"Isn't that awesome!… Em?"
Emma dragged her mind back to the present and tried to focus on her boyfriend who was staring intently at her from their usual table at the Dot.
"Hmm?" she murmured.
Peter sighed impatiently "I said that my Dad just sent me a blank cheque and told me I could use on my car! It's going to be so sweet! I'm gonna get…" Emma smiled faintly, tuning out again as he listed off car parts she didn't care to understand.
"Wow, that's awesome." she said absently, without enthusiasm..
"I know, I'm so excited."
Emma blinked and tried to focus on what he was saying but her mind wouldn't leave Sean, and the look that had crossed his face when he saw her with Peter. Her mind was racing, trying to interpret it, but the best description she could come up with was "disappointment". She didn't even want to try and dissect it any further than that; she didn't think her fragile mind could take it right now.
The haze cleared in time to see Peter fishing a ten-dollar bill out of his pocket and tossing it the table as he rose.
"Where are you going?" Emma asked, confused.
Peter responded with an exasperated sigh "You're such a space cadet today! I said I'm going to a garage to get an estimate on the work I want to get done."
Crap, I really haven't been listening to a word he says. "Oh. Sorry." She replied sheepishly.
Peter gave her a quick peck on the cheek "Whatever. Look, why don't you drop by in about an hour or so? You said your computer was on the fritz… you can use mine to finish your History paper if you want, just bring your jump drive over."
Emma smiled warmly. He really is a great guy. "Thanks Peter, that's really sweet of you. I'll be over in a bit."
They parted ways, and Peter headed to his car, a red 2002 Celica. He stopped to buff a spot on the driver's door with his sleeve. Satisfied, he hopped in the drivers seat and took off, heading for the garage his friend Brandon had recommended.
He pulled into the parking lot of the garage a few minutes later. The place looked more like a biker bar than a garage. The building was made entirely of cinderblock, painted robin's egg blue, some of which was peeling. There were no visible windows to speak of, and a faded sign hung above the bay doors proclaiming "Joe's Auto Repair & Customization - est. 1969". Wow, when Brandon said it wasn't much to look at, he wasn't kidding. But he says they're the best, so.. here goes.
He walked over to what he assumed was the entrance and pulled on the filthy glass door. A small bell hanging over the door rang to alert the staff to the presence of a customer. Looking around, it struck Peter that the inside was immaculate. He could hardly contain his surprise.
"BE RIGHT OUT!" Peter heard a gruff yell from the back. He nodded to himself and looked around, admiring the large display of rims on the wall behind the cash counter.
Sean walked out into the reception area of the shop, wiping his hands on a grease rag. As he looked up and saw who his customer was, he groaned inwardly. You've got to be kidding. He took a deep breath "Help you?" he ground out.
Peter glanced over "Sean Cameron." he said matter-of-factly. What are the chances?
"Yeah." Sean replied "and you're Peter. Emma's boyfriend.". The two stared, sizing each other up.
"That's right. I am." Peter said.
"Look man, can I help you or what?" Sean spat out. His distaste for this kid grew with each passing moment.
Peter looked at him smugly "I need a bunch of stuff done to my car. But I think I'd like someone a little more… experienced… to do it.".
The fury in Sean's eyes was palpable. He grit his teeth "Whatever you need, I can do it. I'm the best custom guy they've got." He gave Peter a challenging look.
"Fine" Peter replied, "If your work doesn't cut it, I'll just get your boss to refund me, and fire you." Sean scoffed "Fine by me. You won't need to."
"We'll see about that." Peter's eyes narrowed. "Ok. I want the most expensive rims you've got, for starters. Custom dual exhaust. And a supercharger. Let's start with that. And if I like your work, maybe I'll be back for more."
Sean raised his eyebrows "You sure you can handle all that?" he asked, smirking.
Peter glowered at him "Just do it, grease monkey."
Sean's hands balled into fists "Whatever you say, Preppy. I'll need your car for at least a week. And its gonna cost you. Big time."
"Whatever. I've got the cash. Just don't rip me off." Peter warned.
Sean printed off a work order and estimate and shoved it across the desk at Peter, who hastily scribbled his signature on the dotted line and held out his keys. Before Sean could grab them, Peter opened his grasp and let the keys fall onto the counter with a loud thud "Don't fuck me over.".
Sean never broke eye contact "As much as I'd love to, some things are more important to me than screwing with your precious car." The job, or Emma? he thought fleetingly. "One week.", he repeated, and disappeared back into the shop area.
Some distance away, Emma was walking down a busy street on her way to Peter's house when her cell phone rang. She flipped it open.
"Hello?"
"Em. Its me. I just left my car at the garage. Where, by the way, I had a very annoying encounter with an old flame of yours".
"Sean? What do you mean annoying? What happened?" Emma asked immediately.
"The one and only. I don't want to talk about it." Peter snapped. "Anyway, I have to take the bus, so I'll be a bit late, if you just want to come over later instead."
"I'm already almost to your house!" Emma exclaimed.
"Oh. Well, my Mom should be home, she'll let you in. You know how to use my computer. Just login as Guest."
"'Kay. See you soon." She broke the connection just as she walked up the high-rise condo building where Peter and his mother lived.
The doorman opened the door for her and she was buzzed through security by Ms. Hatzilakos. As she rode up the elevator to the 23rd floor, she thought of Peter's mention of his 'annoying encounter' with Sean. She wondered what was said, and if it had anything to do with her.
She entered the swanky apartment where Peter and his mother lived and found herself feeling terribly out of place, like she always did here. She tried to remind herself that Peter's mother had gotten the property in the divorce, and she was much more down-to-earth than the stately apartment would suggest.
"Emma! Hi!" her principal greeted her warmly; "Peter isn't home yet."
"Oh, I know. He called my cell to let me know he was running late, but I was already on my way over here, so he said I could just use his computer."
"Oh of course, go on into his room, you know the way."
"Thanks." Emma continued down the long hallway into Peter's bedroom. She shook her head at all the expensive electronics and gadgets he had in his room. He must have 50 different remote controls she laughed to herself.
She walked over to the computer and set down her purse, fishing her jump drive out of it. She gave the mouse a quick shove, waking the computer up from hibernation. Instead of the login screen she expected, Emma saw that Peter had left himself logged in. She thought nothing of it; she really didn't care what account she used, as long as it had a word processor.
Plugging her jump drive in, she opened windows explorer to browse to her history paper. A folder name caught her eye immediately.
"HotStuff"
She smiled, as Peter often called her Hot Stuff. He must have a whole folder dedicated to me! After a brief moral dilemma, she double clicked on the folder. After all, it IS about me.
Nothing could have prepared Emma for what the folder contained.
"Amanda.jpg"
"Heidi.avi"
"Heather.jpg", among others, and, to Emma's ultimate dismay; "Manny.avi"
Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She felt like the world was closing in on her. With a trembling finger, she double clicked the file bearing the name of her best friend.