Hey all! I want to say that I am sorry for the wait for this chapter. Unfortunately, I don't know how often moving forward this story will get updated. My days have gotten chaotic for me, and I've only got a few hours of downtime with maybe a day or two throughout the week that will allow me to write, some weeks give me none. But with that said, I am going to keep working on this one, updates will just be slower in getting posted.
I am sorry for the short length of this chapter.
Please enjoy!
Jack walked around Bluebell, wishing he had his car with him. He loves his little small town, except when they felt like they need to get involved in his business like they are doing now. He tried his hardest not to stop and make small talk with any of the townsfolk. That turned out to be harder than he thought imaginable. Everyone that he came across had a handful and a change worth of questions. Every question is a repeat of previous questions asked. He was almost at his wit's end when it came to the questions and if he didn't respect his elders, he'd start answering their questions with a different lie per person to see what the story of his life would be. It is something that he has done in his younger years. His parents weren't very amused with him over that stunt.
He sighed with relief coming across the auto shop. With his sister off with her group of friends, and his parents at work he was left to his own devices until it was time for him to take his leave to Mobile later in the day to catch his flight to head home. He quickly made his way into the shop, old rock music filtered out from the speakers, tools clanking and chosen curse words overtaking the song being played. Seeing his best friend cursing out the truck he is working on, Jack let out a chuckle, coming to stand beside the truck being worked on, his hands in his pockets.
"Shut up," David seethed, shooting his friend a dirty look. Jack raised his hands, in a manner that he didn't say anything. "That shit hurt," he muttered, looking at his hand where he had banged it on the side of the motor.
"My mom is working at the practice today if you need her to check on your little boo-boo," Jack snickered, earning himself a glare from his friend.
"That joke wasn't funny when we were kids and it sure in the hell isn't funny now," David grumbled, wiping grease from his knuckles to see if he had broken any skin on his knuckles. They were red but weren't cut open or bleeding so he was fine. "Is any of it true?" David asked, grabbing his bottle of water as he strode over to take a seat on the old raggedy couch in the shop.
"Do I even want to know?" Jack asked, dropping onto the couch, and closing his hazel eyes. Not a bit interested in what the town was saying about his sudden appearance. He got the gist of it with all the questions he had dodged during his walk to the auto shop.
"No, but as your best friend, it is my duty to find out for them. Rosie needs the answer for the blog," David shrugged. Rosie is his girlfriend and the one person that Dash had trusted enough to take over his blogs when it became hard for him to type. Rosie grew up in New York, moving to Mobile for college where she met David. Leading her to Bluebell and getting on with Dash and their shared love of plays. "You've got someone pregnant, girlfriend, or someone else, cheating rumors are the funniest because this town forgets who you are," he pointed out shaking his head.
"That I am my father's son," Jack replied dryly. He's heard all about his dad cheating on his mom. They had gotten over that bit in their history and had a strong healthy marriage. He doesn't understand why a select few can't get over his dad cheating on his mom over two decades ago.
"That's not you and this whole town knows it," David scoffed, offended for his friend. "Tom has you running off with the circus, Meatball has you going on tour with him because George has landed you quite the lucrative deal," he shared, trying to think of anything else he had heard.
"No special talent to be allowed in the circus and I'm not Tom," Jack laughed lightly shaking his head. "And unfortunately I can't sing to save my life, got that from my mom, this town knows that, especially Meatball," Jack scoffed, shaking his head.
"So you did get your girlfriend pregnant?" David asked, taking a drink of his water. "It's either that or you drop out of school and are crawling back home," he pointed out.
"I didn't get my girlfriend pregnant," Jack stated. They've had a few close calls on that front lately, so they've taken a step back in that area for the time being. "You do know that I could have dropped out of college and joined the military right?" He asked his friend. It had been a thought that crossed his mind, but he didn't think he had it in him to do what they do.
"No offense, dude," David said, getting up.
"Just with that alone, I feel like I need to be taking offense to whatever that is going to come out of your mouth," Jack stated, following his friend back to the truck that needs to be worked on.
"Maybe," David shrugged, grabbing the wrench to get back to work. "But I don't see it in you. You have the qualities, but I can't see you enlisting," he stated.
"I feel the same way," Jack sighed. "Dude, no," Jack stated, pushing his friend out of the way to do the job himself.
"You do know that this is my job right?" David asked, leaning on the front of the truck while Jack worked.
"You do know that you were doing it wrong?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow at his friend over his shoulder.
"You think I was doing it wrong?" David asked amused. "I went to school to be a mechanic, you have not," David tossed out.
"I can," Jack shrugged, bringing his head out from under the hood of the truck. "I did drop out of school. Being an engineer didn't seem as fun and as exciting as I once thought it would be," he explained to his friend.
"What are you going to do now?" David asked, tossing the grease rag to his friend.
"Hell if I know," Jack sighed. "Fly back to my home, and take things as they come while I try to figure out what I want from life," he tossed out.
"There's always trade school," David said, running a grease-stained hand through his dark blonde locks that needed to be cut short. "And then we can buy this place and make it ours," he suggested. "If that's still something you wish to do," David commented.
"It would be alright to own a business with you," Jack nodded. They had both worked at the auto shop through high school. David full-time and Jack part-time. Medicine didn't fascinate him the way it did his mom, and working at the Jammer, well that didn't appeal to him either. "It's definitely a possibility," he nodded. Something he is going to keep in the back of his mind moving forward. "I don't know if I'm ready to move back here, or have half the money to help buy this place with you," he pointed out. "If you get the chance and can make it happen, don't wait on me," he advised his friend.
"I don't have my share either," David nodded, it's going to take him time to come up with his share. To him, it was easier to go into business with someone he can trust than by himself, as it's not as much money that he will have to come up with on his own. If he was to go into business by himself, it would take him double the amount of time then what it will take the two of them, if Jack decides it's still something he wants to do once he leaves and figures himself and his life out. "There isn't much of a rush, Jack," he said. "Mind helping me out like old times sake for a few hours?" David asked. He doesn't need the help as there is only one other vehicle that needs to be attended to, but he can see that Jack needs to be doing something.
"It's not like I have anything better to do, and someone needs to keep an eye on you to make sure that you do things the proper way," Jack teased.
"Man, you weren't funny when we were kids and that has been something that hasn't changed now," Jack said in a gruff tone.
"You're just jealous," Jack teased, looking at David. "What else needs to be done?" He asked.
"Oil change," David informed him. "There's never been a day in my life that I've been jealous of you," he stated, grabbing an oil pan for him. "Since you're such a master of auto bodywork, you can change the oil yourself," David stated, heading to the car parked on the other side of the shop that needs a few major repairs.
"I've been changing oil since I was 13," Jack snorted, getting to work. He'd always been in the garage when his dad was working on one car or another, wanting to help out. For many years it was handing his dad tools. In his teen years, it was all him as his dad told him what to do, explaining things to him, and showing him how to do things. He'd have to see if Lynn is getting the same treatment. He wants his sister to know what to do in case of an emergency.
When it was time to call it quits, Jack wiped his hands clean, forgetting how fast time speeds by when you're doing something that you love. With the promise to stay in touch, Jack made his way home. The idea of buying the auto shop with David played on repeat in his head. He'd have to come up with a plan of action, but he doesn't see why they can't make it a reality, at some point down the road. He'd make sure it's something he wants before doing it.
