Rust Buckets and Rivalries

Chapter 25

It had been a long time coming. The truck was on its last legs. In fact it had been on its last legs for a couple of years. It had seen their issue ridden start, the love, the fights and more of its fair share of skin. Tim and Julie had many special moments in that truck but five years on in their relationship and many of thousands of cross-country driving had taken its toll. Not on their relationship but definitely on Tim's wheels.

It was his time to get a new truck, it was inevitable he guessed, that his old wheels would one day be too old but he was saddened regardless. He ran his hand through his now short hair. He was conflicted, the truck represented all the good things in his life pre-Julie and everything after. He grinned, for goodness sakes they had even consummated their relationship in the back of the darned thing.

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The Truck spluttered up the drive the house where his owner and his girl lived together. It was small and run down but it was home. The Truck recognised that it wasn't sounding all that flash and that perhaps it was beyond help. Its owner had done all that it could but sweat was pretty much the only thing keeping it together these days. It shuddered to a halt, spluttering and jerking its last bit of energy. The owner sighed as he exited and looked back at it sadly. This was not good.

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Julie stood in the kitchen stirring the spaghetti sauce as Tim entered the house as he arrived home from practice. It shocked her to think how much of her life reminded her of her mother's, something at one point she promised herself would never happen. But she was teaching English and inspiring teens to be passionate about literature and that was a-okay by her. That, and she lived with the sexiest fifth grade teacher in the country. He walked into the kitchen, the room brighter just because of his presence. He draped himself around her back and kissed her on the neck and murmured

"Have any boys hit on my girl today?" It had become a bit of a joke between then since some of her freshman boys had taken to salivating after her. She had even received an anonymous valentine last year of which Tim had given her grief for months. She couldn't help it, she wasn't encouraging them in any ways other than their learning. In all truth Julie was surprised her mother had never had this problem when she was there for guidance counselling. She giggled as his lips continued to tease at

the sensitive skin at her throat, his hands brushing up and down her sides. Finally they rose to the undersides of her breasts where they crossed over one another to pull her in tight against his body.

"Well actually there was this one boy, he used to have long lustrous locks and stomp around with a dark look upon his face "but I haven't seen him for..." she pretended to think "nigh on five years now." His body rumbled with silent laughter as he reached over and turned the heat off on the cook tops.

"I think it is time we went and napped." She turned around in his arms and kissed him on the mouth.

"Okay then, turn around and lead the way, cowboy," he kissed her, a longer kiss this time and she played with the very short hair on the back of his neck. She missed the long bits but he stilled looked gorgeous to her. She dragged her mouth away and propelled him to turn, as he did she jumped on his back and he piggybacked her all the way to their bedroom. Both of them laughing the entire way.

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A hour later they were lying on their best, a mess of tangled limbs and sheets. Her head lay on his shoulder, one of his arms wrapped around her, the other twirling a piece of her hair around his fingers. He was mesmerised by the hair. She watched him in silence, waiting for her thudding heart to slow.

"How was your day hun?" she asked and winced, she was definitely sounding like her mom now too. Though she doubted her father ever piggybacked her mother to a bedroom to have steamy sex, she shuddered she didn't want that mental picture. She looked at him as she waited for the answer.

"The Truck's beyond help. I can't do anything anymore, Billy's tried and the mechanics have given up. It's time to a new one." She was shocked hearing him say it, she had known for awhile that the truck was on its last legs but denial was sometimes a lovely place. She grew sad, she'd lost her virginity in that truck. It was a constant in their lives and she was intensely sad at the thought of saying goodbye.

"So you've tried everything?" she asked sympathetically. He nodded, looking at her now with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry babe." He kissed her on the forehead in thanks. "So what now?"

"I ordered a new one, it'll be here on Saturday." She gasped at the suddenness of it all. "I'll take it to the junk yard then." She rolled onto his chest, snuggling her head beneath his chin and attempted to console him with a hug. They were both sad but they had seen this coming. She hugged him tighter and then felt him move.

"Again Mr Riggins?" she asked cheekily.

"Again and again and again Miss Taylor," he responded as his bit her earlobe and laved it in a soothing motion.

"Well only if you are a really good boy," she laughed.

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Tim had big plans for tonight, being the last Friday night he would ever have The Truck. He had it all planned, they would picnic in the back as they had used to and celebrate their life with the truck in the way they had always had. He had the wicket basket filled with yummy bits of so and so, some champagne and a blanket. Maybe if he played his cards right he might get lucky, he laughed to himself. He had told Julie to be ready by seven and there she was, standing on the front stoop of their rented house, dressed in a sundress that highlighted her curves and brought out the sparkles in her eyes. He was amazed that after five years she could still make him swirly on the inside.

Tim pulled the groaning truck into the driveway, stepped out of the car and escorted his girl back to the truck. He drove to the vacant block with its green trees and big sky, parking in that place they always had. They both hopped out of the truck and into the back. Jules knew the drill and she looked happy to be doing this. He knew she would grieve the truck as much as he would, he imagined it was like what it must feel like to lose a childhood pet.

He set up the picnic while she attempted to open the champagne without killing him with the cork. They ate the fried chicken and salads, sipped champagne and gazed at the stars. Jules used him like a pillow, like always. Her head rested on his stomach, her hair spread out like an exotic rug keeping him covered and smelling like strawberries. They pointed out constellations to each other and

began packing up the basket. As Julie was putting the covered food back into the basket she spotted something...

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Julie was staring at the bottom of the basket. There was a clean white envelope resting there, waiting for her eyes to discover it. She saw Tim sneak a smile out of the corner of her eye and realised he had manoeuvred this evening and her cleaning up for this moment. She inclined her head in the direction of the envelope as if asking if she should open it. He shrugged at her then glanced at her unbelieving that she hadn't picked the thing up yet. She reached in and pulled out the business sized envelope with Jules written across the front. It was Tim's writing, the ink was black and the penmanship dodgy, there was no mistaking it was his. He had attempted a little flourish below her name but it looked a little off kilter. She smiled, he had made an effort.

Julie took a deep breath and ran her forefinger under the back corner of the envelope. She jimmied it up and very carefully unstuck the seal. She sensed that this might be an important moment to cherish. Inside was a folded piece of paper and she carefully drew it out, placing the envelope on the ground. She tentatively started unfolding the sheath of papers, sneaking a look at Tim who was unsuccessfully trying to keep a straight face.

She opened them as gasped. On first glance she saw his and her name but not what for. She quickly perused the front page trying to figure out what it all meant. She looked at Tim and he nodded proudly.

"You bought this lot?" she asked excitedly.

"Yeah, but it's ours see? Your name and mine." He leaned forward and pointed out their names on the land title.

"You bought this?" she was a little shocked, pleased and slightly miffed all at once. "Without asking me?"

"Babe, this place is special and when I knew it was up for sale I grabbed it. For us." He looked so proud that she couldn't keep a hold of the slight anger at having been excluded from the decision.

"We can build the house that we want," he looked out over the lot when they had hung out for over five years on and off. "We can have a skylight in our bedroom so we can always see the stars," he looked at her excited, his eyes glowing and she silenced him with a kiss. This was beyond special and he was definitely going to get lucky, right now!

As they were kissing he got in the last word -

"Babe, we're land owners!" She giggled into his mouth and it was the last coherent thing he said in quite awhile.

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Tim lay back, his arms bent behind his head. His girl curled up at his side as he contemplated his surprise for her. She had been rapt and he had definitely been made to feel appreciated. He smiled and allowed the cool night air to run over him, his arm curling tighter around Jules to ward off the chill. When the truck situation had become evident he knew he would have to find other ways to keep a hold on their shared history. When he had heard that this lot was on the market he knew he had his answer. They had spoken about buying a place but he considered this one step better. There was just one more thing he had to do.

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The next morning they headed off in two cars to the salvage yard to drop the truck off. Jules was beyond sad continuing to speak to it like it could hear and understand her. Tim kept on giving her weird looks but she knew he felt the same. Tim had been given very little money for it but it had never been about that. The trade had been done and it was time to say good bye.

"Jules could you check the glove compartment to see if there is anything left?" he had asked her and she had scrambled to the truck. She left the door open and she jumped into the cab and opened the glove compartment. It was completely empty except for a lonely velvet box. Jules' eyes widened, not seeing Tim anywhere. She gingerly plucked the jewellery box from its cavern and brought it close to her chest. She lowered her chin to her chest and very slowly drew the lid open. Inside lay a beautiful ring. It was silver, simple, and elegant. It was for her. It was a wide band completely covered with small diamonds, so many that the sparkles danced across her face. My man has done well she thought and looked at to find him, he was at the open truck door. He had obviously snuck up when she had been entranced by the beautiful ring, his eyes were dancing and a nervous smile on his face.

"So what do you think babe?" he asked and she laughed. Trust him to blow the moment. She nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Julie Taylor will you marry me?" She jumped down from the cab and sat on his knee, throwing her arms around his neck and never feeling as gloriously happy as she had in that moment. She kissed him soundly on the lips and drew back a fraction-

"What have I told you about calling me babe?" She laughed and kissed him again.

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The Truck had been given a new lease on life. He had had a fantastic time with the owner and the girl. The last time being laughter and tears. The owner had ever crouched low at its front and whispered

"So long old friend." The girl had been different she had sobbed continuously while its owner had supported her with an arm around her shoulders. A twinkle on her hand from the scene it had witnessed earlier. Finally she had come up and kissed its bonnet and it realised it would miss her.

A few days later, sitting alone in the salvage yard The Truck had seen a long haired kid taking a look at it. The kid has walked around The Truck, investigating everything under the hood and sitting in the driver's seat. The kid had even revved the engine and listened to the noise. All it knew was the kid called the old guy that worked there dad and that the kid wanted a challenge. Perhaps there was more life in it after all!

AN – And I am done. I am so happy so many of you have enjoyed this story, both the originals and this sequel. Thanks so much for your continued support. Today I celebrated my three month anniversary of writing fanfic and I want to thank all the people who have continued to support me story to story and especially the ones who I now consider great friends – Jess, Jodi and Lilly. I love you guys! New story coming soon.