Whitney
Portia's birthday had to be P-e-r-f-e-c-t! Ian was gonna get me nuts with all of his crap! He was so damn scared she would find out about the party that he almost blabbed! Jesus... The guy was gonna get an ulcer before this day was over.
We had a plan: I would force Portia to dress up, saying we were going to have a drink at La Ronda, just us girls. But, we would drive to Ian's. I would tell her – with the help of Darren – that Ian was seen going inside his house with a girl. I knew she would kill me for that little lie, but it was necessary.
"Whit, Rai's here" I heard Daddy say, from the hall.
"Be right there!" I yelled, getting my white Converse on, and pulling my hair into a messy bun while I went down the stairs "Hi. You're punctual. Great! I'm really working against the clock, today."
"Yeah, I am." Rai said, in the hall, looking embarrassed and really uncomfortable "So... where's your car?"
"Do you want to eat anything? Or drink?" Daddy asked him, while I opened the front door.
"Huh... no, thanks. Really, I'm fine" Rai said, and I saw his foot twitch.
"We'll just work on the car, Daddy." I smiled, and closed the door behind us "Why do you look like you have a belly ache?"
"Funny. Let's just do this..."
I frowned. He looked reeeeeally uncomfortable. And all of the sudden, it hit me. He was one of the many who messed with my family, on a daily basis. He was one of those who trashed our windows and wrote disgusting things on our walls.
"If you think my dads are gonna kill you and take your skin off, don't worry. They don't know you're the one that... yeah... I didn't tell them" I assured him, while we walked through my lawn to the asphalt in front of our garage.
"You didn't?" He asked, completely stunned "Why?"
"I didn't do it for you." I assured him, as I walked around my shiny car "I just didn't want to crush my dads' hearts. They love your dad. It would kill them to know..."
He looked in pain for a few moments, but then opened the hood.
"So what's the noise?" He asked, checking what I think was the oil and then the water.
"It's like a 'hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik'" I said, remembering the annoying high pitch sound.
He looked at me, blinking a couple of times.
"What?" I muttered, frowning.
"What's the sound, again?"
"'Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik'" I made it again, coughing in the end, 'cause it made my throat hurt.
He blinked, tossed his head back and laughed like I'd said the best joke ever.
"What's so funny?" I groaned and felt myself blush.
"Please, do it again!" He asked, between laughs and ragged breath.
"Jackass..." I muttered, passing by him and punching him in the arm, but he kept laughing "I'll just turn the car on so you can hear it."
He nodded but kept laughing. When I turned the car on, the noise started a few seconds after, and Rai controlled his laughs, to pay attention to the real problem.
"Ok. Accelerate, now." The noise was worse "It's ok, you can turn it off." He said, and I did "I think I know what's going on."
"And...? What's the diagnosis?" I asked, closing the door and joining him near the engine.
"I think it's a problem with your belt or your alternator," He said, from inside the car.
"Oh..." I whispered, frowning; that was complete gibberish to me "And... what will you do?"
"Checkin' a few things. Still, I believe it's your alternator. It's probably a bad one."
"It's a new car!" I protested.
"Doesn't matter. If it's bad, it's bad." He assured me, coming back from the inside of the car "Wow... it's hot..."
He was, in fact, sweating. Rai grabbed the hems of his shirt... and stopped.
"Well... I'm gonna check the belt."
He leaned over again, and after a few minutes of Spanish swearing and sweating, he came back.
"Yeah. I think it's your alternator. Can't do much, here. You gotta take it to an auto-shop. Not that you asked, but I advise you to go to the auto-shop on the Northside. They're really good, and won't overcharge you."
He closed the hood and swept his arm over his forehead.
"Ok. Thanks." I said, smiling "What do I owe you?"
He stopped cleaning his hands on his shirt and stared at me, frowning.
"Owe me for what?"
"For your work...?" I said, carefully "I took your time."
"I offered" He reminded me, picking up the small metal box he had brought with him.
"Rai, I want to pay you for your work."
"I didn't do anythin'," He said, huffing.
"Still!" I insisted as he shook his head "I have to pay you, somehow. Look, how about a-"
"Kiss?"
I give him a look, and he's grinning.
"-snack." I finished, my hand to my waist "Why would I kiss you? What's with you and kisses?"
He looked uncomfortable for a moment but then grinned again.
"It's just a kiss. What's the big deal about a kiss?" He teased, rolling his eyes.
"I only kiss someone when I'm in love with the person" I grumbled, and I felt my cheeks inflame.
"What?! No random make-out sessions with hot guys at clubs? Get out!" He laughed but still stared at me with those deep brown eyes, and I felt my gut tighten "Really? You're not messin' with me?"
"What do you care, anyway? I'm not gonna kiss you. Ever. So you gotta ask for something else."
"You don't have anythin' I want, Copper Girl" He groaned; ouch...
"Look, I've got stuff to do. Important stuff. My best friend's birthday party is tonight, and I got a bunch of stuff to take care, so..."
"Party?" He asked, shooting his eyebrows up.
"Yes, a party. You know what a party is?" I teased.
"I know what a party is. And I'm goin'."
"What?" I frowned.
"Your payment. Take me to the party with you," He said, and I laughed to his face.
"You're kidding, right? It's a joke."
"Not kiddin'. Well, there'll only be Westside kids..." He considered for a moment "I'll take Nacio. Where is the party? Oh, wait. I'll pick you up. Around seven?"
"Wow, wow! Stop right there! First!" I showed him one finger, right to his face "You're not going, and Nacio can kiss my ass! Second!" I put another finger up, and he made his stupid grin "I'm calling you a doctor, 'cause you must have inhaled some bad fumes from under my hood."
"I'm goin'. That's your payment. Otherwise, I'll just let everyone know-"
"Can't believe you're going there again" I almost whispered, sincerely disappointed.
"Not diabetes." He said, frowning as if he was offended "I'll just let everyone know how Whitney Gordon doesn't pay her debts. Believe me, the Northside guys won't like to hear that..."
I growled at him and rubbed the palms of my hands on my eyes.
"Fine! Don't pick me up, 'cause I have a bunch of stuff to do at Ian's place – that's where the party's gonna be. It's around nine, casual, so jeans and a shirt will work just fine."
"What do I have to take?" He asked, with a side grin that was so cocky I wanted to smack it off his gorgeous tanned face.
"A gun for me to shot myself" I groaned, and he was smiling when I went inside the house.