The sound of crunching gravel makes Zak look up from his phone, annoyed, he shoots a look over to Billy. "Come on bro, we been driving for hours. We can't keep stopping like this."

Billy glances away from the steering wheel. "I didn't know the detour would mean we ventured almost 40 miles out of our way and in the middle of nowhere." He responds looking out the window. 

Aaron tugs his earphones out, having put them in after both Zak and Billy had got into a disagreement over the route they should take. With Billy determined to use the out of date navigation system, Zak had taken it upon himself to try and find shortcuts... Sending them out into the desert with little to no people around. 

Despite the detour originally being Zak's fault, he had taken to blaming Billy for the mistake which had caused the ruckus in the front seats. 

"Yo Jay, you awake?" Aaron asks slapping his hand over to Jay's chest making him jump.

"Uhh.. Yeah. We here?"

"No. We are stopping again." Zak deadpans tugging off the seatbelt. 

"I have to get gas or we are walking." Billy answers before unlocking his belt and getting out, slamming the door behind him with a little force. 

"Quit giving him shit bro." Aaron frowns watching Billy pace around the car.

"I just wanna get to this lockdown before dawn." Zak responds before looking out his window at the old gas station. 

There wasn't a lot here, just a few fields and trees, a house roughly a mile or two in the distance and a rundown gas station that looked as though it belonged in the 50's. Along with the old man who was sat outside the station with a straw hat on his head with a pair of overalls covering an old shirt.
Zak looks at the man before throwing his hands up. "Jesus Christ, can't he see or hear us? Talk about shitty service.." He pushes open his car door and narrow his eyes at the old man. "Sign says you'll pump the gas. That true or is it outdated?"

The old man rolls his jaw at Zak before spitting some tobacco on the floor. 

"I guess it's outdated, just like everything else." Zak sighs. 

"Guess so." The old man responds making Zak get out the car.

 "Mind if I do it then? I'm kind of in a hurry."

"I do mind.. Jo will be along." The old man responds before spitting on the floor again. Seeing Zak's disgust, he smiles "You got a problem, boy?"

Zak narrows his eyes at the man before looking over at Billy "Could you have found a more out of date and buck fucked place? Now we gotta wait for some guy to pump some gas.."

"Will you get off my back? Either shut up or get in the car." Billy responds, pulling out his phone and heading away from the car to get signal. "By the way, we got a flat."

Zak who was about to get into the car, slams his door and stomps around to assess it. "Jesus fucking Christ!" He yells, kicking the tyre in frustration. 

The old man witnesses it and chuckles "Got another problem?"

"I'm going to have in a minute! Where the hell is your pump guy?!"

"In the garage. Out back." The old man answers. 

"Well can you get him? Or ring a damn bell?!" Zak snaps.

"I could.." The old man nods. 

"Then do it."

"I will... When you learn manners."

Before Zak can fly at the old man, Billy steps in front of him and shoots Zak a warning glare. "Don't."

The old man chuckles to himself again before putting his fingers into his mouth and whistling loudly. A minute passes and Zak is about to snap at the old guy again when movement comes from within the station. 

"Finally! About time!" He snaps pulling out his phone. 

****
Jo POV

When you're used to the quiet, you hear a lot. Even the smallest of noises that float under your hearing range become louder, more pronounced, more relevant. So when a car pulls up with guys in it, bitching and moaning, it's hard not to hear. 

Wiping my hands off, I stand back and look at my car, having just fitted a quick fuel carburettor. With a nod, I give the old girl a pat and make my way out to the people disturbing my time with Betsy.

Rather than appear from around the side, I take a detour through the gas station to assess who was out there giving Cal shit, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to throw a fist but knowing how many there are to stand against is an advantage.

I count four. 

Two in the car looking at their phones, another outside with his against his ear looking frustrated and then another, looking at Cal as if he wants to tear his head off. 

This guy thinks he is important, someone I should know, but truth be told, I don't care who or what he is or how much the watch on his wrist costs. You don't come here with an attitude. Not today, not any day.

"Finally! About time!" The guy announces, no doubt seeing me in the station. He pulls his phone out and delves into the device as I step out the station and cross the gas station forecourt. 

"Gas is $3.06 per gallon. But we will call it $6.12 a gallon for your rudeness." 

The guy looks up, he is tall, about 6,1 or 6,2. Easily 170lbs, from his arms, he used to work out, not so much anymore. "You're joking. Right?" He asks looking at me up and down. 

I don't miss his eyes lingering on my chest, I'd like to think he was looking at the oil stains on a white tank top, or maybe my name, but we all know where a guys mind goes. 

"Don't see me laughing." I answer.

"But that is double the price!" He exclaims.

"Call it a good will gesture for being an asshole.. Now you want some gas? Or you wanna take the car another 30 miles to the next station?" I question putting my hands onto my hips. It's a power move, and one he matches as he folds his arms across his chest, determined to intimidate me. 

We stare at each other, waiting for the other to crack and to show him my resilience, I quirk a brow.

"$3.10 and an apology." He bargains. 

"$6.20"

"You're raising the price!"

"I know how haggling works." I answer.

"You sure sweetie?" He questions, tugging his lip into his mouth. 

I keep my brow quirked "Oh yeah. Now you getting gas or not?"

The man who was stood on his phone on the main road comes over and looks between us. "Hi, I'm sorry about him. I'm Billy. Um, I don't suppose you could change a tyre too?"

"Hey, Bill-"

"Shush Zak. You've done enough. You wanna get on the road again then we gotta ask for help. The recovery people won't get to us tonight." Billy answers before sending me an apologetic smile. 

"I don't need help from people like these." He gestures with his head to myself and Cal. 

"I don't need custom from dicks like you. But here we are. Now do you need anything? Cause if not, I'd like you in particular, gone." I answer. 

I turn to Billy "No offence Billy. I'm Jo, by the way."

Zak's jaw ticks before he looks at Billy. "Where is the nearest station to this one?"

Billy's response of 30 miles away causes this Zak guy to curse the air blue before rubbing a hand over his face. 

"$4.00."

"$8.00"

"What?!" He almost screeches.

"I'm still waiting for an apology. The longer it takes, the higher I go." I sigh.

"Dude..." Billy says looking at his friend.

Zak looks disgruntled but looks over to Cal "I'm sorry man. I'm having a real shit day and it's not fair to take it out on you."

Cal, forever the gentle soul nods. "I understand. But you should remember that everyone gets bad days. You're lucky this isn't one of my bad ones. I might have shot you."

Zak laughs but soon stops when he sees the seriousness of Cal's face. "Uh.. Yes sir."

Before I can say anything Cal bursts out laughing. "Look at you, boy. About to piss those pants. Fill 'em up Jo. You boys need anything else?" He asks getting up out his seat.

"Um, a tyre." Billy responds. 

"A bathroom." Zak answers.

"Coffee!" Another guy yells, through the closed window.

"Well come on then. The gas will be $3.10 per gallon."

"Thank you." Zak nods in appreciation before glancing at me. "Over to you."

The other two guys hop out the car and head into the station with Cal, whilst I fill the car up and take it off the forecourt and around the side into the garage. Hopping out, I whistle along to the radio and jack the car up until the wheel is free. 

The sound of the back door opening followed by the footsteps of the guys and Cal's limp registers and it's only a few seconds before a low whistle is heard. 

"Holy shit. Look at that." One of the guys says walking around Betsy. 

"Aaron, away from the car."

I glance over to this Aaron character and watch as he crouches down, examining the plains of the car in detail. "I gotta Chevy impala that I'm doing up. 1969, black." He says. 

"That's Jo's. Won it in a card game." Cal says.

"Damn, it's nice." Zak says slowly walking around the vehicle before looking through the window. "So what work does it need?"

"Nothing. I've done it. Just fitted a new carburettor."

"You.. You're a mechanic?"

I ignore his question and pop off the wheel to their car before rolling another into position. The sound of the drill covers their conversation for the next few seconds whilst I do up the wheel nuts and finish by wiping the tyre over. 

Rising up from the floor, I seem them all stood looking at Betsy. My 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS was my pride and joy, with a silver paint job and two thick black stripes. 

"How much?" Zak asks. 

"For the tyre-"

"For the car. How much?"

I look at Cal who lowers his head, to hide the smirk. "She isn't for sale."

"Come on Jo, everything has a price." Zak says looking at me through his lashes before his eyes look up and down my body. "Let me appeal to your better nature."

"You wouldn't be able to afford it."

He steps forward, a little closer than I want and whispers "You don't know what I can afford, sweetheart."

"The car, isn't for sale. Neither am I. So back off."

"Jo, as in Joanne? Joanna? Little Josephine?" He must gage my reaction because he lingers on my name. "Josephine. Cute. Come on Josephine. Is that your name?"

"No it's Jo. As in Joke about my name again and I'll triple your bill." I warn. 

"Okay, that's enough. Jo get cleaned up, you're heading out in a bit." Cal says eyeing me cautiously. 

I clench and unclench my fists before walking off and leaving Cal to sort the bill.

******
Zak watches her walk away, the overalls covering the shape of her ass, but the tank top did wonders in accentuating her chest. Turning back to the old man, who now had turned out to be a funny guy, he smiles "Something I said?"

"She is touchy on her name.."

"Touchy enough to triple my bill? She's a hard woman to please huh?"

Cal laughs "Boy, you got no idea. She's got fire in that soul. Like a little hell cat. Come on, let me get you guys sorted and on your way."

They follow him back into the gas station where he takes the company card and swipes it through the system. As Billy is sorting the payment, Zak reaches up and takes one of the gas station and garages business card and pockets it quickly. 

He's just thinking about looking her up online when he catches a glimpse of her walking across the yard. This time she has ditched the overalls and has a pair of jeans on. Unaware that Zak is watching, she pulls the soiled tank top off and shrugs on another before getting into her car and pulling out the garage. 

A few seconds later, a car horn honks before the sound of the engine roars away and down the road. 

"There she goes." Cal laughs tearing the receipt off and handing it back. "All done, you boys have a nice day."

"You too." Zak answers before they all file out the back door, pick up the car and head back onto the road.  For the rest of the journey, his head is submerged in his phone, looking up the woman he knew nothing about.

To be continued....