7. Karma is a Bitch but Grudges are Worse
I was furious at him. He had the audacity to blame it on Sam! I purposefully avoided him, similar to what he had done last week. Unfortunately, I have a bit of a grudge holding habit and flicked him off whenever he came around trying to apologize by pulling all of this bullshit out of his ass.
I felt him approaching me in the cafeteria and pointedly rolled my eyes at Jamie. She giggled and looked over my shoulder where I could feel him standing.
I turned and looked at him with a death stare.
"You know what Cameron? If you hadn't wanted to go out with me, all you had to do was say so." I sighed.
"Jacob Black will fix your car." Jared said, totally out of left field and I was momentarily thrown for a loop.
"I don't need your pity favors. I enjoy walking, it's healthy for you. Plus you burn as many calories walking as you do running." I informed him.
"Kim, you show up to school soaked every day. Let me get your car fixed for free." Jared reasoned. He was right, unfortunately. Lately, it was raining only during the times where I needed to go places like school or home.
"I think, sitting in the garage suits it better." I pondered. "What do you think Jamie?"
"No. I'm not getting to this. Leave me out of this." Jamie said, standing and taking her tray with her.
"Bitch." I hissed after her retreating figure.
"If you don't let me fix your car then let me take you to and from school." Jared argued.
"I'd rather do the cinnamon challenge again and then do the Dunkin' Donut challenge." I stated simply.
"So, I'll see you at 7:45 tomorrow morning." Jared said.
"I'll be sure to be sick." I smiled fakely.
"Come on, Kim." Jared begged.
"If I agree to getting my car fixed, will you leave me alone?" I asked, annoyed and bored with the whole conversation.
"Yes." Jared agreed.
"Fine. I'll see Jacob at my house afterschool tomorrow." I consented.
"Good." Jared breathed. I was doing this to get him off my back, not to relieve his guilty conscience.
The very next day, directly afterschool, I got home only to see Jacob Black leaning against a car parked in our driveway.
"No words will be said, I just want my car fixed." I warned him about 5 feet away.
"Said about what?" Jacob asked, genuinely confused or at least a good faker.
"Much better. If I had to hear one more plea on Jared's behalf, I am going to murder somebody." I muttered as I walked inside to retrieve my car keys. I heard Jacob chuckle as I dug through the bowl in an attempt to find my car keys.
Triumphant, I held my car keys up and walked out to throw them to Jacob.
"What happened to it?" Jacob asked, as he unlocked it and opened the hood.
"It just died." I said, simply, demonstrating my lack of knowledge about cars.
Jacob nodded as he poured over the engine.
"You need a new battery but other than that your car is fine." Jacob told me after less than a minute of inspection.
"Well, fix it." I said, gesturing towards the car.
"That'll cost you money." Jacob said, looking at me like I was crazy.
"Hey! I was told this was going to be a free fix." I said, raising my hands in surrender.
"Damn, Jared better have some money for me." Jacob muttered angrily as he started digging through the rest of the engine.
"You've got a really good engine here." Jacob commented, looking up at me.
"Hmm… I wouldn't know." I replied.
"Clearly." Jacob said sarcastically.
"When will you be done?" I asked not patiently.
"I can bring a new battery by here tomorrow after school and install it then. You should be able to drive it on Friday to school." Jacob said.
"Cool. Do you want something to drink or…?" I offered.
"Sure." Jacob shrugged, closing the hood of my car.
"Follow me." I said, waving him inside.
"Lemonade, Kool-Aid, water?" I offered.
"Water is fine." Jacob said, looking really awkward in the kitchen.
"Here." I said, handing him the glass.
"Thanks." Jacob said before a picture caught his eye, "Is this you?"
"No." I said, snatching the picture from his hand and blushed slightly.
"It totally is." Jacob laughed. "You have to let me see it again."
"No, I don't. Now drink up. And I'll see you tomorrow." I said, embarrassed.
"Fine, fine." Jacob said, waving his hands in surrender before downing the rest of his drink.
"Thanks." I said, standing at the door.
"It's no problem." Jacob shrugged, before heading back to his car.
The next day after school, Jacob was leaning against my locker when I got out of class.
"What are you doing?" I asked suspiciously.
"I figured this whole process could be sped up if I just give you a ride home instead of waiting for you to stroll up." Jacob replied logically.
"Makes sense." I nodded, grabbing my Geography book and following him to his car. Jared had glared at Jacob when he'd seen me following Jacob to his car. Just in spite of him, I'd looped my arm through Jacob's. Jacob's car had looked nice from the outside but I quickly learned that it was a piece of crap on the inside but it ran and got me home a lot faster than walking so I wasn't about to complain.
I brought out a lawn chair and watched as Jacob fixed my car. We talked and laughed, I was pleased to find out that I actually liked Jacob significantly more than I did Paul. Jacob was one of Jared's friends who I approved of.
Jacob checked the car and sure enough it turned on. I was beyond thankful and wrapped Jacob into a tight hug as I thanked him profusely.
"I'll pay for the battery." I said, grabbing my wallet.
"No. Someone already took care of that for you. Don't worry." Jacob shook his head.
"If Jared paid you, give his money back and take mine. I don't want him to think I'm indebted to him in anyway. How much do I owe you?" I asked, pulling out my money.
"Kim, I don't think this is a very good idea." Jacob replied hesitantly.
"Jacob, please?" I begged, pulling out the puppy-dog eyes.
"Fine. It's $40 bucks." Jacob said, holding out his hand. I slapped two $20's into his hand.
"Thank you again." I said, hugging him again.
"No problem." Jacob smiled. "Call me if you ever have car trouble again, okay?"
"Sure. Thanks." I smiled, waving him off.