Wyatt began working long hours. She'd barely seen him for days given her new schedule. It was a bit of a relief at first. She was trying to keep her distance and their schedules helped put that tension to rest. But after a few days she found she missed his annoying hogging of the bathroom in the morning. It had been days since she had been surprised by a glimpse of his abs as he headed out-bare chested-with friends to catch good surf. She found herself listening for him to come home at night. But when she did finally see him, it was to find him working on a portion of a car engine in their living room. The black dirty thing was propped up against the wall, and a sheet had been laid out on the coffee table in between the couch and the overstuffed chair by the television. A very greasy looking Wyatt sat in the chair and his tools were spread out across the couch.

She had been on her feet for eight hours at the cafe, but now she had no where to sit. She just snapped.

"Are you kidding me?!"

Wyatt's smile of welcome turned suddenly into a glower, "You said I could do some work here."

"I didn't mean in the house! That stuff is filthy!" Lucy tugged her shoes off and pulled the coffee soaked shirt she was wearing out of the waist band of her black pants.

Wyatt growled, "Does it look like we have a garage?"

Lucy shifted from one aching foot to the other."What about the back yard?"

Wyatt rolled his eyes. He gestured with a silver wrench,"You work in the house all the time."

"Yeah, on my computer!"

"All right. I've had enough of this."

Wyatt picked up the carburetor and started picking up the corners of the sheet he was working on, to gather up all the tiny pieces strewn around. "Fine, I'll do this in my room then. I can't risk losing pieces on the ground outside. But I'll take this grubby stuff out of your view, Princess."

Lucy sagged against the couch side. With the relief to her limbs, her head started to clear and she felt guilt nip at her. She reached out to help him gather up a corner of the sheet. Wyatt gave her a glare and yanked the corner away. "Thanks but no thanks for the help-" but his gesture was too fierce. He threw the bundle off balance and found himself losing his grip on the awkward bundle. Bolts and small bits of metal landed everywhere on the living room floor.

A great weight of embarrassment descended on Lucy. She apologized, crawling on her hands and knees to start picking up the pieces.

Wyatt sat still, overwhelmed and still fuming, "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Lucy hands him a bolt, "Let me help you."

"I think I've had enough of your help for one night," he said angrily, but his words turn into a yawn as he says "night." He sighs, and his shoulders slump with tiredness. His eyes have dark rings around them as from weariness and strain. He shook his head and started laboriously hunting down pieces of the carburetor.

Quietly, Lucy said, "Wyatt."

"What?" He got down on his hands and knees, picking up screws one by one. A couple slipped from his hand and he bent down to look for them grumbling quietly under his breath. Lucy looked around and took a few steps into the kitchen. She came back with a cup.

"Here. Give them to me."

Begrudgingly, Wyatt handed over the precious bolts he'd found. He scanned the floor, probing beneath the couch with is hand and handed them one by one to Lucy. She sat cross legged on the floor picks up bits of metal sheeting with her other hand. They worked in silence.

After a few quiet moments, Wyatt said, "You know, I can hold a cup."

Lucy waved her free hand, "Hey, I just want to help."

Wyatt took a breath and Lucy braced herself for an angry speech when he stopped suddenly and looked at her face closely. The angry expression dropped from his eyes and a grin began to spread across his face.

Mystified but relieved, Lucy said, "What?"

"Um, you've, uh, got something there." He reached out his hand towards her face very slowly. Lucy narrowed her eyes but nodded slightly to give him permission to proceed. He wiped with his thumb at something on her chin. Lucy looked down and realized that her hands were covered with engine grease from the parts she'd been picking up.

Wyatt squinted at the work he'd done and grimaced. He pulled himself closer to her and pulled up a corner of his shirt. He used it to wipe Lucy's face, anchoring her head with his other hand. His body was very warm next to hers. His fingers were firm but gentle on her face.

Her heart started beating faster.

Wyatt paused. "Um, I'm afraid I may be making this worse." He looked in her eyes. His face was very close to hers.

"I'll be right back." Lucy jumped up, scattering the parts from her lap. Wyatt caught the cup she dropped. She raced for the bathroom and leaned against the door after she closed it behind her.

Looking in the mirror, she saw the smear of black grease covering her cheek and chin. The dark color was smudged and much less than it must have been before Wyatt's ministrations, but her face glowed with embarrassment.

"Nice going, nerd." Lucy whispered to herself. She ratcheted the sink water to hot and scrubbed at her face with soap and the near scalding water. A few minutes later she emerged from the room, pinkfaced for more than one reason.

Wyatt was still where she had left him. She waved to him but started picking up pieces that had rolled across the room.

He gave a small grin and waved back. He felt disappointed that she kept her distance. Intensely. Unexpectedly.

"Get a grip," he thought to himself. "She's made how she feels crystal clear. You're roommates and she deserves way better than you."