The Shy Driver

Outlaw Or Not?

Just before noon, Fluttershy reached the city of Las Cruces. With its quiet yet popular white sand beaches, tall mountain range, and semi-desert climate and surroundings, it was one of the most beautiful places she'd ever seen. It looked so good, she decided to write down a journal entry in the notebook she'd brought along, planning to collect them all and ask Justin to mail them to Carter when her journey was over.

After checking her map, Fluttershy soon figured out a quick route to the westbound Interstate Highway 10. Little did she suspect what was awaiting her.

Stopping by an open desert landscape on the outskirts of the city, Fluttershy made a small fire to reheat her pizza and fries, and finished them up. With a full belly, she threw the packaging and the chocolate wrappers away in a recycling bin, took a brief walk through the desert landscape, observing and enjoying the company of lizards, birds, and even rattlesnakes.

"Goodbye New Mexico," she whispered to herself, turning onto the highway and heading west towards Arizona. She had only about forty hours to her deadline, and she still had an hour or so to go before she reached the Arizona border.

But that's where the trouble started. With the sight of the border crossing nowhere appearing on the horizon, loud noises started coming from behind Fluttershy. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she spotted several single headlights and one pair. It was a group of three bikers and a Corvette.

And they sure didn't look like they were just out to cruise like her. They were after something.

Two of the bikers lined up beside Fluttershy and pulled out guns.

"Pull over!" they demanded. Fluttershy picked up her speed a little and veered over to the side of the road, hit the brakes, flipped her hazards on, and got out. The bikers and the Corvette stopped behind her and took off their helmets.

"I thought that Justin punk was done with me, and that we had an agreement," one of the bikers, Jesse, said, walking around the Supra and observing it. "He gives me the greater share back, the parts fit together, and the car runs like a dream. Everyone's happy."

"I was asked to drive this to his home, what else do you all wanna know?" Fluttershy said, clearly annoyed by their presence.

"Justin paid me for a few parts in this machine over a certain deal that he would pay me a greater amount on a fixed rate. But now he dropped it and broke the deal. He broke up with me, and now I want my fair share."

"As a matter of fact, Justin is being fair," Fluttershy snapped. "You're the one who's being unfair by demanding more than what you deserve. Each side should get the same amount, so there's no advantage on either side. Anyways I have nothing to do with it. However, I'll tell Justin about it, and you and he can battle it out later however you wish."

"Fine," Jesse huffed, turning to his fellow bikers. "Let's go. I'll see you later. Be ready to have that furry yellow flank of yours handed to you."

Fluttershy snickered and bit back a giggle. "You're gonna need more than that crotch missile to deal with Justin."

"Pffft, I got something for 'em," Jesse replied, hopping onto his bike.

Fluttershy leapt back into the Supra and drove away, wondering what on earth a guy like Jesse would want beef with her?

Down the road, Fluttershy relaxed, thinking that she'd eluded them, and that her troubles were finally behind her. But just a few minutes later, the hooligan bikers and the Corvette were back on her tail. It didn't take long to realize what they wanted to do: race her as a test.

Prepping herself, Fluttershy fiddled with the boost controller and turned the boost up to 30 PSI.

The three bikers lined up beside her, jumping a little for encouragement, while the Corvette brought up the rear.