when they saw me, like Eddie, Carl and Big Dog. I grinned at them and suddenly I was overcome with hugs.

'Nice to see you too' I said beaming. I sat at their table for a while as they filled in everything that was going on in the Burg.

I nodded and listened intently.

They all said that it was nothing without me, beating up small guys, blowing up cars, bringing in various FTA's.

'Have you heard of this girl, Xena. Supposedly worked as a bounty hunter for a week.'

They all looked at each other, 'Man, her, she is quite good, always gets her man, a bit similar to you kinda, doesn't blow anything up but seems to have a streak for giving the lip to guys. She is so hot.' Carl said and the other guys agreed, taking a swig of bud as they nodded.

I rolled my eyes, 'Is that all you ever think about?'

They all looked at each other for a second before looking back at me and nodding.

'Speaking of which, not looking too bad yourself, Steph, finally working out?' Eddie said.

I rolled my eyes, 'What if I was, what's it to you, you're married to my cousin.'

He got this sudden look of "oh yeah" on his face and he sighed and took another swig of Bud.

I laughed out loud at his expression, 'Well I've gotta go get a pizza, do you know where Joe is?'

'At home, just came off duty, why?'

'Just wondering, I need to catch up with him. See ya around' I said smiling and went to collect my pizza I had ordered about an hour ago.

I drove down to Joe's house and knocked like the polite person I was. He opened the door wearing a pair of old jeans and a plain white shirt.

'Hey' I said and he grinned and opened the door for me to enter.

'Pino's?' he said looking at the pizza box unsurely.

I looked at him like he was crazy, '…duh?'

He grinned and opened the box handing me a napkin before he took a slice. I took a bite and moaned out loud. I'd forgotten that there was a reason to stay here in Trenton.

Joe raised an eyebrow at me and his eyes darkened.

'I miss Pino's' I said in an innocent voice. He rolled his eyes and led me and the pizza on to the couch.

'What's it like in Spain?' he said biting into his slice.

'It's okay… a lot different, quite hot, friendly company, the usual. On and off with jobs. You know what I'm like.' I said smiling.

He nodded knowingly, 'Yeah, I do. So you like it there? You're happy?'

I nodded, 'Yes thank you.'

He nodded again, 'You said you'd call me often. Been busy? With what?'

I took a deep breath, did I really want to tell him all this?

'A lot has happened to me since I left Trenton. My life has changed a lot.'

'How so?' Joe said narrowing his eyes.

'Well…I've had 2 boyfriends, Jason and Hugo. Both utter assholes, both just couldn't commit. I've had approximately 4 jobs so far, about to start number 5 when I get back to Spain. I have lived in the same apartment since I moved there, I've learnt the local lingo, Spanish, I've basically done a lot.' I said biting into another slice.

He nodded, 'What jobs?'

I bit my lip, 'Don't laugh! Flower arranger, until I found out I had absolutely no talent or interest for arranging plants; then I was decorator, which was pure desperation;, then I was a army cadet which was good but it was voluntary unless I wanted to be a general which was tempting but I couldn't stand the early mornings; then till about a week ago I was a waitressing barmaid until I got so pissed at blokes pinching my ass I punched one in the face and kind of got in trouble because I did so I just quit.' I said smiling, 'Now when I get back I'm going to be in a security company thing which sounds really… interesting.'

Joe looked quite shocked, his arm was held in mid-air and frozen, 'Are you joking?'

I frowned, 'What is it?'

He took a deep breath, 'You were in the army?'

I nodded grinning, 'It wasn't like I went into a war or anything, it was quite fun. Put me into shape. First few weeks, my chest felt like it was going to explode but I got used to it.'

Joe still looked at me in disbelief, 'You. You! You joined the army, but you're Steph.'

I nodded slowly as if pointing it out to a small child, 'I know Joe.'

'But – it's you. Sorry cupcake but I can't see you in the army. No offence.'

I sighed, 'I know, I know, I might not have been the perfect candidate when I first started. I'll admit I was very close to giving up at some points. But I made it through and it was fun.'

Joe shook his head in disbelief and bit into his pizza.

'So what's up with you? Got a girl on your arm yet?' I said smiling. I was completely over Joe so if he was with someone it wouldn't really bother me.

'Actually there is somebody. Ella is a transfer from Miami to Trenton, she's been here for a while now and we've got to talking about stuff and she seems really nice.'

'Hot?'

'Oh yeah, piping.' He replied grinning.

I rolled my eyes then remembered my earlier conversation with Eddie, Carl, and Big Dog, 'Heard of Xena?'

'Her? Is that that hot, bitchy bounty hunter reminds me a little of Joyce.'

I raised an eyebrow and turned a little rhino 'You think Joyce is hot?'

He looked a little worried and answered quickly, 'No! She's just bitchy like Xena.'

I nodded with narrowed eyes before my mouth split into a shit-eating grin.