At first glance, Soul looks as if he is drunk, or maybe high...or maybe both. He sits lounging in the bed of a Chevrolet, Silverado pick-up truck. The hood is propped up and a light shines on it. In the back, heavy rock plays almost indistinctly. The garage isn’t –too- much of a mess. The expected grease spots on the ground, dirty rags hanging around, old used napkins with grease or oil smeared over them pilled into and overfilling the waist bin. But all the tools were in perfect order, cleaned and shinning, the paint on the building, inside and out, was new. The Garage wasn’t as hot as most car garages are, large enough to fit in six cars, the sliding doors were all up, a solid breeze sifting in.

Though the garage wasn’t so hot, working in it paid a heavy toll. Soul had nearly sweat to death and he decided it was time to call it quits for the day. He sat in the back of some costumer’s truck, a beer in hand, his head resting backwards.

But at second glance, Stuart Peterson was not drunk, far from it. His first beer sat in his hands, the ice melting off of the bottle and dripping over his laced fingers. The beer had only one sip taken, one sour, refreshing drink, and no other bottle sat around. Granted several empty cartons of milk sat around. The fingers that were laced around the bottle were tattooed, not all in the same spot, little black rings of designs on random placed on his fingers.

Stuart’s eyes were open, a dark blue, like the color of the sky when there are no stars out, and cloud banks cover the sky. Upon a closer inspection, however, a beam of lightening suddenly flashes across the night-like eyes, like a storm in the summer time. Then another. This man had a whole chaotic lightening storm coursing through his body, and he made no secret of it to the outside world. It could always be explained, modern day people always accepted modern answers. They’re holographic contacts. It’s a new thing. Yeah right. But what the hell, it worked.

The man in the truck wore a pair of slim fitting, grease stained, terribly fadded blue jeans. He wore a dark gray button up shirt that remained unbuttoned all the way down, revealing a muscular chest. His hair, shoulder length and messy, was blond, streaked with brown. His face was sharp and his skin was tanned.

There was no one else working in the garage, his father had already left for home. Soul took a second sip from the beer, frowning and shutting his eyes as the taste washed between his lips, coating his tongue. This time he didn’t swallow, he simply spit out the foul taste.

The garage was located in the center of town, right between the ‘good’ part and the ‘bad’ part of town. Perfect location for a cleanly ran business. It was nearing four ‘o’ clock in the evening and the sun was still blazing bright and hot. Summer days were almost always too long

This really sucked.

Amber couldn't help but pout as she drove up to the garage, hopefully they were still open. Her poor baby had been acting up, it wasn't toooo old, but it wasn't young either, '64 Mustang convertable. Gotta love them Mustangs, eh? Her baby hadn't been doing so well, it had stalled many times and a few times it didn't start. Whether that was serious or not she didn't know, she didn't know a lot about cars in fact. She just wanted to make sure her car was okay, and if it wasn't, could it be fixed?

She looked around and spotting no one, she cut the engine off and climbed out, her white sneakers making litle noise against the pavement. She was dressed for warm weather, in her jean shorts that went up about to the middle of her thigh, showig off her bronze legs nicely. A white tank top was on, with a loose flannel shirt that had slipped down to her elbows. she hoped she didn't look too much like trash.

She shut the door of her car carefully and padded over to the garage, peering in. She tucked a copper curl behind her ear, sharp brown eyes looking over the inside. She finally spots Soul, sitting in the back of the truck he must have been working on. She blushed, he was really attractive the thought came before she could control herself. A shake of her head and she calmed down, it was her baby that needed help, men later.

She walked over to the truck, resting her arms on the side of it, she gave a wave just in case he hadn't noticed her yet. "Uum, excuse me?"

Please let them be open, please let them be open. She was chanting silently in her mind. She really needed to get her car fixed up, what if something urgent happened and her car stalled and wouldn't start up again? She bit her bottom lip, hopeflly he'd be able to just give a quick check over and tell her if everything was alright and if it wasn't, what was wrong.

The pretty face and a pair of arms rested on the side of the truck and Soul started. He’d obviously been spacing out, which was probably what had made him look drunk or high. He looked at her through those blue eyes for a moment, then pulled his knees up and got to his feet. Soul is tall, almost unusually so, though his shoulders slump forward and his hips jut out with sharp hipbones in a sulky slouch, he seems to tower. His pants hung very low on his hips without a belt, probably too low to be considered decant, though still hiding everything that should be hidden. He was thin, his frame lanky and looming. From waist down, he was as thin as a skeleton, but his chest, arms, shoulders, and back were well muscled but not big. He wore heavy boots that flopped out around the ankles, the blue jeans running into them.

Soul jumped out of the bed of the truck, boots landing with a heavy THUD, drawing attention from several passer-bys. His eyes flashed once as he up-turned the beer bottle, spilling the whole content onto the garage floor, pulling a red cloth from his pocket to wipe condensation off his hands. He held one hand out to her. His hands were big, calloused, rough. He watched her blush, smiled. She was pretty, no, beyond pretty. And something...farmilur around the eyes, something he recognized. Possibly one of his clients daughter’s maybe? Or a wife or sister.

“If you’re Mr. Donnelson’s daughter, I told him the truck won’t be ready until tomorrow.” He smiled, his voice was light-hearted. “Stuart Petterson.”

The phone rang in the office.....then again...then again. He didn't answer it.

It was after closing hours. He doesn’t answer the phone a minute after five PM. Or take clients. But for a pretty lady...maybe.

Despite her better judgement, Amber had allowed her eyes to look over him. He looked so familiar, his eyes. Her blush was kept under control and she kept her smile on her face. She watched his movments and looked around at others quickly before returning her attention to the young man.

She blinked, Donnelson? Nope, she shook her head smiling, "Nope I-" She stopped suddenly, her eyes had widened beyond beleif. Stuart?! Soul?! Her mouth hung open, no wonder why he seemed so familiar! She threw her arm up in the air with something like a cheer and jumped foreward, hugging him around the shoulders.

"Soul! Soul! Ohmygod, I'm so glad to see you!" She leaned back, looking up at him, "I han't recognized you at all! Well, I sorta did, but I didn't know it was you! Ohmygod!"

She gave him a bear hug, looking up at him still, "It's me! Amber Rae, remember, Kitty?"

She started to laugh. The day was already looking better.

Her arms up around his shoulders came so suddenly he stumbled backwards, his hands flying to her hips, half to steady himself and her, and half to start peeling her off of him. Had he known one little smile in response to her blush would have provoked this reaction he’d have held better control of himself.

“I’m sorry miss I...”

Soul! Soul! Ohmygod, I'm so glad to see you!

How did she know his nickname? No one had used it since...well, forever.

“I’m sorry Miss, I really don’t know wha...”

Remember, Kitty?

“Kitty?” He pulled her hands off his shoulders finally and held her nearly at arms length, about to pull his fingers from hers. His eyes widened and a sudden flash sparked over both, then even spilled out of his eyes, letting white streams flash over his eyelashes. He pulled her into his with a speed to match her earlier reaction. His arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close. Despite that he was dirty and sweaty.

“Holy shit.” His voice cracked softly. He cleared his throat. He was smiling now, ear to ear. He pulled her back slightly again, “I’m sorry...I’m all...Dirty. What are you doing here?” The smile hasn’t left his face yet.

She was laughing, giggling, and almost in tears. Metting up with a childhood friend can do that to an emotional woman. A large smile was on her pretty face and it grew wider as he pulled her in a hug, she didn't care about getting dirty, hug her all you want.

She slowly stopped laughing and gave a giggle, waving a finger , "Uh-uh-uuuh! How many times have I told you to watch your language damnit!" A grin and she gave him another squeeze, but quickly loosened and leaned back as he asked what she was doing here. She raised an eyebrow and placed a hand on a hip, leaning slightly against it.

"What am I doing here? This a car shop, right? What do you think I'm doing here? My baby needs fixing!" She stuck out her lower lip, soft brown eyes enlarging to a ridiculous size, she even gave a sniffle, "Can you fix her?"

She raised an arm, pointing to her sky blue 1964 Ford Mustang. "It's been stalling and a few times it wouldn't even start up." A pout was given and she leaned forward, hugging Soul, the look on her face was saying 'Pweeeeeeeeaaaaaaase can you fix her?' she gave a small giggle and rested her face against his chest.

"It's good to see you Soul...really, really good."

He smiled when she prodded him about swearing...again. Last time anyone had harrassed him about swearing was several years ago, an elderly client. He made his smile sheepish and blinked at her. "'M sorry."

Soul looked past her shoulder towards the open garage door at the Mustang. His blue eyes flicked over the vehicle breifly and then back onto her face, a partial smile remained on his lips. His hands remained around her but finally she was closer to arms length from his body.

"A sixty-four." It's sad that he's been able to tell a year and make of a car since he was seven. The older the better. "I'm sorry ma'am," he started to pull away and half turned, "we're closed. Didn't cha read the sign?" He grinned down at her. And her head was against his chest. She'd probably smell a lot of sweat, heavy in gasoline and Oil. Not the same faintly lingering smell that he'd always had as a kid. He bent over and rested his chin on top of her head. His dirty blond hair fell to one side, though much of it was still plastered to his neck with sweat.

"I've missed you." Glancing at the car breifly he closed his eyes and breathed in her hair. "Yeah. I'll check it out for you. But I've really got to finish this pile of bolts first," He kicked sideways at the tire of the truck he'd been sitting in. She smelled good. And he smelled like sweat. He lifted his head. "D'you....wanna come up?"

She gave a giggle and dissmissed the apology with a wave of her hand, "It is okay hon, I'm sure I'm still worse than you." Worse meaning more likely to swear more often.

She grinned at his comment, "Yup, that is my baby! I love her very much and that is why I came here, becuase there are very good reviews and I trust that you guys can find out what's wrong with her, fix her, and not ruin anything!" Her grin faltered and she pouted, "Clooosed?"

A sniffle and she began to 'cry', "Oh no! Now what'll I do?" But she quickly stopped and smiled softly, despite the smell, she still liked hugging him. She smelt of cinnamon and almonds and a hint of apple. Similar to an apple pie but not quite like it, there was a scent there, like if femininty has a scent, that would be it. Something like a spice, fiesty and sharp with a soft edge.

She grinned up at him, "Missed you too!" Her grin grew wider and she jumped up and down, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his neck. She hung there, giving him a hug and wrapping her legs around his the best she could.

"Really?! You will!? Oh thank-you, thank-you, thank-you Soul!" And a nod, "Sure, I'lll come up!" And she laughed.

He nodded and laughed again when she climbed up his taller form and wrapped her legs around his waist. Child. Still a child. Both of them. Only, he was much stronger now, mach more lithe and fit and rather then falled forward under her weight and ending up a jumbled mess on the ground, he put his hands around her hips and held her there, leaning back only slightly to center their balance.

"Good," he replied, "because I stink and need a shower. Badly." He walked around the front of the truck, still holding her, and rested her butt on the bumper so he could reach up and lower the heavy hood down. Then he pulled at his pants. They were low enough on his hips, risking exposure already, and she was pulling them down with her weight.

"Am I suposed to carry you up or are you going to untie yourself from me? Or do I need a crowbar?" He reached for her sides and poked gently, expecting it to tickle as it once had.

"Good, cause you really stink. Hee!" She couldn't keep a straight face right now, still pleasantly giddy and cheerful from shock she was content just staying in his arms. Thus she pouted when he basically said she needed to get off of him to get up. She lowered an eyebrow, raising the other in return and huffed, pouting her lips out.

But that all dissapeared into a shrieking laughing face when he poked her, she seemed to have gotten even more sensitive there over the past couple years and she squirmed in his arms, laughing. "Okay! Okay! I'll get off!"

Giggling and squriming still, she made to get out of his strong grip so that he couldn't poke her again, evil Soul. Her pout looked more like a silly grin, but she still tried, after all, who could resist that pout of her's? No one so far, and if it works, Soul should feel inclined to pick her up and carry her depsite any problems that might occur.

The power of a woman, amazing, isn't it?

He grinned at her squirming, poked at her more, as she pouted and squirmed. Or tried to pout. He remembered that pout. She'd had all their daddies and mommies (all being all their friends and their parents included) wrapped around her little finger with that pout. That had been why when they wanted to stay out late they sent her in to deal with the parents.

He tugged at his pants again at that point. "I'm immune to that pout remember?" he said, touching her lower, pouting lip. "It didn't work then and it won't work now." But she'd gotten so much better at pouting then she had been even as a kid. He sighed heavily though he was smiling widely and he wrapped his arms all the way around her torso and lifted her butt off the bumper and started towards the office.

"Do you always get your way? Spoiled brat." He didn't sound upset about it. Inside the office he went through another door that lead into a stairway and started up it.

Amber giggled yet again and raised her head up in a smug way, curls tumbling about.

"Immune or not, you're still carrying me my dear Soul!"

The power of a beautiful woman's pout, especially if done by a pro is nearly unresistable save for those without hearts. It didn't matter if you had eyesight, the energy that comes off a person when they pout is just as strong as seeing it. So it's nearly win/win situation for her, isn't it?

She was grinning now, humming happily along to a song she was making up as they go. The two should get together sometime so they can talk, catch up with things, make ou- wait. Oops, don't think that about your friend, just becuase he is gorgeous. She winced without actually making the movement, allowing her eyes to stray across the face of the other before looking around.

So she did find him attractive, so what? He's still Soul, one of her best friends ever, anyways, he probably still thinks of her as a little sister, doesn't he? Not someone to try to start a relationship with. All these thoughts as she hums and looks up, focused on the high ceiling.

"Yeah, only because I feel like it" then mimicking her voice "my dear Kitty." He smiled. She had him wrapped around her finger already, just like all those parents. The difference is they didn't know it. He practically allowed it.
He pushed open the door at the topd of the stair way.

As you entered you looked straight into the living room. Around the corner, connected to the living room by two openings was the kitchen. The living room was furnished with a sofa along one wall and a reclining chair at wither end of the room, facing each other. An entertaining center stood along the wall in front of the sofa and at one end of the center was a set of drums, at the other end an electric, bass, and acustic guitar, and a saxaphone (the electric being the very same one he’d used as a kid). The entertaining center held a Television and shelves full of movies and books. The room was clean and smelled like ‘Red Rose’ incence. A short hall lead to a clean bathroom and a slightly less clean bedroom. It wasn’t the bedroom was dirty, just un-kept. Soul never made his bed, and he always threw his dirty clothing in a pile in the corner even if he had a hamper.

He unwraps his arms from her to tug at his pants again. "There. You got what you wanted. Now off." Smiling he jumps up once, landing and trying to jar her into putting her feet down. His hair fell into his face. Ignored it.

(( Goodness knows, haven't posted in a while >< ))

She almost fell off of him. Wait, scratch that, she did fall off of him, onto her butt. Ow! Sadly, the word she said wasn't as appropriate. It was obvious she didn't either, she was too busy standing up slowly rubbing her butt with a glaring pout at Soul.

"That hurt! Jerk!"

She stuck her tongue out, but before she did anything else, the rose smell distracted her. Amber breathed in the lovely scent of the room, taking in the room with another pout. Why was she the only one with a messy room? Or at least what she defined as messy. Her hands ran through her curls and shook them about. That sucks, really, being beaten by Soul...than again this is Soul she's talking about. He's always been a tad bit cleaner than her.

She eyed him again. Not right now though, she made a face, sticking her tongue out. "You stink." She laughed and bounced over to the bed, hopping on top of it, her body rising and falling for a couple bounces on it. It smiled like Soul, minus a lot of the ucky stuff. She breathed in the scent before sitting up, legs on either side of her, turning her head to stare at Soul.

"Are you going to take a shower? And are these sheets clean?"

She blinked at him, large brown eyes focusing on his, though they were hard to see with all that hair in his face. She was rather worried about rolling in sheets that might have...stuff...on it that she didn't want to be touching. She's a little paranoid about things, so what? She's still a young woman.

She might be the only one with a messy room because Soul was rarely upstairs and using his anymore. Some people in the neighbor hood would swear up and down he’s what they would picture as a country boy (in their city-people frame of mind because really they have no clue what they’re talking about). He was always out in that garage, one door open and lit up like a runway. Working on some car or running the block, to the beach, then back. They swore up and down he was constantly outside and doing something, and his garage had so many cars around it, (his pet projects) that it looked like a rednecks front yard or as though it were quickly on it’s way to becoming a junkyard.

He went to crouch down and tell her he was sorry in a falsly pouty voice but she got up first and he straightened up. He watched her fingers through her hair and then she went to his room and hopped on his bed.

He followed, leaning in the doorway, arms crossed, watching her bounce and then smiled when she stared at him. The bed did smell like him. Like soap mostly, and the smoke from the rose incence had clung to it.

“I know I stink.” He smiled. “I’ve been working all day. I can’t wait until it gets a little cooler.” Because then he’d get a better breeze blowing through the garage. “Yes I’m taking a shower and yes they’re clean.” He went to the dresser and dug through. Holey, trashy garage clothes, running clothes. More holey but less trashed clothes. Hm. He wanted to look better then that for his old friend. He’d really truly missed her. He went to the closet. More holey jeans but the shirts were better. “Help yourself to anything,” he said and disappeared into the bathroom.

She went on to laugh, she didn't know why, but she just did. It's one of those things, like when someone says something or does something that is a little funny but not really funny, yet you just laugh and laugh. Amber was currently on her back, laying on the bed and laughing. She just thought it was funny how he was going through his clothes like that. Like a fussy mother.

She kept on laughing, and as she did her face changed color, from natural to red to white to even slightly purple. Luckilly by then though, she was stopping herself so she could breath properly, cause she has no air in her lungs. She was trying to calm herself down, and it was slowly wrking becuase her face was turning the shade skin should be.

"You're weird."

Funny she says that, she was the weird one of them all. Odd and quirky. And she still is.

"Breath woman," he laughed at her changing colors.

His shower was fairly quick and when he came out, his hair was still dripping quite a bit and clung to his skin around his neck and face. This time, he was wearing holey jeans with much fewer holes then the pair he'd worn in the garage. Light blue, holes over the knees and one starting on the upper left thigh. They sagged too, down onto his hips and again barely scrapping past being considered decant. His shirt was a buttondown, which he was buttoning now, over a finely toned chest. It was black, looked nice, wasn't ruined.

He looked up at her and his eyes flashed. Most people push it aside as a reflection of light cathing his eyes and showing up so brightly because his eyes are so blue. People who know him know that if you look closely, it's in the shape of lightening, if your standing close enough when it happens, you'll feel the tingling of electricity in the air.

"Comfortable?" He sat down on the edge of the bed and finished buttoning the shirt.

She watched him closely as he entered the room, mainly giggling since he reminded her of a wet kitty with his wet hair. While he had been taking a shower, she kept herself busy by poking around, simply curious. Okay, she'll admit it, she wanted to see if he had been like the other boys and kept naughty magazines. So far she hadn't found any. Maybe she had been looking in the wrong areas. But she gave up quickly and went back onto the bed, flopping on it. Which is why, when he came in, the bed was even messier. She had taken off her shoesies though, her socked toes wiggling as she kept herself amused.

"Yes, very comfortable, though I like my bed even more."

Her bed was squishy with fluffy blankets, silky sheets, smooth pillows and stuffed animals she had collected over the years. So she can be a little girly, so what? She sat up and stuck her tongue out at him, poking him with her toes.

"Want to do something?"

Like go out or something.

"I wouldn't have attempted to make myself presentable if I didn't." Yes, Kitty, holes in the knees and grease spots in his book is presentable as long as it's accompanied by a nice shirt. Has he even really grown up at all? Well, in some ways. As a kid he'd run around in the bondage pants and muscle shirts, dying his lovely blond hair all shades of green and blue that his mother would have turned over in her grave for.

"Where do you want to go?" He looked down her body at her toes and a smile cracked the corner of his lip upward.

That hair was one of the first things that caught Amber's attention. Pity he let it grow out, it had been really cool to put in braids and play with. She grinned and poked him some more with her toes.

Pokepokepokepokepoke....

As she poked him she thought about where to go.

"Umumumumummmm...Iunnooooo, where doth thou want to goeth?"

Really bad Old English, but whatever. She kept grinning and kept poking. She was poking his side by the way, where on most people it should tickle. Poke poke poke. Nar. She sat up suddenly and jumped forward, like she used to do and tackled him. Or at least tried to, she was going to tickle him. Beware!

He squirmed a little on being poked in the side, laughed, and grabbed her ankle to pull ber foot away from his side.

buuuuzzzz

Feel the electricity when you move close. She startled him by just jumping up from where she was, and when he's startled, the electricity within him sort of....hums. As she tackled him, he leaned forward, as if to duck from her, but slid off the bed instead and fell to his knees. Laughing, he grabbed her ankle and one of her wrists and pulled her over his shoulders and lay her on the ground in front of him, pressing her back to his stomach and holding her there with one arm across her stomach, using the other hand to tickle her.

"Tickle me will you!"

Really, they've not grown up yet, neither of them.

Unfortunatly for her, he's about a foot and a half taller and four times as strong as he was when they rough housed as kids.

Maybe it was that buzz that had made her jump up. But she was too busy squirming and laugh-shrieking to notice right now. If anyone can hear them below they'd probably think there was some grown-up situations going on, not tickling.

It was funny, they were still so comfortable with eachother.

"Da-a-aaamn you! Eeeh!"

She was squirming and trying to escape, ow, he was so strong! Her arms were trying to reach back and while she managed to get one out and (attempt) tickle him back, it didn't look like she'd be getting out anytime soon.
"Snot!!"

Even if there were some (ahem) 'grown up' things going on up here, no one would be found in the garage after five o clock unless it was Stuart. And since he happens to be one of the two people involved in this immature tickle-fight, it's not likely he'll be down there to complain about all the noise above, is it?

She got one hand free and tickled his side and he, in response, jerked to the side away from her hand. Yes. He is still very ticklish. Some things you just can't grow out of. He reached out and grabbed that hand, pausing in the tickling, to fold her hands against her chest and hold them there with one hand, then continue to tickle with the other.

"Brat," he retroted, "You started this!"

His blue eyes flashed again.

Heehee! Yes, just two immature young adults having a big tickle fight. Some people might find it out of character for Soul. But to Amer it was perfectly normal. Cause really, none of them had exactly been 'normal' kids, now had they? Even though Amber insisted she was normal and it was everyone else who were weirdos.

"Je-erk!"

It was hard to talk and laugh and squirm around like crazy at the same time. She was trying to get up on her knees and kick him off, almost like a bucking bronco.

"Arrrr!"

Both of her hands were held under her and so this was really hard. Dang. Owie her boobies were a bit sore too. You try having your body squished by a big guy and then your fingers poking into your bosom while you were being squished. She turned around and then stuck her tongue out.

Pppphhhhhbbbbbttttt!

Raspberry, how childish.

Everyone would find this out of character for Soul. Lots of people know him, all of them would call him both a loner and serious. Even people who knew him as a child would find this behavior peculiar of Stuart. But well, Amber brought back a lot of good memories that Soul usually didn't think about.

Rasberry!

Uh oh.

He bit her tongue.

Not something Soul would have done as a child, he'd been outgoing and even daring, but not towards girls. And Amber, back then, wasn't a girl. She was....Kitty. That was it. Had they grown up togather through the past few years, he might have slowly come to realize she was a girl, notice she was pretty, notice an attraction growing. But her being gone and just coming back like this, it was definatly different. Soul is more daring (if possible) then before and a lot less shy towards girls.

It was just a nip really, not a bite. Can you feel the sudden rise in the air, like static prickling along your skin? His eyes flashed again.

He let go though, quickly when he realized he'd done it, and let go of her. Jumped back so that she had space and so that (ever cautious of their childhood games) she couldn't turn around and tickle him. He was several feet away, sitting on his knees, his wet hair sticking to his face, watching her.

And allow Amber to just face him, body turned, with her jaw hanging open.

"You bit me."

She was blinking, rather wide eyed. He had bit her tongue. She fell back onto the floor. He was out of her reach, she found out, when she stretched and waved her foot at him. Oh poo. She made a face, puffing her cheeks out.

"You bit me! Snot."

She sat up slowly. She was acting as if she hadn't been affected by it, but she will admit when he had nipped her, it was like something shot through her. Probably adreline and hormones. She was blushing, but it could be dissmissed as her face red from the yelling, becuase her face was rather pink. She rubbed her nose.

Lucky they hadn't went on roughing for much longer or she would have broke into a sweat or something and would have had to take a shower herself. She sat up fully, hands on her knees and curls all over the place. One fell in her face. She blew it out. Fell in her face again. Blew it out. Fell, blew, fell, blew, fell, blew until she finally made a noise and brushed her hair behind her ears with her hand.

She straightened out her clothes too. Then looked back up at Soul.

"So...." This was rather awkward. "Where do you want to go?"

"I didn't mean to!" He cried out in protest. Save for the fact that his voice is much deeper, he sounded just like the kid he'd been. Of course he'd meant to. He'd done it hadn't he? Or rather, he'd tought to do it without any intention of following through with it and had actually done so.

At her second cry that he'd bit him, she was wiggling her foot at him trying to tickle him still?! He smiled. She was blushing, there isn't any way she can hide that from him. First of all, a man just knows when he's done something to make a girl blush. Second, he just knew he too well. And it seems she hadn't changed.

He slapped her foot away gently as she sat up. "Yeah. Start that again and I'll do it again." Is that suposed to be a threat? Weak.

He watched her blow the hair out of her face a dozen times and then push it back, smiling. It was awkward, but not so terribly from his end. He'd done it. He's not embarassed. He's a little suprised, but he isn't regretting it. He doesn't regret anything, ever.

He stood up when she questioned, picked up a towel and rubbed it over his hair again. "Lets go to the diner," they used to as kids, all four of them would troop in and sit around feeling like young adults and the waiters would play along with the game. "That is if you don't mind being seen with this," he gave his pants an upward tug, pulling them up a little, indicating the holes.

"Chya, whatever big boy."

In reply to his threat.

She was grinning and she stood up slowly, stretching first with her butt in the air as she popped a few things. She should go to the chiropractor sometime. Or a massage therapist. She snuffed and stood up shortly after he did. She raised an eyebrow and her grin grew bigger and she shrugged.

"Hey, at least you look somewhat decent." She waved her hands down her body. "I look like trailer trash. Let's go."

She remembered the diner, now that had been fun, even if she would grab the kiddie menus solely to color. She hadn't been there in forever.

"The diner does sound great though..."

Soul frequinted the Diner still. Once a month maybe. The food isn't so healthy so he only treats himself once in a while, but he still goes. He still sits in 'their' booth.

He watched her stretch and couldn't help but laugh, how she reminded him of a cat. He swung the towel over a towel rack in the bathroom to dry and pulled a brush through his hair a few times. It's very thick but it dries rather quickly, and probably a little messily. He came back in and gasped at her.

"You do not." He smiled. "You look good."

And he starts down the hall way towards the door, pausing to slip his feet into the boots he'd just taken off.

"I have to go down and lock up the garage though."

They should go out every now and then, shouldn't they? It would be fun. She grinned as the oter complimented her.

"Thank-ya."

She strolled over to the bed, slipping on her own white shoes and pranced out of the room after her old friend. A shrug.

"Okay with me, but one question, how will we get there? My car ain't doing too well."

Soul should have plenty of cars, yes?

(( zomgsh >< short post, sorry ))

Soul has a million cars. Six of which he's got running right now.

"Do you think your the only one in the city that drives?" He smiles and exits, locking the door behind them. Down in the garage, he walks over and reaches up to pull down the garage door, turning a latch and locking it. The bottom of his shirt lifts up when he reaches up, goes back in place when he puts his arms down. He moves around the garage for a few moments, wiping clean the tools he'd used, putting them away. His garage is neater then his room.

"Come on," he says finally and leaves through a side exit into a parking lot beside the garage. There sits four classic muscle cars, a 1999 Camero and a 1994 Truck. He moved and unlocked the red Nova and got in.

She stuck her tongue out at him again.

"What-ever!"

And followed him, watching what he did and his chest when his shirt lifted, he had a nice upper body. She would have tried to help but she didn't really know what to do or what was needed to be done. She grinned and skipped as they headed towards he four cars. Ooh!

"Cool!"

She studied each one before following Soul and jumping into the passenger seat of the car. She was all smiles.

"Let's go!"

Pumped her arm in the air and then remembered she had to put her seatbelt on. Click. Done.

He started the engine and then buckled his seatbelt. The car was spotless. Cleaner then his room. Can we see what his priorities are? Michanics, his cars.

The great thing about old muscle cars is that even when your doing the speed limit, you still feel like your going faster. But it took them the same amount of time to get to the Diner as it would have anyone else. He unbuckled and climbed out. He didn't rush to get her door, she's a woman, not helpless. She can get her own door, right?

But he did hold the Diner door for her.

Which is why Amber would lean her head over the door, grinning like mad. She also waved to just about everyone they went by. She had seen a few people she knew too.

It's nice that he didn't think her as helpless, or there would be problems. Some men like to think 'their' woman is helpless, like one of her ex-boyfriends. He was a control freak, she didn't like that, so she dumped him. He had stalked her for a while. Until he died in a car accident while following her, killed by his current girlfriend (who was drunk at the time). Kind of ironic, yes?

She jumped out of the car daintilly and skipped over to the door, smiling and thanking Soul as he held the door for her. And oooh goodie! Their booth is open! No doubt about it, it is their booth. She was quick to grab his hand and pull him over.

"I've missed this place so much!"

She slid in and left Soul. He could either sit with her or across from her.

He sat across from her.

It'd be a little awkward to sit beside her. And this way, he can see her. (He likes to look at her. Shh.) Sliding into the booth the waitress come and smiled at them.

"Water." He told her.

Soul smiled. She's the same waitress that had worked here a few years ago. He looked across the table at Amber and the waitress's gaze followed obediantly. Then her eyes widened and she comenced onward into the 'oh Kitty' and the 'look how pretty you are' and 'where have you been?'s. Soul just laughed.

Amber was all giggly and she gave her order of diet coke, but for a few minutes, the two of them chatted for a little bit before the waitress hurried off to get their orders and take care of some rather disgruntled looking costumers.

Amber was obviously in a good mood and was smiling. It is almost odd to think that that nerdy, geeky girl from a few years back is this pretty little thing. Then again it's rather hard to think that the boy who dyed his hair practically every color of the rainbow and 'ran around in bondage pants' was this attractive man across from her. She leaned forward looking curiously at him with her big brown eyes.

"Whatchya thinkin' about?"

It's kind of odd to try to start a conversation with someone who you used to be able to talk about everything and nothing to without thinking.

But remeber Amber, he'd done that to himself, all those odd colors in his hair, the wild clothing, to draw attintion away from hisflashing 'storm eyes'. Now, he didn't need to, he'd gotten smarter as he'd gotten older, learned to play on peoples questions. Hollographic contacts, it's the lighting in the room.

play smarter not harder.

And trying to start a business with blue hair would have been very hard.

He'd put one elbow on the table and his fist against his cheek and was watching the two of them, smiling faintly, until the waitress left.

"Us. How we used to go around and collect money from people so we'd have enough to come here and order a milkshake." He laughed. "Do you remember when I walked down Elm asking everyone for spare change because I needed money for a payphone to call my dad?" They'd made twenty-three dollars doing that, just from quaters and dimes.

...until one lady offered him to use her cell phone. Shit.

Amber's face lit up, her characteristic grin-smile appearing on her face as she titled her head back, laughing. She wiped her eyes, all of her laughng today has built up and her eyes are watering.

She snuffled and kept giggling.

"Oh-Oh yea...I definetly remember that one-hee! It was so funny! But it was always worth it, no matter how mortifying."

She tapped her mouth with a finger, a coy grin coming on her face. "I think I collected the most money, yea? I'd look a little worried and I'd have my pout ready. Ah, my eyes always helped too. It's a good thing I had those characteristics 'cause I didn't have much else but big boobs. This one guy offered me twenty bucks if I flashed him...remember?"

She stopped then, turning slightly red in the face and gave Soul an apologetic look.

"I couldn't help it! He offered me /twenty bucks/ to just look at my boobs! Anyways, I got money and that was good, wasn't it? I had never seen Jeff and Bryan turn so red...you hadn't seemed fazed though."

She raised her eyebrow at him and then giggled, taking a sip of the drink the waitress brought before she hurried off to another table.

"I usually did flash guys if they offered twenty or more...But I'd never do anything more, you three boys knew that...I might have been a bit...extreme...but I was never desperate."

No prostitution for her, no siree.

Stuart smiled at the memory. Jeff and Bryan had turned red...no...scarlett everytime that she'd yanked her shirt up to a guy to make twenty quick bucks.

"That's because they thought of you like a sister." He'd never said before how he thought of her, becuse he'd been worried that he'd offend her, even as kids. "I thought of you as one of the guys. Until I figured out you had boobs." He couldn't help but laugh indignatly there. "Then I couldn't figure out what I thought you were because you," he said it with mocking accusation, "destroyed all my thoughts that you were one of the guys."

He smiled, looked at the table top. "I was phased. I just didn't look it because I didn't know what to do. I was stunned and suprised. Only the first time though. The second time you did it, and every time after, I was ready for it."

He nodded to her, "yes, we knew that. You know Bryan popped..." he stopped that thought abruptly. Crude Stuart, very crude. She's not a kid anymore and in a restraunt, and as a entrepenure, it wouldn't be good to say popped a boner. He grinned sheepishly, cat ate canary smile. "...had the hots for you after that."

(( Jehovah? xD You know, I would kill to see Jehovah actually really smile. ))

"Cha! Me? A guy?"

Amber grinned unabashedly and took a swig of her drink, lifting a hand and pointing at Stuart.

"I, unlike you little boys, had the ability to feel shame. At least I didn't go around doing crazy, stupid stuff like Jeff to make money."

She pulled that finger up and tapped her cheek. What had Jeff done again? she couldn't remember, so it must have either been too stupid to bother remembering or too humiliating she couldn't even watch. Or hell, maybe both. She shook her head.

"I had an idea he sort of liked me, but I didn't really know that."

It's a good thing Stuart didn't say 'popped a boner', he wouldn't snorted her drink out her nose and fall out of the bench laughing. Or cough, choke and then die on the way to the hospital, laughing. Either way she would have found it very crude, but so very Stuart.