Free

9. Niall

My fifteen minute break was over before I even got the chance to finish my lunch. I could be a slow eater, but I like to take my time. I had already gotten finished with one car. For me my work has been done. Though my boss Rosa had told me otherwise.

"This girl with her boyfriend are asking to get their headlights fixed, your the only one not doing anything so I suggest you get to it" If it weren't for my need of money. Rosa would be down on his knees pleading for forgiveness.

I walk into the garage pulling my shirt back on and folding my already short sleeves. I recognize the girl from last night. It was her birthday. I don't remember her being with her boyfriend. I do indeed call to mind that she had just gotten out of a relationship with Jason. God women are confusing. Looking for a rebound as soon as they finish with someone else.

"Hey, your Niall right?" The guy says when I've walked up to him and the girl. Vanessa I think her name was. No Vanessa was the one making googly eyes at Harry. Maisie.

"Yeah" I breathe as Maisie turns around to face me. She's shocked and doesn't try to hide it. "Harry's friend no?" He smiles and nods. I want to roll my eyes but he's a customer. I've been warned about it before. Rosa won't hesitate to fire me.

"Yeah that's me" He says. "Michael" I nod and shake the hand he's offering me.

"So headlights are broken?" I ask pulling out my cloth from my back pocket and clean my hands. Why bother, I'm going to dirty them anyways.

"Yeah, only one though it's been broken for a while" I look at Maisie when she answers and I can tell she got scared for a moment when she got my attention. But she recovers and continues to speak. "Um how much would it take to get them fix?"

"Depends, how much your willing to pay" I smile for a second before I examine the Buick Lucerne. I was being sarcastic to her, only because Rosa will have my balls if I dont. "I'd say fifty each. But you say one is broken so I guess your lucky"

"How much time will it take?" Michael asks.

"Ten minutes. To fix it. It'd take half an hour to find the correct bulb. It won't take long, you could stay or come back later" I sigh. I can tell Maisie keeps looking at me. Not because I'm talking, she probably didnt even pay attention. But because we met yesterday. Not really, though I was there to witness what happened with herself and Jason.

"Great then! We'll stay and wait. I'm going to go across the street and get something to eat in the mean time, do you want anything? Tea?" Michael offers her and she nods.

"You know me" She laughs awkwardly and looks back at me.

"Alright then I'll be right back" He says.

"You could take a seat" I tell Maisie after Michael has disappeared and start working on the headlights. It has only been a minute just as she starts to talk to me.

"He's not my boyfriend" She says.

"So?" I don't bother to look up at her. I open the engine compartment hood and locate the back of the headlight to determine the lamp and bulb type.

"Your probably wondering who he is"

"I could easily assume that he's your brother. But no I wasn't wondering and thank you for noting that" I smile shortly and walk away to get the things I need.

She's irritating and annoying. But that's just me. Everyone easily pisses me off. They are just lucky I keep my mouth shut about it.

I was glad to actually have and find the bulb I needed. Moments later I walk back out into the garage. Maisie is sitting by herself, looking down at the floor. She better not fucking talk to me. I like to work at peace.

"Hey, white-boy your the one attending the señorita?" Jose another mechanic who has worked here longer than me asks when I pass by him.

"What?" I stop in tracks and turn to look at him.

"The girl right over there" He motions to Maisie.

"What about her?"

"Kid, with that kind of attitude that you have. You can't win a girl over. Now you may be quiet and all but when you open that mouth you say all kinds of shit" His Spanish accent is barely understandable but I comprehend what he says.

"I'm not trying to win her over" I roll my eyes.

"I wasn't saying you was" He smiles.

"You cocky bastard" I mutter to myself and walk back to my station. I'd rather not even glance at Maisie, as irritating as she has been so far since yesterday. No one beats Jose. He's an asshole, and open minded. He'll say the first thing that comes to his mind.

I finished the headlights in twenty minutes. The whole time Maisie was alone with her whatever he is, Michael, still MIA. She hadn't said a word since she had voluntarily informed me that Michael wasn't her boyfriend. Like I give a shit. But he has been "across the street" the whole time I was fixing Maisie's headlights. Quickly I tell her that I'm done and get the bill. I hand it to her but she becomes clumsy and drops it, landing in front of my feet.

"Sorry I get clumsy" She bends down and looks up. Giving me a few ideas in ming but she's back on her feet before I can process what I had just thought.

She's awfully close that I can feel her breath on my chest. I don't know why I haven't moved away, but she hasn't either. She's looking at me with big eyes. And usually when people look at me like that they are criticizing me. But I see no judgment in her eyes whatsoever. I realize what's going on and decide to move away in a swift movement before she gets any ideas. I don't want her misinterpreting the situation.

"That'll be it?" I ask.

She nods nervously, gripping her fingers around the bill in her hands. By now I know Jose is looking at me from where he is with that stupid smirk on his face. I'll have to face him later, right now I'm still waiting for Maisie to pay what she owes.

"Sorry" She pulls out her wallet and takes out the right amount of cash then hands it to me. I quickly scan and count and watch as she gets into her car and drives out of the garage without another word.