Not Like You

Chapter Five

"Wow, no one," Mickey groaned and I laughed. The boys were all standing around awkwardly. It was like they'd never seen a girl before.

"it's fine Mickey, I see the aprons," I grabbed one and slipped it over my head and watched as everyone did the same.

"Well, then, let's get started. Get with your last year's partners if they are still here. If not, come see me. Rose, we'll pair you up with someone," I took my place on my stool as people paired p and started working on their cars. Max and two other kids didn't have partners.

"Alright, Arty and James, you two are together. Work on the blue Tacoma. Max, you can be with Rose, since you already know each other," I looked at Mickey.

"How did you know we know each other?" I asked. HE shrugged.

"He was the only one that didn't look at you as you came in. It was a guess," I hopped off my stool and walked to Max. He took an airpod out looked down at me. He was always sitting down, so I never realized how tall he was. At least six-foot-two.

"Alright, what were you working on last year?" I asked. He motioned back and I saw one of the most awesome cars ever. A Chevrolet Camaro.

"What year is it?" I asked, walking over to it and running my hand over the door. It was black, but the paint was chipping, but a simple paint job would fix it.

"'67. It was complete trash when it came in. I've been working on it since my freshman year," he rolled his white t-shirt sleeves up and tied on his apron. I noticed he had a slight accent, and I tried to identify it. Spanish, I think.

"Did your partner graduate?" I asked. he nodded and handed me a toolkit.

"Yep. I feel like you can do a good job. Mickey doesn't partner me up with people who are all talk," he went on the roller and slid under the car.

"The compressor is broken, but that's what I'm working on. Can you re-check the battery? Maybe the brakes?" I nod and lean into the top. I've always wanted to work on one of these, but I've never had the luck. 

Mickey walked around and gave pointers as he saw fit. The Fuel tube ended up having a leak that couldn't be fixed by tape, so Mickey showed me how to order a new one. 

The class was relaxing, even with Mickey's screamo and rock blasting from the speakers. He kept the volume considerably low, though. Sometimes, he just watched us with a nostalgic look on his face.

Near the end of class, he haded us information about a fundraiser and a syllabus that was about one paragraph long. I caught the guys looking at me from time to time, their faces scrunched up, as if puzzled. It took all of my strength not to laugh.

I said a polite goodbye to Max and walked back to my dorm, unlocking the door and putting my bag down on my bed. It turns out, I might not need it.

Harlow wasn't there, so I grabbed my laptop and started writing. I had a book going on a vampire who had lost her memory and was trying to regain it by visiting people from her past, trying to piece everything back together. I posted it chapter by chapter on a different website for opinions but kept a hard copy on my computer so I could change any chapter I wanted.

The door opened and in came Harlow. She groaned and flopped on her bed. I looked up and laughed.

"What's wrong," I asked. She lifted her head and landed do her mouth was facing me.

"My fashion class is terrible. It's filled with losers who think their style is great when it's really ten pieces of fabric on top of each other," I shook my head and kept writing.

"Well, what about digital art?" she groaned again.

"it a huge class. I knew this school was big for art, but we have seventy-five people in y class," I peeked up from my computer.

"That's the complete opposite of both of my classes. I have thirty in one and twelve in the other," she groaned again and I couldn't help but smile.

"Well, you're just lucky," she sat up and grabbed her phone from her pocket, plugging it in.

"Yes, I am. How are your professors?" I asked. She shrugged.

"They are so-so. Not terrible, but not great. They are complete opposites, though. My fashion professor liked my hair. He said it matched my eyes, even though it really doesn't. Still cool, though. I was thinking of going ombre grey soon. I don't know," she got up and grabbed y shower caddy and her robe, shower-shoes tucked in her pocket.

"Imma go shower. Be back soon," she started out and I waved at her. 

My stomach grumbled and I groaned, closing my laptop and getting up, slipping on the first shoes I could find and making my way to the dining hall. It was nice out. So I enjoyed the walk. Birds were all over campus, and one landed on the sidewalk near me, tilting its head as I walked by.

I grabbed a grilled cheese from the stand and sat in a booth in the corner, putting my feet up and pulling up Wattpad on my phone, reading comments on my story.

I noticed someone looking at me in the corner of my eye and looked over to see a girl near my age staring at me. She smiled as she looked over and grabbed her tey, sitting next o me. I furrowed my brow as she sat down and continued to stare at me.

"Um, can I help you?" I asked, swallowing the food in my mouth and popping in a fry.

"Sorry, I know I'm weird, but we're in the same literature class, and I thought you looked nice. I didn't get to do a report on anyone, and I was wondering if I could do mine on you," I scrolled back in my mind mentally and remembered the girl standing in front of me. She had blonde hair and pulled the front back into a small ponytail. She was decently tall and had a skinny frame.

I wiped my hands and sat up.

"Sure, I guess. Ask away," she smiled and asked her questions. I asked a few,  but my report was done.

I found out some things about her. She liked Golf and hoped to become a sports journalist, like Kevin. But she showed a lot more passion, and I knew immediately she would get any job before him.

Her Name was Gabrielle, but she went by Gabby. She was the middle child of five and lived in South Bend. Her parents were wealthy and pushed her to become a doctor like them, but she was 'rebelling' against it. She talked a lot and even admitted it was a problem. 

"Well, it was nice to meet you, Gabby. Can I get your number?" I asked. She nodded and typed it into my phone. She left and I waved goodbye.

Harlow entered the dining hall and I waved her over. SHe smiled at Gabby as she passed and sat down next to me.

"I'm guessing you met Gabby," she said as she sat down. I nodded and took a sip of water.

"Yeah. She's extremely social," I shook my head with a smile.

"Yeah, she is. I met her in digital art. She creates covers for her magazine," I nodded and kept reading, half out of it.

"Hello? Rose?" I snapped up and shut my phone off.

"Sorry, I was reading comments," SHe shook her head and stole one of my fries.

"It's fine. You wanna go shopping? I need new clothes and someone to rant to,"  laughed and got up, exiting the dorm with her.