Chapter 4
The clatter of tools and the soft hum of the car engine had filled the air in the garage for what felt like hours. Vi's sharp eyes remained locked on the vehicle, focused and determined as she carefully examined the intricacies of the engine. She wasn't rushing, and you appreciated that—after all, the last thing you wanted was to pay for a botched repair. Yet, as the minutes stretched into an hour and then another, you couldn't shake the growing sense of impatience.
Leaning back against the rusted workbench, you crossed your arms and watched her from across the room. The way she moved, confident and at ease in this world of machinery, made you feel like a complete outsider. You had spent most of your life avoiding such gritty, hands-on work, but here, in the heart of Vander's auto shop, everything felt grounded and real. Vi didn't need to say much to command respect. Her presence alone was enough to fill the space, and despite your discomfort at first, there was something magnetic about the way she carried herself—muscular, fearless, and completely herself.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Vi set down the wrench with a soft thud, wiping her hands on a rag before turning to face you. Her piercing eyes met yours, their usual fierceness softened only by the faintest hint of concern.
"You're gonna need to leave it with me for a bit longer," she said, her voice steady and direct. "The problem's deeper than I thought. I've got to pull apart some more of the engine to get to the core of the issue."
You felt a rush of frustration flood through you. You had been hoping to get back home sooner, to escape the gritty atmosphere of the shop, to get back to your life—a life that felt so distant from the world you were temporarily living in. But Vi's unwavering expression and the calm determination in her voice made you rethink your initial irritation.
"Great," you muttered, running a hand through your hair. "I was hoping to get back to my place today, but I guess I don't have much of a choice."
Vi chuckled at your comment, though there was no mockery in it—just the kind of dry humor that seemed to follow her wherever she went. "Yeah, sorry about that. Car's been acting up for a while now, looks like. No quick fix for this one."
You felt the weight of the situation start to settle in, and for a moment, you stood there, unsure of what to do with the unexpected extra time. You'd hoped to get your car back and leave the shop without much fanfare. But now, it seemed you were stuck here, in the world of engines and grease, with a mechanic who had somehow already managed to worm her way into your thoughts more than you cared to admit.
As you stood in that quiet moment, Vi leaned back against the workbench, crossing her arms as she appraised you for a moment. Then, without hesitation, she spoke again, her voice casual and almost too blunt for your tastes.
"Well, if you don't have anything else to do, I can drive you home while I finish up the repairs. It'll save you the wait, and I've got a car of my own." She paused, her fierce gaze softening slightly as she continued, "Unless, of course, you'd rather stick around here and make small talk while I work. Your call."
The offer came unexpectedly, and you hesitated. You had barely spoken to her for more than a few minutes before now, and now she was offering to drive you home, into the unfamiliar streets of her world. The very idea felt strange, but as you looked at her standing there—her strong, muscular frame silhouetted against the backdrop of car parts and oil-streaked surfaces—you couldn't help but feel drawn to her.
You had always prided yourself on being independent, but there was something about Vi's blunt confidence that made it hard to refuse. Maybe it was the way she wasn't asking, but simply offering a solution, or maybe it was the fact that you were starting to get a sense that there was something more to her than just the mechanic you'd hired to fix your car.
You hesitated for a moment longer, contemplating the awkwardness of the situation. But then, the thought of waiting around in the shop for another few hours didn't sit well with you, so you finally relented.
"Alright, fine," you said with a sigh, trying to sound casual. "I'll take you up on that offer. But I'm warning you—I'm not much of a conversationalist when I'm nervous."
Vi grinned at that, the mischievous glint in her eyes making you wonder if she found amusement in your discomfort. "Don't worry, I'll keep it entertaining. It's gonna be a hell of a ride."
With that, she grabbed a worn leather jacket off a hook near the door and tossed it on, looking every bit the part of the scrappy, no-nonsense mechanic she was. The pink strands of her hair were still messy from the work she'd done on the car, but it only added to her effortless cool.
"Come on then," she said, already halfway to the door. "Let's get you home. Don't want you stranding yourself out here any longer than necessary."
You followed her outside, the cool air hitting your face as you stepped into the daylight. You'd been so consumed by the noise and heat of the shop that you hadn't even noticed the slight chill of the late afternoon. The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows across the dusty street as you made your way to her car—a beat-up but surprisingly sturdy-looking vehicle with a coat of chipped red paint.
Vi opened the door for you, a gesture that caught you off guard. You'd never expected someone like her—someone so tough, so sure of herself—to show such a considerate side. You hesitated for just a second, before sliding into the passenger seat, trying to ignore the small flutter of excitement that stirred in your chest.
As soon as Vi slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, the car roared to life, filling the air with the sound of the engine and the low hum of the road beneath them. For a few moments, the only sound was the engine's growl and the occasional creak of the tires on the uneven streets. You felt an odd sense of calm settle over you as you looked out the window, unsure of what to say next.
"So, uh..." you began, trying to start some kind of conversation. Pretty much just reasking your previous question with different words. "How long have you been working on cars?"
Vi took a sharp turn, her grip on the steering wheel firm as she looked over at you for a moment before responding. "Pretty much my whole life. Like I said, my dad was a mechanic. I've been turning wrenches since I could walk. I guess it's in my blood."
You nodded, unsure of how to respond to that. The way she spoke about it with such ease made it seem like a world so different from your own. You'd never known that kind of bond with a trade or a craft, a sense of purpose tied to something so tangible and practical.
"Sounds like you really know your stuff," you said, attempting to compliment her, though your voice still held a trace of awkwardness. "I mean, you've got a lot of confidence in your work."
Vi smirked at that, her gaze returning to the road ahead. "Confidence is just part of the job. Can't let people see you sweat, especially when you're dealing with engines that could explode in your face if you mess up. I've got a reputation to keep up."
Her brashness was something you were starting to get used to. But it was also the thing you found most endearing about her. There was something refreshingly honest about her bluntness, and it made you realize just how different her world was from yours. You had grown up with an abundance of everything—comfort, certainty, safety—but Vi had been forged in an entirely different world. A world where things weren't handed to you, where you had to earn everything you had.
The car hummed along the street, and despite the initial awkwardness, the tension between you two slowly began to dissipate. Vi's dry humor, the little sarcastic remarks, and the unexpected warmth of her personality were starting to break through the barriers you had put up. With each word, you found yourself drawn to her more, curious about her life and the experiences that had shaped her.
By the time you reached your neighborhood, the tension in the car had almost completely vanished. You didn't feel like the stranger in her world anymore, and for the first time, you found yourself not dreading the idea of spending time with her. In fact, you were starting to look forward to it.
As she pulled into the driveway of your house, you were reluctant to leave the car, the strange but undeniable connection lingering in the air.
"Thanks for the ride," you said, your voice a little softer than you intended.
Vi looked over at you, her fierce eyes meeting yours for just a second. "No problem," she replied, her tone surprisingly gentle. "I'll get that car fixed up. You don't need to worry about a thing."
But as you climbed out of the car, you couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something bigger. Something that, despite the initial awkwardness, felt more real than anything you had experienced in a long time.