//

Mia exited the school, books still in her arms. She looked the lot for Arvin's car when it pulled up right in front of her.

"You lookin' for a ride, ma'am?" Arvin asked as the window was rolled down.

Mia smiled. "Now, good sir, how'd you know I'd be needing a ride?" she asked. "You stalkin' me?"

"Yes," Arvin answered with a serious expression before grinning.

Mia laughed as she opened the passenger door, sitting beside Arvin and closing the door. "What a handsome stalker you are," she stated.

Arvin chuckled before looking down at the papers that were on top of Mia's folders. "What's that?" he asked her.

"My old research for one of my classes," she answered, showing him some old newspapers from the '30s.

Arvin read the title. "Bonnie and Clyde?" he asked.

"Yeah," Mia answered. "We had to do a paper on people from the past. I chose them."

"Why them of all people?" Arvin asked, getting out a cigarette and lighting the end of it.

"She loved him, he loved her," Mia answered. "They were just so...intriguing. The way Bonnie acted too. She wasn't like most women." She hid the newspapers away as Arvin passed her his cigarette. "You know, they buried them desperately."

"It was Bonnie's mama's doin', wasn't it?" Arvin asked, kind of knowing the story of Bonnie and Clyde from Emma.

"Yeah, that disapprovin' bitch wanted them separated," Mia answered, taking a drag of the cigarette before handing it back to Arvin. "If I ever find my Clyde, I better be buried right next to him. Not miles away, not graves away. Right next to him."

Arvin just hummed, placing the cancer stick between his lips. He knew that whoever was going to be Mia's Clyde was going to be one lucky son of a bitch because he would have her, Arvin wouldn't.

The doors to the school burst open. It was Lenora who ran out towards the car. Mia reached behind the seat, pushing the back door open.

Lenora rushed in, sitting before closing the door shut.

Arvin was about to question who she was running from when Gene, Tommy, and Orville ran out of the school, calling for Lenora.

Glaring at them, Arvin pressed down on the gas, driving away before they could reach the car.

But Mia stuck her hand out the window, flipping the boys the bird as the car pulled out.

After driving away from the school, Arvin drove towards the church. After a few minutes, he pulled into the lot, stopping as he saw a nice bright car parked ahead.

"That preacher's a little flashy," Arvin stated.

Mia was about to get out but Lenora noticed Arvin wasn't moving so she asked, "Are you not comin'?"

"No, I got some things to do before we go home," Arvin answered.

Mia had the car door open but froze. She heard the way he said that. Almost in a dark tone and he never missed going with Lenora to visit her mother's grave which raised Mia's suspension.

"You know," Mia spoke, closing the door. "I think I'll go with Arvin."

At this, Arvin looked her.

Even though she hated leaving Lenora alone, Mia knew exactly what Arvin was going to do especially after seeing those three dipshits chase Lenora out of school.

As Arvin was about to usher Mia out, Lenora asked, "Can't we go do them after I see Mama?"

"No, you go on, I'll be back," Arvin answered, still looking at Mia. He caught on, realizing the Jones girl knew his intentions.

Mia looked back at Lenora. "We'll be back," she corrected.

Lenora exited the car with a huff, closing the door and walking towards the cemetery.

"I ain't stupid," Mia spoke. "I know what you about to do to them boys."

"If you know, you should go on with Lenora too," Arvin replied, still not moving his car.

"No, I ain't gonna," Mia answered. "You wanna teach them a lesson, well, so do I."

"You could get hurt, I can't let that happen," Arvin told her in worry.

"Last I checked with the way I met you, you were the one gettin' hurt and beaten to shit and I saved you."

"That was different."

"And this isn't how?"

"Last time, I wasn't there and Gene Dinwoodie could've..." Arvin trailed off, his fingers curling very tight around the wheel at the disgusting reminder.

"But he didn't," Mia spoke, placing her hand over his to pry it away from the wheel, interlocking their fingers. "And you're not goin' alone. That's final." She leaned back in her seat. "Go on, drive."

She loved him. If he got hurt and she wasn't there to at least try and stop it, the girl would never forgive herself.

Arvin sighed but did so, pulling out of the lot and heading back to school. As his hand was still in Mia's practically resting on her thigh, the radio quietly played 'Young Love' by Sonny James. Arvin would've laughed at the irony of the situation but he just kept his serious gaze ahead.

***

"You sure he's here?" Mia asked.

The pair were sitting in Arvin's car parked by the exit and waiting for Tommy to leave.

"I've seen him leave late before," Arvin answered as the rain pattered against the car. "He's always here."

Like his father years before, Arvin had always been careful about picking his time. He knew they'd stand a better chance if they didn't try to take all the bastards at once.

Mia sat up straight when she saw Tommy exit the school with a cheerleader, running towards where the buses were parked. "There he is," she stated.

Arvin and she both got out of the car, Mia grabbing the keys from Arvin as she opened the trunk with them.

She grabbed a crowbar from the back as did Arvin who closed the trunk while she stalked over to where the buses were.

Through the dirty bus windows, she saw two shadows moving inside. She stood near the doors, moving to the side while Arvin hurried over, accidentally clinking the door with his crowbar.

It was okay though because Mia could hear footsteps getting close to the door. Just as she hoped, she got a glimpse of Tommy's face.

When he got close to the door, Mia grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him down to the floor while she yelled, "You little bitch!"

"Piece of shit!" Arvin exclaimed as he and Mia began beat hit him with a crowbar. Arvin went from the ribs while Mia got him below near his groin.

"Stop it!" a girl pleaded on the bus.

"Step back!" Mia yelled at her, making the girl jump and back away as the two continued to beat up and kick at Tommy Matson until he was bloody.

***

This time, Arvin made Mia stay in the car while he took on Gene and Orville. The car was parked a good distance away but Mia could see Gene working under the hood of a car, Orville drinking a soda in the driver's seat and Arvin sneaking by on the side of the garage.

She smoked a cigarette as she watched, running her free hand through her hair that was still wet. If she couldn't be involved, she might as well enjoy the show.

In the garage, Arvin snuck up and slammed the hood down on Gene twice before going over to Orville who was trying to get out of the car.

Orville pleaded but Arvin just kicked the door, making it hit him painfully and fall on his back.

Orville tried to apologize and hold his hands up to protect himself but Arvin stood over him, punching him many times before smashing Orville's fallen Twinkie in his face. "Want your fuckin' Twinkie now? You want the Twinkie now?! Is that what you want?!"

Arvin pulled a brown paper bag over his head, punching him until blood soaked through the material.

Panting, Arvin stood up straight and stalked over to Gene who was trying to get up, kicking him in the gut making the boy grunt and fall on his back in pain.

Arvin shook the brown paper bag open before pulling it over Gene's head who tried to take it off but Arvin forcefully grabbed his head, holding him down.

"You touch my sister or go near my girl again...I'll kill you," Arvin warned. "You understand me?"

The boy quietly wheezed out a 'yes'.

"Do you understand me?!" Arvin snapped.

"Yes!" Gene answered. "I'm so sorry."

Arvin stood up about to walk to the car when he saw and remembered Mia was watching him. Through the rain, he almost mistook her expression for fear.

She wasn't. Her lips were slightly parted and her eyes were watching his every move with enticement the entire time. Her body felt like it heated up and heartbeat quickened while her thighs were pushed tightly closed together to contain the feeling of heat that burned between them.

Mia had to fight the urge to calm the fire between her legs as Arvin began to approach the car.

Something about Arvin, what he doing, the way he looked made him so attractive in Mia's eyes. He was the only person who could make Mia ever have a sinful thought or fantasy without even trying.

She wanted him so badly to touch every part of her body, it almost killed her inside.

Arvin got in the car, sitting back in the seat, panting heavily as he closed the door. There was a slightly scared look in his eyes.

"Are you okay, Arvy?" she asked before noticing his knuckles were covered in blood. "Christ, your hands..."

At that, Arvin grabbed the rag off his console, wiping the blood away hurriedly but noticed he was trembling as he did so.

"Let me see," Mia said, grabbing the rag from him and taking his hand, placing it firmly on her thigh as she wiped the blood away. "None of it's yours, right?" she asked.

"No," Arvin answered, still panting.

"Calm down, it's okay. You got 'em," Mia said before moving onto his other hand. Once she wiped it almost completely clean, she pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles. She didn't know why she did in the first place but it got Arvin's attention.

He focused on her and only her. Even in times when he was practically shaking with rage or just scared because of how much he seemed like his dad in that moment, she always made him forget everything even if the moment was small. He didn't know if it was her beauty or caring nature. He thought it was both and more.

Her eyes met his to which she asked with a small smile, "What?"

Arvin didn't know what he was doing next and pretty sure if he was in a right state of mind, he would've just told her 'thank you' before driving. But he didn't. Not this time, at least.

He began to lean towards her slowly, his eyes flickering to her lips. Realizing what he was doing, Mia could've sworn she stopped breathing. But acting on instinct, she immediately let her eyes flutter shut and lean towards him as well.

Arvin's lips grazed hers softly and just as he was about to connect them-

The sound of a car horn made them jump apart, Mia accidentally knocking Arvin's hat on in the process as she scooted away in her seat.

"Shit, that's Mr. Dinwoodie's car," Arvin stated, seeing the car's headlights through the windshield.

"Let's bail before he sees us," Mia told him.

Arvin did so, pulling away as Fred Dinwoodie got out of his car to which Arvin started heading in the direction of the church but Arvin was cursing himself in the head.

He could've kissed her. He could've finally kissed the girl he was in love with if he had just hurried and tried not to savor the moment-

No, it was the heat of the moment. She never would've kissed him back.

Arvin glanced at Mia to apologize but she was turned away from him, leaning her head against the window with her eyes shut.

He stayed silent, just focusing on the road ahead.

Mia felt her body heat up but this time it was from embarrassment. She couldn't believe how close she had come to kissing him and now he probably didn't even want to talk about it.

***

Arvin's car shortly pulled in by the church where Lenora was waiting.

She got in the back seat, closing the door to which Arvin told her, "Sorry. I didn't come today."

Mia looked back at Lenora, speaking for the first time in 15 minutes. "You okay?" she asked.

Lenora nodded. "It's okay," Lenora reassured them. "I know there's other things you wanna be doin' probably. So I can come on my own from now on."

Mia grabbed Lenora's hand. "You shouldn't have to," she stated.

"It's okay," Lenora said with a smile, giving Mia's hand a squeeze. "Really, it's fine."

Arvin drove away from the church as Mia turned back away from Arvin in her seat while Lenora glanced back at the church.

Like her mother all those years ago, Lenora felt the same force that drew Helen to Roy Laferty. The girl imagined that she could touch the love emanating from the preacher.

***

Hm...Now I'm starting to think I spoil you readers too much especially since some of you comment for me to update even as soon as I publish a new chapter.

And for those of you who are like this because of Mia getting turned on at the top:

I did say that this book would most likely be filled with sexual content.