What I Got // Sublime

Holy crap.

She's here.

The goddess just walked into my high school hell and turned it into heaven. Best thing that's ever happened to me. We make eye contact. I see something stir within her, like the tough exterior takes a little hit just by looking at me. She can't take the heat and turns away. I've got her hooked on me. I can sense it.

And then I open my freaking mouth again.

"Well, here I am. What are your other two wishes?"

Why am I my own worst enemy? I saw the look on her face! I could tell she was drawn to me somehow. But the second those stupid words are released from my mouth, the living breathing sunshine that she is morphs into an inferno set to light me up.

With measured steps, the goddess who has not been named yet stalks toward me. Still in black. Still sporting hot pink in the best places, and now with a look that slays me right through the heart. It's the smirk she gave me just before dousing me with soda. This can't be good.

"You're here, so wish number two is that a sinkhole develops right here in the shop. Number three is that it swallows you up."

Burn. Yeah I had that coming. I don't even know where these pick up lines are coming from. I've never used a line in my life. The girls I've been with are the type who want to tame the bad boy. They're always disappointed when I don't "turn from the dark side" for them. If they only knew there is no dark side to turn from when it's all an act.

"Sounds like I've affected you deeply." I lean against the crap car and cross my arms. I try to match her smirk with one of my own, but I've got to hand it to the goddess. She's in a class all her own.

"Don't congratulate yourself. The affect you have is not something to be proud of." The goddess takes a step closer, her dark eyes, lined with black and looking feline, bore into mine. "It's something to seek treatment for."

Her voice sends chills across my entire body.

"What's your name?"

The goddess doesn't move, doesn't respond. She just looks back at me with the same level of regard-very little. Then she turns toward the door as though she's leaving class. Mr. DeWitt stops her.

"Miss, are you the new student I was told about?" His glasses are at the end of his nose while he looks over them to address her.

"Oh, yeah. I guess that's me. But I was going to speak to my counselor-"

"No need. The schedule is set and I've been informed no changes will be made. May I see your print out to verify the spelling of your name, April..." He reaches out to grab the paper but I am currently holding my breath.

April. Like the spring. Like a season of growth and change. Rain showers and blossoms. The sun shinning on the Earth...

Holy shit she's broken me. I'm broken. April is right; I need treatment to fix this. Maybe I should sneak out and just go home. I have a bad feeling that I won't be recovering from the affect she has on me anytime soon.

"Right, Miss Reed. You'll be working with team two over there by the lift. I'll stop by to give you the manual so you can start memorizing parts for the exam next week."

The look on her face when Mr. DeWitt mentions our exam almost makes me rush to her side. The color drains away and she sways to the side a bit. I think I might be afraid of her at this point because I fight the instinct to help her out and stay standing in place.

"Um, excuse me. Exam? I don't know anything about cars. I've never taken shop, I won't be able to learn all of this in one week." Her voice sounds weak.

"Oh. I see. Well, I can arrange for a tutor, I suppose." He pauses to look around the room at his students, shaking his head when he passes each one. Then his eyes land on me and I'm not sure if my life is over or if maybe...just maybe this is the chance I need.

"Mr. Evans. You've got some time to work with Miss Reed ahead of next week's exam?"

I stuff my hands in my pockets, regardless of the grease factor, and shrug. I'm afraid to open my mouth in case another stupid line comes out.

"Miss Reed, speak with Mr. Evans and work out a time to study the mechanics of a carburetor. I'll give you a few additional days because you don't have prior knowledge of the inner workings of an engine."

"Great," she deadpans. "Thanks."

Mr. DeWitt turns his attention to one of the teams leaving April and I in a stand off. My hands are still in my pockets and hers are crossed over her chest. I can tell she's trying to hold on to her badass demeanor but DeWitt has her rattled. I decide to test the waters and take a step closer.

April—damn I love her name—doesn't flinch or look me in the eye. So I take another step, then one more. Now I'm standing just a foot away from her, well within firing range if she so chooses, but the goddess doesn't make eye contact. Something inside of me shifts. I have an awareness that can only be described as supernatural. This is the moment. This is the opening and I can shift the influence I have in her life if only I choose the right words.

"Still making wishes?" I keep my voice low, remove all traces of sarcasm, and infuse every syllable with empathy. Will she sense that from me?

Dark eyes slowly rise to meet mine. April is no longer smirking but I sense that is just under the surface of whatever she wants to say. I hold my breath for her reaction.

"Why bother? My wishes never come true." April looks away immediately.

The words were way more vulnerable than I expected. But what she says next is nowhere on my radar.

"Listen, you should know that if it gets out that you're helping me with anything school related, it will mess with your rep."

I tilt my head. "Mess with it how?" Does she already know about my reputation? Maybe that's why she's been so tough with me.

"You must have heard by now."

Now I'm really lost. "Heard about my rep? Um, yeah. I know all about it." I wish she didn't, though. I hadn't realized it until just this moment. The thing I liked most about April was the fact that she didn't already know what everyone believes about me. Now that's ruined.

"Not you're rep, although I'm sure it's stellar. Mine. Seems it traveled with me." April rolls her head from side to side, a move I recognize as insecurity. I do the exact same thing.

I nod at April and cross my arms, mirroring her posture. "Well, looks like we finally have something in common. Stellar reputations that will outlast us no matter what we do."

April's eyes shoot to mine. Hers widen when she must recognize the relief she sees in them.

"I haven't heard about yours, and based on what you just said, I can say for certainty that you haven't heard about mine." I pause to let the words sink in. When April's smirk returns, I know they hit the mark.

"What are the chances?" she says.

I smirk back. "Indeed."

The stand off morphs into a visual assessment, her looking me up and down and me doing the same for longer than we should. I'm the first to break the silence.

"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours..."

April's eyes go wide again. "Are you sure you haven't heard about mine already?"

My mouth drops open.

Then she laughs. "Don't worry. There's more where that came from. Do me a favor, though."

"What?" I almost replied with 'anything' but switched it immediately not wanting to seem more desperate than I already do.

"No more bad pick up lines. Like, at all."

My hands shoot out. "What do you mean, bad? They kicked ass. And look, here I am talking to the girl who dumped her Coke on me not three days ago. I'd say I made a lasting impression on you."

April shakes her head. "No, no. I am talking to you out of obligation. I hate studying for a class, in spite of my outward appearance, which may suggest otherwise." April smirks at her obvious sarcasm. "But it's been shoved in my face and I don't have a choice in the matter."

Jeez, she's a hard sell. I huff a breath and run my hands through my hair. "Ball buster." I shake my head. "I'm not sure this will be good for my health."

April gives my cheek a playful smack. "Ah, but who said anything about your health?" She winks, then walks back over to team two, already deep into their motor. The girl doesn't look back once.

Fuck. I am so screwed.

***

The bell rings for the end of the day and I realize that I spent most of the period side eyeing the goddess. She held her own with team two, but didn't touch a thing. Must have an aversion to grease. I take a glance down at my hands and shirt. I'm covered in it. For some reason I have an aversion to the coveralls everyone else wears. I prefer the grease. This could be a problem in my grand plan to win the goddess.

Not like I have an actual plan. Nothing that's happened has been anywhere on my radar. I'm just going with it because this girl is...my destiny.

I shake my head, because what? I'm an idiot. I turn back to the engine I've been hardly working on today. I'm a team of one, for several reasons. First, I know more than all of these other guys combined. I work on my own because they just slow me down. Second, I'm not officially in this class as a student. I'm the TA, assisting Mr. DeWitt with the more complicated issues. Most of the cars are basic oil changes, replacement of spark plugs, general maintenance type needs. But once in a while, Mr. DeWitt brings in a car that's been junked to challenge his class to get it in working order. I'm the only one qualified in that capacity so he hands those things over to me. Lastly, none of these cowards would dare to address me, so working with me doesn't happen. No one has ever questioned why I'm my own team because even though I could out-mechanic them all day long, they'd rather put in the work themselves than be in my presence.

Suits me just fine.

I'm just getting the last tool in the box when April breezes by me without a backward glance. I know I'll see her in class tomorrow but I have an unquenchable urge to talk to her about this study sesh that DeWitt has blessed me with. So I grab my backpack with my greasy hands and follow the goddess out the door.

"Wait up," I say casually as I walk briskly to catch her. The goddess doesn't slow her roll at all.

But I'm determined so I just pick up the pace.

"Thought you'd get away from me, did you?"

"More like wished, hoped and prayed but call it what you want." She doesn't give me an inch.

"I'm still waiting for your number, sunshine."

By the way she flinched, I'm getting the impression she doesn't like the nickname. I'll stick with goddess in my head. I'd like to see how if feels to say her name anyway.

"You'll be waiting a while, bitch." She laughs.

"Wow, April. I'm wounded." I'm really not. It's kind of hot how aggressive she is. And saying her name out loud was so satisfying I think I'm going to use it again. "If you don't give me your number, how else am I going to help you out with the exam, April." Even better the second time...

Finally, April stops. "Ah, shit." She doesn't make eye contact, instead looking at the ground. I can tell she's desperately trying to figure out how to avoid giving me her number. I stay patient, silently allowing her inner debate to come to the inevitable conclusion that she has no choice.

I look around and realize we are in the front lot. Ballsy of her to park out here. I'm not actually sure how she pulled that off. I think I'm the only one without an overpriced import that could get away with the front lot, and I don't even bother.

"Park out back tomorrow. It's better for your health." I make what I think is a casual suggestion until April looks up at me with poison in her eyes.

"You, too? I thought Miller had cornered the market on assholes, but honestly Jefferson takes that honor by a landslide. Park in the back? What the hell is wrong with parking in the front? Stupid high school culture." April mutters that last one under her breath but I heard it loud and clear.

"No arguments from me on that one. And I have no doubt in my mind that you can hold your own with every Jefferson asshole. But why would you park in the thick of the meatheads when the back lot is available? No one out there cares about what anyone drives, or wears, or says."

Well, that's true for everyone accept me. They care who I glare at, thinking that might be my next 'victim.'

"Whatever." April reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone. "You are not getting my number. Give me yours and I'll consider contacting you about the exam."

She's got me by the balls so I rattle off my digits. April pockets her phone then eyes my hands.

"Try some soap. I hear it works wonders on the grime." Then she spins on her heels and walks away. I blame her brush off for what comes out of my mouth next.

"I wish you were soap...so I could feel you all over me."

April looks over her shoulder. "I wish you were dirt...so I could feel you under my feet as I stomp all over you." A wink.

Dear God, a wink just killed me.

"I was wondering if you have an extra heart? Mine was just stolen."

Because she has to turn to the right just as I say it, I'm able to catch the unbelievably appealing blush that covers April's cheeks.

Score one for Nico.

Friday feels are the best! Was Nico all that you'd hoped for? I've gotta say...I have a crush. It will be fun to watch their relationship develop and the next part will get that ball rolling. But it's not exactly what you're thinking. Come on I have to have some secrets, right?

I couldn't do a double update this week because the writing time has been ZILTCH! Life is on fast forward even as I'm trapped at home. Fingers crossed for a Tuesday update!

The 90s strike again with Sublime. What Nico's got, in April's eyes, is not a lot...

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