Mwahahaha, I finally finished this! :D And yes, I've been busy with term finals, so sue me! xD

Dearest Pancake, you'll see soon enough. :) Oh and for the Ch.11 review, I thought it was awesome, because I usually feel that, you know, in that sort of moment. *blush*

^-^ Thanks so much, pizzachic! :D

And to my beloved Merestuffins, still giving awesome comments, I see. xD

Yes, typos…I type fast. ^-^" But I corrected those in this chapter this time. xD ^-^"


Chapter Thirteen

The next day, as he went to see her before the others could, he found her quite subdued, but she nonetheless greeted him. He knew it was still because of his little secret that bothered her, but he kept quiet anyway. He wouldn't blame her; it was such a heavy thing to know that he had fooled around before her. It wasn't easy, but he tried his best not to notice.

Almost luckily, that day was an outing day, and roughly everyone was at the beach to enjoy the last of the summer sun before the Italian autumn really hit. Marlene and Carla were sunning themselves side-by-side with small talk. Margo was watching over Franco as they played with Francesco, other sitting by to watch as Francesco showed all once more how a car really handles a soccer ball. The rest were playing, swimming, eating or sunning themselves and talking. Miguel wasn't one of those that watched Francesco's exhibition, but instead kept his eyes, discreetly, on the silver car that had won him over as he stood not far from the playing trio.

"He-ey," someone crooned teasingly, and Miguel found Raoul nudging him with a tire, blue eyes playful.

"What?" Miguel asked, half-closed eyes glancing at his friend.

"Someone's staring."

Miguel glanced around casually before returning to his relaxed state. "What? Who?"

"You are, you halfwit," Raoul shot back smilingly. "You've been acting like a halfwit yourself these last two days. What's happened?"

"That's what we'd like to know," Rip said on Miguel's other side.

Miguel seemed to break out in a cold sweat at Rip's nearly menacing tone. "Er—"

Rip sighed, cutting him off. "Beautiful, isn't she?" he murmured.

This shocked the grand tourer. What was Rip trying to say?

"I suppose," Miguel replied cautiously.

Rip turned his pale green glare on Miguel. "You just 'suppose'?" Rip echoed in anger. "She's more than that!"

"You and I both know I don't like admitting more than I'd allow," Miguel snarled back, feeling hot with embarrassment.

Rip seemed shocked, and Miguel knew that Rip was wondering how much he cared. Yet, the Caparo conceded right after that, and it was quiet between the three for a moment as they watched the A7 stand by while Franco and his father played.

"What's so special about her, anyway?" Miguel asked, voice dripping with interest, but inside, he also felt jealousy. How can Rip know what Miguel himself knew?

Rip didn't seem to mind answering. His eyes and voice took on wistfulness as he stared at the A7 before them. "She's sweet, energetic, and understanding—enough to make a car go crazy. She has the fire of defiance and self-confidence, and is willing to defend her friends from anything or anyone that threatens them. She's loyal to friends and family. Also," he added with a smile, "her brown eyes are immensely beautiful." He sighed. "What I'd give to get back on track with her again."

Anger and jealousy surged through Miguel he barely restrained himself from hurling curses at his friend. He was left to tense instead.

"They say, as far as bachelorettes go in Porto Corsa, she's by far one of the best."

Miguel started slightly at Rip's murmur. They say?

"Did they give a reason why?" he asked, curiosity and jealousy getting the best of him.

Rip nodded. "She's extremely helpful, by the looks of it," he replied. "Others claim you don't see a moment that, when she's home from work, she's not helping others with work and such."

"Really?"

"Yeah. The local boys claim that, not only is she that good-looking, her personality is one any car wants. Just that she's got this hot temper and defiance, so she's not so easy to control."

"Why hasn't she hooked up with any of them then?" he asked, wincing inwardly. He hadn't expected to use that term.

Rip winced, then glared at Miguel for a split-second. "She didn't like them," he said simply, recovering, but the suspicion in his pale green eyes didn't leave as he stared at Miguel. "Or they didn't like her. Most men shy away from dominant girls like her."

Miguel's lips twitched in amusement. He preferred dominance over submission most of the time, and none knew about that.

"I heard her say once she hasn't found the right one yet."

That's all well and good but…. "…how come you have such an interest in her?" Miguel asked, irritated by Rip's praise.

"Can you keep a secret?" Rip asked. As Miguel nodded, Rip continued, "We became more than friends for a time."

Why Margo hadn't told him this, Miguel wondered in annoyance. "Are you still…?"

"Sadly, no," the Caparo said sadly. "She said I wasn't the one for her, that it wasn't right."

Elation struck him so hard that moment it made his head dizzy. He would have yowled his ecstasy, but no; he wouldn't reveal the secret to his friend. Not yet.

"I'm…I'm sorry," he managed, trying to keep his tone slow and sad.

"Yeah, well, maybe we weren't meant to be, I suppose," Rip replied, shrugging. "Guess I'll just have to wonder who'll be her next victim, eh?" He nudged Miguel with his tire, staring at his friend in amusement and mischief.

Miguel chuckled uneasily. Victim? he wondered to himself, then laughed alongside Rip. Maybe Rip had meant it in a nice way, just as he'd defined her.

The friends watched, right up until the ball hit Francesco's moving rear tire, and was thrown at an angle even Francesco could not reach. To Miguel's surprise, the Italian moved backward smilingly.

"Why move backward?" Raoul wondered aloud, voicing his friends' questions. But they didn't have to wait long for an answer.

The trio's eyes widened as Margo stepped forward. The force of that ball would surely dent her front! Miguel froze for a moment before he surged forward.

Yet, he didn't have to: her tire extended outward as she swerved sideways slightly, bouncing the black and white ball onto her fenders, moving just as quick and agile as Francesco, utilizing all available parts of her sleek, silver body in ways the men hadn't seen from a girl like her.

The trio stood there, mouths open as they watched the giggling twenty-year-old play with her cousin-in-law, passing the ball to and fro. Marlene and Carla hooted their approval as they watched.

As she turned though, forest colors met, and for a moment Miguel felt time freeze as they made a connection. Whether the connection lasted for mere seconds or a lifetime, Miguel didn't care. Rip was right: she did have immensely beautiful eyes.

Everything and nothing passed between them in the meager moment, when a voice called out her name. She turned, and the ball hit her square in the windshield. Miguel and a few others rushed to her aid. But she only shook herself, chuckling.

"Now that's what happens when you don't pay attention." Others chuckled with her, even Francesco, but even this could not reassure Miguel she was alright.

"I'll be fine," she told the others, but he knew by her smile at him that it was directed at him. He breathed in relief, and was able to laugh, too. "Francesco," she called out, "I'll take a breather." He replied his assent, and turned back to playing with his son.

She gave Miguel one soft glance, and turned to drive away. He laughed in wonder as he trailed after her, forgetting his discretion with regards to their new relationship. She squeaked as she heard him behind her, and he chased her from the outer limits of the crowd, laughing. She sighed in slight exhaustion as he finally sided by her, and they found a spot where they could sit and talk in the comfort of the solitude.

"Care to tell me how you learned to do those moves?" he asked.

She giggled. "Jealous?" she shot back teasingly.

His lips twitched in amusement. "Maybe."

She laughed this time. "Francesco taught me, and I found my own style."

He nodded in approval. "Nice."

"Thank you," she replied graciously, and they laughed together.

It was quiet for a moment; he knew he had to confront her about his friend, but how to do it?

"Margo?"

"Yes?"

He couldn't bear to deface her beautifully innocent gaze that quietly pierced his heart, knowing what he had to say would probably hurt her again.

"Is anything wrong?" she prodded. "You can tell me."

He took a deep breath. "What happened between you and Rip?"

Her gaze deviated from his. "I…I liked him more than normal friendship would allow," she said slowly. "Just for a little while."

Concern for his friend and for the fact even his friend might threaten their relationship out of jealousy warred in his heart. "What happened?" he repeated, voice low.

"He revealed his true colors to me, and…I didn't like it. So I just gave up altogether."

Miguel was startled. He could barely find anything wrong in Rip. "And…what turned you off?"

"He's a little…submissive. Quiet." She blinked thoughtfully. "I don't want a man that thinks I can handle everything."

He chuckled once, smiling slightly. "I used to think all girls were weak," he confessed, and she glanced up at him with surprise mild against the amusement in her gaze. "Right up until I met you."

She giggled shyly. "I've always resented my gender," she admitted. "I always thought that the men are luckier because they can do more than us girls can."

He felt pride in his heart, but then again, as his thoughts flew past his attention, he noted a little detail. He softened, sadness in his gaze. "Really?" As she nodded and opened her mouth to speak, he cut her off with, "Some of us thought women were luckier because they get to stay home all day."

"Yes, but you can't do anything at home all day but sweep the home. I want to take part in the breadwining."

He stared at her, amusement in his resigned expression. If he was correct, her tone suggested her mind wouldn't be changed.

"Why do you think I took up Mechanical and Electronic Engineering?" she shot back smilingly.

He blinked. "Why did you take up engineering?"

She rolled her eyes. "Stupidly logical car here," she replied, nudging him slightly.

"Noo!" he called out in mock horror. "The horror of mathematics…." Both laughed as she nudged him a little harder.

"Seriously, I did like math," he replied. "English as well. Science wasn't much."

"Really?" Amusement lit her gaze. "I never thought I'd take up Chemistry after high school."

He chuckled with her. "Yeah, well, I had to keep my grades up. Even I know that."

"Then again, why no college?"

He turned away. "I hadn't really thought about college."

She nudged him gently. "When you're ready, you can join me in college."

He stared at her. "I can?"

She nodded. "So long as you've finished high school, I think you can."

"Where are you going to study?" he asked. "Or, are you still studying?"

"I'm still studying, yes," she replied. "I'm on the last legs of my last year of my bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering."

He frowned. "But I thought—"

"Minor in Electronics," she corrected. "Sorry."

"So, after you've passed your bachelor's…what next?"

"More work, I think," she put in, "then a new school."

He frowned again. "Why switch?"

Her gaze dropped from his, but she continued to smile. "I wanted to see the place, I suppose, you know, get some experience living internationally."

"That's no excuse."

"Really?" she shot back hotly. "Would you prefer I stayed here?"

"Well…" He couldn't answer that. What was she implying?

"Which one?" he asked instead.

"I've already searched and researched the place, and I've a few recommendations for it," she replied, voice gentle now. Her gaze was eager and wistful as she stared at him. "I'm going to apply for a place in the classes of the Universidad de Navarre."

His eyes widened in shock. "Why there?"

She stared back at him, trying to form words in her surprise.

"No, I mean…aren't there others?" he clarified.

Hurt replaced the calm in her gaze. "Don't you want me there?" she choked.

"No, I mean…." He sighed.

How bad could it be, he thought, for her to live in Madrid? Both of them could enter college together. Not only that, but they could have a place to stay, and provide for themselves, together. His mind whirled with the possibilities he imagined that he didn't notice the calling of his name.

"Rodrigo!"

"Huh? What?" He stared around wildly.

"Were you daydreaming?" she asked, eyeing him with suspicion.

"Ah, no." He grinned sheepishly, but she didn't seem that convinced. "Besides, if I ever daydreamed about anything, it would be about you."

Her gaze ducked away, and he only nuzzled her gently.

"Come on," she murmured. "We better get going; Francesco will be looking for us." With that, she moved forward, out onto the sand. He sighed sadly, wishing he could have stayed there all day by her side, but moved to her side by her anyway to join her on the way back. To his relief she nudged him lightly.

"Margarita!" the cousin-in-law called out angrily as they returned to the main beach. "Where have you been?"

"Exploring," the A7 replied casually.

Francesco glanced at Rodrigo behind her. "Why are you with Miguel?"

She rolled her eyes. "Francesco, you tell me I always need someone with me." Irritation was veiled in her voice as their friends started to crowd around a little. "Well, R-Miguel was that someone."

Francesco narrowed his eyes at Margo's hesitation. Miguel felt horror creep onto his chassis. What would Francesco say, not knowing what Margo was calling Miguel nowadays? But that Formula only turned his gaze on the grand tourer, saying nothing.

"Miguel wasn't someone I had in mind," Francesco swept on.

The A7's brown eyes flashed. "Is that how much you trust your friends, your family? That you expect me to get screwed the moment I'm out of your sight?"

Someone gasped, "Margo!" IT was the cousin-mother, Marlene.

"Don't you deny it's true!" the A7 half-spat, half-choked, her brown gaze resentful and glistening in the sun. "Don't you deny that no matter how hard I work, how hard I study, how long I stay at home, he still doesn't trust me!" She swerved around to leave.

Miguel stepped forth slightly. "Margo—"

"Leave me alone!" she snapped as she raced away.

Miguel turned to face the group, gaze scanning the faces there. Raoul was as stunned as a few others. Rip and Francesco were furious. Marlene was distressed.

He glanced at them, then towards the direction Margo had gone, then back, unsure of what to do. Would he stay by his friends and live up to their expectations, or risk his reputation with them and follow his heart?

He didn't have much to consider as he turned around, spraying sand behind him as he raced after her, a determined glare on his windshield. He snarled softly; his tires didn't have much purchase on the looks, dry sand. But he found her in the same spot they were earlier, crying.

"Oh, Margo," he called softly as he sided by her. "Don't cry," he murmured, but he could only nuzzle her quietly as they settled there.

"He doesn't want me to have anyone," she sobbed. "He seems determined to keep me single when he knows what being in love feels like!"

"Hush." He couldn't bear to see or hear her this way. "We'll find a way, I promise."

She stared at him, eyes red from crying. She only sighed, leaning against him, her crying reduced to pitiful sniffling.

"Don't leave me," she whispered, eye closed tiredly.

"Don't worry," he reassured her, and his voice lowered to a loving whisper. "I won't leave you.