Later on in the day, Xander returned to the Sparx hangout, planning on adjusting a few things on his bike since the delivery truck had dropped off some parts earlier. Charlotte, his assistant, had been told to keep an eye on the front door and was instructed to send any and all Sparx through the garage and into the hangout through the secondary entrance seeing as it was business hours. Xander took out his pocket knife and sliced open the tape on the box, placing the brand new piece on a towel he kept near his bike. Once he placed his knife back into his vest pocket, he grabbed a wrench from his toolbox and started taking apart a section of his bike in order to assemble the new piece.

The sound of footsteps soon alerted the blond male to another person's presence. Xander placed the wrench down as he peered up at the person, finding Juliet standing a few yards away, her arms crossed under her chest, a pink, leather jacket draped across her forearms. Juliet's lips bore no smile, but Xander felt she must have something on her mind.

"Hey there, lil lady," Xander called to Juliet before turning back to his bike. "How's m' fav'rite double agent?"

Juliet took a deep breath and inched her way closer. "I'm not a double agent, Xander."

"Right," Xander drawled, "yer always yankin' ma chain fer that. Anyways, hand me that screwdriver, will ya?"

Juliet rolled her eyes, taking the screwdriver from the top of the toolbox and handing it over before placing her pink jacket on the workbench nearby. "Xander, we need to talk."

"'M all ears, baby doll." Xander still hadn't turned to face Juliet, yet she found herself almost grateful that he hadn't; she wasn't sure she could confront him face to face.

Juliet sucked in another breath and decided it would probably be best to just rip the bandage clean off instead of letting the anticipation of the incoming argument fester inside of her. "I'm breaking up with you."

A solid CLANG sounded from Xander's spot, immediately followed by a groan of pain. Quickly, he moved away from the bike, rubbing his forehead to ease the migraine that would result from the injury as he rose to his feet. "You're what?"

"I'm breaking up with you, Xander," Juliet claimed firmly, taking a couple steps back in order to feel the distance that had grown between them. Pulling all of this nonsense with Butchy and his harmless biker gang was just that: nonsense. In all reality, Juliet had been having doubts on the "facts" her boyfriend of four years had been giving her for quite some time. Sure, she played into his every scheme, but it had only been him pulling her along like a puppy in leash training.

At first, he had told her that the Rodents had something he wanted back and she agreed. If if had, in fact, belonged to Xander, Juliet figured it was only right for him to take it back. Then, he started racing again, something he had promised he would never do once they left Oviedo. The races were, in the beginning, nothing more than perhaps a quarter-mile. Then, he decided to start racing the Rodents on more difficult ground, using certain stretches or roads that he was comfortable driving. Sometimes, Juliet barely saw him on the days leading up to a race; he'd be out all day, practicing from dawn to dusk continuously.

Once Juliet had actually met the opposing group of bikers and, surprisingly, surfers, she realized they were nothing like the antagonistic, hostile people that Xander had adamantly insisted they were. She had, in all actuality, taken a liking to Butchy himself, he was kind and cared for everyone, no matter if they were his closest friend or a complete stranger. However, she didn't particularly care for him in a romantic way as he was taken by Makana and Juliet honestly hadn't thought of him in that light, forcing herself to appear as though she did in order for Xander's "master plan" to function properly.

Now, after following Xander's plans to a tee and watching his mental state deteriorate for so long, Juliet was proud of herself for finally having the strength to walk away. In her heart, she knew that her mother would be proud of her and that her dad would be happy she finally broke up with the "no good, imbecile" so she could be happy again.

Her dad's new building would be run successfully here in Clearwater as soon as Butchy was out of the hospital and fully healed. After the papers are signed and the chain of command for the unit would transfer to Butchy, they could finally head back to Texas and forget the whole thing ever happened. In all truth, Juliet just wanted to go home at this point. With Xander out of the way, she might finally be able to go back to her hometown and begin to get herself back into the cheerful, yet realistic young adult she had been before Xander had ever even glanced in her direction.

"You can't break up with me," Xander scoffed.

Juliet rolled her eyes, a frustrated sigh passing her lips. "I just did. Honestly, you should've seen it coming. We've fallen out of love, Xander. We've been like this ever since we moved here. The only thing you love at the moment, is getting some kind of revenge on a man you nearly killed. The only reason I didn't walk away when you told me what you'd done, was because I was scared you'd try to hurt me too."

"I would never," Xander leaned forward, pausing as Juliet raised her arms in front of herself to keep him at a safe distance. "Jules, I-"

"No, Xander," Juliet kept her gaze firm as she took a sharp inhale and slowly started to sing.

{Juliet} You are a drug. You are a poison pill. I've got to kick this habit now or else I never will. I love the rush when you hold me close, but you will not be satisfied until I overdose.

This is it! Hit the break! I am finally awake. Let me be, let me go. You need help I can't provide! I'm not qualified! This troubled teen is getting clean. I say no!

Xander spoke up, interrupting his, now, ex-girlfriend's song briefly, "Juliet who else is-"

"No, no, no, no!" Juliet cut him off yet again, backing away so that she was closer to the side of the building before continuing her song.

{Juliet}

Don't say a word; you speak and I cave in. You'll twist the truth again and drill deep down beneath my skin. You said you'd change, and I believed in you! But you're still using me to justify the harm you do.

This is it! Hit the break! Call it all my mistake, long as you let go. You need help I can't provide! I'm not Bonnie, you're not Clyde. It's too late, I'm getting straight.

I say no!

Juliet made her way further and further away from Xander, making it around the side of the building. It was clear that she was firm in what she was doing, but Xander wouldn't stop following her every move. As she continued her way toward the entrance of the hangout, she sang a bit more softly so it might make Xander pay more attention to her words.

{Juliet}

Blame your childhood, blame your dad, blame the life you never had. But hurting people, that's your choice, my friend. But I believe that love will win, and
hate will earn you nothing in the end.

This is the end!

Just as Juliet was preparing to walk away, leaving the Sparx hangout for the last time in the foreseeable future, Xander snatched her wrist in a half-baked attempt at stopping her. "But I love you!"

Juliet stared at him like he had just tried proposing to the president. Incredulously, Juliet shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Dude." With that, she wrenched her wrist free and walked out the front gate of the property, getting on the bicycle she had ridden on the way over on and peddling away from the drama her life had been stuck in for the last four years.

{Juliet]

This is it; I won't cry. Starting now, I will try to pay back all the karma I owe. Start again, somewhere new, far from cool guys like you! So goodbye cause now I...

I say no. Just in time, I say no. Somehow I'm saying no!

Just say no!

I say no!

No!

As soon as she had returned home, Lela hid her findings in her bedroom, knowing that she didn't have all that much time before her date with Tanner. Internally, she felt like a raging storm, ready to tear apart Xander's little crew for being such cruel people. Externally, however, she was cool as a cucumber, calm and collected for her date.

The urge to tell Tanner and the rest of her friends about the things she found was nearly overwhelming, yet she knew that it would be best to consult with Mick and Butchy – perhaps even Mack and Brady – about the issue before bringing it to their friends' attentions. She couldn't go about this on her own, especially without knowing what to do with the information given. With Xander knowing the weaknesses of everyone they knew, nobody was safe.

A flutter of fear flew through Lela as she realized that Xander might know about Mick's double life. He had to have trespassed on their property at some point in order to have the chunk of metal that Lela knew she had seen somewhere before. If he had been on their land, there's no telling if he had been in the garage and found the machine. Maybe he tried the machine for himself and visited Mick's world. Well, maybe that was unlikely, but it still had a fear factor to it.

Lela felt the fear creep through her rib cage, settling in her chest as she tucked the metal and folder in her vanity drawer. She fixed her hair a small bit and threw on her signature, polka dot dress before attempting to calm herself and heading off to meet Tanner down by Big Momma's.

She deserved a nice break with her boyfriend.

The beach-side diner was startlingly quiet lately. Most people went about their business as usual, opting to stay in their regular booths and keep quiet as not only the Rodents, but the surfers as well, were still in shock over everything that had been going on. There didn't seem to be any leftover rivalry anymore as everyone had pretty much integrated themselves. In odd fashion, most surfers left their boards outside and the Rodents had begun taking their vests or jackets off at the door.

CheeChee had somehow befriended Seacat and Rascal, the trio becoming quite good friends, even though her connection with Seacat was leaning more toward the romantic side. Lugnut and Struts had decided to double date with Giggles and Miles for their first ever date, even though the latter couple had never been and claimed they would never be an actual couple as Giggles wasn't interested in dating at the moment and Miles was more focused on helping Mick relax and get out of the hospital more often than she had been. Struts and CheeChee had invited the surfer girls over to their house for the night a few times already.

All in all, everyone seemed to be doing just fine.

Once in a while, you'd hear someone mention Mick and Butchy's wedding, everyone wanting to know if it was still going to happen; however, nobody truly entertained the idea that it wouldn't as the couple had been going strong for literal years and nobody could really see them being with anybody else. Makana was always with Butchy and, when she wasn't, everyone wanted to know how come.

It was always Mick and Butchy, everyone knew that.

Well, most everyone.

A walk along the beach was the best thing in the world after being stuck in a hospital room for who knows how long. In all honesty, it probably felt longer than it had actually been, but, upon his release from the clutches of the white-walled building, Butchy couldn't care how long his stay had actually been. It could've been a year for all he cared.

He was on crutches as his left leg had been broken in the crash, but it was nearly healed. Undeniably, the cause of his healing progress being so advanced, was the same force that was healing his shoulder. Most likely, it was the fact that his literal saving grace was Mick's love for him. He owed her his life, even though he knew she would never see it that way.

After finding out that their hearts were almost entirely synchronized, they both had talked and Butchy was just happy that Mick had finally been able to get a good night's sleep that night. The next morning, after Antonio took out his stitches and gave his leg another inspection just for good measure, he was allowed to leave the hospital and return home. Not that he was going to let anyone other than Mick know just yet.

Mick was right next to him as they walked and, if he insisted on being honest with himself, he wished she wasn't. He loved her company, that was undeniable; it wasn't that. He wanted to see her, that was the problem. He wanted to watch her run down the beach with her hair shimmering in the morning sun, see her dress flutter in the wind as she twirled in the sand, hear her giggle as she found another seashell for her ever expanding collection that was taking up most of the extra space on their bedroom bookshelves.

He didn't want to hold her back from being happy and having a good time with him.

"Butchy," Mick's voice echoed as she interrupted his train of thought. "Have you heard a single thing I just said?"

For a fleeting moment, Butchy believed his silent thoughts had upset her, though, upon further examination, he noted the glimmer of mirth in her eyes, a tell tale sign she was teasing him. With a chuckle, Butchy shook his head and shifted his crutches ahead so he could move with her. "Sorry, Makana," Butchy rasped in return. His voice was better, that much was sure, but it was still slightly hoarse. "I was thinking."

Mick followed Butchy, pausing as he adjusted the towel that was supposed to be comfortably resting between his armpit and the crutches. "So, we're onto full first names now, huh, Biagio?" Mick grinned mischievously, folding a part of the towel for her fiance before speaking again, "You were thinking, hm? That's dangerous."

Butchy chuckled, taking Mick's hand briefly and admiring the pure love he could feel radiating off of her as he peered into her eyes. "I was thinking about you."

"Double dangerous," Mick giggled, leaning up on her tip toes to press a kiss to his cheek. "Might I ask what it is you're thinking about me?"

There was the inquisitive nature he loved. Honesty was an admirable trait in men as Mick would say, so Butchy divulged, "I know it must be bothering you to have to stay right by me the entire time we're here. You love picking up shells and dancing to the music that you hear rolling off the waves, but you haven't done that at all since we got here."

"I just want to spend time with you," Mick said softly. "I've missed this so much."

"I have too," Butchy agreed, locking gazes with Mick as she pressed her forehead to his. "You know what I would love, though?"

Mick perked up, her eyes glimmering that green-ish gold that they both seemed to have. "What?"

Butchy leaned down a little more and pressed a kiss to her lips before steadying himself on the clumsy crutches once more. "A welcome home shell. We need a new one to remember this day."

That must've been the key to unlocking Mick's wandering soul. Her smile widened so much that Butchy believed it must've hurt before she pressed a brief kiss to his cheek and started searching the water for the perfect shell. Butchy hobbled forward a few feet so he was able to perch himself on a rock and watch Makana's excited search. Every once in a while, she'd bring over some shells if she couldn't choose the best one, placing them next to Butchy so they wouldn't go missing.

Mick returned to the shoreline, picking up a few smaller shells as Butchy watched. As he observed her cheerful search, Butchy felt his chest tighten faintly, reaching a hand up to the area above his heart and lungs. It felt as though someone had reached inside his chest and pressed their hands over two of his most vital organs; his lungs and heart. Panicked, he looked over to Mick, watching as she straightened, dropping a small handful of shells back into the water as her palms instinctively pressed to her rib cage. Butchy felt his breathing get heavier, yet, after a moment, the pressure was gone and his hand fell back onto his lap in stunned silence.

A moment of labored breathing followed, the couple slowly realizing that they both had felt it. Mick turned to Butchy only to find him already watching her with wide eyes. Mick let one hand fall back to her side, the other still clenching the fabric of her top with a fist. "D-Did you…?"

Butchy nodded, a sigh leaving him as the feeling faded a little more. "What was that?"

Later that day, a blonde head of hair fell back against a soft blue bed, a sputtering sigh leaving them as they stared up at the canopy above them. It was frustrating, you know, watching the person you fell in love with end up with another person. They had been together for what felt like forever, but, once the days began again and she was brought into the picture, it seemed like the past was just… forgotten.

She would never hold it against the other woman, in fact, she was happy for her in a way. Remembering everything that had happened and what might have happened was both a gift and a curse. Some days, she felt like trying to tell him that she missed him; how he'd hold her and how she'd run her fingers through his messy helmet hair when he'd bring her home after a date night. She knew she couldn't do that, though. It would never work anyway, so why bother messing up a friendship and a relationship on the road to disaster?

With yet another shaky sigh, she sat up on her bed, running her hands over the canopy that hung over her bed posts.

{Singer}

Guess mine is not the first heart broken. My eyes are not the first to cry. I'm not the first to know there's just no getting over you. You know I'm just a fool who's willing to sit around and wait for you, but baby can't you see there's nothing else for me to do.

I'm hopelessly devoted to you

But now there's no way to hide since you pushed my love aside. I'm outta my head hopelessly devoted to you.

Hopelessly devoted to you.

Hopelessly devoted to you.

My head is saying fool forget him. My heart is saying don't let go. Hold on to the end, that's what I intend to do.

I'm hopelessly devoted to you.

But now there's no way to hide since you pushed my love aside. I'm outta my head hopelessly devoted to you...

Hopelessly devoted to you...

Hopelessly devoted to you.