Old Scars, Future Hearts

16

Since Erica had fiddled with Stiles' Jeep, he drove himself and Marika to the mechanic's shop to get it fixed.

The mechanic was a cocky guy, the kind of guy Marika tended to dislike. "Hey! Hey? Wh -- what do you think you're doing? All I needed was a starter."

The mechanic gave Stiles a sarcastic nod. "Yeah, but it looks like your whole exhaust system has got to be replaced here." He looked at Marika and smiled.

Stiles shot him a frown. "Why do I get the feeling you're slightly over-estimating the damage?" He narrowed his eyes, not liking how Marika was being studied and stepped in front of her.

"It's probably gonna run you around like $1200 in parts and labor."

Stiles scoffed. "Do you know what a limited differential is?"

"No-"

"Yeah, coming on more like $1500."

"Okay. Just finish. I'll be back here, seething with impotent rage!"

Stiles crossed his arms, then touched the handle to find a sticky substance. He gave a look of disgust. "Oh. Nice. It's real sanitary. Quality establishment you're running here."

The mechanic said nothing and Stiles muttered, "Figures."

Stiles fell to the ground and Marika quickly realized he couldn't move. She noticed a picture of the mechanic in a Beacon Hills lacrosse uniform.

Stiles looked at the mechanic, as best as he could, and tried to get his attention. "No. Hey. Hey! Hey! Uh."

"Watch out!" Marika yelled, wincing as the mechanic got crushed under the Jeep.

A voice caught her attention. "911, what's your emergency?"

Stiles looked at Marika with a terrified expression.

Marika grabbed the phone and said, "Stiles and I are at the mechanic's shop. Something happened and we need help as soon as possible."

A lizard creature appeared at the glass door to the waiting area and hissed at Marika and Stiles before disappearing.

Eventually, the police appeared and the sheriff asked, "What happened?"

Stiles glanced at Marika and she said, "We heard a sound and saw the Jeep fall on the mechanic."

He frowned at her, like he knew she was lying to him. "I'll ask again. What happened?"

Stiles let out a sigh. "She told you. We just -- we walked in and we saw the Jeep on top of the guy, that's all."

"Did you hear something or did you see the Jeep on that guy? What's wrong with your hands?"

Stiles glanced to Marika before saying, "Nothing. Can we just get out of here now?"

"Look, if there's something you don't think you can tell me-"

Stiles scoffed. "You think we're lying?"

"Your stories don't add up, but no, of course not. I'm just worried about you two. Marika's brother is worried about her. Now, if you two saw someone do this, if you're afraid that maybe they're gonna come back and make sure you don't say anything about it-"

"We didn't see anything. At all. Can we go now please?"

Sheriff Stilinski nodded. "Sure. But not in your Jeep. We're gonna have to impound it. Sorry kid, evidence. I'll see you at home. Make sure you get Marika back safely."

Stiles let out a defeated sigh. "All right, well, at least make sure they wash it."

While they waited for Scott to pick them up, Stiles asked her, "Are you okay?"