Chapter 10 Gianna #2
‘There’s two more in here for Renny and Ty. It’s the best I could do on such late notice, lucky the textiles lab had enough fabric. I guessed the sizes too but,’ she makes a frame with her thumbs and forefingers and places each of the boys in shot, ‘I did pretty well.’
‘We’re not going to your little carnival tonight, and we’re sure as shit not dressing up.’ Jace shoves the hoodie back into her bag, only for Monique to take it back out and slap it onto his chest.
‘Well, Jace Brooks, that’s where you’re wrong. You are coming to the little carnival. All four of you. And you’ll be wearing these outfits,’ Monique says with all the sweetness of acid. ‘Gia spent three hours today with a hairdryer on those masks getting the resin to dry.’
‘Masks?’ Jace retorts.
‘Masks.’ She stares at Jace and he stares back, neither of them backing down from the challenge.
‘They’re fucking cool, bro.’ Ryker interrupts their standoff, placing the mask over his face once more.
He then leads the way back to the table and Jace frowns down at the remaining masks before picking up the silver one.
He examines it before an unimpressed look crosses his face.
I know that look; and mixed with his already prickly demeanour, I know he’s about to hand us our asses.
But then he pauses and something that looks a lot like a ‘lightbulb moment’ flashes in his gaze.
‘Yeah, alright.’ He nods. ‘We can use these.’
‘Great! You’re happy, Gia’s happy and, most importantly, I’m happy,’ Monique cheers. She gives me a quick hug before picking up the remaining masks. ‘I’ll get these to Ty and Renny. Then I’ll finish our costumes, Gia. Ciao.’ With that, she leaves the room.
Ryker looks down at me with a breathtaking grin. ‘Let’s go get the Camino.’
I nod, eager to get out of here.
We turn then freeze as Jace grips Ryker’s arm. ‘You’re right. There are Empire City fuckers all over town. Look after my baby sister, but keep your hands in your pockets.’
‘I got her, bro.’ Grinning, he presses a hand to his chest. ‘Scout’s honour.’
‘You were never a fucking scout.’ Jace playfully pushes him.
Outside, I grip at the straps of my backpack and welcome air into my lungs. Ryker steps in line with me, and we wave at Jace as he heads to the gym. I pick out a few yellow Razzles from the packet while Ryker pointedly stuffs his hands into his pockets, making me giggle.
‘Tonight will be fun,’ he says, removing his hoodie and shoving it into his bag, then carefully placing his black mask on top. ‘And hey,’ he adds, ‘we’ve got some kickass costumes now too!’
We fall into easy conversation as we cut through the town centre. We’re passing the fountain when Ryker curses under his breath.
‘What is it?’ I ask, following his glare to where a group of boys are graffitiing a brick wall in the alleyway with the stupid ECU symbol, a three-pointed crown with the words We Rise underneath it.
Lame. They look familiar. I think it’s the same boys from yesterday but can’t properly make out their faces.
‘Fucking Empire City.’ Ryker scowls. ‘Don’t go anywhere without us for the next few days,’ he says seriously.
I remember the incident with the dog yesterday.
The ECU guys are a shitty bunch and they’re seriously messing up the town, but I don’t think I need to worry about my safety.
‘What’s with you guys? Why are you both scared about me being alone all of a sudden?
’ I try to keep the situation light, and end my words on a ridiculous laugh.
Only Ryker doesn’t laugh back. ‘I mean it, Gianna. This year is the most intense the rivalry has ever been.’
I chew on my bottom lip and nod. ‘Okay, I hear you.’
He hooks an arm around my shoulders, bringing me in close. I don’t even think as I snake an arm around his waist, letting his chest warm my skin. It feels natural.
‘Good.’ His chest rumbles. ‘I can’t let anything happen to you.’
Ryker releases me when we get to Fernando Garage.
The red-brick building has a large roller door that’s open during working hours.
It’s industrial looking, though the inside of the building is a stark contrast to its exterior.
The foyer is paved with glossy white tiles.
There are glass display cases throughout the open area and the lighting makes everything sparkle.
The entire wall at the back of the store is lined with chrome, matte black and gold-plated rims. To the left are all the subwoofers and speaker systems. There’s always someone testing out what audio they want to invest in, making the music reverberate through the space in a deep echo. The place is a car lover’s dream.
I follow Ryker as he pushes through a door that says Employees Only to the mechanic shop out back.
A cocktail of oil, exhaust fumes and solvents hits me as the white tiles turn to grey concrete.
There are four car hoists, each with a car either lifted high or in the bay.
Renny looks up from the engine bay of a new Camaro.
When we approach, he bumps Ryker’s fist.
‘What’s up, Little G?’ Renny jerks his chin at me before reaching into his back pocket for a shop cloth. He wipes his hands while Ryker admires the Camaro’s engine.
‘I’m good, Renny. How’d everything go with my truck?’
‘Yeah, good.’ He nods. ‘She’ll be sweet now.’
Behind me, I hear Mr Fernando mumble a few curses. I turn to see him scrunching up a piece of paper and tossing it toward the trash. It misses, rebounds and rolls toward my feet. I pick up the ball and unravel it, taking in the sketch lines of flames. He almost has it.
I smooth out the paper before placing it on the desk beside him.
‘Hey Mr F.’ I smile, reaching over him to grab a graphite pencil. ‘Do you mind?’
‘Show me how it’s done, Gia.’
My chest warms at his belief. ‘You’re using spray paint, right?’
He nods. ‘Airbrush. Not from the can.’
‘For the hood?’
‘Front quarter-panels,’ he corrects.
I extend the flames, letting the licks curl at different heights and taper on the ends for a natural transition into the different chassis panels. When I finish I slide the paper back to him.
Mr Fernando whistles. ‘When are you gonna work for me, huh?’
‘Ma would love that.’ I almost laugh, picturing the sour look on her face if I blurted out that I’d be doing automobile bodywork.
‘Gia, really. I’ve been at this all day and you did it in five minutes!’
I shrug. ‘It’s no problem, Mr F. Did Jace already pay for the Camino?’
‘Que? Pay?’ He laughs.
‘You guys are family,’ Renny chimes in.
I turn as Renny tosses the keys to Ryker.
‘Actually …’ Ryker then unexpectedly tosses them to me.
My eyes widen as I fumble but manage to catch the keys.
‘She’s driving.’ He tilts his chin my way.
‘Yeah?’ Renny shoots me a surprised expression. ‘Nice. You’ll be at The Tropics soon enough, huh?’
I shrug off the remark. ‘Thanks, Mr F.’ I smile, starting to turn.
‘First, come and sit.’ Mr Fernando gestures to the black leather couch inside his office.
Renny groans, but we all know the drill. Anytime we visit the garage, Mr Fernando shares a story with some form of mysterious wisdom hidden in it that we have to work out ourselves.
Sinking into the old, cracked sofa, Ryker flops next to me while Renny perches on the opposite armchair and dramatically leans back, letting his legs hang in the air.
‘Let’s have it then.’ Renny rubs his eyes before pulling a cigarette and lighter from his back pocket.
Mr Fernando moves with lightning speed and whacks the smoke from his hand.
‘Ow,’ Renny whines.
Mr Fernando glares at his son, silently holding his open palm to him. Renny clicks his tongue then hands over the box and lighter.
Mr Fernando slowly perches himself on the edge of his industrial desk. His long black hair is pulled back in a low ponytail and his weathered skin crinkles around the same dark eyes that Renny has.
Watching them together sends a small sting of envy lashing through my heart. I’d give anything to experience moments like this with Pa again. The bickering, the playfulness … anything.
‘You’re all growing up and heading on your own roads, but let’s test your memories.’ Mr Fernando starts in his thick Brazilian accent. ‘What’s the first thing I taught you before I let you step foot in this garage?’
Renny presses his lips together and shrugs. ‘That a ’93 Corolla never dies?’
Ryker shakes his head. ‘You taught me how to pump gas.’ He scoffs. ‘I didn’t think there’d be much to it, but you spent an entire afternoon explaining the differences.’
Mr Fernando snaps his fingers in agreeance at Ryker. ‘Why?’
‘Because if I put diesel in a petrol car, you’d hand me my ass.’
Mr Fernando nods. ‘We’re not much different to these cars. In this life, you can fill your tank with dirty fuel and be consumed by doubt, hate, revenge and fear, or you can choose the good stuff no matter what adversities come your way.’
Ryker hums thoughtfully beside me, the vibration travelling through my skin. ‘So what you’re saying is,’ Ryker begins, smiling wide, ‘that if I tell Dellenty the R1 is running on premium optimism, he’ll let me off easy when I go for a hot lap at the speedway?’
Renny laughs hard and sits upright to high-five his friend.
Mr Fernando gives a smile but shakes his head. ‘It doesn’t matter how smooth the ride is, if you’re running on the wrong fuel. It’s easy to forget that there’s choice.’ He taps his chest, right where his heart would be. ‘You decide what you’re driven by.’
The boys’ laughter dissipates as Mr Fernando’s words hang in the air. No one says anything. The thing is, I can’t help but wonder if, sometimes, we don’t have a choice. What if our hearts are fuelled by someone else?