First things first! This week`s prompt is: First So give us a first-rate response!

FIRST! ********************************* Prompt #211-First "Dammit!" Joe shouted in frustration, throwing his helmet into the car. "What are those judges? Blind?!" Growling, he stripped off his gloves and raked a hand through his already tousled hair. Denied first place... again. "K'so!" His foot lashed out, smashing into a set of empty oil drums, sending them flying with a clatter. One rolled drunkenly to the rear of his bay where it rested against the wall. Lorenzo Rini, from the Preston Team was declared the winner. It had been a close race, Joe was positive he won. But after the tape had been reviewed and the announcement made in his opponents favor, he saw red. Joe wanted to smash in his smug face, leaving a few chicklets on the floor in his wake. This had been the third time in the last four weeks it had come down to a video review. And each time, he had been on the losing end. Then there was the time he had been penalized, when he exited his car before emergency crews arrived during an accident. An accident that Rini caused. Joe leaned back against the G2 and scrubbed his hands over his face. Something had to give. If he didn't know better, he would think Galactor had a new faction, and was trying to kill him.

Aw, I'd hug Joe but I think I'd be full of shuriken before I could manage it!

Getting Joe angry is never a good idea and making him suspicious is even worse. But standing in between him and first place? Definitely not recommended!

They went back the way they came, but this time, there was no conversation between them.  He still kept an eye on her, still kept her upright even when her shoes slipped, but Jun could still feel him bristling with anger.  She would not have been at all surprised to see bruises on her upper arm from where he gripped her as he helped her down in some spots. When they got to the picnic area, they did not stop as they had before, but continued on.  Jun looked out over the landscape and saw that the sunset had painted the sky in brilliant shades of pinks, purples and oranges with the deep blue of the coming night slowly drawing down like a giant shade. It was beautiful and Jun enjoyed the view despite everything.  It was still pretty, even if they couldn't stop to admire it. It was nearly full darkness by the time they arrived back at the inn and Jun was never so glad to get out of a car as she was just then.  She needed to be away from Red Impulse for a while, to sort out her thoughts and maybe a little time would take the edge off his anger as well.  Just as she stalked up to the front door, she heard Red Impulse slam the car door and call after her. "Dinner at six thirty.  I'll meet you in the dining room." Jun barely nodded, wrenched open the door and ran in, not bothering to look back. *      *     * Jun took several deep breaths into the hot washcloth she held against her face, the scent of the lavender soap mixing with the scent of the laundry detergent from the cloth itself.  She had gotten into the bathroom first and cleaned up from the hike, taking her time and not caring that she was preventing Red Impulse from doing the same. Serves him right, she thought, removing the washcloth when it had cooled.  She rinsed off her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror.  She had never really thought about it before, but she felt absurdly young; too young for trying to do what she was doing.  Being with the guys, she never felt like that. They traveled the world over, did things that most people could only dream about, and age was never a factor that stopped them.  So why did she feel like such a child now? Because people are seeing me in relation to Red Impulse, she answered herself, finally relinquishing the bathroom and crossing into her own room.  She shut the connecting door from the bedroom to the bathroom and locked it.  Not that she expected he would do anything; she had heard very little coming from his room in the whole time she was in the bathroom. Jun crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed.  Was that it?  Was it merely the fact that she was working with someone so much older than herself that was making her feel this way?  She didn't know and couldn't say for sure and, she supposed, she may never know. Half an hour later, Jun heard Red Impulse's door open and shut, his footsteps muffled by the worn narrow carpet that ran down the middle of the hallway.  She heaved a sigh as she pushed away from where she was standing by the window.  There was not much out there to look at; in fact, for the last fifteen minutes, it had been totally dark.  But she hadn't been looking out for the scenery and her mind was still filled with a jumble of thoughts. By the time she arrived in the dining room, Red Impulse was sitting at the same table they sat at for breakfast.  Without making eye contact with anyone, Jun crossed the room and slouched into the chair opposite Red Impulse.  Almost immediately, Madge appeared.  Jun looked up at the woman with a scowl. She was watching, Jun thought, and had to be waiting. "So, what can I get you two?" Madge asked, looking only at Red Impulse.  Jun was amazed that the woman even acknowledged her presence. Madge went on, placing a hand on the back of Red Impulse's chair.  "I highly recommend the breaded chicken cutlets in our special sherry mushroom sauce. Or perhaps you'd prefer the stuffed pork chops?"  She winked at Red Impulse. "With extra stuffing and gravy." Jun rolled her eyes and Red Impulse smiled warmly at the woman, something Jun did not think possible.  He handed her the paper menu that listed the day's offerings. "As tempting as that sounds, I think I'll have the salmon," he replied. "You got it," Madge said, nudging his shoulder with the side of her ample hip.  "And you?" she added as an afterthought. "I'll just have a grilled cheese," Jun said, handing her the menu.  Madge took it without comment. "I'll be back with your drinks," Madge said to Red Impulse, running her hand lightly over his shoulder as she walked by him. Seriously, if she doesn't stop, I'm going to gag, Jun thought rebelliously.  It really was too much and she still didn't understand why he even let her keep going.  It was as if he actually did enjoy the woman's attention. But he said he didn't like her, Jun thought, her eyes narrowing in thought.  He said he was just using her so people wouldn't get suspicious of us.  But there had to be some part of him that liked the fawning, the flattery, the attention. Maybe that's what I need to do, Jun calculated and she was deep in following that thought when Red Impulse abruptly got to his feet, cell phone in hand. "If you'll excuse me, I have to take this," he murmured in apology.  In several long strides, he was out of the dining room and Jun watched as he disappeared through the front door to take the call outside.  She sighed and looked around the room for a moment before Madge appeared, drinks in hand.  She looked disappointed that Red Impulse was not there. "He went to take a call," Jun said in answer to the unspoken question.  Madge gave a nod, set down the drinks and turned to leave, then stopped and turned back to Jun.  She knuckled one hand on the table top and placed the other small, plump hand to her hip as she leaned in closer to Jun. "I realize it's hard for a young girl to see her father getting attention from other women," Madge said, "but you have to understand, you're getting older and soon you'll be out on your own, and a man like that, he needs a woman to take care of him." Jun nearly choked and it took supreme effort on her part to keep the expression on her neutral.  Fortunately, Madge did not seem to notice and she went on, warming up to her topic. "Tch.  You kids these days, you're all so self-absorbed, you don't see anyone else but yourselves.  Your father should have companionship, whether you like it or not.  Why should he be alone while you go off and do whatever you please while your poor father works his fingers to the bone to support you, probably works all hours, too, and gives you a comfortable life and no worries and I see you sitting here with that scowl on your face.  Don't you realize that he was probably looking forward to spending this time with you, probably planned this trip for weeks, and here you're acting like a spoiled brat.  The least you can do is appreciate what he's trying to do for you and be pleasant." Jun's mouth fell open.  She was, quite literally, speechless.  For a moment, her brain was too shocked to even register one response, and then it flooded with emotion. Never in her life had Jun ever been accused of being a brat, and certainly not a spoiled one.  Who did she ever have to spoil her?  Jun also wondered how the woman even thought that Jun hadn't been anything but pleasant ... well, okay, maybe polite was a better word ... to Red Impulse since she walked in. The next wave of thoughts that came to the surface was that the old saying was absolutely true -- people saw only what they wanted to see.  Red Impulse let her see a widower with a teenage daughter, probably lonely, works all the time, and in need of female companionship, and Madge, no doubt unsatisfied with her own life, felt secure enough in a little flirting to make them both feel better. He went along with it and now look -- Madge was totally and completely on his side and actually upbraiding Jun for her behavior when she hadn't done anything! Well, two can play at this game,  Jun thought.

Poor Jun! I'm really feeling bad for her right now. OMG Madge is actually hitting on Red Impulse! Can't wait to see what the Swan is planning!

Originally posted by Redbird Poor Jun! I'm really feeling bad for her right now. OMG Madge is actually hitting on Red Impulse! Can't wait to see what the Swan is planning!

Ditto!

Uh oh ... not sure if her idea is good or bad.

[unrecoverable text]

Yeah, that does sound about right for this Joe, and so far he hasn't been good at avoiding temptation.

Yeah, that sounds more like it... Joe has a history of being interested in women and then it all goes wrong. That's likely what it was.