Charlie meets Nev

Charlie was excited to go to the auto auction.

This was the first time in years that she was getting to go in person. Usually she was too busy with her garage and would send someone else in her place.

She was so excited that she may have inadvertently, um, kidnapped a certain redhead...

Charlie woke up early Wednesday morning and started going through her closet.

"No, no, nope, nuh-uh, not gonna work." She commented on each article of clothing as she threw it on the floor.

"Ugh! Why isn't there anything?" She ran her fingers through her thick curly hair and surveyed the mess she'd made.

Since there was nothing to wear, it was time to go shopping. And she knew just who to bring along.

For the time being she just settled for a heathered grey cropped tank shirt and pair of blue jeans.

She caught sight of herself in the closet mirror and smiled in approval.

The shirt wasn't too short but it certainly played a seductive game of peek-a-boo with her curves when she walked.

Charlie looked more like a late twenty-something than a *ahem* late forty-something.

'I've still got it.'

Charlie tied her hair back as she headed for her personal section of the garage.

That was where she kept her very own set of vehicles.

"Who wants to go with me today?" She asked as she walked past several high-end sport cars.

"Hmm, I only need room for two and some shopping bags."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw exactly what she was looking for.

She practically skipped over to the black Goldwing sitting in the corner.

"Sheila, do you wanna come shopping with mama, hmm?"

Charlie changed into a pair of steel toe boots and pulled on a pair of gloves. The she grabbed her helmet and a spare for her guest.

She swung a leg over and straddled the Goldwing. A wave of satisfaction traveled up her spine when the engine roared to life. She couldn't help herself and revved it a few times.

As she smoothly pulled out of the garage, she turned up the radio, ready to enjoy a nice long ride.

A couple hours later she pulled up, radio still blaring, in front of an old row house.

So what if she woke the rest of the neighborhood. Who would still be asleep at ten o'clock, right?

Charlie cut the engine and the radio and pulled her helmet off.

'I hope this is the right place.'

She walked up to the front door and knocked. No one came to answer. After waiting a few minutes she tried again. Still nothing.

She tapped her foot impatiently and frowned. The girl should be home right?

Jack had already given her the girl's schedule and she didn't have class or anything today.

Unable to stop herself, she checked to see if the door was locked. She was going in one way or another and would pick the lock if she had to.

Surprisingly, it wasn't locked.

'Well, that's not very smart.' She scolded the residents in her head as she cautiously stepped into the dimly lit house.

A young girl who was home alone should at least have the door locked.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, she sensed danger and dodged to the side.

She grabbed a bare slender freckled arm that was swinging a baseball bat towards her head and pulled. Her redheaded assailant fell into her embrace and the bat dropped to the floor with a thud.

"You must be Nevada." She smiled down at the teenager who was scowling and trying to break out of her hold.

Nevada's hair was soaking wet and she was wrapped in a towel.

'Oh, she must have been in the shower.' Charlie quickly put two and two together to figure out why no one answered the door.

That still did not explain why it was unlocked.

"Let! Me! Go!" Nevada screamed at the brutish woman.

"Only if you promise not to swing that at me again." Charlie nodded towards the bat. "Deal?"

Nevada groaned in frustration and answered through gritted teeth.

"Deal."

"Okay, I'm going to release you now. I don't mean you any harm." Charlie spoke gently and slowly loosened her arms to let Nevada free.

The teenager darted away from her and glared at her.

"Who the hell are you?" Nevada spat out like venom as she tighten the towel.

"I 'the hell' am Charlotte. You can call me Charlie."

Nevada's jaw dropped.

"Honey, you'll swallow a fly that way." Charlie tilted her head and smiled warmly at Nevada.

Nevada closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Have a seat in the kitchen, I'll be back in ten." She pointed to a room on her left then went upstairs to get dressed.

Charlie watched the girl climb the stairs and then locked the front door.

She then found her way to the kitchen to wait.