863 words

The beast was dead! Dead, deader than dead-- it was a smoldering pile of crushed scrap and crap in a junkyard slowly rottinhg, and Jessie DID NOT CARE.

For many drivers, the use of their personal vehicle for a show was not really a smart one -- truck drivers needed something street legal besides their work truyck if they couldn't tow, and a pickup was practical, but Jessie...

After the monster-zombie-fire horseshit that small porcelain pumpokin inflicted on her? Nope. FGuck that. She was happy to let Owen destroy the hated car because it meant the saving for a shiny new cash-paid muscle car was at hand. She'd worked extra all summer to save for it, putting in the hardest hours of her life, and at last she could buy....

Something.

She was trawling dealers, her grandfather driving her along in his powder blue convertable as they rode from dealer to dealer, and Jessie had been to a few now. GM's Chevrolet Camero and Corvette were both classic or chjarming, but so popular. Too.... Yuppie. Plebian, she's snarked. They had the snarl, the purr, but not the sexy, sexy body. Dodge was a step up, the Charger and Challenger sturdy options -- the Challenger remaining in the running when she realized with the snows, the traction control was a must.... And then.... And then there was the mighty, horrible, and yet, wonderful Ford dealership. Oh she could consider a Lambo or Ferrari, but those were expensive even for her -- she wanted a beast built on her continent, and, well... She wasn't sure she wanted a car that made Paul Hollywood squeal like a fanboy. So Ford was sort of it for her ideafarm, and they had... They had....

"What do they mean no more Shelby package?!" Jessie loudly objected looking over options, startling her grandfather. The woman sulked, flopping forwards to pout at the information page on her phone, and wailed.

"How are people supposed to think it's a sexy baby if it's not a SHELBY?!"

...Oh... Dear. Jessie's grandfather coughed delicately,the slender man patting her arm gently.

"I'm sure you can get other work done, sweetheart." The older gentleman sighed. Of his grandchildren, Jessie was the biggest gearhead, and sometimes he really worried-- especially since she tended to spend very little. Her last massive buy had been her house; a comfortable three bed, two bath, that had a good mortgage and suited the girl, but.... His eye caught the price of one car, and he read the description. Finally, he understood what a 'Shelby' was and the man groaned.

"Jessie, honey, you do not need a car over sixty grand. WITH tax."

"Yes I do I need a beasty." Jessie immediately looked horrified. She'd spent summer saving every penny she could for a better car, and now, here, obviously seeing something, was her grandfather, giving her a stern look.

Horrifying.

"How will people know I'm the baddest thing without a big strong V8?" She styuck her lower lip out, but for once, the old man wasn't convinced. No, he set his gaze.

"Jessica Kisaragi." He scolded sharply. "You are not buying a sixty thousand dollar car just to fulfill an ego issue." The man frowned, beginning to scold.

"I understand you want a strong car, I do, and I understamd whyyou want a muscle car, but if you aren't considering an Italian car, then you are not considering this... This... GT! You don't need this-- don't argue with me -- and you can stand to look around here!"

Jessie stared, sulking visibly before being herded towards the cars -- the sedans, the trucks, the... SOCCER MOM HORRORMOBILES, and sighed, walking along as she glumly examined each. But oh! Those shining Michelin tires! The purr of that V8 coyote! That--

She stopped, and blinked at the sight of a car huddled up in the corner, head tilting before she moved over.

It wasn't a normal little draw. Jessie actually didn't want a cheery, bright vehicle. Her truck had been a grungy, white abomination against God, but this... Was a small, cheery red little Mustang; optioned to a black top with black racing stripes. A convertable -- horrifying -- but it seemed cute, and she slid to sit in the car carefully, sizing it up. There were custom running light options in it, a good radio...

It was well near 28 grand, and while she HAD scrimped... There was a payment option proudly offewred. A sale?

This was the car though, and Jessie slid out, pointing to the eager car salesman who seemed surprised to see the woman standing firmly next to the Mustang.

"You." She said, tone calm. "I'd like to discuss purchase options for this Mustang -- THIS baby."

"Why yes, miss, of course-- and welcome to Skelton Ford Dealership miss - so, you'd like this model? Alright, I'll just need to take some information... Ah! Come with me, I'll fetch the paperwork."

Jessie nodded, and followed patiently, glancing back to the cherry red and black baby, her grandfather's brow raised before she beamed sharply. She found something to acquire -- and see old man?

She did it without the magic of Shelby.