The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com
Prompt: Garage
Pen Name: Kimmydonn
Pairing/Main Character(s): Berty/Goff
Rating: 18A
This is a multi-chapter story
Photo prompts can be viewed here:
thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts
It was with great trepidation that Tony took his Audi into the local mechanic. Normally he would drive up to Port Angeles or even Seattle to get someone who was familiar with foreign models, but it had actually seized up on him, so he couldn't take it to either of those and had it towed locally. Bart had assured him that he'd know what was wrong before the school day was finished, but Tony still worried.
The phone in his classroom rang for the second time in Tony's memory. He could have sworn it wasn't there a year ago.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Berty? Bart here. Looks like you just had a spark plug go. Had to order a new one from Port Angeles. I can have it ready first thing tomorrow."
Tony sighed with relief. "That's fine, thank you."
"No trouble. Expect you about the same time tomorrow morning?" he asked.
"I'll be there." He made a mental note to set his alarm earlier. He should be able to walk to the garage from his house.
The morning was gray, but the rain was holding off. The walk to the garage was better than Tony had expected. The humidity was getting worse with the end of the school year and the onslaught of summer. Despite the lack of sunshine, most of the hedges and gardens were lined with flowers. He didn't stop to admire them. He'd had enough of gardening at home. He'd become a teacher to avoid grubbing in the dirt. He'd come to States to get away from his father who was adamant about Tony taking over the family business.
Since coming to Forks, he hadn't thought much about home. His dad still called once a week, but it was really just to make sure Tony was still alive. He'd try to convince Tony to come home and Tony would explain, again, that it was too expensive. At least his Dad had stopped hounding him about the grocery.
Tony stopped in the middle of the sidewalk less than a block from the garage. He didn't quite believe his luck. Who would have thought Bob would be dropping off his hunk of junk the same time Tony was picking his up?
Tony had been making Bob's life a misery for a week now. There wasn't a lunch hour that he didn't hide behind his tea, fighting laughter at Bob's complaints. The only thing Tony hadn't done was poison the man's lunch. That was the final affront Tony was planning. It would definitely land blame on one of the faculty; students didn't have access to the staff lounge and, therefore, the staff refrigerator.
A slow smile spread across Tony's face as he picked up his pace, meeting Bob at one of the concrete corners of the building. Palm out, he shoved Banner into the building. There was a thud as Bob's head rebounded off the wall.
"Ow! Get off me! Who do you-" He cut off abruptly when he recognized Tony. "I'll call the police, you can't-"
Tony cut him off. "You can't. You can't be stupid enough to think I'm going to let you ruin Bernice. You can't think I'm going to let you spread ugly lies."
"Lies," Bob scoffed. "I've heard the story you're putting around, but I know you weren't just meeting in that classroom. Your fucking fly was down."
"And you've never been caught in class with your fly down?"
"It didn't just happen-"
Tony shut him up with another shove into the wall. Bob's head made another thunk. Tears came to his eyes, and he grabbed Tony's wrist, trying to get some control of the situation. Too late, Tony thought.
"You are going to shut your gob, Banner, or I swear, when the year is out, it'll be full of your own teeth." Tony glared hatred at the pudgy man, wishing he could beat him to pulp here and now.
Banner continued to glare defiance and Tony slammed him into the building a third time. The tears in Banner's eyes fell. He'd have a headache for the rest of the day, Tony was sure. Bob's expression changed from defiant to fearful. He seemed to realize that Tony could actually hurt him. Tony would hurt him, given the chance.
"Fine. I won't say anything else."
Tony released him, taking half a step back. "Good. And stop bad-mouthing Bernice. She's cooperating with the police, not a suspect. Fuck off already." Tony turned Banner and gave him a kick in the ass, sending him sprawling on the sidewalk.
"You can't do this," Banner continued to argue.
Tony moved to stand over him, foot on his chest. "Do you really want to know what I can or can't do?" He gave Banner a kick to the ribs, not hard, but a promise of more. Tony turned and headed into Bart's.
"Asshole," Banner spat, getting up.
Tony grinned. He was an asshole, but so was Bob. Tony was just a bigger asshole.
Good news greeted him in the lounge. Making his morning cup of tea, he overheard Shelly and Janice again. This time, however, they were talking about Bernice being so flexible, staying to help after she'd proven her innocence. They noticed him.
"Have you heard anything new? Do you know when she'll be back?" Shelly asked.
Tony shook his head. "I haven't heard from her since just after she left. I think she didn't expect to be back this term, we're so close to the end now. She has family in San Diego. I wouldn't be surprised if she spent the summer there." He didn't actually have any idea if that last part was true. If it were him, he'd be running back to Forks.
"You must miss her," Janice said with a small frown. "Is it true you would...in the school?" She turned a bright pink and tittered. "So risque," she said.
"Don't worry, Tony. I think every member of the staff has had that idea once or twice."
"The idea, yes," he agreed. "But we didn't."
"Of course not!" Shelly said, but her expression belied her words. She believed he had. Sullen, he took his tea and left. Banner would pay for opening his mouth.