Our Little Secret

Chapter Eight: Problem Solver..Kind Of

I heard they're adding two new characters for season 2, what do you guys think about that?
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Tony pulled into the parking lot of his dad's mechanic shop his shoulders slouched. He felt like turning the car around and going home, but he had promised his dad that he'd work at the shop at least once this week. He knew that any help was better than no help and his older brothers were busy all this week.

He shut off his car and stepped out not seeing that many customers today. He slipped in through the back using his keys not paying any mind to the two other workers there. Tony took off his coat and switched into his overalls knowing that he'd be stuck in his thoughts while being here and that's the last thing he wanted.

Clay has probably been the person who has taken the longest with the tapes. I wish I knew how to help him through this, but that would ruin the entire idea behind the tapes. He needs to get through them just like the others and after I'll be there for him. Even if he thinks he won't need the support I'll be there. I just hope he's okay.

How can I make sure I can help him without making him feel trapped? Or maybe he'll come to me. Will he still even trust me after I tell him about Ryan. It was an accident. A terrible accident. Or maybe I won't have to tell him. No. That's not the right thing to do. I'll tell him. I just need to figure out how.

Tony felt a sigh escape his lips and he started working on one of the cars. One of the guys had turned on the radio, slow RnB music played. Soft melodies with raspy voices soothed Tony while his thoughts filled with more concerns of Clay and the tape. Tony grunted as he pulled on a piece of the car not sure what to do anymore.

"Hey, kid?" One of the workers spoke up and Tony knew instantly he was talking to him.

It wasn't often he interacted with the other men but when he did it was usually for small things. He looked up to see one of the guys staring at him with concern in his eyes. He barely knew the guy, the worker was around his father's age with salt and pepper hair and crows feet by his the edges of his eyes. If anything Tony was the one that usually prompted a conversation with him never the other way around.

"Yeah?" Tony stopped working something about the man's face had made him feel nervous.

"I know we barely speak, but your father is a close friend," Tony raised an eyebrow not knowing what this guy was trying to say, "you look like you're under a lot of stress."

"I'm fine." Tony tried to dismiss the man's concern.

"I have a son that's around your age and I wouldn't want him distracted while working in some place like this." He pointed out, "if you need a day to settle your thoughts I'll tell your dad you worked all day today."

"It's okay-" Tony started.

"Kid, one wrong move and you could end up seriously injured." The second guy interjected.

Tony sighed but nodded moving away from the car he was working on with his hands up in defeat. He would've put up a fight if his thoughts weren't so jumbled and focused on Clay. He slipped off the baggy overalls and hung them back up where they belonged. The men shooed him away and he left without arguing. He'd go back tomorrow when he wasn't as distracted.

He stood outside contemplating on whether he should walk around and then go home or drive around town for a few. Driving could help, but he didn't feel like sitting in one spot for too long. Tony stuffed his hands into his pockets and started walking without a destination.

The cool fall breeze made his hair rustle on the top of his head almost exactly how the trees shook when the breeze hit them. He looked towards the glowing horizon the dark orange and light yellow rays blending together nearly gone. Tony wished it could be like this every day, but he knew better. A car passed disrupting his train of thought and he looked at it before it passed him completely.

In the car with its windows rolled down was Jessica who looked like she was ready to break down or maybe even purposely crash. Tony instantly felt like he needed to help or had to say something, but that instinct got him in this situation in the first place. He opened his mouth and before he could stop himself he shouted out Jessica's name. She hit her breaks abruptly stopping and then reversed so that she could see him properly. He had no idea what he was doing, but she looked almost as bad as he felt.

"What do you want?" He didn't talk to Jess much, but he knew she wasn't this rude.

"Are you okay?" He shifted his weight on his feet.

"Get in." She simply said rolling her windows up.

Tony had stopped questioning his classmates ever since Hannah and he got into the car. He wasn't sure what to expect, he knew the truth, but did she? He slipped into the passenger side now close enough to realize that Jess looked even more distraught then he imagined.

Her eyes were bloodshot and her cheekbones were much more prominent than before. He knew ever since Clay got the tapes her and Justin's relationship had been a bit more strained, but he didn't think that it would do this to her.

"Wanna talk about it?" Tony buckled his seat belt.

She sighed but nodded taking the car out of the park. Tony knew he was avoiding his own problems, but that was how he dealt with his problems usually, but the ones he's been having lately have not been going away like he wished they would. He gave Jessica a small smile as she drove off. Maybe they would go away if he tried to ignore them a bit more. Or maybe this would bite him in the ass later on. He wasn't sure yet.