Chance Encounters

MARK’S POV PT 3

Yup,brand new day,just same old s**t. Muttering some select words I heard Matt in the shower. My kid brother could be the world’s most obnoxious person. I rolled out of bed and opened the bathroom door to brush my teeth. “Hey d**k head,I’m in the shower.” I spat some toothpaste into the sink. “Like I give a damn. I know you are,but I needed to brush my teeth.” Matt screamed some profanities at me as I shut the door. I ran into my mother who seemed to be in a rush to get out of the door. “Cereal is in the cabinets and milk is in the fridge. I have to go.” I nodded and yawned. Today was going to be a rough one. Making the executive decision to skip breakfast I got dressed and hopped into my Olds.

This parking lot was a disaster, driving around it I made a loop and found that big red truck. In my rear view Larry wasn’t that far behind me. I parked on the left of her and Larry parked on the right. She was in her truck sipping something out of a thermos. I hopped in scooting all the way into the middle to give Larry the window seat. That was the one downfall of her truck, not very roomy. “What the hell is that?” She handed it to me, “Just tea with some honey and sugar.” I took a swig. To my surprise it was actually really sweet and warming. Larry got passed a joint and began to hit it, cough,and pass it to me. Happily taking it I toked on it for a while. Of course decent moments seem to come and go because when I went to look over at Skye a security officer was banging on the window.

Well; pulling off the future convict list look was Me,Skye and Larry. Everyone stared at us going down the hallway. The way the officer led us into school made us look like a total chain gang. I rolled my eyes, how could this get any worse? Before I even had that thought the principal took us back to his office. He glared at Larry and I, and shook his head at skye. “You two are some of the absolute worst kids I’ve ever dealt with. You literally just transferred here and now you are running around with them?!” I shook my head. This couldn’t be real,honestly I didn’t need to deal with my father if they decided on calling home. His lecture seemed to go on until I heard the magic words, “I’m not calling your parents… today. However, don’t come back to see me.” We all nodded and went our way to auto shop.

In the hallway were your typical groups, but then there was the three of us. Larry was the nerd,definitely held his own as an electrical prodigy. I was the mechanic, I could fix just about anything. Skye,she was the wild card, she seemed well versed in the mechanical field,but could also weld and machine parts to work. We all made a pretty good team. Larry went to get his car to put on the hoist as Skye and I continued our walk to the shop. “You any good at breaks?” I asked to which I got a sideways glare. “Yeah,why?” I chuckled, god she was defensive, yet so damn hot when being defensive. “Well Larry needs some help on his breaks and I figured you and I could do them together while he does his electric projects.” She sighed and nodded, “Sure whatever works for you two.” I smiled giving her a wink and a nod.

Larry pulled in his car into the shop. I watched as Skye was already underneath of it adjusting the lift arms to be on the frame. “Mark check this out.” He pulled a horn and a ton of wires out of his backpack. “It’s a train horn.” He started laughing. Skye shook her head while holding the lift button. Larry was still in his car as he needed to take off the steering wheel and clock spring. It didn’t matter too much that he was in there though as he knew not to rock the car. Skye straight away grabbed a piece of pipe and put it on the end of the ratchet. I gave her a sideways glance “What is all that about?” She responded as she put the socket on the lug nuts. “Lugs are a b***h to get off,and honestly I’m not f*****g with it.” I nodded,wasn’t wrong there I suppose. I seen Larry was pretty involved into his project, “Larry just know you are going to be stuck up there for a while we got both wheels already off.” I seen him give me a thumbs up as we continued on replacing the rotors and pads. Now the front was easy,nothing too exciting as Larry for the most part was easy on his breaks. The back was drum breaks and that was a pain in the ass. They haven’t been touched since he got this car. Skye pulled the left side off, “OH WHAT THE HELL!?” I heard her yell. I was on the right side attempting to get the cross threaded lug off. “What’s wrong?” I asked she shook her head walking over to me only to show me how the spring snapped off and was rattling around. “Larry that’s why your rear breaks were making noise.” We replaced them and went on our way to fixing the tierods. Which I’ll give the girl credit,she had them off in a matter of thirty minutes give or take,and it only took her about twenty minutes to put the new ones on. We put the tires back on and by that time Larry was done doing whatever mad scientist things he was up to. We lowered the car and he hopped on out. “Thanks,you two kicked ass especially her,I’m shocked that she was able to keep up with you.” I smiled. Skye wished us a good day as she was now headed to her new job.

I wanted to say that I was looking forward to the rest of my day,but I wasn’t. I still owed Matt one more date with May and if that wasn’t bad enough it was going to cut into my car funds. I sighed and slouched in my desk. “Excuse me Mr. Collins would you like to tell the entire class what the answer to this math problem is?” My teacher asked. I glanced up at the chalk board, “uh 3?” I responded. She shook her head, “Mr. Collins I would like to remind you that you have a test on this tomorrow and it would be in your best interest to pay attention.” I nodded and looked like I was slightly more focused. Truth be told I was more curious as to what Skye was up to, probably having more fun working in a shop. Lucky her. The bell dismissed us and I got up and went out the door. Larry met up with me and asked if I wanted to hang out I shook my head. “Sorry I have a “date” to go on,maybe tomorrow or whenever it ends.” He laughed, “I assume it’s with May?” I nodded, “I might just write Smith & Wesson a letter asking if they need some taste testers, I hate that I agreed to this for Matt.” Larry patted me on the shoulder and wished me luck. Trust me I needed all the luck I could get.

I got home and went straight to my room. I took a couple hits out of my bong and after that I was honestly ready to work on my car,but I begrudgingly picked out a halfway decent shirt and jeans and got in my Olds. I also had to go and drive to her house. It was already a rough day.

Picking her up I opened the door for her,her dad gave me a nod of approval,little did he know that I was only doing it so she wouldn’t scratch the paint on my door. “Mark! I’m so happy you didn’t forget.” She squealed in my ears. “I wish I did.” I mumbled. “Anyway let’s get dinner I’m starving after cheer practice.” I rolled my eyes. “Where to?” I asked. She wanted to go to an Italian place. I walked in ahead of her and groaned. The waitress seated us and asked for our drinks. I wanted just a water and she ordered some sort of Italian soda. Instead of eating quietly she insisted on small talk. “So Mark you going to homecoming?” Her voice and her dress were equally as obnoxious. I shrugged and ate as quickly as I possibly could. I threw money on the table and we got up. “I need to stop at the auto parts store before I take you home.” I said. Her eyes lit up at the chance to spend more time with me.

I pulled into the parking lot of the store. She then decided to try and convince me why I should go to homecoming with her. “I don’t want to go it’s as simple as that. Besides you are pushing something on me that I don’t want.” She pouted, “You are the one who asked me out.” She said. I shrugged getting annoyed at this point. “No I’m only doing this as a favor to my brother.” She looked over my shoulder and I looked behind me. Skye was getting into her truck and before I could stop her May was already out of my car running up to her. I got out just listening to May go off. “YOU NO GOOD MAN THIEVING w***e!!!” Skye looked visibly confused. “What the hell are you talking about?” May responded nearly hysterical about ready to yank her truck door off. I chuckled,that would be a piss poor move on her end. Not to mention her loud screaming was drawing a crowd at this point. “MARK IS ALL MINE I HEARD ALL ABOUT YOU HANGING OUT WITH HIM.” May yelled. Now knowing Skye,she was from the country, farm work made her body a whole lot more muscular than one would think. She tried to drag Skye to the concrete,but she wasn’t budging. I went over to the scene that May created. “HEY! IF WE WERE A THING ITS OVER NOW!” I yelled. Skye snagged her up in a choke hold and threw her on the ground, “Just leave me alone May.” She growled, getting up she was basically giving her a warning. Her knee was in her stomach. “Don’t you ever dare rip my truck door open again.” Skye got up and honestly it was comical watching this all unfold. May decided to take the opportunity to throw a punch at the back of Skye’s neck,which was a pretty f****d up move. As soon as Skye spun around she took off running,but wearing heels were her downfall as she wasn’t very fast in them. Skye grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her into one of the most vicious left hooks I’ve ever seen. I cringed when her fist made contact with May’s face. May might have been in cat fights,but Skye fought like a mountain lion. I walked over laughing. “That’s one hell of a left hook. Remind me to have you on my side in a fight. I have to drive that disaster back home. If you are home I’ll come visit you after.” She smirked and nodded.

The whole way back to May’s house was spent with her crying to which I didn’t even want to touch. “I… can’t believe you didn’t defend me..” She wailed from the back seat. “I know better than to mess with farm kids,looks like you learned your lesson too.” She cried some more. I glanced back and seen her eye was turning purple. I grimaced, that will be one hell of a black eye. She got out of my car and went inside. I pulled out of the driveway before anyone could ask me questions.