The day we met,622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUxEJTDfvf
Frozen I held my breath,622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d3ChZNlDM
Right from the start622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxKZ6kCGta
I knew that I'd found a home for my heart...
Beats fast, colors and promises,622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡva2GRCA7b8
How to be brave?622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OwcXSUaWx
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJntroWCrZg
But watching you stand alone,622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOycNOWxHo
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One... Step... Closer…
The first thought that pierced Kayla's sleepy brain the following day was that exactly one week earlier she had been running down a dark alley from two police officers and had collided rather painfully with the beautiful redhead that currently lay in her arms, sleeping peacefully. One week. Damn, it seemed like so much longer than that. Surely more than seven days had passed since she had arrived at the warehouse! But no, it had only been a week and yet so much had happened in that short span of time.
Kayla had found a new home, a new life, and Ariana... God, Ariana. She was unequivocally the very best thing that had ever happened to Kayla and she was quickly learning to not feel bad about that fact. She had fallen in love and it had only taken her a few days. She was shocked to realize the speed at which her entire world of changed. It was... out of character for her. It had taken her years to fall for Claire, but only a week to fall for Ariana. She thought she ought to feel at least a little sad about that, but she really didn't. She was too deliriously happy at the moment to feel sad about anything.
Ariana began to stir. Her big eyes fluttered open and she tilted her head to look up at Kayla and grinned. Kayla grinned back and leaned forward, capturing Ariana's lips in a brief kiss.
I have died everyday waiting for you622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAnFXiIAYy
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKFyvbDfiT
For a thousand years622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKDerHT5Pw
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqzR8hxDel
Time has brought your heart to me622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcWkb8NOP7
I have loved you for a thousand years622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q85ITauBB
I'll love you for a thousand more...
One... Step... Closer...
“It’s our song,” Ariana said quietly, nodding toward the radio which was set to come on every morning at 9:00am. Kayla arched an eyebrow.
“We have a song?” she asked curiously.
“Of course!” said Ariana. “This is the first song we danced to!” Kayla grinned. “And the first song we kissed to as well, I suppose.”
Time stands still622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLWwLoeq5K
Beauty in all she is 622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4O7PHqTWT
I will be brave622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVw7Nac9Rt
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1ToEkho25
Every breath622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4tWibIRTh
Every hour has come to this
"You are so damn beautiful," Kayla whispered, brushing a wild strand of hair out of Ariana's face. The redhead smiled.
"That's always nice to hear," she said brightly. Kayla giggled, but the smile slid off of her face as quickly as it had come and she stared so fiercely at Ariana that she could tell the redhead was getting worried.
“Is something wro…?”
“I love you,” Kayla interrupted suddenly. “I love you, Ariana. I wish to God I didn’t, Ari, but… I do. I love you.”
“Aww,” said Ariana sweetly. “I love you too.” She smiled sadly. “That was the hardest thing you’ve ever had to say, wasn’t it?”
“What makes you say that?” Kayla asked. Ariana shrugged.
“But you’ve been afraid to love since Claire died,” said Ariana. “You loved her and losing her hurt you so badly that you know you never want to feel that pain again. So, admitting you love me is like taking off a big piece of the armor you’ve put up to protect yourself. You’re always so strong, Kayla. I’m the one thing that makes you weak.” Ariana had hit the nail squarely on the head; even though Kayla hated herself for admitting it.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re too damned intuitive for your own good?” Kayla asked in mock frustration.
“You did,” said Ariana firmly. “Just a few days ago,”
“Well, nothing’s changed,” said Kayla. She sighed. “But you’re right. You do make me weak… but you also give me something worth fighting for. I’m tired of running, but before I met you I didn’t have any fight left in me. Now, though? Now, I’ve got all the fight in the world.”
Having been cooped up in the warehouse for far too long, the girls decided that a day out might do them good. A little snow didn’t bother Detroit one bit and practically all businesses were open, so after a nice breakfast they climbed down to the warehouse floor to get Kayla’s bike.
“We need a car,” said Kayla firmly as Ariana opened the cargo door. “I love my bike, but it’s cold out there. I’m a Cali Girl, babe… I’m not used to all this… cold.”
“Had you ever even seen snow before you came here?” Ariana asked as the cargo door slid noising toward the ceiling.
“Yeah…” Kayla said slowly. “On TV,”
“That doesn’t count!” said Ariana darkly. “But maybe we should get a car. At least we wouldn’t have to call Coop every time we go shopping.”
“I guess we could swing by a dealership,” said Kayla. “I hate car salesmen with a passion, but I could put up with it if I don’t have to freeze my butt off just to go to the store.”
“Don’t worry,” said Ariana sweetly, straddling the bike behind Kayla. “I’ll keep that nice and warm back here.”
-.-
“So… where should we start?” Ariana asked as Kayla parked the bike in a lot were several car dealerships were located on the road nearby.
“You’re from the Motor City,” said Kayla. “Don’t you know anything about cars?”
“No,” said Ariana sharply. “I’m not even allowed to drive. You’re from San Diego. Don’t you know everything about… about… sand and… and surfing and… beach bums? I’ve never been to San Diego!”
“We have a lot more than sand and surfing, sweetheart,” said Kayla, grinning. “And nice comeback, by the way.”
“You didn’t fall in love with me because of my witty retorts,” said Ariana sagely.
“No, I fell in love with you because of your cute butt,” said Kayla, swatting the redhead playfully but with a hint of force on her rear end.
They wandered through the various lots, examining the different makes and models. Kayla had far more automotive knowledge than Ariana did, but it didn’t really matter. They weren’t looking for any particular model and money wasn’t really an object.
“Well, shit!” Kayla exclaimed as they walked through a high-end lot. Sitting in front of them on a pedestal completely cleared of snow was a blaze orange Mclaren MP4-12c Spyder. The two hundred fifty thousand dollar supercar sat low to the ground and screamed power and speed… and also that its owner clearly had more money than sense. It didn’t matter. Kayla would take that title just to be able to sit in the damn thing.
”I’m guessing you like this,” said Ariana, walking with Kayla toward the car and peering in the window.
“Like?” Kayla exclaimed. “This… Ari, I love this car almost as much as I love you! This guy my mom tried to hook me up with back home had one of these. The guy was a douche, but the car was freaking awesome!”
“Well, let’s find a salesman,” said Ariana, peering over toward the main building to see if she saw anyone coming their way. Kayla actually laughed.
“What?!” she exclaimed. “No, we’re not buying this!”
“But you want it,” said Ariana.
“Come on, Ari! This thing costs over a quarter of a million dollars!” said Kayla. “No, there are plenty of normal people cars around here. Let’s go look at them.”
“Can I help you ladies?” a voice called out, halting Kayla as she tried to lead Ariana to the next dealership over. A tall man emerged between two cars and rapidly approached them. He wore a very expensive suit and had a look on his face that indicated he didn’t like two teenage girls poking around his supercar.
“Yes,” said Ariana politely. “We’re interested in purchasing this car.” She gestured toward the Mclaren.
“Ah, yes, the Mclaren MP4-12c,” said the salesman. “Yes… might I ask how old you are?”
“I’m seventeen and Kayla here is nineteen,” said Ariana. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’m sorry,” said the salesman. “It’s just that this vehicle is quite expensive and I don’t think that either of you would be able to…”
“We’ll be paying cash,” said Ariana quickly, causing the salesman to freeze mid-sentence and stare.
“You’ll be…” the salesman stuttered.
“Paying cash,” Ariana repeated. “I may not look it, but I have plenty of money.” The salesman considered her for a long moment before smiling widely.
“Ladies, if you’ll come with me…”
-.-
Three hours and a trip to the bank for a cashier's check later, the girls sat in the lot where they'd parked Kayla's bike, waiting for Cooper to come and help them take the bike back to the warehouse. It was nearly dark and a light snow was falling from the grey sky above.
"I still can't believe you bought this," Kayla said, flipping enthusiastically through the Mclaren's owners manual.
"It's cool," said Ariana, lowering the hardtop convertible's roof for the fifth time. She yelped with excitement each time the machine completed the process. "There's so many buttons..."
"Yes, well... we're not touching those," said Kayla firmly. "Mainly because I haven't figured out what half of them do yet."
"You can find out by pushing them," Ariana pointed out, raising the top again. Kayla nodded.
"True, but for all I know there's an ejector seat in this thing and you'll go flying into the interstate." she said lamely. "That, or there's heat seeking missiles behind the headlights that we could launch."
"I don't want to be ejected," said Ariana faintly. Kayla grinned and took her hand.
"Don't worry, babe, I won't eject you," She leaned across the center console and captured Ariana's lips in a deep kiss. "I love you,"
"You don't have to keep saying it," said Ariana with a grin. "I know you're overcompensating, but its okay."
"It's the truth," said Kayla. "Besides, I've never gotten to say it and really mean it. With Dwayne, I never meant it and with Claire... I never said it. So, I guess I just want to make sure that you know.”
“I know,” said Ariana sweetly. “But still, I suppose a girl does like to hear it.”
“See?” said Kayla smartly. “Told you so,” She glanced in the rear-view mirror just as the headlights of Cooper’s truck blazed across the parking lot. “Oh, Coop’s here. He’s gonna love this.” Cooper parked his truck and got out just as Kayla and Ariana climbed out of the Mclaren. He froze as his eyes took in the car and the sight of the two girls stepping out of it.
“What the hell?” he exclaimed. “That’s… how did… when did… why’d you… I don’t… That’s a… Ariana?”
“Kayla liked it,” said the redhead with a shrug.
“Damn, girl, I like it too,” said Cooper. “You wanna go get me one too?”
“This was the only one they had,” said Ariana gently. Kayla chuckled.
“Ari, you’re probably the only person alive who would go and buy someone a two hundred thousand dollar car just because they said they liked it,” she said, laughing.
“Wouldn’t you?” she said innocently. Kayla shrugged.
“No, but then I haven’t got your heart,” she admitted. Ariana grinned and leaned close to her.
“Yes, you do,” she whispered and kissed her oh so briefly. If the sight of the car had blown Coop’s mind, this kiss dropped a thermonuclear warhead on it.
"The fuck?!" he shouted, drawing intensely surprised stares from both girls. "You two are... you're both..."
"Yeah, we are," said Kayla, smirking. Ariana grinned widely.
"I'm not sure he's comfortable with this," she said thoughtfully. "I think we freaked him out."
"Either that, or he's incredibly turned on." said Kayla pointedly.
"That's a possibility," Ariana agreed. "How do we find out?"
"We could tell him about what we did last night," Kayla suggested.
"Ooooh, that might work," said Ariana. "Go for it,"
"Okay, Coop. Listen, Ariana and I, we..." she paused. "Hey, could you make that noise you made, sweetie? I don't think we'll need the gory details after that." Ariana shrugged.
"Sure," Cooper threw up his hands suddenly.
"No! No, please girls! Stop," he covered his ears with his hands. "I can't hear Ariana make anything close to a sex noise. Those two things just don't work in my brain. Just... let's just get the bike and go back to the warehouse before my brain explodes."
Coop and Kayla loaded up the bike while Ariana returned to the Mclaren to play with the buttons. Kayla left her to it, figuring that since the car clearly didn't have an ejector seat, she couldn't possibly get into too much trouble. As Cooper worked to secure the bike in the bed of his truck, he fixed Kayla with a very serious stare. Kayla arched her eyebrows at him.
"Why do I get the feeling that you're about to cuss me out?" Kayla asked quietly. Coop stopped working and turned to face her.
"Really?" he said sharply. "You and Ariana? Come on! She's... she's not equipped for a romantic relationship! She's just..."
"She's just what, Cooper?" Kayla snapped. She was suddenly outraged. "She's what? A kid? She's not a kid, Cooper. She's seventeen!”
“She has… mental issues, I think that’s pretty clear,” Cooper said sharply. “She’s like a child at times, you must see that!”
“She’s… damaged, I’ll give you that, but you can’t treat her like she is!” Kayla retorted. “She’s intuitive, she’s actually really smart. You can’t treat her like she’s some delicate child for her whole life. Shit, Coop, she’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ll protect her.”
“From yourself?”
“I’d never hurt her!” Kayla said, the fiery temper she so often did her best to restrain bursting out of her. “I would never hurt Ariana! Ever! She's... damn it, Coop, she's all I've got! I'll protect her! I'll fight for her! I'll die for her if I have to! And, yes, I'll leave her before I'll hurt her!" Kayla paused, leaning heavily against the side of Cooper's truck.
"I love her, Coop," she whispered, looking up at him with hot tears forming in her eyes. "I love her. I love her so much. I've never met anyone like her. I was a mess when we met, but in just a week she's changed me even though I didn't want to change. Coop, I've been running for so long that it's all I know... but she won't let me run any more." Cooper finished strapping down the bike and leaned against the opposite side of the truck. He fixed Kayla with the most serious stare the brunette had ever seen.
"You... You're..." he sighed and rubbed his head. "Shit, Kayla, just... just fucking take care of her, alright? She's your responsibility now."
"I know," said Kayla. "I know, I'll take care of her. I promise, Coop."
"And if you hurt her, I'll kick your ass," said Coop sharply. Kayla almost laughed. She certainly cracked a smile.
"You could give it your best shot," she replied.
-.-
Cooper started off back to the warehouse as Kayla opened the Mclaren's door and found Ariana playing gleefully with the windshield wipers. Kayla grinned as she nudged the redhead into the passenger seat.
"There's no ejector seat," said Ariana, sounding highly disappointed.
"If there were, you certainly would have found it by now," said Kayla, checking to see what if any damage the bubbly girl had done. Kayla fired up the powerful turbocharged V8 engine. It roared to life, positively singing it's excitement to the skies. Kayla drove back to the warehouse, unable to truly experience the car's power due to the snow-covered roads.
Cooper was already unloading the bike by the time they arrived. Kayla parked the car inside the warehouse near the spot where she kept her bike. Ariana hugged Cooper and gave him some homemade cookies for the road. Kayla remained on the warehouse floor to see him out. He climbed into his truck and gazed at Kayla out of the window.
"I mean it, Kayla," he said firmly. "You take care of her."
"You've got my promise, Coop," said Kayla, nodding sincerely. "I'll be good to her." Cooper drove away without another word. Kayla sighed heavily and looked out at the night that settled around the warehouse. A light snow continued to fall from the now inky black sky. The brilliant moon shone brightly through the clouds over Warehouse 13 across the street. It was a beautiful night and a fitting end to Kayla's first week at the warehouse.
Truthfully, the end of that first week could have been the end of the story. Kayla was truly happy with her life. She had a home, a girlfriend... what more could she ask for? She and Ariana could have lived the rest of their days there together in the warehouse with nothing further of interest taking place in their lives. They could have lived simple lives together, alone in their small abode above a sprawling warehouse floor. Unfortunately for them both, fate had other plans. Their lives were never meant to be simple.
-.-
Kayla climbed up the stairs to the apartment. Ariana stood by the refrigerator, pouring orange juice into a tea cup. She was humming idly to herself and seemed to be in an overly good mood. Kayla crossed the room and propped herself against the arm of the sofa.
"Alright, spill it," she said quickly. Ariana turned around, looking sadly at her cup of juice.
"But I'll make a mess," she said uncertainly. "And I'll have to pour another cup of orange juice." Kayla laughed.
"Not the juice, kiddo, the car," said Kayla sharply. "Seriously, Ari. Why did you buy that car?" Ariana looked quite confused.
"Because you..."
"And don't say because I liked it, because we both know there's more to it than that," Kayla interrupted.
"But... but that's why," said Ariana, staring at the floor and biting her lower lip. Kayla made a mental note to remember that while Ariana could lie to police officers without batting an eyelash, she couldn't lie to her.
"That's not why, Ari," said Kayla. "You're lying." Ariana looked incredibly nervous now.
"I... I don't want to talk about this," Ariana said quietly. She turned to flee to her bedroom, but Kayla got to the door first and barred the way. Ariana tried to push past her, but the brunette was too strong for her. She gave up and huffed back into the kitchen.
"Ari...?" Kayla said softly. She was suddenly worried that she had really upset the redhead. "Ari, come on. I'm sorry, I..." She broke off as she approached Ariana, who turned around revealing that she had tears streaming down her face.
"I bought the car... I bought it because... I don't want you to leave," said Ariana, her beautiful eyes filled with tears.
"You bought me a car so I wouldn't leave?" asked Kayla, a small smile on her face.
"I bought it because I thought..." She paused; she seemed to be searching for the right words. "I can't be alone again. I… I can’t. After my granddad died, I… I was so alone and scared. I don’t ever want to feel that way again. I don’t want to go back to that place again… the place where I… where I wanted to die. I wanted to, after he died.” Ariana looked as though she were struggling internally with something so unbelievably difficult that she might collapse under the pressure. Without warning, she marched over to the counter and seized the empty sleeping pill bottle that Kayla had taken the last of the night before. She held it out and Kayla took it. It took a moment for the full weight of what Ariana was trying to tell her, but when it did she dropped the bottle and held a hand to her mouth.
“Ari, you… you took…?” Ariana nodded.
“I couldn’t be alone again,” she said in the most defeated voice Kayla had ever heard. “I took them. I figured… I’d be better off. Only… well, it was right after I met Coop. He came by the warehouse and found me. He took me to the hospital… saved me. I was mad at him for a while, but not any more. I got away from that place, from the dark place where I wanted to die. But if you left… if you weren’t here… if I was alone again, Kayla, I… I’d go back there. I know I would. I don’t want to, but I… I would. I’m so scared of being alone again. Please say you’ll stay. I know you want to run, it’s what you do, but… but I need you.”
Kayla was stunned. She had no idea that Ariana had ever been suicidal. The bright, bubbly girl that had stolen her heart without even trying had tried to kill herself? It didn’t make sense, it never would make sense.
Kayla moved forward, pulling Ariana into a tight hug. Right then she just wanted to hold the girl and never let her go.
“Ari, I’m not leaving, okay?” she said firmly. “Ever. I mean it. I’m done running. I’m staying here with you. I love you, Ariana. You don’t have to buy me expensive gifts to keep me; I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t care what car we have or even if we have one. I have you and that’s all I care about. I’m not leaving you.”
“Granddad didn’t want to leave either,” Ariana whispered, sniffling sadly. Kayla nodded.
“No, kiddo, he didn’t. But he died, baby. He didn’t want to leave you, of course. There’s nothing any of us can do if it’s our time to die. But death is the only thing that would take me away from you. I’m here, Ari, for good. Whatever comes our way, good or bad, it doesn’t matter. This is my home.”
There was nothing more to be said. They sat on the couch for the longest time, Ariana crying softly into Kayla’s chest while the brunette gently stroked her back. The redhead eventually cried herself out and she looked up at Kayla with bloodshot eyes. Kayla leaned in and kissed her. She meant it as reassurance, further proof that she would never leave, but Ariana wanted more. She deepened the kiss and it wasn’t long before they retired to their bedroom, wrapped up in each other once again.622Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vmow1FukZ
