Building it back together
Everything changed after that car ride to buy parts.
I let Hephaestus help me and Jose build the car. He was strong so he could lift the heavy machinery and had this belt that held all these loco tools. He let me use them once, and I swear they had some sort of magic.
One month went by and then another. But still progress was slow.
Each time we seemed to take a step forward, we took two steps backward. Plus there were the other customers. But I didn't mind. The truth was that I didn't want Hephaestus to leave. We worked so well together, and understood each other completely. We had become the best of friends in the matter of a few weeks. I found my heart beating so fast each time he would stand behind me. I was proud that I could see past his face, it really showed me to never judge a book by it's cover.
I really liked him.
I had never felt this way about anyone before. Even previous boyfriends from another time.
We would catch eyes occasionally. My hazel ones meeting his darks ones. It always ended with one of us staring at the ground.
Then on one particular day he came up to me on our break.
"Do you want to take the mustang for a spin tonight? Bring some food and we can see how fast she really goes." He said, as if he was planning this for a long time. He shuffled again, as if expecting me to say no.
I couldn't help but give a wide grin that reached my ears in return. It was a dream date for sure.
"7:00 it'll be awesome" I said eagerly.
"See you then" He replied with just as much eagerness.
"You haven't seen me drive fast before have you?" I said with a devilish grin I always got when I raced. I never lost.
He shook his head.
Then I hit the acceleration hard.
It was the best feeling in the world.
"THS IS VALDEZ BABY" I screamed in delight letting go of the steering wheel and putting my hands in the air for a few seconds, the roof down.
"Did you see that?" I shouted at him over the roaring engine. But he seemed to have ignored me and was looking at me funny.
As I slowed down to stop to ask what was wrong, Hephaestus leaned in and kissed me.
All those weeks of not knowing if he liked me or not vanished in that moment. It was short but had enough feeling to feel like forever. We pulled away after a few seconds.
"I'm a god." He breathed out loud. The first thing to say after our first kiss. Typical.
"Que? " I asked, shocked.
"I'm sorry I should have told you sooner. All the ancient Greek stuff is all true. I'm Hephaestus Greek god of forges, fire, technology, craftsmen, sculptors, volcanoes, and blacksmiths" He said quickly.
I fell back into the seat, my mouth open in shock, anger, pain. He can't be with you forever was all that went through my head in that moment. Of course I knew about the Greek gods, my abuelo Sammy used to have a lover who was a demigod. How I didn't realise it sooner was beyond me.
"I believe you. My abuelo knew a demigod." I said in a monotone.
And then he told me everything.
Being thrown off Olympus and getting crippled forever. His relationship with Hera. His wife Aphrodite. His demigod children.
"So what are we going to do?" He asked me helplessly. I was extremely angry that he had hurt me by holding all this information in. Tears were welling up in my eyes, and I refused to let them fall.
"We can either end it here, or continue it until you leave." I said sharply, so that my voice wouldn't break.
"I love you Esperanza. From that first moment, and then when you didn't think I was hideous and saw past my face. I love you and I don't think I can let go of you just yet." He admitted.
And me being the stupid nina I am couldn't help but say back.
"I love you too. I want to make this work"
And we kissed again, but this time full of sorrow and longing, for we knew that this could be one of the last time we would be together.
Jose was so happy for me. Every time he saw us together he would give us a thumbs up and would slip away for us to have 'private moments' even though I knew he was watching us. Hephaestus and I shared almost every moment together. From car pick ups, to the constant project and a few nights here and there.
The car was coming along really well. It was almost finished. We just had to connect the body to the wheels. Then the car would be done and Hephaestus would be on his way back to Olympus.
It was hard to believe that only a couple of months ago he promised me anything for fixing his car and I wanted a million dolares.
There were now far more important things than money.
I decided I would go back home after he left. At least see my abuelo, who loved me more than life itself. I knew I hurt him by leaving.
Then I would have to try to my remember life before I met Hephaestus.
And I didn't think that was possible.
That was the continuous problem in the back of my mind clouding my thoughts and blurring the precious moments with him. There was nothing I could do to fix it. No amounts of oil, or fiddling with spare parts to try make something work. If only humans were as easy to work as machines.
I blew out a puff of smoky air and continued working on the job I set myself to do.
"Are you going to take a break?" Hephaestus whispered in my ear from behind me, pulling me in close to his chest. He kissed my cheek and I couldn't help but give a grin, despite the fact I was weighed down by the constant negativity in my mind.
"Lo siento, got a job to do. This family has to get back to Ohio for a wedding. They can't go anywhere without this car. Now please let go. I don't need no distractions." I tell him, trying to pull away, but his grip was to strong for my small build. I was pretty brawny from working in the garage all the time, but thanks to my genes I was stuck in this small body. It made situations like these completely unfair.
"Not until you tell me if you still want a million dolares for fixing my ride." He said seriously.
"I haven't really thought about it. Now let me go." I mumbled using the twisting arm technique my padre taught me. Wasn't working. The smoke in my hand was about to fall out.
"No"
"Fine. I've been thinking about it for a long time" I admitted.
"And?"
"First of all I wanted to use the wish to ask you to stay. But that was ridiculous; it would be really selfish of me because you've got your godly duties or whatever. Besides, you and I would never be happy. Then I thought, what about Jose?"
"Continue." He urged
"The only thing I could think of was for you to set Jose up for life. Give him the life his parents never could. Give him a garage, a car and a few thousand. That's what would make me happy" I said truthfully.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" He questioned me, not really fulfilled with my answer.
"Let me finish the car and then we'll see." I shot back, not entirely certain that's what I wanted. But at least it was something.
He finally let go and I slipped out of his strong embrace. It felt cold for a sudden moment and as I continued working, I felt his gaze watching me the entire time. After what felt like an hour he finally spoke.
"I really thought you would have asked for me to love you forever and for me to give you your dream degree"
"Why the hell would I ask you that? That's estúpido. I need to work out my own life. I have to earn it, that's who I am." I shook my head.
He laughed so loud that the tools on the workbench vibrated against the surface.
"Another reason why I love you far more than Aphrodite."
I blushed, and was glad that my back was turned.
"Love me more than the goddess of love itself? You tonto! What a silly thing to say!"
"Don't worry she can't hear me. Besides, she doesn't love me as much as that Ares" I could imagine him scowling at the name of the war god.
"I'm not lying. You are more beautiful, more intelligent, more independent and stronger than any woman I've met. Your the first to look straight into my soul before anything else." He said proudly.
I turned around and rolled my eyes.
"I bet you say that to any chica you meet." I said.
"Maybe I do, maybe I will. But until I meet someone new, you are my most loved"
"Already thinking of moving on. Wow. I'm starting to regret I didn't call you ugly" I teased.
He faked a hurtful expression, pretending to blink back tears.
"How terribly mean. I think I need an apology."
I laughed.
"Not going to happen. Ever"
And then I turned around and continued working, blowing out another puff of smoky air.
Hephaestus' gaze was still fixated on me.
