Chapter 3

She opened her eyes, she could smell food in the air and she rose up. she stretched as her back was feeling pain from having slept on the floor while Chikaru slept on the sofa.

She stood up, Chikaru was still dressed in the clothes she had lent her and her dress was neatly laid on the sofa and she walked up to her but she quickly took notice.

-"Ohayo Emi."-

She was confused, "Emi?"

Chikaru giggled, -"Just a little nickname for you, I mean… its funny,"- she laughed softly, -"After all this time, I still don't know your name but i suppose it doesn't really matter to much, because you mean so much to me. Having a little mystery isn't so bad either."-

She only smiled warmly.

-"Besides every time I ask, something always interrupters you."- she giggled.

"Thank you."

-"Now sit down, breakfast is ready,"- she served her food on the plate and laid it in front of her, -"You have your fridge well stocked, reminds me of getting my own fridge some stuff."-

"You have one in your dorm?"

-"Oh yes, I mean its not allowed but I have one just in case."- she chuckled, -"But it's a tiny little fridge."-

The two began to eat, "You won't get in trouble? About being here?"

Chikaru looked up at her then smiled, -"No, as far as I know they think I'm at the dorms."-

She nodded, she looked outside seeing that the rain was still falling which was surprising because it never rained this much. Once the two were done eating Emi helped her wash their plates and sat in the couch in silence, hearing the rain hit the window.

Emi looked at her then sighed, "I want to tell you something…"

Chikaru looked at her, -"Oh? What is it?"- she sat closer to her.

"About her, you deserve to know." She said in her ever soft voice.

-"If you don't want to talk about it I completely understand."- Chikaru replied but Emi instead reached out for hand.

"I've never once talked about this… but I want too, to you, if you'd let me."

-"Of course."-

"Her name was Amy, we were together for two years…" she began as then recounted every detail about her and what happened in the past, a story Chikaru would listen very carefully.

Two Years Ago…

She opened the curtains to allow the morning sun to fill the room, she smiled as she looked outside, seeing so many people going about their day on the streets below. She turned around to see her soon to be wife as the sunlight reflected off her blonde hair as she slept.

She crawled on the bed, close to her, "Sweetiiie, time to wake up." she said gently, "Come on honey, its time to wake up, don't make me wake you up." she said as she saw her smile but tried to hide it, "I see that smile! You faker!" she practically jumped on her as she screamed playfully and wrapped her arms around her and rolled around her with her before falling off the bed.

The two laughed as the red haired girl was on top of her beautiful girl, "Mornin love." She said as she parted her blonde hair over her ear then kissed her.

"Morning sweetheart," she replied, "You're awfully happy this morning."

"aren't I always, you know me, I love the mornings."

"Wish you'd let a girl sleep though."

Amy looked at her, "Oh really, then maybe I shouldn't wake you up with kisses then." She was about to stand up till she grabbed her wrist to pull her back down.

"No no no no no, I rather have it like this."

"I thought so." Amy smirked.

"Man you are beautiful." She told her as Amy smiled.

"Well I'm glad you finally agree." She said playfully.

"Hey don't push your luck—" she was cut off by Amy kissing her deeply once more and ran her hands through her blonde hair.

"Okay come on, lets make some breakfast together." Amy stood up and helped her on her feet, "Oh by the way I got your present ready."

"Present?"

"Yeah, the one that was for your birthday remember," she scoffed, "Don't tell me you forgot already, I had ordered it but it didn't get here on time."

"Oh yeah yeah I remember."

"Geez, is your manager getting on your nerves again? Cause it seems like your mind is clouded every time he starts shit with you." Amy asked.

"A little yeah, we have an upcoming race that's going to be broadcasted live so he's on and off about me and the crew." The blonde haired girl replied.

"Man you might as well switch or quit if he's really bothering you."

She shook her head, "He has his moments but he's a good guy."

Amy then ran to the closet and began to search through it, "You always stand up for him," she said from within the closet, "Just tell him off for once, I see how he stresses you out sometimes!"

"Only when big events come up." she quickly threw in, "Besides the pay is amazing, why quit."

She came back holding a box, "Because I'm afraid…"

"Afraid? Afraid of what?"

Her face quickly turned angry, "Something happening to you in that fucking race track, if something happened to you… it would kill me." she said as she stepped closer to her, "I know you're good at racing but something could always happen and paralyze you or hell! It can kill you and I'm always afraid something would happen!" she grabbed her arm.

"Hey come on, you know you never have to worry. I'm the best out there and nothing like that is going to happen." She comforted her.

"Bullshit! Remember when that car clipped you! Your car fucking rolled a hundred fucking times!" she could hear how worried she was for her and she loved how much she cared for her just as she did for Amy.

"It actually rolled ten times." She smirked.

"Shut up smartass! You know what I mean!" tears were welling up in her eyes, "I don't want something to happen to you!" She hugged her.

"Amy you don't have to worry, I never do anything stupid when I race. When I'm focused I'm focused," she then smirked, "I mean… you don't complain when I'm focused on making love to you."

Her face went red, "Stupid!" she then hugged her and buried her face on her collar bone.

"Come on, I made a promise to you that I'll always come back safe and sound from every race and that's what I'll do." She said as she stroked Amy's short red wavy hair, "Besides I'd never do anything stupid because then what would my future wife say."

Amy looked up at her, "She'd say get your ass down here and give me a kiss!" she reached up with her free hand and pulled her head to her to kiss, they parted slowly, "I really can't wait till we're married."

"Same here." She caressed Amy's face.

She smiled at her again, "Here." She handed her the box and she took it, "Open it."

She did just that, "Whoa! This is so rad!" She pulled out a white leather jacket, with a blue butterfly motif on the back, "This is awesome!"

"Try it on!" Amy smiled as she watched her sweetheart try on the jacket.

"It fits great!" she looked at herself in the mirror and spun around.

"That's not all that comes with it." she turned around and Amy gave her black full fingered leather driving gloves.

"Damn these are really cool!" she tried them on too.

"Here." Amy pulled her hand to her, exposed her wrist a little and slipped on a studded bracelet with her name on it, "So whenever you look at it, you'll think of me." she smiled.

"I always do." she replied.

"Good, cause I'd hate having to remind you all the time." she kissed her.

With everything done they finally made breakfast for the two and began to eat.

"By the way, did they say if they were going to hire you to take those pictures for the magazine?"

"Eh, beats me, they said they'll get back to me." Amy replied.

"Didn't they say they loved your work though?"

"Yeah they did but who knows, buuuuut," she smiled, "Some of my other work may get put on galleries!"

"No way! That is freaking awesome!"

"I know!" Amy was clearly excited.

"Looks like you finally got your dream to come true huh!"

"Well… my dream came true the moment we were together." She reached for her hand, "But I am glad that my work is going big."

"I'm so happy for you!"

"But don't think that I'm leaving you for a second because even if they ask I'm not going anywhere! Unless you come with me!" Amy grinned at her.

"Deal."

"By the way, I have a surprise for you." She stood up and held Amy's hand then led her downstairs to one of rooms in their home, "Close your eyes." Amy did just that, she then heard a door open and felt her leading her inside.

"Open your eyes now."

She did, "Um… its dark."

"I know," she then flicked a light switch as a red light bulb came on, "Ta-daaa."

"No way! You made me a dark room in the house!"

"Said I would didn't I." she giggled seeing Amy so excited as her eyes were lit up.

"Baby this is so awesome, thank you!" she hugged her, "Too cool!" she looked around seeing that it had everything she needed to develop her film, "I mean I don't care if photos are all electronic now but these type of photos are just as good too you know!"

She nodded, she then walked out of the room to allow her some space while she looked at her own work in progress to see what else she needed.

She looked over her car which she was still in the process of restoring it, most of the body needed work but she had just fixed the engine and the rest of the inner workings.

She ran her hand against the worn and rusted body of the car, she then felt arms go around her, "You'll get it fixed soon."

She smiled, "Just need to fix up the frame."

"Yeah, but it'll look amazing don't you worry," Amy looked it over, "A nineteen sixty-seven is a beautiful car, and you'll get it looking like the finest car in the whole world."

"Thanks, I'll probably go buy the rest of the things tomorrow."

"And I'll help you fix it," She then buried her head against her back, "Thank you again for the dark room."

"Anything for you." She turned around and held her, "So what do you want to do?"

"I could think of a few things." She looked over her blonde sweetheart.

"That don't involve sex."

Amy quickly frowned, "Well there goes that."

She laughed softly, "I wouldn't mind when we get back though."

"Well in that case… we could go to the movies, OH! I know! we could go to the mall!" she said excitedly.

"Both sound like good ideas, lets go." With a nod, the two went upstairs to get change, they quickly took a shower then changed into their clothes.

"Okay, I'm driving by the way." Amy quickly threw in as she led her downstairs to her car.

They drove all the way to the mall to spend time together, sharing an ice cream together and visited various stores to just browse their wears or try things on, mostly Amy was trying on clothes.

They even saw a section on the mall that were giving flyers to the museum where Amy's works were going to be displayed which filled her with joy. Even other aspiring photographers walked up to her to get her autograph while a few race car fans walked up to the blonde haired girl and got her autograph. Some of their fans were even aware that the two were in a relationship and wished them the best, hoping to see them married soon.

The two sat down on a small table, "You think this place will get bigger?"

"Well theres always room for it to expand." She looked around.

Amy smiled, "We don't really come here often do we?"

She shook her head, "We've hardly had enough time for us this past two weeks."

Amy sighed as she held her hand, "That's all about to change now, I have everything at a decent pace now and I don't have to rush to a place to shoot for the next few months."

"I would like to be able to say the same, but for now these next weeks are gonna be all for you." She smiled as Amy lifted her hand and kissed it.

However unknown to them, they were being watched for the next few minutes and then were followed to the parking lot when they finally decided to approach her.

"Excuse me, Number 25 right?"

The blonde haired girl turned around, "Yeah?" the two looked at four men dressed in black, white, blue suits.

"You don't know us but our boss does, and he really admires your driving ability." He began, though the blonde girl was feeling uneasy by the way this man carried himself, it had a sort of suspicious feeling to it.

"I see, what can I do for you?"

"Well we'll cut right to the point, our boss has a lot of money on this race since he has one of his own racers in his race too and he would like to offer you a deal." He said.

"Then why didn't he come himself?" Amy asked.

"Our boss is handling other business and sent us in his place."

"What's the deal?"

He reached into his pocket and handed her a check, "He is willing to offer you this much money, IF you throw the race."

"What!?" she was shocked, stunned that someone would want her to do something like that!

"Oh hell no! she's not going to throw this race!" Amy quickly shot in.

"You don't seem to understand, you'll make more than enough if you throw this race. Besides they'll be other races.

"No."

The man was not satisfied with that answer, "Miss, this will be our last offer and—"

"She said no! and that's that! so you four can fuck off!" Amy shouted at them.

He sighed angrily, "I see there's no point in arguing or getting you to change your mind," He ripped the check, "Well miss, I see we know who wears the pants in the relationship," He began to walk away, "But remember, you'll regret not taking our offer."

"The fuck was that about?" Amy turned to look at her.

"I don't know…" she saw them disappear around the corner, and the two walked back to their own car.

"Some people I swear. They should put money on you if they want to make big money."

"Yeah… but like he said, that's his own driver and maybe he's a big shot or something."

"You think they'll try to disqualify you from the race?" Amy asked her, concerned for her well being, "He did say you'll regret it."

"I don't know, they did seem of the shady sort of people." They got inside their car, "I would hope not but I don't know, I'll talk to a few guys at the race track and see if they know these guys."

"If that was the case, we should've asked for their names."

She shook her head, "I really don't think they would've given it to us."

"How can you be so sure?"

"The amount of money on that check… was more than if I would have won the race."

"Holy shit for real!?"

"Yeah I got a good look at it… someone with that kind of money, just for me to lose spells trouble."

"No kidding." Amy fastened her seatbelt, "Well lets go home, we'll go see your friends tomorrow."

They drove back home, chatting it up and laughing over the few things they saw in the mall along with the usual attractions that were inside it. They began to talk about their vacation that they would spend together, or if they would rather wait till they're married and seeing as the two wanted a break from work they were just as tempted to take it now.

But in the end the two decided to wait till after they were married.

Half an hour later the two made it back home and stepped inside to relax, watching movies or shows on the Television to pass the time, cooking up food when they were hungry and having a few romantic moments.

The moon was already high in the sky, the clock had finally hit one in the morning and they were exhausted. They washed up, changed into more comfortable clothing and got ready for bed.

"Hey guess what," Amy called out to her as her blonde haired beauty sat on the bed, then wrapped her arms around her, "I love you!"

She smiled in return as she looked into her hazel colored eyes, "I love you too."

Amy reached up to kiss her, a very loving kiss too, "Goodnight buttercup."

She chuckled as they laid down and soon enough sleep claimed the both of them.

Hours went by in the night till something awoke them, the sound of something or someone breaking a window and probably getting inside their home.

"Amy…"

"I know… I heard that." they whispered.

She quickly reached over her phone and quickly called the police.

Amy looked at her calling, "I'll lock the door." She stood up and quickly walked over to the door… that's when it opened.

A light came in the room and with no warning, a loud gunshot rang in the air.

She stood up, stunned as she saw Amy hit the floor, "AMY!" she ran over to her but before she could reach her, another person ran inside with a blunt object and struck her on her head, dropping her down.

She grasped her head in pain, blood began to ooze down her face and through her hands, her head, her vision even her hearing was all a blur.

She could hear more footsteps walk inside the room, "Hold her down." she felt hands hold her arms and legs, "You should've taken the offer sweetheart, you could've saved yourself from this."

She finally looked up, seeing five men in the room but they were all wearing masks to hide their faces… wait, money!? They were the same people that offered her that money to throw the race.

He kept talking but all her senses were focused on Amy, she wasn't moving and blood was forming around her.

"Such a shame really, she was a nice girl but you have no one to blame but yourself blondie." He said while one man forced her head to look at him, "Now then, lets make this clear. You are not going to this race, you will lose by not going, you got that. and we'll make sure you don't go."

He looked at the man holding her legs, "You. Hold that leg straight." He did just that as he retrieved his gun from his belt, aimed it at her knee, "Now what's a driver without a leg hmm?" He pulled the trigger as the bullet hit her knee and blood sprayed out, a blood curdling scream echoed throughout the house.

They let her go as she buried her head in the floor, screaming from the sheer agony, she clawed the floor but nothing she did helped with her pain.

"Now don't you even think about going, or I'll shoot your other leg got dat!" He looked at his men, "Alright lets go." But before he left the room, he turned back, satisfied with what he had done and left but not before one of his boys walked over to Amy and pulled off a necklace she wore and stole it.

The pain was unbearable, she looked up seeing that they were gone and the sound of their car made it more clear. But her eyes were immediately drawn to Amy, her heart was beating so fast that it could burst any second, "No… no no." she dragged herself across the floor towards her, using all the strength she could to get to her.

She painfully reached her, her head was turned to the side, "Amy?" she reached her hand out, gripped her chin and slowly moved her head to her, "Amy?" That's when she saw it, a bullet wound on her head… she was dead.

"Amy. Amy! AMY!" She pressed her face against Amy's, her hand against her cheek, the pain on her knee and her head were nonexistent anymore, or maybe she didn't even care about her own injuries anymore. Tears fell from her eyes like a waterfall, she couldn't believe this was real, this had to be a nightmare she would wake up from soon. But she could hear the police sirens already at her doorstep, they finally had made it but they were already too late.

Finally she let it out, a scream of pure anguish and despair, a cry of sorrow that rang through the night.

They had taken Amy from her, and at the same time they took what little she had left in her own heart too.

She looked at the bracelet that Amy had given her, "I couldn't bare it anymore… I saw them take her to the morgue and… and… I've been alone ever since."

The room was silent, the only noise came from Chikaru who had clung on to her and cried heavily after what she had just heard. A memory like that, could never be forgotten or the pain it brings along with it.

End chapter 3