I know, I know. I suck at updating. I've only been slightly distracted and/or severely sick lately…and I've fallen on ice a lot too. Any who…

So I love everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and/or alerted this fic. Thank you so much. Truthfully, I thought this would be shot down, I was wrong.

Now, onward we go…

-oOo-

I sat on the front step of the café with the ear buds of my mp3 player blaring in my ears. I was glad that it was July and that the night was warm, otherwise, I'd be more pissed off that he was almost forty-five minutes late.

I was never a patient person, so waiting this long was killing me. I glanced up and down the street one more time. Absolutely nothing. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I grabbed my bag and hoisted myself up. As I began to walk in the direction of the bus stop, I saw a set of headlights coming in my direction.

"Now he's here…nope." I watched the vehicle go by, a blonde girl behind the wheel.

I was at the corner when I heard the car's breaks squeal. I turned around and saw that it's backup lights were on and coming back towards me. I panicked when it stopped in front of me. Oh god, don't ask for directions, anything but that.

The voice from inside the vehicle called out, "Hey, are you…um, shit…Princess?"

"Why?" Holy shit, I have a stalker.

"Duncan doesn't have your number?" I shook my head. "Nice bro, nice. Well, I'm Duncan's sister, Stella. Duncan's community service is running late, he asked me to drop by to see if you were still here and to see if you still wanted to meet up."

I stared at this shockingly polite sister of Duncan. She much more toned down compared to Duncan. I could be wrong though…oh well.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll still meet with him," I muttered, stepping closer to the car.

Stella reached over and unlocked the passenger door. Manual locks? That's kind of…retro.

"What kind of car is this?" I asked as I got in and closed the door.

The sister seemed to perk up at me asking this. "Oh! It's a nineteen-seventy Dodge Challenger. It was our dad's car and my brothers didn't want it, so I took it."

"Brothers?"

"Yeah. Duncan and I have two older brothers. You'll never see them though. They're a couple of douche bags who are only concerned about themselves."

I nodded in response and then proceed to zone out as I stared out the window. I was silently wondering what was going on with me as of late. I usually never associated with anyone like Duncan nor did I get into cars with people I didn't know, whether or not I knew their sibling. True, Stella did come off as a nice person, but looks can be deceiving. Quite like her brother.

I had been in such a zone that I didn't even notice that the car had stopped until Stella honked the horn. I glanced up to see where we were at.

I saw cages lined outside the warehouse-like building and heard the distinct sound of dogs barking. We were at the animal shelter? So, Mr. "I look big and bad" really is a softy.

I saw him come out of the building and walk towards the car. I felt like sinking down into the seat, but that would be kind of useless at this point. Truth be told though, I don't even think he noticed me until he opened the passenger door to get in.

"Holy shit, you came," he said in a tone of shock and disbelief.

I stared at him while slouching in the seat. There were so many answers to that statement running through my mind and I couldn't seem to pick one.

"Just get in the damn car, Duncan," Stella yelled from the driver's seat.

I grabbed the back of my seat and leaned forward with it, giving Duncan just enough room to climb into the back seat. I suppressed a laughing as I heard Duncan grunt as he squeezed into the back. When he finally settled in, Stella put the car in back into gear and we left.

No one said a word for the first few blocks. I sat in my own little zone in the passenger seat, staring out the window. I could see Duncan's silhouette in the side mirror. I couldn't help but wonder what was running through his head. Noah had always told me that if I had the power of telepathy, it would be the end of me, because I "have" to know everything.

"Hey, Stell? Do you mind if we drop you off, and then I could maybe borrow your car?"

My eyes still remain fixed on the side mirror. I could see Duncan smirking at me as we passed by street lamps.

"Oh shit! Way to go Courtney. Who know what he'll do to you once his sister's gone. Make her stay, bitch!!"

So many other thoughts and scenarios ran through my head as to what could happen once Stella left us, but then there was a feeling deep down that told me to dismiss these thoughts.

It didn't take us too much longer to get to their house, which was actually in one of the decent parts of town. It came off as a quiet neighborhood. I could be wrong about that though.

Stella put the car in Park and stepped out, Duncan following behind her.

"Alright, I'm trusting you Duncan, with both Sweat Pea and Courtney, got it? Any trouble and I will kick your ass before mom or dad can arrest you."

"Yeah, yeah," Duncan muttered as he climbed in to the driver's seat and closed the door.

Before we left, Stella crouched down so she was eye level with the window.

"It was nice to me you, Princess. Be safe and if he causes any trouble, just kick him where it counts, kay?"

I didn't even get a chance to respond as Duncan peeled away from the curb. Now here we were. Duncan and I, alone, in the middle of the night, and driving to who-knows-where. And I hate to say it, but I feel safe.

-oOo-

THERE!! I did it!! I don't really have much to say at the end of this except that I was encouraged to finish this. Oh, and that I am currently coughing up a lung and I need more Kleenex.

Peace out,

M-D-C