Chapter Text
AJ found herself accustomed to waiting in various odd places to chauffeur Dash around to whatever sport of the week she was currently into. Her truck now basically existed as storage for all of her friend's sporting equipment. Dash's convertible was currently in the shop, and didn't really have much room for all of her gear. Which in hindsight, she was most definitely doing on purpose. Using her truck for extra storage, that is.
The ringtone from her phone startled her, pulling her from her own grumbling thoughts about Dash’s endeavors. The sound echoed in the small dark alley, and AJ could only begin to wonder why Dash asked to be picked up here of all places.
She fumbled for the phone in the pocket of her jeans, before answering.
She cleared her throat. “Hello?”
“AJ, sweetie! Hi, it's Cherry."
“Ah…” she exhaled, leaning against the brick wall behind her, “yeah… hey, Cherry.”
There was a flirtatious laugh on the other end. “Sugar, I'm calling to say I had a great time the other night. Would you… say, wanna do it again? Say… right now?”
AJ gnawed the inside of her cheek. Recently she has been, admittedly, fooling around a little bit. Cherry was the latest girl of a handful in the last few weeks. By no means was she the type to “dine-and-dash,” but she's had to break a few more hearts than she would like to admit. It's not that her casual partners didn't know what they were signing up for going in, but using girls just for a one-night-stand didn't feel right either. She often took them to dinner, bought them flowers, and always stayed long enough to ensure proper aftercare. I guess in most girls' worlds, this was everything they've ever wanted in a partner. The absolute bare minimum to not be an absolute piece of human garbage.
Her extended pause was picked up on by Cherry.
“AJ, I know what this is. If it's alright with you, I'd like to carry on this… arrangement we have. I find it~ enjoyable.”
AJ rubbed at the sudden warmth in her cheeks, “I- I would, but I can't tonight, sugarcube. I wouldn't mind takin' you up on your offer, though. Raincheck?”
“Sure, sweetie. Who's got you occupied tonight?”
She choked, sputtering out, “Uh… no-no. It's not like that. Well, I am busy but not in that way. Uh… ha. Dash is using me as her personal taxi driver while her car is being fixed. If I'm being frank, I think her car's fixed, but she just likes draggin’ me around, seeing how much I'll tolerate. With all her gear, I don't even have room for my tools-”
Cherry cut her off, “Relax, Jax. I'm not interrogating you,” she sighed, drawing out a dramatic exhale, “I'll take you up on that raincheck. How's tomorrow night?”
She twirled her car keys around her index finger, “I'll be there,” she answered, grinning.
“Hmm, alright,” Cherry conceded, “don't keep a girl waiting~”
With that, she hung up, getting the last word in.
Creaky metal hinges and the sound of a heavy door slamming almost made her drop her phone.
She looked to where the noise had come from, and could just make out Dash's silhouette in the doorway. “Gods, you scared the shit outta me, Dash-” she found herself staring at an unfamiliar sight. She squinted, trying to see her clearly under the dim street lamp.
Dash was wearing makeup. Makeup! Black eyeshadow carved into winged liner and blood red lipstick that was partially smeared in one corner. That wasn't all, though; shiny silver septum ring, ear cuffs, and an eyebrow piercing reflected under the dingy yellow street lamp. Her short rainbow wolf cut was styled and teased, and she was wearing a black leather jacket and–
“Hellooo! Earth to AJ. Anyone home?”
Dash was waving one of her hands in front of her face, the other clutching onto a pair of roller skates.
AJ still hadn't quite managed to shake off the shock of her outfit, and she had to blink and blink to focus on what she was saying.
Dash shoved her in the shoulder, self consciousness creeping into her voice, “Pick your jaw up off the floor and quit staring at me.”
“S..sorry,” she scratched at her wrist, “You just look-”
She cut her off. “Yeah yeah, keep it to yourself. It's a punk derby, there's a dress code," she gestured to a nearby flyer plastered to the side of the building.
She shook her head, unable to pull her eyes off of her, “I was just gonna say you look good-”
Dash scoffed, punching her in the arm. “Don't make fun of me, or I swear to the Gods I'll tell Twilight it's been YOU dog-earring all her books!”
Panickedly shaking her head she said, “No no no, please don't! I'd be deader than a doornail in a wooden coffin!”
Dash stared at her silently for a moment, judging her southern metaphors.
“Also,” she snatched the roller skates from her hands, “I wasn't pokin’ fun,” she smirked, lowering the brim of her hat towards her, “you do look good.”
She briskly turned on her heels, leading the way to her truck.
Dash hurried after her. “Oh, so is this the infamous ‘Southern Charm’ girls seem to love so much that they throw themselves at you for it? How come I've never gotten any till now? Not your type, AJ?”
Rolling her eyes, she tossed the skates into the truck bed. She actually didn't have a great response to that.
She plopped down in the driver's seat, “No, that's not it. I mean yes–no.” She turned the keys in the ignition.
“What's the matter, AJ? Cat got your tongue?”
She could hear the amusement in her voice. Dash was teasing her, and enjoying it. It was something she did often.
“You're full of yourself, put your seatbelt on.”
She huffed, “You're no fun,” but complied anyway.
***
It took everything she had not to continuously glance at Dash in the rear-view mirror the whole drive home. She really did look so different than usual. The makeup… the outfit. She'd never seen anything like it. Dash wasn't hard to look at on a normal day, but right now she really wasn't hard to look at. Her colorful hair was tucked behind her heavily faux pierced ears as she texted on her phone, the glow illuminating her makeup.
Suddenly, she had locked eyes with her. Crap, she'd been caught staring.
“What?” Dash asked, irritated.
She tapped her finger on the steering wheel. “I didn't know you could do makeup.”
She straightened, “Just because I don't wear it doesn't mean I can't do it. Quit staring at me, you're making me self-conscious.”
“Sorry…” she still didn't look away. “You shouldn't be self-conscious. You look good. Really good-” She was met with a firm wack on her arm.
“You don't have to say everything that pops into your head!” She said, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment.
“Ow! Sorry.” She couldn't understand why she was embarrassed.
“Please, that didn't hurt. Your bicep hurt my hand, if anything. What, do you lift weights in your sleep? Pretty face and charm not enough for you, AJ?”
Pretty face. Now, that's a new one. Pretty was not something she got called often. She was broad and tall and a little rugged, so… pretty?
Without thinking she asked, “You think I'm pretty?”
Dash froze, staring at her for a few seconds. “Now who's full of themselves?”
This response disappointed her, but she didn't have much time to reflect on it as they pulled up outside Dash's house.
“Later, weirdo, thanks for the lift.” Dash said, clambering out of the truck and grabbing her skates. She waved goodbye as she headed towards the front door.
AJ waved back, but didn't drive off until the door had closed on her friend's heels.
She sighed, tossing her hat into the passenger seat.
Before she knew it, she found herself outside someone else's front door. She knew how this looked, but she didn't really care; she knocked.
After a few moments, the door opened, warm light illuminating AJ's golden blonde hair that had curtained her features. She leaned into the doorway.
Cherry was in a sheer pink night gown with feathered cuffs. She crossed her arms, leaning on the door jam. “Cashing in that rain check so soon, Jax?”
She gave her a look reminiscent to that of a sad puppy. She tucked her hair away, leaning forward so she was only a few inches away from Cherry's face.
“I love it when you grovel.” Cherry smirked, reaching for the collar of her shirt, pulling her inside. Their lips met as the door closed behind them.