Chance Meeting
**** Authors note
My first fanfic! I do not own any of the characters from PJ and please note that I don't come from America
I've done my research so fingers crossed that all is alright!
Hope you enjoy!
An ordinary time
The sun was beating down that day. A scorching 40 degrees, typical Texan summer afternoon.
My legs were kicked up on a chair, a beer in one hand, smoke in the other. I blew at my hair plastered on my face and took in the view of vast nothingness in front of me. I lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It's all I had known since I left home.
Three shops, one school, a couple of farming blocks and the garage.
I was proud to say I owned that garage. No one had the courage to take the run down old thing but I did. Business had dried up a little with the weather though. You got the occasional group of tourists whose car had broken down, but other than that, nothing.
I loved cars. Loved working with them. The simple mechanics of putting things together and pulling them apart. It had always been an escape for me, even back in Florida. I could seclude myself away from others, be in my own little world of paradise for a small time. I wasn't much of a talker around here, but back at home no one could shut me up. I was loud and passionate. Strong and proud. Had a degree, in engineering, had everything going for me. Then I lost my way. I couldn't find a job because no one would take me seriously, because I was a nina, a simpleminded chica. I was stubborn and it was either all or nada for me. No one told me what to do, or who I could or couldn't be.
That's when I took off to Texas, to start anew and be away from all those people who didn't think I could be big. I hadn't planned to stay long, but I've been here for almost two years. The garage has been going so well, and I've sort of grown an attachment for it, as if it has become an extension of myself.
"Someone's here Valdez. Not from around here by the looks of it" It was the kid I had hired to work for me as soon as this place had started up. He loved it just as much as I did. He was a real Texan kid, a name of Jose, tanned with a mop of dark hair. His father owned a ranch a couple hundred kilometers from here and wants him to continue the tradition of the family. Jose wants to leave, but can't. So he too felt out of place, and we just bonded after that.
"Su serio?"
"I aint lying this time. Cross my heart"
Sighing, I dragged my feet off the chair and went to the front of the garage.
There was a man standing in the doorway, looking slightly impressed, almost making me grin. He was tall, a massive unit. Dark skin, and a rough look about him. I wouldn't call him ugly, but he wasn't exactly handsome. As I got closer I could see he had little scars on his face and on his huge hands. The way he was standing, almost on a lean I could tell he was hiding some sort of limp. Maybe an injury from something.
"Where's the car?"
My first words to this strange and intriguing figure. He looked taken back, just about shocked that I had spoken so curtly to him.
"I'll bring it in. My name's Hephaestus. Yours?" His voice was low and deep seemingly quiet and reserved. His eyes bored down on me with a strange intensity. They were as dark as night.
"A strange name. I'm Valdez" I replied shortly. Hephaestus's name was surely foreign. The only thing close I could think of was the name of the ancient Greek god. His parents had an acquire taste. What was his madre thinking?
"A strange name" He repeated with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes, annoyed that my insult backfired at me.
"It's a heap of junk. I don't know what I can do with it." I finally stated mournfully, taking another swig of my beer kicking the front door of the car shut.
I knew it was a good car, and I felt extremely guilty for calling it trash but I just did not have the parts or money to fix it.
"If you can fix it I'll give you anything." He said seriously.
"That's a little cheesy"
I laughed in his face and kind of felt bad when it fell a little. But then it suddenly hit me.
"Wait you're not joking? So if I asked for a million dólares you would give it to me?" I asked, testing him.
"Maybe" He replied with a small smile.
"Swear that you will" I said defiantly crossing my arms.
"I swear on the river Styx." He said.
I frowned at his choice of words.
"Good enough for me. Get ready to pay up." I finally shrugged.
I could see Jose from the corner of my eye, peeping behind the pump, eyes wide with amazement.
"Bad news Hephi, you're gonna have to be prepared to stay here for at least a month. It's only me and Jose working on the muscle car." I tell him, smirking at my new title for his ridiculous name.
"I've never been called Hephi before" He laughed throatily. A deep booming one that made me smile.
"I'm prepared to wait, besides I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." He continued.
We stood awkwardly, shuffling around a bit, not knowing what to say.
"I could help you out if you want, I know a few things about cars." He said shyly.
"Why couldn't you fix it yourself then?" I said matter of factly crossing my arms.
"I needed a mechanic and you looked like you were up to the challenge." He replied swiftly.
"Fine. Only when we need an extra pair of hands. I can handle myself." I told him.
"Okay" He said and turns around, walking with uncoordinated steps toward the beating sun of the dying day.
"Hey, what happened to your leg?" I dare myself to ask.
He stops walking and lifts up his pant to reveal a metal brace. My eyes widen. He merely laughed at my stunned expression.
"Best not to ask aye? Wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway." He said gruffly, running a hand over his closely shaved head. He continued walking as if the question was never asked.
It had been two whole days since we had spoken, and I couldn't deny the hollow feeling in my stomach that we wouldn't speak again. I had pushed too hard. Asked too many questions.
"Valdez I need your help taking this apart." Jose's voice was muffled underneath the car. I broke out of my self-wallowing thoughts and went to help him out.
"Get up" I ordered him. He rolled out from the skateboard, jumping up not speaking a word. I slid underneath the car.
"Pass me the wrench." I asked sticking a hand out, cool metal touching my finger tips almost immediately. I could see what Jose was doing, trying to save the exhaust, but he shouldn't have bothered, everything was too far gone, all eroded and rusted. I cursed out loud; this was going to cost a fortune! We would have to replace almost everything.
"Need some help?" A familiar voice asked.
In excitement I rolled out and jumped up onto my two feet.
"Gracias a Dios! Perfect timing." I said with a relieved grin.
"Do you think you could lend us a few? We have to pay for almost every part." Jose asked.
"I think I'll be able to chip in." He replied.
"Then come with me, we'll take my car. Let's go shopping" I chuck my keys at him and he catches them without blinking.
"Oh and by the way you're driving." I added as a spur of the moment. As soon as I said it I instantly regretted it. No one drove my car, not even Jose, and suddenly I was letting a stranger take the wheel.
Jose lifted an eyebrow, and then winked at me and blew kisses at the back of Hephaestus's head. I blushed in embarrassment and slapped Jose across his own.
I had a few cars, even more back in Florida. But I could only take my favourite because I left on such a short notice. I never turned back, not even once. That's how proud and stubborn I am.
It was underneath a couple of blankets, picking up dust because I hadn't driven it for awhile. A ford mustang, convertible 67 model, the colour of the sky. I had worked on it since I was a little nina. My pride and joy.
"That is a sweet ride" Hephaestus managed.
"If you so much as make a dent your muerto" I warned making a cutting motion at the base of my throat.
"Entiendo" He said quietly with a small smile.
"You never fail to surprise me." I muttered.
We took the road.
My working boots were placed on the space above the glove box. My hands behind my head, eyes closed. I didn't care if I got the car dirty, it was only when others did that I got mad.
"Put the roof down." I murmured.
He heard me, and suddenly the wind rushed into my black, curly wild hair. I sighed happily.
"So tell me about yourself. I hardly know anything." I asked him, trying to get a conversation going. Besides, I was really curious and nosey.
His eyes were straight down the road, barely moving, a permanent scowl on his face.
"If only you saw the real me" He whispered.
"What is that supposed to mean? Can't you give a straight answer for once?" I answered hotly.
"Fine. Look at me straight in the eye and tell me that I'm not ugly. Then I'll tell you everything." He said with just as much anger.
He turned around and his face changed completely. Those little scars that I had seen earlier changed to massive welts, red and swollen covering his whole face. His beard seemed longer, sparking fire with each tiny movement. It made me wince, but not because I was disgusted, but because something horrible must of happened to him for him to obtain such injuries.
I looked him dead in the eye, truly believing every word I was saying.
"I don't believe your ugly. Ugly is on the inside not the out, besides you seem like a really good man. So what if you've got a few scars, they just make you who you are." I said with wisdom. I pulled up my pant on my left leg to reveal a scar on my calf.
"That was from crashing this car back in the day. I know it's nothing on you but at least you get the drift" I continued.
"Thank you Valdez."
"Esperanza actually" I tell him.
"That's a beautiful name you know." He said earnestly.
"My abuelo named me. I guess you could thank him"
And so I ended up sharing the story of my life and family. I told him about my beloved hermana Rosa, abuelo and padres. The rough upbringing and the struggle for an education. I even told him about the degree and falling out of Florida.
"No one took me seriously so I left and went on a journey to find myself. I'll go back one day, just not now"
I finished off with Jose and the story of my car.
"You should have fought harder" Was all he had to say.
"discúlpeme?" I asked surprised.
"If they told you no you should have gone back until they said yes. You can't just drop off the face of the earth." He said sternly but kindly.
"You don't get it. I come from nothing. They have money and they have power. I had to claw my way up there, they didn't. So they think they're entitled and own me."
"Money, di imortals, how could I forget. I haven't dealt with something as common as that in years" He muttered the last bit silently, but I still heard. I wasn't going to say anything though. It would just ruin the moment.
"Forgive me, I was trying to help. Sorry I was wrong" He said, but looked at me with a weird twinkle in his eyes as if he was testing me. I waited a moment until a light bulb moment hit me.
"No, you're right. I should have fought harder. I was just sick and tired of being discriminated only because I'm a chica." I admitted.
"Don't let that stop you Esperanza. Being a woman doesn't make you weak. It makes you strong. Remember that." He said all knowingly tapping his fingers against the steering wheel.
"What about your life story? Didn't you say you would tell me everything?"
"Another time. Let me concentrate on the road"
And then all at once his scowl was back on, his eyes unblinking and the wind blowing just as ferociously at my hair.
