Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
He knows that he's supposed to be focusing on the break line that hangs above him in the pretty little sports car he's trying to fix, but Gale's eyes keep straying to the owner of said car. She looks bored. Exhausted, too.
"So," Gale tries. It's a small town. He's the only one in the shop today. He thinks his chances are pretty good. "What're you doing all the way out here in the Seam?"
The girl shifts in her seat, glancing toward the mechanic. "Don't you think you should be focusing on my car?" she asks. She's attractive, there's no use in denying it. Curly blonde hair that hangs over her shoulders. Bright blue eyes. When he doesn't answer she frowns. "I was trying to get home."
He snorts. "I doubt you live around here." Not with a car like this.
"I was taking a short cut," the girl tells him. She shifts in her seat again. "Is it fixable?"
Gale glances back up at the broken brake line. "Maybe. Might take a bit." The blonde continues to fidget. Gale rolls out from under the car and sits up. "What's your name?"
"What for?" she sniffs.
He stands and marches toward the old computer on the desk. "Paperwork."
"Madge Undersee," she says with a sigh. The girl digs through her purse and pulls out some papers before leaping to her toes and strolling over to him. "Here's everything you'll need. Can you hurry, please? Mr. um, Hawthorne."
Gale frowns. "Mr. Hawthorne was my father. You can call me Gale." He accepts the papers and starts to type some things in. "Am I not good looking enough for you to hang around?"
It was meant as a joke but Madge's cheeks are instantly pink. "No, I, that's not—"
"Joking," he says. He almost smiles. "It'll take a while to fix." She nods and makes her way back to her seat. "Eager to get home?"
"Not particularly," she murmurs. "Family emergency," Madge tells him. "Whether I'm here or there it won't make a difference."
Something like pity ripples through his veins. Gale knows what a family emergency is. It's what they said to his teacher when he was pulled out of school after his dad died all those years ago.
"I'll try and make it fast," he grunts.
Madge nods and drops her gaze down to the ground. Gale types in her information as quickly as he can. Every few seconds he'll feel her gaze on him but he doesn't turn his head.
"Listen," Madge says. Gale lift an eyebrow yet still doesn't turn. "I really only live half an hour out. Maybe forty five minutes." Now he spins. "Maybe I could call a cab?"
Again Gale frowns. He doesn't mean to. She should be with her family. "Sure," he nods. "Phone's over here."
Madge makes her way back over to him and reaches for the phone. The smell of her perfume dances around him. Sweet like vanilla and raspberries. He breathes it in a little too deeply. Her lips curl upward.
The girl talks a million miles a minute into the phone, giving location and destination and stating that this is an emergency. When she hangs up she turns back to Gale. "On their way," she tells him.
"Great." It's not every day he has a pretty face to look at and she's already leaving. "Hope your family's okay."
Madge pauses, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "I'll, um, be in town for a few days." Gale quirks an eyebrow. "And then I'll have to come back and get my car." Gale's smirk slides into a smile. "Maybe you could… show me around?"
He snorts before he can help himself. "The Seam isn't very pretty." Madge deflates for a moment. "I mean – wait, yes." The girl's cheeks turn a bit pink. "If you really want."
She nods slowly. "Yes," Madge says. "If it's not weird."
"No, not at all," Gale responds. Their fingers brush as he hands back her papers. She smiles again. "Yeah. Yes, that sounds great." A horn honks outside and Gale grumbles, realizing it's her cab. Madge goes to leave. "Wait," Gale calls out. "How will I reach you?"
"Left my number on the notepad," she calls over her shoulder. "Call me!" Gale grins as she hops into the old yellow car, waving at him through the window.