Whale, that escalated quickly

let's pick up this story where we left it off, shall we? two dorks in love ✨ (designing silly tanks for billy is my new passion btw =w=)

after giving a much needed pep talk to billy, my miiself casually approached becca to put in a good word for him and help a brother out... ;D

(en: mimi launched into a passionate tirade about the train... :p)

and then, billy decided he was finally done avoiding the whole thing (and rebecca lol). 🥳

(en: i can't hide my feelings for rebecca any longer. i need to confess to her...)

he went for something direct: asked her to come over to his place...

(en: there's only you and me there, so i'm going to tell you everything)

...and just told her, plain and simple, that he's in love with her. 💗🤧 (hum. i didn't manage to catch this part on a screen but shh trust me i was there)

then, becca answered...

(en: i'd love to go out with you, too. <3)

and thus, mii!rebilly started officially dating, to the immense relief of all of biohazard island's population who was getting really tired of these two dancing around each other 😆

🎊 everything went smoothly 🎊

...my babies are dating. 🥹

bonus: you know what they say about true love making you "grow as a person" or whatever... LOL

R: how much do you love me?

B: i love you this much!

R: well, i love you this much!

B: oh, then i love you this much!

R: well, then... i love you... THIS MUCH! >:3

B: 😦

As they waited for the engine to cool, Billy sat down on the bench next to Rebecca, who had already started eating.

“Think I’ll have that burger now” he said.

She handed him the other burger, nodding with a mouthful. “Now you’re thinking”.

It wasn't the green fluid pooling under the car that got Billy rushing over. First, it was the concerned looks on the bystanders. Second, it was the billowing smoke. Thick and low, coming out from the wrong end of the vehicle. All classic signs of an overheated system. The leak itself could either be the effect or the cause of what's happening. He’d have to figure out which.

“How long are we waiting?” asked Rebecca.

“20 minutes. Maybe 30. Gotta bleed off the pressure" Billy unwrapped the burger and paused.

“What’s wrong?” she asked again.

“You got me a salad or a burger?” he said instead, before sinking into his food. By the size of that bite, it wouldn’t take long for the burger to disappear.

“Whoops- My bad. I’m used to ordering extra lettuce for everything”

They ate a little before Rebecca broke the silence again. “So, what’s the deal with the engine this time?”

Billy wiped his thumb over the corner of his mouth before nodding toward the car. “Overheated, probably earlier than it should have”

Rebecca leaned forward instinctively “Because of the coolant? Maybe… there’s not enough?”

“Maybe. Since you mentioned the fan sounded off... It could be the relay. It could also be the motor itself starting to go.”

“That sounds… bad. Like, bad-bad.”

“Yeah. Real bad.”

“Wouldn’t the temperature climb slower if it was just the fan though?”

“Usually that’s true. But it depends on how bad the airflow’s getting. How restricted it became” Billy grabbed the Diet Coke beside him and cracked it open. ”Want some?”

The drink hissed softly between them.

“I- I’m good” she told him, a fraction too late, noticing he hadn't taken a sip himself.

The moment he drank, Rebecca suddenly found herself focusing very hard on her milkshake.

Oblivious to her internal state, Billy continued walking her through the situation, piece by piece, occasionally stopping to take another sip. However, none of those explanations reached her. She was too busy pretending not to notice the faint stubble along his jaw.

“Anyway, if the relay’s sticking…” he glanced at her.

Oh, God. He’s expecting an answer. “We’ll replace it!” she blurted, almost.

“That’s right.” he said.

Rebecca exhaled quietly, relieved that she had thrown out an acceptable response. More important than that, he hadn’t noticed her getting distracted.

By the time the fries were nearly gone, Billy finally pushed himself upright and turned to face the car. “Alright, should be cool enough now”. He took a step, then paused, and held the carton out toward Rebecca “Finish the fries for me?”

The way he said it, so casually and so softly, made Rebecca weirdly aware of her own heartbeat.

“What’s going on? You look like you’re running a fever.”

She straightened a little too fast, the color in her face deepening

“Heh. Must be lettuce overdose,” Billy said, as if that explained everything.

He hadn't walked very far when a crumpled paper bag hit him square in the back.

What did I do?? he thought to himself.