somebody's gotta raise a little hell

HE PAUSES, for once really flips through the catalogue of instances where he’s blown a red light—he should be safe, right ? “ i don’t think so. they could have caught me at the toll booth, but … ” he sucks back another swig of his coffee, nose wrinkling at the grounds coating his tongue. do they actually charge four dollars for this shit ? “ that sounds like something a murderer would say. i always heard that bundy fella had problems with authority. you related, by any chance ? ”

“Well then I think you’re safe. Take a breather.” It wasn’t like Carsyn was going to tell anyone. First of all, she had nobody to tell aside from her siblings and secondly, the brunette really didn’t see a point. In this town, crime happened frequently. “I have to admit, Carsyn Bundy does have a nice ring to it. Alas. I have a boring last name with relatively normal relatives.” 

The hum left his lips as he clutched the tattered strap of the messenger bag. However the collision had him frantically glance inside the bag, and pick out the turtle from it. “Are you OK, Speedy?” Audric asked to the creature, before his eyes moved to the woman he had bumped into. “Please don’t use profanity in front of Speedy, friend. The negative energy will impact his chi. Then he will need an extra long moon bath.” A rarely stern expression on his face while he held the turtle close to his chest. “But yes, sorry. I will pay attention more next time.”

Her eyebrows furrowed together as he pulled a turtle from his bag. “His...moon bath?” Was this guy for real? Who gave turtles moon baths? And what were moon baths anyway? Carsyn shook her head slightly. “Speedy...kind of ironic name for a turtle, isn’t it?” 

“ IT’S BEEN about two hours, and i’m in the clear. they could have been blitzed—and there’s no proof it was me who drifted into his lane, anyway. can’t imagine that would hold up in court. ” he glances at her for the first time, takes in the bow of her lips. there are plenty of ways in which he can vouch for chicago—prettier girls are probably his favorite part.  “ that doesn’t make me feel very safe. does that mean you’re a loose cannon killer ? should i be running right now ? ”

“I’d say you could relax then. I don’t think they have a lot of cameras pointed at the road...except for like those...red light cameras. You didn’t blow through any of those, did you?” A soft laugh escapes her and she shook her head, holding her hands up in a sign of surrender. “I’m not a murderer. I just don’t like being told what to do.” 

—

baby blues fell upon the brunette’s countenance, a manicured eyebrow arching in a display of mild impassivity. “ oh, my bad, ” monika began, evident sarcasm rolling off the tip of her tongue. “ i wasn’t aware that i had to make myself known. silly me. ” plastering a feigned smile of geniality across her features. “ my advice? you should really work on your nerves. ”

Her jaw clenched slightly. It wasn’t hard for Carsyn to see the expression as fake with the sarcasm lacing the blonde’s tone. “Yeah, I’ll be sure to do that,” she rolled her eyes. As long as she continued to put up with people who annoyed her, Carsyn knew she would struggle to keep her patience in check. There were few who saw her calm side. 

A couple years ago, Glenda would surely deliver a punch for that comment, but she had been learning to control her temper. “Nice to meet you… And yeah, pretty much everyday…” She shrugged and dropped the weight she’s been holding. “What about you?”

Temper was something that Carsyn had also been working to master. It was what had brought her here, in hopes that it would help get out part of her pent up aggression. So far, it seemed to be working. “I’ve been coming a lot more, now. I used to work too much.”

xx

Once Dal had deemed it was safe, he lowered his arm bring the glass of warm whiskey to his lips. He wasn’t planning on giving her much attention, if any at all, finding what was in his glass far more interesting. Then her sleight hit his ears. Nearly choking on the amber liquor the man’s brows began pinched above his eyes. “Oi”, he exclaimed once more. Finally lowering the glass he was able to take her in fully. Brunettes typically were not his thing, but this one. His crinkled brow softened before he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “So does that mean I get ta buy ya a drink?”

She glanced over her shoulder with a grin at his exclamation. If nothing else, she’d gotten a reaction out of him and she’d consider that a victory. “Whiskey. Neat,” she said when the bartender acknowledged her. “And it’s on him.” Once the glass was in her hand, she turned back towards him, taking a sip as she eyed him over the glass. “Who knew insulting you would get me a free drink. Does that always work or am I gonna have to come up with a new tactic?” 

xx

Hadley’s eyes widened at Car’s reaction. There was a small chuckle to diffuse some of the tension that hung like a thick fog in the room. “Alright, I promise I’ll tie a bell around my neck from now on. But you gotta tell me what’s got you jumping out of your boots.”

"Would ya? We can even put a little bow on it.” She ran her hands through her dark hair, shoulders lifting in a shrug. “I don’t know, man. Work is kicking my ass and then Lennox is sending me this dumbass shit.” Carsyn held her phone out. 

She took the book, dusting off the worn cover and shoving it back into her bag. “Well, makes two of us.” she said, shaking off her shoulders. “Yeah I’m alright. You okay?” 

Carsyn rubbed her ears where her earbuds had been ripped out in the collision. Aside from that, she would live. “Yeah, I’m alright. That isn’t the first time I’ve collided with someone and it won’t be the last I’m sure.” 

xx

Dallon raised his hand as the girl nearly turned directly into his chest, making sure not a single drop of his Jameson was wasted. There was a devlish smirk that spread across his lips. “Oi, you’re in a bar. There tends to be others there too. Maybe if ya weren’t textin’ yer boyfriend, you’d notice.”

Her gaze slid up his chest, landing on his face. Fuck, he was tall. She slid her phone into the pocket of her denim skirt, arms crossing over her chest. “Trust me, Lurch, if I had a boyfriend, I’d be at home with him and not here mingling with guys like you.” There was something about the smirk on his face that made her want to punch him...or kiss him, she wasn’t sure. Flashing him a grin, she turned to the bar, attempting to flag down the bartender to order a drink. 

Nadia was just enjoying a good cupcake when she saw the girl in front of her seem to get a text. When she looked up from her delicious cupcake, she arched an eyebrow. “Well, darling, you are standing in my bakery right now and you’re about to what? Order something? I asked what you liked to have. Coffee for her highness?” She slightly jokes, an amused look on her face. “Or just a pastry?” 

God, her brother really was an idiot. Even if she did love him. Her head tilted to the side slightly as the other woman called her highness. Hands curled into fists before she took a deep breath and let her hands relaxed. “You know, coffee would be great.” 

Location: Anywhere

Her lips pursed as she read the text on her phone from her brother and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What the fuck, Lennox,” she mumbled under her breath as she tried to figure out exactly what he was blowing her phone up about this time. With a soft shake of her head, she turned, nearly colliding with someone. “Holy fuck.” Carsyn jumped slightly, sliding her phone into her pocket. “Maybe announce your presence or something next time. You scared the fuck out of me.” 

The Middle by Jimmy Eat World

Bad Girl's World by Halestorm