For all of you who might feel confused - I decided to split the most recent chapter into two halves. On it's own it came to over eight-thousand words, and I know that can be quite daunting to some people. So, now you have two four-thousand word chapters to read at your own leisure instead. I hope you enjoy this next part. I'm sure the Huniecam fans will.

The inspiration for this segment came from two songs - the unreleased B-Side track of Lusties Nightclub, and 'To be Loved' by Papa Roach. Look them up if you're interested. Heck, I dare say one of them fits well here. Okay, that's everything. Let's get started.

Badass Babe

There was nowhere better in town to cool the heels than the Bar and Lounge. No matter how bad the hand of cards life dealt. Come rain or shine they kept the doors open late every weekend – and even held a quiet 'after hours' agreement for the regulars – at the cost of a small additional fee of course.

Sure, drinking sure didn't fix anything, but damn did it feel good sometimes. Swishing the golden liquid in his glass, Mike let out a contented sigh – bobbing his head to the background beat. "Damn I've needed to calm myself down all night."

'This is all too much. Framed for shit I didn't do... my own fans turning on me. I can't figure out why somebody wants to nail me against the wall like this. Not to mention I have a girl behind a mask who claims she hacks computers... dammit. You know, if this is reality I'm happier drinking.'

A loud 'beep' from his pocket broke the beautiful ambiance, signalling to set down the booze and check the time. His surprise brought a sharp pang of unease along with it.

"The middle of the night. Wow... been in here for hours... No call from Lillian, either. I hope she's home safe. The old man would kick me into next week if anything happened to her on my watch."

Another day with too much on the brain. Another night of sitting in washed out bars until three in the morning swilling down watery liquor. Not to mention the mysterious 'Sapphire' somebody else with a Huniebee in her possession. Rewind a couple of months and Mike would've been surprised. Now? Disbelief was indefinitely suspended.

"I can handle another." He slipped a silvery credit card across the bar – eyes locked against the rows of bottles. "Not like it's going to hurt."

A shake of the head and a shameful sigh. Those actions enough gave a picturesque impression of the greyed middle-aged bartender's feelings toward the amount of alcohol he was putting away. "You sure about that? You look like you've had plenty already. Why not call it a night?"

"Nope," An outright refusal. "One more and I'll be on my way. You have no idea what I've been dealing with this last week."

"You're as Stubborn you're uncle, Mike," the server fired back, walking over to the spirit shelf with a roll of the eyes. "It must run in the family. Fine... you're getting one more and I'm shutting up shop… but only because you come in here so often, you hear?"

"Yes, I'm listening."

Another glass, half full, slid over to greet the deflated musician. Taking back his card, he reached for the serving of malt, taking the hit and slamming the shot container down with a shallow grunt of exertion. "That hit the spot."

"Well," Thanking the bartender with a nod, Winters grabbed for his jacket and made for the door. "I'm out… Later Jerry."

"Careful on your way home, kid. There's been trouble out there lately."

News that was of little interest to the emerald-eyed singer. He'd had more than his fair share of problems already. "Don't worry about me. Things couldn't get any worse."

A a bite of coldness in the early morning air nipped against the skin. Rubbing two shaky hands together and breathing into them did little to stop it, either. Maybe it was his imagination, but Mike was sure there was an uncharacteristic coldness to the time of year. After all, it was only mid-Autumn.

"Must be my mind playing tricks on me." Resigning his thoughts, he rounded the corner and made in the direction of his apartment. Past the beach, ignoring the early morning bonfire and busking students playing around with string instruments.

A jolt of lightening raced hard and fast – giving warning to bring everything into perspective. He hadn't heard it before, or maybe he'd chosen not to, but a presence hung in the air. Footsteps followed from behind, echoing in the stillness of the city streets.

"I'm not alone here." No time to waste – Mike spun around, shiny shoes scraping against the concrete as he went. Green eyes pulsed in haze of aqua, and from the murky corner of his vision, there stood a stranger with folded arms.

Closer inspection brought with it an ounce of clarity. A tall, muscular gentleman, gruff features and a stony expression. He wore a tight-fitting football jersey and flashy jeans. Flexing his muscles, he took hefty steps forward, hand outstretched. "Easy way or the hard way. You're going to help me out. It's my girl's birthday tomorrow and I ain't bought her shit. Hand over the wallet, you'll get me laid and I won't need to kick your face in."

This was a nightmare – the bad luck stood at factor ten. There wasn't just a rainstorm washing out Mike's life right now – it was a raging tsunami.

'Me and my big fucking mouth. Of course it can get worse, it always get- No, this guy can go to hell. I've lost enough for no good reason... If he thinks he's going to walk all over me he's got another thing coming.'

"Not a chance." He shook his head - bringing up a pair of fists as his response. "Want it then you'll have to take it. "

"That can be arranged." The football player – no doubt a jock from the local college team, cracked his knuckles and thumped closer like a giant. Over six feet tall and clearly over two-hundred pounds, this spelled a serious fight.

Deep breathing to calm the nerves – in and out. Falling into stance, feet held outward, a smooth smile, it was time to engage. "I can do this. After all… I've held my own against worse before..."

Dodging and swerving around the first couple of fists was easy. This person, whoever he was, didn't have much in the way of agility. Staying focused, Mike gave all that he could, swinging out a one-two combination and ducking low - slamming a shoulder against his foe's midsection.

"Ouch. Caught me off guard there." The jock growled in disdain – feet inching back across the ground. It was like moving a mountain. "Didn't expect you to hit this hard," he admitted, hands squeezing the struggling singer by the shoulders. "Now it's my turn."

A near-supersonic boom shook everything to the core. A flash of disfigured white followed surging discomfort. A knee, hard and jagged, stabbed over and over. Falling backward, jittery from both alcohol and the sudden shock, Winters erupted in a sputter, unguarded and unprepared as a second blitz came in with just as much brutality.

His attacker let go, shoving him against a trashcan, boot-clad feet pounding closer. Cracking his neck from side to side, he held out the same hand from before – this time with far more aggression. "Hand it over. Wallet or I'll finish the job."

Overcome with aggression - tired of his lousy luck after so much hardship, something inside finally snapped.

"Fuck... off. You are NOT taking my money."

A solid 'thump' against the side of the jaw was all the reward Mikey received the trouble - his entire world falling in on itself along with his feet, sending him reeling into a street lamp. A dull, throbbing pain wracked every inch of his body.

"Ohhhh God," he coughed hard, red leaking from his split, stinging lips, "This is heavy... don't know how much more I can take."

"Hahaha," the massive bastard came in for the kill - flicking out a knife from behind his back. "Know what? Let's make this inte-"

Music - an engine revving – roaring like a tiger as it tore apart the veil of quiet surrounding the scuffle.

"Listen up... turn it up and rock it out. Party on, I wanna hear ya scream and shout. This is real.. as real as it gets! I came to your town to get some fuckin respect. Yeah we're takin it back, to a hardcore level! Better be ready put your pedal to the metal!"

Headlights flashed the scene - tires howling wolf-like at the moon. Through the powerful illumination, Mike made out a red covetable, old with dents in one side. It came to a violent stop in the middle of the road; rubber marks burned into the tarmac under a wave of thrashing bass.

The driver's side door swung open and the engine cut dead. "She wasn't shittin' around after all. This is where she said you'd be."

Strength, flare, style, two blue eyes and long dark-brown hair. A girl came in on the action, pulling Mike upright from his pain-slumped posture, equally ignoring the wide-eyed shock overtaking his features as she brushed him down. He looked her over, taking in every tiny detail. Brown eyeshadow, red lipstick, a beauty mark below the left eye. The perfect hourglass figure wearing a white tank-top and jeans with some serious game.

'Not to mention I'd recognize that tattoo anywhere. 'Hope'. You can't be here…. Why would you come all the way to Glenberry? Doesn't make a shred of sense! If this is what Lillian was talking abo- Owww... my ribs hurt...'

He had to check she was real – not just some fucked up alcohol-induced illusion. Reaching out, ignoring the wails of his pained body, he held on to the girl by the shoulder. Her warmth, her foggy breaths against the cold night air. Yes, she was grounded in reality – and that only made things even more confusing.

"Hola, Mike." Such a cool smile she gave – helping him lean against the rusty shutters of a closed up storefront. "Keepin' it real?"

A blast from the past – almost a distant memory in some respects. Before Kyu, before Kyanna, before Glenberry or even the long-gone days of college. At one point in time, there was a very different Mike with much more honest hopes and dreams. His life in high school was one of solitude. Only one friend helped him persevere, kept him safe, and watched his back. Time pulled them apart, but he'd never forget that badass aura – her 'me against the world' attitude, and the warmth she gave to those she trusted.

"N- Nora? Seriously? Nora?"

"Hell yeah." A chilled out nod of approval was all she gave. "Now, excuse me for a sec. Looks like you're havin' a hard time here."

There she stood, tall, bold, oozing with confidence, going toe-to-toe with the approaching jock. Awe-struck and equally hurt, all Mike had the strength to do was observe as the scene unfolded.

"Better watch out," the Hispanic girl gave a small warning, flipping back her locks with sass, hands resting on wide hips. "You wanna mess with him you'll have to go through me first. Feelin' lucky?"

Her presence didn't seem to deter the football player or his cocky rampage, "They say you're not supposed to hit a lady, but I'm willing to bend the rules a little… need the money."

"Well alright," she chuckled – stepping up to the towering challenge. "I let you have a shot. You're fair game now, pendejo."

A shoulder swung out in Nora's direction. All she did to dodge it was take a simple step back. "Too slow. You ain't even tryin'."

*CRUNCH!*

Mike couldn't pull himself away – watching in quiet, stunned horror as the massive wall of muscle that so easily beat his ass just moments before came tumbling forward. Nora butted him – sending his mammoth build colliding with the concrete - the weapon falling from his hand - only adding further insult to injury - ramming the toe of her slick sneaker into his side. Another kick, and another, and another.

Blindsided, dumbfounded, utterly terrified, the ape of a man rolled onto his stomach for protection, curling into a helpless little ball, "S-stop… I give…"

It didn't save him, neither did his whimpering plea for mercy. Nora yanked every ounce of him clean off the concrete, suspended by the scruff of his jersey. There, she held a balled fist, mere inches away from his blooded face.

"I warned ya. Now, listen and listen good," she smirked. "This guy you were beatin' on? Not to be screwed with. Start trouble with whoever the shit else you want. Touch my boy again and I'll make sure you regret it. We clear?"

She dropped her quarry with a thump - watching him scurry back into the corner like a rat - the color draining from his face. "I got it… I got it! I-I'm going… r-right now!

"Good. Get gone."

It was done. The badass looked back, giving a smokin' chuckle – one her peroxide companion met with a quiet, thankful curve of his cold red lips. "I owe you… but dammit this is too sudden. Why are you h-"

Nora grabbed him by the hand, held his fingers tight, bringing a thin veil of silence before his words could escape. "Vamonos. Ass in the car," she continued, still pulling him, bruised and sore, toward her quite illegally parked vehicle. "Let's go grab a bite and I'll explain."

"At three in the morning?" Mike protested as he sat painfully in the passenger seat, breathing in the scent of strong rose petal incense and cigarettes. The interior was more than a little beat up "Three in the a.m.… you arrive in town with no warning… and you want food?"

A shake of the head – a sigh of dismay. "Nora Vasquez. How come every time I see you one of us is going through total fucking hell?"

"Way of the world, boss," she slammed her door shut, turning the keys in the ignition, "Now… burgers or burgers? Could go grab some iodine for those cuts you got, too, unless you're gonna suck it up like a man."

"Forget the iodine," he didn't need it. "I want to know why you came all the way here from Eaglewood of all places."

"Na, man. Only if you tell me first."

"Not right now." Mike had no intention of spilling his innermost on such short notice. He shut her out - eying the lights of the Gold Rush Casino, only taking notice for a second as the engine roared to life, as wild a beast as its mistress.

"ALRIGHT! Buckle up, sparky," Nora cheered - cranking the sound, "We're going for a ride!"

Pedal to the metal - they gunned it down the open road, turning off with a yelp of the tires, past the glitzy clubs and bars. The dreaded 'Downtown' wasn't too far away.

Hair whipping in the wind, the Hispanic rogue took a screeching right-turn at the first set of lights, punching the gas with a cry of delight. "Yeaaaaah! Just like old times, ain't it?"

Try as he might - Mikey couldn't hold back his smile. "Too much like senior year. You couldn't drive then, either."

"Oh fuck you ese!"

"You showed up out of nowhere. Fell shit-faced into a barstool, watched my guys play for ten minutes, cried into your hands like a pussy… and you didn't even bother to say 'Hi' before walking out? You don't think I want some answers too, holmes? Why go all the way to my neck of the woods for that?"

"Nora," Mike breathed an exhausted sigh, "Say it straight. God knows that's your way of dealing with everything."

"Okay, fucker," she laughed with bitterness – screaming to a stop in a semi-vacant fast-food lot at the side of the road. With a turn of the keys she killed the howling metal. "I'm pissed. I'm real annoyed… but I'm just as hungry. Been behind the wheel for almost five hours. Barely stopped for a piss."

Nora folded back the softcover roof – hopping over the side door and leaving Mike in his place. "Be back in five. Don't go walkin' away anywhere."

Silence – Mike basked in it as he was left alone. Grabbing the Huniebee from his left side pants pocket, he punched one of the speed-dial options and placed the magical, glowing pink device against his ear. The dial tone spun out, seconds ticking onward as he waited in perpetual agony.

"Errrr, yeah? What is it?" Lillian's voice – she sounded as abrupt and bratty as always. "Not a fan of unknown numbers. If you're some perv then you can go screw yours-"

"Lillian," the elder Winters silenced his cousin with a single abrupt word. "You've got some explaining to do."

The mall brat burst out in shrill, snorty laughter. "The tone in your voice… it's like, soooo serious. What's up, Mikey? Don't sound like you're having a good time over th-"

No way was she going to play games like a kid. He knew damn well she had something to do with all of this. Bringing the phone closer to his ear, Mike focused like a sniper against his target. "Nora Vasquez. Nora freaking Vasquez. If this has anything to do with you, Lillian then you can pack up your shit and g-"

"Guilty," he didn't need to see her face to know she beamed like a Cheshire cat. "Don't see what the problem is, fuuuck. She's like, totally your best option for sorting this whole mess out… and like… you two have some serious catching up to do."

"That's exactly the problem," Mike's fingers squeezed around the Huniebee deathly tight. "As much as you're right you're horribly wrong. Four. Damn. Years. What possessed you to think that after barely seeing her since I graduated senior year that this was a good idea?"

"You need someone you can trust, cuz. Four years doesn't make a difference. She'd take a bullet for us both and you know it." A bubble-gum pop spattered over the line. "I'm beginning to see a habit here. Another person from your days before college that you ditched… it's almost funny."

"Oh you nasty little-" Mike snarled, damn near crushing the phone between his strangling fingers. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"So what if I did?" Lillian hummed with poisonous glee. "You bitch at me for never getting along with mom and dad… but you're worse than me. You sit there, smug in your fancy apartment… and you sure as shit don't wanna remember where you came from… the family you left behind to go chase your dreams."

"I'm gonna say one last thing," the Gothic princess erupted, hateful in her every word, "Sometimes the things we do hurt sooooo bad. You can love someone so much… and really hate em' at the same time. But what I did? Calling Nora? That wasn't some dirty trick…."

"Someone's out there to fuck you over… and if there's anybody you can depend on? It's her. Mike…. You're an asshole… but that doesn't mean nobody cares. So how about for once you say 'thank you' and we figure this out together, the three of us?"

Defeated – devoid of every ebb of strength, the musician slumped against the seat and closed his eyes. She was right, as much as he didn't want to admit it. A mental checklist ran through his thoughts.

'I've been over this once tonight already... but I don't think there's any other way. The band? They were quick to throw me under the bus. Kyanna? I know for fact she wouldn't help if she found out about this. Plus, we have too much history. Mark… I can't ask him to go against the rest of the group like that. Nikki? I don't deserve her help. I'm alone… save for Lillian, Nora, and some mysterious girl in a mask. This is messed up beyond words….'

"Thanks, Lillian. I'm still annoyed at you, but thanks all the same."

"Hmph," the moody teen gave an elongated groan, "What-eveeeer. I've thrown you a bone here. Don't be a dick and waste it."

The line went dead – leaving Mike to toss his phone upon the dusty dashboard. In urgent need of some peace, he gazed up at the cloudy night sky. Lights twinkled in the darkness. "It's been too long since I las-"

A paper bag rustled – entering his vision so swiftly he couldn't help but flinch. "Got you some too."

Nora swooped in, slotting her long soda cup in the holder. With a soft grunt she hopped back over the car door - another parcel of food pressed against her chest. "Kay," she got comfortable, unwrapping the paper to reveal a juicy burger with lots of yellow-ish cheese slices lolling out the side of the bun "Chow time. Dig in!"

Winters looked down at the fast food packaging in his lap, opening up the top to peek inside. A large container of fries and boneless wings, hot and crispy. He stared, mixed somewhere between confused and grateful. "How can you grumpy with me one minute and fine the next?"

"Food first," Nora clarified, chomping down on her burger with ravenous diligence. "I've got all night to rip you a new one, boy." She dabbed ketchup from the side of her mouth with a napkin, "Now, you gonna eat that? Because I'm mad hungry."

"Yeah, sure thing. Thank you."

Before he could start however, Mike stalled. Miss Vasquez set her food aside, holding out a clenched fist. Ah yes, the fist bump, another relic from the times of old.

"We got a lotta ground to cover, but it's good to see you again, Mikey. A little creepy though, no shit. You look so different now. Toned, dyed hair… and shirts… fucking shirts. What happened? If I stuck you under some good lights you'd almost look hot."

He had to appease the ritual – bringing them together in the titular 'brofist' before returning to his food. "It was time for a change. I buried the 'old me' a long time ago. You haven't changed at all. Not a bit."

"Me?" Nora laughed, reaching for her soda cup and squeezing it tight. "Nah, baby. Never. The world ain't ever gonna change me."

Something about those words turned for warmth of the moment a fraction colder. Mike frowned, eating a fry and laying back against the headrest. "Of course not…."

'I should know… I tried….'

Four years hadn't washed the pain of such a revelation away – and despite being happy to see her again, it was an issue he'd have to address before bringing the truth of his own recent 'mishap' to bare. Regardless, as Mike looked onward, he couldn't help but feel a glow of heat deep down at his core.

Nora Vasquez – was back.

The mastermind behind this twisted game - whoever they were - had no idea what was coming to them.

'No two ways about it... Now that Nora's here this will either end really well... or very very badly. I have to wonder... How did Lillian persuade her to help me like this?'

A hand whipped in from the side - shaking Mike from his thoughts and stealing a handful of his fries. "Wake up. If you're not eatin' that I'm going in for more."

Indeed - whoever made this girl truly broke the mould.

To be continued….

Thank you very much for your time. I hope the latest part of the story was worth the wait. PiecesWarrior, if you're reading this then consider your request for Nora officially greenlit. I hope you enjoy my portrayal of her character.

As always, please feel free to leave some feedback if you like. I'd be more than happy to hear from the readers. What did you think? Until next time, keep on supporting the official releases of Huniepop and Huniecam Studio! Thanks again.