Chapter Eight
This whole week has gone by smoothly, to say the least. It feels like things are back on track. Me and Veronica are finally getting back to being sisters and mine and Eli's friendship is stronger than ever. We haven't talked about the kiss or the shift in our relationship, but we're both aware of it.
" Dad? " I call out while putting my jacket on. " I'm going to see if Eli can find out what's wrong with my car. I'll be back later. "
My Grande Prix has been making a funny noise so I'm taking her over to Angel's junkyard/garage. It's technically a chop shop but he's Eli's uncle and does things legally for the most part so it's fine.
The next thing I know he's bounding into the living room trying desperately to tie his robe. " I don't know if I like the sound of that, Victoria. "
" He's great with cars. He did some work on the Lebaron for V a while back. " I tell him before grabbing my keys out of the bowl by the door.
He sighs. " He might be in autoshop at school but he isn't someone we can actually sue if something goes wrong under the hood. "
Oh god please just stop already.
" It's his uncle's shop and he's one of the best mechanics around for older cars. I'll be fine I promise. " I say kissing his cheek.
He goes to say something else but decides not to. " Just go. " He says pointing to the door.
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I pull up to Angel's and smile seeing a sweaty Eli wiping his hands on a towel. Getting out of the Grande Prix I hear a few cat calls from his boys making me roll my eyes.
Eli pulls me into his sweaty embrace and buries hisnose in my neck as if to show them who I belong to. He's such a caveman. GIggling I pull away and kiss him twice on the lips. His arm encircles my waist and pulls me in for a deeper one before giving me my space.
" To what do I owe the honor, querida? " He asks finally speaking.
Shaking my head I point at my car. " My car is making a funny noise. "
" It is, is it? " He says going over and popping the hood.
After a few minutes he sighs and turns back to me. " I don't see anything external pull her in. It might take a few days to get to so you can stick around and I'll take you home when I'm done for the night. "
A few days without a car doesn't sound like fun, but by the look of the cars lined up I can see why. Getting back in the car I wait until he lifts the garage door closest to me and I pull in with him directing me.
Getting out I'm pulled into a huge hug from Angel, who hadn't seen me before. " So here's what has been keeping my nephew in line. "
" Hey Angel. Long time no see. " I say laughing as he pulls away.
It's funny because he acts like he can't speak English in front of most white people but not me. You see, Angel didn't really like the fact that his nephew was hanging with Lily Kane, a rich white girl. My only guess is that he would rather Eli to be with me than some stuck up bitch.
I sit down on the comfy couch in the corner and start on The Color Purple for English Lit. It's harder to read than I thought but the first line reeled in.
You better not never tell nobody but God, it'll kill your mammy.
At that's when I fall down the rabbit hole. It's kind of hard to read, but the beginning of the story is heartbreaking. I can't imagine going from having two babies by Celie's father to being sold off to some old man. Just for her to clean, cook, get raped, and have to take care of his bad ass kids.
After a while my eyes get tired so I bookmark my page and look at the time. Damn almost two hours have passed since I got here and I've spent the majority in silence. Looking over at Eli I can almost drool at the sight.
It has been particularly hot today and he has shrugged the top part of his coveralls down revealing his beater underneath. Damn.
I stop googling him when I notice something. Looking closely I make out a red heart tattooed on his side. Looking closely I read the name in the middle of it with a flower.
A huge knot forms in my stomach. There it is, a constant reminder. She's gone but everywhere. Eli shuts the hood of the car and takes a look at the overhead clock.
" Yo Angel I'm done for the night. " He calls into the office. " You ready? " He asks looking to me.
I nod still trying to get rid of the knot. I put my things in my bag and pull it over my shoulder. Angel comes out of his office and hands Eli his pay.
" No gaste todo de Una Vez ¿eh? " He says with a chuckle. ( Don't spend it all at once eh? )
Eli laughs and I swear he's blushing. " Confía en mí esto está sucediendo algo especial. " ( Trust me this is going to something special. )
I hate when they did this.
" ¿Su? " Angel asks nodding over at me. ( Her? )
Eli nods his head. " La cumpleaños de Bella es la próxima semana. " ( Beautiful's birthday is next week. ) He says pointing towards me.
Angel grins looking very happy. " Usted mantiene éste su Torno Sobrino. Ella es material de Matrimonio. " ( You keep her around nephew. She's marriage material. )
He nods. " Si Tio. "
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Swinging his leg over his bike he holds it steady so I can get on too. He gives me his helmet and I secure it over my head and then we're off. When we pull up to my building I dismount the bike. I go to walk away but his hand is too quick in pulling me back.
" So I don't get a goodbye? " He asks still oblivious to my inner termoil.
I turn around and forced myself to look at him. "Goodbye. "
" What's wrong? Did I do something? " The concern in his voice really makes me feel bad.
Sighing I nod to the stairs. He follows me and we sit on the bottom step. " It's really not something you did per say. It's more my problem. "
" Okay... " He says waiting for me to continue.
I look down at my hands. " Lily... "
He puts his head down. " Look- "
" No, let me finish. " I say putting my hand up. " She treated me like garbage from pretty much the beginning. When she and Veronica became friends she still treated me that way. I lost my sister and we're still putting our relationship back together. Then, the only real friend I had fell in love with her. "
He looks like he wants to deny or defend it. " Yes, I know you loved her Eli. Why else would you have her name tattooed on your side? "
" I got it after she died. " He says softly.
I nod in confirmation. " I figured. Look I know it's not fair, but you and her being together really hurt me. Not just because you were my best friend but because you were another person she had taken from me. I was jealous. "
His hands pull my face in his direction. " She played me, Tori. It was Echolls that she wanted. I was just a way to pass time for her... I didn't realize it until it was too late. "
" You should have known Logan was who she really wanted! She loved playing the same games with the other 09'ers! " I tell him standing up.
By this time we're both angry. " I thought it was real! "
Two tears roll down my cheeks. " So did I. I thought you were smart enough to see through her. And then you went and fell for one of the very people you swore you hated. " I say turning my back to him and running up the stairs.
