Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

43

"Skeeter?" John B asked, drawing my attention away as I slapped at my arm again. I was a magnet when it came to mosquitoes so I was currently fighting for my life.

"Yeah you see it?"

"Yeah," John B answered as another slap ensued, this time from John B.

"Ooh." JJ hissed at the sound.

"Okay, alright, that's enough." Pope tried to stop them.

"Where's your proof?" Kie asked, John B raising his hand and shining the light on his palm.

"Skeeter."

"Wait, that's it." I voiced but no one was paying me attention as I turned on my flashlight and shined it on the floor. The floor started as cement and became wood right in the center. And it wasn't the best job, meaning it was patchwork.

The two started slapping each other in the guise of a mosquito as I dropped to a crouch at the wood. Wood could catch moisture and make a good nest for mosquito eggs or, I knocked on the material looking for a hollow spot.

"Wifey, what are you doing?" JJ asked as he crouched next to me. The other three occupied as Pope was having his own 'skeeter' problems.

"Looking for the source of the mosquitoes. They breed and hatch in water. Wood typically locks moisture." His eyes lit up as he dropped to help me. Pope wandering over too.

"You're a bloody genius." I grinned.

"Oi." I whisper yelled, getting their attention as Pope dropped a pebble through a gab in the wooden planks. "I think we found your water, B."

I grinned, John B's eyes going wide as we got off the planks and started lifting them. A mass of mosquitoes swirling around as we uncovered a large gapping hole.

"Holy shit, Xena, you genius." John B gasped as we all stood around staring into the stone work.

"Well, well, well." Pope spoke making me laugh quietly.

"That was a good dad joke." John B said, still amazed at the revealing of our water source.

"They built this part of the house right over it." Kie spoke.

"This is where she hid the bodies." I tisked popping JJ in the arm.

"Stop."

"Dude, come on."

"No, I'm dead serious. It was never an outhouse."

"Stop. She probably doesn't even know it's here." Kie argued putting up a good point.

"Sooo, we've got the water," I trailed off all of us lifting our eyes to John B.

"We're gonna need a really big rope." I grinned. We were back in business.

"Let's go, reboard it up. We don't need Crain wandering down here and seeing this." I spoke moving into action.

We moved excitedly, everyone quietly working together until we made it back out into the garden. All of us running as we finally made it back to the Twinkie and let out our shouts of joy.

"Ahh! I can't believe it!" JJ shouted grabbing ahold of my waist and lifting me up. The two of us spinning as I laughed. As soon as he set me down Pope jumped at the chance to grab my hands and spin us around. The two of us making a bridge as we spun.

"You are amazing, Xena." Pope admitted smiling big as I laughed.

"Y'all are too kind!" I joked laying on a thick southern accent, batting my eyes right before Kie jumped on my back.

"Ooofmp." I grunted staggering into Pope as my face screwed in pain.

"Oh shit, Xena." Kie scrambled off me as she came around to check on me, my hand wrapped around my ribs as I gave a grimace.

"I'll be okay, Kie. I just wasn't ready for impact." I joked even though I was trying to push the pain back down.

"Alright, let's get back to the Château, round up some supplies and we'll come back out here tonight." We all nodded, the four of them hopping in the Twinkie as I got myself situated on my bike. I heard John B pull the Twinkie up beside me as I slipped on my gloves, my helmet next as I turned to face the curly brunet.

"So, I-uh heard something about a race." He had a smug look on his face as I smirked back.

"Oh yeah, what's it to you?" I played along, pulling my helmet down over my head.

"I thought I'd give a lady a little warning before," I laughed starting up my bike.

"Oh, I'm not sure what lady you are referring to, B. But I'll be happy to take her place."

"Works for me." He grins taking off as he finished his sentence, I let out roar of outrage as I slapped my visor down and kick my bike into gear. A smirk playing on my lips as I tore down the street after John B.

It didn't take long to pass the Twinkie, blowing them a quick kiss I took a sharp turn down another lane, making it onto Kook territory as the houses grew more modern and much larger.

I didn't bother checking to see if John B had followed me, knowing he could have doubled back and gone a different route I wasn't aware of.

The wind pulled at my arms as I tucked into my bike the best I could, my head up as I watched for anything in my way. And cops.

I was out of the Kook subdivision shortly as I pulled off, not quite Figure Eight but pretty damn close to it.

I turned as if to go through the main square but went against that decision and stuck to the backroads. My eyes out hoping no officers were waiting as I drew closer and closer to the Cut. The speed limit forgotten.

I laughed, wishing I could feel the wind as it hit my helmet and broke off. This feeling of freedom that comes with riding is so different than when I'm fighting. Both dangerous and sometimes scary as hell, but both something I love.

I pulled up to the Château slowly cruising to a stop as I parked my bike. A victorious grin on my lips as I shook my hair free from its braid.

About fifteen minutes later, the Twinkie came scooting along as I leaned against the porch raising a water bottle towards the vehicle.

"Nice of y'all to join me."