One of the Guys

VIII

Reaching my Jeep in the driveway in the morning, I am greeted by the flashing oil light on the dash. Eh, it's a hot summer day, school starts in a few days, back to school shopping can wait.

Half an hour after backing into the garage where I can lift it and get beneath it, Jonah comes out of nowhere talking gibberish as soon as he reaches me.

"Jonah!" I shout when he doesn't slow down or show any signs of stopping. "What do you need?"

"I need a ride to a date," he says excited.

"Can't today little man," I reply giving him a sad face. "I'm changing the oil today."

"Please, can it wait?" he asks hopefully.

"Ask one of your friends, or even better... I've got just the guy to give you a ride," I tell him pointing a finger to my head and then to him.

"Who?"

"Grab my phone," I say and he runs in the house and comes out a few minutes later.

Dialing his number, Jonah peers over my shoulder until I shove his face away with my hand.

He answers almost immediately after the second ring.

"What, Charles?" He groans, sleep still lacing in his voice.

"Did I wake you up Carter?" Jonah growls after I say his name and I smirk at that.

"Yes, what can I do now that you've woken me from my beauty sleep?"

"Give Jonah a ride to his date?" I ask him and I can just see him furrowing his brows through the phone. He is too easy to figure out.

"For why?"

"Changing the oil in my car, and if I don't do it now I'll forget."

"Why me?" He asks with a sigh.

"Would you like the real reason or the excuses?" I laugh. "My parents are both at work and Sam's at school. I'm the one with the car, Corey still doesn't have his license. And I'm too lazy to go and get dressed."

"What time?" he sighs through the speaker. Running a hand through my hair I pass my phone off to Jonah and grab the creeper to roll beneath my car.

Beneath it, I take my wrench and start to release the oil cap. Jonah scoots back under the car with me and starts talking up a storm about his gorgeous date.

Through this conversation I find out that her name is Danielle and she likes people to call her Dani. She likes the color blue but not sky blue, she likes dark, sea blue. He also tells me of her appearance; she has long, light brown hair and blue eyes while her nose is hooked, she also has a beautiful smile that gives off her dimples if she's really happy. Jeez, my brother could write a biography about this girl. He must really like her.

"So... what time will Carter be here?" I ask when he finally takes a breather.

"Right around... now," he says when he spots the familiar black Range Rover Sport pulls into the driveway.

"You ready kid?" Carter demands through his rolled down window.

"Phone, cash...cash! Charlie! Can you please loan me a twenty?" Jonah pleads.

"Let me guess, you also need someone to pick you up?" I ask curiously as I walk to the driver's side and lean in to grab money to loan my little brother. With a nod he accepts the twenty dollar bill and gives me a hug.

"My hands are covered in oil, let go and I must meet this Dani later if I'm picking you up," I tell him before he releases me and gets in the passenger seat.