Midnight

It wasn't until after dinner that the phone rang.

Starla had to remind me not to pick it up – assuming it was Teddy. Then came the myriad of steps she had to walk me through before I was finally able to connect us all together again through speakerphone.

However, the phone call has been predominantly between Starla and Teddy; I expected as much, and other than assuring Teddy that Starla has been a wonderful temporary addition to our household, I don't have much to share. Teddy said he had some interesting information to share but was unwilling to elaborate further over the phone. However, that mystery won't wait long; he's heading back our way bright and early tomorrow morning, and will likely be seeing us toward evening time.

Hard to believe the sleepover will be coming to a close soon, but we still have the rest of tonight and one more day.

In Midnight's corner, I can't help but feel she's been a bit off during this phonecall – and I don't mean the slight disappointment that stained her face with the impending end of the sleepover. No, I'm suspecting her suggestion earlier tonight to go out for food has something to do with her hesitance. I've not felt the need to corner her about it, but if given the chance tonight, I'll try to pick her brain – for her own benefit.

"Teddy, if you aren't too tired, there's something else I'd like to discuss," Starla says, snapping me back to consciousness as her violet-magenta eyes lock onto me and she subtly nods her head. "It's nothing serious, just something I thought of today that I wanted to share."

That's perfect timing if I've ever seen it. I take Starla's cue to rise up off of the couch and stretch for a brief moment. Midnight, who is situated between where I was sitting and where Starla still resides – doesn't pay my motions much attention. As a result, I pat her on the side with my hand to draw her focus to me. "C'mon, let's give em some privacy," I mumble as she flicks her head around to look at me.

"Ugh, I just got comfortable," she groans in a low, lethargic voice while rolling her eyes. Nevertheless, she pries herself up off the couch and starts to follow as I head out toward the kitchen. Leaving the door between the kitchen and shop cracked just a tad for when Starla is finished with her phone call, Midnight and I make our way down the stairs.

As I cast a sideways glance toward her, I spy Midnight's ears perked up and swiveled rearward – no doubt trying to eavesdrop on the private discussion upstairs. A bit irked, I lightly whap her on the back of the head, just to break her focus.

"Hey – what the fuck was that for?!" she cries, scowling at me after a brief moment of shock.

"You know exactly why I did that," I lament, standing my ground.

My comment causes her ears to droop while she recoils a bit at my disapproving tone. "I was just listening to make sure she... well, wasn't under distress, or something like that," she quickly mumbles trying to save face.

"Really? That's the piss-poor excuse you're gonna try to sell me? I expected a better lie than that."

"Yeah well, I didn't anticipate you paying close attention to what I was doing," she admits. "But funny – you seem to be in the know about this. What's really going on?"

"I believe Starla and Teddy are having what's called a 'private conversation'," I remark as the two of us transition from the stairs to the concrete ground floor. Perfect timing for Midnight, who gives me a hip check aggressive enough to force a stumble sideways out of me in order to maintain balance.

"That wasn't very nice."

"Keep it up, and I'll go look for some spark plugs as weaponry," she threatens with a devilish, toothed grin. "I know how much you love those."

"Absolutely not – those fuckers hurt."

"Then at least give me something. How did you know to high tail it out of there at the drop of a hat?"

"Fine – while you were cleaning up, Starla and I had a little conversation upstairs – which concluded about the same time you walked back in," I offer her as a concession.

But Midnight's unenthusiastic expression informs me she had been expecting something a bit more detailed or explanatory. At that, I have to shrug my shoulders in relative indifference. "It was a private conversation, Midnight. Just like she kept your little revelation secret yesterday despite my attempts to pry – I intend to do the same for her right now."

Surprised by my explanation, Midnight suddenly loses the air of disappointment surrounding her as she falls silent for a moment of inflection, dropping her gaze to the floor. "Well, you could have led off with that," she mumbles.

"Would it have really made you stop trying to eavesdrop or ask me about it? Or was this second stonewalling with accompanying explanation the final straw?"

"...it sounds better if I just say you should have led off with the explanation."

Well, she's honest; I still can't help but shake my head at the nonsensical admission. "Shifting gears to something we can openly converse about – you never did look to see how Starla's work cleaning the seats was turning out, did you?" I suggest, turning to look at the Chrysler sitting nearby.

"No, I guess I forgot about it after... I made things a little awkward tonight, didn't I?" she asks, her voice abruptly transitioning to broadcast her regret.

It sounds like my hunch about Midnight being a little off in her mood this evening was right. Since she's cracked open the door to discussion, I'm more than happy to oblige just to help clear her mind. "Come on, why don't we step into my office for our own private chat?" I quip, ushering Midnight toward the project car.

I must be doing something right because my stupid comments tonight keep landing in the right spot; Midnight snorts in amusement as she wanders away from me to circle around the Chrysler to the passenger side. Opening the driver's door, I take a moment to look at the vast improvement made in the color and cleanliness of the seat bottoms before hopping behind the wheel.

The passenger door opens with a squeak in the meantime – like me, Midnight has to marvel at the dramatic shift in conditions. "Damn, the seat really does look a hell of a lot better," she says before taking a sharp sniff at the air. "And the smell of moldy ass is starting to dissipate with it."

"I'd be interested to know how you recognize the smell of ass mold, Middie," I wisecrack as she steps inside and scoots toward me.

"Hur hur, you're a real funny cocksucker, aren't you?" she shoots back with sarcasm.

"Let me start off by saying thank you, I work very hard on my humor. To follow up with your other accusation – that was only once, and he paid well."

Though I garner a short burst of laughter for that joke, Midnight still finds it necessary to jab at my ribs with a hoof. It's not particularly harsh, but the sensation makes me jolt sideways as I try to smack her leg away from me. More significantly, that poke to my side from Midnight has come to symbolize a signal that she wants to have a serious discussion and cut the funny business.

At least I made the last joke count.

"Alright, real talk here," I announce, clearing my throat and lightly thumping the rim of the steering wheel with my palm. "Let me lead off by saying I still don't know the whole backstory of what you and Starla were talking about earlier or when it happened. That part of it really isn't any of my business since, again, that was a conversation between you two, not with me. However, I can connect the dots a bit just based on what I heard."

I pause for a moment, expecting to get some sort of snarky comment from Midnight; hell, I finished my intro in such a way as to give her a nice tee-off. But she doesn't bite – this is a genuinely serious matter to her.

"I know you meant the best with your suggestion, but I think you should have accepted Starla's decline the first time rather than try to talk her into it, Middie," I explain to her, keeping my voice low and calm. "I think she was perhaps just a bit defensive on her position out of instinct, but you also sort of broadcasted part of a private conversation for me to hear, too."

Midnight doesn't say anything, but words aren't needed. Her normal proud form slumps into the seat as her face turns rather grim, staring ahead through the windshield.

"But, that's the worst of it – which really isn't that bad," I continue, trying to pick her spirits up while putting an arm around her. "You did give her some things to consider and think about that hadn't occurred to her previously. And I think she felt like there was some overreaction on her part, as well."

"So, I didn't completely fuck things up tonight," she comments.

The bluntness and surprisingly dour outlook causes me to double-take in speechless befuddlement for a moment. "Midnight, did you really think you upset her that much?"

"Not really, but it did surprise me at how much I flustered her – even if it was for just a moment before you stepped in," Midnight adds.

"I think if you take the time to apologize to big sis tonight, you'll feel better and it will be water under the bridge on that little moment in time."

"Hm, you're taking quite the liking to the whole sibling thing too, aren't you?" Midnight turns to face me again as she comments, her expression lightened up with my simple advice.

"I am – but not in a teasing sense," I assure her, fiddling with a stray lock of Midnight's hair. "It's just nice to hear you comfortable with someone else other than me – to the point you welcome them as family."

"I won't lie, it feels a little weird," she replies, hesitating a moment. "But I think it's a good weird. I don't mind."

"Good – because I really think you should stick with it. I said it earlier and I'll say it again, there's a closeness or a bond between you two I'm noticing since you agreed to that, and Starla is over the moon considering you her little sis."

Midnight nods her head and shoots a smile at me as the rest of her frets melt away. It allows me to take a breath of relief after another instance of lending an ear to someone troubled tonight. I take the time to rest back against the seat, one arm still around Midnight, and the other still up on the steering wheel.

"Oh, are we getting into cruising pose? Trying to find the perfect posture?" Midnight teases in a return to normalcy.

"Maybe a little. This is gonna be a nice cruiser once it's on the road," I gush, starting to stroke Midnight's side as I sink further into comfort.

"Yeah well, it needs power before we get too far ahead of ourselves," Midnight says, patting my thigh. "I'm not going to make the engine bay my home to satisfy your horsepower needs."

"Funny you should mention that – I was planning on embarrassing you at some point tonight before... well, with everything that's taken place tonight."

"That's fine – just having to be around you is embarrassing as it is. You don't need to take it a step further."

"Oh, now who's being the funny cocksucker?" I jab back at her.

"Nope, never done it. Care to be my first?" Midnight smiles wide, showing off every bit of those razor-sharp teeth she's packing.

"A blowie from a guillotine doesn't rank high on my bucket list – I'll pass," I reply, removing my hand from the steering wheel to poke her nose.

"Hm. Somehow, I'm a bit surprised by your reluctance."

"You already scarred me for life," I remind her. I reach up and grab the collar of my t-shirt, gently pulling it until my left shoulder is exposed – where the puncture marks from Midnight's teeth have left permanent reminders on my skin.

"Looks better than any tattoo – and lets everyone know you're mine." While she puts her pearly white away, she makes sure to smile with that comment – just enough so the tips of her canines are visible.

"Aaanyway, back to what I was trying to say before you derailed the conversation – I got a text from the machine shop regarding our engine block."

My brief intro puts Midnight on notice as she sits up straight, her ears perked up and ready to hear the news I have.

"You have to do a drumroll. That's why I paused."

"I'm not doing a damn drumroll. Spit it out, stupid."

"It would have been more fun if you had. But anyway, I was told they're currently cleaning up the block, and should be ready to pick up by early next week."

"I'm gonna say this once – you better not be fucking with me, John," she remarks in a cold voice, despite the sudden luminescence of her eyes and excitedly jittery form. "I will kill you."

"I must be going all in with this joke, considering I have a crankshaft and bearings ordered and on the way."

Already on a hair trigger, Midnight squees as she practically drapes herself over me with excitement. Though the interior of the Chrysler would hardly be considered a cramped environment, I'm surprised that Midnight is able to splay open her wings and wrap them around me, too.

Alright, this is probably a better scenario than attempting to get this reaction out of her in front of Starla. I doubt I would have gotten something this wonderful.

"Man, things are coming together quickly, aren't they?" Midnight comments as she releases me from her embrace.

"Yeah, and just think – you were pouting about cleaning the engine bay tonight."

"I was not pouting," she playfully laments, sticking her nose up in the air. "I was making note that the task wasn't one I particularly enjoyed."

"What are you two doing in there?" Starla's voice rings out behind me. Surprised, I spin around and recoil a bit as I find the mare standing right beside the driver's door.

Evidently, Midnight and I were so lost in our own shenanigans, that neither of us heard her head down the steps and sashay up to my door. Even Midnight's eyes are wider than normal as she takes stock of Starla's appearance.

"You're slacking on your guard dog duties, Mid," I scold, pointing a finger at her.

"Oh, shut the hell up, John," she snaps back, seemingly a bit irked by the reminder of that particular comment from our past. "Hey Starla – uh, how are you?"

Smooth, Middie. Very smooth – not awkward at all.

For her part, Starla looks calm and content as ever, a warm smile that graces her face only growing wider with Midnight's inquiry. "I'm good Teddy and I just had something private to quickly discuss. He sounded tired on the phone, so I didn't want to keep him too long – But I feel good about what we were able to converse about in that short bit of time."

Granted, her explanation is quite vague and leaves much open for interpretation. But I don't know Starla to lie; judging by how relaxed and upbeat she is now, I'd say Teddy was receptive to what Starla had to share over the phone.

It seems Midnight had been expecting a bit more information – her elation has dampened from the high of a moment ago as her ears drop low on her head.

"Hey, Star? I wanted to say sorry about airing out a private conversation we had – and trying to convince you to take up my idea," Midnight apologizes. "I guess I thought I was helping, but I was just being kinda pushy."

Huh – I had already forgotten about that bit. Midnight certainly hadn't and clearly wanted to get that barrier out of the way as soon as possible.

On her end, Starla nods her head at Midnight's words – but waves her off with a hoof at the same time. "I appreciate that Midnight, but I know you didn't mean anything by it. I overreacted a bit ‐ I'm sorry too."

Starla's response is just what the doctor ordered, for Midnight instantly regains her festive mojo, sitting up straight once again. "C'mon Star, over here on the passenger side," Midnight directs her while popping open the passenger door again. "Hop in with us."

While confused by the reasoning, Starla nonetheless trots around the front of the car and wide of the passenger door. A quick glance at the space available to her and Midnight scooting up next to me, and she joins us for a seat.

"You've done a really good job on the seats so far, Starla," Midnight compliments her. "I hadn't seen them yet, and I guess we figured they deserved a comfort test yet tonight."

"Thanks! I couldn't believe how much of a difference I made – hopefully, I can finish them for you guys before I leave."

"We'll probably have some time tomorrow to work – since we're all caught up on orders as of this afternoon, it might be a rather short day out in the yard."

"And packing up shipments," Midnight interjects, reminding me of this morning's scavenger hunt.

"Yeah, that too. And we have an engine bay to finish cleaning as well."

"Even more important now because we have an engine, eh?"

"Oh, you got news on your engine block?" Starla perks up.

"Yep, good to go for cleaning and machining. Still the road ahead of assembling it, but it feels like we just went over a proverbial hump with that news."

Of course, there are still more parts to buy – at the very least, I need to get new piston rings and lifters. But I could go with new pistons and rods, a new camshaft – maybe even a roller cam if they make em for these engines...

But I'll worry about that later. Watching Starla and Midnight, a pair of adopted siblings excitedly discussing plans right next to me...

That's more important.