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"SeE yAlL nExT yEaR" PLEASE—
Haha told you I'd be back! I was too excited to further the story so I wrote, polished & posted this update in a week :) Can you believe there's only 4 LAPS to go?! Y'all aren't ready for what's to come...
Thank you for all your support! I'll do my next IG live countdown when we approach the finale.
Vote, comment to your desire & enjoy!
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Despite only needing to be here for 10am, I clocked into work super early yet again and have been working my butt off ever since. I suppose after such a lonely few days, this is my way of distracting myself.

The 86°F heat smoldering our afternoon has me stripped down to attire of what feels like old times in Dad's garage. I lean over the matte Chevrolet Camaro I'm customizing in a slightly rolled up white vest that allows my glazed stomach to breath, meanwhile my tattoo remains concealed by the sleeves of our store's khaki jumpsuit that I knotted around my hips. Not to mention the white airforces I painted to sport anime characters over the check.

I think employees can tell that I've gotten more work-compulsive than usual, but at least I'm being productive. My hair falls over my shoulder as I hover a heat gun over the fresh black panel of vinyl wrap that's been outlined, cut, and coated over the hood.

"Bing bong." J, as expected, waltz's towards our open rear garage in a t-shirt, long shorts and strapped sandals that match the vintage cap shading his eyes. He bites his popsicle when strolling my way with playfully bouncing shoulders. "Guess who's back back back, back again-gain-gain."

What would have usually made me chuckle only earns a faint smile, my focus not breaking from what I'm doing. J stops in front of the car and tucks a hand into his pocket with a nod of approval.

"Wow, this looks dope. The customer's gonna love it."

"This isn't for a customer," I maneuver the gun with complete focus. "I'm customizing that white Chevrolet I've been driving."

"This is your car?! It looks totally new! This must've taken ages."

"Not really. I've been here since 6 this morning so... 7 hours?"

"Sev–?! Don't tell me you did this all on your own."

I lower the heating gun and remove my tinted goggles whilst fluffing my hair. "Of course. It's not finished yet though. I still need to insert some halo lights and swap out the gearstick. Take a look."

My body glistens and hair slightly sticks to my skin when I reach into the Chevrolet's open door and start the engine. I then back up until I'm stood by J's side and assessing my work with a hand on my hip.

The blank canvas of my once icy Chevrolet Camaro has been vinyl wrapped pink with a matte black panel while Japanese stickers line the tinted windows. I exchanged its basic white headlights for heart-shaped pink ones, added a spoiler and even replaced its standard tube tires with Kumho Ecsta PS31's for better handling. As for the interior, all four seats now sport pink trimming while neon strips illuminate the leather and the steering wheel remains a distinctive heart shape.

I didn't want it to look too sporty, but mature and unique enough to showcase my skills and profession. Plus, I think designing cars is where I tap into my femininity the most.

"Holy crap. I don't know what sparked this but you really outdid yourself with this one. I'm surprised you didn't just fix up that old pink Honda you mentioned."

The reminder causes my expression to droop a little as I tie back my hair. "I thought about that... But then I realized how much I wanted to work on something that felt like a fresh start. Something that was made by me and only me, no help from others."

"Uh oh, something happened..."

"Huh? Why'd you say that?"

"I don't know, I just see it in your eyes. It's down to that JK guy isn't it?"

I almost leap to blindly defend my case but J's wiser look leads me to show a frown almost instantly. He sighs and walks towards my Chevrolet before sitting on the hood and patting the spot next to him. "Okay, cousin time. What happened?"

With a sigh of my own, I take the space and explain.

"JK and I got into a fight a few nights ago. I blurted something I shouldn't have and got him really mad. I just couldn't stand the way he was invalidating me, which drove me to hit him. I'd never done that before. It felt so wrong and out of character. I felt really horrible about it... So I headed to Gatti the following night to apologize for my part, hoping he'd do the same and we could make up..."

— FLASHBACK —

The neon lights pulsing over Gatti reflect into my eyes in a fashion all too familiar. Like old times, dozens of people fill the backstreet to chat and smoke while bass-boosted rap thumps and a lineup of motorcycles rev their engines behind the checkered line. I spare them no attention however, my sight too focused on searching for JK.

A few minutes pass before I manage to spot Quavo flirting with a random Gatti girl, admiring her deep skin tone and stylish afro. The girl purses her lips while inputting her number into his phone before eventually walking off with a wink.

I hurry forward to tap his shoulder before he can leave, "Quavo!"

"Ayyy what's good Shego? Ain't seen you in a minute."

"Same. I see Saweetie's out of the picture for you too."

"Hell yeah, that bitch' outta sight outta mind. So you here for motorcycle night?"

"I wish. I'm looking for JK. Have you seen him?"

"Yeah he's chilling in that green Dodge Challenger over there."

"Thanks," I rotate eagerly. The car Quavo pointed to sits at the very edge of the backstreet with inactive headlights and a sporty black strip to dissect the hood.

After making my way over, I bring my fist towards the tinted window when—

"Ugh!"

My body instantly freezes, jaw slacks and eyebrows shoot up. I linger there for a moment with rapidly blinking eyes of confusion before inching my ear closer... Surely that wasn't—

"Ugh, yeah! Just like that!"

That icy moment of doubt fades as the sounds of moaning and wet smacks finally register. I immediately lean away from the door with a racing heart while my head suddenly becomes hot and my breath stands still from the incoming tears.

I almost pull the door handle in blind rage... Only to retract my hand and walk off with blinking wet eyes and the shake of my head, my hair bouncing with every firm step.

"Shego?" Quavo notices the tears surpassing my cheek but I wipe them away and continue to hurriedly exit the backstreet.

— END OF FLASHBACK —

"You're kidding. See this is why I despise Compton men, they're all sleazy douchebags. Does paps know about this?"

"No... I didn't wanna bombard him with yet another JK dilemma. It would only stress him out at a time when he seems pretty happy. I feel so crappy J..."

My biggest mistake last year was growing attached to JK so easily... So when I learned my lesson and told him I was fine with just hooking up this time, he assured me that he was only interested in me... Why did he have to get my hopes up if he was only going to lie...

"Alright, bring it in." J notices my hurt and protectively reels me into his chest. A tear escapes my eye as I bind two arms around him while his hand soothes my back comfortingly.

"...Want me to beat him up for you?"

I accidentally snort against his shirt.

"No offense, but he'd kill you with one punch."

"Fair enough." J shrugs with a pouted lip. I sniff once more and look down to fiddle with my nails.

"This really does hurt though. To think that he actually had me believing that I was important to him. All I wanted was to apologize and resolve things but for him to so easily sleep with someone else... Who's to say he hasn't been seeing other girls this whole time? Gosh I'm so stupid sometimes."

"Don't say that, you're not stupid." J wipes my tear with a curled finger. I sigh and lean off of him to wipe both cheeks dry.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter. He was never officially my boyfriend and I was never his girlfriend. He's free to do what he wants now."

*Bzzz.* J's phone buzzes. He spares it a brief glance before tucking the Motorola back into his pocket and standing.

"In that case, so are you. Don't restrict yourself by letting him have all the freedom Shego. Take this as a moment to do whatever you wanna do. I've gotta go meet Meek and the girls at Hopeworld, but you're more than welcome to join us after work. I'll catch you later." With a friendly smile and a pat on my back, J gets up and makes his way out of our open shutter. I watch his distancing exit before letting my gaze trail to the ground and then finally peering over my shoulder to admire my self-made ride.

It's then that my hand lands on its hood to give it a pat.

"I think it's time we take you out on the town."

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— 8 HOURS LATER —

My legs remain crossed as I sit on the stool of the neon-lit bar and swirl my straw around my cocktail aimlessly. It's been a while since I've had a night out so I thought I'd clean up a little and meet a friend.

Dark hair extensions flow down my back to exaggerate some length while my olive mini dress outlines my figure with long, cutout sleeves that hook between my fingers. To accessorize, I threw on some khaki heels, dangly gold earrings and a mini shoulder bag to pair with my dark lipstick.

A lot of guys here have already tried making a move on me, but I don't know... It's like after pouring so much into one person, you feel too drained to invest those same feelings into someone new. I just don't think I have it in me to meet any new guys right now.

"Mind if I have this seat?"

I quickly look up from the velvety voice, my eyes panning up her shimmering legs and dainty arm tattoos. Kim's black heels and shoulder bag match her sexy halter dress that splits in the middle to flaunt the crescents of her plump, golden bust; and for the first time, her thick ginger curls have been straightened to practically shade one eye as she takes the stool beside me with elegantly crossed legs.

"Kim! Hi, you look great."

"Thanks, you look better." Her cheekbones pop when she smiles at me. "I take it that's your car outside that everybody's drooling over. It's so hot."

"Thank you. I love transforming cars so the timing for this one felt too right. At least this one doesn't have so much baggage."

"Why'd your old car have baggage?"

"Now that's a story." My eyebrows bounce as the bartender places six shot glasses in front of us, to which Kim shrugs and swirls on her barstool, "We've got time."

"Well... Last summer, I had this Honda that JK and I designed together. But before we rekindled, I was dating this guy named Keith. He didn't like that JK came back trying to gift me my Honda in hopes of winning me back so they literally beat each other up until Keith smashed its windows and I cheated on him by kissing JK... Okay so I guess it wasn't that long of a story."

"Honey, you're life is a movie." Kim snorts, her honey-like hair trailing further down her spine when she throws her head back to gulp the first shot. "I take it you chose JK over Keith then."

*Sigh* "Yeah because Keith didn't deserve what I put him through. But I really did like both guys. It just sucks that there's no in-between when it comes to my preferences. One was too sweet while the other is assertive, yet drives me crazy." I throw my head back and gulp also. My face instantly scrunches with disgust from the bitter taste of tequila as I smack my lips together which prompts Kim to laugh.

"You're not the first, JK used to stress me out big time. Same with that girl he handled after me. What was her name? Hwaso? I'm telling you, JK's dick is cursed."

"Well that's perfect for me. Seeing as we're not talking anymore and he's already back to hooking up with every girl under the sun."

"That was fast. What happened?"

"I... May have accidentally let what you told me slip out. It was beyond stupid of me and I apologized but he didn't wanna hear it. I guess that serves me right for being so quick to see him. I'm not blaming him for feeling betrayed but once he's mad, JK's anger makes it impossible to have a civil discussion with him."

Kim picks up her second shot glass but pauses upon frowning with slow nods.

"I'm really sorry about that by the way. I figured you knew all that already since you guys were exclusive. I'm not a messy person and I wouldn't have said anything if I'd known it was news to you. If I could, I would apologize to JK too but the thing to know about him is that arguing is useless. Your point won't translate if he's mad and he'll just react with hurtful gestures. Unfortunately you've gotta walk away and allow him to cool off. How'd the topic even come up?"

"I asked why he doesn't eat girls out and honestly, it sounded like I was speaking to big Joe." I suffer my second shot. "He just sounded so misogynistic and entitled... What you told me gave context as to why he spoke to me like I OWED him head... So I snapped."

"Wow. So you mean to tell me JK still doesn't go down? What else does he think that big ass nose is for?"

"Right?" I laugh." I know I can't force him but it's just something I wanted to try. Nothing would've slipped out had he reacted differently however I know that doesn't make it right."

"Well I just hope JK snaps out of Big Joe's conditioning. There's nothing gross or de-masculating about eating the box. If he has the energy to fuck you however many times a night then he can go down for a few minutes. I for one would do it in a heartbeat, I don't know what he's thinking."

"Oh? What does that mean?" I lean back with a surprised smile.

Kim swirls her drink with a mischievous smirk before leaning forward, her voice getting seductively quieter and green eyes peering into my brown ones.

"I admit, I find you crazy hot Shego. I would never wanna interfere with what you and JK have of course, but since you're no longer an item, I can be upfront right? You're a work in progress yourself, but you deserve to be treated better."

We continue to hold eye contact with Kim's gaze occasionally glancing at my lips. That is until a whistle causes our stare to shatter before acknowledging the pair of older men who drunkenly cheer us on from a few stools down. I cringe with disgust when one of them nods while the other scissors his fingers together.

"Ugh, pervs. Come on, let's move."

I swallow my final shot before Kim takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor with swaying hips. I want to say that we camouflage into the crowd of dancing bodies effortlessly but our looks and alluring attire seem to garner the eyes of almost everybody around.

Kim shows a confident grin whilst happily circling her hips to the music. The seduction of her movements has me watching her through what feels like double vision from the hazy sensation that finally weighs on my head to tamper with my dancing...

Kim notices my tipsy state and chuckles, snaking a hand around my waist to protect me from falling as we now dance together.

Her face and body are so close. I can smell her cocoa butter as well as the womanly perfume delicately topping her neck. The darkness of her smokey, winged eyeshadow only emphasizes the mystery in her eyes that slowly lower themselves to my lips...

Before I know it, we're kissing.

My hand meets Kim's waist just as her nails run along my jaw... But the moment is short-lived when shortly I pull back with a hand on her chest. "Wait."

"What is it?" Her brows furrow. My eyes flutter as I look away briefly in thought.

"It's just... JK..."

"Shego, JK doesn't respect you. In fact he's most probably out smashing other girls as we speak. Do you really wanna limit yourself into thinking that you're not allowed to like anyone but him? He doesn't own you and he's not deserving of that much power."

We hold eye contact once more with my view gradually motioning down to Kim's matte, caramel lipstick... And as if I'm in a trance, the temptation fuels me to lunge forward this time and press a kiss between her lips. Kim doesn't think twice about the action and immediately reciprocates with two arms binding around my neck, allowing my nails to ride along her arms...

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Kim leads me into her dim apartment with excitedly skipping heels. I barely have time to take in the warm ambiance of her home before she rotates to shut the door over my shoulder and capture my lips with hers. I respond to her open kisses and invite her tongue that flicks against mine while faint moans ricochet between us both.

Her nails ride up my thighs enough to lift my mini dress and reach into my panties. Kim wastes no time in stroking two fingers along my soaked entrance before ultimately slipping them in. A daring grin marks her face when I pinch my eyes shut from the tight friction and touch her in return.

"Uh..." My dark locks messily gather against the wall the further my head cranes back. The faster her fingers move, the more I can feel that torturous knot in my stomach getting tighter with desperation.

"This needs to go."

Kim pulls my dress over my head without hesitation, her teeth capturing her lower lip as she admires my now naked body. She then trails short kisses up my neck before latching her lips onto my right breast and sucking with eager hums, all while using her fingers to rapidly circle my clit below.

It's like she doesn't get tired, not that I'm complaining. Her tongue swirls and lips smack around my bud hungrily just as her other hand reaches behind her neck to unhook the gold clip holding together her halter dress.

The black material slides down her perfectly plump breasts with her nipples almost becoming draped by her hair. Every stroke from Kim's buttery fingertips fuels another breath out of me until finally, she removes my panties altogether. I watch as she lowers herself onto her knees with a hand running down my stomach and her emerald eyes peering up at me...

The way her tongue trances her upper lip with such appetite, the way she grins with her hair shadowing one eye... Our smiles mirror one another's before I hook my fist into Kim's hair and let out a moan at the roll of her heated tongue.