Chapter 18

Disclaimer: Alright kiddies. Here is yet another chapter of A Normal Life. Please read and review because your kind words are what keeps me going strong and pumping out these chapters. A very special thanks to Dani…you're review on chapter 16 kept me laughing for a goof 5 minutes. I almost felt your frustration haha Also Valinor I feel as if we've grown since chapter 7…*tear* I promised my self I wouldn't do this! *bites knuckle. Haha jk jk but seriously guys thank you all so much for reading I hope you guys will stick with me throughout the stories….*foreshadowing*

Alright Casey. You've gone one of two options. You either laugh it off like everything is fine. Or you find a blunt object bash him over the head and get Sookie to help you get rid of the body parts.

"Casey?" Sam's voice pulled me from my panicked thinking.

"I'm sorry…what?" I asked.

That's it…good…buy yourself some more time.

"Your eyes. Were they always that color?" He asked again.

I looked at the mirror above me and sure enough my eyes were violet. A deep violet. It didn't look like anything I had ever seen before. "Oh…no…" I laughed nervously. "These are contact lenses. I just got them yesterday. Do you like them?" I asked quickly batting my eye lashed.

Good if you make it seem like a joke maybe he wont think anything of it. Just don't look suspicious. Be casual.

"When did you put them—" Sam asked but I immediately cut him off.

"Right before you left the house."

Yeah Case…reeeeal casual.

He looked at me for another second and put the truck in reverse and began to maneuver so he could turn around.

We were in the car silent. It was times like these where you prayed for that cheesy elevator music. My fingers were gripping the sides of my seat so hard my fingers hurt.

"One more question." Sam suddenly said startling me.

"Yeah" I sank in my seat. I tried to think of what question he could possibly ask but I was so scared my mind was drawing a blank.

"What did you mean when you said you had 'just' told Sookie that we were going with me to the shop?"

"Well," I gulped and began slowly making sure I didn't stutter. "Obviously when Sookie sees that I am obviously not back at the house…that obviously meant that I went with you….obviously. "

Stop saying obviously you jackass!

"That is what I meant when I said that. Sorry if I didn't make any sense. I have a tendency of doing that from time to time. Like remember when you asked me that morning 'how I was doing' when I came to work that one day and instead of saying 'fine' I said 'yes' same thing"

Shut the hell up!

I bit my tongue to keep myself from rambling.

Sam didn't say anything for another couple of seconds.

The silence was driving me crazy. "Do you mind if we turn on the radio?" I asked.

Sam kept his eyes on the road and turned to radio on. I didn't even know what was playing. To tell you the truth I didn't care. Polka would have been better than that deafening silence.

"You know Case," Sam began. I tensed up again. "You can talk to me about anything. You be surprised how much it takes to shock me."

Yeah right. 'Hey Sam I'm half fairy, half witch, and spend my spare time punching and receiving death threats from vampires. How YOU doin?'

"Thanks Sam…but I don't know what you're talking about." I managed to say. Sam rounded the corner just as we were coming up on Wheelers Wheels.

God Wheelers wheels, Autos Autoshop, Fangtasia apparently cheesey establishment names ran amuck in Bon Temps.

Sam's turning signal caught my eye.

"We're going here?" I asked quickly.

"Why not?" Sam asked. "Might as well see what they've got." Sam pulled into the four spaced lot and turned off the car. He opened his side of the door but I didn't budge.

"Aren't you coming in?" He asked.

No I think ill just stay here and find a crafty way to kill myself.

"No I think ill just stay here…m-my foot still hurts from tripping earlier." I lied. My foot was fine. I just didn't want to run the risk of seeing Mr. Tall-Drink-o-Water in there again. I've made as ass of myself enough of one day.

"Suit yourself." Sam smiled. "I'll be right out."

I noticed the gutted pick up I had seen the other day was missing.

Maybe he wasn't in today.

The Prowler was gone too. In its place was a…

"Holy shit!" I hopped out of Sams truck and almost sprinted towards the garage. It was so beautiful I wanted to cry.

A Jaguar XK…I was looking at a Jaguar XK! It was black. Hell, black was an understatement. This car was seduction on wheels. What the hell was this car doing in this shop? I almost felt insulted. This car was the epitome of look but don't touch, drive, look at or breathe on.

Sam's gotta check this out.

I turned around and quickly ran into the store. Sam was leaning against the register counter with his arms folded. At least he was until I ran into the store like a mad woman. He immediately ran up to me to see if I was ok.

"Jesus Christ what is it?" He asked.

I couldn't breathe. I had never been that close to a Jaguar XK in my entire life. "Jaguar XK." Was all I could say.

Sams brows furrowed in confusion. "Huh."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed his wrist. "Jaguar XK" I repeated this time pointing at the convertible.

"Oh." Sam let out a sigh. "That's why you were acting that way…because of that car?"

He might as well have slapped me in the face. "Oh?" I repeated in disbelief. "That car?!" I almost shrieked. "Do you have any idea what this is?"

Sam turned his head and looked at me from the corner of his eye. "A…caaaar?" He stated confused.

My eyes left him instantly and went back to the convertible and began pointing out all of its features. "No no no no NO!…this is a Jaguar XK, 420 horse power standard Sam….STANDARD. 20 inch Senta cast alloy wheels, six speed transmission, an optional automatic or manual function, leather interiors, zero to sixty in 4.9 seconds….fucking 4.9! This car is 90,000 dollars. EASY!" I didn't realize that I was screaming until I felt a pain in my throat.

"Actually 85,000" Came a familiar voice from behind me. "I opted out on the Aluminum. Here are your brushes." I didn't turn around. My face was burning up. "I take it your girlfriend likes cars."

Don't turn around Casey don't you dare turn around.

"I guess so." Sam chuckled. "Or, at least this one in particular and she's just a friend."

Just back away, the voices are coming from right behind you so if you pivot to the right and move sideways he wont see your face…they'll both think your insane but he wont see your face.

I did a quick sidestep. BAM. My foot made contact with a toolbox. "I'm ok!" I quickly said before anyone said anything. "Uh…Just go on doing your…guy things I'll go wait in the car and…do…whatever the hell it is girls do when they wait in cars."

I was almost in the clear when Sam called me. "Hey Casey."

Sam you son of a—

I slowly pivoted with the fakest smile plastered on my face.

I turned to see a very shocked, mechanic. He didn't say anything for what seemed like an eternity. His eyes then went from my feet and slowly crept up my body. Making me look away in embarrassment.

Sam cleared his throat. "Why do I get the strange feeling you two know each other?"

"Oh we know each other." Said quickly trying to deflect the attention off of me an onto him. "Remember that day I came to work and my face was mangled. Well this guy knocked my down and had the gall to get mad at me!" I said suddenly feeling angry.

Calm down Casey Calm down. Remember what happens when you get angry. I then closed my image of my turning green and picking up a car and throwing it kept me amused.

"—ran out."

I opened my eyes to see not one but two very pissed off men staring at me.

"Huh? What did I miss?" I asked genuinely confused.

"I said, you were the one who didn't care for my apology and when I tried to give you a discount on a filter cause I saw if you bought it you would be flat broke…" he then turned his attention to Sam. "I was just trying to be nice I saw she couldn't afford it."

"She told me she only paid $13.00 for it." Sam said shocked.

"Hell…I tried to sell it to her for $10.00 but when I turned my back for one second she left with the filter and left me with her 97 bucks"

Sam stared at me with a disappointed look in his face. I felt like a 5 year old and I just got caught coloring on the walls.

Without saying a word. James reached into his pocket and pulled out a $100.00 bill. Sam didn't look like he was going to do anything to stop him. My eyes met the floor. I was so embarrassed I wanted to cry.

Sam turned around and headed back into the store. "I'll be inside when you're done." He said over his shoulder.

My hands were by my side balled into neat little fists and I was lazily kicking the rocks in the dirt.

"You're talking this money." He stated simply.

"The hell I am." I mumbled.

"Stop being so damn stubborn." He bit out.

Calm blue ocean

"Sorry but all purchases are final….besides I don't have a receipt." I grit through my teeth. My fists clenching inside my pocket.

I then saw the bill being waved under my nose.

"take it." He barked. I closed my eyes and tried to focus.

Puppies, bunnies, babies laughing

"I'm going to ask you one more time." He said his tone ridged. My eyes opened and my fists tightened even more.

Cake, Clouds, cubby little cherubs

"You're going to get the same damn answer and I don't response well to threats!" I growled.

"Good God, woman, if you'd been Eisenhower during World War II, we'd all be speaking German today!"

"What the hell does that even mean?" I asked.

"Jesus Christ. No one should be this stubborn." He bit out.

"It's my right!" I said curtly.

"Says who?" He asked.

"The President, both houses of Congress and my senator." I answered venom laced in my voice.

You wanna play government we can do this boy.

I then heard him let out a sigh. "Fine I give up."

I then saw the bill disappear from under my nose and curiosity getting the best of me; I looked up stared into his stormy grey eyes and froze. "I thought your eyes were blue."

**Authors notes** Sorry this chapter seemed so short but it was either this or break the next chapter into even smaller segments. And the next chappy is the longest one ive done so i cant gaurentee it will be gone by tomorrow. If you need to get your Casey fix though just let me know in your review and i will give you one more chapter tomorrow. well I am going to hit the hay people! I hope you like the twists and turns. Get ready for the next chapter because its by far my favorite and a doozie. Ill hopefully post it later on today. R&R people R&R :-D