Interacting With: @Lady Amalthea, @rougeLily, @The Spectre and @lopsided
Location: Parking Lot >> Tas' front door >> Parking Lot

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Alex was rather confused by all the new people. He barely understood the *click* reference. But he mentally thanked Tas. He hated all sorts of pictures. He never looked good in any of them. Some said that he should just act normal and at some point someone would make a picture of him when he didn’t realize it. Sadly he was always somehow aware when someone tried to make a picture of him. But considering that they wouldn’t get off the camera put Alex on ease. “Hi! I’m Alex.” He did answer as he beamed a smile at Kip.

But when Tas said she wouldn’t drive, his mind changed. It went from scattered to focus. From a distorted chaos to pure order. He first looked on his phone though. Matt was probably quite ready if the servers would go down. Still, he had to tell the guy that he wouldn’t be available for the next 7 hours or so.

He didn’t need to wait for a reply. Matt rarely ever asked questions like why when Alex asked him in such a tone. Right then Derreck hit the top of the car and introduced himself. “Hi, yeah Alex.” Then he realized that he wouldn’t drive the car. “No wait!” he tried to yell, but Derreck missed him. So he got out. Right after he introduced himself to Kip Alex said: “Okay, you guys stay here. I’m coming around with my car. I’m sorry but I’m not driving anyone else’s car. Bad manners first and second, if Tas is staying here I’m pretty sure she may need the car. You guys just stay here.”

So Alex did exactly what he said he would do. He ran off, leaving Derreck and Kip alone. A few minutes later he turned around the corner with his Mini One D. He parked it right behind the PT Cruiser, walked out and popped the hood. He took his own bag from the trunk of Tas and put it in his own. Then he turned to Kip and Derreck. “You guys put the luggage in my car? I’m going to return this to Tas real quick.” He didn’t give them much time to answer, as he was already off.

He knocked weakly on Tas’ door. Which he immediately followed up with: “I’m just leaving the key in your mailbox. We’re not taking the Cruiser. Also...I'm sorry for whatever happened.” He spoke in a serious voice. And he did exactly what he said he would. After which he quickly returned to his own car. Derreck and Kip had already taken their seats. He crawled behind the wheel. Right then Didi appeared with her question. His mind had turned off his focus mode, so he didn't really understand the breeding thing immediately. But, with his ever cheery smile he looked at her and said: "Right in time. Dump your luggage in the trunk and get in!"

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Claire perked a brow as she saw Alex pulling his stuff out of Tas's car and then go inside and then come back out. Okay, that wasn't expected. Now no one was driving Tas's car and no one was taking hers and Cass's luggage. She thought for a minute and then just did what Claire always does, she rolls with it and doesn't worry about the consequences. Pulling her set of key out she went through them to see if she did in fact still have it, Tas's spare car key. Granted Claire didn't drive but Tas had given it to her anyways just in case she lost her own. Taking a breath she pulled off the spare helmet and got off the bike, resting it back on the seat.

That's when Didi showed up. Oh god, Didi. She hadn't really had a chance to talk to Didi since that day at the gym after everything that had gone down with Eddie at Ryan's. Since then she had been pretty busy between her sessions with Fletch and with prepping for her finals. Not to mention wigging out like a jackrabbit on crack when Tas vanished. She let out a nervous breath and then smiled over to Didi. "Hey chickadee! You just made it!" she exclaimed in her usual manner. "Didi, this little firecracker is Cass and well Cass, this tall drink of water is Didi," she added introducing the two of them.

"Okay, listen. Tas isn't going it seems," she said quickly as her phone went off and she checked the message. It was from Nat. "Well that explains it..." she muttered under her breath as she looked up at Tas's window and then shoved her phone back into her pocket. She would deal with that later. Shaking off the feeling of wanting to put her fit through a wall, a common feeling for Claire she chuckled slightly.

"And from the looks of it no one else is driving Tas's car, so that leaves our luggage stuck here. So, Cass, you're driving," she said as she reached over and took Cass's hand and dropped the keys into her palm. "Don't worry, I'll deal with Tas later. Best to leave her alone right now," she defended before it even came into question before turning to Didi.

"Coming with us? Three girls in Tas's car, what could go wrong?" she asked before running off and in the back of her mind thinking "everything that's what." Stopping at the car door she motioned quickly for them to follow. "Come on you two, let's get the hell out of dodge. We have trouble to cause! I call shotgun!" she laughed before climbing into the front passenger seat and strapping herself in out of habit. Anytime she was in this car, Tas was driving and that meant like dealing with being a passenger in a Fast and Furious movie.

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A confused look spread over Cass’s face when she realised that Tas wasn’t taking her car. She knew Tas was upset so it wasn’t too surprising that she didn’t want to go on the trip. What was making Cass slightly concerned was that the guys were getting out of Tas’s car and taking another one. That meant their luggage was going to be left behind. A small groan escaped her as she took her helmet off. She noticed Claire was looking through her keys and wondered if she had a car after all. Actually nevermind, she knew Claire couldn’t drive. So what was she up to?

Cass looked up as she heard an unfamiliar voice and saw a pretty but unfamiliar face approaching them. Claire quickly introduced them and Cass noticed how happily that she had greeted Didi. That was nice to see, she’d been so used to seeing Claire all pissed off because of Eddy or worried because of Tas that it was a pleasant change to see Claire being entirely, genuinely friendly and nothing else. “Heya pal! Nice t’meet ya.” She purposefully slowed the speed of her speech for Didi, not to the point of being rude and implying that Didi was slow or anything, but just enough so that her accent wasn’t a hindrance. She gave a casual wave and a wide smile towards her too as she packed the helmets away in the carry cases on the sides of her bike. She chained the bike back up and set the alarm with a click of her key.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she saw a message in the group chat. She didn’t have the number saved in her phone so she didn’t know who had sent the text initially. She’d heard about Dom from Claire though so she put two and two together and realised it must have been Nat. Cass tucked her phone away again.

Cass blinked when Claire grabbed her hand and she curled her fingers around the key that she’d placed there. “Alrigh’, fair ‘nough then. Good job I can drive cars as well as bikes, eh?” She grinned and made her way over to the car as Claire ran ahead, calling shotgun. “And yer sure tha’ Tas won’t need her car?” She slipped into the driver’s seat, giving a smile and wave to Alex, Derrick and Kip and buckled herself in. Well this was going to be interesting, at least she was getting to meet someone new on the journey. Maybe she could have two friends in Disneyland instead of just one.

Waving to Didi, motioning her to follow and jump in, Cass waited for the guys to finish getting their luggage out of the trunk. She put the keys in the ignition but kept the car in neutral. She pulled her phone out and sent a quick message.



Cass looked over to Claire and grinned a wicked grin. “I hope ye’ve got a need. A need for speeeeeeeeeeed!” She threw her head back and revved the engine, cackling like a witch. But a very cute, very silly witch.

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Didi looked at Mr. Killer-smile inviting her to hop in, as tempting as it is. By then he noticed Kip enter the backseat and Didi returned her gaze back to Alex, then to the other tall cutie next to him, then back to Kip. Three's already a crowd and she wasn't about to ruin the young man's lowkey fantasy car ride with cute boys. Plus it was a perfect way to get back at him after all the embarassing unflattering candids of her he *clicked* while she wasn't looking, the guy seems like a harmless kawaii Japanese fairy on the outside but he's purely Satan reborn, and Didi knows it all too well. With a playful smile, she turned to the guy. "Thanks, but I think you're already full. " She discreetly turned to Kip and gave an OK gesture while she covered it with her other hand."Not bad," She mouthed.

As she was about to turn around when she heard Claire called to her. Even if it's only been half a week since she'd been gone, It felt like she hadn't seen her for ages since...well. Claire introduced the stranger next to her, she once caught a glimpse of her moving in two weeks ago before she left for a vacay. She was carrying a charming accent , Irish? Or Scottish was it? She can never tell it with Brits.

"Hey." Didi said with a polite smile. "Guess I could ride with you guys. That is, as long as Claire doesn't attempt to drive." She smiled, and sat at the back seat. Cass seems like a saner driver compared, Didi could breathe easy at that thought. Or not, her eyes widened at the woman maniacally laughing at the driver seat. Moments like these wished she could've have payed more attention to hebrew school prayers.

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Rose followed after silently as the chatter box talked and talked and talked. 'Holy fuck,' she thought to herself, making absolutely sure to hide her expression as she kept thinking, 'she's not a princess, she's a selfish bitch. Ugh.' Melrose has thought she had lucked out, at least a little bit, but instead it seemed that she had caught onto the only really unfriendly person of the entire group. She had been yelled at twice and now she was acting like because there was trouble, they were whining and complaining. Even if Rose didn't quite get why Tad threw the fit in it's entirety, it was obvious she had good reason to - right? At least she gave the woman the benefit of the doubt. Belle? Well... Rose already didn't like her much, but she had to tolerate it anyways.

As Belle continued on, as Rose buckled in and checked her own phone, she realized even more about the woman - at least from what she could right now. She was spoiled far beyond anyone she had personally known. Belle may have not been a millionaire, but her entire attitude was spoiled brat who only really cared about herself and if she had fun. Though Melrose had to admit it was a very comfy car and it would make things a lot easier to deal with, but she didn't have much desire to talk at the moment. People were hurting and Belle just brushed it off like they were peasants with problems that were beneath her. Arrogance - one of Rose's major pet peeves of all time. Still, she had to answer the food question, right? Especially with the given choices. "Um... I like Mcdonalds," she offered quietly, biting her lip before looking out the window onto the highway. Hell, Melrose didn't even respond to Belle's joke about jumping out, which she normally would have with a smart-ass answer. 'This is going to be a long drive,' she thought with a mental sigh.

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Claire glanced over towards Cass as she acquired the same demented look that Tas got behind the wheel and felt her throat go dry. Swallowing hard she forced a grin; this was going to be interesting. "Mother Mary & Joseph... Protect us sinners now in the hour of our death," she mumbled as Didi climbed into the car, coughing slightly to clear her throat.

"Um, might be safer if I did," she laughed nervously. "Might want to buckle up..." she said looking at Did but motioning with a jerk of her head towards Cass. Letting out a slow breath she keyed up the MP3 player Tas had in the car. The song qued up and Claire's eyed widened, Kenny Loggins, Danger Zone.

"Fuck me..."

"Is it too late to take the bus?" she teased. Didi was never the praying type, that is, until now and Kenny Loggins wasn't helping her ease up the tensing feeling of this woman laughing like an evil villain, who is suppose to drive them safely to Disneyland. She wasnt sure what was more alarming though, that Cass was behind the wheel or Tas' taste in music. Didi buckled up, as of Claire's suggestion and popped a gum in her mouth. She took a deep breath as she sat back, bracing herself with whatever's about to happen.

"Whatever. I'm ready." How horrible can this possibly be? "Might be fun even. Ugh, god this song is catchy."

The laughter pouring out of Cass was initally just to wind up her two passengers but now it was due to their reactions. The music selection was just the icing on the cake! Her sides were starting to hurt so much she had to hold them and she had to wipe tears away from her eyes. Thank god for waterproof mascara. "O-oh go-o-od, yer faaaces. Worth. It." She struggled to get the words out in one go from the lack of air she had in her lungs.

"Oh my God, just drive," Claire quipped trying not to laugh at Cass laughing at her and Didi while the other woman in the back seat was shaking her head, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose.

Her face split into a wide grin as she continued laughing, gentler this time but just as clearly. She adjusted the car to her comfort levels and made sure she was buckled in securely as she let her laughter abate, her shoulders still shaking slightly as she chuckled quietly to herself. "You all buckled up, aye? Good. Lets get this show on 'eh road!"

Cass pulled the car out and got them onto the road. The start didn't seem soo bad, no one was slamming against the window and there were no skid marks on the road. They were safe right?

Cass drove carefully while she was in city limits, but once they hit that highway? All bets were fucking off. Cass began mouthing along to the music, her head bobbing just as much as when she has her headphones in. She was feeling good and couldn't keep the smile off of her face even if she wanted to.

Claire's eyes widened, all bets were off. She did drive like Tas, she was just sneaky about it. She waited until they were on the hwy to let loose; you know when they could no longer make a tuck and roll exit. Okay, game on. Claire started pounding on the window as they passed other drivers, acting like she was screaming for help.

They were starting off okay, then Didi had this sudden feeling, while watching Cass on the rearview mirror, that it wont stay that way for long. For a moment there she wanted to join Claire, only to look at her and chuckle at the ridiculous image. Didi tried to spark up a convo, if it's anyway to keep the driver, less...keyed-up. " It sure is a perfect day for Disneyland. Would be really nice if, you know, we actually get there in one piece."

"HELP ME!!!" she mouthed as she dropped the passenger seat back, grabbed her own head and slammed herself back as if she had just gotten grabbed; when she fell she unknowingly at first planted her head right between Didi's knees.

This caught Didi by surprise, her eyes locked at the head between her knees. "Whoa." Claire grunted slightly and turned three shades of red when she realized exactly where she was. Her hands raised slightly above, freezing in this most inappropriate predicament ever. Claire reached up, trying to grab a hold of something to pull herself back to a seated position and not look like she was diving for oysters. "This... is all too sudden, Claire. " Didi couldn't find her words but those, she just randomly blurted without a thought, of course she did have this impulse of saying the most awkward things in the most awkward situations. She mentally face palmed, while suppressing her blushing as she helped Claire get up; Claire grabbing her hand and nearly grabbing the poor womans breast as she righted herself, like there's hardly anything there to grab. Didi almost felt her hand touch there though, but instead tried to smile it off nervously her ears and cheeks was red.

"Sorry!" she exclaimed as she sat back up in her seat, grabbing the side adjustment and the back of the seat slamming against her. "Omph! Fucking hell," she grumbled as she rested her face in her hands.

Cass had to stop herself from looking over to what Claire was doing. She could hear the banging on the glass and could guess it was something silly. She couldn't help but giggle. The motion of Claire throwing herself back caused Cass to look over intermittently and she snorted at the sight of Claire between Didi's legs. "Ye in 'eh mood for some munchies, Claire? Want me t'pull over 'nd give yerself some privacy t'eat?" The smirk on her face spread wide and she gave them both a quick wink while she had enough time to glance at them again. She could've been subtle but where was the fun in that?

"Just craving some doughnuts is all," she said without thinking and then those three shaes of red turned to fifty as her hands covered her mouth. "Here we go again." Didi would've just kept silent, but hell the tension would kill her if she wont say anything to make the air feel normal again. Cass told a joke, she gets it, and what better response to it than a poorly executed and depressing one. "Good thing my doughnut's still hot from the oven! " She cheerily exclaimed and got a box of munchkins from her duffle. Placing the bag on her lap she let out a nervous smile as she presented it with a Tada!. "Get it. Cause, you were hungry for doughnuts and it just so happens that i got a box of munchkins right here that I was gonna save for a rainy day..." She chuckled at her own joke, clearing her throat as she cut her awkward stare at Claire.

It was about that time the song changed and her eyes narrowed. "I kissed a girl and I liked it" sung out of the speakers.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me! Tas...." she hissed as she sunk down in her seat, pulling her knees up and burying her face. This was the gym all over again!

It was this song again. The song that started everything for Didi, that drove her strong passion to push Claire into the lockers and chewed her face like a double mint, although much more romantic and hotter than that that the memory of still made her blush hard. She sure as hell aint gonna do that here though, not when someones watching, she wasn't ready for that. Yet. "Sooo..." she said, her eyes looking nowhere in particular, "Munchkins?"

Right then, Cass didn't know where to look. Honestly, if she could get away with it, she'd have just bailed out of the car right then and there. It'd just be a very bumpy, very painful tuck and roll. She could take it. Cass gulped and had a very uncomfortable smile on her face now. Maybe this road trip wasn't going to be quite as fun as she anticipated. The awkward tension made Cass feel like she was back in school at a discount disco in the gym hall. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, wondering how she could change the atmosphere in the car. Maybe if she just made herself sound like an idiot, she could at least feel awkward for a different reason. She could deal with her own creations of awkward tension, not so much those created by others.

"Lets all jus' munch on 'eh munchkins. I hear they're rather..." She gave a pause for effect, then drew out her last word in a weird sounding accent that was similar to Dr Frankenfurter from Rocky Horror Picture Show. "...muuunchy." She should have just taken her bike.

"Antici..." Claire began and even though she stopped because, well that is what Frankenfurter would have done her eyes fell on something up ahead. A man walking backwards on the side of the road, in a large cowboy hat who looked rather yummy. "Pation...." she ended a bit stronger than she had intended to as she reached back and grabbed a munchkin from the back and shoved it into her mouth. "Think he has any milk?"

Cass spotted the fella that Claire was talking about and she felt her eyebrows raising almost as high as her hairline. "Maybe we can stop then give him a little squeeze and tickle. See what comes out?" Cass chuckled, her shoulders shaking lightly with each little heh that came out.

Didi followed Claire's gaze to a man with a sling bag and a guitar case on his back, wearing a typical cowboy get up just ahead. He extended an arm as they were nearing, gesturing for them to pull over. The man's a looker alright, with his rugged cowboy features, smiling charmingly as he gave a few light knocks on the window. Cass eyed the man as she pulled the car over. This was worth the delay.

"Howdy, miss." his accent was revealing, and so manly sexy that one can lose her virginity just by the resonation of his vocal chords. He slightly tipped his hat politely in greeting to the women. "I didn't mean to be ill-mannered but, uh.." he adjusted the collar of his shirt, slightly exposing some skin and a few furs, either because of the heat or a ploy to enthrall his prey. Cass was all for it, whatever it was that he was doing. She'd die happy if she could get a taste of his munchkin first.

"See, I've been stuck here for a good couple of hours now, and hopin' I could ask if you're headed to Anaheim?" Didi doesnt trust this man one bit. Sure he looks like a real life Mr. Pin-up July but you know what they say, the pretty ones are usually the most dangerous. Cass looked over to Claire and Didi before saying anything. She could see how uncomfortable Didi was.

"I'm on my way to visit my Ma', see, I was thinkin' if your going my way, I'm going your way. I'd appreciate it much if I'd be in the company of three lovely dolls to Anaheim." he winked at Claire's direction, a dazzling smile to Cass as he stood there, leaning forward on the window. Cass gave him a dazzling smile in return, fanning herself slightly with her right hand in a joking manner. "Well well well, who am I t'refuse 'eh wanderin' plight of a lonely traveller. Ladies, what we thinkin'?" She turned to Claire and Didi and waited for their reply. She was most definitely in the yes camp for this one.

"Well aren't you something out of one of those dime store romance novels, climb on in Cowboy," Claire chuckled with her thick Boston Irish accent, eying Didi a bit there in the back seat. This was going to make things interesting to say the least.

The cowboy smiled as the group allowed him to get in, sitting next to Didi at the back seat. "What's up darling?" he met her with a cheeky grin. "Not much til now." she retorted sarcastically. He gestured at the box of munchkins "May I?" and Didi reluctantly reached him the box, devouring the two pieces of treats in one bite. He scooted closer, hand extending behind the seat that Didi could smell the pungence of his...manliness. "The name's Rust by the way. Rust Marshall."

"Nice t'meet ye, Rust. I'm Evelyn, where ye travellin' from?" She might be wanting to ride him like she was in a rodeo but she wasn't about to give her real name to a perfect stranger. This'd be fun. She just hoped that Claire and Didi caught on to what she was doing. They'd likely never see the guy again, so why not live a "fantasy" life for a little while. It'd be fun.

Claire nodded towards Cass, figuring the idea of a name change wasn't a bad idea but that was quickly put to bed when the man looked at Claire as she extended her hand to shake his and he smiled. "Hey, you be that fighter right? Irish Rose? I done be sawin' ya fight two night ago, damn girl you gots one hell of a right hook," he said excitedly as he shook her hand. "Well there goes that idea," Claire thought to herself.

"Yeah, that's me. You can call me Claire," she said shaking his hand before turning around in the seat. "Fuck..." she thought. Cass cursed quietly under her breath when she realised that their hitchiker knew Claire. Well that didn't mean that she and Didi couldn't keep the fun going. She gave a smile to the silent Didi and figured that she might be just rolling with the cold suspicion towards their new passenger considering her silence. Cass liked this girl so far. Once everyone was settled in and buckled up once again, Cass got them back in motion and on the road to Disneyland!

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Murphy checked the time on his phone before slipping it back in his pocket; he hoped that she would show up soon enough. Leaning back against the brick wall he pulled the cigarette from between his lips and looked up at the sky. He hoped everything was alright. When Claire had called him she had been worried beyond anything he had ever heard before. He couldn't exactly blame her, Tas meant the world to Claire; hell now a days Tas meant the world to him. Soon as he found out she was missing he felt his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach and it knot up. It hadn't done that since the day his wife was killed when he was younger. It was at that moment that he knew his feelings for Tas had moved well beyond just something floating on the surface.

A sly grin formed as he thought about the first time he had met her. Claire and Tas had just gotten off the plane in Boston, they were there for one of Claire's fights. He had been so excited to see his little sister but when his eyes fell onto the woman she was gabbing with his heart skipped a beat. She was beautiful and had a smile that just lit up the area around her. Murphy being Murphy, a guy seeing a hot woman, he turned on the charm. It had always worked for him in the past. It didn't that day. She just rolled her eyes and made a quip about him needing to go back to his potatoes because they'd keep him warmer at night than she ever would. To some that was a comment that could have offended, to Murphy it just intrigued him. The more he tried to win her over the more she pushed back but it was never a full out get the fuck away, more of an annoyed don't you ever give up?

When they left Murphy found himself a bit sad over it. Over the week he may not have gotten anywhere really with Tasha but he learned a lot about her and when he wasn't flirting his Irish ass off they would just talk and joke. She surprised him, which was rare. She was funny, caring, could fight, and just cool to hang out with. Which of course made him flirt more, then she'd go cold. Soon as he would stop she would warm up again. So he played it cool the rest of their trip and when she left he missed just chewing the fat with her. He figured that would be as far as he ever got with her but that didn't stop him from trying anytime he visited Claire. The way he looked at it, he would rather fall flat on his face a thousand times than to say he didn't try.

When he and Connor visited for Natalya's birthday he was beyond happy to see Tasha, even though it was only for a few minutes here and there. He had at least gotten to dance with her a bit. After that was when things started to change. He and Tasha were working with Claire for two of her upcoming finals; well Tasha was working with her on three of them. One was a duet that Tasha and Claire were singing together while he played the acoustic and that one was fine and dandy. The other was the one that seemed to be changing the tides with him and Tasha. It was a duet for a music video Claire had to produce; a ballad duet between him and Tasha. Working close to her, constantly singing to her, her to him, recording scenes over and over, talking over skype and texting to try to work out kinks; things seemed to be changing. He just hoped he hadn't been reading more into it than was there.

Then she vanished and was gone. Lowering his head the same feeling came back to him stomach as he flicked the spent cigarette away to the sidewalk and sighed. That had been a horrid ten days, not knowing if she was okay. He never wanted to feel that way again. He was sitting under a windowsill smoking when the text came through from Claire that Tas was not going on the trip to Disneyland and that she would be in San Fran, alone until everyone got back. Murphy had hit his head when he jumped up but it didn't phase him. A quick call to his brother Connor and his parents and he was on a plane out to the West Coast, a cab ride later and he was at her door. He had knocked for a while but it was clear she wasn't home. He ended up going outside and leaning against the building hoping to see her soon. So there he was, waiting for her to show up; so they could talk. It probably wasn't a good time but life was short. If you didn't go after what was really important to you with everything you had when you had the chance it was your own damn fault if you never were given another. Those ten days he worried he had missed his chance so the next flight out was to sunny California and there he stood waiting with a bouquet of flowers being held in one hand. Just a simple bouquet that he had picked out in the local farmers market. Granted it wasn't roses but Tasha never seemed like a rose girl, all formal though the thorns were perhaps fitting now that he thought about it. She was more of a wild girl to him, so why not something that seemed more like she was? Maybe he was overthinking it.

His eyes lifted from the bouquet as he heard Tasha come up and he smiled over to her; it didn't matter what she had been through, how much weight was on her shoulders or what she wore; she still made his breath catch. Tasha perked a brow as she looked at Murphy, seeing the flowers in his hand. What is he up to this time? That was the thought that passed through her mind. Seeing him there, today, hadn't been something she thought she would be dealing with that morning when she woke up. Then again, Murphy was anything but predictable. Granted, as much as she didn't want to admit it, seeing him did improve her spirits. He may have been a relentless flirt but he was a good man, that she knew. He had a heart of gold and it didn't hurt that he was a bit of a looker with the voice of an angel when he wasn't tricking people with his Boston Banshee Wails.

"Hey Lass." Murphy pushed off the wall and stepped over to her, hugging her gently. Tasha returned the hug and smiled slightly as he handed her the flowers. "For you, hope you like." He gave her a cheeky grin as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Hello Murphy and yes, they're beautiful. Thank you," she said as she looked at them smiling softly. There was that smile he adored. She glanced over to him as her fingers ran over the petals of one of the flowers. "So, what are you doing here Irish?"

"Hey, can't a guy fly 3,000 miles to give a girl flowers just because?" he asked her, laughing slightly as he did.

"Um, no," she quipped in return with a smirk on her lips.

"Well, that's a damn shame. I guess I gotta stick around, you know because just because isn't an acceptable answer."

"Murphy..." Tas said as she eyed him, her voice trailing off a bit as it seemed she really didn't have the patience to play around right then. "Spit it out."

Murphy sighed, seemed his playful manner wasn't helping them just then. He should have known, it really never had gotten him anywhere with her; at least not when he trying anything with her. Thing was though, he really didn't know how to go about this now that she just wanted a direct answer. This wasn't something that he exactly wanted to just spit out there. He wanted it to feel right, right then it didn't.

"Think we could just talk?" he asked her as he shoved his hand into his pocket. "We could take a walk," he said motioning off into the distance to no where in particular.

"I really don't feel like walking right now Murphy," she admitted. Right then she wanted to crawl into bed and sleep; for a really long time.

"Alright.. Um, where would you like to go?"

"To bed."

"Works for me!" he exclaimed happily and Tasha shot him a look that could kill if he took it seriously. Well he did but he wasn't going to let that stop him.

"Alone," she hissed.

"Alright, alright, but seriously if you're a bit tired, why not head up to your apartment and we can talk there? Can kick me out anytime you want. Cross me heart," he said as he placed one hand to his heart and the other up into the air as if he was giving an oath.

"Out the window?" she smirked as her arms crossed over her chest.

"Anything you want lass, have me word."

Tasha eyed him for long moment in silence, which made him a bit nervous. Last thing he wanted was for her to just leave him standing there alone and having to just blurt everything out as he walked off. Yeah, that would make for a smooth moment. Finally Tas nodded and motioned for him to follow her; as she did he let out the breath he had been holding all that time. Okay, now just to hope I don't actually get thrown out a window, he thought as they made their way up to her room.

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Tasha sat down on the edge of her bed, dropping her bag to the floor as she laid the flowers down next to her gently. Letting out a long breath she leaned over, resting her elbows on her knees and rubbing out her hands a bit as she stared at the ground. She looked weary but not near as worn out as she felt inside. The woman that seemed to be able to take on the world felt as if she was stretched to her limits. She had decided at the last minute not to go on the trip and had spent part of the day either in thought or out walking around San Fran trying not to think. She had made a choice and it had helped some but it wasn't anywhere as much time as she needed to heal. That would take real time. Time without feeling as if she had to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders and the guilt of being unable to help her parents. Time to just find the once vibrant person she had been, time to heal, time to deal with her own demons.

Murphy looked at her, a sorrowful look on his face as he studied her. She looked like a shell of her former self and it pained him. Kneeling down in front of her he reached up and brushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ears. "Tasha, talk to me." His voice was gentle and worried as he took her hands. Tasha just closed her eyes, she didn't know if she was frustrated right then and wanted to yell for him to get out, that she didn't want to talk, or to just collapse and let it all out. "Please..."

She still didn't answer, just letting her eyes drift open instead and staring blankly at their hands together. Tasha wasn't exactly one to open up about things, most everything going on within her was held tight to her heart and surrounded by walls built up over years. Only one person really ever was able to get her to open up fully but even then she kept somethings hidden. Murphy was sweet but she couldn't really find it in herself to open up, no matter how much worry strained in his voice.

Murphy shook his head, he knew how bad things could be if one bottled up everything; he had after his wife died. He nearly lost himself. It took Claire and Connor finally pushing him to a breaking point for him to snap out of it. Granted, when he did it had ended in a huge fight between the three of them and when his family fights it is more fists than words but in the end it had been the best thing for him. He finally started healing after that point. He didn't want to push Tasha but if it meant she finally let it all out it would be for the best. Even if she ended up hating him in the end or giving him a black eye. He'd survived fights his entire life, what was another one under his belt? Taking a deep breath, he steeled his resolve, he was going to take a chance and wasn't going to let up until it was all out on the table. Mary mother of god... here we go...

"Tasha, come on. Talk to me. No more of this silent treatment Lass," Murphy stated quickly as he squeezed her hands gently but his voice was firm as he spoke. Tas still didn't say anything, but she did pulled her hands away from him and rested them on the edge of the bed next to her, gripping the comforter uneasily. "It's okay, just let it out." She still didn't say anything and looked away from his direction as he rested his hands on her knees. "Tasha!" he said more forcefully as he slipped over and looked into her eyes. Still nothing as she looked away again. Another deep breath and he moved to the other side of her and looked at her once again. "Tasha!" he yelled, getting right into her face.

"What!?!" she finally yelled back; flinging her hands up into the air, her eyes glistening as her lips thinned.

"Talk to me damn it!" he retorted quickly, he wasn't going to let her shut back down now that she had at least said something.

"About what? What the hell do you want to know?" she hissed as her eyes narrowed at him.

"What's going on inside that head of yours!"

Tasha looked away again, she didn't want to open up. She felt it was a weakness. It wasn't when others opened up and trusted her but to her she was the doctor, she wasn't supposed to be the patient. Doctors fixed things, they didn't need fixing. She didn't want to admit she needed fixing. Murphy stood up, clutching her shoulders and pulling her to her feet, he wasn't going to give up now. "Now Tasha!"

Tas stood there for a moment, like a deer caught in headlights. Not sure if she should run or not. Suddenly Murphy stumbled back as her hands pressed to his chest and she shoved him back hard. All of that hurt and pain contorting her face and unleashing in that shove. Had it been any other time Murphy would have been impressed by the amount of strength she held within her tiny slender form. Right then though he didn't have the luxury. Her fist balling up as she stepped forward, shoving a single finger into his chest.

"What do you want to hear Irish?! That I am falling apart? That I am not strong enough to keep rushing to everyone else's aide? That I stay up nights going over notes; trying to help keep one person alive and keep another from cracking? That I am afraid that if I don't keep going I will end up failing another person? Is that what you fucking want to hear?" She was shouting now, her finger kept thrusting into his chest over and over again. Murphy stood there, leaning closer, leering over her but she didn't back down and neither did he.

"Yes and everything else you have bottled up Tasha, come on, I know you got more than that," he nearly growled as he got in her face, cupping her face in his hands as he rested her temple against hers. She grabbed his arms and pulled them away roughly.

"What else? That I am stretched so thin I feel like people can see right through me? That they can see my weaknesses and vulnerability and it makes me sick to my stomach?" Her hands pressing to her stomach, her eyes wide and her breath heaving.

"Then fucking lean on someone! That's what they're for!"

"I'm a doctor! I'm supposed to fix shit!"

"You're fucking human Tasha, now come on! Stop this, you don't have to carry everyone elses problems! You have your own!" Murphy said, his hands flying in the air, pointing at her and elsewhere as he stepped closer; be unrelenting in his words.

"Like you know a damn thing about me," she said in a huff as she turned around, refusing to look at him now. Murphy came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders.

"I know Tasha, I know everything," he admitted quietly as he spoke close to her ear. She turned her head quickly, looking at him as if he was lying to her, like he had to be kidding and just trying to push her buttons even further. "Claire told me."

"She did what? That fucking bitch! I'll kill her!" Tasha spat as she moved to go for the door but Murphy grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him.

"You vanished, she was worried when she called me. It all came out, everything you have been through in detail. She thought if I knew more I might be able to come up with some ideas other than the worst case scenario," he said defending his little sister but it was obvious that Tas was still enraged that her trust has been broken. Murphy could see it in her eyes. "You don't have to keep it buried woman, you have people who love and care about you. Just let them in damn it."

"How in the hell am I supposed to lean on them if they are already leaning on me? They have enough shit of their own. They don't need more! I won't do that to them, I don't want to!"

"Then what do you want woman?"

"What do I want? What do I want?!? I want to not be a secret to someone! I want not to be a shoulder for five minutes! I want to breath! I want to fly! I want to be loved, not for what I can do, just because! You know, all that romantic bullshit that women are supposed to swoon over. I want to be whole again! Not feeling like I am being eaten away at from the inside! I want the pain to end but it won't, I can't! It wouldn't be right, it wouldn't be fair to anyone if they loved me, even if there was someone like that who was willing to do that!" Tasha was nearly in tears as she yelled, she kept shoving him back as she spoke but he stood his ground and just let her rant and she did. She continued, on and on but he still didn't move, didn't flinch. He just let her get it out.

"But there is no one, so what does it fucking matter?!? Tell me, come on. I told you, now you tell me! What was the point of opening up the dam?"

"Because keeping it in will only break you woman, hell you are broke! But that's okay, we all break! Now you can heal if you just let yourself lean on someone damn it, fully! Not a piece here and a piece there!"

"On who!?! Claire? Jeje? Echo? Eddie? Seriously who the fuck am I supposed to lean on? Who's going to love this mess? Willing to deal with all of it?" She was furious, each word more seething than the last. She was shaking from the anger and the pain; her head throbbing and her heart pounding. "Who Irish! Tell me! Who!" she demanded to know. She was livid right then. Mad at him for pushing her, mad at herself for taking the bait.

Murphy didn't give her one more second to speak. His hands came up quickly, cupping her face in his palms; his fingers finding their way into her hair, his thumbs caressing her cheeks as, without warning, he pressed his lips to hers; pulling her to him. He kissed her and it felt like lightning shot through her to her toes. Tas froze, her eyes wide with disbelief, not sure exactly what was happening. She didn't know if she should shove him away and deck the hell out of him or to fall into the kiss. She just stood there, unable to move. Slowly his lips peeled away from hers as he let out slow breath. His brow resting against hers as his eyes opened and he looked into hers.

"Me."

Just a single word, so simple but it struck the doctor even more dumbfounded than she had already been. She still couldn't move. Slowly he brushed her hair back before he let her go, stepping back from her; half expecting that when she did snap out of it to be belted right in the face. Rubbing the back of his neck nervously he half smiled over to her.

"I know I shouldn't have kissed you but I had to, least before you kicked me out. You had to open up, keeping it in is destroying you. You're wilting away and you can't afford that, not now damn it. I was worried about you, I don't want you going down without a fight but fighting doesn't mean burying it, it means actually confronting it," Murphy began rambling. Tas just stood there, half listening and half lost in her own world.

He kept speaking, telling her about the first time he laid eyes on her. About how things had changed over the last month. How even though he had been corny about his advances, he was serious but hadn't wanted to press her. What all he knew, what all he had leaned by watching her when they talked and sung together. How he didn't care, that he knew what he was getting into. That it was worth the risk. That pushing her to finally snap and let it out was worth losing her if it meant she could start to heal. That he had to let her know why he was pushing her, because he wanted her to lean on him. That he as willing, because of how he felt.

"What else can I say? I fell in love with you Tasha, I couldn't just stand by anymore and watch you disintegrate without trying. You're worth it to me," he added with a sigh. Tas still hadn't said anything. Most of the time just standing there until she started to pace about the room, her arms wrapped around herself, lost in thought. She heard him, she heard all of it; especially the last part.

Sighing he stepped towards the door, feeling that maybe it was better to slip out right then than to continue. It worried him that she hadn't said anything now. At least if she had decked him it would have been something but now there was nothing. Just silence. It was creepy the way she just seemed to shut down like that, as if a switch had been flipped. Maybe he pushed her to far? Only thing he could hang onto at that point was at least he had taken the chance. Maybe letting it all out right then had been the wrong time, especially after her finally opening up but he had been worried he would never get another chance.

"I'll go," he said quietly. He had nearly reached the door when he felt Tasha's hand on the back of his neck; her fingers curling in his hair. Spinning around he didn't have a chance to blink before her lips were pressed against his as he stumbled; his back slamming against the door as she kissed him. He wondered if he felt as stunned as she had when he kissed her, unable to move except for his eyes to close and savor the kiss. Her lips barely pulled away from his, still brushing against each other as she spoke; whispering a single word.

"Stay."

The only word to leave her lips before they pressed back against his. Murphy's arms slipping around her waist as he pulled her close; the kiss deepening as they fell into each other. The simple sound of the door lock clicking echoing on the other side.

Earlier that day.

Arturs stepped out of the shower, it was colder stepping out of the shower he thought in a haze. He reached for the towel draped over the sink quicker than usual. Nearly slipping but catching his balance with the wall he sighed, then dried off. Dressing himself casual, blue jeans a black-shirt, he looked down and around for his phone as it began to ring. Buzz. Buzz. Arturs had looked around the bathroom, which was by no means a big room, and he couldn’t see it. He was sure he had left it on top of the hoodie on the floor but it was nowhere to be seen. Buzz. Buzz. “Come on.” He expressed before an idea hit him. “The shoes…” Arturs was muttering to himself, under his breath, as if it had been obvious this whole time. One of the runners proved to be empty, he picked up the second and turned it upside down over his palm and surely enough he found himself phone in hand, Arturs checked who was calling him.



Arturs knew who was calling him, his eyes rolled and then he looked up at the ceiling for a brief moment. Sight falling on the phone again he slid his thumb from the right hand side to the middle of the bottom of the screen. “You have that few pound for me then?” An Irish accent, confirming his suspicion. Arturs closed his eyes, tongue pushing cheek he rubbed at his chin with his free hand.

“Yeah, but look, I’m not around for a few days…” Silence on the line, “But, uh, I’ll be around during the week. Sorry man, just weird timing."

“That’s no good man, that’s no good.” The Irish man replied , Arturs said nothing. “That’s no good, ya hear me?” He asked, a slight raise in his voice both in tone and aggression. Arturs was about to reply but the caller cut in front, “Arturs man, ya have ‘til six o’clock to have my money or I’m gon’a break your legs for ya, alright?”

“Calem. What do you fucking want? I’m not around for a few days, it’s not the end of the world man.”

“Ya said that last week ya bollocks!” The line went dead, the Irish man had hung up after his last exclamation, sick of listening to Arturs.

Arturs shook the phone little in his hand before slipping it into his pocket and finishing off getting ready, The truth is, he was a little short on the money he owed and that was the amount being talked about on the phone. Arturs cursed, leaving the bathroom, heading for the couch. He sat down and felt his body sink before he sat up to reach his ‘smoke box’ as he called it. Rolling papers, roach card, tobacco and of course the green in a zip lock plastic bag. He rolled up, taking his time and putting attention into making the joint, tapping the finished product off the coffee table before twisting the very paper left at the very tip and placed it and the bag in one of his jacket pockets. He threw it on, fixing the hoods on both as he left the apartment.

As he paced down the stairs he took out his phone to text Claire and Tasha, to let them know that he would meet them up there and was leaving now.



There was always something about driving that grounded Arturs, it was probably that it gave him time to think, ponder over and formulate plans. He figured he’d make the money when he got back and just pay it up. After all, this was something that never or at worst very rarely happened to Arturs, he was always on time with the right amount. With Calem, usually the threat of violence was the way he went about things. Arturs knew the technique to his intimidation, your mister nice guy, whether you feign it or genuinely are a nice person, the buddy, chum, friend. It’s how quickly you turn from being that nice guy to roaring down their throats or threatening them with violence or worse is what gets them intimidated and then ninety percent will pay. The other ten percent, that’s usually were the threats of violence are executed. Arturs’ mind drifted to that time he was with Calem, a lad around his own age maybe a couple of years old, when he was exacting said threats of violence before but it wasn’t long before it slipped his mind.

It had only been a couple of weeks since Arturs met his new roommates and others in the group for first time. Claire and Tasha inviting him to Disneyland was a nice gesture considering he didn’t know all too much about them or them him, but he had gotten along with everyone he’d met so far. It took a while to get out of the city but he was glad to be on the open road now, he was looking forward to getting away from the city for a bit and told himself he was going to enjoy the excursion.

Buzz. Buzz. Arturs’ phone was going off again, it had been frequently vibrating in between the two front seats since he left. Obviously Calem had something to say, and ringing this many times, Arturs was just expecting another earful and more stress. He chose to ignore it again, and realizing he had been sitting in silence this whole time and switched on the radio. Flicking through the stations until he found one playing all sorts of rock he rapped his knuckles off the steering wheel

Driving for a while, a hitchhiker caught Arturs’ attention. The guy from a distance as he closed in, looked harmless. Scraggy hair and facial hair, tank top and shirt, jean shorts and runners, the large backpack by his side reminded Arturs of the time he went backpacking with a few of his mates back home, hitchhiking around the English countryside. Pulling onto the hard shoulder, Arturs lowered the window and nodded at the hitchhiker, just noticing his guitar case leaned against his backpack.

“Where you going?”

“Hey fella’! Thanks for pulling over, Anaheim, think you can help?” There was a friendly air about him, seemed like he had been here a while to and Arturs was already heading to Anaheim, it’d be better than listening to himself think.

“Fuck it, hop in.” He replied, a thin smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. The backpacker gave Arturs a thumbs up before opening the door putting his stuff on the back seats before getting in himself in the front. Arturs undid his seatbelt and leaned around his seat getting his jacket from the floor and placing it on the seat behind him along with the mans belongings.

“It’s a nice aroma.” The backpacker, whom Arturs had learnt was named Tomislav, teased about the smell of weed smoke in the car. Arturs looked at Tomislav briefly before putting his eyes back on the road?

“You smoke?” He quizzed, guessing he already knew the answer, “Grab my jacket for me.”

“Of course” Tomislav replied. drawing out the words, a mock voice when asked about smoking. He took the jacket from the back and let Arturs rummage the joint from the pocket before putting it down in the back again. Arturs lowered the window on his side a bit and looked for a lighter, leaning over Tomislav he opened the glove compartment and took the lighter from there.

It didn’t take long for Arturs to learn quite a bit about his passenger. Tomislav or Tomi as he preffered to be called was a Croatian man who had made a lot of money during boom years and lost it after the economic recession. He decided that he wanted to travel and see the world, but didn’t want to have to spend a lot of money (seeing as he had a lot less now). Backpacking was his answer and he had already traveled Europe and now was traveling the States, relying on Craigslist ads for places to stay or simply pitching his tent in a public park. His journey to the States alone was a cool story, he found his way over by offering to work on a trawler coming between somewhere in the middle-east and America. In return for working he had a place to stay on the ship as well as food and water. It turned out he had often worked or busked with his guitar to make ends meet and spend the rest of his time enjoying traveling, it was an incredible story which had Arturs feeling a little generous by the time they’d caught up to present day.