Restoration

CHAPTER 26 Logan

Throughout the whole school day I can't stop thinking about Avery coming over. Now I can test her to see if she legitimately knows her stuff. Maybe get to know the real her. The lunch period rolls around, and I sit at the table with Ben. Avery's boyfriend, Owen, is in my lunch. He keeps shooting flaming arrows at my back with his eyes, and it seems like every move I make, he'll be watching. I look over to Ben, who's laughing and talking with all the guys.

“Hey Ben, what do you know about Owen Clemens?” Ben looks at me suspiciously, then replies.

“I don't really know dude. He's kind of a try hard, a teacher's pet. All A's, tries really hard in gym, benches about 175. He's got some arms man, pretty fast runner too. Doesn't normally have a problem with anyone...” he looks to Owen, then back at me. “Except you obviously.”

“He's still fucking staring?”

“Yeah man. Wanna share?”

“Not really. I gotta go,” I say. I'm not intimidated. If he's really as much of a try hard as Ben says he is, then he won't make a move. Just do pussy shit. Nothing to worry about.

By the end of my fifth period class, I can barely stay still. Thank God it's gym. I ran eight laps, benched a 165, and did 250 curl-ups. I was proud of myself. However, I reeked of B.O. Maybe Avery has something to do after school, that would give me time to shower really quick.

I stride to my locker, and pass Avery laughing and giggling with skinny girl. I can't help but turn and watch her. She's so cheerful, I love seeing her laugh, and smile. I just love seeing her happy. I get all my stuff and start to walk over to her, just to double check that we're still on. Zoey has already left, and Avery was just packing her backpack. I'm about three yards away when Owen cuts in front of me, and starts talking to her. He looks at me and smiles cockily, and puts his hand on her back. I fucking hate this kid. Avery looks up with an annoyed face. I start to walk away and go back to my locker, so that I don't look like a complete idiot standing in the hallway, and so I can spy on them without being super obvious. I turn the dial on my locker while trying to eavesdrop. Owen's tone of voice is soft and sincere, with a hint of desperation, and Avery being Avery, is keeping her voice low, and deadly. She has an aggravated, pissed off, annoyed sort of tone. I only hear the words “don't control”, and “stop”, and “space”. They stick out the most, and keep me curious. I glance over, Owen walks off, defeat and failure in every step. Jesus he's pathetic. I walk back over to a overwhelmed Avery. She's sighing as she shuts her locker, then rests her head against it.

“Hey, you okay?” I ask, genuinely concerned. She sucks in a deep breath and perks up. Holding her head high. She flips her hair with regained confidence.

“I'm great,” she says with a smile. That's my girl. “So I need to stay after for just a little while. Need to work on a Spanish project.”

“That's fine, I need to head back to my house to shower. Meet you there?” I ask.

“You bet,” she smiles. “Gimme... 20 minutes?”

“Sounds good,” I reply. She turns to walk away. “Don't think of me in the shower now Avery,” I say only for the two of us to hear.

“You wish,” she giggles back. I watch her walk down the hallway toward the library for a little bit, then I turn to the parking lot doors.

I race home and jump in the shower. Twenty minutes, and I only have at least fifteen. That's all I got to shower, get changed, and get the T-Bird ready. Time flies, and Avery's here. She changed from her jeans and pink cardigan, to older, torn up jeans, and a light blue t-shirt with oil stains. A girl who's not afraid to get down and dirty. Literally. I open the garage door and show her my dad and I's creation. I'm proud of it, even if it does need to be restored. Avery starts her evaluating immediately.

“It's amazing how the original paint is still in tact, almost perfectly. What is exactly wrong with it? How much are you willing to spend on it?” she asks.

“Well.. brace yourself. The fuel tank needs to be removed and cleaned, new brake lines, starter, new spark plugs and wires, battery,

definitely a new radiator, I want power windows installed, so obviously we're gonna need window motors, shock absorbers, clean the old tranny, and maybe replace it, and obviously a new stereo system.”

“So you're looking at a little under $3,000.”

“Yeah...”

“That's a lot of money Logan... how much do you have now?”

“A little over 1k.”

“Eeek... Well... what do you wanna do today?”

“Probably take out the transmission and clean it, and take out the fuel tank and clean it.”

“Okay, let's get started,” then Avery jumps right in. She walks over to my toolbox and grabs all the tools she needs. Not even questioning what tools are what. I admire how she instantly gets to work.

She starts to remove everything from the transmission. I just sit back and watch, I can't help it. She knows exactly what she's doing.

“You know, helping is always a good thing...” Avery remarks.

“Oh. Right.” I snap out of the trance and walk over to help. I peer down into the hood and look at her work. “Not bad,” I say.

“Thanks. Now, I need you to hold this.” She motions to the vacuum hoses attached to the transmission. I hold them up while she keeps working on it. I can't help but to check her out again. Leaning over the hood of the car. She notices me.

“What?” she smiles. Then, before I know it, my lips are on hers. I'm kissing her, my hand on her face, and her hands tangled in my hair. Feeling her lips on mine are causing explosions and fireworks going off. I can't think of anything else but how right her kiss feels to me. She's kissing me back, and things start to get interesting.

Then suddenly it stops. Her hands touch my chest and push me away. She looks down, and sighs, then looks up at me. She has this really confused and shocked look on her face. She touches her fingertips to her lips, then starts to speak.

“I-I....” then she turns, and runs for her car. I stand there full of confusion and worry. I thought she liked it? She kissed me back after all. I don't know if I should follow her or if I should stay.

“Avery!” I shout. My feet are moving towards her car. She finally gets it to start and she speedily backs out of my driveway. “Avery, wait!” Her car tires screech as she bolts down the road. My mom passes her half way down the street and pulls into my driveway. She opens her car door and looks at me funny.

“Wow, that girl was speeding away fast. I wonder what she was trying to get away from in a hurry.” I sigh and turn away to walk into my house.