by K. B. Draper
“Ah, I do that a lot.” He nodded, accepting their explanation. “Where are you taking me?”
“Back to your wife,” Daylen answered.
“No way. She’s going to kill me. I lost ten big ones to those guys. Take me back to them, it’ll be less painful than what Marie will do to me.”
“Marie hired us. Marie paid us. Marie gets you,” Daylen replied sharply.
“Ahhh come on, Daylen. Babe. Give me a break. I’ll pay you.”
“You don’t have any money,” she said flatly.
Lenny leaned forward between the two front seats. “I’ll give you a hot tip on who’s going to win tonight’s fight at–” Daylen cut him off with a look.
“I just saved your ass from two guys you owe money to because of one of those hot tips, so thanks, but no thanks, Lenny. Sit back. I can’t see with you hogging the rearview mirror.”
He didn’t move. “Daylen, can’t you give a guy a break? Pllleeeassee,” he begged.
Kanyon turned, limiting her contact with the guy as much as possible. She pressed a single finger to his forehead and pushed Lenny into the backseat. “Back it up, sweat-o-potimus.”
Lenny took notice of Kanyon for the first time. “Hey, you’re that hot actress chick.” He licked his lips and put his comb-over back in the over position. “Man, I can’t wait to tell the guys at the bar that I got manhandled by The Dark Savior babe. They aren’t going to believe it. First one hot chick,” he nodded toward Daylen, “and now another. It’s like I died and woke up in the land of hot babes.”
“Say chick or babe one more time and you’re going to wake up in a rest home gumming banana puree,” Kanyon threatened.
Lenny sat further back in his seat. They rode a few miles before Lenny spoke again. “Ba–” He stopped at Kanyon’s quick look. “Daylen, you think we can talk about this?”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Lenny. I’m dropping Kanyon off at her car and then I’m taking you home.”
“But Daylen, you don’t understand. Marie will seriously kill me. She’s one crazy chi–” he caught himself, “lady,” he finished with a sheepish smile to Kanyon.
“You’re going to have to face her sooner or later and I’m delivering you to her sooner.”
“But later I could win back the money and buy her some nice ear bobs or something.”
“Not going to happen, Lenny,” Daylen said as she turned into the convention hall parking lot.
“I parked around by the side entrance, but you can just drop me off out front,” Kanyon offered as Daylen pulled over. “Sooo,” Kanyon started hesitantly. “I’m sorry about the little mix-up.” She gave a head nod toward the backseat.
Daylen laughed softly. “He kind of deserved it. Thanks for thinking you were saving me.”
“And sorry about yesterday.”
“It’s fine. Take care of yourself, okay?”
Kanyon stared into Daylen’s eyes. She’d pushed Daylen away for so long now the yearning to stay connected with her was overwhelming. “You think we could maybe see each other sometime?” Oddly uncomfortable at her request, she stuttered, “As friends, you know, nothing big. Just coffee or–”
“Hey, are you chicks going to kiss? ‘Cause that’d be totally hot! I’ve seen babes at the strip club kiss and on the internet, but–” Lenny’s sentence was cut short as Kanyon came over the seat at him.
Daylen groaned, got out of the car, flung open the rear door, grabbed Kanyon’s waist, and fought to pull her off Lenny. “Kanyon, let him go,” she ordered.
Kanyon finally relented and let Daylen pull her out the door. She straightened her clothes. “He started it. I warned him,” she said quickly to Daylen’s disapproving face.
Daylen balled her fists and placed them firmly on her hips. “He started it? Really? Are we 12?”
“I’m an actress.” Kanyon flipped her hair back in an exaggerated gesture. “I can be whatever age I want to be at any given time.”
Daylen simply shook her head. “God, Kanyon, you’re something else.”
Kanyon dropped the act. “I know, I’m sorry. I, well, I just wanted, or …” she kicked at the parking lot, “I was just trying to ask, before Creepy McSweaterson in there interrupted, if you think maybe we can see each other every once in a while?” At Daylen’s silence she quickly added, “You know, if I promise to behave. Unlike yesterday … or this morning,” and then tacked on with a nod in the vehicle’s direction, “or five seconds ago.”
Daylen hesitated, not because she feared what Kanyon would do, but what she herself would do if they spent more time together. She looked at Kanyon and a warm heat rose from her core. No, it wasn’t careers or convention halls that she worried about Kanyon wrecking. Despite the potentially painful consequences, she heard herself say, “I’d like that,” as she stepped toward Kanyon and embraced her, “very much.”
At Daylen’s touch, another electric current shot through Kanyon. A similar sensation to what she felt earlier but this time it coursed through her entire body. She stepped back, holding Daylen at arm’s length. The electricity immediately dimmed. She dropped her hands from Daylen’s shoulders. “Did you fe–” Her words were cut off by the sound of squealing tires.
They both turned just in time for a light from a camera flash to hit them both in the eyes. They stood rooted, watching helplessly as Lenny drove by them in Daylen’s SUV with his cell phone still extended out the window. “Totally hot!” he yelled as he struck a curb, bounced back, then found the parking lot exit and drove off into the streaming traffic.
“I’m going to kill him,” Daylen growled.
“I’ll help you bury the body,” Kanyon added. “Come on.” She took off running with Daylen right behind her. Kanyon slowed as she rounded the corner, then abruptly stopped.
Daylen nearly avoided slamming into Kanyon’s back. “What the–” Daylen looked across the vacant lot as she stepped up beside Kanyon. “Ahhh, where’s your car?”
“I’m not sure.” But she had a small idea of where it might be. Damn it.
“Where’d you park it?”
“Kind of over there in that general area.” Kanyon half-waved, half-pointed in the general direction of the white and red sign mounted to the side of the building then started walking in the other direction.
“Kind of in the general area of that No parking, violators will be towed sign?”
“Pretty much.”
“Seriously?” Daylen asked as she caught up to Kanyon.
“Well, I was kind of running late yesterday. Don’t worry. I’ll just call a taxi to come get us.” Already pulling out her phone as she spoke, it rang in her hand. “Hello?” Kanyon said cautiously, not having recognized the number. She listened for a second. “Who?” She listened again. “Theodore?” She stopped when recognition hit her. She threw a narrowed glare at Daylen. “Theodore, I’m sorry, but–” was all she got out before Daylen yanked the phone away from her.
“Hey, Theo. This is Daylen,” Daylen began as she put the phone to her ear and turned her back, shutting out Kanyon’s protests. Kanyon reached around Daylen trying to grab her phone but Daylen twisted, blocking her attempts. “You wouldn’t happen to be close …”
“Don’t even think about it.” Kanyon danced around Daylen and tried for her phone again.
“Will you stop it.” Daylen spun around, slapping at Kanyon’s hands. “Sorry, Theodore, not you. I was talking to Kanyon. She’s acting like a six-year-old. Anyway, you wouldn’t happen to be close to the convention hall, would you?” Daylen listened for a second. “Ten minutes? Great. You think you could give us a ride?” She listened for another second then turned back to face Kanyon who had stopped reaching for the phone and stood with her arms crossed. Daylen gave her a devilish grin. “Yeah, it’s kind of a secret mission and Kanyon would consider it a huge favor. I’m sure she’d do something extra nice for her number one fan.” She nodded again and smiled even wider at Kanyon’s grimaced face. “Great, we’ll meet you in front o
f the coffee shop next door.” Daylen hit the end button and held the phone out to Kanyon.
Kanyon snatched her phone back. “Really? I could’ve called a taxi.”
“A taxi would’ve taken twice as long and I’d like to try and get my SUV back from the sweaty meatball as soon as possible,” Daylen explained as she began walking toward the coffee shop.
Kanyon begrudgingly fell into step beside her. “I understand, but go ahead admit it, this is also your little way of getting back at me, isn’t it?”
Daylen gave her a playful wink. “Added benefit.”
Kanyon shrugged. “Well played.”
Daylen and Kanyon stood out of public view alongside the busy coffee shop, trying not to draw attention to themselves as they waited for their ride. Ten minutes later, a brand new black Camaro with blacked out windows, aftermarket chrome wheels, and a thumping bass pulled alongside the curb. Kanyon looked suspiciously at Daylen. “No way.”
“Better than a taxi.” Daylen took off toward the car. They both stopped as the passenger door opened and a tall beautiful blonde stepped out, throwing a kiss back at the driver. Kanyon threw another disbelieving look at Daylen, who answered, “Looks like you have some competition.”
Kanyon scoffed audibly and rolled her eyes. “Sister, prostitute, adult care giver …”
Daylen answered with a shrug then took a step toward the car, but the woman shut the door and the Camaro peeled out back into traffic.
Kanyon was still watching the Camaro drive away when the Dark Savior’s famous line “I’m no one, I’m just here to help,” boomed loudly through the air. Kanyon looked heavenward. “You have got to be kidding me. Why are you punishing me this way?” She reluctantly lowered her eyes as the message cried out again, louder and closer this time. She heard Daylen laugh as an early model, four-door Ford Taurus pull up in front of them. She believed the car was maroon, but it was hard to tell since it was covered from bumper to tailpipe in Dark Savior figurines, pictures, stickers, and down the side of the car were her and Daylen’s airbrushed faces in their Dark Savior costumes. Her voice screamed from underneath the hood for the third time, “I’m no one, I’m just here to help.”
She turned to Daylen who was still chuckling through the hand she had over her mouth. “NO FREAKING WAY!” She pointed at the mobile shrine. “I AM NOT GETTING IN THAT THING!”
Daylen dropped her hand and raised an eyebrow. “You got me fired.”
Kanyon narrowed her eyes. “Low, and so not going to work. You said you were happy about that.”
“I got you out from under a pile of Stormtroopers.”
Kanyon shook her head.
“You knocked out a guy that I risked my life to save.”
Kanyon crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“You got my car stolen.”
“I DIDN’T GET YOUR CAR STOLEN! It wasn’t my fault …” She had kind of crawled over the seat to choke the guy, causing Daylen to … ah crap. She sighed heavily as her voice bellowed from under the hood again. Kanyon cringed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Daylen suppressed another laugh. “Just a little bit.”
“Are we even?”
“Not even close.”
“Fine.” Kanyon sighed deeply. “I definitely liked it better when you were my slave,” she mumbled as she crossed in front of Daylen to take the backseat.
Daylen smiled, let out the chuckle she’d been suppressing, then moved to take shotgun. “Hey, Theodore. We really appreciate you picking us up. This is quite the ride. Isn’t it, Kanyon?”
“Yeah, it’s something all right,” Kanyon replied solemnly.
“Did you notice the hood?” Theodore responded excitedly. “It’s an exact replica of your battle from season three, episode thirteen. The trunk is season one’s pre-Dark Savior, Artemisia’s battle at Salamis, when you rammed her ship into Damasitheos. That was totally cool by the way,” he said, directing his compliment to Kanyon in the backseat. “Did you hear my horn? I made a digital recording of your voice and wired it in.” He hit his horn again to demonstrate and her voice cried out.
“Oh, I heard it. I’m pretty sure everyone in a five-block radius heard it,” Kanyon said sarcastically.
Daylen spun toward Kanyon and mouthed, “Be nice.”
Kanyon responded with a defiant crossing of her arms and a roll of her eyes.
Daylen turned back to Theodore. “I think it’s great. You obviously put a lot of effort into it.” She leaned forward taking a better look through the windshield at the battle depicted on the hood. “And, it’s very creative. So, you glued all those figurines right onto the hood?”
“Yeah, I used a lot of super glue. The trees and grass and such I got from a hobby shop that sells stuff for train sets. All the warriors are actually figures for union and confederate soldiers for a civil war setup, but I made their guns look like swords, added shields, and then repainted them silver and black to make them look like warriors.”
Daylen raised an impressed eyebrow. “Wow, there are hundreds of them.”
“Two hundred and forty-seven. The exact number depicted in the episode.” He blushed. “I watched the scene three hundred times to get an accurate count. It took me over two months to do it all.”
“Very impressive.” Daylen shot a look over her shoulder.
“Impressive,” Kanyon replied in a very un-impressed tone, rolled her eyes again, and slid a little lower in her seat trying to get her head below window level. “You think we could start moving?” she asked as she watched people start to gather and take photos of the car. “I mean, we need to hurry and get on that secret mission, remember.”
“Where to, Dark Savior?” Theodore asked then hit the horn again. “I’m no one, I’m just here to help,” called out emphasizing his willingness to assist.
“You can call us Daylen and Kanyon.” Daylen looked back at Kanyon. “Drop you off at your house?”
Kanyon leveled her gaze. “I don’t think so. We’re going to the city tow lot, getting my car back, and then WE are going to find Lenny.”
“Kanyon you don’t have to–”
Kanyon cut her off with a steely look. And the Queen is back. “Alrighty then. To the city tow lot, Theodore.”
Daylen watched as Kanyon gave the parking lot attendant a wink as she took the set of keys from his hand. Kanyon walked out of the office swirling her key ring on a finger.
“Why do I feel like this isn’t the first time you’ve gotten your car towed?”
“It’s maybe happened once or twice before,” she said with a sly smile as she hit a button on her remote.
They crawled into the car. “You didn’t have to pay the fine, did you?”
“Never do,” she answered with apparent smugness.
Kanyon drove through the open gate and pulled alongside Theodore who was standing next to his car applying glue to the bottom of a tree that’d blown over. “Sweet car,” Theodore said over the roar of the engine. “But I kind of thought the Dark Savior would, well, drive something darker than a yellow Corvette.”
“The Dark Savior would maybe drive something darker, but Kanyon McKane drives something yellow.” Kanyon informed him dryly.
“Oh yeah, right,” Theodore said as he lowered his head and mumbled to his shoes.
Daylen hit Kanyon’s arm with a backhand. “Ouch! What?” Kanyon cried.
“Get out and do something nice for him. He just gave us a ride,” Daylen instructed as she pulled her own door handle and got out of the car.
Kanyon rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She got out and walked over to Theodore. “My car might be yellow, but my horse is black.” Theodore’s head shot up, his eyes wide with excitement. “Yeah, I kept Stormy. He’s out at a stable north of town. Maybe I could make arrangements for you to go up there some time and see him.”
“Seriously?” Theodore vibrated with excitement.
“Sure, why not?” she said giving Daylen a There, are you satisfied? look.
Daylen stopped. “You kept Stormy?” Completely taken off guard by the news.
“Yeah, well you know, I kind of got him fired too. I thought it was the least I could do.” She shrugged and added in a soft mumble, “I kind of kept CJ too.”
“You kept my horse?” She shook her head. “I mean, CJ, you kept CJ?” she corrected quickly.
“Yeah, there’s that whole getting them fired thing again and after working together for so long I thought they might, you know, miss each other.”
“Kanyon, I can’t believe you.” She paused to reel in her emotions before she leapt into Kanyon arms. “I always thought they belonged together.”
Kanyon held Daylen’s eyes for a minute until she forced herself to look away, covering her discomfort by clearing her throat and turning to Theodore. “So anyway, maybe Daylen can take you to see them.” Kanyon flashed Daylen a quick, smug ha-ha got ya back grin.
Daylen narrowed her eyes as if she was annoyed, but Kanyon’s sneaky little payback couldn’t break the warmth she was feeling for her. “That’d be great,” Daylen said smiling widely. “And since I don’t know where they are, I’m sure Kanyon would be happy to take us. Wouldn’t you, Kanyon? I mean you’d do that for me and your number one fan, wouldn’t you?”
Kanyon’s smug smile dropped. “Sure,” she replied with fake enthusiasm.
“Awesome. I’m free next Saturday,” Theodore threw out quickly.
“We’ll see,” Kanyon said. “But for now, we need a little more help. You game?”
“SURE! Anything,” Theodore answered then stepped closer to his car. Kanyon darted forward and quickly grabbed his arm as he started to reach toward the steering wheel.
“No more horn.” She pulled his arm slowly back out of the window, dropping it back at his side. “We got the message, Theodore.”
“You can call me Thor, remember?”
“Yeah, ummm that’s not going to work for me.” She rested her hand on his shoulder after giving it a pat. “Let’s agree on Theo for now, okay?” Theo nodded his approval. “Theo, I’m guessing you’re good with computers?”
“I’m really good at computers. I can do all kinds of things. I have three of them at home, it’s better for gaming. You could come over and–”
