Let Me Love Him

XXV.

   Norton had to put the instruments aside to hear them talking.

"What you doing here?"

And Mandy can't help but roll her eyes with a grin.

It wasn't rude of Johnny, really. He knows how to talk so that it's not offensive, just with a slight grin and a barely noticeable misunderstanding. Just a simple phrase thrown in her direction. Johnny stares at the cheerleader, holding a lit cigarette between his fingers.

Larry is looking and trying to figure out: is his friend flirting or not? With Mandy Wiles? Did she come here by herself? To the Auto Shop? It's very strange for a girl like her, but Larry knew. He knew quite well and was still trying to figure out if Johnny liked her or not. Johnny who had no idea how she felt, and if he did, he didn't think it was serious, because, well... The head-cheerleader and a simple boy from New Coventry.

Oh, he really underestimates himself.

"I want to ask you a favor, handsome."

Johnny hears a soft "o-o-oh" from Lucky and Hal.

Johnny's shaking his head, smoking.

"I'm all ears."

He doesn't seem to be flirting after all.

Fool.

Larry rolls his eyes.

Or maybe...

"But if you ask me to fight Ted, I pass."

No, he's not flirting.

"No," Mandy smiles at him, leaning against the wall nearby. God, it's so obvious. "My car didn't start this morning, and I want a professional to see it. Are you a professional?"

Johnny hears Lefty laughing with Lucky and Hal.

"What car?"

And apparently he doesn't realize she's flirting with him.

Larry's ready to slap his forehead with his palm.

The Auto Shop suddenly gets too quiet. The boys stop laughing and listen to the conversation, despite the fact that Johnny is not really pleased with such attention. He even has to carefully touch Mandy by the elbow and take her away so they don't look at them. Only Ricky remains busy, but he's distracted when Mandy responds a little later:

"It's red."

"No," Johnny walks by and leans on the hood of the car. He looks at Mandy. The girl stops by. "I mean the model and the year."

Johnny's being too serious.

"Oh... well," Mandy pauses. "It's new."

He's being so serious, it's out of line.

"Look, you'd better let Vance figure it out then," Johnny says, chuckling at the boys. "He's been obsessed with modern cars lately."

Mandy frowns a little when Johnny opens the hood of the car. She even starts to freeze, and something — probably dust — hits her nose, which makes her want to sneeze so loudly! Okay, she doesn't understand these cars, she doesn't understand how they can work here all the time! She wants to get mad that she came here herself, but when she wobbles, Johnny barely touches her shoulder.