I sit on a small black leather couch across the room. The cigarette burns between my fingers, the smoke tickling my nose. The bright neon black light illuminates the room, making people's clothes glow and shine. My hand starts to drip, from the death grip on my cold beer bottle. I glance around the room, watching people dance, drink, smoke, and play party games. The music pounds in my ears, I feel the bass rattling my bones.
She catches my attention. As if a spot light shines above her. Bright green eyes meet mine, I instantly feel calm. Then my white t-shirt and red flannel are soaked. I look down at my shirt then down at her.
"I'm so sorry, let me get you a towel." Before I could say a word she's gone. I sigh softly as I feel a slam that stings the top of my back.
"Yo Travis, nice party man." The blonde says, clearly drunk. His blue glassy eyes remind me of a beach. He's definitely crossed.
"Thanks." I take off my hat and fix my void black hair a bit. I put my black snapback on backwards. I look around the room for that girl. I see her in the kitchen getting hands full of paper towels, as she talks to another girl.
"There you are, Dove." I say walking up to her. My left Van laces are hitting the floor as I walk.
She just looks up at me with those innocent green eyes. My chest tightens seeing them.
"Dove?" She asks, her voice is soft and addicting. I feel high being near her.
I nod, then point to her. "That's you."
She just stares up at me confused, her friend has her eyebrows raised as we talk. She hands me the paper towels. Her eyes overflow with curiosity. I smile softly as I take them. I start rubbing my liquid soaked shirt.
"Thank you." I throw away the paper towels. My shirt feels damp but at least it's not soaked.
"I'm so sorry again."
"It's all good, we're chill." I put my hands up to the sides playfully with a soft smile. She giggles softly, making my heart skip a beat. "Can I get you anything? Alcohol, weed, food, I have it all." I ask, stuffing my hands in my jean pockets. I lean back on my heels.
"I- don't drink, or smoke, thank you though." Her politeness and softness makes me just want to hold her. I feel a weird sense to protect her.
"Ah, understood. Well if you need me, my name is Travis, just give me a call." I wink then smile at her softly.
She smiles back, and now I'm blind. "Thank you, Travis."
Woah she's good. Haven't learned the girl's name and she already has me hooked. I get pulled into a group with some people. They laugh and talk like I'm not there. My mind wonders anyway. Thinking about the snow colored girl, chocolate brown hair, and those forest green eyes.
The music dims, people trickle out my front door. I watch the sun rise up my back porch, out shining my cigarette and I. Gabe starts nodding off in the rocking chair, his bright blonde hair glows in the morning sun. I take another drag as smoke flows from my nose, sneaking past the black septum piercing.
I think about that dove. The girl who made me feel calm in the chaos of my life.
"I'm going to bed." Gabe grumbles as he gets up like an old man. He's obviously still drunk, as he stumbles to the glass sliding door. His blue shirt, thats too big for him, gets caught on the handle.
I nod softly as I take a drag, watching the blonde hot head navigate through our party raided house. I'll clean it later.
The sixth alarm goes off as I step into work. The oil stained floor, crying old garage doors, and the smell of brake clean burns my nose. I take a sip of hot black coffee as I set my lunch on my tool box.
"Morning, kid." Boss mumbles through his Marlboro gold cigarette. His old black t-shirt somehow shows old oil stains through the logo of the shop. His hair is short still, as if he was still in service. The skull with a war helmet always peaking above the collar of his shirt. His blue eyes look as he's seen hell on earth, but his attitude would tell you otherwise.
I nod respectfully at the old marine. "Morning boss." I respond as I light a Marlboro red 100. My brown snapback Snap-On hat shielding my eyes from the morning sun. Just a three bay garage, worked by my boss and I. Located in a busy intersection, outside of Philadelphia.
The cigarette gets pressed between my lips as I sweep up my bay for the morning. Leaves, oil dry, and brake dust gets swept into the broken dust pan. My knees crack and pop as I pick it up.
I hear Mr. Wilson greet someone but I don't bother looking up.
"Travis?" A familiar voice makes my heart pound. I look up to her forest green eyes, her small body not quite in the garage. Her white blouse, light colored blue skinny jeans and black van's clean.
"Dove," I respond softly, realizing I probably look gross with my old boots, faded black t-shirt, and oil stained blue jeans.
Boss chuckles through his cigarette, "Seems you already met my daughter."
What? A odd sense of panic enters, then leaves as its uninterested. I look at her, as she smiles softly, yet brighter then any headlights I've seen.
"She's going Temple for music." He says as smoke cuts the air between us.
I nod softly, still being held captive by her eyes. "Thats cool." My hand rubs the back of my neck, more of my sleeve tattoo shows. My mind rushes, feeling fear as I think of what my boss will think if I tell him. The old combat Marine would probably kill me if I even try to flirt.
"Is there something I- erm, we could help you with?" I ask her politely.
She just nods softly, "I just need front brakes and an oil change." She responds as Mr. Wilson puts out his nubby cigarette.
"I've got to run to the bank, kid. Hold down the fort." Mr. Wilson says as he grabs his truck keys. Now I'm alone with her.
"May I have your keys?" I ask politely. She hands me keys to a Volkswagen Beetle. I smile softly, "Kind of ironic you have a German car with what the boss yells about in here."
She giggles, my heart explodes. "I know, I heard it all when I bought it."
I chuckle softly as I walk out to the bumpy old parking lot. Different colored concreate and asphalt covers the lot. I click unlock, a blue beetle is parked in front of me. On the hood and sides are little magnetic flowers. I move the seat back, the engine roars. Whats in this thing? I drive it into my bay, line it up, and pop the hood.
"Holy shit." I say as I open the hood. Twin turbo, 4 cylinder BMW engine. Engine looks new, too new for a hundred thousand miles.
She giggles, "4.2 0 to 60 from dead stop."
This girl knows cars, I stare at her in disbelief, and it must show since she raised her eyebrow. I push it to the side as I set her car on the lift. She stands beside me as her car slowly gets raised up. The smell of her perfume makes my head spin.
"I can do the oil change while you do the brakes." She suggests, I comply.
"Alright, just as long as your dad doesn't kill me for getting his Dove dirty." I say as I start taking off her tire. She smiles as she grabs her dad's torque wrench and fifteen millimeter socket.
