Grease Monkey- h.s

5

"Tell me all that you know about imaginary numbers." I demanded as Harry lay up under my car, working.

He was silent.

"Harry, this was what today's lesson was over!" I huffed. It was Tuesday. We'd spent everyday since Friday together. I'd rattle off math questions & when he got tired of answering, he'd try to teach me something about cars. So far I could change oil and flat tires. I could fix dents and refill winshield wiper fluid. Needless to say, Harry got tired of math quickly and it was always hard to get him to focus when a car was in front of him.

"I get so distracted in that class!" He defended as he rolled out from under my car on his creeper.

"What in the world could possibly steal your focus every class like that?" I asked. He quickly rolled back under the car.

"Stuff." He mumbled.

I decided to let him be secretive and not try to figure out what that meant. Harry had become the closest thing I had to a friend out here, but we never got too personal. Our conversation was usually limited to math, cars and jokes. I didn't mind. As soon as I got back to New York, it'd be practically impossible to keep in touch, so I'd decided I didn't even want any friends here. When Harry finished my car, I'd planned on letting the "friendship" fizzle out. He'd pass a math test and I'd get to go back to New York. It was a win-win situation, really. It'd be better for the both of us.

"Wanna learn how to take out an engine?" Harry asked from underneath my car.

"Sounds like so much fun!" I said, sarcastically. "But my dad just pulled up. Have fun and study over imaginary numbers tonight, okay?" I grabbed my bag and turned to look at where he was.

"Bye." He was annoyed that I told him to look over his math. I shook my head and headed for my dad's car.

++

I paced back and forth, waiting for Harry. My parents had to be at work early and since my car was in the shop, Harry had agreed to pick me up for school. He was late.

I stopped pacing when I heard a loud engine in the driveway. I opened the door to see Harry on an old, vintage Harley. He waved and I made my way down the front steps.

"You drive a motorcycle?! How did I not know this?" I asked, sliding on behind him.

"You don't pay much attention." He laughed and began to pull out of my driveway. I made a disapproving face. I paid attention to everything that involved me.

I held onto my seat as Harry picked up speed.

"I don't mind if you hold onto me, you know? I'd drive faster, too. I can't risk you falling off." His raspy voice sounded over the roar of the motorcycle.

I slowly eased my arms around his waist. Frick. I was trying not to hold on too tightly, but I could still feel his muscles through his shirt. It felt like he had a twelve pack up under there. Plus he smelled of aftershave. And he drove a motorcylce for Pete's sake. I was having a rough time with all of those factors. Sure he was attractive, but Kyle was waiting on me in New York. Yes, Kyle. I shook off the flusters as we continued to speed down the road.

++

"Why are you not in study hall, looking over imaginary numbers?!" I scolded Harry as I found him in my usual spot, leaning against the brick wall of the school, outside.

"I asked you to be my tutor, not my mother." He took a drag from his cigarette.

"I'm sure your mother would thank me."

Harry's jaw tensed and he didn't respond.

"Want a smoke?" After a bit of silence, Harry offered me a cigarette.

"I've never smoked." I spoke.

"You can try a drag of mine if you want." He held out the cigarette he was smoking. I took it from him. I must've looked at it funny as I twirled it through my two fingers, trying to figure it out. He sort of laughed.

"Just put it to your lips and inhale. You may cough since it's your first time." He watched me intently as I put the cigarette to my lips. I inhaled. My lungs burned, but I held the cough in. I took another drag, swearing I could taste Harry on his cigarrette. He held his hand out for me to give it back. I did so, reluctantly.

"They're not real so why do we even worry about them?" He spoke and it took a second for me to realize he was talking about imaginary numbers.

"Just because we call them imaginary doesn't mean they're not real. They have a distinct place. We mostly call them imaginary because we need them, but we don't fully understand them. Without them, the mathematical system would be incomplete - it wouldn't work properly." I glanced at him.

"So we need them, but since we don't understand them, we label them as imaginary - or not real. Sounds like shit. You can't just treat something like it's nothing because you don't want to take the time to understand it." He seemed frustrated.

"They're just numbers, Harry." I reminded him. It was as if he was talking about more than the imaginary numbers. I had to snap him out of it. I didn't need anyone thinking they could confide their problems in me. I couldn't fix my problems and everyone else's, too.

"I've gotta get back to study hall." I lied, hoping to give him some space. He nodded as I headed back inside.