Passing Through

Chapter 4: Suspicious Intentions

"Oh, it's Mellie I think this might be the first time hearing you name, before that you were just Clyde's sister." You smile and laugh uncomfortably as you extend your hand to shake it. The handshake was limp at best like she really didn't want to impress you with a firm one. She was also still giving you that look the whole time you were shaking. Was it possible that she could smell the bullshit on you, do criminals smell different from normal, functioning people?

She does a short laugh, "Well guess you know my name now, Clyde should have informed you of me a little bit better since he got me involved."

Now it was making sense, she was pissed at all of you for her being the pawn in the potential towing of the Mustang. No wonder this girl disliked us so much, you couldn't help but understand though where she was coming from, sometimes you didn't enjoy your friends telling you who to hit on for their benefit as well.

"Our Mustang thanks you for the sacrifice of having to pretend with Jesse Jr. as well." You giggle hoping she would pick up on the lighthearted banter. It did not. Instead the intense look was replaced with a confused one. She was about to say something to you before Clyde was heard from behind the bar.

"Anybody want a beer, it's on the house for your troubles." He quickly brings up four bottles of beer from under the bar. Your friends quickly take the free beer, Maya takes out her lighter and uses it to open her beer then takes James and does the same. Sam being on your side, you take her beer and place it on your forearm and twist it open. Then you grab the other beer and use your forearm again before everyone clinks them together and takes a chug.

"Uh, I could have opened those for you with an actual opener, but neat tricks." Clyde and Mellie are both staring at the group with confusion. Mellie recovers and smiles at the group.

"I'm sorry, will y'all excuse us, I need to talk to my brother alone." All of you nod your head and go to the table Sam was sitting at before.

When you are all sitting a few feet away from them you notice that Clyde is looking at Mellie with an angered expression and a lot of hand motions coming from both of them. "Well, I think we made a great first impression." Maya says as she leans in her chair with her feet on the table and sipping the beer.

You look at her and roll your eyes, "I wouldn't blame her; she was used to help us, and we are a bunch of random people she doesn't know."

"I was trying to play it cool since she might be my new boss, but somehow you guys have managed to fuck it up for me already." Sam leans in as she whisper screams at the group.

Maya manages to give Sam a sarcastic smile, "Relax, your precious job is not on the line...yet." Maya then looks over to where Clyde and Mellie are still in what looks like a very intense conversation. "Looks like your boy is vouching for us."

You give Maya a look of frustration that once again you are having to say this to her. "He's not my boy, we just get each other, I don't see any of you trying to have a conversation with him."

"Well honey, that's because it's your job." James says with the emphasis of job at the end. He leans in and whispers so no one else can hear but the group, "I get the cars, Maya is the money and brawn, Sam is the face of innocence..."

"Don't forget keys too" she says louder than James would hope for, since he quickly shushes her and looks back at you slowly and continues.

"You're the mouth and body... why would we take that from you." He says with a tsk at the end and leaning back in his chair. Just as you were about to say something back, everyone's attention quickly went back to Clyde and Mellie when you heard Clyde saying something louder to Mellie for the first time.