Yours | ✓

10 | Welcome to the Seat

   "Monica!" She grinned like we were long lost friends. Before I could say anything, she wrapped her small arms around me and squeezed. "Jeez, you don't know how mama gushes about you," she laughed, ignoring my wide eyes when she pulled away from me a few seconds later.

   "What?" I managed to grumble, staring at her with confusion.

   She scoffed but still wore a grin. "You know, you're making me look bad in front of my mom! Blyat," she laughed, shaking her head. "All she does is say that I need to help her in the greenhouse, and then says how Monica would have."

   When she finished her rant, I couldn't help but smile at the memory of Anastasia and her shop. But before I could reply to her confession, I noticed her eyes cast downward as her brows drew together. Realization hit me that my hands were covered in paint. Shit.

   "Why are your hands stained with black?" She asked after a moment, looking back up so I could stare into her dark brown eyes.

   I tightly smiled. "Painted something," I told her vaguely, not bothering to explain what or where exactly I painted.

   "Kat!" A voice squealed, and I looked over her shoulder, seeing Katrina's friends glaring in her direction. There were both on our side of the street now. "You're so stupid! At least look before you run across the street, debil," the same voice said. I realized that it came from the brunette one—but her hair seemed to be almost blonde in the sun.

   When I glanced back to Katrina, I noticed her rolling her eyes. "It's okay, Ang. I'm alive." She didn't bother to wait for her retort before looking back to me with an excited gleam in her eyes.

   "You won't be if you keep being stupid!" She hissed, but Katrina ignored her.

   "Listen," she whispered, her eyes wide with excitement. "My mom told that... that you at my idiot brat have been talking, and I was just wondering if you could put in a good word for me."

   My brows furrowed in confusion. "Brat?"

   "Brother," she explained, her lips tightening into a forced smile. "He's an ass sometimes, but he's really persistent on not training me."

   And I was still confused. "Train you for what?"

   She sighed, trying to appear calm as she crossed her slender arms. "My papa was a mechanic until he retired, giving his shop to Liam. Between the both of us, I was always more into cars, but when I turned sixteen and asked him to let me shadow him, he said no."

   "So you want me to convince him to let you help?" I confirmed, watching her with amusement as she grinned, nodding wildly. "Well, I don't know if I have the power to motivate him, but I can ask."

   She screeched before jumping toward, wrapping her arms around me again. "Thank you!"

   Feeling awkward, I slowly brought my arms around her. "I don't know if it's a for sure thing though, Katrina."

   She moved back, looking at me with so much hope. "Call me Kat, and you talking to him will be enough!"

   "Well, then I hope I can help," I admitted. I knew what it was like, having a hobby but not being allowed to do it—at least, not without some sneaking around and some help.

   Katrina ended up hugging me again before her friends called out for her. As the three of them walked away, I couldn't help but wonder why she'd assume I'd have the power to change her brother's mindset.

┉

When I stepped into the diner just minutes later, Sophie hit me instantly with a rant while we both dressed in our piss stained uniform.