Whispers in the Night

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Shy

My parts came today! I’m so excited, working on this bike is turning into therapy for me. I know eventually I will need real therapy, when this is all over. But I can't think of that right now. I have to stay focused and be able to leave at any time,but for now this is bringing my happiness back. 

That jerk in town almost spoiled my day. It was nothing I couldn’t handle or haven’t in the past. Shane got so mad, I’m not sure he got mad that it happened or that I didn’t leave enough for him. Devon on the other hand was mad but more shocked, I guess he didn’t think I had it in me. I was shocked when he called me sweetie and I liked it. Don’t get me wrong I do like them, I’ve been watching them, seeing how they talk to people and treat them. I hear how the guys say they always come through for  them or they try at least. I’m not going to make the same mistake I did with Blaine and trust them blindly but I’m starting to think the old man was right. I can trust them -at least to a point right now.

Working at night is allowing me to sleep during the day and I’m actually getting sleep. I do still have nightmares but not all the time like before. I do feel like I am finally starting to settle in and heal. It’s a process and it will take time but this is a good start. I’m starting to gain weight and getting a glow to my skin again. There are still issues but I’ll take the little things. I don’t want to get too comfortable and slack but I’m tired of running and looking over my shoulder all the time.

I’m learning  to do things for myself, my hair for one. Yes I have to change the color to help keep me from being recognized but I decide what color it will be and thinking of cutting it, just haven’t decided how short or style yet. I always had to wear it the way Blaine wanted, I had no choice but now I do. It’s small but like I said I’ll take the small things. 

I enter the garage and drop the parts at the workbench and take my bag from the pharmacy to the loft. I walk into the bathroom and look into the over sized mirror. I take my hair out of the braid and think this is as good a time as any. I have a few hours before I have to go clean, so I take my shirt off and lay out the dye products. I mix things together and apply to my hair as evenly as possible. I’m still not good at it and it gets a bit messy. 

As I wait for it to do it’s thing it’s hard to tell if it will come out right. I start to look at my body and see my ribs almost completely gone. I can’t count each one but can still see the two ribs bumping out. They didn’t heal right and still give me pain. My skin is silky smooth, I’m surprised he didn’t leave any scars. But that was never his thing, he didn’t want to leave any reminders after the bruises healed. He doesn’t know about my ribs and I wonder how he would react for a brief moment. I shake my head and check the time, time to rinse so I jump in the shower. 

I wash while I’m in there making sure the dye doesn’t stick to the rest of me. I towel off and wrap it around my body and towel dry the rest as best I can. It’s so long, it’s to my waist. I open the drawer that has the blow dryer and hair straightener. Josh really thought of everything when he stocked this place. I thought they only meant the necessities like food and bath soap but no, everything you would need to live comfortably is here and some extras.

I dry my hair and see the deep purple come to life. I’ve never been this color, it looks good. I get dressed and get some dinner when I get a text from Josh asking me to come to the shop. I grab my phone and secure the doors as I head out. When I get there everyone is still there, that’s odd. I enter the front not wanting to disturb the guys in the back working. Josh is waiting for me, I give him a confused look. 

“ It’s nice to see that look on you for once” he says. I crack a half smile knowing what he means. He points to the back and says come with me. I follow not knowing if there is a problem or not. All the guys are here, the twins, Tony, Anthony we call Ant and Ben. 

“ You have some explaining to do” says Shane and Devon nods. I look around the shop, everything looks the same as it always does. I don’t see anything out of place. I look at the rest of the guys because the twins are not giving anything away and they have smiles on  their faces watching me. 

“ About what? Did I miss something?” 

“No” Devon says “ but there has been things going on around here maybe you can help us out with.” I c**k my head to the side and wait for him to continue. “ Difficult parts have been mysteriously installed. You don’t know anything about that now do you?”

I started shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I don’t want to lie, as far as I can tell they have never lied to me but I don’t want them mad at me either. I didn’t think I did anything wrong, I was just trying to help them. Pay them back for their  kindness. I hear  my heart beat in my ears and start to sweat. 

Josh takes a step forward and says “ hey hey you're not in any trouble, calm down” in a soft tone. I lick my lips that are dry all of a sudden.  “ Ye yes” I stutter out. 

“ I was just trying to be nice and help, pay back all of what you have done for me in some way. Please don’t be mad, if I messed something up I’ll pay for it.” I rush out all in one breath. 

Now the twins' faces go soft. “ No you miss understand, we’re not mad at you. We want to thank you and give you a test so to speak. How long have you been working  on bike’s? Shane says. 

I calm down and start to relax, I’m glad they're not mad at me. Tony now steps aside showing a bike he has been working on. I look over and start to move to it “ since I was little. My uncle taught me everything I know from rebuilding to painting.” I kneel down next to it to take a better look. I look up to Tony waiting for him to explain what the problem is. “ That’s the  test dear, why are the parts not going in right? And you paint?” he asks with a twinkle in his eye. 

I c**k my head at him with a half smile “ well that's easy, the frame is off by 3 mm due to the powder coat being  too thick on the left side here” and pointing to the area. “ You can fix it or leave it, it won't stop it from performing and the slight changes won't hurt anything if you do fix it,I made sure of that.” 

Everyone is now around the bike too see where I’m pointing too. Ant shouts “ Well s**t Girl!” and starts laughing. “ Now that you point it out I see it” Ben states. I look up to the twins and see admiration and respect on their faces. “ How long have you known about that?” Devon asks. 

“Ummm, from the beginning.” “ Why didn’t you say anything?” he asks again. 

“Well I told you I could work back here when I first got here but you didn’t believe me.” I told him.  

Shane- “Who is your uncle? Looks like he taught you a lot.” 

Now I stand up and turn to him, I start to lick my lips again. I know as soon as I say his name things are going to be out in the open, my parents and me as a missing person. So I mumble “Ed Jones”. Uncle Ed is also a famous motorcycle designer. I look up and they're all gaping at me. Yup they heard me and know who he is. 

“ Ed Jones is your uncle?” Josh asks. I slowly nod my head. 

Devon- “Well shit.. If we had known that then we would have put you back here right away.”

Shane- “ You can use anything in here and the painting booth for what you're working on in the garage as well. You start in the  morning” and point to an area in the corner.

Sky- “ Before you do that I have to confess, I already have. I should have asked, I'm sorry but I can pay for the supplies and parts or give you the bike when it’s  done.” I rush out the last part. 

Devon- “ Sweetie don’t worry about that. You enjoy doing it and it seems it has helped pull you out of your shell a bit.” 

The rest of the guys walk over  to the tarp and pull it down. I have my own station with a big ribbon on it. My face lights up with a big smile and gives them a hug, I just can’t help it. 

Devon- “ I like the hair.”

Shane- “ It suits you”. 

They whisper in my ears, my smile grows bigger. I felt so good being in their arms, as I stand between them looking at MY station. Shane’s hand is on the small of my back and Devon’s is on my shoulder. I don’t want to move, it’s comforting being here like they are shielding me and saying without words they have my back. I really hope that’s true. 

Josh, Ant, Tony and Ben give me a small wave and tell me they will see me in the morning. I keep a smile on my face and nod as they leave. 

Shane- “ Little one, can I ask a question? I don’t want you to get upset.”  I stiffen a bit and wait. They glance at each other before looking down at me with soft eyes. “ You said you didn’t have any family, we all have heard about your parents and that you're classified as a missing  person. Why didn’t  you tell us about your uncle?”

I step away and turn to them. “ I guess it’s time to tell you. I have been healing slowly while being here but I don’t want to be looked at any differently after I say this. I haven’t told anyone before, never said it out loud. Maybe if I do it will help me heal more, but we should sit down, it will take a while.”

We move to the office and take a seat. “ Please save all questions for the end, if I stop I don’t know if I will be able to start again.” They agree and wait patiently for me to start.