Car Troubles (Arrilana)
It was too early in the morning for this shit. Lana punched the door of the rental car before sagging against the brick wall behind her. Why this stupid city necessitated cars, she would never understand.
She should call a locksmith -- or the rental company. She wasn't a AAA member, but maybe they could help. Still, when she pulled out her phone, there was only one number her hand moved to type.
"It's 6:30 AM; you'd better be dying," Arrietty's voice was groggy, and Lana grimaced.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"
She heard shuffling on the other end, followed by a few muffled swear words. "Sorry, accidentally tripped over the dog since it's, you know, still dark out."
"Arri," Lana whined softly, sliding down the wall.
"I'm kidding. What's up? Do you need something?"
"Ilockedmykeysinthecar." It all came out in one mumbled breath, and Arri didn't respond for a moment.
"Sorry, was that supposed to be English?"
Lana groaned, taking a deep breath. "I locked my keys in the rental car and I have no clue what to do. I hate cars; this would never happen with the subway."
Some more shuffling on the other line, then Arri's voice, sweet as butterscotch. "Where are you? I'm on my way."
Lana felt the tension leaving her shoulders. She didn't know how, but she knew Arrietty would make everything better. "Outside Elliott Bay. Thank you. I'll buy you coffee as a thank you."
"You were going to do that anyways," Arrietty pointed out, and Lana could hear the smile in her voice.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get cocky. I'll see you soon?"
"Give me 15 and I'll be there."
"I owe you my life."
Arri laughed, warm and bright. "I'll see you soon," she murmured, followed by the click of the line disconnecting.
~~~
If it was anybody except Lana who had woken her up, Arrietty would have given them a piece of her mind before blocking their number for the rest of the morning while she slept in.
But -- it was Lana. So Arri pulled on her warmest hoodie and defrosted her car as quickly as humanly possible.
Arrietty spotted Lana before Lana spotted her. She was shifting back and forth on her feet, a coffee in each hand. Her well-fitted maroon blazer was too thin for the early morning chill, and she could see her shivering.
Parking, Arri was already tugging her own hoodie off as she walked over. "You're gonna freeze out here," she murmured, snagging one of the coffees before draping her hoodie over Lana's arm.
"And you aren't? You're in a t-shirt, take this back!"
Arrietty just laughed, taking a long sip of the coffee. "I'm stronger than you." She winked, kneeling down in front of the car. "So the keys are inside?"
Lana knelt down beside her, pretty lips twisted into a grimace. "Am I going to have to break the window to get it out?"
"Do you have a bobby pin on you? And maybe some gum?"
Lana wrinkled her nose as she pulled a pin out of her carefully styled updo, a few strands of soft brown curls falling in front of her face. "Gum? With coffee?"
"Just trust me; I know what I'm doing." She held out her hand, palm up.
Lana waffled for a few seconds before depositing the bobby pin and a stick of gum from her purse.
Arrietty gave her a wink and a bright grin before turning her attention to the car door in front of her. "This shouldn't take long -- the car is pretty old; it should be easy enough to trip the lock."
Lana blinked slowly, sitting back on her heels and tilting her head. "Don't love that you know how to break into a car. Why do you know how to do that?"
Arrietty opened her mouth to reply but Lana put her hand up quickly. "Nevermind. Don't tell me. Just get it open."
Arrietty closed her mouth and raised one eyebrow, crossing her arms and staring at the woman beside her.
"... please," Lana tacked on finally, at least having the decency to look ashamed.
With a soft laugh, Arrietty turned her attention back to the door. "I spoil you too much. I should have told you to call AAA and rolled over to go back to bed."
"But you didn't," Lana hummed happily.
"You're so lucky you're pretty," Arrietty mumbled under her breath, poorly disguising her smile as she got to work on the lock.