Finding Anna

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Who is this chick?

Xander’s first thoughts after he dropped her off at the motel and drove away were curious as to who this woman was, and why she lied to him so many times.

It didn’t make any sense.

He pulled up on the side of the road after almost not seeing her. She was a mess; tears, split lip, healing bruise under the eye, and a band-aid on her ear. She was hurt, and terrified when he knocked on the window. She looked like she thought he was going to kill her or something.

Xander was curious, but reminded himself it was none of his business and knew he shouldn’t get involved with the stranger who bluntly lied to him so many times. He has always been good at reading people, even people he didn’t know, there wasn’t much at all he didn’t notice.

When he pulled up to the shop, everyone was already there, and they all looked at the big. The clock on the wall when they saw him walking in. Xander was never late for work. If he wasn't there at least a half hour before his shift starting, he was late. "Yeah, yeah, I know," he waved everyone off as they howled out a laugh.

The shop was small and has been run by the Patterson family for over eighty years. Harry became the owner four years ago after his father died. And he had hopes that his three boys would run the shop when they were older. And then there was Xander, Mary, and Andrew. Marty was a thirty-three-year-old happy-go-lucky kind of guy. There wasn't much at all that didn't make him happy, and there was almost nothing he couldn't smile about. Andrew was the youngest, nineteen, and just started his apprenticeship.

Andrew's first day on the job was one no one would forget. Marty sent the kid to the hardware store for a can of striped paint, and a long wait. The kid was so eager to help out he practically ran there. By the time he got back, three hours later and after the shop owner laughed at him and told him he’d be back out with the paint soon, he figured out the hazing joke. He looked sad and cranky, but laughed it off anyway and asked if he could do it when a new person started.

“So, why are you late?” Marty asked.

Xander looked at the clock and then back to Marty before replying, "I'm not late, the shift doesn't start for a few more minutes."

“Bullshit, why you late?” Marty persisted.

Xander groaned. “Truck had trouble starting,” he shrugged, “why’s it so interesting that I’m late anyway?”

“It’s not, you’re just never late,” Marty replied, handing Xander a coffee. “Oh, Thirsty Thursday tonight?”

“Yeah, maybe. It will be good after a long day,” Xander smirked. He knew Marty would ask why it was going to be a long day because the shop was empty apart from two cars that would both be out before lunchtime today.

“Huh? The place is dead! You blind?”

Xander took a mouthful of his coffee before putting it down and leaned against the tool chest by one of the workbenches. "I'm gonna make you a bet," Xander nodded at Marty.

“What kind of bet?” Mary’s face scrunched up.

“I am betting a young woman is going to come in here and need a tow to get her car here.”

Marty laughed, “Who is she?”

“No clue. She was broken down outside of town, I dropped her off at the motel. She wouldn't give me her keys to get the tow, and fair enough because she doesn't know me. So I told her where the mechanics were." Xander nodded and looked at the clock. "She'll likely be here in the next half hour to forty-five minutes.”

Xander looked at Marty, amused at his friend's shocked expression. "And?"

"And what?" Xander chuckled.

“She cute?”

"Cute?" Xander raised his eyebrows. "She's not a kid, maybe twenty-two," he shrugged.

Marty scoffed. “You i***t,” he shook his head, “is she good looking?”

Xander shrugged again, “Maybe. She’s alright, I guess.”

“Just alright?”

“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know.”

Women were not a high point for Xander. He turned twenty-nine in November just gone, and has never dated anyone longer than a month in his entire life. All his relationships were about s*x, and the moment that dried up, or the chick would try to turn serious, he'd piss them off. That wasn't going to change anytime soon, and Anna wasn't even interesting enough for him to want to pursue her as a quick fling.

There was something about her too. She wasn’t on vacation or road-tripping, she was running from something, the marks were enough to make Xander see this, and likely anyone else who saw her.

“Well, I sure as hell can't wait to meet her," Marty grinned, "say, what's her name?"

Anna. "No clue," Xander shrugged. He also didn't remember names, so the fact that he knew hers would undoubtedly result in more laughter from Marty.

“Can’t wait to meet who?” Andrew asked.

“No one,” Xander quickly replied.

"A girl. Xander met her on the way into town. Her cars broken down and will be in here to see about getting it towed," Marty piped up.

"Why is she coming in? It's raining, so why not go pick it up and save her the trip."

“Don’t know her. She was skeptical about handing over her keys,” Xander explained, much to his despise.

“Where she from?” Harry asked.

“Yeah, and who’s she visiting in town?” Andrew asked.

“Xander doesn’t know. He didn’t even get her name,” Marty grinned.

“Shut up,” Xander shook his head at Marty, “maybe I did get it, and I’m just not telling you.”

“You talked to a girl? Like an actual female?” Andrew asked with raised eyebrows.

“Yes, I talked to an actual girl. Why is this so surprising to everyone?”

Marty, Harry, and Andrew all shook their heads at the same time. “Oh, no, it’s not surprising. Yeah, not at all.” They all replied on top of each other.

“Anyway,” Harry started, “when you get a sec, can you come into my office?”

“Yeah, coming now,” he grunted in reply.

He walked off to the office after Harry, without saying anything to Marty and Andrew.

“Come in and close the door,” Harry replied.

Xander did as asked and sat down in the comfy chair on the opposite side of the desk. “What’s up?”

“Do you know what your brothers been up too?” Harry asked.

Uh-oh, Xander thought. Usually, anything involving his father or older brother was never a good thing, and resulted in Xander having to clean up some kind of mess. "Nah, what's he done?"

“Last night your brother and someone else was caught, on camera, breaking into Mr. and Mrs. Preston's house."

“Oh s**t! You f*****g serious?” Xander groaned and buried his face in his hands. He sighed, shaking his head.

“It’s not too bad,” Harry said.

“What they do?”

“Robbed the place, took Josephine’s jewelry, fine china, and crystal glasses. They grabbed Walt’s guns, and also took their new TV.”

Xander nodded, “Fantastic. Well, I haven’t seen Jack in two days, but I’ll find out what they’ve done and get the stuff back.”

“Local cops have already arrested your brother and his d**k friends, and they have everything back except for the jewelry."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, well I'll find out what they've done with it and try to get it all back."

The conversation ended pretty quickly after Xander giving his promise to try and get everything back. Bellwood was a small town with a population around 12,000. It has slowly grown over the years, but it is the kind of place where when people come, they tend to stay. And it was the Lind of town where everyone knew everyone. And there wasn’t a single person who didn’t know about the Haynes family.

The entire family was known around town as trouble-making trash. It was a name Xander has had to live with his whole life, even though he tried hard to not live up to his family’s reputation. But even he slipped up every now and then. Usually, it was because he was trying to keep his family out trouble, but Xander wasn’t a good guy. And no matter how hard he worked, or tried to do right, most of the town still looked down upon him because of a reputation that was set in stone before he was born.

He had a small group of friends, and they were all good guys, but Xander could never ditch his family. His father yes, but not his brother. It has always been him and Jack under their father's roof after their mother left when Xander was five. Jack, being six years older than Xander, remembered everything. He always said: ‘Ma couldn't take any more of Pa's drinking. He was mean, and said if she wanted to leave, she could. But she wouldn't be taken us'. Xander barely remembered her, so it was hard for him to miss her. And Jack always said that you couldn't miss something you never knew. Those words helped him through the years.

But, the Haynes family were the lowest of the lowest, and Xander hated having to be the one to fix all their problems. What choice did he have though?

Xander busied himself in a few small jobs, intentionally not starting anything time consuming because he was waiting for Anna to come in. He was curious to see her again, and he wanted to see the look on her face when she realized he was a mechanic and she had nothing at all to worry about.

The thought was comical for him because he knew how bad she would feel for turning him away. He realized then how wrong it was for him to want her to feel bad about not trusting him. She didn’t know him, so it was understandable. He wouldn’t laugh at her or joke around, it wasn’t professional to do so. Her car needed repairing, and he would do his job in ensuring the task was fulfilled.

The bell on the front door rang, and Xander’s body went rigid. He was expecting her, but surely not so soon? He made a bet though, and after checking the time, he was pleased to see he was right about the timeframe of her arrival though.

Xander saw Harry walk out of his office and into the reception area. “Morning! How can I help you?” he greeted.

Her voice was quiet, but he could still hear it clear as day. She was clearly shy by the way she spoke softly and carefully, thinking about each word before it left her mouth. Wonder if she'll tell any more lies between now and her leaving the shop?

“Back in a jiffy,” Harry said.

Xander didn't need to turn around to know Harry was heading his way. "Did you want to take the job? I know you gotta deal with your brother, so if you need to go, that’s fine.”

Xander shook his head, “Nah, she’s quiet. I’ll take the job. Give me a minute.”

Harry nodded just as Andrew and Marty came running over. “She’s alright? Just alright?” Marty asked in a hard whisper. “She’s f*****g gorgeous.”

“And sad looking,” Andrew added, “didn’t you see the dark rings around her eyes.”

Harry gave him a hard look, “Mind your own business. Girl’s obviously tired after being stuck outside in the cold for who knows how long.”

Andrew shrugged, “Sorry, I was just saying.”

Xander gave Andrew a shove before sighing, “Her name is Anna, and I’ll take the job.”

Harry nodded, seeming pleased with Xander’s decision and started walking away before quickly turning back. “She is a bit sweet looking though, ask her out for a drink.”

Xander shook his head, “No.”

“Thirsty Thursday? Do it!” Marty added excitedly.

“She’s a customer, what happened to being professional.”

“Small town etiquette,” Harry nodded, “I think it would be rude not to take her out for a drink.”

Xander didn’t say anything as Harry walked away toward the reception area.

“Look, man, if you don’t want to ask her out for a beer, I will.”

Xander gave Marty a knowing look. “Don’t,” he said, “I’ll see what she is doing later on tonight.”

“Haynes!” Harry shouted.

“f**k,” Xander muttered before downing the rest of his coffee. He told her his first name, and now when she sees him, she'll be thinking he lied to her or something. Yeah, he was right, she stared at him with wide, confused eyes.

“You!”

“Me?” Xander replied with a shrug. She was always going to be shocked the second Harry called him out, on purpose, by his surname. f*****g smart ass, Xander thought.

“You said your name was Xander?” Anna asked.

"It is," Xander replied as he leaned against the doorframe.

She looked at Harry. "But you just said, Haynes?"

“Last name, Anna.” Xander gave her the friendliest smile he could muster.

“I’ll leave you to organize this, I have to get that old beetle out of here this morning.” Xander nodded. “Harry, nice to meet you, darlin’.”

“Anna.” She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too, and that you for your services.”

After Harry left, Xander watched as Anna stared at him with curious and confused eyes. “You look different now. You know, with your jumpsuit.”

"Coveralls. They're called coveralls." Xander scoffed to hide the laugh that nearly came out. What the hell is a jumpsuit?

“Oh, sorry,” Anna giggled.

The sweet sound of Anna’s laugh was one of the nicest things Xander’s ever heard before. It was soft and melodic, much like the way she spoke. He didn't smile or ask her to laugh again - as he wanted too - he needed to be professional and get her car in, have a look at it and get it fixed.

He wouldn’t not ask her out for a drink, but he wanted to find out just a little more about her first. She was quiet, she had secrets, and he wanted to know something before he possibly found himself in more trouble than his family was.

“You didn’t ask her out! Why?” Marty ran over after Anna left.

Xander shrugged, “Because she is a customer.”

“Not an excuse. You have women out for drinks before through the shop, so why not her? She seems like fun.”

"She seems tired, and I want to know something about her before I go asking her out." He grabbed the keys to the truck from the office. “Let me look at her car, and when I talk to her about what’s wrong with it, I’ll talk to her about drinks then.”

“Alright, fine. But I want to meet her.”

“Why do you want to meet her?” Xander was annoyed with the badgering over one female. “She probably isn’t going to be in town long anyway.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s road tripping.”

“How do you know that after saying you don’t know anything about her?” Marty, with a smug look on his face, folded his arms over his chest.

Xander groaned, “She told me, alright? Now go away, I got enough s**t to deal with.”

“Xander, cops are here,” Harry said from behind him.

Fantastic, what next? He nodded, shuffling towards the door. “Yeah, I’m coming.”

The sheriff and the rookie cop were surprisingly kind, to which Xander was grateful for, he really would do everything he could to get the stolen items back to the Preston's.

Josephine and Walter Preston were kind and caring. Josephine's family was one of the first in Bellwood, and everyone had a lot of respect for her and Walt, including Xander, so this was just plain embarrassing.

"I'm really sorry about all this," Xander said Sheriff Ander's, "if I had of known what was going on I would have stopped them, or called you guys if I had no luck with that.”

"Xander, I gotta tell you, your brother is gonna end back up in jail if he keeps going."

"Yeah, I understand. I'm trying to straighten Jack out."

"Mr. And Mrs. Preston said they don't want to press charges, and they won't if the jewelry's returned.”

Xander nodded, “Yeah, I’ll do my best. When can I see him?”

"Your brother? You can see him whenever you like. We just want to get this sorted."

The cops didn’t hang around for more than five minutes. It was enough time for them to tell Xander what happened, what the security feed at the property caught, what is happening now, and what will happen if, and if they don’t, get the rest of the stolen items back.

Xander was having an average morning, only turning a little better after he met Anna and knew he was able to help her out. It pretty quickly turned good knowing he’d see again after leaving her at the motel. But now, it had all gone to s**t. After seeing the cops, he didn’t even want to look at her car today. He would though, because wherever she was heading, she’d need a car. And he had a feeling she would like it fixed sooner rather than later.

Shitty day, and it’s still raining.