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Bleeding- Celeste Buckingham (Describes their relationship perfectly J)
I hope you enjoy!
Fighting off my irritation with Han, I exhale a breathe I hadn't realize I was holding, and return to my seat to better feel out my work space. The white desk was fairly large, with multiple draws, the desk was littered with pens, pencils, and highlighters, the basic office supply things.
"Someone doesn't need to go school shopping for a while" I say to myself in a sing song voice, as I continue to rummage through the draws, shifting through folders and papers.
There was a large shelf on my right, and of course there was nothing but tools, car magazines and old spray paint cans. I shake my head at the messy display, thinking I'll clean it for now until this Jade person shows up.
Glancing at my smartphone, I notice the time is now 10:30, where in the hell was everybody?
They should be waking up pretty soon hopefully, unless their sleeping of their hangovers, which is exactly what I think the crew is doing.
It can of irks me that Han gets on me for being late, when the crew is sleeping in, I'm starting to think that Han just lives to make me miserable. It's just like him to leave me here completely at a loss at what to do.
Slightly annoyed, I sigh and pick up the nearest rag to begin dusting and organizing the messy shelves. Ten minutes into cleaning, I'm interrupted by my stomach gurgling it's protest for not being feed this morning
Normally I always have time for a small breakfast, but running out like I did to meet his highness, I didn't have time for anything, not even a pop tart.
"I know me too" I murmur sympathetically rubbing my stomach soothingly, trying to calm it like some hungry animal.
Gosh I'm weird.
I think I may have an old pop tart in my bag somewhere, searching through the cluttered mess that is my purse, I'm disappointed at finding nothing. I just ignore my obnoxious stomach and continue working.
Turning my attention to the draws, I begin cleaning them out one by one, organizing things so that's it's easier to find stuff. I place the folders with folders and papers and receipts in two separate draws, whoever was handling this before was pretty messy. Reaching the bottom drawer I open it, and feel the slow grin light up my face at the treasure I find.
How could I forget about Han's junk food drawer! I've been sitting here listening to my stomach growl for the past ten minutes, when I have food right under my nose the whole time.
Smiling wickedly, I go through pile literally drooling at everything I see, I can't decide on what I'm going to devour first. This had to be a fat kid's wet dream and this fat kid is loving her dream right now. He had everything and anything I could think of in this little stash.
Wasabeef flavored chips...Check
Crunky pop joys…Check
Baby Star Ramen…Check
Curly Balls…check
Kani pan …check
I squeal like a little girl when I find my absolute two favorite snacks in the world buried in the bottom, strawberry covered pocky sticks and coconut curry flavored chips! They sounded disgusting the first time I heard about them, but these little suckers sent me to heaven and back.
I grab the pocky sticks and chips, deciding that it'll a perfectly balanced nutritious breakfast.
Getting ready to open the bags I stop midway scowling, remembering who they belong to... Han.
Groaning dejectedly, my nose twitches in frustration as I stare at the red and green bags of goodness. My stomach protests even louder, I guess it senses food is near. One side of me thinks it's ok for a slight second, but I quickly remember it is Han after all, and knowing him he'll find some way to antagonize me about this.
Would it be considered stealing if I just take a couple of teeny bit of sticks?
Of course it is Eden, its Han were talking, you know the ass.
Deciding that it's not worth another fight, I put everything back in its place slowly, immediately coming down from my almost sugar high.
"Suck it up Eden, just put everything back they belong to an idiot named Han, just wait an hour or two and then you can get a mega mac." I say cheerfully, shrugging my shoulders trying to give myself a cheery pep talk, acting like I wasn't bothered.
"Jesusss girl, just eat the damn fucking chips, Han will never know the difference, the man has stashes everywhere."
I jump up quickly and guilty from the desk, shoving the food behind me and turn to face the amused female's voice behind me.
My eyes find a tall young woman, no older than 21, grinning at me with raised eyebrows. Her hair was jet black hair separated into two small
electric blue buns atop her head, reminding me of a gothy Minnie mouse.
Her features were exotic, her pretty face a mixture of Asian descent with a blend of something I can't really be sure of.
She wore a long black shirt that had the word misfit, in a zombie type font in white. The shirt fit her like a dress stopping a couple of inches above her knee. Her black laced combat boots were really cute especially since she paired them with thigh high garters.
I blush embarrassed from the fact that she probably heard my banter with myself.
I give her a small unsure smile, "umm hi, my name's Eden, Han just hired me…I think" I say the last part to myself more than her.
Her purple contacted eyes stand out against her pale complexion, sparkling with laughter, red lips separating into a smile.
"Ha" she screeched loudly clapping her two hands together. I flinch slightly at her outburst, but smile at the strange woman in front of me.
"Han was fucking right, you are fun to mess with" she steps back regarding me carefully, "I'm going to have a blast with you, hmm your cute but too innocent," she says sounding disappointed.
"Thanks?" I say unsurely smiling, not sure whether to be offended or flattered.
She just laughs again and comes to stand next to me by the desk, looking behind me pointing to the pocky sticks.
"Hand them over."
I do what she asks and hands over my beloved pocky sticks hesitantly.
She tears the bag open taking out a handful, then offers me the bag with her eyebrows quirked and a crazy grin on her face.
"Now Han can't come at you for shit cutie, if he asks just tell him crazy Jade opened them."
So this is Jade, I like her already, she's what should I say…eccentric. I like eccentric. I laugh as she dramatically opens the bag of chips throwing one at me, winking.
"Thanks Jade" I smile at her.
"No problem, anyway I should be thanking your ass."
"Why" I ask confused.
"Well for one your going to be handling a lot of the shit Han makes me do, I was hired as a mechanic not a fucking secretary slash garage manager" she says angrily turning on the desktop.
"Han can be such a pain in my ass, he can be so damn lazy sometimes, I told him plenty of times that I couldn't do both, but of course he ignored me."
"So you work here as a mechanic?" I ask watching her.
"Yup but Han being Han, exploited me and before you know it I'm taking inventory. But enough was enough, I threatened his precious skyline with my bat, and poof your here."
I nod understanding, trying to ignore whatever she meant with her bat .So Jade was the person basically managing the front for Han, I can handle that…I hope.
"So Eden before I show you how this shit works, want to have a little fun?" she asks wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"What kind of fun Jade" I ask suspiciously, narrowing my eyes slightly. I've only known Jade for about five minutes, and I can already tell her kind of fun, can't be counted as normal opens a draw on the shelf and pulls out a large metal pan sheet and wooden spoon. I can't help but laugh at her, "Jade I don't see the fun in that."
"Don't worry, you will I promise," she says grabbing my arm heading towards the lounge area of the garage, the section with the couches and the cool styled bunk beds, that I've always wanted to secretly sleep in.
"This fuckers should know better than to sleep in today" she grumbled bitterly, "they know we have a shit load to handle before the races tonight, and the bakas decide to throw a party the night before. Take notes Eden sometimes you have to give em a wakeup call."
I stand near the couch and watch her as she stands in front of the beds lifting the metal sheet above her head.
The thundering sound of the spoon and metal colliding creates an ear splitting sound that could wake the dead, I cover my ears immediately at the offending noise.
"Wakey wakey bitches, it's time to get to work, wake up we have a lot of shit to do today." She furthers he point by walking up and down in front of the bed marching, "up children, let's go mama needs you to get to work."
Screens began to open angrily revealing a variety of furious faces, shouts fill the air competing with Jade's homemade alarm clock system. I cringe at all the loud calamity, but still couldn't put my smile away.
Jade dodges shoes, heels, clothes and all the other items that were thrown at her, laughing evilly.
"Alright, alright damn we up Jade, shit". It was Twinkie, his face was contorted in an angry scowl growling at Jade, jumping out from the bunk first followed by a pretty cursing brunette.
"You are crazy as shit Jade for real looking like the damn wicked witch of the west" he says grabbing the pot and spoon angrily from Jade.
I hear curses and pained groans coming from the rest of the bunk mates, slowly they all got out including a couple of angry models.
"Oi Jade what was that shit," Earl spat angrily tussling his dark hair.
"You boys" she emphasized "needed help getting up like always, anyways Han called me and told me to wake you bitches up, we have work to do."
Jade turned away from them and walked back to where I had been standing watching the whole show, against the railing. She grinned at me, obviously proud of what she had done, I grinned back at her nodding my approval silently, I'm not going to lie that was pretty funny. And of course I'm glad she made Twinkie and Earl suffer, even if only for a little bit.
"And we have a newcomer to our little dysfunctional family" she said draping her arm over my shoulder "this is Eden. Twinkie and Earl you know obviously" she says pointing to them.
Twinkie notices me for the first time, his brown eyes going wide with surprise, mouth slack opened. Earl just scoffs and rubs his neck uncomfortably. So I'm guessing they weren't expecting me, loving my element of surprise right now.
I'm fine with that not like I'll be talking to them much anyway.
"E what you doing here" Twinkie asks walking towards me.
He stops in his tracks when he sees the deathly glare I send him, warning him to stay away from me. I know I'm going to have to see him, Reiko and Earl, but I'm nowhere ready to forgive them for that stunt they pulled.
I'm just going to what I came here to do and go back home to mom, I'm not just going to forget the fact that lied in my face overnight. Neela left me messages on my phone apologizing multiple times, they all have.
If they would have been upfront and honest with me in the beginning and told me about the job, there's no doubt in mind that I would have freaked out and denied it flat out. But coming home and finding my mother jobless, I know that I would still be standing in this garage whether I like it or not. The only difference would be that I have my best friends support.
"Looks like I have an ally" she says quietly looking back and forth at me and Twinkie.
"Aye Jade why don't you keep your witchy ass out of people's business for once" Twinkie says irritated, the look of guilt erasing from his face, replaced with a sneer.
"Don't fucking start with me Twinkie" Jade bite back.
"No, you two don't start so early in the morning" a voice pleaded, I looked up at the man raising his hands defensively.
He was on the larger side, his round stomach matched his bald head perfectly, his black fuzzy eyebrows were raised in a grimace as he looked to Jade rubbing his temples. He reminded me of a Spanish Buddha.
"Names Carlos," he said smiling at me "and don't mind those two, they go at it like cats and dogs all the time," nodding his head towards a glaring Jade. I smiled brightly at the joyful looking man, "nice to meet you Carlos".
"Only because he knows I'm the best mechanic around" she muttered looking over her black nails innocently.
"Man whatever, don't nobody fight more than Reiko and Earl, and we all know I'm the best mechanic around here, you only fooling yourself" Twinkie said scoffing.
"Alright enough" Jade said straitening up losing all her patience "someone tell the groupies to leave now, you can try your luck with Han again tonight ladies, but right the open legs party is closed so scat" she gave a fake smile with her scathing remark.
I looked at the four girls sympathetically, blushing lightly at Jade's remark, as they all stomped down the stairs muttering different curse words, towards Jade and the guys.
She then turned her attention back to me happily again, as if nothing happened, this girl is defiantly scary.
"Alright Eden now that the troops are up, I'll show you how to handle things in your area."
"So I don't get an introduction" a sleepy voice called out from the bunks lifting the screen, out popping out a man I recognized as Toshi. I saw him the first time I went to the races, he let us through the gate.
He scratched his scruffy beard lazily, yawing as he got of the bunk.
Something like pain ran across Jade's eyes for a split second, but she masked it quickly with an indifferent cold purple stare.
"I'm sorry I thought you were too busy in there with your skank, I keep telling you Toshi one of those bitches is going to give you a nasty rash done there, anyways" she huffed stubbornly "Eden, Toshi, Toshi Eden.
"Nice to meet you, Toshi." I smiled at the Asian young man, he looked no older than 26, he was pretty good looking.
"Same here" he says politely smiling lazily.
"Happy," Jade says glaring at Toshi, before waiting for him to reply she takes my hand in hers and leads me back to the office space.
"Sorry Eden, I'm not usually so fucking grumpy, it's just that those four piss me off so damn bad" she says pulling up an extra chair, motioning me to sit in the chair in front of the computer.
I'm not sure if it was all the guys fault, I didn't miss that look in her eyes when she looked at Toshi, there was a back story there. But I'm not going to mention that to her, its none of my business.
I shrug laughing, "It's fine Jade you made me forget about my nerves with your unique approach, I'm going to have to try that method one day."
She grinned at me, sticking a pocky stick in her mouth, "works every time."
"Alright girly lets get this training shit over with, so we can go be bossy some more."
I roll me eyes playfully and give her my undivided attention.
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Jade spent about two hours showing me almost everything I needed to know. She showed me how to take inventory, how to keep track of orders, how to order parts and handle customers. She showed me the different computer programs that I would need for different things.
Jade explained that I didn't have to do anything with the financial part, Han took care of that himself.
No surprise there. It seems like I'll just be handling customers and making sure everything within the shop ran smoothly, it seems easy enough.
It's a little nerve wracking, but I'm confident in myself and what I'm able to do.
"Thanks Jade, you've helped me so much, if it weren't for you I would be lost" I say turning to her smiling, truly thankful for her help.
"Aww Eden, your welcome, your really easy to teach, you catch on to shit fast." She says getting up stretching.
We have been sitting down for a while now, I get up myself to stretch my muscles, shaking my left sleepy leg awake.
"I'm so fucking hungry, these pocky sticks do nothing for my appetite" she wined tossing the empty bag to the side.
"Yeah, I'm starving myself," I murmur rubbing my stomach.
"You like Mcdonalds right?" she asks me teasingly "if I'm right I believe it was the mega mac right?"
"Yes and shut up" I burst out laughing remembering earlier when she caught me talking to myself.
"How about I go grab us some lunch and you stay here and join the gang downstairs get more comfortable with the crew" she suggest.
I really don't want to be around three members of the crew, but Carlos and Toshi have nothing to do them. Reiko showed up in her blue Volkswagen, ten minutes after the rude wake up call.
She came upstairs to ask Jade about a order and looked over at me guilty, puppy dog eyes burning into holes into my face. But I ignored her and gave her the same silent treatment Earl and Twinkie got.
"That's sounds good, hold on one second though" I reach for my purse looking for my wallet, to give Jade some cash for my meal. I don't really want to spend anything unnecessarily, since we were on a tight budget, but I'm starving and I'm not going back in Han's stash. I had planned to pack some lunch but rushed out of the house and completely forgot, and there's no way in hell I'm going to ask Twink for a loan.
I hear Jade scoff and take my wallet gently, "Eden put that shit away, it's your first day and it's my treat, besides we all normally have lunch together with the garage cash jar, but since their so busy down there and Han forgot to put cash in again, I'll cover it."
"Thanks Jade you don't have to" I say softly smiling at her putting my purse under the desk, I feel a little uncomfortable with her paying.
"Shut up, and wipe that look of your face" feigning anger crossing her arms "I want to get you lunch, now can you do me a favor?"
"Sure" I say waking to her side laughing, Jade could seem like a bad ass but in actuality she was sweet, in a harsh way.
"While I close up this pain in the ass order, can you go down there and ask everybody what they want. Tell them I'm running to Mcdonalds and if they give you shit, just tell them they won't get anything and walk away." She hands me a paper and pen, "just write everything down for me."
"Okay no problem, sounds easy enough."
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Yeah right, I should have known better than to think it would be easy, well it was for the first ten minutes.
Carlos was simple enough, I found him head first tinkering with a stereo for a car, wiring things together that looked extremely complicated. He was nice and even made me laugh, when he made jokes about my shirt. He explained to me that he was "pimping someone's stereo out." I wrote down his order for a simple cheeseburger and large coke and kept it moving.
Next, I found Toshi working under a car held up by a large car jack, he spoke quietly with me and asked me to help him. Nothing hard just passed him a couple of tools, even though he teased me for not knowing exactly what a wrench was. He ordered a Teriyaki Mac Burger meal and a sprite.
Reiko didn't give me any problems, she was sitting on her laptop barking orders at Earl, who would then yell back at her from under a car.
Reiko glances at me, pouting her lips when I hand her the pen and paper to write down her order. I know she knows, where I'm going she heard me take everyone else's orders. I stand to the side digging my nails shuffling my feet nervously.
Out of everyone I feel just a bit, a tiny insy bit of guilt when I look at Rieko and her miserable face. She says nothing to me and scribbles her order down quickly handing me the notepad.
I'm glad she doesn't try and talk to me, I'm relieved she knows me well enough to know I need a bit of space. I hate making her unhappy, but she did this to herself.
Looking down at the paper I'm glad to see she ordered Earl his favorite the Mac Pork, so that I won't have deal with his attitude.
"Eden, so you really not going to talk to me all day, any of us," Twinkie says coming up behind me. I roll my eyes at my cousin, this little trick is not going to work, he needs to understand why I'm upset. He's so use to me forgiving him for all the stupid little shit he does, all of them are. I'm sick of being stepped on.
Turning to face him, I purposely ignore his sad gaze,"I thought I made that pretty clear Twinkie, but to answer your question and clear up any confusion you or anyone else may have, no, I'm not speaking to any one of you."
I said a little loudly, caching Reiko's unhappy pout, inwardly cringing at how bitchy I sounded.
"I don't know why your being such a princess about everything, you said wanted a job and we got you one, you bitch when you don't have a job, and then bitch when we do find you a job. Reiko's been upset all day, taking everything out on me."
"And that's exactly why your so such a freakin idiot" I spit hotly "because you don't understand why I'm upset, and you call yourself a friend, you can honestly kiss my ass Earl, and I hope Reiko gives you hell for the rest of the day."
I kick the little wheelie cart that he's lying on under the car, stomping away from his curses, trying to make my way back upstairs to Jade.
I hear Toshi and Carlos laughing and Twinkie threatening him to let the car drop on his head.
Before I could make it back up the stairs, Han's voice stops me.
"I think you forgot an order, school girl," I hadn't seen him or hear him come back. My eyes roamed around the garage for a split second looking for his car.
"It's in the back" he says, casually sitting in a chair, looking up at me with his brown eyes like he always does, ready to pick a fight.
He must have just showed up because his keys were still clutched in his hands.
His grey plain short sleeved t-shirt showed of his muscular arms, that were crossed over his chest and kahki long pants encased his out stretched feet.
"Ok that's nice for you" I say failing miserably at sounding sincere, hopping he understood the "does it look like I care look" I sent him.
"You were looking for it" he accused nonchalantly, mouth quirking into his trademark smirk no doubt happy to prove me wrong.
Sighing angrily I look into his cruel amused eyes, hating how the nerves in my stomach erupt violently whenever he looks at me.
"Why you always fighting with me?" he asked in his monotone voice, opening a bag of chips, looking at me curiously.
I'm beyond annoyed at this point, first of all I'm starving, second of all Earl is a shitty friend and now I got to deal with this pain named Han.
I laughed sardonically shaking my head in disbelief, at the nerve of this man.
"Han" I ask seriously crooking my head to the right "have ever seen the movie the aristocats?"
He must have found my question funny, because he looked at me curiously his smirk moving only a centimeter upward, eyes waiting for me to finish.
"Well, there's a line in that movie that I like to personally live by" I say smiling slyly at him, I step closer to him, ignoring the thundering in my chest.
He sits up a little as I come closer,smirking fully now popping chips into his mouth slowly, eyes dancing.
"Ladies do not start fights," I stand a foot or two away not to close smiling "but they can finish them".
I say pursing my lips, mimicking the haughty Marie perfectly, as I grab the chips from his hand roughly, and pop one in my mouth playfully quirking my eyebrows up, challenging him.
I don't where this brave side of me is peeking out from, but I like her, if I'm going to work for this ass, he's not going to chase me away. Just because I need this job doesn't mean I have to take his or anyone else's crap.
His eyes shine with laughter and his smirk turns into a beautiful grin, as he shakes his head slightly. We continue to stare at each other, my eyes mocking and his filled with a certain type of dangerous teasing.
"Thanks for the chips." I say indifferently, stepping away breaking eye contact first so I can steady my racing heart. Pinching my nose in irritation, at the stupid nerves upsetting my stomach, I hurry up the stairs to Jane.
"What about my order" I hear him call after me chuckling.
"I hope you like cheeseburgers" I call back sharply.
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"Nope"
"E, come on just ride with me you don't have to talk to me shit!"
"No" I sing knowing it'll piss Twinkie off.
"Stop being so damn stubborn, I don't want you riding with Jade, the chick drives crazy as hell."
"Good" I answer back, walking down to meet everyone on the first level to head out to the races.
There is no way in hell I'm riding with Earl, Twinkie, or Reiko, and I'd rather claw my eyes out than get a ride with Han.
I've stayed upstairs all day with Jade, avoiding everyone expect Toshi and Carlos.
Toshi and Carlos already left, and besides I like Jade a lot, she's a crazy fun that I can appreciate.
I can see us becoming fast friends, easily.
I continue walking down to meet everybody at the stairs, ignoring the pleas of my overactive cousin.
"You know what Eden, I'm done I'm not gonna kiss your damn ass, if you wanna ride with the wicked witch of the west be my guest."
He rushes past me scowling, throwing his hands up in a dramatic fashion, mumbling some more.
"I will, I have the broom in purse" I yell back.
Everyone is watching us bicker nastily, Jade is laughing loudly, slapping the hood of her car at my joke, and Han just observes indifferently like he always does. His eyes find mine, and I turn them away forcefully choosing to focus on Jade.
Twinkie jumps in his car, reeves his green hulk and speeds off with Earl and Reiko inside, guess they decided to go with carpooling.
"Just to let you know Eden I drive perfectly safe", Jade says "I'm the best driver in this crew" she adds proudly.
"I'm sure Twinkie was just exaggerating" I say opening the door to her metallic black car, strapping in.
I hear Han scoff before he gets in and speeds off in his Rx.
Well, my dear cousin Twinkie was certainly not exaggerating on the driving skills of Jade. I was chanting prayers, holding on for dear life squeezing my seatbelt, eyes shut closed the entire drive.
Jade seemed oblivious to my discomfort, singing at the top of her lungs to various songs, weaving in and out of traffic dangerously. I feel like my heart has found it's way into my mouth by the time we reach the gate and find a sleepy Toshi.
Jade was singing at the top of her lungs, Peacock by katy perry, singing flirtatiously along with the words, winking playfully at Toshi as she sings the suggestive lyrics.
"Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock" she asks laughing dancing in her seat.
If I wasn't still in so much shock at this girl's driving I probably would have laughed.
Toshi smirked at her, "anytime baby just tell me when."
I groan at their lame attempts at flirting, covering my eyes with my still shaky hands,
"Ewww".
The car behind us honks impatiently, sending Jade into a cursing rampage, flipping them her middle finger, as she honked back ferociously.
"Get your ass in their Jade" Toshi says smiling shaking his head.
"I will kick some bitches asses tonight" she grumbled driving on grudgingly.
I sat back in the seat relieved that I made it here alive and in one piece, this was going to be a long night.
Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Just got a new laptop for school, so now I can update more. I just want to say a big thank you for everyone who reviewed, you have no idea how wonderful it is to get feedback from you guys! I should be able to updates the next chapter in a day or two. I really wanna get the ball rolling. But do me the favor please review, I need you guys feedback. Sorry about any grammer mistakes, as always I'm nervous about you guys liking it. Review and thank you for reading.
