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AN: I don't own Gargoyles, they belong to Disney©
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Chap.15
I knew Brooklyn had wandered away, so I let it be. I really wanted to start to the shop and get Lex comfortable there. All my crew had no problem with them, but I wanted make sure that he was on the low. Way low. I knew that the quarry men and other out there were hostile, so I wanted it as quiet as possible. Makes sense right? I thought it did. I ran it over Goliath, he had no problems with that, and Elisa was practically bouncing up and down with glee. I smiled. All seemed better now. I didn't want to get another lecture. The next few days passed in a smooth way. The guys checked up on me sometimes, and Elisa helped out around the shop. I made it absolutely clear to anyone who asked. She was my partner in this and we split it between us and the crew. I keyed her into my project. She looked it over and gave a whistle of appreciation. "And you've been at this for how long?" I gave her my best cryptic smile. "For some time, and I won't say anything more because I know that people are listening." She giggled. And we had a laugh over that. No doubt tony had spread the word that I was dog meat, but we had no trouble. When I said neutral ground I meant it. Everyone knew that. The bar was up and running, the office was busy, and the crew moved in. it was all going so well. Lexington and I devised a way to make things more efficient for the office. The system was fast and it worked very well. I even cooked for the guys one night. They had flown in for the nightly checkup, all of them, and Elisa was there too. I decided that since we were all here, I would make dinner. I think that totally caught them off guard. So I made homemade pizza. It took about an hour, but it was worth it. It had white sauce, chicken, garlic, onions, peppers, olives both black and green, four cheeses, and a dash of pepperoni. They looked at me funny when I set the finished pizzas in front of them. "What?" I asked. Broadway said "I didn't think you could cook, let alone a pizza." I suddenly found the ground very interesting. Elisa came to my rescue. "Stop teasing her! She made you dinner so eat!" and with that she took up a huge piece and dug in. everyone took the cue: and matt and the boys had a pizza to themselves while everyone else made short work of the six remaining pizzas. I ate at least five slices. I and Brooklyn ended up fighting over the last piece. He won. I pouted at him, and he laughed. That was ok though I could get him back. Sooner or later. They all said it was good and I ended up looking at the ground again blushing red. I wasn't used to getting compliments, so I had a reason.
The next day though, life got turned on it head, but that was normal if you took into consideration that it was Halloween… I turned on the news like I always did, and there was Mary Beth. "Elisa!" I screamed. She came in as fast as she could. I pointed mutely at the screen. She did and her eyes narrowed. I never wanted to be on the end of that glare. "Call matt." I nodded. Somehow she had worked out that the lead in Europe somewhere was false and so she came back to the states. "Matt here, what's up?" "Tam here. Did you know that she worked it out?" "What?! How?" he yelped. "I don't know. She must have more resources than I thought she had. How are we going to get around this one?" he sighed and I had a feeling he was running his hands through his hair. "I don't know. We could get someone in say Mexico to raise holy hell about how you passed through…"I thought about it. "No. she knows I despise Mexico. She would know that was stupid upon the first word." "Damn." Was all he said. "How are the boys?" "Hm? Oh they're fine. You still have to tell me about this aunt of yours." He was smart. "No matt. Bye." And I hung up, much to his protests. Mary Beth was still on the screen raging how that the trip to Europe was a waste of time and money, and that whoever that dunderhead was, they'd pay. The reporters looked kinda disgusted. But she was so uneducated in the field of media, she didn't get the clue. Needless to say it made headline news. I sighed. I was going to have to wear colored contacts and change my hair. It was somewhat short now but I would grow fast if I wanted it to. It was white though and I didn't want to dye it, but I could make it look like a cheap dye job. As for my form, well there wasn't much I could do, unless I wanted to be a dog for weeks on end, and that definitely did not appeal to me. Not in the least bit. I knew my face was a grimace of disgust. Elisa caught the look and asked: "what's with the look?" "I was thinking I really don't want to be a dog for a few weeks, and that the very idea is just very unappealing." She was starring at me. "What?" I didn't realize I slipped. "You said you wouldn't want to be a dog for a few weeks, why?" I got cautious. "Yes? What of it?" she gave me that narrowed eye look. "Why would you say something like that?" "Remember when I said I wasn't human?" she nodded her eyes getting narrow. I noticed and flinched very slightly. "I have to prove it don't I?" she nodded looking very grim and slightly angry. "No Elisa. Not now. I...can't…it would put you in a very compromising position." She looked even grimmer. "I'm always in a compromising position." I had to think fast or else I would be street pizza. I think I wanted to work on my bike…."ah Elisa?" I hesitated. "Gotta go, later!" and I ran out the door and vaulted the stairs. I think she saw but I could care less. I needed to get away before I slipped up further. I ran all the way to the shop and threw myself at my work knowing I would forget the whole thing, infuriating Elisa. Oh well. Not much I could do about that, unless I really wanted to spill. I really didn't want that to happen. My brothers were safer because that couldn't do much, but I hoped that they wouldn't slip up in front of out allies. We needed this safety for two more weeks and then I could drop the act and take control…but something stopped me. Brooklyn. I didn't want to leave and forget about him. I think I liked him. A lot. Way more than I should. I rested my head against the cool metal of the bike and put my arms up beside me. I knew I was covered in grease and I looked a mess, but it didn't bother me unduly. Time spent running, had granted me confidence about my appearance no matter what I looked like. The cement beneath me was cooler still, and I dropped the wrench I was holding and it clanged loudly again st the floor. A few of the crew looked over briefly but went back to work. Brooklyn had suddenly come out of nowhere and I think that his persona, his very being captivated me. But it would never work. I was a danger to be around, and it would only endanger the clan more than they already were if something serious were to happen between me and him. Damn it! He was in my thoughts and sight almost daily, and it drove me insane! Why did he have to be so…well…him? I sighed again and started back on the bike. It would have two engines and it looked like a dragon in flight. I was building another for charity, but it wasn't as pretty, but it would run well and would require very little maintenance, and besides, it would look like a jaguar in run.
I helped the crew when needed but otherwise I left that family to itself. Every single one of them had grown closer in the time they had been working and living together. The apartments worked out just fine for them and the rent was fairly low. Tim was manager of the floor when I wasn't around. He was also the overseer of the bar. We had seven waitresses now, and the bar was pulling in good profits. It was something like a club as well, and it was cheap enough, so we had steady customers. That suited me just fine. Brooklyn floated through my mind again, him and his laughter was intoxicating. I groaned softly and banged me head against the metal of the bike frame gently. It was worse than I thought….I just hopped He wouldn't notice... besides it was Halloween tonight…
I worked well into the evening, and it was almost sundown when I quit. I got up and stretched, cracking several places, and feeling the tension ease away, I decided to go clubbing. Everyone and everything would be out this night and I wanted to make an impression. I had a private workroom, walled in and secure. It even had a lockable door. I had a shower and bed in there for those nights I was just too tired to try and get back to Elisa's apartment. I had all my out on the town outfits here though. I was so glad that Elisa and everyone else didn't know I had them. I showered off, and found the perfect outfit for the evening. A crimson silk shirt with a leather bodice was my top, and leather pants with knee high pirate boots completed my outfit. I put up my hair into a braid and decided I could go out for a ride first, just to show off. My aunt had never seen in anything besides girly things, and she would have the damndest time recognizing me now. I picked up the cell phone and dialed Tim. "Tim. Talk." I grinned he had just as much patience as I did for phone conversations. "Tim. Tammy here. You get to close up shop." There was silence. And then: "Sure thing girly. Don't stay out past curfew." "Tim!" I all but shrieked. I hung up on him to the sound of his quiet laughter. I went to my cruising bike. Sleek, black, red, and gold, it had one engine that could go up to three hundred miles per hour, and it was comfortable too. Custom made. Gotta love that. I found a helmet and donned my leather trench and revved the engine. It purred like a tiger. I flicked a switch and it opened a door into the clearing area of the shop and I slowly moved it forward. All activity ceased when I made my entrance. Three burly biker dudes were openmouthed and I gave them a sly smile. The crew was wide eyed, and everyone else was awed. Oh yeah. I knew how to make an impression. Helmet in place I revved the engine loudly and all but flew out of there, popping a wheelie as I was going. I got a couple whistles out of that. Hell yeah, I was gonna party tonight and I was going to enjoy it…