[ probably no more chapters for a day or so because four in 24 hours was a lot and I wanna play with the video games I got for Christmas — but if I'm a liar, I figure y'all won't complain ]

☆︎

I'M SORRY I CALLED YOU A SLUT.

HIMARI knew she was being a cruel bitch as she snuck out in the morning. But it was hardly her fault that Scott was a heavy sleeper — he didn't even hear her phone ding with a text from Dexter asking her if she wanted him to grab her some coffee. And Scott didn't stir as she moved around the room, gathering her clothes.

Only for her to huff when she saw her bandana underneath his heavy body. There was no way she was strong enough to get it free, and so she looked around the room helplessly until her eyes landed on the neat pile of clothes that Scott had laid out for the day, which included a plain white t-shirt.

A smirk formed on her face, knowing it'd piss the man off if she stole his shirt, and so, after scribbling another note telling Scott goodbye, she grabbed his undershirt and threw it on, doing her best to ignore that warm pit in her stomach that grew over wearing his clothes.

☆︎

Scott knew he was alone before even opening his eyes, and he hated it. He could still smell Himari's scent on the pillowcases as he peeled his eyes open and looked at the empty side of the bed. A mixture of annoyance and frustration washed over him, instantly ruining his morning.

As soon as he sat up on the edge of the bed, he spotted the motel's branded memo pad that had her familiar handwriting on it. With a tired sigh, he reached for it, wondering what her excuse was this time. Only to find she didn't even give one, nor did she apologize for not staying for the morning.

Morning, Scotty,

Call me a Wrangler slut again, and I'll ruin your life more than I already am. Stick to sweetheart, asshole.

—♡︎Himari

He huffed and rolled his eyes a bit, fighting the urge to crumble up her note and throw it in the trash. But instead, he got up and walked over to his wallet on the desk that he'd forgotten about. He gently folded the note and slid it next to her first one, wanting to keep it for some reason that he couldn't pinpoint.

Only to pause when his sleepy mind finally realized what was missing. He opened up his wallet even more and stared at the empty contents, knowing damn well that a hundred dollars was missing. And he didn't have to guess what happened to it.

"Goddamn it, Himari."

☆︎

Himari leaned against Tyler's truck, sipping on her coffee as she chatted with the others in the parking lot of the truck stop. She was dressed plainly, Scott's white shirt tucked into a pair of denim shorts that were hiked up her waist, paired with her cowboy boots. Her gold-rimmed glasses were perched on her nose as well.

"So," Boone said with a grin, leaning next to her, "was Scott pissed about his wallet?"

The StormPAR crew had just pulled up, reminding them all of how Himari had spent all of Scott's cash on drinks last night before disappearing to return it.

"Oh, yeah," she laughed. "Didn't even give me cash for returning it."

"You spent all his cash," Lily pointed out with a snicker. "And, uh, were we right? Did you hook up?"

For half a second, Himari's heart stopped as she glanced at an already disappointed Tyler, who was anticipating her answer. And so, she found herself lying, an easy false smile falling on her face.

She never wanted to disappoint Tyler.

"Yeah, right. After I blew all his money?" she said with a laugh. "I figure he wants me pretty much dead."

Pure relief washed over Tyler's face, as well as Boone's, who both believed her lie. It was easy to, as Himari didn't look nearly as fucked out as she felt — she'd covered up the bruises from Scott, both because she wanted to piss him off but also because she didn't want them on camera knowing that kids watched the channel.

But god, she was so sore in the best way possible. She ached between her legs with each step and felt the bite marks from Scott on her neck every time she turned her head.

"Well, that ain't nothing new," Dani said, grinning mischievously. "But you wouldn't have anything to do with a pathetic pushover like him anyhow."

At her very specific phrasing, Himari froze and looked at Dani with wide eyes, noticing for the first time that she had a glint in her eyes, and her grin was more like a smirk now. There was a tilt in her head as well. She looked far too goddamn pleased with herself.

That was when Himari recalled what room number Dani had at the motel.

222.

Right next to Scott's room, meaning if she got back from the bar early enough — and her twisted smile suggested that she did — she'd have heard plenty through the thin walls.

"He is pathetic, ain't he," Himari said a bit weakly, avoiding looking at Dani. Her eyes landed on Scott for half a second, who was getting out of his truck. But he wasn't safe to look at, so she cleared her throat and looked at the gas station. "I'm gonna grab a snack. Be right back."

"Grab me some barbecue chips, baby," Boone called as she walked away.

Himari threw up a thumbs up as she went on, making her way into the empty gas station. After grabbing Boone's chips and a Hershey bar, she moved to the drink aisle to grab a Coke.

Only for a strong hand to reach past her head and shut the door seconds after she pulled it open. Himari's head snapped to the side as she looked up at Scott in shock — he'd never really approached her in public.

Well, it was hardly public because no one was in the gas station, and the teenager behind the cash register was on his phone.

His blue eyes bore into hers for a moment before they traveled down to her neck, eyes on her exposed throat. Noting that his bruises weren't visible, his gaze visibly darkened with anger as he brushed her hair off her shoulder, fingertips grazing her throat. She swallowed thickly from the light touch.

"I thought I told you not to cover these up," he said in a low tone.

"Well, we can't always get what we want," she said in a mocking tone.

He just hummed in displeasure before his eyes went lower, landing on the collar of her — his — shirt. "Did some shopping, I see."

"Well, someone's gigantic body was on top of my shirt this morning," she shrugged casually, not letting it show how much she liked wearing the item.

"I'd hardly call it a shirt," he scoffed, recalling how easily the fabric had fallen from her body with one tug. "I'm sorry I called you a slut."

Shock flashed across her features for a moment but was gone in a second, her not wanting to show how touched she was. But her note made him realize maybe he'd taken things too far the night before.

"Thank you," she said softly. Scott looked at her expectantly like he was waiting for something else to come from her. "What?"

"Aren't you going to apologize?" he asked a bit accusingly.

Her eyebrows scrunched up. "For what?"

"I don't know, everything you've ever done since meeting me," he scoffed, thinking of all the horrible things she'd said and done.

"Oh, but Scotty," she said while opening up the door to the drink fridge. "That would require me to feel sympathy for you and your feelings, which I don't."

"Yeah, your absence this morning made that clear," he said bitterly.

Himari cooed and leaned closer to him while shutting the door. "Did you want me to stay, baby?"

"It would've made it easier to ask you for my money back," he said, refusing to sound vulnerable to her.

"Oh, that's gone," she laughed. "Your StormPAR buddies drank it all up last night."

Scott rolled his eyes, because of course she'd use his stolen money to buy his coworkers drinks right away.

"Now," she continued. "I've got storms to chase. And you've got storms to miss."

He glared at her, only for it to soften as she pressed a cold Dr. Pepper to his chest, having remembered his favorite drink. As she went to pay and leave the gas station, he remained in the aisle, looking at it with a frown.

He didn't move until Javi joined him, patting him on the shoulder as he entered the store and spotted him. "You okay? You've been out of it all morning."

"I slept with Himari again," he admitted, sounding a bit ashamed even though he wasn't.

"Damn, kinda surprised she'd do that to herself," Javi admitted, shaking his head, earning a scoff from Scott. "But hey, maybe this means the pranks are over. Like a cease fire. I mean, she did buy us drinks last night, so that's nice."

"She's probably running out of ideas anyhow," Scott said while going to pay for his soda that he didn't even plan on getting in the first place. He'd only gone inside the gas station because Himari went in alone.

"So, was it nice last night? You guys make up and everything?" Javi asked, wanting some details. After all, he'd been trying for weeks to get them to get along.

"We didn't exactly play nice," he muttered as they headed outside and to their truck. Already, the Wranglers were loading up, ready to head to the west where a storm was quickly brewing. StormPAR would have to hurry as well.

Javi raised an amused eyebrow. "Kinky."

Scott scoffed and shoved him a bit before walking to the passenger side of the truck. "Fuck off, Javi. I don't wanna hear it."

He moved to open up the door, only for his hand to slip off the handle. With a frown, he looked down and tried again, only to fail at doing so.

With narrowed eyes, he bent down and looked at the handle, seeing a thick coat of something clear and slippery on it — it looked like some kind of petroleum jelly.

"Man, I can't open my door," Javi complained, trying and failing to get a grip. "What is this stuff?"

Almost like it was in response, Tyler's truck drove by. Both Boone and Himari were hanging out of the windows, Boone's camera pointed at them before panning to a laughing Himari.

"Folks, this episode of Himari's Science Segment is not sponsored by Vaseline, but we're open to a partnership!"

Scott huffed angrily as the truck pulled off, glaring at her laughing face before she ducked back inside the cab.

"Goddamn it, Himari!"