Chapter Three:
A/N. Here's chapter three guys! Took a little longer to get it out than I was hoping because I had a little writers block but here it is! Thanks for reading, hope you like it and please don't forget to review!
A few hours later Julia and I are cooking spaghetti and meatballs for dinner in the little kitchen in the staff room at the garage while the guys are out in the workshop playing video games and drinking beer.
"So you were in Spain right? What took you over there?" Julia asks.
"Well originally I went over there to see the sights, did the whole back-packing through Europe after college thing you know? Started off in England, then went to Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France and then ended up in Spain where I slightly over-indulged in some of the local beverages and ended up crashing the car I was driving into the dining room of some rich guy's house." I say.
"Yeah I've heard that's a fairly common occurrence in Spain. The over-indulging in local beverages part that is, no so much crashing into houses of the rich and famous." she says. "Usually people just drink to much and make a fool of themselves and pass out on a random bench somewhere."
"Well I was never one to do things the conventional way. Anyway to cut a long story short I got arrested and sentenced to three years in jail, but I had a good lawyer so he managed to negotiate a deal with the judge, where I served three years as an English teacher in-lieu of the jail time which means I don't have to have a jail sentence on my record, just about zillion hours of community service." I say.
"Where you teaching adults or kids?" she asks.
"Both, I taught in a school during the day, and then night and weekend classes at an adult learning centre." I say.
"How was it?" she asks.
"It was tough at first, the school they sent me to was in a lower socio-economic area so some of the kids were a bit rough around the edges, didn't trust outsiders so they gave me a bit of trouble, but after a few weeks they started to come around and by the first term they were pretty receptive and well behaved and happy to learn." I say.
"That's great, I've heard it can be pretty tough teaching over there." I say.
"Yeah, it was hard at times, but it was so rewarding, seeing these kids who started off so closed off and untrusting, to being open and willing to learn, and then looking back at the end of each semester and seeing how far they'd come. Teaching isn't something I'd want to do full time, but I'm glad I had the chance to do it, even if it wasn't exactly by choice. " I say.
"Well you never know what life has in store. When I came over scouting the Mustang I never in a million years thought that I'd end up where I am now." she says.
"What in a small town in New York. Working at a garage with a bunch of mechanics and street racers?" I ask.
"That…and being in a relationship with a guy I actually see a future with. Someone who actually has a brain and ambitions as opposed to the usual losers who can hardly string a sentence together and think that because I'm British. Blonde and female I know nothing about cars" she says.
"Men always assume girls know nothing about cars. I have to deal with that constantly even from guys who know my brother, or his reputation don't believe that I would know my way around a car engine or that I can drive worth a damn. Over the years I've started to think of it as a good thing because when they see me in the car a the start line they assume I don't know what I'm doing and get cocky and overconfident which always helps." I say.
"Not that we need that to beat them 99% of the time" she says.
"Nope, but it sure is fun seeing the looks on their faces when they realize they just got their ass handed to them by a girl." I say.
"Oh definitely….that's the best part. Well aside from the winning the race, and the prize money or the car if it's a race for slips." she says trailing off as the door to the workshop opens and Tobey walks through into the kitchen.
"Hey, what's taking so long? Are you two making everything yourselves?" he asks.
"Yep, churning our own cheese, grinding the beef, making the spaghetti ,growing the vegetables the whole lot." I say sarcastically. "Patience is a virtue brother, It'll be ready soon so just go back out there and whip their asses some more"
"Finn's getting hungry. And you know what it's like when Finn gets hungry." he says.
"Tell Finnegan to eat an apple if he's so hungry." I say chucking one at him.
"Finnegan hey? You know he hates it when anyone calls him by his full name." he says.
"Yep. It's part of the appeal." I say.
"Can you give me a rough idea of how long it will be till it's ready?" he asks.
"Less than half an hour. A couple games of whatever it is you're playing and it should be done." I say.
"Maybe three if they're short."
"Ok, I'll go tell them it won't be long. Smells amazing in here by the way." he says. "So who's the head chef in here?"
"We're equal. No head chef, just to sous chefs." Julia says.
"How come its not like that when you and I cook together?" he asks.
"Because you can't cook." I say.
"I wasn't asking you." He says.
"It's true babe, you can't cook. And cup noodles don't count." Julia says.
"Hey! You're supposed to be on my side!" he protests.
"Sorry, but I'm sticking with the Marshall who can be left in a kitchen alone for more than ten minutes without almost burning the place down." she says.
"Katia I changed my mind, you can't stay here anymore." he says in mock seriousness.
"Too bad, I'm staying. You're just gonna have to live with the fact that your girlfriend likes me more than she likes you." I say.
"Whatever. I'm going back to the guys before they stage an assault on the kitchen." he says.
"You do that." I say "we'll bring the food out when it's done. Just set up the trestle tables."
"Sure thing sis. You want plates and shit on them as well?" he asks.
"Nah, I was thinking we'd just dump it all in half an oil can and eat like pigs." I say sarcastically.
"Plates it is." He says " and cutlery, you'll bring serving utensils right?"
"Yeah we'll bring that. And don't forget to put napkins out I've seen the way you guys eat….its like feeding time at the zoo. Except the animals have better table manners." I say.
"They're actually not that bad anymore. When I first met them they'd have burping contests and throw food at each other all the time. But now we can actually get through a meal without food being thrown across the room." Julia says.
"Wait what? Are you telling me these guys actually have table manners now?" I ask in mock surprise.
"Well I don't know if we could take them to a fancy restaurant but yeah they can get through a meal without throwing food at each other." she says.
"You two make it sound like we just throw food all the time." Tobey says.
"Last time I was here I ended up with a pie on my head because Finn thought it would be funny to see if the cream would cause my mascara to run." I say.
"In his defense he was a little drunk that night." he says.
"It's fine, it was a good night. We all had fun, and the pie tasted good but I'd rather not have to shower and change before the race tonight." I say.'
"I'll pass that on. No promises though, this is your first night back. We're gonna celebrate a bit."
"Time to go. You need a ride Katia?" Finn asks.
"No I have a car, I'll go pick it up and meet you there." I say.
"What kind of car?" Finn asks.
"One with four wheels, a roof and an engine." I say.
"Oh I see you're going to make us wait are you?" Joe asks with a grin.
"Patience is a virtue. It'll be good for you to wait a little bit before you find out what kind of car I have." I say.
"You know what else is good for us?" Benny asks. "Knowing right away."
"Well disappointment is a part of life. So you're just going to have to wait and see the car later." I say.
"Tobey tell your sister to tell us what car she has." Joe complains glancing up the table at my brother who is deep in conversation with Julia and doesn't hear him.
"Hey Marshall! Tobey! Earth to Tobey!" he says to no effect.
"Nice try Joe, but Julia is much prettier than you. You're not getting his attention for a while. And even if you could I am not telling you what the car is so it's a moot point." I say.
"Please tell me what your car is. I'll be your best friend, I'll fix your car for free. You'll never have to pay for mechanical work again." he says.
"Ok well first off, you already have a best friend, and second my brother is a mechanic so I get free mechanical work anyway and finally I'm pretty good with cars so most of the time I can sort out problems myself. But thanks for the offer"
"Can you at least give me a hint? One more substantial than 'it's got four wheels and an engine' something that narrows it down a little more than that." he asks.
"Sure, now are you listening properly? Because I'm only going to say this once." I say.
"You have 100% of my attention." he says.
"Ok, are you ready? Here it comes." I pause to enjoy the look of anticipation on his face for a few moments. "I can tell you that the car most definitely is not a Hyundai." I say.
"Oh wow Kat, that narrows it down soo much" he says sarcastically rolling his eyes at me.
"Well that is the only hint you're getting so you're getting so you're just going to have to be satisfied with it." I say glancing at the clock on the wall. "Look while I would love to stay here and debate this with you till the cows come home, I 'm afraid I have to go pick up my cap, see you guys later."
Thanks for reading guys! Please review and tell me what you think! Next chapter the guys will find out what kind of car Katia has. I also have a question, would you like me to write a race scene or just go straight into the car reveal afterwards? I don't know which way to go.
Next chapter should be up in a week or so but if I get more reviews it will be sooner 'cause reviews inspire me! So please r and a r!