~Mia's POV~
Monday afternoon
A customer sits at the counter, eating the remains of a sandwich and sipping a can of Sprite. He's tan, muscular, has a shaved head, and is wearing a navy officer's uniform.
The team plus Gin walk towards the store from their respective cars laughing and joking about something. Gin is squinting at the man in the uniform, as if trying to make out his face. Suddenly, before entering the market, she runs and takes a flying leap onto his back. "AUZ!" she shrieks. The man almost topples over. He turns around, swings Gin into his lap and starts to tickle her. She laughs uncontrollably.
Jesse, Mia, the rest of the guys, and I watch this scene with confusion.
"Gin, babygirl! How've you been?" He kisses her cheek and swoops her into a hug.
I see Jesse out of the corner of my eye. His eyes narrow at someone in what he considers his territory. I can't believe he's jealous.
"Chill Jess." I tell him. "Don't go Dom on me."
"Yeah you're right." He mumbles.
"Guys, "Gin begins, "This is Austin, my brother, also known as Auz. Auz, this is Leon, Brian, Letty, Vince, Dom, Mia, who served you your food, and Jesse."
"Hey. " He gives a short wave to us, then turns to Gin. "How you holdin' up hermana? Is there anything left to arrange for....you know. I mean, did you have any trouble?" He seems to really care about Gin's feelings on the matter, but doesn't seem too distraught himself over the actual death.
"Nope, everything is pretty much done. It'll all be over soon...everything. I pretty much dealt with it all yesterday afternoon. Enough of that depressing shit. How long are you on leave? Come on, ya gotta tell me it's for more than a weekend! Did you bring Meghan with you?"
"Sorry Virginia, but I'm only on leave for 3 days. Right after the funeral I ship out. No Megs didn't come with me, but I talked to her right when I came on leave. She's not doing so well with the distance thing. But enough about me, I want to catch up with you! Lets have dinner...tonight?"
"Yeah that'd be good. Tonight. Come to the house about 8:00."
"Alright chica, but I've got to go now. I have to go check in at the hotel. The thought of staying back home just doesn't seem right."
"Bye Auz, see ya later."
He throws his trash away and smartly walks to his rental car. He drives away in the direction of his hotel, Gin watching after his retreating car.
"So you have a brother huh?" Let says.
"Yeah, Auz is 23."
"Navy man, I see." Vince jokes.
"Yep. He's been a SEAL, for the last three years. He's applying to be a Leap Frog this year."
Leon snorts. "What the fuck is a Leap Frog?"
"It's the Navy Parachute Team. If he gets in, he'll be gone for three years doing that. I don't get to see him much, but he's living his dream, so I'm happy for him. He went straight into the Navy as soon as he got out of high school."
"Who's Meg?" Letty asks.
"That is...or was his girlfriend. She's a sweetheart, but I can see how it would be hard to keep up a relationship with my brother gone all the time."
"Yeah. It's hard enough to keep one up when you see them every day." Letty rolls her eyes at Dom and he laughs. "Hey, why don't you have him over to our house for dinner?"
"You sure?" She looks to me.
"Yeah," I say. "If you're going to be around more, cuz of Jess and all, then we'd like to get to know you better."
"Ok, thanks." She smiles, and I can see Jesse staring at his shoes. Since when did he become shy? Gin pulls a cell phone out of her pocket and dials Auz's number. "Hello? Hey Auz, it's me. Yeah...Well, change of plans..Yeah..These guys want you to come to dinner at their place tonight... Yeah, ok...alright." She gives Auz the address to our house and tells him to be there at 8.
"So guys." I say. "What's up? You guys aren't closing shop till 6:30 tonight, remember?"
"Well, Jess needs your opinion on the decal he designed for this girl's Mustang...and we wanted food!" Dom tells me, grabbing a bag of chips off the shelf.
"Ya bring em, Jess? Lemme see!" I ask him excitedly, reaching out my hands for the manila folder he's holding.
"Ok," With his brow furrowed, he describes his ideas. "Well, the lady wasn't specific. She said she wanted a couple versions and then she'd pick. So, I first layed out the traditional Cobra side decal and it's pretty unoriginal, right, but I figured start with the basics." He traces the design with his the side of his pinky and index fingers with his thumb in the air, his middle and ring fingers tucked to his palm. I nod my head, understanding, and he continues. "So then I brought the grid up in Photoshop and tried to map out an original design, something between this paint splash type, ya know, and then there's either a falcon or hawk type bird preceding it. There's the real basic. We could go with the stripes, or then I gridded this flying phoenix, which is pretty sweet." He gives this boyish grin and looks at Gin.
She rests her head in his shoulder. "If you extend the splash pattern behind the phoenix about another 3 inches, it'll give the car a more elongated and streamlined look. Also, if you dip the phoenix wing down a little, it'll give the image the illusion that the phoenix is in flight and the wingtips are brushing the ground."
"Good ideas, Gin. I agree. I like it." I say, obviously impressed.
"Yeah, man. If we extend that wing down, and add some new hubs, this'll be some sweet eye candy. Now granted, the car only goes as fast as a stock Mustang will go, but it's a sweet ride nonetheless. He scratches his head, then looks a little bewildered. "Hey. Where's my hat?"
"Me?"
"You took my hat."
"Oh, right! Well, it's in my car still, so you'll just have to come get it." She grins casually. Dom, Vince, and Leon, and Letty, who have progressed towards the back of the store start to laugh. Dom gets this big smile on his face and I can hear him quietly talking. "She's smooth."
"Jesse better put on his lucky boxers tonight! Ow OW!" Leon says playfully.
"Chingate!" Gin laughs. "Sea simpatico o yo diré la gente que tienes un chilito" ~Fuck you!~Be nice or I will tell people[esp. fem.] that you have a small dick~
Letty starts to laugh really loudly at this and Leon has a completely bewildered look on his face. "She got you, dude. You seriously need to learn some Spanish. Gin, pienso que nosotros hablaríamos en español y poneríamos el nombre de Leon en nuestro conversación tan el piensa que nosotros estamos hablando sobre lo." ~Gin, I think that we should speak in Spanish and put Leon's name in our conversation so he thinks we are talking about him.~
"JA JA! Si Si!" ~Haha! Yes, yes!"~
"What are you guys saying?" Dom asks Letty.
"I'll tell you later."
"Hey, yo Jess..You want your hat?"
Jesse nods and follows Gin to her car. She opens the door and he leans in, looking for his hat. He finds it, straightens his form, and turns around. Gin pushes him gently. "Hey Let." She yells. "Get in. I want your opinion on a few things." Letty walks out of the store and hops in the passenger side, while Gin goes around the car to the driver's side. She peels out and turns to Letty. "Point me to a straight stretch of road."
~OK REVIEWS ARE NECESSARY! THERE'S NO POINT IN WRITING IF I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S READING IT! THANKS TO DEVILISHLY DIESEL, VINSGURL123, and TIGERLILY FOR THEIR REVIEWS!~
A customer sits at the counter, eating the remains of a sandwich and sipping a can of Sprite. He's tan, muscular, has a shaved head, and is wearing a navy officer's uniform.
The team plus Gin walk towards the store from their respective cars laughing and joking about something. Gin is squinting at the man in the uniform, as if trying to make out his face. Suddenly, before entering the market, she runs and takes a flying leap onto his back. "AUZ!" she shrieks. The man almost topples over. He turns around, swings Gin into his lap and starts to tickle her. She laughs uncontrollably.
Jesse, Mia, the rest of the guys, and I watch this scene with confusion.
"Gin, babygirl! How've you been?" He kisses her cheek and swoops her into a hug.
I see Jesse out of the corner of my eye. His eyes narrow at someone in what he considers his territory. I can't believe he's jealous.
"Chill Jess." I tell him. "Don't go Dom on me."
"Yeah you're right." He mumbles.
"Guys, "Gin begins, "This is Austin, my brother, also known as Auz. Auz, this is Leon, Brian, Letty, Vince, Dom, Mia, who served you your food, and Jesse."
"Hey. " He gives a short wave to us, then turns to Gin. "How you holdin' up hermana? Is there anything left to arrange for....you know. I mean, did you have any trouble?" He seems to really care about Gin's feelings on the matter, but doesn't seem too distraught himself over the actual death.
"Nope, everything is pretty much done. It'll all be over soon...everything. I pretty much dealt with it all yesterday afternoon. Enough of that depressing shit. How long are you on leave? Come on, ya gotta tell me it's for more than a weekend! Did you bring Meghan with you?"
"Sorry Virginia, but I'm only on leave for 3 days. Right after the funeral I ship out. No Megs didn't come with me, but I talked to her right when I came on leave. She's not doing so well with the distance thing. But enough about me, I want to catch up with you! Lets have dinner...tonight?"
"Yeah that'd be good. Tonight. Come to the house about 8:00."
"Alright chica, but I've got to go now. I have to go check in at the hotel. The thought of staying back home just doesn't seem right."
"Bye Auz, see ya later."
He throws his trash away and smartly walks to his rental car. He drives away in the direction of his hotel, Gin watching after his retreating car.
"So you have a brother huh?" Let says.
"Yeah, Auz is 23."
"Navy man, I see." Vince jokes.
"Yep. He's been a SEAL, for the last three years. He's applying to be a Leap Frog this year."
Leon snorts. "What the fuck is a Leap Frog?"
"It's the Navy Parachute Team. If he gets in, he'll be gone for three years doing that. I don't get to see him much, but he's living his dream, so I'm happy for him. He went straight into the Navy as soon as he got out of high school."
"Who's Meg?" Letty asks.
"That is...or was his girlfriend. She's a sweetheart, but I can see how it would be hard to keep up a relationship with my brother gone all the time."
"Yeah. It's hard enough to keep one up when you see them every day." Letty rolls her eyes at Dom and he laughs. "Hey, why don't you have him over to our house for dinner?"
"You sure?" She looks to me.
"Yeah," I say. "If you're going to be around more, cuz of Jess and all, then we'd like to get to know you better."
"Ok, thanks." She smiles, and I can see Jesse staring at his shoes. Since when did he become shy? Gin pulls a cell phone out of her pocket and dials Auz's number. "Hello? Hey Auz, it's me. Yeah...Well, change of plans..Yeah..These guys want you to come to dinner at their place tonight... Yeah, ok...alright." She gives Auz the address to our house and tells him to be there at 8.
"So guys." I say. "What's up? You guys aren't closing shop till 6:30 tonight, remember?"
"Well, Jess needs your opinion on the decal he designed for this girl's Mustang...and we wanted food!" Dom tells me, grabbing a bag of chips off the shelf.
"Ya bring em, Jess? Lemme see!" I ask him excitedly, reaching out my hands for the manila folder he's holding.
"Ok," With his brow furrowed, he describes his ideas. "Well, the lady wasn't specific. She said she wanted a couple versions and then she'd pick. So, I first layed out the traditional Cobra side decal and it's pretty unoriginal, right, but I figured start with the basics." He traces the design with his the side of his pinky and index fingers with his thumb in the air, his middle and ring fingers tucked to his palm. I nod my head, understanding, and he continues. "So then I brought the grid up in Photoshop and tried to map out an original design, something between this paint splash type, ya know, and then there's either a falcon or hawk type bird preceding it. There's the real basic. We could go with the stripes, or then I gridded this flying phoenix, which is pretty sweet." He gives this boyish grin and looks at Gin.
She rests her head in his shoulder. "If you extend the splash pattern behind the phoenix about another 3 inches, it'll give the car a more elongated and streamlined look. Also, if you dip the phoenix wing down a little, it'll give the image the illusion that the phoenix is in flight and the wingtips are brushing the ground."
"Good ideas, Gin. I agree. I like it." I say, obviously impressed.
"Yeah, man. If we extend that wing down, and add some new hubs, this'll be some sweet eye candy. Now granted, the car only goes as fast as a stock Mustang will go, but it's a sweet ride nonetheless. He scratches his head, then looks a little bewildered. "Hey. Where's my hat?"
"Me?"
"You took my hat."
"Oh, right! Well, it's in my car still, so you'll just have to come get it." She grins casually. Dom, Vince, and Leon, and Letty, who have progressed towards the back of the store start to laugh. Dom gets this big smile on his face and I can hear him quietly talking. "She's smooth."
"Jesse better put on his lucky boxers tonight! Ow OW!" Leon says playfully.
"Chingate!" Gin laughs. "Sea simpatico o yo diré la gente que tienes un chilito" ~Fuck you!~Be nice or I will tell people[esp. fem.] that you have a small dick~
Letty starts to laugh really loudly at this and Leon has a completely bewildered look on his face. "She got you, dude. You seriously need to learn some Spanish. Gin, pienso que nosotros hablaríamos en español y poneríamos el nombre de Leon en nuestro conversación tan el piensa que nosotros estamos hablando sobre lo." ~Gin, I think that we should speak in Spanish and put Leon's name in our conversation so he thinks we are talking about him.~
"JA JA! Si Si!" ~Haha! Yes, yes!"~
"What are you guys saying?" Dom asks Letty.
"I'll tell you later."
"Hey, yo Jess..You want your hat?"
Jesse nods and follows Gin to her car. She opens the door and he leans in, looking for his hat. He finds it, straightens his form, and turns around. Gin pushes him gently. "Hey Let." She yells. "Get in. I want your opinion on a few things." Letty walks out of the store and hops in the passenger side, while Gin goes around the car to the driver's side. She peels out and turns to Letty. "Point me to a straight stretch of road."
~OK REVIEWS ARE NECESSARY! THERE'S NO POINT IN WRITING IF I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S READING IT! THANKS TO DEVILISHLY DIESEL, VINSGURL123, and TIGERLILY FOR THEIR REVIEWS!~