CHAPTER III

The street was flooded by people and cars by the time Levon arrived. There was always a crowd on racing nights but tonight was a full street. Loud upbeat hip hop blared from the speakers and the crowd was going wild with each passing minute.

Smoke, booze, sweat and weed hit her nose as soon as she made it further in the crowd. Spending a lot of nights out here, she was familiar with most faces.

Everything went down on the street. Drug dealings, prostitution, getting drunk but the real deal was racing. Who could race one another to the finish line?

"Von, hey. Nice to see you."

A deep voice cut through her ears like shards of glass making her grit her teeth immediately. He was the last person she wanted to meet or even talk to. She knew avoiding him would be impossible as hell most especially when he walked around like he owned the goddamn place.

"Scar."

Levon resisted the urge to cringe at her own voice.

"You look more beautiful every time I see you." he complimented, a cocky grin on his annoying face.

"Thanks. I can't say the same about you unfortunately. " Levon said with a blunt tone.

"Have you seen my brothers anywhere?" she asked not wanting to spend another of her minute with Scar. "I saw Leo with the guys and Liam is probably with Mase." he replied.

"Well thanks."

"Not so fast."

Scar blocked her way before she made it further away. It is now she wished she could punch the hell out of him.

"What do you want Scar?" Levon asked impatiently.

"Is that a question Von? We both know it's you I want."

Levon scoffed. How long was this game between them going to last? She had made it clear for him for the past months that she wasn't interested in him but damn, was he a persistent asshole?

"You are playing hard to get love. Let me tell you now, I love that game. Don't you get it love? I know you do." The nerve of him to even smirk in her direction less alone wink had her blood boiling.

"What you should get in that thick skull you got up your shoulders is that I stand by my decision." Levon retorted angrily.

"Feisty much? That is why I like you Von." Levon was beyond angry as she glared at a grinning Scar.

Flicking him her middle finger, she walked away in search of her brothers. It didn't take her long to locate Mase and Liam who were now drinking with Sarah.

"Hello guys." she interrupted their giggling.

"Von." Sarah quickly embraced her.

Sarah was Levon's other girlfriend and also the girl who had a crush on Leo for so long now. However when Mase came to town, he picked interest in her. The problem is that she was still hang up on Leo.

"Who is racing tonight?" Levon asked.

"I hear Gusto, Scar and Ty." Liam replied.

"That's going to be a nice one." Mase hollered.

Street racing on the roads of Virginia wasn't something new to anyone however illegal it was. As long as there were no law enforcers of any kind, they were set to go. Sometimes it was through bribery to keep the officers from their damn routes.

"Levon."

She turned to find blue eyes looking her way. Quickly, she sucked in a breath because she needed it not when the last person she expected in such a place was here. Ignoring the looks from Liam, Mason and Sarah, she walked to where Blair stood.

"Blair. What a surprise!" she muttered  assessing her.

"Same for me. Do you come to such places more often?" he cocked a brow at her. She wished he knew. "I never took you for an adrenaline guy." Levon teased.

"I am full of surprises, aren't I?" he smiled. Damn did he get any better?

Jeans, a black shirt with a leather bomber jacket, he rocked the street wear. She sure knew how attractive Blair was. It was until now that she realised that that was an understatement. Blair was hot in every sense. Like hot panty drooping.

"I didn't know we were going to meet so soon." Blair said over the loud music. She found herself lost in his eyes. They reminded her of the summer skies.

"We don't have a say in what happens in our lives, do we?" Levon smiled.

"You are right." he agreed.

You really look even hotter without the overall.

With the way it came out, Levon knew Blair hadnt meant for it to get out. She couldn't help the blush on her neck when he realised what his words meant.

Friends. Friends didn't say things like that to each other and they sure didn't blush at a compliment.

"Shit. Did I say that loud? It was meant to stay in my head." he muttered quickly.

Was he thinking about her that way? "Too late. The cat is out of the bag already." Levon smirked.

"Right. It is the truth though. You look beautiful tonight."

They were little harmless words or weren't they? They had Levon' s cheeks tinting with colour. That is the effect Blair was having on her now.

She wasn't dressed in anything fancy to be honest.  Tight jeans and a black shirt with her denim jacket and boots. He had called her beautiful. Didn't boys say words like that all the time to get into girls' pants?

Was that what Blair was playing at? Pretending to be his friend and then complimenting him just to get her in bed. Sure she was over thinking now. Blair's eyes looked sincere as they stared into hers and it is not like he had made any move on her.

"Did you come to race too or are you  looking for.." Levon pointed her gaze into the direction of the hot girls who were moving to the beat of the music in what one would call barely clothes.

Blair chuckled. "Tim brought me here. He told me he was bringing me to have fun." he replied when her chuckle died down. So he wasn't here to get a bed warmer. In some way it made her relieved.

"Are you having fun?" she asks. "You could say that. I have never been to any street race." he admits.

"Welcome to the land of chaos then." she sends him a smile.

"Von."

Levon tensed at Scar's annoying voice. What did he want from her now? He turned to him to find his sneer directed towards Blair. Uh uh.

"Who is the guy? Do I know you man?" Scar scowled at a nonchalant Blair. He seemed unaffected by his scowl or his face.

"Fuck off Scar." Levon blocked Blair from Scar.

"I am sure he has a mouth darling." Scar raised an eyebrow at Blair.

"Blair. Do we a problem man?" Blair asked firmly.

"I like the attitude man little Blair but this girl right here is mine. I don't want anyone fucking with what is mine. Do you get that boy?" Scar threatened.

What? Who was he to claim her like he was some possession. Scar had crossed the line this time.

"Doesn't look like that to me. She looks like she would rather slit her throat than be called yours."

Silence. Scar has never been insulted not anytime that I know. Blair on the other hand looked like she was asking for trouble. Did he even know the man he was talking back to. Levon's brain was having a mild short circuit from Blair's words.

Scar looked like he was seconds away from murdering someone while Blair held a bored expression. Levon was convicted he was looking for trouble.

Before things strayed out of control, she pulled Blair away through the crowd they had attracted.

She made sure they were as far as possible before she stopped to catch her breath leaning against the concrete wall.

"You should have told me you were quite popular around here." Blair chuckled through deep breaths. Give it to Blair to make a joke out of a serious situation. Scar was very dangerous and that is all Levon needed to know.

Did Blair know what trouble was coming up his door? Although she couldn't agree more that the scenario was quite hilarious.

"Did you see his face?" she joins into the giggling.

"He looked better than a tomato."

And that was their cue for another round of giggles.

"Blair." 

Levon called when the laughter died down. "You do realise this is a dangerous situation." she murmurs. He hums in response. "This is no joke Blair. He might hurt you." Her voice sounded worried.

"He will not do anything to me. I know pretty well how to deal with such guys." Blair answered confidently. She didn't even want to know what he meant by those words. All she knew was some war had began and she was the cause of it.

"What did he mean by you being his?" Blair curiously asked his eyes searching hers.

Levon sighed.  "He has been hitting on me for the past few months but my answer has always been the same. I don't  like men like Scar."

"Seems like he has competition now " Blair murmured.

"Do I need to know what that meant?" Levon knew she wasn't even supposed to ask that question. "I would rather you don't." Blair replied.

And that is what she had been scared of. She was scared of these unknown meanings of sentences or the blushes and tingles she was starting to get.

"Do you want to go somewhere? It is not safe to stay here." Levon breaks the silence.

"Brilliant idea. Do you have a place in mind?" Blair smiled.

"Yes." she nodded. "I just need to get my bike and we can leave." she announced.

It happened she hadn't parked her bike far from where they were.

"I am driving," Blair blurted out as if reading her mind.

"No." she protested immediately.

"It is my bike so I will drive." she added sturbbonly.

"I agree with you on that but I don't think I was asking. There is zero room for negtiation." Blair gazes.

"Is this because I am a woman?" Levon challenged.

"Don't pull that card now Levon." he threw her the other helmet rolling jer eyes in the process. "I have wanted to ride it since I saw it." he smirks before he hops on waiting for her to make up her mind.

"Are you staying there or we are leaving?" Blair nudged. She groaned putting on the helmet and hopping on behind him.

"Key?" he asked looking over his shoulder at her.

"Do you have to be so annoying?" she huffs. "And do you have to be so damn sturbnorn?" he retorts.

Hastily, she handed him the key.

"Hold on Levon. I don't want you flying off when we hit the bumps." Blair plodded more. Like she had a choice. She circled her hands round his waist surprised to feel his ridged torso over his clothes. Thank God Blair could not see how flustered she was.

Igniting the engine to life, Blair started Angel. It was pretty baffling how Blair fit perfectly with Amgel. No man had ever ridden her baby and he was the first.

"Where do you want to go?" Blair asked.

"I know of a bar around the corner  It's a really cool place." Levon suggested.

She knew she shouldn't enjoy him riding her bike but did she love it.

"Cool place." Blair commented as they settled down on a table at Square zero. She shrugged in response.

"Von." the waiter called earning both their attention.

"Patrick. Nice to see you." Levon smiled at the intruder.

"And who might this gentleman be?" Patrick asked. He just couldn't help but be nosy.

"Is being nosy part of your pay check because I would be sure to tell Carmen." I muttered.

"Defensive much? I was just asking." he rolled his eyes. Levon scowled in return.

What will you have then my dear customers?" he sweetly asked.

"Two bottles of beers if you don't mind?" Levon looked at Blair for any suggestion or addition.

"Beer is fine." Blair nodded.

"Two beers coming right away." Patrick said before walking away.

"What?" Levon frowned when she found Blair's stare.

"Are you still saying you ain't that popular?" he teased. Levon shook her head awarding him with a smile.

"Perks of never moving away for good from home." she shrugged.

"You left for college and came back, right?" he asked. Levon nodded affirmatively.

Patrick returned with their beers. "Enjoy yourselves," he winked and left.

"So how about you Blair Ford? You seem to know some about me and I don't even know who you are. What brings you to such a small town?" Levon asked curiously.

"I came for a small vacation. I came to visit my parents for probably two weeks before I embark on a project back in California."

She was right about him coming from Carlifornia. His words reminded her that his stay was short term which meant that she had to be on watch for her heart.

"What do you do in California?" she continued.

"I am an artist."

"Wow. You draw stuff? Just like Da Vinci?" she asked awkwardly.

"You could say. I draw what comes to my mind oftenly. Depends on my muse." Blair explained.

"Enough about me Levon. I want to know more about you." Blair said.

"What do you want to know?" she asked thoughtfully. "Everything. You could start with the simplest though." he replies.

"I live with four men."

Blair's eyes widened in shock evoking a laugh out of her.

"It is not what you think. I meant I live with my father, my two half brothers and cousin." she grinned. His face turns to that of relief. "You got me there."

For the next hour, Levon talks his ear off about her favourites, high school and collegs.

"God I talk too much, don't I? Do you need another beer? I am sure you are tired of my blabbermouth." she face palmed her face embarassed.

"I could listen to your stories the entire night if I have to and as for beer, one of us has to be sober and I am driving, remember?" he smiles. It helps calm her down a little.

"We should probably  get going before it's late. I have work early in the morning." Levon suggested.

"Okay. I will pay the beers then." Blair offered. "I will pay my bill." she intervened immediately.

"Levon, I'm paying and you are not fighting me on this." Blair ignored her protest moving over to the counter and paying for the beer they had. He was going to hear from her.

"Can you walk?" he asked when he returned. "I am not drunk Blair." she glared making him grin. She couldn't help but feel a little tipsy but it didn't mean she couldn't walk on her own.

"Don't ever do that again?"

Levon stops mid walk to where they parked Angel glaring at him. Blair frowned. "I have money to pay for my drinks."

"Is this still about that Levon for Christ's sake. I wanted to pay for the drinks." Blair defended.

"I don't appreciate help unasked for." she glared harder.

"Okay, I won't do it again. Now shall we go?" he pleaded.

She walked past him to where Angel was parked. Levon didn't want Blair's money and surely she didn't want him thinking she was using him for his money. Already the tip from last time's bill was morethan she could ever imagine.

The rest of the ride to her house is quiet. As soon as they got into the compound, she hopped off Blair following.

She didn't mean to be a bitch about the whole beer situation but she also didn't want him thinking I'll about her.

"I am sorry for lashing out at you. I don't want you to feel like am taking advantage of your money." Levon apologized.

"I understand your concern but I wanted to pay for the drinks like a gentleman." Blair replied. "Fine. I get it." she mutters.

"How are you going to get home?" Levon asked caringly.

"I am already texted Tim the address. He will be picking me up in no time." he answered.

"Do you mind if I wait with you?" she asked. He owed her that at least. He nodded his head.

"I had a good night thanks to you." Blair said. "I wouldn't call it that if I were you." she replies. "That is how it was for me though. I enjoyed your company." he stares.

"Me too."

When was his ride coming by? "We should do this another time." he suggested. Levon knew how good company Blair was. He was attentive and funny and handsome. He was just so damn dustracting.

"Yeah. Why not?" She felt stupid letting fhd words out of her mouth. She couldn't dent it that she wanted to hang out with Blair another time.

"Cool."

His Audi turns into our compound breaking off the conversation.

"My ride is here. I should get going now and you should get inside, it is freaking cold. Good night Levon."

"Night Blair."

She watched his car drive away from the compound feeling that wave of something in her body.