Perfect Strangers | Sebastian Stan

[3] Whipped

THE CLOCK striking 11:45 on the classroom wall marked the end of Jane's Mechanic of Structures and Solids class. She quickly packed her books and laptop and walked down the auditorium stairs to exit the room, but before she managed to head out, her professor, who was also her thesis advisor called her over.

"Miss Riley, how are you today?" The professor asked with a smile as he shoved papers into his briefcase.

"Uh, I'm fine, sir."

"Listen, I have good news regarding your thesis. We might be able to get a closer inspection to make your research an even more credible one."

Jane's eyes perked up at the news and she couldn't help but to grin. "Seriously? Oh, wow that's amazing."

"Yes, I'm still waiting on the confirmation so I don't have much, but it's in October and in Austin, Texas. So, do what you have to do and clear your schedule." He smiled before walking out of the classroom, leaving Jane with a huge grin and a hand over her mouth.

Suddenly, that incredibly stubborn wall that was surrounding her head gradually crumbled down and that light at the end of the tunnel was like a rope being thrown to her, pulling her out of the rut. The tiny gears in her brain immediately started grinding and ideas were spewing out like wildfire. Research approaches and theories were suddenly popping into her head that she had to stop walking and pull out a tiny notebook to write everything down.

Just like that, the grey cloud that was hovering over her for the past month disappeared and she felt like she was walking on air. Jane felt like for the first time in a while, the world was on her side and that was enough to bring a permanent smile to her face. After texting Jay that she'll be at the shop in an hour, she walked home to freshen up. Switching her more formal attire to a more relaxed one, she stood in front of her vanity to apply a tiny amount of makeup, mascara and a single coat of lipstick.

The ride to the shop was slightly irritating due to the traffic but that was not enough to make a dent Jane's elated mood. She strolled through the main floor of the shop to the back room with a smile, earning a weird stare from Jay who was standing with a wrench in his greasy hands.

"What's up with you?" He asked Jane after getting back onto the floor with her uniform on.

"Nothing." She said, with a stupid grin still plastered on her face.

"Did you get laid?"

Jane gasped and smacked Jay on the arm. "No! I got a breakthrough in my research, you perv."

"Psh, nerd." He playfully mocked and went back under the car to fix an ECU error in a 2008 Lancer Evo X.

Jay Hanna started working at COBB Tuning fresh out of college, after making a name for himself in the street racing world. The once delinquent is now a dedicated worker and a father to an incredibly smart 3 year old, after getting married to a nurse at a local hospital, whom which he met after being driven to the hospital following a bar brawl. Now living straight and narrow, he fast-climb the ladder and earned the title of Performance Advisor under his belt.

When Jane Riley was offered the job at the shop, Jay quickly took her under his wing and mentored her even though Jane doesn't need much of help to begin with. Their relationship soon evolved into a sibling-like bond, Jay being incredibly protective and caring towards Jane and her looking up so much to him. There is only one person who knows Jane inside out, and that man is Jay Hanna.

"So, got anything for me today?" Jane sat cross-legged on the floor next to the car.

There was a grunt and a few mumbling before Jay answered her question. "I think so, I might have something coming up this week."