May We All

Typical Day

Kayla sighed as she walked out the door of McDonald's. She'd had enough of uniforms. She wore one for school, and then she wore another for work. At least work didn't include a skirt.

Kayla shrugged. At least she was with Jed. That was all that mattered. When the Thompson's told her family they were moving down to Tennessee, Kayla sobbed. She didn't want a long distance relationship. She wouldn't stand for one. How her parents managed to agree to let her move into the boarding school 10 miles from the Thompson's neighborhood is anyone's guess, but she was there. She would make it home.

Kayla's thoughts were interrupted by a loud honk of a Chevy pickup. She smiled to see Jed, smiling back at her in the driver's seat. She ran to the truck and hopped in, and reclined back into the seat.

"Finally free." Kayla sighed. Jed chuckled as he pulled out onto the road.

"Why do you work so much anyway?" Jed asked.

"My parent's said I have to pay for at least half my tuition, and it isn't exactly cheap." Kayla explained. Jed nodded.

"Why'd you even move down here then? Staying back in Pennsylvania seemed like a much easier option for you."

"But you aren't there anymore." Kayla answered. Jed smiled.

"Well in that case, I'm very, very glad you're here with me."

"So am I."

"Fire it up, Hank!" Tim yelled from the garage. I smooth engine roar returned his call. "Alright, shut her down. She's good to go." Tim turned to see Jed and Kayla walking into the garage. "Howdie, J." He called to Jed. "And how are you today, Miss Kayla?"

"Just fine, thanks. I'm gonna go change into something comfortable if you don't mind." Kayla smiled.

"Anytime." Tim smiled. Kayla nodded and walked off to the bathroom. Tim turned back to Jed. "Alright we've got 5 oil changes to do tonight. Hank helped me finish on the mustang." Jed nodded and headed over to the work bench. "Find a full time job yet?" Tim asked.

"Nah, seems hard to find one here." Jed answered.

"Well as long as I've got work here, I'm grateful to have ya around."

"I just wish I could do more."

"Why's that?"

"For Kayla."

"Ya'll getting married or something?" Tim asked in shock.

"Oh no!" Jed laughed. "She needs to pay half of her tuition for school and McDonald's doesn't exactly make in rain. I just wish I could help her out."

"On account of she only moved here for you." Tim finished for him.

"Yeah." Jed sighed and walked over to get the tool box. "I don't know what to do. She says she'll be able to handle it, but I don't entirely believe her."

"Well it's gotta be hard for her to be away from her family. Even though your family has always been just like family to her." Tim said as he emptied out some oil from an engine.

"She tells me it makes a huge difference, but I can tell when she's homesick." Jed explained as he got to work on the truck next to where Tim was working. "She usually will go out with my mom on really bad days."

"Whatever makes her feel better." Tim wiped his hands on his jeans and turned to where Hank and Mark were walking in. "What are ya'll still doing here?"

"Figured we'd discuss the terms for the race this weekend." Mark smiled. "How much are we gonna spilt?"

Tim smiled and turned back to the car. "30/70, and that's only if you win."

Mark snorted. "By if you mean when. Ya know I'm the fastest racer in the county!"

Tim shook his head. "You drive reckless, boy. You're lucky I let you anywhere near my car. I should just leave you on the sidelines watching the race while eating donuts and lollipops." Everyone looked over at Jim, the secretary.

"What?" Jim shrugged, donut in hand.

Mark sighed. "30/70 then." Tim smiled and nodded. Just then, some footsteps were heard over in the corner. "Incoming." Mark warned Hank. He smiled.

"Daddy!" Sophie yelled as she ran into Hank's arms.

"Hey, sweetie!" Hank kissed his daughter before she ran over to Jed.

"Is Kayla here?" she asked excited.

"She's around here somewhere." he answered. Kayla then walked into the room. She help her finger to her lips as she snuck up behind Sophie. Kayla grabbed her and spun her around while she squealed.

"How are you, Sophie?" Kayla asked, still holding the girl.

"Great! I ate candy for breakfast!" Sophie smiled.

"And who let you do that?" Jed asked.

"Daddy!" Sophie squealed again and ran over to hug Hank.

"That's not all true." Hank sighed as he picked her up. "We also had pancakes."

"It's not very often we have people just hang out around here." Tim said to Kayla as he and Jed finished up the last oil change of the day.

"Well where else would I be?" Kayla replied as she spun around in the office chair.

"Anywhere but here." Jed answered. "I mean there's not too much to do around here, but you could even be back at my house. That would be better than this I'm guessing."

"I guess, but as long as Tim doesn't mind, I'll be here with you."

"I don't mind one bit." Tim smiled. "Keeps us going, having someone to talk to that is." Tim chuckled. "Jed gets boring after a while you know."

"Oh believe me, I know." Kayla laughed. Jed gave Kayla a hurt look. "You know I'm kidding, babe."

"Yeah, sure." he rolled his eyes. Kayla sighed and turned back to her iPod. She laughed at the most recent text from one of her friends, replied, and sighed. Jed looked up at Kayla and frowned. "You're homesick." he told her. She nodded, not looking up. "Another text from Lindsay?"

"Yeah." Kayla whispered so quietly that Jed could barely hear her. "She and Cassie just went to see the new Captain America."

"What's so bad about that?" Tim asked.

"The three of us were planning on going together, before I decided to move." Tim only nodded.

"We can go see it if you want, Kayla." Jed suggested.

"It's ok. I don't have to see it." Kayla shook her head.

Jed nodded. "Well I'm almost finished with this, so we can leave soon. Do you wanna go out to eat or eat at my parents?"

"I don't care, whatever's fine." Kayla whispered. "I'll head out to the truck meanwhile. See ya tomorrow Tim."

"See ya, Kayla." Tim yelled. Once Kayla was out of the garage, Tim walked over to Jed. "How's she really doing?"

"Lately she seems really down. I don't know what to do."

"Well do you try to go do stuff with her?"

"Every time I offer she either says she doesn't care or turns me down." Jed closed the hood of the truck he finished and sighed.

"I don't know what to do, Tim. She says she's glad she's here, but it just seems like she wants to go back home."

"Well she probably just wants things like they used to be, when she didn't have to pick and it was simple. She was living with her family, and you were only 20 minutes away, not 12 hours." Jed nodded as he went over to wash his hands.

"So what do I do about it?" Jed asked.

"Just let her know you care about her. Show that you're happy with the decision she made. Make sure she knows you're glad she's here." Tim suggested.

Jed nodded. "Thanks, Tim." With that he started walking out to the truck. "I'll see ya'll tomorrow!"