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[genesis-tires]

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[revnah1406]

You were meant to stay 1/3 (Sparrow X Amara)

Character (OCs):

Hannah "Sparrow" Clayton

Amara Thompson

SUMMARY: Hannah's and Amara's love story! How did they fall in love? 👀

Warnings: Female X Female, violence, fluff, some places are fictional.

Spotify Playlist:

Words: 12.316

Hannah adjusted the strap of her luggage bag over her shoulder. She looked at the façade of the building with a certain nostalgia. It had been a long time since she last saw her little brother Connor. She had really missed him. But finally, she was able to find free time to visit him.

Connor lived in Kingston Upon Hull, in the UK. The hometown of Hannah and her siblings. The four brothers were born there, but when the twins were two years old, the Clayton family moved to their mother Monika's hometown, in Zermatt. They all grew up there, with a happy childhood, full of craziness and mischief. When they all became adults, each brother took a different path, Hannah and Nathan (the older siblings) stayed in Zermatt to start their business together, a garage where they repair and restore cars. Elizabeth went to Germany to study psychology and live with her uncles. And Connor, returned to Hull to earn a living and fly away from the nest. He got a job at a car dealership, he wasn't as good a mechanic as Hannah or Nathan but he knew about cars and he knew how to sell them.

Hannah approached the entrance to the apartment block and pressed the intercom button that corresponded to her brother's apartment. The door opened with a shrill sound. Hannah opened the door and just as she walked in another woman did.

"Oh sorry." Hannah excused herself, holding the door open so the girl could enter.

"Thank you"

She had to look at her twice. Hannah could see that this woman was incredibly beautiful. That woman exuded sensuality and confidence when she walked. Hannah had to force herself not to gawk for too long.

The young woman looked at her too, but not with as much adoration as Hannah did. Maybe it was because of the scars. Yes, it was always because of the scars, they scared anyone.

Hannah closed the door and walked towards the elevator. The woman was walking in front of her, probably towards the elevator too, swaying her hips from side to side. Hannah had to force herself not to look down.

You are no better than any man, Hannah Clayton…

The elevator arrived and they both got in. Hannah cursed when she saw the girl press the button corresponding to the floor Hannah had to go to.

This is going to be uncomfortable...

The wait seemed eternal, the elevator was also old and it seemed like it wanted to laugh at Hannah going slower than usual. The elevator was also small, Hannah was much bigger than the girl, and took up almost all the space. She had to press her back against the wall and leave the bag between her boots to take up as little space as possible. The woman was in front of her, she sighed and brushed her hair to the side, an aroma of sweet perfume crossed her nose. It was nice, very nice. Hannah probably reeked of sweat. She was returning from a long mission with the 141, it had been a very long trip and it was the end of summer. She wanted to take a shower as soon as she set foot in Connor's apartment.

Finally, the doors opened. The woman was the first to come out, and then Hannah.

Hannah reached the door that corresponded to her brother's apartment. She pressed the bell a couple of times. The woman stopped at the next door, and without looking at her for a moment, she took out her keys and entered her house.

Hannah was staring at the door to the woman's apartment when the door in front of her opened.

"Here you are!" Connor's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

Hannah turned to look at her brother and smiled. The two melted in a warm embrace, patting each other's backs and ruffling each other's hair.

"Did you miss me that much?" Hannah joked.

"Not in your wildest dreams," Connor responded, laughing. "Come in. The trip must have been long, right?"

"You wouldn't even imagine..." Hannah sighed as she entered her brother's apartment.

_________

Hannah played with the little that remained of the beer at the bottom of the jar, shaking the mug slightly, watching as the amber liquid spun around, creating a small whirlpool.

She sighed and raised her head. Where the fuck was Connor? He had promised to spend a good night in the pub together, drinking and catching up on what had happened these last few months, telling stories and laughing until she fell out of her chair. It had been like that from the beginning but after a couple of hours Connor excused himself to go to the bathroom. More than fifteen minutes had passed and he hadn’t returned.

The pub had a lively atmosphere, there were people dancing where the tables didn't get in the way, there was live music, a happy band playing almost folk music. People laughed, patted each other on the back, told dark humor jokes, talked about deep conversations or simply drowned their sorrows with a good scotch.

But there she was. Starting to get bored, thinking about getting up and going to find her little brother. Finally she had enough, and with a grunt she finished the beer in one gulp. She slammed the jug on the table perhaps with too much force, luckily it didn't break. She stood up, almost knocking the chair to the floor. She walked among the people, her large and imposing figure helped a little, people moved aside as she passed, looking at her with curiosity, or even horror. The scars, they were always the scars... but she was already used to them, those marks had already been part of her for more than a couple of years, she had accepted them. So she ignored the people and walked with her chin up.

She approached the bar to ask the barlady about her brother but when she arrived she realized that said barlady was at the other end of the bar, with both elbows resting on the wood, with a silly smile listening to Connor's stories. Hannah couldn't believe it, she left her brother alone for five minutes and he had already found a girl to flirt with. She just hoped that if Connor was successful, it would be better if he fucked her in a hotel and not at home. Hannah had had a very long trip, after a very long mission, and the last thing she wanted was to not be able to sleep because of the fucking banging on the wall and the moaning of a one-night stand that wasn't even for her.

Hannah whistled trying to get her brother's attention. Connor, who now seemed to be very focused watching how the girl read the future in the palm of his hand, raised his head when he recognized his sister's peculiar whistle. Hannah always whistled, to get someone's attention, when she was happy, or just to annoy. They don't call her Sparrow for nothing.

When Connor found his sister among the people, he showed a pitiful smile, wanting to apologize with his eyes. But Hannah only showed a look without any kind of grace. Signifying that she wasn’t happy. Connor shrugged and winked at Hannah. She rolled her eyes and gave the middle finger. Connor responded by motioning that they would talk later but Hannah didn't believe him. So she turned around and walked towards the table where she had previously been sitting. She grabbed her jacket, an old black leather race jacket with a couple of old patches, and her helmet. And she went out into the street.

The cold night air felt like a reward. Hannah took a deep breath as she put on her jacket. Outside everything was calmer, there were a couple of people smoking and talking in a low tone. Few people were walking on the street. It was already very late at night.

She took out her cell phone and started texting Connor.

Hannah (01:24 am): I'm going home, I'm taking my motorcycle.

Connor (01:24 am): Come on Han! You're not going to leave me lying here, are you?

Hannah (01:25 am): call a taxi. Suffer the consequences of leaving your sister for a one night stand.

Connor (01:25 am): She is pretty right? I already have her in love.

Hannah (01:25 am): Whatever you say... I'm going home. If I hear a single moan tonight I swear I'll lock you on the balcony.

Connor (01:26 am): You love me too much to do that sis ;)

Hannah (01:26 am): Not enough.

She locked the phone and put it in the pocket of her pants. She began to walk in search of her prized motorcycle. She had only had one beer all night, she felt fine, with all her senses alert. Although maybe she would wait a little before driving. Just in case. Even so, the walk would go well. She had to park some distance from the pub. It was horrible to park in big cities, Hannah hated driving in big cities, too many people, too many cars, too many rules.

She kept both hands in the pockets of her jacket, she walked in silence, only listening to the sound of her boots when she walked. Enjoying the night, and the silence. She was too used to noise, to the big engines of military trucks constantly roaring, to the noisy blades of helicopters, to gunshots and explosions. So sometimes when everything was quiet it could be overwhelming, but that time it wasn't, she enjoyed the noises of the night, the crickets and the distant cars.

Finally she could see her prized motorcycle a few meters away, perfectly parked. A Kawasaki ninja zx-10r in a matte black color. Sparrow fell more in love every time she saw her. She bought it when she was only 18 years old with money saved from the cars she used to fix in her father's garage. It was her favorite vehicle, that beauty could reach 320 kilometers per hour, with a weight of 170 kg and about 175 horsepower. 998 cc four-cylinder engine. That motorcycle had been designed to win championships. Over the years Hannah managed to improve it, replacing and repairing parts. It was like her baby.

She reached her motorcycle, when suddenly she heard voices in an alley.

"Let go of me! Are you fucking deaf?!" A woman's voice was heard coming from that direction.

Hannah frowned, strangely leaving the helmet on the motorcycle.

"Stop moving you bitch!" A man exclaimed.

There was a sound of a slap and a short screech.

That's when Hannah didn't hesitate to intervene. Standing idly and listening made her just as guilty. So she ducked into the alley, hands shoved inside her jacket pockets.

"May I know what all this fuss is about?" She asked in a demanding tone.

She realized that there were three people there, two men who looked like two gorillas taken from the zoo and a woman. They were grabbing her by the arms.

Hannah looked at the girl a little more to make sure what her condition was. She was surprised to realize that it was the same girl she met in the elevator that morning. It was hard to forget a face like that. Her lip was split, blood staining her dark lipstick.

Sparrow gritted her teeth, feeling anger beginning to boil.

"And who the hell are you? Get out of here you bitch." The man on the right threatened.

"Leave her alone. Now." Hannah ordered with a frown. Her expression could scare even the devil himself.

"Or what?" The guy on the left scoffed, raising his chin.

"I won't repeat it again."

That gorilla laughed and began to approach with an air of grandeur.

"I will repeat it again. Or what?"

He licked his lips, inspecting Hannah from top to bottom. She ignored him completely, rather she glanced at the woman. The woman seemed scared, she hadn't said a word since Hannah had arrived. Maybe she was in shock and unable to speak.

"Look, pretty girl... Unless you want what's here like that little bitch over there." The man grabbed his crotch in a lewd and disgusting way, while pointing his thumb at the other woman. "You better get out or you're going to have a very bad time."

The man approached until he was a few centimeters away from Hannah. He didn't count on her being taller than him. That poor guy had to lift his head to look her in the eyes. He tried to hide his astonishment by biting the inside of his cheek. On the other hand, Hannah remained stoic, without moving a single muscle, without blinking, with a murderous look that penetrated his eyes.

"Damn what happened to your face?" The man asked mocking Hannah's scars.

"If you take one more step I'm going to break your teeth." Hannah spat contemptuously, ignoring that comment.

The man laughed and looked at his companion, who laughed too. Being completely unaware of who they were messing with.

The man didn't listen, he took another step.

"Or what?" He mocked, moving his face closer.

Suddenly the creak of a broken septum was heard and the man was on the ground holding his bleeding nose while grunting loudly in pain. Hannah shook her hand, relaxing her muscles and inspected her knuckles, they were bloody but the blood wasn't hers.

"I warned you, right?" Hannah raised an eyebrow, remaining completely calm. "Now let her go, or you'll end up worse than him." Hannah looked at the second man.

"Damn bitch..." the guy with the broken nose stood up ready to hit Hannah. Trying to catch her off guard, he threw a punch but only managed to hit the air. Hannah dodged it with great agility and hit him on the nose again. This time the punch was so hard that the back of the man's head hit the wall and he was knocked unconscious.

Hannah sighed and shook her head. It was always the same, the men weren’t able to stay on the ground after the first warning. She then looked over her shoulder at the second gorilla. The remaining guy took that look as a challenge rather than a warning. So he pushed the girl and lunged at Hannah.

The sergeant perfectly dodged the punches he threw. And when she found the perfect opportunity she threw a left hook that landed right in the pit of his stomach. The guy doubled over, clutching his abdomen. And without missing the opportunity Hannah struck just below his chin. The man staggered backwards until he collapsed on the ground, also unconscious.

Sparrow took a breath, catching her breath a little. Two KOs in less than two minutes, Hannah should pat herself on the shoulder for that. After that she remembered the girl, she looked for her. She found her a few meters away from her, she had her eyes fixed on the two unconscious guys on the ground.

"Hey... Are you okay?" Hannah approached her worriedly, wanting to make sure she was okay. "It's all over–"

But when the woman saw that suddenly another huge shadow was hovering over her, she got scared and didn’t hesitate to punch her hard in the nose. She staggered a couple of steps back. That took Sparrow completely by surprise. She didn't expect it, nor could she believe that her reflexes had failed her. Maybe she was too entranced by the other girl's beauty.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" The woman covered her mouth with both hands, completely surprised and regretful.

Hannah turned her face again and looked at her completely bewildered.

"Ouch!" Hannah complained holding the bridge of her nose.

"My goodness! It was completely unintentional!" The woman approached her worried. "You took me by surprise and I was scared. God... I'm so sorry..."

"It’s okay... It’s my fault. I got close when I shouldn't have." Hannah tried to excuse herself, trying to make light of it.

"Let's see. Let me take a look..." the woman walked over and took Hannah's face in her hands.

For a moment Hannah's heart felt like a shotgun blast. She felt terribly nervous, having such a pretty girl so close.

"Oh my god, you're bleeding."

Where was she supposed to look? To the eyes? No, she would look like a fucking psychopath.Up? Down? For God's sake, not down! When Hannah looked away and looked at the floor she was faced with incredible cleavage. By God, that woman was wearing a dark outfit capable of taking anyone's breath away. And it had definitely had an effect on Sparrow. A very tight tank top with semi-transparencies. A skirt so short and tight that it left little to the imagination, showing off slender legs. In addition to heels that seemed impossible to walk in. Her body was covered in ink, tattoos that hugged her brown skin. Japanese style? A full body irezumi? Wow.

"It won't stop bleeding... Come on. We can't leave you like this." The woman's voice brought Hannah out of her thoughts.

She grabbed Sparrow by the wrist and led her to what looked like small stairs with neon lights that descended a couple of meters until they reached a back door of some place. The bass of some music could be heard shaking the walls. When she opened the door, music filled Hannah's ears. She led her down a long, gloomy hallway to the main room. It was big, it was dark, there were neon lights everywhere, a bar to drink, tables and chairs, sofas and armchairs scattered around, surrounding platforms with a pole dancing bar in the center. Alcohol, drugs, music... There were dancers on the stages, dancing with pure sensuality and fluidity, doing incredible pirouettes on the pole. The customers who admired them didn't seem the friendliest, to say the least. Men in suits smoking cigars, gangsters looking like they had killed someone that night, or simply heartless men trying to drown their sorrows or escape from their wives...

At that moment Hannah realized what kind of place they had just entered. For a moment she wondered what she was getting into and why she let himself be dragged into the den of the wolf. Maybe to do something interesting that boring night, maybe just to tell Connor the story in the morning, or just because the girl was pretty.

Oh my god, Hannah...

The unknown woman ignored what was happening in that room and took her down another hallway to a dressing room. She opened the door. There were dancers touching up their makeup in front of incredibly well-lit mirrors. Women changing inside small fitting rooms or simply sitting in armchairs, gossiping or chatting. Everyone turned and fell silent when they noticed the new presences.

The woman ignored the rest and led Hannah to some armchairs at the back.

"Ashley can you get me some ice and the first aid kit?" The woman asked, as she took some tissues out of her purse and handed them to Sparrow.

A blonde dancer got up from her seat and brought her the first aid kit and ice.

"Can I know what happened? Have you hit another client again?" The blonde asked, observing the situation.

"What? No! Well..." the woman thought for a moment "yes, I hit her but it was an accident."

"Amara... she's bleeding..." that woman named Ashley raised an eyebrow as she rested both hands on her hips.

Amara… 

"Who is that big girl?" Another woman with long braids asked, biting her lip, "She's cute."

Hannah didn't know where to look, she felt like a fawn in the headlights of a car. She was trying to concentrate on stopping the bleeding with the handkerchief. Luckily, little by little it was reducing.

"Mind your business, Tayla!" Ashley scolded her. Then she looked back at both women. "And what exactly happened?" Asked.

"I went to get some air when those two idiotic sergeants came out too and started harassing me. I hit one of them in the balls and they ended up getting angrier. But she appeared and left them unconscious on the ground. Apparently it's the only way that they learn..."

"And what did you expect, what would happen? You know them, they are soldiers! They think they have the right to touch us and use us like whores. It doesn't enter their tiny brain that the merchandise can’t be touched. Their neurons are barely useful for shoot" Ashley rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

"Fucking soldiers... it's always the same with them. They think they're fucking kings of the world, that the rules don't work for them. They abuse their power, their position. If it were up to me they would all go to hell..." The woman spat with contempt.

Hannah swallowed and stood still and rigid. Apparently someone had a deep hatred towards the army. Sparrow felt like she was in a field full of mines. It would be best to keep her mouth shut.

Ashley chuckled and nodded.

"Anyway, I'll go tell security. We have to get those idiots out of the alley. They'll scare the customers."

Ashley ended up leaving, leaving them both alone.

"Let me take a look." The woman approached again, had Hannah remove the handkerchief from her nose and checked the condition of the nose. "It's not broken and the bleeding has finally stopped." The woman murmured in concentration, ignoring the small distance between the two. "Here, put some ice on your nose. It will help with the inflammation."

Hannah smiled gratefully as she placed the ice on the bridge of her nose. It hurt but she had received worse blows.

"You haven't told me your name yet," Sparrow muttered.

The girl looked into her eyes and smiled flirtatiously.

"Is that your way of flirting?"

Hannah shrugged. "I just want to know whose nose I almost broke for saving her from some bastards."

The girl chuckled and sat down next to Sparrow. She had a very sweet laugh.

"Amara." She introduced herself. "Amara Thompson. And... can I know my heroine's name?" She raised both eyebrows, curious.

Sparrow smiled.

"Hannah Clayton." 

"Clayton? Are you Connor's sister? I remember seeing you this morning."

"Yes, well... I have a face that is difficult to forget." She pointed to the scars on her face with a small smile.

Amara had a sparkle in her eyes, she stared at the scars for a while. She was dying to ask but she didn't. Hannah was grateful.

There was silence.

"How do you feel?" Amara asked.

"I'm fine. It's not the first time I've been hit in the face." Hannah responded, trying to sound like a tough girl.

"A dangerous life eh?" Amara joked, resting her chin on her hand.

Hannah laughed. "One could say, Yes."

Amara smiled and looked towards the rest of the dancers. They all seemed to be talking and whispering about this new big girl. She sighed.

"Come on. We have to get you out of here before my boss realizes that I let you into the dressing room without permission." Amara got up, grabbed her bag, and waited for Hannah.

She got up too and they left through the same place they came in. A cold breeze picked up just as they both stepped out into the alley. Amara rubbed her bare arms.

"You can never trust the weather in Hull..." she murmured.

Hannah heard her and without thinking much she handed her her jacket.

"Take it."

Amara looked at the jacket and then at Hannah. She raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Is this another of your ways of flirting? I've seen this one many times."

Hannah rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. Was she flirting? Not even she knew it.

"Take it however you want. But you're shaking like a leaf." She reached out further, insisting on grabbing the jacket.

Amara looked at the jacket and then at Hannah. She took a few seconds to observe her body build. The broad shoulders and back, big arms, the tattoos… She seemed to enjoy the view a little. She wondered what she must do to have a body like that.

"And what about you? Aren't you cold?" She looked into her eyes again.

"I grew up in the Swiss Alps. I think I can handle it."

"I forgot that you are Connor's sister." Amara answered, ending up accepting the jacket.

Sparrow didn't overlook how big that article of clothing was on her, but she didn't say anything.

"And temporarily your neighbor. At least for a couple of months." Hannah started walking.

Amara followed her.

"Did you come to visit your brother?" She asked.

The tallest one nodded. "I haven't seen him in a long time, so I thought it was a good time to pay him a visit." Hannah looked at her "do you want a ride home? I have the bike right there" she pointed out.

"Oh~ biker girl huh..." Amara raised an eyebrow. "Flirting again?"

Sparrow laughed hiding a small blush.

"We both live in the same apartment block. I'm just saying it would be easier for you if I took you." Hannah justified.

Amara thought about it for a bit and ended up nodding.

"It's okay. Just don't try anything strange."

Hannah raised both hands.

"You have my word, ma lady."

They reached the motorcycle. Hannah untied her helmet and climbed on. She offered the helmet to Amara.

"I only have one. My brother has the other one. He's probably sticking his tongue deep into a waitress." Sparrow grimaced as she remembered why she was going home alone. Well, not so alone this time. She began to be grateful that her brother had abandoned her that night.

"Won't it be dangerous for you?" Amara asked accepting the helmet and placing it on her head.

"My head is hard enough don't worry." Sparrow joked.

Amara smiled, although because of the dark visor Hannah couldn't see it. Sparrow offered her hand to help her onto the bike. Amara accepted it, when she took Hannah's hand she realized that it was incredibly warm despite the cold, it was also somewhat rough and full of cavities. A fairly damaged skin. Amara's curiosity only grew.

She leaned on Hannah's hand and shoulder, and ignoring the heat of her cheeks, she ended up getting on the motorcycle. Right behind the her.

"Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?" Hannah asked, putting the keys in the ignition, and starting the engine, letting the beast roar.

"A couple of times. But not on this type of motorcycle." Amara was a little unsure, she didn't know where to put her hands.

Hannah smiled as she looked over her shoulder at her. She gently grabbed Amara's hands and wrapped them around her torso.

They’re so small, so cold.

"Place them here. Hold on tight." Hannah advised in a low, intimate tone.

She looked up, finding a black visor looking back at her. They looked at each other for a few seconds. Hannah was trying to find those beautiful brown eyes behind the tinted plastic, but she found nothing.

Finally she realized and cleared her throat in embarrassment. She looked ahead and started the motorcycle, trying to hide a slight blush.

"Let's go then." Sparrow announced, beginning to drive through the streets of Hull.

She had a hard time concentrating, she had her eyes focused ahead, on the road, both hands firmly on the handlebars, hee foot making sure to change to the right gear and maintaining a safe speed. But her mind was somewhere else, she felt Amara's body pressed against her back, her breasts pressed against her every time she braked or slowed down. Her palms on her abdomen, Amara moved them from time to time to get a better grip. It seemed like she was caressing her skin over her shirt. Hannah could feel Amara's face in the helmet just behind her ear. Her presence tickled the back of her neck, making her hair stand on end.

Hannah please…

At first Amara was tense, nervous. She was afraid of falling. She pressed herself against Hannah and hugged herself so tightly she feared she would break her ribs. Every time the bike leaned to turn, her heart raced and her legs tightened. But little by little she learned to relax. She realized that Hannah knew how to drive well, that she wasn’t like those reckless motorists who didn't care about speed limits. She could enjoy the curves, let the bike itself decide to distribute the weight. Amara learned to lean with every turn. It was a nice way to enjoy the city. It was different. The wind ruffled her long black hair. She would probably end up disheveled but she didn't care. She didn't care about everything anymore, she was enjoying it, she even smiled all the time like a little girl. She felt safe behind that broad back. She could feel Hannah's muscles tense as the bike turned or just moved a little. Sparrow's body also radiated heat, it was like hugging a stove, the cold no longer mattered. Although now what did get hot were her cheeks, her heart was racing, but not out of fear, it was because of something else. She still didn't know why.

Still she allowed herself the luxury of relaxing, resting her chin on Hannah's shoulder. Big, hard but padded too. For a moment she wished the trip would never end.

But all good things come to an end. Hannah parked in front of the corresponding apartment block. Shee turned off the engine and took out the keys. She helped Amara get off the motorcycle and then she got off herself.

Amara took off her helmet and handed it back to Hannah with a smile. Sparrow nodded, smiling like an idiot too.

They both entered the building and then into the elevator. Always in a comfortable silence. Finally they reached the apartment and it was time to say goodbye.

Amara took off her jacket, somewhat reluctantly. She liked it, it smelled good. She wanted to keep it but ended up giving it back to Hannah.

"Thank you for bringing me home." Amara smiled, tucking a strand behind her ear.

That action didn’t go unnoticed by Sparrow, she had to swallow to calm down.

"It hasn't been any trouble." Hannah massaged the back of her neck and smiled goofily.

"And… thanks for saving me from those idiots. And sorry about the… nose. I didn't mean to."

"Don't worry about it. I'm glad I was around to help."

There was a long and somewhat awkward silence this time.

"I'd better go home. It's a little late. You should sleep too."

"Oh! Yeah yeah. Of course. It's quite late."

"It was nice meeting you Hannah Clayton." Amara opened the door to her apartment.

"I liked it too."

"Good night." Amara said goodbye.

"Yeah good night."

In the end Amara smiled and disappeared behind the door. Leaving Sparrow alone in the hallway, with a goofy smile and a hand raised as if she wanted to go after her.

When everything fell silent Hannah sighed and her smile disappeared. A strange feeling of loneliness invaded her inside.

She shook her head and walked into Connor's apartment.

"What the fuck are you thinking Han?" She muttered to herself as she realized how agitated her mind was because of Amara. She didn't even know her. She was a stranger. 

The apartment was empty, no one was there. Connor would probably spend the night outside. She kicked the boots off her feet and took off her shirt and pants on the way to her room.

She ended up lying down on her corresponding bed. Looking at the ceiling. Thinking about what had happened today. Her face still hurt. That made her smile. In the end she sighed and closed her eyes trying to calm her thoughts.

Unconsciously wishing to meet Amara again, she ended up letting herself be carried away by the tide of sleep, falling deeply asleep.

___________

Several days passed, Hannah met Amara in the elevator a few times, they chatted for a moment and then parted ways.

Connor told her that Amara had been his neighbor for a couple of years, and that she became a very close friend.

"And that interest in her Han? Have you fallen in love?"

"Shut the fuck up, Connor."

"Haha I'm just saying you have nothing to lose by trying."

A week passed like this, with short encounters in the elevator. Amara always smiled at her and stopped to talk to her. At least she was no longer looking at her strangely as if she had seen a weirdo. That was progress.

Now Hannah was in the parking lot of the apartment block with her brother. She had her hands in the engine of Connor's car. According to him, it made strange noises.

"Damn it Connor, the engine belt is destroyed. When was the last time you changed it."

Connor was leaning against the side of the car with his arms crossed, watching his sister work.

"Well I don’t know."

"This car was dad's, it has more than 150,000 km on it. It's older than you and me combined." Hannah raised her head to look at her brother.

"AND?"

Hannah looked at him like her brother really was an idiot.

"The timing belt has to be changed every 100,000 kilometers, idiot."

"Hey, you're the expert, I'm not." Connor defended himself.

Hannah sighed.

"I'm going to go buy a new timing belt this afternoon."

Suddenly a pair of heels was heard approaching in the distance.

"Hey guys." Amara walked past the Clayton siblings.

Hannah couldn't help but notice the incredible dress Amara was wearing. It was black, short, tight to the body, showing off firm, long legs. The black accentuated her tattoos.

Connor discreetly kicked Sparrow's boot. Hannah glared at him while Connor smirked and winked at her.

"Amara, dear! How are you? On your way to work?" Connor walked up to her and gave her a quick hug.

"That's right, debts and bills won't pay themselves." Amara sighed, reciprocating the hug.

A small wave of childish jealousy hit Hannah. But she didn't say anything.

"What are you two up to?" Amara asked separating herself from Connor.

"Hannah is checking my car. It's been making strange noises for several days."

Amara studied Hannah with a look that made the taller girl's legs tremble.

"Ah. Do you know about cars? Like Connor?" Amara asked.

Hannah straightened her back and wiped her hands on an old rag.

"I know how to sell cars. Hannah knows how to repair them. She's a mechanic."

"That's interesting." Amara smiled without taking her eyes off Hannah. "I think mine has some problem with the steering. It doesn't turn very well."

"I can take a look at it when you have free time."

"That sounds good."

Connor looked at them both as if he were watching a tennis match, a mischievous smile on his face. Oh he knew very well what he had to do.

"Well! I have to go, I have an appointment with a client and I can't cancel it."

Hannah raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You didn't tell me you had work today."

"Well, sis. I don't need to tell you everything I do in my life." He patted Hannah's shoulder and winked. "Amara, love, it's been a pleasure seeing you today. I hope work goes well."

"See you around, Connor." Amara said goodbye.

And before Hannah could reproach, Connor was already gone. Leaving Hannah and Amara alone.

Hannah could have felt a little nervous. The silence was too uncomfortable for her so she pretended to pay attention to the engine. She heard Amara approach.

"I didn't know you were a mechanic." Amara commented.

"Yeah, well... My family is quite linked to cars. My father was a mechanic, and my older brother and I followed in his footsteps. I run a small garage with my brother in Switzerland."

"That sounds interesting."

There was another silence. Hannah didn't like silence, she felt that at any moment Amara would get bored and leave.

Oh god Hannah what are you thinking? Amara has to leave, she has to go to work. Work…

"Do you want me to take a look at it?"

Great Hannah…

"Mh?" Amara looked at her confused.

"To the car. I can do it in a moment. Or at least see what it's about." Then she rubbed the back of her neck and looked away. "If you have free time of course."

"Sure. I still have time." Amara lied. She was in a hurry, but she didn't care, her boss could wait a little longer.

Sparrow nodded and closed the hood of Connor's car.

"Which one is your car?"

Sparrow followed Amara a few meters until they reached an old and somewhat dilapidated car.

Hannah whistled in surprise.

"I think your car has more problems than just the steering. In fact I don't know if it will pass the next technical inspection." Sparrow examined the car, it was a gem from the past that needed to be retired, it was barely in one piece. "Have you thought about changing it?"

Amara thought about the answer a little.

"I can't afford it and I'm too fond of that car to get rid of it so easily."

Sparrow found something hidden behind those beautiful brown eyes. There was a story behind that car so she simply nodded.

“Then it'll be better if I take a look at it. Maybe it’s not that bad.”

She lay face up on the ground and crawled until she was right under the car.

“Let's see…” Hannah took out a small flashlight and began examining the pieces.

Amara stood watching, admiring, even enjoying the views. Hannah's shirt had risen slightly showing part of her abdomen. Amara bit her lower lip unconsciously. She realized that there were also scars on that part of the body. A wave of curiosity overtook her, but she said nothing.

“The axle seems to be fine, there is rust and some dents but nothing serious that could affect the steering of the car.” Hannah commented, getting out from under the vehicle and standing up. She pointed to the door that led to the driver's seat. “Do you mind if I look inside?”

“Oh! Sure." Amara took out the keys and unlocked the car.

Hannah got into the car and sat in the driver's seat. She started checking some things.

“I think I already found the problem. It's the steering wheel. It is too loose or not properly adjusted to the steering column.”

Amara crossed her arms and leaned against the car.

"And what does it mean?" She asked looking into Hannah's eyes.

“It means I could fix it in an afternoon. I only need a few tools and there would be no need to take it to a mechanic.” Hannah responded by getting out of the car and resting her elbow on the roof of the vehicle.

Amara sighed in relief.

Hannah watched her for a moment. Hesitating whether to say something or not. But in the end she ended up saying it.

Living only happens once.

“But…” Hannah spoke again making Amara look up. “My services aren’t free.” she smiled sideways.

Amara's smile spread but she looked away. She snorted and reconnected her gaze with Hannah.

"How much are we talking about?" Amara supported her weight at first.

“Mmm…” Sparrow thought a little “ a dinner?”

It took Amara a little while to react but she ended up letting out a giggle that sounded incredibly sweet to Hannah.

“Is that what you ask for in return?” Amara raised an eyebrow. She looked more relaxed.

"It's too much? “We can leave it for coffee if you want.”

Amara bit her lip again and shook her head. A light blush rose to her cheeks. Hannah's heart skipped a beat.

“No, dinner sounds good. “I just… I didn’t think you’d ask me out on a date in exchange for fixing my car.”

“Well… money is too boring sometimes.” Hannah shrugged.

“I wasn't talking about money.” Amara continued smiling despite the conversation. It was like Hannah always gave him that goofy smile. She didn't dislike him.

“Oh no?”

Amara chuckled and shook her head.

"It doesn't matter." Amara took a step forward, standing inches from Hannah. She was wearing heels but Hannah was still taller. She e motioned with her finger for Hannah to lower her head a little. The taller one obeyed and Amara took the opportunity to leave a tender kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for checking my car, Hannah.” Amara thanked in a honeyed, almost flirtatious tone.

Hannah froze at that very moment. She never thought lips could feel so soft. How a single kiss could make her fall to her knees as if someone had shot her in the heart. But this time it was a shot that did feel good.

"Tonight. “Come pick me up at the club when I finish work.” Amara turned and walked towards her car, swaying her hips.

“But by the time you finish work it will be too late, all the restaurants will be closed.” Hannah responded confused.

Amara turned around just before getting into her car and flashed a mischievous smile.

“Then surprise me. By the way, I don't eat meat."

And without saying anything else, she got into the car, started and drove away, leaving Hannah with the word in her mouth.

And now what was she going to do?

_____________

Hannah parked in front of the club. She turned off the engine and took the keys out of the ignition. She stopped for a moment to think. She realized that she was nervous, terribly nervous. On no mission was she as nervous as she is now. She was always ready for anything, she wasn't afraid of death, bullets or fire. And now a simple date made her legs tremble.

She wanted to laugh. She had known Amara for a few weeks and was already making her laugh like a schoolgirl.

She took the helmet off her head and shook her hair a little. She got off the bike and adjusted the backpack on her back.

She opened the door to the club and entered. The guard at the door never took his eyes off Hannah, judging what she was doing there and whether she was going to cause problems in the club.

The place was illuminated by Neon lights. There were people sitting on the couches and on the tables, admiring the dancers who moved sensually around the pole, doing pirouettes and acrobatics, moving their bodies fluidly and slowly.

Hannah still wasn't used to that environment. She had never been in a place like this. She still remembered her old teammates from the Swiss armed forces, they always joked about going to a strip club after going out for a few beers all together. Hannah was never interested in that.

She realized that she was in the middle and was starting to get in the way of people passing by. So she approached the bar and sat on one of the high stools, leaving her backpack on the floor between her boots. A barwoman approached Sparrow as soon as she sat down.

"What do you want to drink?"

Hannah looked up.

"Oh no. Nothing thanks. I have to drive and I’m waiting for someone.”

The girl raised an eyebrow.

“Oh. Are you a client? Are you waiting for one of the girls?”

"No. I’m not—..."

Suddenly a sudden change of music interrupted her. Hannah turned and saw that the neon lights and spotlights had focused on a platform.

People began to cheer and clap excitedly. The music became slow, sensual, sexy. The silhouette of a woman appeared on the platform, there were too many people sitting around and standing, Hannah had a hard time seeing who it was. So she stood up, raising her head above those of the rest.

And that's when she felt her heart speed up, her pupils get bigger and her breathing hitch.

Amara was on top of that stage, ready to leave everyone drooling, the show was hers, as were the hearts and wallets of those who were there. She was twirling around the dancing pole in dangerously high heels. Hannah wondered how she could move so well in that type of footwear. Amara followed the rhythm of the music, running her hands over her almost naked body. A tiny bikini full of diamonds that covered just what was necessary and left nothing to the imagination. The lights highlighted the perfect makeup, her skin, her tattoos that hugged her arms, legs and back.

Everyone was cheering her, whistling and throwing bills at her while Amara did incredible pirouettes on the bar, some of which seemed impossible for Amara to stay there, defying gravity. The show was pure sensuality.

Hannah was unable to blink, she didn't want to look away even for a moment, she could barely keep her mouth closed.

She still wondered how she had gotten a date with a woman like her. She didn't even know how she got it.

“You must be Hannah.” A female voice forced her to look away from what for her was paradise.

A blonde woman wearing an outfit similar to Amara's had approached her.

"How do you know my name?" Hannah asked over the music.

“Amara doesn't stop talking about you. I'm Ashley. We met a few weeks ago. “When the girl up there almost broke your nose.” Ashley pointed at Amara who was still dancing on the platform.

Hannah remembered the girl Amara talked to that day she first walked into the club.

"I remember you."

“This is Amara's last show, then her turn will be over. I’ll take you to a quieter place so you can wait for her there.” Ashley offered.

Hannah had to admit that all those people were starting to wear her down quite a bit. She didn't like big crowds, she wasn't used to that. So she agreed, grabbed the backpack again and followed Ashley to some armchairs separated from the rest, in a corner of the large room. There were armchairs in the shape of a circle with a table in the middle, they seemed much more comfortable. The music was still loud but at least she wasn't surrounded by people who wouldn't stop pushing.

“You will be better here.”

"Thank you." Hannah nodded and placed her backpack and helmet on the couch. She also took off her jacket and left it with the rest.

She waited patiently, although she was nervous, it was her first date with Amara and she wanted everything to be perfect. While waiting she could hear the giggles and comments of other dancers. They seemed to be whispering about her, she tried to ignore them but eventually she got fed up and gave them a threatening look. When she looked at both women she realized that they weren’t making fun of her but rather they were smiling flirtatiously and biting their lower lip.

“You're the big girl from the other day~! Why don't you come spend a little time with us, dear? I won't charge you anything, your pretty face and those big arms are enough for me~…” One of the dancers flirted by resting both elbows on the bar, accentuating her breasts.

The other woman giggled.

Hannah stood there watching as both dancers ogled her. Not really knowing what to say, she wasn't used to that kind of compliment.

“Huh…” 

“Did the cat eat your tongue?” Do you want me to give it back to you?”

“Sophie, Tayla, you are next.” Amara's voice was like a divine apparition arriving at the perfect time to save Hannah.

Amara finally arrived, she was wearing the same dress as that same afternoon, black, tight, stunning. She hadn't looked up yet, she was checking to make sure she had all her belongings inside her purse.

“Ooh~...Are you going to steal our fun Amara?” One of the girls pouted. "You are jealous?"

“If you want the money to keep raining you can get on that stage and move your ass.” Amara said with a serious tone.

Both girls rolled their eyes and walked away. Amara sighed and approached Sparrow.

"Sorry. Those two are really scandalous.” She sighed, looking tired from work.

Hannah smiled. Even though she was extremely tired, Amara looked incredible. She still couldn't get that incredible dance out of her head.

"It doesn't matter. Are you ready?" Hannah asked.

Amara looked up. She noticed that Hannah had subtly dressed up for her. She liked her style. It suited her very well.

"Of course. Come on." Amara smiled.

“After you, ma lady.” Sparrow said as she grabbed the jacket and her belongings.

Amara chuckled and they both left the strip club.

Amara already knew Sparrow's motorcycle so she approached it without thinking too much. Hannah did the same and pulled a second helmet out of her backpack.

“This time I came more prepared.” Hannah said as she offered the helmet to her.

Amara accepted it and put it on.

“Where are you taking me to dinner?” Amara asked curiously.

"It's a surprise. You don’t want to ruin the surprise, do you?” Hannah answered. She put on her helmet too and got on the motorcycle.

Like the first time she offered her hand to help Amara, who gladly accepted it. Hannah's heart always skipped a beat when her skin came into contact with Amara's, it was like a tingle that turned into a pleasant chill down her spine. She was unable to hide the blush that burned on her cheeks, luckily the helmet covered her face.

Amara got on the bike too, right behind Hannah.

“Do you have anything else in your backpack?” Amara asked, eyeing the backpack hanging from Sparrow's shoulders.

“I'm not going to say anything about it.” She answered with a mischievous smile.

“Hannah Clayton… What are you up to?” Amara asked suspiciously.

How sweet her name sounded between those lips...

"As I said." Hannah turned her face to look at the other woman, “I'm not going to say anything.” This time with a lower tone, even seductive one could say.

That caused Amara to bite her bottom lip, something tickling her lower belly. Too bad Hannah couldn't see it because of the helmet.

Hannah started the engine and Amara took that as a cue to wrap both arms around Sparrow's torso. Unfortunately there was a backpack in the middle and she couldn't feel the body heat of the tallest one, she was starting to get cold, she would surely ask for the jacket again. She loved that jacket.

Sparrow started and drove away. She drove for a while, leaving the narrow streets of Hull and starting to drive towards the outskirts of the city. Amara had no idea where she was taking her, a feeling of excitement settled in her stomach.

Hannah got out onto the highway and then took another road that began to climb up a small mountain, the road began to wind, becoming narrower and tighter.

Finally they reached the top of that small mountain.

"Okay. We’ve arrived." Hannah announced taking off her helmet.

Amara looked around, the road ended in a small parking lot and the rest were grassy hills and some meadows.

“Why did you bring me here?” Amara asked curiously, taking off her helmet as well.

Hannah rubbed the back of her neck, somewhat embarrassed.

“I thought… after all the noise and people at the club you might like to eat somewhere quiet.”

“In the middle of nowhere? Hannah, it's dark!” She chuckled.

Hannah didn't know if it had been a good decision to bring her here. Maybe a restaurant would have been better, one that was open until after midnight perhaps.

“But… it is a quiet place.” Amara watched the site with a smile.

That calmed Hannah's nerves a little.

Hannah got off the bike and helped Amara off as well. She left both helmets on the motorcycle and started walking towards the small mountain. Hannah turned around and realized that it was difficult for Amara to walk across the grass in those heels. So she approached her.

“Maybe I had to come in different clothes— HANNAH!” Amara exclaimed when she suddenly couldn't feel her feet on the ground anymore. Hannah carried Amara in her arms.

Amara had to put her arms around Hannah's neck for fear of falling.

"It's better this way. That way you won’t break your heels.” Hannah mentioned with a smile and continued walking with Amara in her arms.

When the shock passed, Amara began to laugh. That seemed like the most unusual date she had had in a long time. Her cheeks had turned red and her heart was jumping with excitement.

Hannah walked until she reached the other side of the mountain, away from the lights of Hull. It was a small, round mountain, not very steep.

When she thought she had reached the right place she gently placed Amara on the ground. She also put down her backpack and began to take out various things. She also took out a jacket and handed it to Amara.

“I knew you were going to forget to bring something for the cold.” Hannah said as she handed her the jacket.

Amara smiled. “I think you're starting to get to know me.” she said as she put on her jacket.

"Only a little. “I only know how to observe.”

Amara watched as Hannah set everything up until she realized what it was about.

"A picnic? Under the moonlight? How romantic~…” Amara sat on the tablecloth and looked at the food in front of her. “It's a shame there's no moon.”

“That's the good thing.” Hannah smiled.

Amara didn't quite understand it until Hannah pointed her finger at the sky. She looked up and as soon as she saw it, her lips opened in amazement. Now that they were far from the city and the light wasn’t in the way. A blanket of stars stretched across the sky, countless tiny dots wherever she looked. She had never seen so many stars together.

“Oh wow…” she murmured in amazement and unable to look away.

"Incredible right?" Hannah mentioned, but she wasn't looking at the stars, but at Amara.

“It's beautiful… I've never seen so many stars together.”

“And there are even more stars, but we would have to go further to see them all.”

They spent some time looking at the stars, Hannah showed her constellations and the most important stars or those closest to the earth. Amara listened attentively but also had her eyes lost in that spectacle of billions of small lights.

Finally Amara's stomach made an appearance and they decided to start eating. Hannah took out a small portable lantern so that they at least had a little light and it was easier to see.

They ate, enjoying every bite, the conversation flowed easily. In the end, when they finished eating, they turned off the lantern and stayed lying on the grass. It wasn't too cold, but it wasn't hot either. Autumn was beginning to appear.

“I have never seen so many stars together.” Amara murmured still amazed.

Hannah smiled.

“This isn’t even half of the stars in the sky.”

“Have you seen more?” Amara looked away from the sky to look at Hannah.

"oh yes At the base camp of Everest, Or at the top of Lhotse, or Mont Blanc…” she began to wander through her memories.

"Wait wait!" Amara sat up and looked at Hannah with an expression of disbelief. “Were you on Everest?!”

Hannah was somewhat taken by surprise but remembered that she had never spoken to Amara about that part of her life.

“Oh!” Hannah chuckled. “Haven't I told you? I am a climber. My brother and I hold six historical climbing records.”

"What?!" Amara rested both hands on Hannah's biceps and moved closer, completely surprised. "Are you kidding?! Why didn’t you ever tell me?!”

“W-well. I never had a chance to tell you.” Hannah blushed and rubbed the back of her neck, all that attention and admiration making her nervous.

She told some stories about her ascents to the highest mountains in the world, the risks she had taken, the funny anecdotes or even the most dangerous moments, but always avoiding the K2 accident. Amara listened attentively to the stories. Like a little girl being told an extraordinary adventure. His eyes sparkled with curiosity. She never thought that something like that would attract so much attention. Maybe because they were adventures so far from home and from places she had never heard of.

“Although my older brother is the famous one of the two. The one that appears on the covers of magazines and in the news. The unstoppable Nathan Clayton” Hannah laughed. “I'm just his climbing partner. Although between you and me… I have more records than him, I only let him take the credit and fame.”

“And what about your fame?” Amara asked curiously.

“I don't like the attention. Many people tend to climb for fame and money. As if it were a competition about who is the fastest or who takes the most dangerous route. I like to approach climbing with a different philosophy.”

Hannah told a half-truth. It was true that she hated the pressure that came with being a world famous climber like her brother was. Always having to reach higher and faster, risking your own life in front of millions of eyes, waiting for your next achievement. But she also had to protect her identity and her people, she was a soldier in one of the best special operations forces. She had to keep a low profile, almost anonymous, to protect herself and her family and friends. She didn't want her enemies to be able to find her so easily just by searching her name in the newspapers. In fact, she expressly asked her brother to never mention her in reports or interviews, Hannah's world records went to Nathan, her glory and achievements were given to Nathan. Even though Nathan didn't like it, he respected his sister's decision. People believed that Nathan climbed alone, no one knew of his sister's presence on the expeditions. Only very close family and friends of Hannah knew about it.

“So… a world-class professional climber but hates fame and money.” Amara summarized. “You are becoming more and more interesting, Hannah Clayton.” Amara smiled flirtatiously.

“What can I say, I'm full of surprises.” Hannah smiled and shrugged.

Amara chuckled.

“Now I understand where this is coming from.” Amara squeezed Hannah's bicep lightly. “You have to be a big, strong girl to climb those mountains, huh?”

Hannah laughed nervously and looked away trying to hide her obvious blush.

“It's not that big of a deal…”

“Mhm…” Amara rolled her eyes. She liked that nervous expression on Hannah's face. She liked watching her try to stay calm, when she was clearly a nervous, babbling mess. “No wonder you could beat up that pair of filthy soldiers.” Amara sighed and looked toward the dark horizon. “It's always the same with those bastards, they always do what they want, without caring about the consequences… without caring about the harm they do to people…”

There was silence. Hannah wanted to talk but she felt a little unsure, maybe she was entering dangerous territory.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Hannah asked a little cautiously.

Amara turned curiously to Hannah. She thought about it for a moment but ended up answering.

"Shoot."

“Why do you hate soldiers so much? It seems… something personal.”

Amara bit the inside of her cheek. And she thought about her answer.

“I don't like to generalize things. Put all the people in the same bag, you know? But always... people who work in the military, especially soldiers, are the worst customers. They think they can touch me, and use me like a cheap whore. I don't offer those services! They destroy everything, there are always fights within the club because of them. You've already seen the type of clients we have. It's better not to mess with them. But they believe they can do whatever they want, because they supposedly give their lives for this shitty country. And even though they destroy everything we must thank them for their services.” She sighed and shook her head. She was biting her lower lip and staring at the horizon. Her mind was probably somewhere else.

Hannah felt a pang in her chest. It was true that there were idiots everywhere, in the army, in the S.A.S and even in the Swiss Armed Forces. Nobody could deny that. But was Hannah really like that? Was she also abusing her position as a soldier? What would Amara think of her if she found out that she was a soldier too? She would surely hate her. And everything they had built together, no matter how small, would fall apart and Hannah would lose her.

A feeling of insecurity washed over her. She didn't want to lose Amara, at least not yet. Hannah wanted to treat herself to being with someone. Even if everything only remained a beautiful friendship. Enjoy the beautiful things until the bomb explodes.

“There’s something else… Right?” Hannah deduced from Amara's expression.

Amara swallowed and looked down at her hands nervously. Her fingers played with the black polish on her long nails. She took a breath and began to explain.

“When I was twelve years old… I lived with my parents in London. One night my mother and I went to visit my father at his work office. He had been working for a long time and we wanted to surprise him.” she took a breath, her hands shaking. “Someone decided that that building in the middle of central London would be a good place for a terrorist attack. “Someone detonated explosives and half the building collapsed.” She sighed, trying to stay calm. “There was a lot of noise and everything suddenly went dark.”

“Amara, you don't have to tell me this…” Sparrow interrupted, seeing how much this was affecting her.

Hannah just wanted to have a good time with her, she didn't want to wake up old demons.

"It's ok. I have never talked about this and I think I need to get it out of me.” Amara tried to smile but it remained in a sad face. “A group of soldiers found us in the rubble, they looked like they were from the military police or something similar. My parents were trapped under a huge piece of concrete, I was small enough that they could pull me out of the cracks, but not my parents. I listened to them... They talked about how there was nothing to do, that they couldn't get them out of there, there was no time. I begged them to help them but no one listened to me. Those soldiers were too busy arguing. When suddenly… The team leader pulled out a gun and fired twice.”

Sparrow's heart stopped.

"What?"

Amara's lip began to tremble. She shrugged her shoulders.

“That man justified himself by saying that it was an act of mercy.” Suddenly she shook her head. All that sadness turned into anger. “That supposed act of mercy ruined my life. Do you think that man cared what happened to me after he pulled the trigger? No. He didn't give a shit. That's what we are to them, numbers, setbacks, collateral damage. They don't care about us at all, they talk about saving us but we are just another excuse for them to hang more medals on their chests."

Sparrow stood thoughtfully, looking Amara in the eyes. She could see the anger and sadness welling up in those beautiful eyes. Her heart was beating very fast.

She would hate me if she found out what I am. 

“I'm sorry I made you remember that.” Hannah apologized.

Amara's anger lessened, her eyes softening as she saw Hannah's worried expression. With those big brown puppy eyes...

“It's okay Han. I don’t know why but I feel like I can trust you.” Amara looked at the sky again. “I have carried this burden alone for too long.”

Hannah nodded.

They stayed for a while longer until it was too late. They both got up and picked up their things. They returned to the motorcycle.

Amara put her hands in the pockets of the jacket Hannah lent her. It smelled like her, it was pleasant, that aroma seemed to protect her from the cold. Then she noticed what Hannah was doing.

"What are you doing?" She asked curiously, approaching the one from behind, who was kneeling near her motorcycle.

Thanks to a screwdriver that Hannah had in her backpack, she managed to unscrew the motorcycle's license plate. Then she put everything in her backpack, including the license plate.

“Just in case.” Hannah stood up and winked at her.

Amara raised an eyebrow.

“Removing the license plate is a crime Hannah. What are you up to?”

“I thought we could make the trip home more… fun.” Hannah smiled with mock innocence.

Amara was silent for a few seconds but when she understood it she chuckled.

“I knew you had been so good on the road for too long.”

“Come on, what is life without a little adrenaline?” Hannah tilted her head, using her puppy eyes to try to convince her.

Amara rolled her eyes. She bit her lower lip, it was difficult for her to refuse those little brown eyes.

"Do you trust me?" Hannah asked walking up to her and holding out her hand.

Amara looked at that large hand, calloused but warm. Whenever she felt those hands on her body she felt safe. Amara sighed and ended up nodding. Hannah's smile widened.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Amara took Hannah's hand.

Sparrow guided her to the side of the bike and helped her on.

“I would never put you in a dangerous situation that I cannot control.” Hannah responded, handing her the helmet.

She accepted the helmet and put it on. Sparrow did the same and got on the bike. She then handed the backpack to Amara.

“Could you do me a favor, love?”

Amara hoisted her backpack onto her back.

"Sure."

Hannah nodded.

"Hold on."

The shorter one laughed excitedly.

"Yes ma'am"

Amara hugged Hannah's torso and rested her chin on her shoulder.

Sparrow started the motorcycle and accelerated. She drove at a leisurely speed through the curves of the mountain until she reached the highway. Due to the time it was there were no cars on the road. They had free rein.

Hannah turned to look at Amara.

"Ready?"

Amara looked at that dark visor, she couldn't see through them but she knew there was a mischievous smile behind it.

“Let's do it!” she answered excitedly.

She pressed her body further against Hannah's back and held on tighter.

Hannah didn't hesitate to accelerate, making the engine of her Kawasaki Ninja 10x-zr roar loudly. Upgrading the gears periodically to increase speed. She pressed her chest against the bike, crouching as low as she could to avoid air resistance as much as possible. Amara did the same, leaning her chest against Hannah's back as much as she could. Hannah's shoulders were wide enough to cover Amara from the wind.

In the curves the bike leaned so much that Sparrow's knee could almost touch the asphalt.

Adrenaline coursed through Amara's veins until it settled like a heavy stone in the pit of her stomach. The wind, the speed, the noise of the engine. All of this made her senses go on alert. She was sure they had already exceeded any speed limit. 160? 180k? 200km/h? Maybe more. And she had a feeling that that wasn’t the maximum speed.

Afraid? Of course she was afraid. But just enough to enjoy the moment. In a burst of emotion and euphoria she began to laugh and scream.

"Wooooo hahaha!"

Hannah had to stay focused on the road but her heart was beating euphorically with joy. How long had it been since she'd last driven like this?

In Zermatt the curves were tighter and there was a lack of long straight roads that would allow the full potential of the engine to be unleashed. It was the typical Swedish mountain landscape. Hannah loved drifting down those narrow roads but she really missed being able to accelerate that fast.

When they entered the city, Hannah slowed slightly but it was still dangerously high. The city lights reflected on the black of the motorcycle and on the helmets. The noise of the engine bounced between the buildings, surely the sleeping people had woken up enraged.

Suddenly the flash of bright blue lights and the sound of police sirens brought the sergeant out of her thoughts.

Hannah looked back for a moment and saw three police cars chasing them. Perhaps she had made too much of a racket on the streets of Hull.

“Hannah!” Amara saw them too.

“Are we going to chicken out now?” Sparrow asked.

Amara laughed. Fuck all.

"Of course not!"

Hannah chuckled, put both hands on the handlebars of the bike, and accelerated again. The engine roared again and the distance between the police cars increased. But the police seemed to be persistent and wouldn’t give up.

They spent a long time with the police stepping on their toes. Hannah skidded, made turns, trying to throw them off but she was unsuccessful. Sometimes police cars would try to cross her path to stop her or catch her later, but Hannah always managed to avoid them.

In one last skid where she was able to separate herself from the police enough to lose sight of her for a few seconds, she found a narrow, dark alley between two buildings. She skidded to the brakes and they hid inside the alley. She quickly turned off the lights and the engine, becoming completely silent, merging with the darkness of the place.

Both women watched as the police cars passed by, looking for them, without having the slightest idea that they had been left behind, that they had lost them.

When the danger had passed and everything was quiet, with only the police sirens in the distance, Hannah was finally able to relax her shoulders.

“I think we're safe now.”

Suddenly Amara started laughing.

Hannah turned around confused. She couldn't see Amara's face because of the helmet but at least her ears were blessed with her sweet laughter.

“And what do you think is so funny, huh?” Hannah laughed infectiously.

"My God! I thought they were going to catch up to us! Hahaha!” Amara continued laughing because of the adrenaline that was still in her veins.

“Did you doubt my driving skills that much?” Hannah asked pretending to be offended, but her laughter gave her away.

“I've never had so much fun! Haha! I thought we were going to crash at any moment!” Amara shook Sparrow's shoulders. “I almost had a heart attack.”

Hannah laughed, relieved that Amara had fun.

A few long minutes passed and they made sure there was no more danger nearby, then Hannah drove home, this time at a more appropriate speed.

They arrived at the apartment block and Amara opened the door to her apartment. Hannah stood waiting, hands in her jacket pockets.

Before entering Amara turned around.

“Thank you for this night. It's been... Amazing” Amara sighed with a smile on her lips.

Hannah rubbed the back of her neck nervously, looking in another direction.

"Was nothing. I loved spending time with you.” Hannah's cheeks turned slightly reddish.

Amara took out a piece of paper and a pen from her purse, jotted something down quickly, and handed it to Hannah.

Sparrow raised her eyebrows, confused but accepted it, there was a phone number written down.

“On the next date it will be my turn to choose the place.” Amara smiled flirtatiously.

“Uh sure.” Hannah's heart was pounding.

Amara sighed, still keeping the smile on her lips, since she had gotten off the motorcycle she couldn't get it off her face. She took a step forward and motioned with her finger for Hannah to lower her head. Hannah obeyed, believing she would leave another kiss on her cheek. That was all Sparrow needed to end the night, all it took to make her poor heart burst.

At first that was the plan, but Amara decided to change her mind. Fuck it. She decided to listen to what her heart asked of hee. She placed a soft kiss on Hannah's lips. A short, shy kiss, but bold enough to send a clear message.

“Good night Han~” Amara smiled, separating from the kiss and leaving for her apartment, closing the door behind her. Leaving Hannah completely in shock.

What has happened? Had she kissed her?

What?

She touched her lips unconsciously. She could still feel the softness of Amara's lips. The tenderness of the kiss. Her knees began to tremble, neither on the climbs to the most dangerous mountains, nor on the missions where she was about to die, nor on the times she had driven at more than 230 km/h had she felt as much adrenaline and nerves as now.

Her face turned completely red. She had to cover her face with both hands. She was there, standing like an idiot in front of Amara's apartment. But she felt like the happiest person in the world.

"Shit…"

[colleenmurphy]

Grey Queen's Court / It's Bitch Craft Verse

The Queen still doesn't have a 'true title' yet in my mind but it's slowly getting there. Trying to flesh out the court a little bit, so here goes.

The Henchmen / The Hounds - A band of merry trouble making young Dukes of the Grey Queen's Court. Take on a very dedicated canine appearance while in the mortal realm. Rescues from the Winter King's Court. Training under the Knave of Roses' tutelage.

Lord Petrus of the Greenlands / Thomaz Zieliński - A large nobleman that oversees the midsummer meadows later goes on to become the King of the Rose Court. In the human world he oversees the New York City Parks Department.

The Winter King Fergal the Winter Court / Francis 'Frank' Patrick Flannery - The raving lunatic that once held Col's hand in marriage. A true monster she's set out to hunt to the ends of the earth. Lives for pain and destruction of all that is good in the world. In the human realm he deals in all make and manner of crime and corruption, his latest is running a used car dealership in Hoboken NJ.

Lord William O' Good / Billy Goode - Personal assassin and loyal confidant to both the Grey Queen and King but also the Courts of Spring and Summer. A Secret Keeper in the Society of D'Nan along with his cousin Micajah 'Cage' Astwood / Lord Thistlewood of the Summer Court. Knave of Roses. Owns the local record store 'Goode Music'

Mary Colleen Murphy / Macha Danu Lady of the Roses - Daughter of the goddess Danu and the Imbolc Lord Machallan of the Grey Lands she tip toes precariously through the veils and Fae Courts. Balance keeper & karmic enforcer for women / Key Holder to the Rose Garden. Runs the tavern and bed and breakfast in a tiny little hamlet in upstate New York. Was once a force to be reckoned with in the mergers and acquisitions department of the large city firm. That was long ago before Frank ruined her. Now she'd found balance in the quiet.

Helene Marie Starling / Lady Helene of the Spring Blossoms ( Later Queen of the Spring / Green Courts ) - Daughter to king of the Spring court, King Hervé II and Lady Grace of the Autumn Court. Helene brings both balance and calm to both realms and is a steadfast confidant and best friend to Colleen. Without her vast knowledge of botany and herbology as well as her compassionate nature the world ( and Colleen) would be lost. Brings beauty to the unexpected. Guardian of children and small woodland creatures. In the mortal realm she takes the guise of a small town florist and specialist botany professor at large for the Swanmoore School as well as Chestervale College.

Elizabeth D'Ardenville / Lady Elizabeth of the Summer Court ( Later Queen of the Fae Fire Court ) - Steadfast warrior to her people and equally solid friend to Colleen. She is the spark of imagination in a child's eyes, the burning desire to succeed and the confidence to see it through. Without her mankind would grind to a halt and slowly extinguish itself. Guardian of the Hearth and home. In the mortal realm she exudes confidence and unarmed power; teaches yoga and self defense at the local civic center in weekends. Her day job? blown glass artist who oversees the Artisan Collective Board at Swanmoore School of the Arts as well as instructs the master class

[genesistire]

Upgrade Your Ride Affordably with Genesis Tires & Auto - Used Car Dealer Elizabeth, NJ

When you're searching for a reliable, trustworthy, and customer-focused used car dealer in Elizabeth, NJ, Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC is your go-to destination. With years of experience and a commitment to offering top-quality vehicles and services, Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC has become a cornerstone in the local automotive industry. This article will delve into the many reasons why Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC stands out as an exceptional choice for anyone in the market for a pre-owned vehicle.

About Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC

Our Mission

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Our History

Established in Elizabeth, NJ, Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC has grown from a small dealership into one of the most reputable used car dealers in the area. Over the years, we have built a solid reputation based on trust, quality, and customer satisfaction. Our extensive experience in the automotive industry allows us to offer a curated selection of used vehicles that meet the highest standards.

Why Choose Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC?

Extensive Inventory

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Quality Assurance

We understand that buying a used car can be a significant investment. That is why we go the extra mile to ensure that every vehicle on our lot meets our strict quality standards. Each car undergoes a thorough inspection and rigorous testing by our team of experienced technicians. This process includes checking the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and other critical components to guarantee safety and performance. With Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC, you can drive away with confidence, knowing that you have purchased a reliable vehicle.

Competitive Pricing

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Exceptional Customer Service

Personalized Assistance

Our friendly and knowledgeable sales team is dedicated to providing personalized assistance to each customer. We take the time to understand your needs, preferences, and budget to help you find the perfect vehicle. Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned car owner, we are here to guide you through every step of the process, from selecting the right car to securing financing and completing the paperwork.

Test Drives

At Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC, we believe that test drives are a crucial part of the car-buying experience. We encourage our customers to take their time and test drive multiple vehicles to find the one that best suits their needs. Our team is always available to answer any questions you may have and provide detailed information about each vehicle's features and specifications.

After-Sales Support

Our commitment to customer satisfaction does not end with the sale. We offer comprehensive after-sales support to ensure that your vehicle continues to perform at its best. Our service center is staffed by skilled technicians who can handle everything from routine maintenance to complex repairs. We use genuine parts and state-of-the-art equipment to keep your car running smoothly.

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Flexible Financing Solutions

At Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC, we understand that every customer has unique financial needs. That is why we offer a range of flexible financing solutions to suit different budgets and credit profiles. Our finance experts work with a network of reputable lenders to secure the best rates and terms for you. Whether you have good credit, bad credit, or no credit, we can help you find a financing plan that fits your situation.

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Applying for financing at Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC is quick and easy. Our online application form allows you to get pre-approved from the comfort of your home. Simply fill out the form with your basic information, and our finance team will review your application and get back to you with the available options. We strive to make the financing process as straightforward and hassle-free as possible.

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Real Stories from Satisfied Customers

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Giving Back to Elizabeth, NJ

At Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC, we believe in giving back to the community that has supported us over the years. We are proud to be involved in various local initiatives and charitable activities. From sponsoring local events to supporting educational programs, we are committed to making a positive impact in Elizabeth, NJ. We believe that strong communities are built on mutual support and collaboration.

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Convenient Location

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Schedule a Visit

We understand that your time is valuable. That is why we offer the option to schedule a visit to our dealership at your convenience. Simply give us a call or use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment. Whether you want to browse our inventory, take a test drive, or discuss financing options, we are here to help.

Conclusion

Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC is your trusted used car dealer in Elizabeth, NJ. With our extensive inventory, commitment to quality, competitive pricing, and exceptional customer service, we are dedicated to making your car-buying experience enjoyable and stress-free. Visit us today and discover why so many customers choose Genesis Tires & Auto Center LLC for their automotive needs.

[hbhughes]

Eugene P. Gabor

Eugene P. Gabor, of Forty Fort, passed away Friday, April 12th, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Born in Nanticoke on October 25, 1949, he was the son of the late Stephen and Loretta Gabor.

Gene graduated from St. Mary’s – St. Nick's High School and Luzerne County Community College. He served with the 402nd Military Police division, Wilkes-Barre. Later, he began working with his father in the automobile industry, doing business as Gabe’s Motors, on Lower Broadway, Nanticoke, until the Agnes Flood of 1972. They rebuilt the dealership on the Sans Souci Highway and remained in business until selling the Dodge Franchise in 2006. He continued his love of cars by opening a used car lot in Larksville for a few years before retiring.

Gene was not a man to sit at home. He loved talking to customers and remained active working first at Fine Wine & Good Spirits, South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, and then part time at Market 32, Edwardsville.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Joyce, daughters, Michelle (John) Olinyk, Dalton; Kimberly (Rob) Piorkowski, Kingston; Kristen (Joe) Alonzo, Easton; two grandsons and his best buddies, Anthony and Jayson Alonzo, who adored him as their Papa.

Family and friends are asked to call on Thursday, April 18th from 10 to 10:30 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes St., Swoyersville, PA 18704.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, April 18th at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929.

Arrangements entrust to Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc., Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

[autonjstate]

Trusted New Jersey Truck Dealers | Find Your Perfect Truck Today

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[karenarella22]

Seventh.

This Chapter Contains Graphic Content, Read it at your own risk.

***

-Today is August 16th 2018, it is 10:38 and we will begin with the statement of Elizabeth Morgan, you can introduce yourself and tell us your age and relationship with the victim please-

-My name is Elizabeth Morgan...-

-Looking at the camera, please- I point to the device over my left shoulder.

-I am 40 years old and I am the widow of Nick Morgan-

-When was the last time you saw your husband alive? - I look at the notes in our file.

-I saw him on June 27th when he was getting ready to go to work- she moved her hair out of the way on a ponytail.

-What time was that? - I take note of his words.

-At approximately 8 in the morning...sorry I don't understand what are we doing here, the police already took my statement from me when they went to notify me of the death of my husband...-

-We know that, but in order to build a good case against your husband's murderer we have to have all the facts clear, it is good that the statements are recorded in case at any time the jury needs to see them as evidence, don't worry, these are formalities so as not to run the risk of the statement changing and this influencing the investigation, you just have to say if you think that you require a lawyer here and we'll call one for you, but it's just a routine statement, I don't think you'll need a lawyer, right?-

-Of course not, let's continue then- she smiles and settles in the chair, one leg over the other keeping her scrupulous eyes on every detail of my attire.

-Do you know of someone who would like to hurt their husband?-

-I really don't know, as I already told the previous officer- she clarifies with a hint of annoyance in his voice- Nick was very patient with people, he worked in customer service at a car dealership all day, so he didn't knew if he had enemies or not, we didn't talk about work when we were at home-I nod.

-Perfect- Dylan intervenes- How was the relationship between you two?-

-Well we weren't perfect, we had our arguments but we resolved our differences- she shrugs, downplaying the situation.

-Have you ever heard the name of Thomas Wester?-

-No, who is he? - She asks.

-According to the phone records of your husband's cell phone, Thomas Wester and your husband were lovers- she furiously clenches her fists, rising from her chair, hitting her hands on the metal table that separates us.

- How dare you say such barbarities about my husband? – Serenely I took a sheet of the evidence folder and placed it in front of her eyes.

-These are the conversations between the two victims that our digital forensic analysis team managed to recover from your husband's phone, some are explicit messages and others not so much but they profess an eternal love between the two of them, don't you think?-

-Then it was true...- she growls between teeth as she takes the sheets of papers to read them. She drastically changes her gaze letting us see the true self of this woman, aggressive and dangerous.

-Giving your attitude I assume you already knew about it- I crossed my arms accommodating my anatomy on the chair with my gaze fixed on those empty eyes that were hiding behind the façade of grieving widow.

-I suspected it actually- Elizabeth takes a seat back in her place-Not really until the date he disappeared-

-What made you change your mind, Mrs. Morgan? - I make more observations in my notebook.

-The day he disappeared I received a brown paper envelope, it had no address or postal code, what it did have were certain photos- she shakes his head from side to side as if trying to prevent these memories from reappearing.

-What photos?-that's Dylan again.

-Photos of my husband, you know- she rotates her hands clearly uncomfortable-.

-No, I don't know, ma'am, I remind you that everything you don't say or stop saying can be misused in court I need concrete information, if you need a lawyer to advise you, we'll call you one, so I'll ask you again to be explicit, please-

-They were photos of my husband with that Thomas guy- she gnashes her teeth with fury.

-You must have felt a lot of anger I suppose-

-That's right, but I just wanted to find him- the widow's pseudo-lament is interrupted by the door that opens, revealing Cadet Becket with a piece of paper in his hand.

-Becket it better be important...-

-Yes, of course, excuse the interruption- he approaches the table without taking his eyes off the woman- we found something that you guys should know- I take the paper reading it briefly.

-Thank you very much, cadet, this will be very helpful- I look back at the widow- well ma'am we'll take a minute, I have to check some information I'll be right back- I turn off the video camera, leave the room and walk directly to the conference room where Dylan is next to the sergeant.

I watch the screen for a few seconds, inside the interrogation room there are always two cameras available to the police, a manual one that allows us to interview criminals and close-up shots of the confessions that are later analyzed by the behavioral analyst of the police. Brigade and one built into the wall, usually to record interrogations of victims and possible suspects who, so that they do not feel intimidated, is always recording from an angle where they cannot see the camera, even when they are told that they are being filmed.

A completely different woman is the one I see now; she angrily walks from one side to the other as if she were a caged lion looking for a way to escape, rubbing her restless desperate hands in search of a little peace.

-Make the call I'll go for the prosecutor- I take the phone and dial the number written on a small crumpled piece of paper on the table. I look through the screen waiting for some new development. The phone rings on the other end of the line, the widow reaches into her purse and pulls out a mobile phone. Answering what appears to be an urgent call.

-Hello?-

-Hello Elizabeth or should I call you fury? - I walk back to the interrogation room- I think you will need a lawyer now-

-What are you talking about?-is she really playing dumb?

-Elizabeth Morgan, you are under arrested for 6 counts of murder and the attempted murder of Thomas Wester, in addition to illicit association to commit the crimes- I take the woman's arms and put the handcuffs on her with a little effort- you have the right to a lawyer, if you can't afford one the state will provide one...-

-Wait please, what can I do to save myself from death penalty?-ok... that was faster than I thought it would be.

-Depends on what you can offer us- I sit her back in the chair abruptly.

-I want it on paper, a deal that ensures that they will not give me the death penalty and that I will be serving a sentence in a minimum security prison- I hear the prosecutor enter the room.

-Good afternoon detective... Mrs. Morgan-

-Greg- I greet him without taking my eyes off the harpy widow who is complaining about how painful the handcuffs are.

-We don't usually negotiate with assassins, ma'am, why do you think that with you the situation will be different-

-I know the identity of all the participants in the murders, and the place where they usually meet, there are the plans of all the murders, they were planned and are meticulously detailed and also I know who the last victim is- she mocks.

-Who?-

-I want the deal, then I'll tell you everything- she leans on the back of the chair, I look at Greg who, with no other alternative, sits in front of her and begins to write the paper that will seal the fate of the life of some poor soul that he will not even know what he did wrong to fall into the clutches of this malicious group.

It all comes down to a sheet of paper and a pen.

Once I remove the handcuffs without second thoughts, the woman who at some point called herself fury takes the pen and signs her name at the bottom of the page.

-Ok now speak- I demand.

-Take a seat official because this will be very long story to tell-

-About 8 months ago I received a letter on the porch of my house, just a piece of paper with an address inside and a quote that said "I have information about your husband's adventures" this caused me a lot of intrigue because it was right at the time in which Nick began to act differently, the usual late arrivals, phone calls at strange hours which he answered in another room, the typical of an affair. Believing that he was a jilted ex, I decided to approach the address and see what was happening.When I came to a forest just outside of Little Peak, a very old cabin with a small windmill by the door near a creek, I thought for a moment that they couldn't get more romantic, the place is right in the middle of nowhere I was sure no one could find it- my stomach churns at his words.

That old oak shack was almost dismantled by the elements after we abandoned it, I don't think it's the same place but how many shacks in the middle of Little Peak can there be with a windmill at the door.

-When I got to the entrance the door was half open, I decided to go in, I went through the central living room of the house where there was no one...-

-Without so much detail please, this is not a novel- I interrupt anxiously, I move my leg trying to release the anxiety that just remembering that gloomy space causes me.

When I got to the back garden I saw at least six more people, the one I assumed to be the owner of the house began to speak, at first I was angry, I thought it had been a bad joke since neither my husband nor his supposed lover were there, in his place were six strangers whom I had never seen in my life, the supposed leader began to read from a book, old leather- she makes some gestures with his hands- it seemed like a bad joke but as he was reading his reasons seemed logical to me, he talked about getting rid of the impure people around us, of the problems that they bring us, he said that we should continue with the legacy that the universe had placed on our shoulders, he said that we should plunge this town into chaos again in order to cleanse our souls, his arguments were so convincing, as if a force controlled us since we entered that house, and we all agreed to do so.

That house, damn house seems to influence the thoughts of everyone who enters there.

-I need an exact map of the place where the cabin is located, please- I impatiently handed her my notebook and pen, as well as the names of all the people you met.

A Machiavellian smile appears brightening his face as she writes with all the patience a human being can have. The prosecutor motions for me to step outside for a moment, leaving her in Becket's hands.

[hileyacura]

I purchased a 2023 Acura MDX Advance from Gavin Samples at Hiley Acura. We did extensive research and considered multiple vehicles before ultimately deciding on the MDX. Once we decided on the MDX, we only had to decide on price and dealership. Gavin was the most personal and straightforward to work with and ultimately provided us with the best deal too! We showed up to pick up the car and it was detailed, there were no surprises in the paperwork, and he didn't try to upsell us at all. Overall, the car buying experience can be a pain, but Gavin made it great! I would recommend working with Gavin if you're in the market for a new car! - Elizabeth H.

[sheriffslop]

Ranch Fam Headcannons !!

By ; Lop !!

Generalized !!

✨ The family tree goes a bit like, Marnie is Shane’s paternal aunt, and Shane, of course took Jas in after her parents passed away - he’s currently in the process of adopting her officially, but adoption processes take a long, long time, so they still have to go to Zuzu City to visit a social worker in charge of her case at least once every two months.

✨ The family surname is “Trescothik” !! It is a bit strange, and for the longest time, Jas had a hard time pronouncing it, Shane definitely hates it, and Marnie knows the history of their last name to the details.

✨ The family was born and raised on the ranch, but Marnie’s brother / Shane’s father ended up getting a scholarship to play Gridball for the Tunnelers a long, long time ago, so he moved to the city, met Shane’s mother, before he ended up kicking Shane out of the house at nineteen, when he moved in with Marnie.

🌻 Marnie 🌻

✨ Marnie’s full name is “Mariana Elizabeth Trescothik”.

✨ Marnie has awful handwriting, and she writes very quickly, normally when she’s preoccupied, so her handwriting is near to illegible unless she takes her time, and even then it’s sloppy. Lots of people think that Harvey is the one leaving ads on the community board until they see her name. 👀🥂

✨ Marnie is actually allergic to cats and dogs, but that doesn’t stop her sweet heart from petting every adorable puppy and kitty she comes across. She’ll start sneezing within thirty minutes of being around them, but she claims it’s worth it. 💕

✨ Marnie has dyslexia on top of her bad handwriting. 👀🥂

✨ Marnie has a higher likelihood of getting cancer, and she’s equally as paranoid about it as she is morbidly interested. She checks out oncology textbooks from the library and will read them next to her bed all the time. 👀🥂

✨ Marnie makes her own goat milk soap in an attempt to get along with the other moms in town. Jodi and Caroline throw them away as soon as she leaves, while Robin uses it as hand soap. 👀🥂

✨ Marnie is completely unaware that Jodi and Caroline think she’s weird, Robin wants to tell her, but is nervous about hurting Marnie’s feelings. 👀🥂

✨ Marnie doesn’t actually like Lewis, she’s just really lonely. 🥂

✨ Marnie inherited the ranch from her father !! 💕

✨ Marnie was a huge daddy’s girl growing up, still is, and remembers her dad fondly. 💕

🐔 Shane 🐔

✨ Shane’s full name is “Shane Lee Trescothik”, very generic, and he dislikes it, a lot. 👀🥂

✨ Back in high school, he played as the attacking midfielder. 👀🥂

✨ Shane was the popular douche gridball joth. His teammates called him “The Slaughterhouse”, and his senior yearbook is full of little signatures referring to him as such, and his guilty pleasure is reading all of them, though he’d never let his partner read it. 💕

✨ Shane actually has a built upper body. Broad shoulders, strong arms, built chest. Other than that, he definitely has a beer chugging dad bod, and if you don’t draw him as such, it is slander. /LH !! 💕

✨ Shane’s five foot seven !! 💕

✨ Shane actually took a bit of time to read and research at the saloon while he was trying to breed blue chickens, it was weird seeing him with books at the bar, but Emily made sure that nobody said anything to him. She actively took interest in his chicken breeding journey and visited him to see his progress. This lead to rumors that they were a thing. 👀🥂

✨ He learned his handyman skills from Marnie, because his dad never cared to teach him. 👀🥂

✨ Shane’s first job was at his dad’s used car dealership, he had to clean the cars before they went on display, for twenty five gold per car. He was severely underpaid. 👀🥂

✨ Shane inherited his alcoholism / alcoholic tendencies from both his parents. 👀🥂

✨ Shane has the harmful coping mechanism of hitting / punching himself when he’s upset, overstimulated, or angry. 👀🥂

✨ Shane blows raspberries into his hens’ chest fluff. 💕

🌹 Jas 🌹

✨ Jasmine does not have the family surname, and her full name is “Jasmine Marie Barker”. 💕

✨ Jas regularly tries to hook Shane up with either Penny or Emily, unaware that Penny is far too young for him and Emily is a 💕 lesbian 💕.

✨ Jas is black. That’s it. That’s the hot take. 👀🥂

✨ Jas ends up loving video games and regularly heads into Shane’s room to play on his Mega Station. 💕

✨ Jas loves chasing the animals around the farm, especially in the rain. She always comes in all muddy. 💕

✨ Jas’s favorite color is purple. She once ate a purple crayon and had to go home from tutoring early. Worth it. 💕

✨ Jas needs glasses, but doesn’t tell Marnie or Shane that she needs them until she’s twelve because she doesn’t want to look like a nerd. 👀🥂

✨ Jas definitely thinks that Vincent is cute, and would definitely be his girlfriend, but she finds the idea of being married gross for the sole purpose of “married grownups fart in front of each other, and I do not want to fart in front of him”. 👀🥂

✨ Jas has a popsicle stick replica of the Sign Of The Vessel under her pillow, and prays to her parents every Thursday night. 👀🥂

[youxmove]

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝚁  𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚃𝚂.                                                       Sharon Carter

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟷    :    𝐓𝐇𝐄    𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.    

•  NAME  : Sharon Elizabeth Carter

•  EYE COLOR  :  Brown

•  HAIR STYLE  /  COLOR  :    Sharon usually keeps her hair length an inch or two below her shoulders and typically has curtain bangs/ Blonde or dirty blonde.

•  HEIGHT  :  5′8

•  CLOTHING STYLE  : At work Sharon is very professional though she typically avoids wearing dresses or skirts.  You never know when trouble is going to happen, which is why, despite where she is comfort and mobility is number one.  She loves her leggings and t shirts, but Sharon secretly does really love to get dressed up too.  As much as she hates the snobs in the political and socialite world, she enjoys getting glammed up to go to the galas.  

•  BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE  :  Her smile

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟸    :    𝐓𝐇𝐄    𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄.    

•  FEARS  :  Losing someone she loves, being alone, being on the wrong side of history, and not amounting to the standard she holds herself to.

•  GUILTY PLEASURE  :  Boybands, luxury brands and clothing, shopping, cars, shoes, yachting, Disney music, and romcoms 

•  BIGGEST PET PEEVE  : People who believe they are above others- especially for financial reasons. 

•  AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE  :  She’s not quite sure yet.  Before Madripoor she was so focused on her work that the idea of a family just wasn’t in her mind much, but after losing everything Sharon really wants to have a family one day.  She wants to marry and have a couple kids.  She’d love a house outside of the city like the one she grew up in.  A modern design, but cozy with lots and lots of land.  Potentially some farm animals like she had growing up like horses, chickens, and a few sheep- with some dogs and cats of course.  She also would love to continue working in the art dealership industry.  She’s good at it and has a passion for art.

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟹    :    𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒.

•  FIRST THOUGHTS WAKING UP  : Work.  In Madripoor her first thoughts were usually of survival and once she made a name for herself it was once again work.

•  WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT MOST :  Her family and friends.  Sharon works hard.  Over works and takes everything in her work life seriously and it’s on her mind often, but she isn’t just driven by her work.  After her mom died, Sharon thinks of her dad a lot.  She wonders what he’s doing for the day, if he misses his wife, if he’s okay.  She loves her family and friends with all of her heart and she’d do anything for them.

•  WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT BEFORE BED :    Her mom, Peggy, or someone she’s in love with or crushes on.  She also reviews her list of things to do the next day and gives it a schedule and timeline in her head.

•  WHAT THEY THINK THEIR BEST QUALITY IS :   Her humility and work ethic are huge for her, but her biggest quality is the ability to follow her heart and do what is right. 

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟺    :    𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓’𝐒    𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑?

•  SINGLE OR GROUP DATES  :   Single.  Sharon does like a good group date every once in a while but she doesn’t get a lot of time to date, so when she does she wants it to mean something.

•  TO BE LOVED OR RESPECTED : Respect is huge, but she’d rather be loved.

•  BEAUTY OR BRAINS :  Brains. 100%

•  DOGS OR CATS  :  Dogs, but she does like cats too.

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟻    :    𝐃𝐎    𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘…

•  LIE  :  She is/was an undercover agent.  She gets paid to lie.  She doesn’t always like it, but yes she lies.  When she’s not on assignment she tries to be as honest as possible though.

•  BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES :  Some days

•  BELIEVE IN LOVE  :  Yes

•  WANT SOMEONE : Everyone does

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟼    :    𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄    𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘    𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑…

•  BEEN ON STAGE  :  Yes.  She doesn’t love the spotlight, but she tolerates it.

•  CHANGED WHO THEY WERE TO FIT IN :  Never in her personal life, that’s why some in her socialite circle and family frowned upon her.  She won’t change for others.  Now for her job- she’s got a blend in so she’ll be whoever she needs to be.  In Madripoor she did the same.

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟽    :    𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒.

•  FAVORITE COLOR  :   Rosegold 

•  FAVORITE ANIMAL  :  Horses

•  FAVORITE BOOK :  The Great Gatsby or Little Women

•  FAVORITE GAME  :  Clue

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟾    :    𝐀𝐆𝐄.

•  DAY THEIR NEXT BIRTHDAY WILL BE  :  May 7th

•  HOW OLD WILL THEY BE  :  On May 7, 2023 Sharon will be 34

𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁  𝟶𝟶𝟿    :    𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇    𝐓𝐇𝐄    𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄.

•  I LOVE :  the moments I can take and stand somewhere quiet.  The ocean or the forest.  Or back at my childhood home.

•  I FEEL  :  tired, but hopeful.

• I HIDE  :  how lonely I can be

•  I MISS  : my mother and Peggy.

•  I WISH  :  I could be better.

TAGGED  BY : @camerica

Tagging: YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

[genesis-tires]

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[fallingfor-fics]

What We Were- Chapter 1: Thats is?

A Beth and Rio fan fiction, Wattpad: fallingforfics

not my gif

Warnings: none

Beth POV

      "Well what the hell are we supposed to do?!" "Ruby calm down I will figure it out!"I yelled at Ruby. "That's what you said last time and look where we are now!" "Guys omg! Fighting and arguing with each other isn't going to help the situation!" "Stay out of this Annie we don't need your input right now" "Well I'm sorry Beth but it's not like we are making progress on how to fix this whole mess!" "Ok,ok guys let's just breathe and take a second to collect ourselves"

        This was probably one of the worst days ever and lord knows I have had my share of bad days. We were going about our day all was fine,we were doing our normal routines of washing bills and then bam! We get into a car accident. Thankfully on a back road because my airbag deployed and pills went everywhere I didn't realize they were in this particular car.         Everyone was alright except for the deer we hit. Now we were all fighting because there were hundreds of pills flung about. I don't know why we all started fighting I mean we picked up all the pills we could find besides the few hundred that landed in the lake next to us and I guess the car wasn't too badly damaged.          The only issue the others had was having to confront Rio and telling him not only did we crash the car but we lost almost a third of the stash that was hidden in the steering wheel. I just think that they are making it a bigger deal than it is. I'm sure he won't get to mad and it's not like they will go with me. We all know they make me do the one on one meetings with Rio even when it's bad news. Like right now.         "Ok here's what we will do the car is still drivable so we will drive back home and I will drop you guys of then I guess I'll go deal with Rio myself" "Damn right your dealing with him yourself" Annie scoffed. "Well you know I can always just leave y'all here and drive home myself if your gonna act like that" "Ok geez let's just get in the car and go"Ruby whispered "Thank you,gosh" I sighed.          We then got in the car and drove back into town I dropped off Ruby and Annie and headed to the dealership to get my car and leave this one in the shop. Once all that was done I went back home to change.           I stood there looking in the mirror,on my third outfit as if it mattered what I was wearing. It wasn't like he cared at all. I shouldn't care, I shouldn't care what he thinks because it doesn't matter it's not like we are going anywhere. The one night in the bathroom was just that one night. Nothing more he didn't care. "He doesn't care." I said out loud to myself over and over again. I just decided on skinny jeans and a v-neck black sweater.        I texted him awhile ago that we needed to meet he hast responded but I know that he will so I wanted to be ready all I had to do was apply some mascara. Dean was working late at work and the kids were at their grandmas. I looked at the clock 10:30pm. Damn it's late he actually might not respond. I grabbed my phone and went downstairs to wait and get some water.          I leaned over the sink to fill up my glass. And stared at my reflection in the window as I took a sip. I was feeling nauseous and I had no idea why I mean I wasn't feeling sick. I didn't have a fever. I guess it could be nervousness.         All of the sudden Rio walked into the reflection in the window standing behind me. "Shit! Rio what the hell!"I gasped. "Wassup you wanted to meet me?" He said with that aggravating but sexy smirk that makes me forget how to breathe for a second. "Yeah! I expected you to text me back and say where not for you to just show up in my house! And give me a heart attack!" "Oh I'm sorry Elizabeth" he said sarcastically "but it sounded urgent and I have stuff I gotta take care off soooo can we make this quick" he said as he leaned back against the kitchen island right in front of me.         My back now against the sink, me facing him. "Yeah,um so me and the others where um driving to deliver stuff and hit a deer and the airbag deployed and the pills kinda went everywhere and about a third of them landed into the lake next to us. We picked up all the ones we could find that were around us! But yeah..."I just stood there looking around and at my feet trying not to make eye contact. Waiting for a response.          A minute or two went buy with him just staring at me. I was waiting for an outburst of anger or him breaking something or yelling and me but he was just quiet. "Okay" was all he said. "Wait what? Why do you mean "okay" did you not here what I just said, hundreds of drugs are in the lake!" I shouted "I know and don't worry I'll take care of it"          "That's it? No 'you have to go clean it up' or 'your done' or any yelling?" "You know you almost sound disappointed I'm not angry at you" "What? No I just.. I don't understand I don't get it" I said while looking at him. "Just accept it ok? and just leave it with I'll take care of it aight?" "Ye-Yeah ok sure" "Great now I got stuff I gotta do. So you have a good night Elizabeth." "Yeah you too" and with that he just walked away.

[pynkhues]

hey! sorry to bother you! will you be updating ‘see you in the light’ ?

Hey! It’s not a bother at all, anon! I am! Finally! Haha.

I was pretty mortified recently to see that it’s been a year since I posted the first part. 🙈

I’m hoping to post Chapter 2 and 3 more or less back-to-back (tentatively aiming for a week in-between?) As a result, I’m sort of writing them back-to-back, which is unusual for me. Chapter 2 though is mostly finished, and Chapter 3 is getting there, and w ith any luck, I might be able to have it up in the next week or so.

For your troubles (and the long wait!), you can have the first scene of chapter 2 if you like!

-

“Don’t turn around,” Laura says, leaning in conspiratorially, still nursing the too-sweet espresso macchiato he’d picked her up from the deli on his way to North Elm Elementary. “But we’ve got an audience. Three o’clock.”

And yeah, Rio thinks, resisting the urge to sigh. It’s not like he’s even gotta look.

He’d felt the guy the second he’d pulled his car into the lot, had seen him wind down the driver’s side window, felt his gaze lock on him and Laura before he’d looked everywhere around and between them, like Elizabeth was hiding behind a light post or a shrub, some passing ship for his barnacle ass to cling to. But hell, the gormless look in this clingy fucker’s eye wasn’t what was botherin’ him.

What was bothering him was the car.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it,” Rio says, raising his own coffee to his lips to take a sip, his other hand still wrapped around the steadily cooling cup which was meant for Elizabeth. He swallows thickly, sucking in his lips a little as he lowers his drink. “He’s Elizabeth’s ex.”

It’s instant, like he knew it would be – the hundred looks that cross Laura’s face, her eyes widening, her lips spluttering – and then she does the exact damn thing he was avoiding, which is throw her lanky arm out and wave Dean over across the North Elm Elementary School parking lot, and just - -

Shit.

He lets his eyes briefly close in irritation.

This wasn’t how this was supposed to go down.

What was supposed to happen was that Laura and Elizabeth and him were supposed to have a little sit down at the coffee shop on Third, do the get-to-know-you bullshit before they toured the schools for the kids, only Laura had been runnin’ late, and Elizabeth had gotten held up on some customer business (of the legitimate kind) at the dealership, and somehow it had just been Rio orderin’ coffees to go.

He rocks his jaw, blinks hard, seeing Dean’s wide-shouldered shadow lumber up to them, and Rio stacks Elizabeth’s coffee on top of his own and pulls out his cell. She’s gotta be getting close now, he figures, checking for a missed call (there ain’t one), before opening up the messenger app, like there’s any chance he could’ve missed it, when Dean’s nasal voice cuts through his thoughts.  

“Hey, yeah, uhhh, so Beth told me we should go in without her? She said she probably won’t make it. She’s having some problems with a customer, something about the brake pads in a Honda? I told her she should just - - you know - - pass it off to the mechanics or whatever, but you know Bethie.”

Which - -

Rio shoves his tongue against the back of his teeth, blinking hard, staring down at the last message he got from her, but there’s no mention of being anything other than late, and a part of him thinks this dumbass ex of hers is talking out of his ass, but his eyes dart back to the car again and Rio knows he ain’t.

She called.

She just didn’t call him.

Rolling his shoulders back, Rio makes a show out of checking his phone still, like Elizabeth’s message wasn’t the one he was waitin’ on, like he’s got much more important shit to attend to than this (which he does just as much as he doesn’t), and he can feel both Laura and Dean’s gaze on him, something in his back winding tight when Laura suddenly pivots, and says:

“Laura, by the way. I’m Marcus’ mom.”

“Right! Dean,” he gestures to his chest, sways a little on the spot, and Rio’s eyes snap back up sharply. “The dad. Of the rest of the kids. Not yours obviously.”

The thick chuckle he offers wrangles an amused sound out of Laura, and Rio lets his focus slide back to her as she pops an eyebrow back at Dean.

“I feel like I’d have remembered that.”

Fuckin’ PTA icebreaker bullshit – Rio inhales sharply. Feels the late spring air prickly at his neck, and he’s just gotta get through this, right? Three school visits, get Marcus and Elizabeth’s kids enrolled, Laura happy, Elizabeth happy, Dean he really couldn’t give less of a fuck about, and then it’s done. At least until school actually starts in the fall, but for Elizabeth to be happy, he knows she’s going to have to see the place, and to see it - - shit.

This was her idea.

He feels his jaw rock, feels his eyes flit back to that fuckin’ car, and suddenly it’s like he’s a windup toy – something has been wound in him, over and over, and when it’s released, his hands work fast over the keys of his phone.

You coming or not?

It’s only a minute before her number blears up on his phone screen in reply with a message of her own:

Start without me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.

Then:

Don’t forget to ask about the pool for Kenny. Ultraviolet pool cleaner = less chlorine exposure!

And fine, maybe his mouth hangs for a minute, maybe he wets his lips, maybe he blinks too hard, and when he looks up at Laura, her own mouth is tight, and maybe Dean is babbling, oblivious beside her, looking anywhere but at Rio, an awkward tension setting his limbs at angles, and right, Rio thinks.

Right.

But before he can open his mouth to reply, or pull himself together, another, more familiar car rattles into the parking lot, and okay - - no, he thinks, a fresh seed of dread planting in his gut, right as his phone buzzes again. His gaze flicks down.

I sent help!

It’s scored by a disbelieving scoff from Dean beside him which quickly shifts into a groan, and then Laura’s looking between them, and when Annie stumbles out of her car and swaggers over between them, Laura brightens:

“Elizabeth?”

Rio won’t even remember who corrects her.

[genesistire]

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As a trusted name in the Elizabeth community, we take pride in offering a wide range of makes and models to suit your needs. Whether you're in the market for a sleek sedan, a spacious SUV, or a reliable pickup truck, we have the perfect vehicle for you. With our competitive pricing and transparent sales process, you can shop with confidence at Genesis Tire Auto.

In addition to our impressive inventory of pre-owned cars, we also provide financing options to help make your car buying experience hassle-free. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that you drive away satisfied with your purchase, so visit us today and let us help you find your next dream car at Genesis Tire Auto.

[tenacioususedcars]

8 Ways to Keep Your Old Car Running Strong

Vehicles are a huge part of anyone’s life. They drive us to our jobs, drive the kids to all of their activities, and are essential for running errands. Without a vehicle, it would be impossible to do everything we need to do with any time left over for things we enjoy. After the worst of days, it feels great to get in the car and head home for some much-needed relaxation.

People in the U.S. especially rely on their vehicles. In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau shows that about 7 million workers drive an hour or more on their commutes to and from work. When you add in errands, vacations, and fun trips, it’s a lot of time spent behind the wheel every single day.

Out of need, Americans have become good at keeping their vehicles in good running shape, and that doesn’t just apply to those who collect and maintain older vehicles. Everyone, globally that is, is looking to keep their vehicles in the best shape they can to avoid the added costs of repairs or even having to buy new vehicles or heaven-forbid used cars for sale in Port Elizabeth. When driving, you’ll see cars from the 90s still going strong, and you may even see some that look almost just as good as the day they were bought. According to Polk, in 2013, the average age of every car on the roads was about 11 years. This is evidence that people in the U.S. really try to keep their cars in good condition.

In this day and age, there are so many resources that inform drivers about how to keep their vehicles in great shape so they run as long as possible. The secret is regular maintenance — a lot of it. Check out some of the age-old maintenance necessities below.

Change your oil and oil filter often. Kelley Blue Book indicates that the single best thing you can do to extend the life of your engine is to get regular oil changes. Not doing so can cause a lot of problems with the engine over time. Though any garage that changes your oil can also change the filter, you need to ensure that it gets taken care of one way or another. Make sure you take down the date and mileage after each oil change so you know when your vehicle is due for another one. Often times, the place you last got your oil change will attach a windshield sticker or email you for a reminder.

Replace your transmission fluid and differential oil. It’s not often that this needs to be done, but if you’re concerned, check your vehicle’s manual for the suggested timeframes for changing them.

Add a new coolant. Every once in awhile, you’ll have to flush out your coolant and add some fresh coolana whilein, your car’s manual will have the suggested intervals.

Maintain your wheel bearings. Wheel bearings are important because they ensure the smooth running of the tires. When checking in for your next car check-up, make sure to ask for a wheel inspection to see if your bearings are in OK condition. Usually, this only involves adding some grease to the bearings to get them moving smoothly again.

Change your brake fluid. This helps fend off moisture, leaving your brakes free of rust and corrosion.

Keep your exterior clean. It’s recommended that you wax and wash your car four times per year at a minimum. For those who aren’t sure how to wax their car, just run it through your local car wash.

Keep the interior out of heavy sunlight. Your interior can take a real beating with the sun pounding on it day after day, especially in warm climates. It’s recommended that you park in the shade whenever possible or use a sunshade to keep your interior fresh and looking new.

Wipe off debris. If you drive in a cold climate, you may be aware of the salt that sticks to the bottom of your vehicle. Make sure you eliminate all of that and any other debris before you wash it, otherwise, you may get paint damage.

Related: Used cars in great condition are also more likely to fetch a higher price from a dealership in PE that offers used cars for sale, like Group 1 Cars, which only sells cars that fit their quality standards.

To keep your vehicle in great shape, it only takes a bit of initiative in the form of having your car taken in for maintenance every once in a while. You may benefit from printing this list out and having it around so you can refer to it every once in a while. Any weird sounds or unusual car problems should prompt you to seek the help of a mechanic as soon as possible. Another pretty obvious tip for keeping your car in good shape is to avoid accidents at all costs. If you are worried about driving safely, there are defensive driving courses that you can take through a traffic school to sharpen your skills. In a defensive driving course, you’ll also learn some more about properly maintaining your car to extend its life. 

Article from https://secondhandvehicles.weebly.com/journal/8-ways-to-keep-your-old-car-running-strong

[carry-the-sky]

your tongue told me every lie

back on my brio bullshit! this is an old fic that i decided to clean up a bit, and then *ahem* add an e rating to. it’s set in some vague s2 timeline, because i miss s2. :/

inspired by this fantastic piece of art by @lindigo 🔥🔥🔥 also on ao3!!

many thanks to my dear friend @kastlecastles for looking this over. <3

.

The day after the cops almost find Boomer’s body, Annie suggests they take the night off, just the three of them. No work, no family—

“And no extracurricular friends,” Annie emphasizes, side-eyeing Beth as she says it, which Beth does not appreciate. She’s about to say as much, but then Ruby is emerging from the closet, holding a dress Beth has no memory of buying. It’s sleek and cherry-red, and she feels exposed just looking at it. 

“No—” she starts to protest, but Ruby holds up a hand.

“You’re wearing it,” she says, fixing Beth with a stare that chases her rebuttal back down her throat. “Don’t get me wrong, you rock a pantsuit better than Hillary—”

“Way better than Hillary,” Annie interjects, then shrugs when Beth glares at her.

“—but we’re going glam, tonight,” Ruby finishes. She hangs the dress on the door. “You’re wearing it.”

And that’s the end of that.

.

She brings the dress to work. It hangs on the back of the door to Dean’s office—her office, now, her door—and Beth feels a small thrill every time she sees it, anticipation and nerves all blended up in the pit of her stomach.

It’s not that she‘s ashamed of her body, or the way she looks. She knows her curves are sexy. She’s just not sure anyone else does.

(Beth absolutely does not think about Rio. She doesn’t think about his hungry eyes raking up the entire length of her body, or the way his tongue sometimes darts between his teeth when he’s looking at her. She doesn’t think about that night at the bar, how firm his hand was when he grasped her thigh, palmed the curve of her breast—)

Beth keeps her door wide open the rest of the day.

.

She’s utterly exhausted by closing time, but it’s a good feeling. I can do this, she thinks as she packs up, doing one last circuit around the sales floor. I can do this well.

She hasn’t forgotten about the dress, but that light and airy anticipation from earlier has evaporated, leaving her stomach heavy with dread. For a moment, Beth considers telling Annie and Ruby that she forgot it, or that it didn’t fit—but that somehow feels worse than just putting the stupid thing on, so she begrudgingly yanks it off the hanger and goes to the dealership’s bathroom to change.

The sharp fluorescent lights do nothing to lift her mood, and she scrunches her nose at her reflection. The dress itself isn’t bad, it’s just—not her.

She laughs aloud. None of this—robbing a bank, laundering money for a street criminal, sleeping with said criminal, assuming management over her husband’s car dealership—none of this is her, is it? She’s not so sure, anymore.

Be a boss bitch.

Beth sizes up her reflection in the mirror, the sleek dress with its sweetheart neckline.

Yeah. She can do that.

Beth almost doesn’t see him. She’s shoving her work clothes unceremoniously into her bag when movement flashes in her periphery, and she yelps—

“So I guess y’all don’t do casual Fridays,” Rio says, a smile spreading wide across his face as he eyes the dress, her red pumps.

Beth blows out a shaky breath. “You scared the shit out of me. Don’t you ever, I don’t know, use a cell phone?”

“Nah, I’m old-fashioned.” He’s sitting at her desk, a smirk still playing at his lips, and Beth is torn between wanting to slap him or do something else to wipe that expression off his face.

“What do you want?” she says. “We’re closing soon, which for most people would mean come back tomorrow—”

Rio quirks an eyebrow. “I’m not most people.”

“Look,” Beth snaps, “as much fun as your drive-by visits are, I don’t have time for this tonight.”

“What, you got a hot date, or somethin’?”

Beth scoffs. “Maybe I do, yeah.”

Rio just looks at her for a second, his eyes hazy even in the glow of early-evening light filtering in through her office windows. Beth doesn’t like the way it’s stirring something up in her gut, warm and slow like sun-warmed honey.

“What,” she sighs, “do you want?”

Rio shifts in his chair, legs spreading slightly. “Just wanted to see how my business is doin’.”

“Excuse me, your business?”

“Sixty-percent, yeah? Last time I checked, that’s more than half. Which means it’s more mine than yours, sweetheart.”

Anger sparks in her chest, hot and fast. Her cheeks are warm with it. “Get out,” she demands. “Now.”

Rio leans forward. “You gonna make me?”

She’s not sure how it happened, but she’s standing almost directly in front of him. From this angle, she can see the shadow that the collar of his shirt casts across his throat.

From this angle, he has to look up at her.

“You don’t scare me,” she says, her voice a low scrape of sound.

He wants to touch her—she can feel the want radiating off him, can see the lines of his tendons as he clenches his fingers against his knees. But he doesn’t move. When it comes to—this, whatever the hell it is, he’s always let her take the lead.

She should leave, now. She should—

She can’t explain what makes her reach out, what makes her brush the tips of her fingers against his arm. His skin is smoother than she expects, the muscles of his forearm taut beneath her hand.

“Right,” he says, voice hoarse. His eyes are fixed on her. “Right, ‘cause you’re the boss, now.”

And then he’s got a hand on her, his palm curved around the meat of her thigh. His fingers skate upwards, teasing around the dress’s hem. Beth feels each point of contact like a laser, every one of her nerve endings attuned to where he’s touching her.

“Annie and Ruby are waiting for me,” she breathes.

Rio’s eyes are wildfire. “So let ‘em wait.” 

His hand skims higher, and Beth spasms when the pad of his thumb slips beneath her panties. He huffs a laugh, looking so goddamn pleased with himself. “You like that, ma?”

Beth narrows her eyes, but it’s useless—her legs are quivering beneath his hands, and she knows he can feel it. “You are such an asshole,” she hisses. 

“ ‘S one school of thought,” he murmurs, the words slow and husky. His eyes don’t leave her face as his fingers graze her inner thigh, and her breath catches in her throat. She still hasn’t closed up shop, and yeah, it’s the end of the day, but someone could still walk in, someone could see—

It’s dangerous, what she’s doing. It’s bad. 

Pleasure sparks between her legs, and Beth has to resist the urge to clamp her thighs together. Her nails dig into his arm, and something bright flashes behind his eyes, something predatory. He’s looking at her like he wants to open her up, see what comes spilling out. See exactly what she’s made of.

You’re the boss, now. 

She draws herself up slightly, chin jutting out. “You gonna take all day down there?” she says, proud that her voice stays steady. “Like I said, I have somewhere to be.” 

Rio makes a noise in his throat, rumbling low like thunder, and she knows she has him. Satisfaction unfurls in her chest—and then he’s sliding a finger into her, and all coherent thought is driven from her head, lost to the rush of her pulse in her ears, the delicious stretch as he eases his way in.

It’s muscle memory that has her grasping at his shoulder, her pelvis canting into his palm to chase the friction. Rio pushes deeper, and she has to bite her lip to keep quiet. She slants her neck up toward the ceiling, her eyes shuttering.

“Like it when you boss me around,” he’s saying, dragging his finger out before pumping into her again. Beth can’t help it this time—she shudders, a soft whimper breaking past her lips. Slowly, Rio slips his finger out again, teasing lazy circles around her entrance. Beth’s hand jumps to his wrist, tugging emphatically. “Yeah,” Rio laughs, “yeah, just like that.”

“Didn’t—tell you to stop,” Beth gasps.

“Loud ‘n clear, darlin’,” Rio says, adding another finger as he plunges between the slick of her folds. Beth’s nails bite the skin on the underside of his wrist, and her stomach squirms pleasantly at his sharp intake of breath. She would die before admitting it, but the way he makes her feel, strong as steel, the exact fucking opposite of the good little porcelain doll she’s been her entire life—it’s intoxicating. She wants to drown in it, in him.

Rio crooks his fingers, hitting an angle that makes her writhe. His thumb knuckles softly against her clit, and Beth can feel the tension coiling in her belly already, everything shrinking at the edges. His breath is coming faster now, jagged like the edge of a knife, and she could come just like this, but it’s not enough. Her entire body draws taut like a bowstring at the memory of his cock inside of her, filling her up—

Beth rocks forward, rucking her dress up around her thighs as she brackets her knees around him. He tilts his pelvis to meet her, pulling his fingers out, and the sound of protest she starts to make sticks in her throat as the movement grinds her against the hard ridge of his erection. Her blood sings, hazy-hot desire jolting up the column of her spine.

Beth’s hand darts to his pants, grasping at the zipper. Rio laughs softly, both palms sliding around her ass. “I know you’re in a hurry, but damn, baby.” He squeezes, the pads of his fingers kneading into her. “I ain’t a piece of meat.”

“Shut up,” she grits between her teeth.

Rio tsks, head tilting to one side. “Manners, Elizabeth.” His hands splay, fingers caging her hips. His face is inches from hers, so close that she sees the spaces between his lashes, feels his breath when he exhales. He dips his head, mouth ghosting her clavicle. “What would those PTA bitches say,” he murmurs, each word like a brand against her skin. “Huh? You think you’re just like ‘em, but here you are, down in the shit. Rollin’ around in it.” His lips drift higher, to the hollow of her throat. “Think you’re so much better than ‘em, than me. But you ain’t.”

Anger and arousal flush through her in equal parts. He’s always known how to say to rile her up, burrow under her skin like a splinter. She can’t dislodge him, no matter how hard she tries. And the thing is, he’s not wrong. Down in the muck and the shadows, she knows who she is.

He’s shining a light on all her dirty laundry, but Beth isn’t here for that. She doesn’t owe him anything, much less the truth.

So she does the only thing that will shut him up—hooks a hand under his chin, and brings her mouth crashing down to his.

It’s not soft, and she doesn’t want it to be. They trade kisses like punches—she bites his lower lip, and in retaliation his tongue thrusts into her mouth. Her hands are everywhere; sliding around the nape of his neck, curved like claws at his jawline, pressed to his jugular. One of Rio’s hands skates up her sternum, yanking her dress and bra aside so he can tweak a nipple between his fingers. The other hand fumbles with his pants, shucking them down his thighs.

She feels when his cock springs free. He jerks his hips, and Beth gasps as the tip rubs against her cunt.

Rio snags her lower lip between his teeth, biting just hard enough to sting. “You want it?” he rasps, tongue darting out to wet his lips. He brushes her entrance again, but he pulls away slightly as she cants toward him. He’s playing with her, making her work for what she wants. Making her beg. It’s what he’s always done—why should this be any different?

Fuck that. She’s gonna take what she wants.

Beth pulls at her panties so hard she hears the fabric tear. It was a nice pair, expensive, but in this moment she couldn’t give less of a fuck. She pushes against him, swirling around the head of his cock, and she feels a pinch of triumph when he hisses through his teeth.

“You want bossy?” she says, and she almost doesn’t recognize her own voice. “Fuck me. Now.”

She locks eyes with him as he pushes inside, so she sees the moment he breaks. His jaw goes slack, his lower lip plush and jutting out in a way that’s so him, so familiar it makes her chest ache.

She’s dipping into her feelings, too close for comfort. Beth shifts her weight, pushing herself up on her knees before sinking down onto him again, and the pressure in her chest evaporates. He feels so goddamn good, stretching her out the way she remembers. Filling her up, no room for anything else.

Rio thrusts into her, sheathing his cock to the hilt, and the guttural cry that rips from her throat is entirely involuntary. She bears down on him, grinding her hips in a frenetic circle, and then he’s pumping into her harder, fucking her in earnest. The wet slap of skin on skin fills her office, punctuated by the lewd noises each of them is making.

“That’s it, ma, that’s—fuck—” Rio groans. He’s grabbing her waist so hard she’s sure she’ll have bruises tomorrow, but she doesn’t care. All she cares about is chasing the warmth that’s building in the pit of her stomach.

Beth braces her arms on his shoulders and surges up on her knees. His cock slams up into her, right against her clit, and she’s so fucking close, she can almost taste it on her tongue. He rams into her, again and again, and his thumb slips between them, circling just the right spot—

Her orgasm hits like lightning, blinding heat and static. She throws her head back in a wordless cry as all the air swoops from her lungs. She can’t breathe. She can’t—anything. She can’t remember the last time she came this hard.

(Yes, she can. It was in that fucking bathroom, his breath hot on her neck and his name stuck on her tongue).

Rio is still hard, still pumping into her, his arms solid like a wall around her. He’s the only thing holding her up. She’s still coming down, but already she can feel the embers stirring again, stoked by his nails digging half-moons into her torso, his cock inside her.

Will she ever have her fill of him?

“Desk,” she pants, jutting her chin.

His hips stutter, and his brow creases with confusion for a nanosecond before he gets it. In one swift motion, he hooks her legs around him and pivots them so that she’s on her back on the desk. Beth can vaguely feel something digging into her lumbar—a pen, maybe—but she’s too boneless to care.

Rio props himself on his forearms, framing her face. His pupils are blown wide like dinner plates, his chest heaving with how hard he’s breathing. “You cheated, mama,” he pants, fucking into her so hard that something goes crashing from her desk to the floor. “Didn’t—wait for me.”

“C’mon, then,” she breathes, digging the heels of her pumps into his back to urge him on. His eyes flash, and he ruts into her once, twice—

He spills into her with a choked-off grunt, his entire lean frame quivering.

For several moments, the only sound is the two of them breathing. The sun has dipped low in the sky outside, casting long shadows across his face. It makes him look like one of those abstract paintings, something that’s not quite real.

Beth knows what’s real. She suspects that he does, too.

But none of that matters. This will play out the same way it always does—the dust will settle, and they’ll both go back to pretending. Beth thinks they could fill up an ocean with all of the things they aren’t saying to each other.

She could do it. She could break the dam, open her mouth and ask the words that are a thorn inside her, the words she buries deep so he can’t use them against her.

What is this? What are we? Do you feel the same way I do?

What now, her heartbeat says, pounding a cadence against her ribs. What now what now what now—

Rio rolls off her, tucking himself back into his pants. She feels the loss of physical contact like a sucker punch, and it takes every ounce of restraint she has not to reach for him. For a moment, she just lies there, eyes to the ceiling as she wills her jackhammer pulse to settle.

When she pushes herself up from the desk, he’s already halfway to the door. “You got a good gig goin’ here,” he says jerking his head at the sales floor, but his double meaning is transparent as glass. You got a good thing goin’ with me. His eyes dart to hers. “Try not to screw it up, yeah?”

“Speak for yourself,” Beth snarls, and she’s all iron again, tucking away everything soft and vulnerable. 

His lips twitch. “You should wear red more,” he says, deliberately looking her up and down. Even from this distance, his gaze sears against her skin. “It suits you.”

Then he’s gone.