Ace of Spades

2. The Power-puff Girls

"Hey Ar."

I looked up from the bike I was currently working on to see my coworker James.

"Can you help me crank this?" He asked.

"Ask me properly and I will." I replied, looking back down at my bike.

I saw him roll his eyes, before repeating his favor. "Can you help me get crunk?"

I giggled, walking over to him and helping him out.

This was my second favorite job, after being a masked vigilante of course. I had been working at the bike shop for two years now, having gotten the job straight out of high school with no degree.

Everyone here was like family, just like Gerald and everyone else was for my other job. This was where I fit in, and where I loved being.

I happened to be the best employee at this shop, considering I grew up with a wrench in my hand by my motorcycle fanatic father and had my whole life as experience for this.

I helped him crank up the heavy piece of metal he was currently working on.

"Thanks Ar." He said, before ducking under the bike and disappearing.

"Of course my little Jamesie-pie." I said sweetly.

I treated everyone here like that, and no one dared to step up to me, or even try to flirt. I guess there was something sexy about a girl who knew her way with bikes and tools, but I hated more than anything having degrading ignorant sexist men look down on me. But everyone here was amazing and respectful, like a big happy family.

Most of the guys here were just fathers working to feed their families. James, a couple other guys, and I were the youngest ones.

The next six hours of work went by pretty fast, me losing track of time as I found my peace in working on these bikes. It was a therapeutic job for me, and I loved it.

"Come on little Ari." Dave called as he walked up to me, wiping his hands on a rag.

"Five more minutes." I mumbled, not looking up from the bike I was working on.

"You know I don't mind waiting, but I gotta take my kids to the movies. I promised them." Dave said.

I looked up now and stepped away from the bike. "Alright alright, I get it you have a life." I rolled my eyes jokingly.

Dave chuckled and I went to check out on the computer at the back of the shop.

We stepped outside and I watched Dave lock up the shop.

I would have stayed and locked up myself, but since I had an overbearing family as coworkers here, they never left me alone in the shop and would often stay with me, worrying about my safety.

If only they knew...

"Have fun with your family." I smiled at Dave, before throwing him a wad of cash.

"Why?" Dave looked at me flatly, catching it in his hands.

"Early pay-day. Take them out for dinner after." I grinned. "And tell them I say hi."

"Thanks Aria." Dave said genuinely. "Take care."

"You too old man." I called over my shoulder as I walked to my bike.

I hopped on and sped off from the bike shop that was once my father's. Since he had passed, he had left it in my name. A lot of his old friends still worked here and I was grateful. It was like there was still a hint of him left around the shop.