Fast and Furious: Future (editing and adding to)

Chapter 4: In Debt

Everythingseemed different after that weekend. At least three times a week,Jack would pop over to the shop. It wasn't always to buy somethingeither; sometimes he would just look over a shelf or two, give me asmile and then walk out. One time, I was stacking shelves again whenhe came in and asked what the best deal I could do for him on carcleaning products. I only ever used one range of products myself andthat seemed to be good enough for him. It didn't take long to packthem all into a box and write an invoice. It was rare for anyone tocome in and buy shampoo, wax and polish, alloy polish, back-to-blackand plastic gel all in one go. The most time consuming part wasfinding the right bottle in each section.

Itwas another warm day and in the mood for being outside, I went aboutcleaning my own cars. I had finished on the Mustang which was nowback in the open garage and was now sponging foamy water over thebody of my Subaru. My hair was tied up. I had my sunglasses on andsome old clothes which had all sorts of blotches over them. Dunkingthe sponge into the bucket, I picked up the hose and twisted thenozzle just as I heard a now familiar roar pull up outside my drive.The engine stopped and the door opened, I continued spraying waterover the car and watched the suds flow down into the road.

'Don'tyou have anything better to do?' Jack asked.

'Well,considering I am off work and I'm not out anywhere then no, no Idon't. You want to help?'

Allhe did was fold his arm and lean against his car. 'Nah, carry on.'

'Fine,suit yourself. Miserable.'

'Iheard that.'

'Youwere supposed to.' I giggled and turned the nozzle towards himmomentarily and then darted round the back of my car. As he didn'treact, I continued washing off the foam. Putting the hose down, Ipicked up a dry soft cloth and began to dry the car.

'You'redoing it wrong.'

'Ohand how am I meant to be doing it? Here.' And I threw the cloth athim. He came over and brushed the cloth over the paint work incircles. Seeing as he wasn't about to hand it back to me, I went toget my polish and wax bucket. It consisted of the bottles which werehalf empty and that were used once the car was clean of dirt andgrease.

Forthe next half hour, we both took my old cloth rags and polished andwaxed the car. It was quite fun compared to the past times I had donethis and it took half the time which I was more thankful for. It waswhilst I was putting my cleaning stuff away, there came shouting fromoutside. Thinking it was best to stay out of the way, I stood justinside my open garage door, out of sight, watching and listening.

Itwas all a bit of a blur to start with, the voices. Then I paid alittle more attention and it was clear that someone definitely wasn'thappy with something.

'Youbetter pay up!' shouted a guy's voice.

Itwasn't Jack though he did answer. 'Why should I? You crashed intome.'

'No,you got in my way on that last turn.'

'Notmy fault you take a corner too wide. I was on a perfect line forbeing on the outside.' I wasn't sure what happened next but withall the grunts and shouting it was clear there was some fighting orscuffling going on. I walked over and stood by my Subaru. I turnedout to be right, not that you could mistake a couple of guysfighting. There wasn't just Jack and the demanding lad but therewere another two egging the other on. I didn't know what I shoulddo or if I could have been any help at all. There were a lot ofpunches thrown and they ended up on the floor for about a minute;Jack was on top for most of the time.

Ididn't know how long I stood and watched but I suddenly found Iwasn't alone.

'Andwho might you be?' I noticed it was one of the three strangers.