𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀𝗲 ✰ 𝗃𝗃 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖺𝗇𝗄 「1」

one

- GREASE MONKEY -

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     THIS STUPID PIECE of shit.

     Beck held her breath at the back of her throat, hands gripping her steering wheel to the point her knuckles turned a bright ivory. But her focus was on the way her engine shook as she drove which caused her entire body to tremble right along with it.

     Sounds she knew weren't normal had been spewing from her rickety truck in addition to the mysterious leak she couldn't be more confused as to where it was coming from.

     "Come on, baby. Just a little more." She urged her ancient relic of a vehicle with her tongue between her teeth as the tensity overtook her and she pulled into the parking lot of the automotive repair shop she'd passed on her many ventures to The Cut.

     The question she'd pose at least once a day popped up in her mind right on cue. Maybe an heirloom like this decades old hunk of junk was more practical in theory. A question always leading her to wonder if she should've scrapped it when she had the chance.

     She barely made it off the road before a gray smoke cloud erupted from the hood. Her eyes bugged out in fear for her well-being, but more importantly, her poor car.

     "Oh, fuck." Beck mumbled, quick to turn off the vehicle before rushing out the door and backing away from the smoke. She raked her nervous hand through her hair, profanities falling from her lips like April showers.

     Seamlessly convincing herself her car was about to explode, Beck sprinted into the garage faster than she would had she been chased.

     She halted looking around at the few cars sitting in wait to be fixed, most of which had rust up the sides and appeared to have at least three layers of pact on mud. It was definitely... The Cut.

     "Hello?" She called, voice panicked to an extent she almost felt embarrassed by, her composure was never so easily tarnished as it was right now.

     The lights were old and worn considering how little brightness emitted, but she furrowed her brows as she spotted a single soul with their nose in the hood of some rusty, old jeep.

     Her steps growing closer, she took in the sight of a white cut off spotted with stains that hung from broad shoulders and grey cargo shorts with at least five holes scattered across the presumed hand-me-down material. The cherry on top if you weren't already sure he was a Pogue, was a pair of black combat boots that had clearly seen better days.

     "Excuse me?" She spoke up as polite as she could muster. However, her truck could explode if it hadn't already and patience wasn't a quality she often possessed.

     Beck would argue different, but she had a short fuse and this man only made it worse having left her with no answer, let alone any form of acknowledgment.

     Bobbing his mess of blonde locks softly to the tune of the music coursing through the earbuds stuck in his ears, —far too deep for healthy listening— Beck stepped a little closer with her hands folded behind her back as she leaned down to grasp his attention.

     "Excuse me!" This time louder, she finally captured his eyes.

     The boy turned his head in an unbothered tilt to catch the annoyed expression painted on her face, his bright blue eyes tracing over her in some sort of study.

     "Can I help you?" He stood to his full height letting a cheap earbud fall from his ear and hang by its wire.

     Lo and behold, JJ Maybank stood before her and she had to fight the urge to roll her eyes as a smirk threatened his lips.