Margaret and Olivia

Chapter Six: Slashed Tires and Slashed Hearts

I sat at the smoothie shop and waited. I knew my plan inside and out, but I was nervous nonetheless. I loved Olivia, and I needed to make sure this Antonio guy was actually into her. I couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt. So I waited, and sipped my strawberry smoothie. I had been sipping smoothies and waiting every day since Olivia and I had spoken. I glanced at my watch and frowned. It was 7:15. He should have left by now. The watch also showed the date; it was August 18th, the perfect day.

I stood up and threw away my smoothie when I saw him. Tall and handsome, he was exiting the diner and heading for his car. It was Friday, and I was sure he would follow his usual routine. He would go to the diner every other day. On days he didn't go, he would pick Olivia up from work at the end of her 11 o'clock shift. On days he did go, he would stay from 6 pm until 7 pm, then she would drive herself home. I was hoping this routine would apply to today.

It did.

He headed to his truck and almost entered the vehicle when he noticed something amiss. Two of his tires had been slashed. He pounded his hand on the bed of the truck. A spark of anger igniting inside him. I crossed the street over to him.

"Excuse me, sir. I couldn't help but notice something was wrong. Do you need help with anything?"

Antonio looked me over, trying to figure out if I was a threat. My blue jeans and striped shirt with a black hoodie seemed to pass the assessment because he started talking.

"Well, unless you got two extra tires, I don't think you can be of much help. But thanks, pal."

"I don't have two extra tires, but there is an automotive shop just down the way. I could drive you there?" I tried to be friendly, hoping I wasn't coming off creepy. He contemplated the offer, then nodded his head yes.

"Yeah, that would be great. Thank you." He extended his hand, and I took it and shook it. "My name is Antonio Thomas."

"Pleasure to meet you, Antonio. I'm Jack Folse." I had planned to use a false name when approaching Antonio about Olivia just in case she had mentioned me. And now, under these circumstances the idea seemed a little silly, but it was too late. I couldn't admit that I had lied.

I took Antonio to my car and drove him to Petey's Auto: The Best of the Best. From previous experience, I knew that Petey's was nowhere near being the best; however, he was the nearest. When we arrived, the door jingled, but no one was in sight.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Antonio shouted over the counter.

"Hold your britches. I'm coming." An old voice snarled from the back room. I recognized the voice from the first – and only – time I had interacted with Petey. After a bit of time passed, an old man with aging bones entered.

"What do you want?" He barked at us. Antonio explained the situation, and the old man listened, or maybe he was sleeping. I wasn't sure. His breathing was a rhythmic snore of sorts.

"Yeah, yeah, sonny, we got one of those tires in the back."

"But I need two, sir." Antonio said with exhaustion.

"Well, I got one. Come back tomorrow, and I'll have the other one."

"But I need them both tonight." Antonio tried to remain patient, but even I was struggling with the old man.

"But I only got one tonight." Petey said, as though Antonio was incapable of understanding English.

"I understand that. However, does anyone else have the other tire or both tires?"

"Nope. Well, none that I know of. Ain't nobody better than me." I laughed at that, and Petey glared at me. "But if you come by tomorrow, I could have 'em both."

"Then what am I supposed to do tonight?"

"Have your buddy bring you home." He said nodding at me. "Or call I cab. I know a great guy."

Antonio sighed at the guy in disbelief. Antonio came over to me and began whispering. He wanted to know if I could bring him home tonight. He would get a ride tomorrow, but he needed a ride for tonight. I said it was no problem, and he thanked me profusely. We left without the tires; he planned to buy them both from someone else tomorrow.

When we got into my car, Antonio turned to me.

"Jack, you are a good man. You know that? I want to repay you. Let me buy you a drink."

"Oh, it's nothing. Just doing a good deed."

"No, I insist. There's this new bar around here that I've been meaning to try. Let me take you there and buy you a drink. You are twenty-one, though, right?"

"Okay, yeah, you can buy me a drink. But I insist on only one drink. And yeah, I'm twenty-one. You?"

"I'm twenty-one, too."

I nodded in response. Antonio and I were the same age. More proof that Olivia and I could have been together. Antonio started rattling off the directions to the bar, and luckily didn't notice my shift in tension.