AN: Whew, finally. So much to do in life that kept me from writing this one!

Ch 07 - Just A Girl

It was being few days since I was hearing from Lin, and I was worried. Did she regret what had almost been happening? Was she wanting to be forgetting about it? She was seeming okay that day, but maybe was having second thoughts, now? I was pacing back and forth around my little room, smoke from cigarette in my hand trailing me like little train.

Shaking my head in disgust at my indecision, I pulled out my phone and was deciding to call her. But then I was almost not pressing the call button, then finally was forcing myself to. After several rings the call was going to voicemail, and I frowned, just hanging up. Now she was avoiding my calls, too.

"Suka," I hissed, shoving my phone back into my pocket and stubbing out cigarette in ashtray. Suka is basically meaning 'bitch.' To hell with her, I would go be seeing what Dex or Johnny were needing me to do.

As I was leaving my little room, there was beep from back pocket of my jeans. With a sigh, I was pulling out my phone again and peering at it. I grinned seeing it was message from Lin.

'Sorry, couldnt take your call, Im at the Ultor Dome with some Rollerz watching the derby tonight. been busy as fuck with these assholes the past several days.'

Well, I was feeling better about not hearing from her at least. Not much, but some. I tapped back a quick response. 'I was worried you were being upset or something.'

My phone was beeping quickly. 'Upset about what?'

'Nevermind then! When will you be free next?' I replied.

'Actually, get your ass to the Dome. Now. I just got wind of something we can use. Find my car and wait near it, but stay outta sight until you know I'm alone.'

I shoved my phone back into rear pocket and was hurrying for my car when I ran into Johnny outside sanctuary. Literally. I pushed myself away from him, grimacing and blushing in embarrassment.

"Whoah, slow down Ivana," he chuckled, but was stepping aside. "Where you headed in such a hurry?"

"Lin. Rollerz shit," I managed, before rushing past him and jogging up to my Nelson. It was being purple, now, and having big gold wheels like proper Saints car, and I jerked door open to be getting in. I'd also had Samson install new key and ignition, so I could be starting it more easily. It's engine sputtered to life, barking once before idling smooth. I really needed to be having him or Lin be looking into it more, but it was costing lot of money. Maybe I should just be stealing another car.

I put the manual gear lever into reverse and backed out onto street, nice and gentle, before pushing into first and flooring it. The motor bucked once and then caught, revving hard and catapulting me down road towards Arena District.

#

Lin's Voxel was parked near large truck trailer, shipping container style. I parked my Nelson nearby, and was quickly making my way to be hiding behind the trailer. I sent her a text saying I was being here.

"That's a sweet ride, Lin!" I heard someone exclaim, a man's voice.

"Uh huh," was all Lin was saying in response, cocky as ever, and I suppressed chuckle. I was really liking her 'zero fucks to be giving' attitude.

"Who tuned it for you?" another male voice was asking. I was rolling my eyes.

"No one," Lin groused, and I was hearing car door opening. "I did it myself."

"The spoiler looks like Donnie's work," first voice said.

"No way, that under glow screams Ricky Liu," second was retorting.

"Yeah, I guess it does," first was agreeing.

They were both sounding like imbeciles trying to impress girl to me, but I was not knowing car talk, either.

"What is this, fuckin' third grade?" Lin asked, and was sounding irritated.

"Whaddya mean?" first was asking. Idiot.

"Forget it, I'll see ya tomorrow," Lin told them.

"Dude, she totally wants you!" second asshole said, and I peered around the trailer to be seeing them leaving. When they were being out of sight I was stepping into view, walking up to Lin quickly.

Lin shut door of her car. "Assholes."

She turned and was seeing me approach, gesturing with her cigarette and looking grumpy. "I swear to God, we're not gonna be able to kill these bastards fast enough!"

Lin's face softened, smiling at me a little. "Aside from macho bullshit, I haven't heard much," she admitted, taking drag from cigarette. She exhaled before continuing. "The only interestin' news I got is that a shipment of high performance cars is comin' in today."

I nodded. Was sounding like something Rollerz would be into.

"It's not much, I know, so we're gonna make the best of it," Lin went on. "Jack the truck before it can make it's delivery and take it to Samson. He'll load up the cars with a few surprises, then finish the delivery."

Fuck me, Lin was wanting me to be driving Peterliner? Still, Samson was having best surprises. I grinned, but Lin was looking around, seeming worried.

"Now, get outta here before someone sees us."

I sighed softly, but was nodding, I understood. Lin got into her Voxel and sped off, and I was left to be walking back to my Nelson, hoping it would be starting. Thankfully, it did, and I pulled out of parking lot carefully, already keeping eye out for truck. Lin had not been forthcoming with too many details, but how many trucks hauling cars would be be on streets of Stilwater today? It would probably be having Rollerz with it, making it easy to be spotting.

I drove down main thoroughfare near Arena, and by chance I was looking up at highway, and there it was. Peterliner with trailer hauling few cars on it, and one Rollerz escort. Cutting wheel and downshifting, I cut off several cars to careen towards onramp of freeway amidst honking of horns and screeching tires, racing ahead of slow-moving truck. When far enough ahead, I was jerking wheel, sliding car sideways, and sticking my Spree out window. I squeezed down on trigger, spraying cab of truck with bullets. When windshield shattered, I was seeing driver slumped over steering wheel, so I pulled onto shoulder and got out.

Trucker's Rollerz escort squealed to halt next to me, and I fired into passenger area of their Zimos at point-blank range. Blood and glass sprayed in all directions, and I reloaded and hurried to truck, climbing up into cab. I dumped dead driver out onto concrete before taking his seat.

"Ok," I said to myself, looking things over. "Is having big ass steering wheel, clutch, huge long shifter… I am having this. Is just being like car, but bigger. Is no problem."

I put truck into gear, and tried to be taking off, but Peterliner just lurched before dying clanking, rattling death.

"Čert voz'mi v ad!" I growled, starting engine again. This time being more careful, I managed to be getting big truck moving. I ground gears several times as I shifted into higher gear, and was just getting hang of things when I was hearing gunfire pinging off of cab. Looking in mirror, there was being few Rollerz cars behind me, blue-clad bangers hanging out of windows and shooting.

I shifted again, fuck diesels were needing that often, and then whirled steering wheel around, swinging trailer into one Rollerz Voxel, crushing it against highway railing. It's gas tank must have ruptured, because it exploded into flames in my wake.

Peterliner was shuddering as I shifted again, but I was gaining good speed finally. Looking into either side mirror, I was seeing Rollerz assholes still chasing, bullets peppering the metal around me. I was grinning, though, a baring of teeth really, and feeling full of life like when fighting tiger with knife. A blue Zimos raced up along side me, and I cut wheel again to right, smashing it into railing. There was an off ramp, and the Rollerz car was flung down it, engine spewing black smoke and trailing fire. I dimly heard a sharp explosion as I was speeding off into night.

The last asshole sped past me in his Voxel, and when far ahead, spun sideways, giving me their broadside of submachine gun fire. I ducked down as windshield was shattering, winching as their bullets were tearing holes in seat back above me. Unfortunately for them, I was not being stopped, and the truck was slamming into them going almost seventy milers per hour by then. Their Voxel exploded on impact, flaming hulk spun aside contemptuously by my massive truck.

I popped back up, laughing softly. Saints three, Rollerz zero.

It was being quiet for while after that, and I just calmly cruised down highway, engine rattling from time to time. Every so often a thin plume of white smoke trailed from under hood, but truck was seeming more or less okay for abuse it was taking. Maybe I should be driving one of these instead of Nelson.

A bullet clanged into back of truck. "Fuck and shit," I grumbled. I was being tired, I was being cranky, and was so over this shit.

A Rollerz Voxel sped along side me on left, already spraying door with bullets. I took moment to marvel that it held against their gunfire, and then spun wheel around, bashing their little car into railing separating sides of freeway. The eventual explosion caused truck to shake violently, but it was staying together, and I drove on. Looking into mirror, I saw blue Zimos trying to come up along my right, and I cut wheel over, using trailer to sweep them aside like annoying gnat.

I grinned as last the last one fell back in my mirror. Apparently he was not wanting any of this.

Up ahead some large blue SUVs were being parked nose to nose, with a pair of Voxels behind them. Rollerz stood outside, already firing at me.

"Čert voz'mi!" I spat, growing really frustrated. Is being only first part of what I am usually saying, just 'Dammit!'

All this for truck having three cars on it? I floored it, and big truck's big engine roared loudly, clattering furiously, and I was ducking down to be avoiding getting killed by their shooting. Impact was jarring, but I was seeing one SUV flipping over me in flames as other was spun aside, making wreck of itself and Voxel behind it. There was being many screams as people were dying, but had little time to be caring.

I sat up as I was being clear of roadblock, smiling and patting steering wheel. Was tough truck indeed!

The next few miles were being quiet, and I was able to make the exit towards the Row. I felt tickling on my forehead, and wiped away blood, apparently piece of glass had gotten my forehead. I cleaned it off on seat, and drove truck up to Samson's garage. It was late hour, but Lin surely had already notified him I was coming.

I hopped down to ground, and Samson was already there, chuckling.

"I'm gonna have to fix her up some, but not too much since they expecting a banged up truck. You rough on your rides, little lady."

I grinned at him, then groaned. Rides! My car was still being way back on highway near Ultor Dome.

"You hurt?" he asked. "I can call Julius, have someone pick you up."

I shook my head. It was not being far walk back to church anyway. I waived at him as I was leaving, and took to streets of the Row. Saints were controlling it, so was being easy walk home.

I blinked, pausing, when seeing my Nelson parked in it's usual space. At least I was thinking it was mine, no one else was having purple one here that I was knowing of. As I was getting close, I saw note was pinned beneath wipers. I snatched it up and read it. I was not recognizing handwriting, but it was being fluid and yet rough, but still feminine.

I had someone pick up your car. I'd have done it myself, but can't have them seeing me, obviously.

I grinned despite my weariness. It was unsigned, but I was knowing who had written it all the same. I had to be remembering to be thanking Lin next time I was seeing her. Still smiling, I made my way into church.

#

I was surprised to be seeing Julius in sanctuary, and my smile was turning quickly to frown. He was being alone, and was looking up as I walked in and shut door behind me.

"You got a minute, playa?" he asked, and I nodded carefully, stopping near him. We had not spoken since incident with his good friend Will.

"First, I shouldn't have lost my cool," he admitted. "We got enough problems fightin' these bitches that think they own Stilwater, we don't need to be fightin' amongst ourselves, you feel me?"

I nodded. It was not apology, but was probably best I could be expecting from this man.

"But you also can't go against my orders just because you got some bleedin' heart for hos," he went on, tone firm and strong.

I narrowed my eyes. Bleeding heart for hos? He was having no idea the shit I have been through. I opened my mouth to be telling him off, and he was raising hand to stop me from talking.

"I'm not finished. Now I know you think you had a good reason for what you did, and I can respect that. As fucked up a it is, it shows you got initiative. That's good. Just don't go against my orders, especially when I send you to help someone. We clear?"

I gave him no indication of anything. My anger was slowly coming to boil, but I forced it to something cold, dark. I knew my face was being dead, eyes pitiless.

"Julius," I said quietly, and he was seeming taken aback I had been saying anything.

"She can talk," he said with faint chuckle.

"You are not knowing what I have had happen in my life," I went on, tone frigid as I could be making it. I felt something pass my eyes, some haunting memory, and was hoping he was missing it. "But I will never be stealing girls from one pimp to be passing them on to another. Find some other bitch to be doing your dirty work when is coming to that."

I moved past him to be going to my room.

"Playa, wait," he said gently. It was gentleness that made me be turning back to him.

"Whatever happened to you, it's in the past, y'hear? Don't let it eat you alive, trust me. Now go on, get yourself cleaned up and get some sleep. Oh, and Lin's got your money for tonight. G'Night."

Julius left me standing there, silently seething. Some things you are not just letting go of just like that. It has not been eating me alive for past four and half years, what was he knowing of anything? Shaking my head, I went into my room and closed door, sagging down against it. I pulled my knees to my chest and crossed my arms over them, laying my head down. I was having bad feeling nightmares would be bad tonight.