Banging Gears (Book 1)

Chapter 1: "Pilot"

In a world where you're brought without your consent, where you're forced to obey by the rules and act accordingly, where even before your own birth you're automatically set to accept certain 'gender roles " and turn a blind eye to the obvious discrimination that has been slowly destroying our society...

... On top of all of that, you're forced to attend human binding rituals whether you like it or not.

I'm talking about weddings.

It's unbelievably tiring, forcefully waking up at 6am on a Sunday to help prepare for a ceremony that doesn't even involve yourself

Certain questions came to mind as I grumpily turned on the lights in my room with hopes that the bright beams will do anything to wake my eyes up.

Why am I doing this?

Why did I agree to do this?

When did I even agree to do this to myself?

I'm pretty sure I said no.

Flashback

"So, I want you here at 7:30 on Sunday to help with all this mess" my lovely Aunt Helen said, casually sipping her iced latte,scanning the screen on her desk for her next client that was already fifteen minutes late.

"Why do you need me at 7:30 on a Sunday? You're not even awake before 9am on any day!" I said staring at the back of her head while trying to sweep up the mess her employees made and didn't bother cleaning up. "what am I even supposed to do so early? Your wedding is on Saturday of next week, we have time" I tried to explain in an attempt to keep my day off to myself.

"You need to come and help with the decorations, most of them need to be done by Tuesday so the decorator can see where everything will finally go" she said.

"Yeah, that's why you have a de-co-ra-tor, it's her freaking job" I said matter of factly.

I'm I the only one that sees a problem with this?

"Yeah but it's cheaper if we do it, why are you making such a fuss, it's not like you have anything better to do on a Sunday, might as well help your only aunt" she said, seeming pretty pleased with the fact that I won't be able to refuse, even tho I want to.

"I could be working on my car on Sunday, like I wanted. It's the only day I have off work, my whole week is filled with work in the mornings and classes in the evenings" I explained, but I know I won't get anything out of this.

"Just do this one thing"

"No"

"It's easy you'll see it won't take that long"

"No"

"I'll give you 50 bucks for your time"

"You better have food and pay upfront"

End of flashback

So here I am, all dressed in baggy sweats and a crop top,sitting at the kitchen table watching Bob's Burgers on YouTube while I wait for my bagel to be done so I can eat it on the way.

No, I will not pay for Hulu.

No, Netflix has almost zero of the things anyone likes.

It's not that I don't want to help with my aunts wedding, I just don't feel like staying all day at her place trying to put everything together when she has her sister in law (aka the "decorator") living just above her and has her in laws living in the apartment below. I mean, they could also help with all this instead of having me and my mum every day at her place doing all the work.

Sunday is the only day I can work in the garage without anyone complaining.

And now that's gone.

Why is everything difficult?

Deciding on ditching the bagel for lunch when I come back later, I grab my keys and bag and head out to my car.

As Im locking the door, I get a feeling of being watched, something that happens every time I either return to or leave the house.

Looking around me I notice nothing unusual, so I choose to ignore it and make my way to the garage across the street from my house, where I sometimes help and they let me work on my car on Sundays for free since they're closed.

"Good morning Mr C" I yelled once I was inside the shop, only I wasn't met with the usual bright eyes and smart comeback

No, instead I was met with a 6 feet tall frowning lookalike of Mr Calvin and the original old and tired looking version, both staring at me.

"Hello Kass, I didn't hear you coming in" Mr Calvin said. "you wanna bring the car in? I have your spot free".

"No worries Mr. C, I have to help my aunt today so I won't be coming in till later, I might be back at lunch time, if you don't mind I'd like to bring the car then and maybe staying up until closing time?" I said kindly and then turned to look at the boy besides Mr C.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything? I just came by to say good morning" I apologised.

"Oh God no, you didn't interrupt anything, this is my son Aaron. Aaron, this is Kassidy" Mr. C introduced and pointed to me.

"She comes in regularly for help and when business is low enough she works on her own car in the back." Mr. C explained to Aaron while handing me a 50$ bill.

"This is for last week, you got a lot of stuff done, you're a real help around here" Mr. C said before saluting me and going back to his office.

"So, you're like a cleaning lady or something around here? What do you do?" Aaron asked, eyeing me up and down, frowning.

"Um no, I do help with the cleaning as does everybody here, but I work on cars, I'm a mechanic" I answered nonchalantly.

Sexist assumptions like his are not going to get to me.

"You work on cars here? And my dad lets you? What would you even know about fixing cars? He exclaimed loudly, laughing like the ass that he seems to be.

Sexist much?

" Yeah he does, apparently he needed a good mechanic and saw how good my work is, so he didn't waste any time hiring me. Bye" I said curtly and turned around the corner and back across the street to my car.

Who the f**k does he think he is assuming what I do and what I know about cars? Since when is it OK to belittle a stranger?

Fuck him

I unlocked the drivers door and got in, starting up my car.

Backing up, I put it in first and got right in front of the garage where Mr. C and his d**k of a son were sitting, revving my baby so high it startled the both of them.

With Mr. C grinning and waving and Dickhead eyefucking my car, I pressed on the gas and made my way to my aunts house so the torture can be begin.

What a great way to start your day off huh?