A Chance At A Time

Chance XII: Kill Your Old Habits

Kristofer watched as three bikes entered the garage where he was always fixing and servicing his. He tightened the bolts on the front wheel of his bike as he watched the three young men get off theirs and walk to the small office that was at the corner of the garage where the owner hid while working behind a wall of stacked papers. When one turned to him instinctively, Kristofer dropped his eyes to the work he was doing pretending he didn't know what was happening. 

Kristofer knew why they were there and it had nothing to do with the services that the garage was offering for bikes. He had been where they were. He could smell new blood from a mile away. Those three guys were working the streets, providing anything illegal to anyone who could afford it. Kristofer knew to be so because he also did that kind of job in middle school and Highschool but stopped when he almost lost his life and his mother's health deteriorated because of him. 

Kristofer changed his life there and then and tried to be an example to his sister as well as the people who had surrounded him. Unfortunately, his appearance always left people questioning if he truly wasn't a gangster. At first, he was a little conscious about his appearance, especially his tattoos and he used to hide them but he later learned that those tattoos were a part of him, each one holding a background story. Though they told his story, he didn't need people to understand what he went through. He changed afterward because he wanted a good life for himself, his mother, and his sister. Instead, Kristofer started building a reputation where no one really knew what was going on in his life and very few asked but he was living like a decent human being.

Kristofer rubbed some grease on the moving parts of his bike and as he got up from his crouching position to make sure that everything was fine with his bike, the three guys came out, one carrying a brown paper bag. Mario was right behind them with a big grin on his face.

This was the same man who introduced Kristofer to such a life but back then, he forgot to warn him on just how dangerous the job was. Kristofer was sure that Mario had recruited those three guys to run the streets for them by supplying whatever it was that was needed and securing a network of people very loyal to the practice. 

"Mario is still working the streets?" Kristofer asked Dave, who had been working for Mario for the longest time. 

Dave was Mario's best friend but it had reached a point where their friendship was more like family and they acted more like brothers. While Mario was the daring one, exploiting every possible way to getting money, Dave was a very traditional man and he loved working with cars and bikes instead of the side business. Dave never told Mario to stop doing what he was doing but he didn't like it one bit. 

"Like he can't quit that addiction. Mario is working the streets now out of habit. It is almost like a side hobby for him. It's not like he really needs the money coming from there. I man owns real-estate for f**k's sake." The disappointment ringing in Dave's voice told Kristofer that Dave still hated what Mario was doing.

Kristofer reached for a rug hanging on a line beside him and cleaned off the grease from his hands. "He will grow out of it."

"He will never grow out of it. He has a wife and a kid, do you think he has time to reconsider his life as you did?" The frustration in Dave's voice made Kristofer wince. "I sometimes wonder why you even bother to come here. You have cleaned up nice and you are doing well for yourself with your schooling and all that, why would you want to come back to this thug?"

Kristofer chuckled then turned to his bike. "I needed to get this serviced--but if you don't want me here--"

"That's not what I meant." Dave rubbed his hand over his face and said. "I just don't want you to go back to your old life when you have something good going on for you and your family." 

Kristofer couldn't stop the dark shadow from crossing his eyes. There was once a time where Kristofer didn't have a future prospect, where he thought what he did was good enough to let him live a good life. He and a couple of other guys went around selling merch for Mario. They collected money for him from the people he protected from the law. At that time, Kristofer thought it was alright, that what he was doing to acceptable. 

Now that he thought about it, he couldn't even go back to those people and apologize for what he and Mario did to them, to their children, and their lives in general. His near-death experience brought back his senses and he quit. He was still repenting for his sins and it was the reason why he started the 'Share a Smile' program. It started out late in his life but he hoped that by helping out the community, his past sins were going to reduce somehow. 

"You are also family, Dave. Mario is too and you know that." Kristofer told him knowing how emotional Dave go every time he referred to him as family. 

Dave had an on-and-off girlfriend but he never got around to make babies with her. 

"Get your bike fixed and get the f**k out of here," Dave said and walked away leaving Kristofer grinning behind him.

Mario and Dave were the fathers that Kristofer missed having around after his own father walked out on them and went to a new place to start a new family. Kristofer felt sorry for this new family because his father was very abusive. 

"You have to feed me, at least." Kristofer teased.

"There's a cheese and ham sandwich in the fridge," Dave called back and disappeared behind one of the cars that were being repaired. 

"I see you got a brand new toy." A voice came from behind Kristofer and he straightened before turning to him.

He gave him a nod and touched the handle of his bike. "Yep and she is very loyal."

Mario smiled and the corners of brown eyes crinkled up. Kristofer noticed several new lines and grooves on his face that weren't there before. Time and hard work were showing on his face, etching up a story for everyone who knew him and saw his face now. He shoved his hands in his jean pockets and said.

"I know that you don't always come here because we give good service but I know you miss this mug of mine. Isn't that right, Kris?" Maria chuckled.

One side of Kristofer's lips went up as he used the rag in his hands to clean off the excess grease on his bike. "Is that what you tell yourself when you go to sleep at night?"

Mario threw his head back and had a good laugh. He was in his mid-forties but still very fit. He wore worn jeans with a flannel shirt. He always wanted to appear smart though he was running a garage. Kristofer could see that he had gained a little weight meaning his wife was cooking something good for him every night. Kristofer was glad that the old man was doing great...

"You still work the streets at your age, Mario?" Kristofer asked him cautiously. It was a delicate conversation because it was illegal. 

Mario sobered up and turned to the entrance of the garage. "Why are you asking as if you care? You up and left one night without so much as a farewell note."

Kristofer straightened and pulled his grey t-shirt up, exposing his tightly packed torso, and grinned at Mario grimly. "You forgot that one of your boys almost carved out my liver?"

There was a scar that ran from Kristofer's navel across to his right side. Kristofer was satisfied when he saw Mario grimace at the sight. Although the scar wasn't bad to look at, the memory of it was something Kristofer wished he could blot out. 

"For f**k's sake, he was a new recruit! He didn't know it was you." Mario defended himself.

Kristofer let his t-shirt down and gave Mario a nod. "Sure, yet it was only me that was attacked to die that night. Just after I talked to you about quitting the job. I was your best runner, you crazy f**k but it seems there is no loyalty among thieves."

Mario let out a breath of frustration and said. "I didn't put a hit on you--if I did, would you have the luxury of coming to my shop every time you feel like it?"

"But you didn't make any attempt to find out who did." Kristofer pointed out.

"Are we going to keep doing this every time you show your face in front of me, Kris?" Mario growled.

Kristofer nodded. "Pretty much, yeah. And you need to stop working the streets, you overgrown man-child. You need to take care of Catherine and Marta, give them a good life instead of putting their lives in danger with every conflict you have with the street lords." 

"What did you just call me?" He asked, removing his hand from his pockets as if preparing himself for a fight with Kris.

Kristofer grabbed the biggest wrench he could hold and tossed it around his hand, feeling its weight then turned to Mario who hesitated for a moment before he turned around and walked away, screaming obscenities to Kristofer. 

"Yo, Mario, I am hungry!" Kristofer called back.

"f**k you!" Mario yelled as he disappeared into his office, leaving Kristofer chuckling lightly to himself. 

                                                        ***************

Harper stretched contently and rubbed her eyes lightly then turned back to her assignment. She was almost done with it, she just needed someone to look through it before she handed it in. She sighed softly before saving it and switching off her laptop then got up to make her way out of the library.  As she made her way to the entrance of the library, she noticed Evans and his boys also making their way out. She never thought a bunch of bullies like them even had time to study. But then again, she recalled that Evans came to introduce himself to her at the library.

Evans noticed her too and when he looked at her, one side of his lips went up in a lop-sided pensive smile that made Harper a little concerned because she was very sure whatever he was thinking about, was not going to be good on her side. The four of them exited the library and Harper, who was a little distance behind them, let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Harper was safe in the library because she was sure Evans would not try anything that would incriminate him. As it was, there were already so many complaints from girls about him. He didn't want to confirm those complaints by attacking her in public for everyone to see! 

She had work later on that day and she needed to get going since she was taking public transport. Harper took her stuff back to her room and was surprised when she found Max there.

"Max!" She exclaimed in surprise. "I thought you were at the coffee shop. I was just getting ready to go there."

"Hi, Harper." Max smiled up at her, looking a little guilty. 

It should have felt weird to have her boss in her room like that but it didn't, thanks to Clair's bubbly personality that kept everything from being awkward. 

"You are in luck!" Clair clasped her hands together excitedly. "Max just brought me a few things I had asked for and I told him to wait for you. He came with his car so you don't have to ride the bus today, Harper. I know how much you must hate it."

What was Clair talking about? Harper loved the bus! 

"Uhm--" She looked from Clair then turned to Max. "If you don't mind, that is."

Max chuckled and got up. "Of course I don't." He turned to Clair and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Don't forget Friday, okay."

Clair rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to forget, I promise."

"Okay, but just in case, I will send you a reminder." Harper was curious as to what the two were talking about but that was kind of treading into their privacy. 

"Let's go." Max went to the door.

Harper quickly put her things on her bed and grabbed her handbag before following Max out. "See you later, Clair!" she called to her. 

Harper was amazed at how comfortable Clair was having Max move around with another girl. There were some people who were very protective when it came to their boyfriends or girlfriends but Max and Clair were best friends first before they were a couple. They grew up together so Clair understood her man very well. 

Sometimes Harper envied what the two had. She wondered if there would ever come a chance in time where she would meet someone who would treat and love her the same way that Max and Clair loved and treated each other. 

"So, the guy the last time," Max started as he walked beside her with his hands in his pockets. They stepped outside into the evening sun that was already disappearing behind the college tree groves and buildings. "Was he an ex?"

Harper scrunched her face and shook her head. "No! He was just a close family friend. We grew up together." She uttered then she realized she had just revealed a little background information about her past life. 

"He was quite surprised that you were there and he left me his number, told me to call him whenever you were having a hard time," Max explained.

Harper scoffed. "I hope you threw that card into the trash can. I am not going to go running to him when I have a hard time. I have been teaching myself how to deal with my own s**t. It wasn't easy! But I am managing to improve daily. I don't need Zander to darken my doorway."

"Now why would I do that? I run a business and my costumer's happiness is very important to me--including running little errands for them." Max removed his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans then retrieved Zander's business card. "He looks like the kind who doesn't think about when and where he is going to get his next meal." He held it out for her. 

Harper looked down at the card and sighed. "No, you keep it. He already gave me one the last time." 

"Oh, good then. You should really give him a call. He looks genuinely worried about you." Max said. 

Just how much did Max and Zander talk about that day? She remembered that as soon as she finished her work, she went to the backroom to run away from Zander. It must have been at that time that she sought out Max and started asking him about her. He had always been nosey about people's businesses. 

"When he did tell you this? Were you two talking about me when I was gone?" Harper narrowed her eyes at Max.

Max quickly laughed and shook his head. "Nothing of the thought. He just expressed his concerns about you when he was done with his snack and wanted to pay the bill."

As they made their way to the parking lot, Harper heard a familiar roaring sound of a bike. She turned to her left and Kristofer was making his way into the parking lot. Harper's heart burst hard in her chest. She had not seen him since the little incident the other night. 

Kristofer zoomed in front of them and went to park his bike a little away from where Max's car was. 

"Hey, isn't that the same guy who came for you yesterday?" Max recognized the bike that was parked outside the coffee shop when she finally finished her shift and Max and the others were left inside, closing shop for the night. 

Harper tucked a hair behind her ear and looked down at her shoes. "Can we go now?" she muttered.

Max nodded and opened the doors then moved around the car to the driver's side. Harper quickly jumped into the car hoping that Kristofer did not see her but she was dead wrong because the moment she lifted her head up, their eyes clashed.

Harper felt her throat squeeze painful that she found herself forcing the breath that refused to leave her lungs. She wanted to look away but the dark eyes burrowing holes through the door window snared hers in place, not giving her a chance to even recollect herself.

There was something about his gaze that gave Harper goosebumps and made the hairs at the back of her neck stand up. Maybe it was the sheer intensity of it. His face was grim but that expression did nothing for the soldering gaze he was giving her. It cooked up a storm, churning too close to her that she was afraid that if she allowed it to engulf her, she would be lost forever. 

Kristofer then broke the eye contact, releasing Harper for his mind-grip. Harper blinked several times and quickly turned away while Kristofer placed the helmet on the handle of his bike and walked away.

What was that about? Why did he look so angry suddenly? Well, Kristofer rarely smiled and when he did, the smile was a short promise of intense pain or a promise to retaliate yet this time around, the look on his face told Harper it was beyond normal. Something was bothering him and somehow he took it out on her. 

"Seatbelt." Max suddenly said and Harper jumped to fasten her seatbelt. 

Soon Max eased the car out of the parking lot with Harper beside him but Harper was there with him in the bike. Her mind has spirited away back to Kristofer's reaction and why he was so angry as he looked at her. She wanted to find out so she thought to go look for him after work and maybe even get him to look through her assignment before she handed it in.