07

"Don't you have a milkshake to drink?"

"You like the sound of that, don't you?"

Austin banged his head on the table.

**

So, the plan was in place. I sat in Luke's jeep, ready to drive us out of there. Austin and Luke were meeting with the other gamblers in the Surfside Shack.

Honestly, I was nervous. Being the getaway car driver was a big deal. This favor was worth way more than $50. They were in such deep isssh and I wanted no part of it.

What is Luke's life?

I put the AC on high since it was so hot outside. Condensed water droplets were starting to roll down the side of my milkshake cup.

"Drat, I forgot napkins!"

Yeah, failure to put things in perspective –I know. I forgot all about my role as the getaway car driver and returned to the Shack.

"Hey," I waved at the bartender, squished between two girls in bikinis, "Excuse me. Hello! Over here."

The bartender finally gave me some attention. "What do you want?"

"Napkins please. I'm in my friend's car and I don't want to get this drink all over the seats. It's so hot outside and if I spill it the car will start to smell, and I have to buy an air freshener-"

"Save your life story," the bartender said, throwing me a large stack of napkins, since she didn't want me coming back.

The bikini girls were laughing at me. I didn't let it bother me, since I was used to it.

I was about to head back to the car when a man swung round on the bar stool and grabbed my wrist. "Were you with those boys over there?"

I looked him up and down. He was in a black bomber jacket, which was weird considering it was like 80 degrees outside. It totally didn't fit in with the laid back, surfer style that everyone else was rocking.

"What's it to you?" I asked, getting even more nervous and jittery.

My palms were beginning to sweat or maybe that was the heat. Did I mention it was 80 degrees in here?

"Listen kid, I asked you about your situation."

Oh my god, he was talking like a guy out of a mafia movie. I couldn't handle this. I do not get involved in action. That's more Luke's domain. I watch action flicks on my couch with a tub of ice cream. Sugar gives my blood pressure enough stress.

"My... my situation?"

He stared me down. It was terrifying. It was also a tactic to get me to talk. And oh boy did that work.

I stuttered, which led to uncontrollable rambling. I should probably get that checked out.

"Are you trying to sell me an illegal air freshener because I can get that over the counter, like this milkshake. I don't buy my milkshakes on the black market. And you can replace the word milkshake for anything I ever buy because I always buy my products the legal way."

"You got a sense of humor on you. Working my job, we don't get that much often."

Ok. He just complimented me. I don't hear compliments very often. "I'm touched you say that, because I feel most people don't appreciate my humor. I mean, I don't think I'm funny, but people always laugh at me. It hurts my feelings."

"You got issues, kid. Comedy is a good way to funnel that shit. Pull up a chair." He literally knocked a guy off the stool next to him to give me space to sit. "I go to this comedy club downtown once in a while. I give a little standup, do my thing."

"Really? That's so cool. I watch Kat Williams videos online."

"Do you have a pen?" he looked at the bartender, "PEN." The bartender immediately served it without any of the attitude she'd given me. Then, leather jacket guy pulled out an old receipt and scribbled something on the back, "I'll write down the address and next time you're in that corne-"

Suddenly there was a bang and a crash. Chairs flew across the wall and tables were overturned.

"GET TO THE CAR AUSTIN!" Luke's voice yelled loud and clear.

I looked over and saw them jump over booths, plates crashing on the floor as they ran towards the front door. They were making their getaway.

Luke reached the door first but he turned around for Austin, who hopped off a table and landed on his feet seconds later. A man lunged towards Austin and I felt my heart lurch. Luke pushed Austin out of the way and received a blow to his shoulder instead. He didn't cry out in pain - he looked pissed.

Angry Luke was not someone I wanted to mess with. With incredible reflex, he knocked the guy out cold. I stared.

"START THE CAR MILLIE!"

Oops.

I was the getaway plan... but I wasn't there to help them getaway.

"I have to go!" I said.

I jumped off the chair and squeezed between scared onlookers and the crazy guys they were fighting. I pushed my way out, because no one ever pays attention to me –least of all now.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" Luke yelled, by the empty car.

"WHAT THE HELL?! I CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR!"

"I'M GOING TO KILL THAT-"

"LUKE, BEHIND YOU!"

A rush of bad guys ambushed them, but Luke and Austin knew how to fight. I watched them defend and counter strike amidst the chaos, standing back-to-back so they could cover each other.

Time out. You know when you're sitting at home watching the discovery channel and you're like 'cheetah's fight and gazelle's choose flight but if I was in this situation which one would I be?' Well I've always wanted to know that too. And it turns out, I'd be a headless chicken (did I mention that was an option?).

I was standing there; feeling guilty and scared and worried and confused and upset and anxious...

So I literally walked into the fight hoping to stop it.

"Please make peace. Guys stop. Hey. Ow. You're hurting me. Ow. OW! OOOOOOWWWW!"

I was swept up in the undercurrents and knocked around. Supremely painful. Beyond words.

"LUKE!" I screamed, "LUKE!"

He suddenly realized that I was in the pits with him. From this vantage point, I could now see how much stronger Luke was than the others. He was taking on three grown men at once. Suddenly I felt his strong arms around my waist. Without speaking, he pulled me behind him, sheltering me between the car and his body.

I tried not to reach out to touch the muscles as they rippled across his back. He used his strength to his advantage and fought with skill & technique. I felt safe. In the middle of this crazy fight, I felt protected.

"ENOUGH!" The guy in the bomber jacket interrupted everything.

The men stopped fighting as if he had just announced a car sale. Austin, Luke and I were left even more confused by who bomber jacket guy was.

"Where's the girl?" he asked, wading through the fight, pushing people aside.

Sheltered behind Luke's body, I squeaked, "Here."

One of the men came over. "The boss is asking for ya. Get out here."

He tried to grab me but Luke immediately blocked him. "Touch her and I'll take you down."

The man backed down, leaving Mr bomber jacket face-to-face with Luke.

"That's my comedic muse you've got there," he said and looked around Luke's shoulder at me, "You feelin' ok, kid?"

I could feel Luke and Austin both staring at me.

"I'm ok, thanks."

"Good. I never got to give you the piece of paper I was writing on. Here you go. It's at the Laughing Heads bar. You'll see me perform some time ok?"

"Sure. I have a lot of time. My social calendar is empty so... I'll check it out?"

This was awkward. Everyone was looking at us now.

Bomber jacket dude turned to his guys, who were all bruised and battered courtesy of Luke and Austin.

"I don't feel angry anymore. Consider our debts with these boys settled. The kid plays a good game of basketball. Next time, we'll bet on him. Call it even and get outta here."

And just like that, they picked up their stuff and scattered. We were left alone in the parking. Austin looked at me like I was growing antlers out of my head. I wish I was –then I may have had a flight reaction and run far away.

"Are you hurt?" Luke asked me, his eyes trailing all over me to see if I had a scratch.

"No."

His eyes locked with mine, "Then what the hell were you thinking?!"

His tone had changed quickly.

Before things between us got any more heated, Austin intervened, "Was I hearing things or did he call Millie his comedic muse?"