11

Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements, even if it leads nowhere?

Adele

Z

The sounds of tools crashing echoed through the garage. Sean and Twinkie's laughter at Reiko and Earl's constant insults added to the din. I sighed impatiently as I replaced the wrench I was using and wiped my hands on a rag.

They were driving me crazy. Usually, the only reason I came to Han's garage was to escape the silence of my own, but this place felt suffocating today. It didn't help that I was still angry with Han after the way he acted at the races; I did not belong to him, and it bothered me that he acted like I did. After everything I had been through, not having control scared me.

It also scared me how pushy Masaru was being about seeing me again. Every suggestion he had involved being completely alone not in public with alcohol nearby. He kept his goofy demeanor, but there it was definitely a front.

"Hey, yo it ain't my fault!" Twinkie yelled over his shoulder as he flew down the steps towards the car I was working on, with Earl hot on his heels.

"Really, wanker? Ain't your fault?" Earl taunted.

Twinkie ducked under the car I had been tuning, first using the pole holding the car aloft as a shield from Earl, and then using me. Earl cackled as he shook up a soda. My eyes widen as I took in what was about to happen and I trying to make a break for it. Twinkie grabbed my hips, pulled me back in front of him, and ducked down behind me.

"Hey now. Don't hurt the innocent." Twinkie warned as he peeked out from behind me.

"Don't you dare, Earl." I warned through gritted teeth as I narrowed my eyes at him, hoping he would get the message. He grinned.

"What are you going to do if I do?" He asked smugly, thinking he had me.

"I know where the body dumps are. Are you sure you want to find out?" I bit out. A pounding headache started at the base of my skull. I was not in the mood to deal with them today.

"What kind of a threat is that?" Earl prodded, finally pausing the drink shaking. Twinkie saw this as a golden opportunity to grab the can before he ever had a chance to open it. He lunged, forcing Earl to jerk backwards defensively; a motion that sent that can flying out of his can and onto the concrete at my feet.

The can exploded on impact, splattering dark brown liquid all over my Vans, dark jeans, and mint green shirt. A hot, angry flush spread across my neck as I looked down at my stained clothes. My blood boiled even hotter when I noticed that both of them had managed to jump back and escape the spray. Earl noticed as well and began to laugh at the scene in front of him. Or, at least he did until he caught my expression; then he ran for safety with Twink following close behind.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I yelled after them. "Clean this up!" I ordered. A door slammed in the hall and I knew they couldn't hear it.

"Great. Just great." I muttered as I made my way back up the loft stairs to get a change of clothes.

"It might wash out." Sean offered as he tightened something on the Evo.

"But still," I answered as I grabbed my bag from a cabinet. He nodded in understanding. "Every time I wear a color besides black, this happens." I gestured down at myself.

"It could be worse." He reminded casually.

"Yeah, but I'm still unhappy they made it out unscathed." I muttered as I headed for that bathroom.

"Can't go there." Sean called to stop me. I raised an eyebrow at him. "They locked themselves in. You've got wicked aim with a wrench." I rolled my eyes as I tried to remember a time when I had used a wrench as a projectile against them after they'd done something stupid. I immediately thought of five and realized they were probably right to seek safety behind a closed door. It sucked because the storage room Han promised me would be open to me was actually being used to store massive piles of boxes at the moment. It was mostly likely where Twinkie was getting his merchandise to sell and it was definitely illegal.

"Han." I began. He reluctantly looked away from his current girl. "Can I change in your room?" He glanced back at his girl before nodding.

I took a deep, steadying breath as I tried to force my irritation at him back under. He was completely ignoring me after I called him on bad behavior.

I had managed to catch his attention for a grand total of ten minutes, and then it turned right back to his current leggy brunette. He knew he slipped up by letting it show that he cared about me, so now he was overcompensating. I had about had enough of him.

I chewed on my lip as I waited for him to pry himself off the couch and slowly make his way over to me. He didn't speak as he made his way down the hallway, but I didn't really expect him to. That didn't stop me from glaring at his back for his refusal to talk to me as he unlocked his door. My glaring was cut short by a text from Masaru.

Hey. Still considering my offer? I'm through at DK's in twenty minutes. I glanced up at Han's back to make sure he hadn't noticed, and then turned my attention back to my phone.

I was not happy to have him still trying to get me, but I was not going to let Han know that. Instead I was going to pretend like I was having the best time of my life and he was not involved. We'd see how well that went over.

"That boy must be pretty special to get a smile like that out of you." Han stated casually. A blush hit my face and pressed my lips together. I hadn't realized I was smiling that much at the thought of making him jealous.

A smile tugged at the corners of Han's mouth as he pushed the door open for me, but it seemed forced. I muttered a quiet thank you and slipped in, tossing my bag on his bed. After hearing the soft click of the door behind me, I yanked my shirt over my head and tossed it carelessly on the floor.

"I've been thinking." Han began from the other side of the door. "It's been a long time since we went drifting."

"I've been busy." I answered honestly as I dug through my bag.

"We could go tonight?" He suggested. I opened my mouth to reply when my phone went off again.

Done early. There's a great restaurant in Shibuya that you might like. Text me when you finish with the Toyota. My stomach growled as I stared at my phone. I still felt awful from having a headache and not getting much sleep from a run, but dinner in a public place being paid for by someone else sounded great. I could ditch him immediately after informed him I didn't want any kind of contact with him again because he creeped me out. I'd end this problem before it got started.

"Masaru's probably taking me to dinner." I answered absent mindedly as I typed out a reply.

"Why?" He asked with an arrogant snort.

"Just because you didn't hit it off with him, doesn't mean that I didn't either." I didn't hit I off with him, but for all he knew I could have.

He muttered something unintelligible and a smirk started forming on my face. My finger was hovering over the send button, but then I started thinking telling him off during a date might not be such a good idea. I deleted his messages and tossed my phone to the side.

"I like him. He's nice and fun." I continued as I pulled some clean clothes out of my bag.

"He's also one of DK's little puppies and he's got a horrible temple." Han's voice floated through the door. I chuckled quietly as I pulled off my sticky jeans and grabbed the clean pair.

"I don't understand why you hate him so much. He doesn't act like one of DK's boys." I commented as I forced my legs into the jeans. I had them buttoned and my soda covered shirt pulled over my head before I heard any kind of movement on Han's side of the door.

"How long do you think that's going to last?" He asked me as he pushed the door open. "Sorry." He muttered as he ducked behind the door to give me more privacy.

Angrily, I grabbed the clean shirt and threw it on as quickly as I could.

"What are you doing? I wasn't dressed!" I snapped as I turned around to face him.

"What are you doing? He shot back. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Can't handle the fact I caught another guys attention?" I replied dryly.

"When I said he was worse than Morimoto, it wasn't a lie." He told me.

"He's kind, and goofy, and so normal." I countered. Han sighed.

"How is that what you find attractive?" He asked incredulously as he folded his arms and leaned back against the door. "Most girls would go for him because he thinks he's a badass."

"You really consider that badass? Have you seen his hair?" I snorted a little bit of laughter. He shook his head. "I'm not really attracted to people like DK."

"DK doesn't qualify." He deadpanned.

"And who does?" He met my gaze steadily as the corners of his lips pulled up.

Our spat was interrupted by my phone beeping with a text again. The tiny hint of a smirk vanished as his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.

Damn, that boy's persistent. Han was right to call him a puppy. I thought as I grabbed my and deleted the message without reading it. I tossed it back on the bed.

"You don't need to go with him." Han deadpanned.

"Why?" I blurted. His irritated expression softened. "I know you have a lot against DK and his crew, but give me one solid reason why I should stay away."

He closed the door and when he turned back to me his dark eyes scanned my face in the soul searing way they had. I felt completely transparent under his gaze, like he saw through my little attempt at getting a reaction from him. I was terrified he was going to call me on my plan, but instead he sat on the bed.

"He seems new to the racing scene because he just got out of prison. He beat a girl almost to death when she wanted to leave him." I could feel the cocky expression sliding off of my face as the blood drained. "His dad's a sex trafficker, so he thinks he's entitled to everything."

"Were you not going to tell me any of this?" I snapped at him as I thought of what could have happened if I had actually agreed to go with him and then tried to end all contact. My knees felt weak so I sunk down on the bed next to him.

He reached a comforting hand up to my shoulder. "I was going to tell you before you left tonight when you were not surrounded by the others."

"Han, I'm not sure you would have noticed me leaving. That would have been bad because I was going to meet Masaru and tell him exactly what I thought of his sketchiness over dinner."

"So you already knew he was trouble and you were going anyway." He rubbed his temples like I was giving him a headache.

"Knowing something was trouble has never stopped me before." The words came out a lot more loaded than I meant for them to. Based on the twitch of his lips he caught it and wasn't about to let it go. Knowing I was turning bright red from embarrassment and the damage was already done, I decided to dig my grave a little deeper. "Trouble's always a hell of a lot more fun."

He exhaled through his clenched teeth. I started thinking of comebacks to whatever scolding he was going to try to do, but instead he chuckled. Afraid I was about to be told I was acting like a child, I raised my eyebrows expectantly at him.

Instead of a verbal reply, he put both hands on the side of my face and bent down close to me, resting his forehead on mine. Shocked by his closeness, I tried to look away but he wouldn't let me.

"You need to know exactly what you get into when you go looking for trouble." He said slowly.

"You make your choices and you don't look back." I quote him against his lip right before he closed the gap between us.

It was demanding and sensual; completely different from any kiss we'd ever had. My heart pounded as I returned it. Unconsciously, I moved onto his lap, arched against him, and put my hands on his chest. One of his arms snaked around my waist and pulled me flush against him while the other moved to the back of my neck.

I was almost out of air when my phone beeped again. We broke apart and stared at the phone.

"Well, he's as bullheaded as you are." Han deadpanned.

"Be nice." I demanded as I smacked him on the chest jokingly before wrapping my arms around his neck and slamming my lips on his. He happily obliged, returning it just as fiercely. We were interrupted once again by my phone ringing.

"Ignore it." Han muttered against my lips.

"I can't." I reminded as I moved out of his lap and reached for my phone from the other side of the bed. "It could be Kamata."

I snatched it and flipped it open. I was about to say hello when Han moved closer and started working his lips on my neck.

"Hey. I was starting to think you'd fallen asleep." Masaru stated, not giving me a chance to speak anyway.

"No, I've been busy. I still have some things to work out." I moved the phone away from my mouth. "Like assholish behavior." I muttered to Han so Masaru couldn't hear me. He nipped my neck and I smacked him.

"Want to take a break and go out?" Masaru asked arrogantly like he knew what the answer was going to be.

"I don't think so tonight." I replied. "Or anytime this week. I have a lot more to get done and my time off is about over."

"Do you actually work that much?" He sounded angry and like he was about to start shit. I was suddenly really glad I didn't go in person.

"Yeah. Sometimes I don't get to sleep for days. I spend more time driving than I do doing anything else. Dinner or anything else is going to be hard to plan. Thank you for asking though. Maybe I'll see you at the races." I answered before I hung up.

"You dropped him pretty quickly." Han whispered in my ear, obviously pleased with himself.

"He was annoyingly clingy and gave a lot of mixed signals." I deadpanned as I got up and grabbed my bag that now contained dirty clothes. I gave him a quick kiss as I bent over to get the bag.

"He was worse than that. You can trust me to keep the dogs off of you. And to know when to apologize." He replied as he stood, obviously catching the real meaning of my statement. I hummed noncommittally in response. "Want to go to the mountains?"

The trip was obviously his apology for shutting me out the past few days and for being overstepping boundaries around Masaru, and I appreciated it, but I didn't want to ruin the truce we'd just made by saying or doing something stupid during the drive.

"I'm tired tonight." I told him as I reached for the door handle. I stood on my toes and kissed him deeply one last time. "But I think you owe me a rain check." I whispered against his lips.

"Just you and me." He nodded slowly in response, almost meeting my lips against. I noticed his closeness and quickly pulled back and left him standing in his bedroom alone. I made sure I tossed him a cocky smirk over my shoulder.

I had had my doubts about whether or not flirting with Han was worth the confusion, but, I think I got my answer. I just hoped I didn't end up getting hurt from it.