𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ~ 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮'𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚

"What the fuck is taking them so long?" He huffed. "It's almost midnight".

She peered at the dashboard. Ten minutes to midnight. They were taking their sweet ass time. She was beginning to get very impatient. She squinted her eyes at the house and waited, nothing had changed. All the lights were now off. It was showtime.

Billy tapped his foot repeatedly against the floor. She glanced at him momentarily but eventually chose to ignore him. He huffed and he sighed, she promptly rolled her eyes.

"Call them", he ordered.

"No".

"Why the hell not?"

"They'll be here".

"They're late".

"They'll be here", she insisted. "A phone call isn't going to change that".

Something had changed. The lone street was suddenly illuminated. A gorgeous Chevrolet appeared. The headlights were so strong, she could barely make out the occupants of the vehicle. But she was sure, it was them. They had finally graced the duo with their long-awaited presence.

The driver quickly turned off the headlights as to avoid suspicion, a sentiment that was too little too late. They parked the Chevy right beside Billy's car. Both vehicles were appropriately hidden behind lush bushes and grand trees, it was the perfect hiding spot. She watched, waited. The engine seized its roaring; it was now switched off. Approximately five seconds later, the left backseat door was violently ripped open from the inside. Randy climbed out, an apparent scowl on his face. She heard the laughing next, the sounds of joy and utter mischievousness. Stu. Randy flipped him off and stood outside as he dusted off his pants and his shirt for no apparent reason at all, perhaps he just wanted something to keep him occupied for the time being. Tatum abandoned the car next. She opened the door calmly and appropriately. She stepped outside, shut the door and readjusted her skirt.

"Stu, any day now". She heard Tatum say through the muffled window. Tatum tapped her foot against the soggy grass. A clear sign of impatience.

A moment later, the passenger door was opened. Stu stepped out. He could not stop laughing, he clutched his stomach and continued to roar with the undeniable appearance of a mad jester. Billy promptly rolled his eyes and opened his own car door.

"You're late", he announced. This was clearly targeted at Stu.

"Yeah, well", Stu shrugged his shoulders. "Shit happens".

"Is this a fucking joke to you?" Billy's tone was clipped as he approached Stu in anger.

"I never said that", Stu stopped laughing. His expression turned grave, serious. "I didn't say that", he said in a lower voice.

Billy promptly took a step back and composed himself. He ran a hand through his dark locks and exhaled deeply. He glanced back towards the car to look at her. She was watching, still watching. Nothing escaped her. She was monitoring the whole situation, examining, prodding. When she was finally satisfied, she smiled back at him and slowly opened the car door. Her movements seemed precise and elegant, unhurried and graceful.

She turned to look at Tatum. "Took you long enough".

"Stu", the other female rolled her eyes. Stu's name was a reason in itself, there was no other form of explanation that was needed. Stu, a name, was a valid excuse in itself.

"Is it time?" Randy asked.

"Yes, it is time". She confirmed. She opened the right backseat door and extracted the black duffel bag; an offering of sorts that was previously given to her by Stu himself. The garbs were haphazardly stuffed inside. They would need to make haste. Midnight was almost upon them.