Scraps - Tune Up

I breezed into the garage with an angry huff, not even so much as a hello or a nod in Iggy’s direction as I went. Just as I expected, I found my best friend underneath of a car; ratty ass Converse on like usual and those feet waving around in an unconscious manner. Swear to God, Jax, I’m gonna burn those fucking things one day.

“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, fucker,” I growled and crossed my arms, taking the stance with him. It really only worked when he could see me, of course, but it was fine to take the preemptive strike. He would have to come out from under the hood at some point.

There was a light hum that I barely caught over the sounds of random clankings and fans. It was like this place was constantly noisy even if nothing was going on. I was surprised Jackson wasn’t deaf yet. Even more of a surprise that Iggy wasn’t now that I thought about it.

“When I gave you the extra key to my place it was for emergencies. Nothing else, do you hear?” Jackson grunted in response. I growled and carried on. “So when I find all of my beer gone, and I know for a fact that the only other person living with me didn’t drink it, guess who that leaves me with as a suspect?”

Another non-verbal reply from Jackson. My irritation levels skyrocketed. I was about to pull him out from under the car and smack him so damn hard. Then all that frustrated energy hit a crescendo as I watched Jackson kick his feet back and forth playfully, as if he wasn’t listening to a word I was saying. Those goddamn shoes…  

“And seriously, I’ve told you a million times, when the fuck are you going to get rid of those shoes?”  

The creeper slid out from under the car and I was greeted not with Jackson’s smug and grinning face but Katie’s. “You’ve never told me that actually. Pretty sure you haven’t looked at my feet once. Ever.”

“Wait… But…” I sputtered out in confusion.

As Katie was standing up from her position on the ground, Jackson – the real Jackson – came strolling in the garage with a paper bag. “You get that timing belt all changed out, Katie?” At the sight of me Jackson paused, managed to look surprised for half a second and then shrugged. “Well hey there, Lil.”

“Yeah, of course. You doubted me?” Katie remarked, ignoring me and my confusion completely and holding a hand out expectantly to Jackson instead.  

Jackson scoffed with a shake of his head. “No! Of course not. I taught you right?”

“Don’t be so full of yourself,” Katie replied with a roll of her eyes and then scrunched her fingers in towards her palm before laying them flat again. “C’mon, payment.”

“Yeah, yeah. Here,” Jackson said begrudgingly and slapped a wrapped sandwich in Katie’s hands.

She tore the paper back and took a ravenous bite before throwing her head back and moaning in delight. “Mm, yes,” she muttered with a mouth half full of food before swallowing and grinning at Jackson. “Exactly what I wanted. Atta boy.”

“Yes, I live to serve,” Jackson drawled sarcastically.

“What the fuck is going on?” I asked, authentically bewildered by this point.

“Lemme give you my opinion on your problem, Lil,” Katie said, completely ignoring my question as she licked sauce of off her thumb. “You may be able to trust him with your life but you can’t trust this guy to not clean out our entire fridge.”

Jackson nodded. “She’s right.”

“So, you know, take that or leave it but those are the facts. Now, if you two will excuse me, I’m going to enjoy my lunch somewhere else. I can feel the old married couple energy setting in.”  

With that Katie walked out, leaving me without any explanation as to why the fuck she was working in a garage or when she learned a single thing about cars. I was at an utter loss for words. At least until I turned to see Jackson, still grinning like an idiot.

“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, fucker.”