Friendzoned

by Power, P. S.

  They headed directly to the shop, a very orange building that was still an hour away from closing. Becky pulled the ten dollars she had out of her purse, trying not to seem all that poor, but Keeley shook her head and produced her card, holding it up a bit.

  "From my bio-dad. For some reason he seems to think that me having a car means that it will cost about eight times what it does. I could live off of what he's giving me, but don't have too. I need to pick up more brake fluid too. That and some other things. We'll just double up on it."

  It was really nice of her, but also kind of hard to take. Becky knew she was poor, but she didn't really need it to be rubbed in. Except that wasn't what was happening, was it? Her friend was just trying to be nice. To help her. It meant that her even thinking about it in a less than positive light pretty much meant she was a bitch, didn't it?

  "Thanks. Taco Bell doesn't pay that well. Not working one night a week."

  "Yeah. Has Mrs. Gibson been in touch yet? I know that Darla talked to her, but it can take days for her schedule to clear for things like this. Don't take it personally. She only comes into town about twice a year and spends the rest of it running around the world, looking at her different businesses. It's a bit hard on Darla, since more or less, she's all the family that she has. Other than us, I mean." She made herself busy, filling a little red plastic shopping basket with things, as the men at the front all kind of stared at them.

  "Do they think we're going to shoplift?" She whispered the words, her slightly curly dark hair brushing the side of Keeley's face as she leaned in, trying to act like she wasn't worried.

  Keeley just looked over and smiled at them. They were all adult men, the youngest looking just on the young side of thirty. It was enough to get them to look away, pretending to work. Or, who knew, maybe they actually had stuff to do?

  "Nope. They were just checking us out. It probably gets a bit boring this time of night. We need more oil, that filter, and a catch pan. Here, let me..." It didn't take her long, and the man at the counter was happy enough to get them the filter in its little orange and black box. The whole thing came to about fifty dollars, but Keeley didn't blink about it, just putting it on her card.

  The guy helping them, the youngest looking one stared at Keeley a lot, but then nodded at her too.

  "Changing your oil?"

  Becky nodded, hoping that he didn't mean something naughty by it and was just commenting on what they were getting.

  "Yeah, a friend of mine is doing the work, but he saw the state of my engine oil and kind of flipped out. I mean ranting and hand waving, he was just all over the place. For a few seconds I thought he was going to cry, but then he just sent us off instead. Hopefully this will be enough to make him happy again." So, yes, she was telling a story that had little to do with the truth, but the man just smiled and handed over all the bags.

  "Sounds like he knows what he's doing then. Have a good night."

  She smiled and looked over her shoulder a bit. It was as close to a "sexy" look as she had really. Hopefully it was charming.

  "Thanks. You too!"

  When they were back in the car, Keeley didn't say anything, until they were most of the way back.

  "Cory really likes you. I shouldn't have mentioned that stuff about Mitch, but they're really good friends and he needs to make sure that Mitch honestly isn't into you before he tries anything. I know that it may not seem important to you at the moment, but you need to make sure you don't let Cory down too. If someone bothers to like you, then you should give them a chance, even if you aren't certain you feel the same way." She didn't look away from the road, but spoke in an even and calm sounding voice. "After all, isn't that basically what you want Mitch to do? Give you a chance to change his mind?"

  Wincing, Becky made a face.

  "Yes, but it sounds so... hopeless, the way you put it. Like it's already a finished thing. I... it's pretty obvious that Mitch is a lost cause for me, isn't it?"

  "Lost? Not yet. I mean, you can get his attention, if you really want to. You're smart enough, and cute. Already his friend too. But I wouldn't waste the rest of the year on him. I know, love can be a pain that way, but it's better for you to have a broken heart and a date on Saturday with someone else, than to be working the late shift at a fast food place, just so you can see him for a few minutes a week, and being alone the rest of the time."

  Was it better? She knew that Keeley was right, but it was just so hard to put it all into practice. Everyone was right, and she needed to move on. Yet here she was, desperately trying to figure out some trick that would let her have that brief moment in the sun with Mitch.

  "The real question then, is why help me at all? I know you have better things to do. Almost anything would be. But here you are, planning things out, making double dates with me and all that..."

  "What are friends for? Besides, I want you to know that you did everything you could to try and win him over. That way, whatever happens, you won't have regrets about it. My mom was talking to me about that, not living your life in a way that leaves you constantly regretting what you've done. Also not letting yourself get trapped, so you don't ever do anything. It's a thing, I guess. She seemed pretty serious about it at least."

  Becky just nodded. It made sense, and in a way, it was sort of what she was going for, wasn't it? Not with Mitch, though that was sort of true, thanks to all the others helping her. By not drinking and trying to improve herself though. That was the idea, wasn't it? To live her life in a way that would mean she didn't regret where it ended up too much?

  It was a lot to think about, but the boys were still there when they got in a few minutes later, the hood of the station wagon still up, with Gary working inside of it. They had to park in one of the visitor's places and walk over, but Gary seemed almost ready to cheer when he saw the loot they'd gotten.

  "Perfect. This won't take long, about fifteen minutes, then we can get out of your hair."

  It took longer than that. That was because it was too dark to see what they were doing under the car, and it was cramped, so it was a lot harder to do than if they could have jacked the thing up. Gary didn't want to do that though, since it was just in a parking lot and not someplace really secure.

  "I don't want someone accidently pushing the car over and crushing me. I hate that."

  Keeley cleared her throat.

  "Me too." She looked at Becky and shook her head, a slow and somber thing indeed. "Then you have to pick it up and hold it, normally while being called names. It's a real pain."

  Cory laughed, but didn't say very much about the topic. Apparently that wasn't something that happened in his world very often? Becky had to agree on that one herself, but smiled. It was an attempt to be funny at least and that should be rewarded.

  Gary grunted then made a small and slightly frantic sounding noise, shuffling around to get the catch tray under the whatever it was that let the oil out.

  "There, now we just wait for a while, and let it drain. So, anyone see any good movies lately?"

  Becky paused, trying to remember the name of the last thing that she'd seen all the way through, it was the one that they'd all watched when Rebekah had come over.

  "Uh, Silverman's Love Notes?" Not that it was good, but she really doubted that Gary would know that.

  "I missed that one. Probably because I'm not willing to commit to be that gay yet. I know, I shouldn't use the word that way. It didn't look good though."

  "Well, it wasn't, but I didn't think that you'd know what it was, so I tried to fake it."

  That started a conversation about when they'd all watched it, and that led to Rebekah, who Cory didn't know at all, even though the rest of them had met.

  Gary, it seemed, actually had an opinion there.

  "Ohhh, yeah. If I was going to get with a girl, she'd be the one for me. Looks aside, have you ever heard her sing? She's going places. Don't tell her I said that though. The part about getting with her. I was kidding." Then he climbed b
ack under the car and made noises for a bit, got handed the oil filter and then stood up, after pushing the catch pan, which was a flat round thing about fourteen inches across and five or six deep, out from under the car. It had a bright blue lid on it.

  Then they had to dump more, fresh, oil from the new bottles into the car. She knew how to do that part, but Gary was very careful about it, making sure it was exactly full, and checking that three times to get it right.

  Then he closed the hood and gestured at her.

  "Turn it on? If we need to jump her, we should do it now, instead of tomorrow." It was a little hesitant at first, coughing a bit, but then roared to life.

  Gary gestured for her to leave it on, then listened for a bit, tilting his head toward the hood.

  "Okay, that should do it."

  It sounded way better to her at least. All the rattling had gone away, for instance. Gary however didn't seem impressed yet.

  "I want to look at it in the light sometime soon. It's way harder this way. It will run, but you probably want to hold off on any long road trips for now. It will get you around town at least."

  That was all she'd ever used it for, so it wasn't news to her.

  "So that means the trip to the Grand Canyon is off for this summer? I'm heartbroken."

  Gary actually rolled his eyes and then shook his head.

  "Nooo... We'll have it ready by then. I notice that you haven't invited me on this trip though? I suppose it's just for the girls?"

  Becky blinked, but Keeley shook her head.

  "Nope. You can totally come. You too Cory. Of course we're just making it up right now, but it sounds sort of fun. We should set something up. I mean, it's a trip, but not that far from here. I bet we could get Darla to go too." Then she steepled her fingers, like an evil overlord and laughed, ever so slightly. "Yes... yes... my pretties, I shall take you all on a trip to the giant hole in the ground... Mwa-ha-ha!" Then she winked. "Erm, I mean, gee golly, that sounds like a good time for everyone, doesn't it, pals?"

  That got Cory to look at her funny and then work his right fist like every farmer from a nineteen-fifties movie. "It sure does! It sounds nifty even."

  That decided, they left, with Gary being the last one to say goodbye to her. It was different, and if he hadn't been playing for the other team, she probably would have thought it about the right time for him to make a move on her, or at least set up a meeting for it. She really was pretty grateful, if she was going to be honest about it all.

  He just smiled and gave her a little hug.

  "Okay, we need to get together and see about replacing all the other belts, and checking the seals, the spark plugs, the vacuum system and all that. You know, the regular things? Remember, if anyone asks, you totally slept with me for this." He leaned in and then sighed. "I'm kidding, tell them you paid cash."

  She nodded, getting the general idea. He didn't want to be the first stop for every high school girl that had a broken car, for some strange reason. Well, she could back him up there, especially if he was going to keep helping her. It was a bit mercenary, but she knew that she'd gotten off pretty lucky really. After all, it would have been one or two hundred dollars to have a mechanic do what he'd just done for free.

  When she got back in her mother was gone, away in bed, which meant it was probably a good time to consider that for herself. It was hard going to bed, but the school opened so darned early each day. It kind of meant she either gave up valuable television watching time, or sleep. Most of the time the tube won, but today she actually felt like she was drifting off pretty nicely.

  It was like she was drugged nearly, except that she dreamed quickly and easily, about a lot of different things. They weren't all good, but there was a definite theme to the whole lineup. It started with Gary, of all people, and the scene had him just finishing with her car, and her feeling very grateful indeed. With her clothing off. Then it was a similar one with Cory, which wasn't unpleasant at all. In fact she woke up, hoping that if there had been moaning, her mom was too drunk to hear it.

  After drifting back off she was back at the party, except this time it was her that went to her knees in front of Marty and he didn't pass out, meaning that she had to keep going, as Darla watched. She didn't wake up from that one, the whole thing turning into something different. This time with a very good looking boy that she'd never met before. He was a lot like Gary, only better looking. It was hard to describe, but he had a magnetism to him. It was alluring.

  After they talked he started to touch her, it held promise and interest, but she woke up, the alarm sounding.

  "Oh, sure, it finally gets good..." Well, that was the way things went in dreams. It was pretty clear what it all meant.

  She was secretly a perv that wanted all the boys for herself. That, or all the talk from the others about options and moving on was finally starting to take root deep in her mind, and this was her subconscious way of letting that be known. It was something to think about, and none of it had been too troubling at least. Nothing about her and Keeley for instance, or Darla.

  Or her and Mike. That would just be creepy. Even if he wasn't practically her dad, it would have been. That her own mother had asked about it... Well, that really said something about her, didn't it? Who would even think that? She was darned willing to bet that Mike hadn't.

  He was on the couch again, which was a statement all of its own, since he had a bed there. One shared with Maggie. It was like he was avoiding her. Becky wasn't silent getting herself around for school, but it wasn't loud, by any means. Still, it got the man to wake up, his unshaved face covered with a fine silver layer, his bald head shining slightly.

  "Sorry, I dozed off out here after work. How are things?"

  "Good. How was work?"

  "Same as always. Pays the bills, dead end position. Sucks being an adult." He didn't smile, but it was still a joke. Not that it wasn't true, just that he was using the tone that meant he knew what things were, and you either laughed or cried about it and the second one never got you anywhere. He'd taken time to explain that all, more than once.

  "I hear you. Well, I'm off. Trying to keep my GPA high enough for college."

  The man nodded and started to stand. Sober, it looked like, but tired. His gut hung over his pants, enough that it made him look soft and uncomfortable.

  "Need a ride? I know that your car is down."

  "Nope! Some friends came over and fixed it last night. I lent my amazing flashlight holding skills to the effort. Well, I thought they were amazing. I'm pretty sure that Gary didn't think so."

  "Gary, is that your boyfriend?" The man gazed at her, his slightly bloodshot eyes serious, and slightly watery. "If so, I should meet him, I guess."

  "Gary is just a friend. He likes guys. That and working on cars. I'm currently trying to get Mitch to notice me. You've met him. That isn't going so well yet. I don't really know what to do there. I mean, when a group of high school kids keep pointing out all your other options, it's pretty clear that you're messing something up, isn't it?"

  Giving her a single nod, Mike sat, his face uneasy.

  "Um, I... You know that things haven't been going well, between your mother and I, for a while now..."

  It wasn't a question, but she nodded anyway.

  "I know." Just because her mother had put the idea in her head she half expected for Mike to suggest they go to bed together.

  He heaved a massive sigh and shook his head.

  "I'm going to leave. In June. I have a place lined up already. Smaller than this. I... could stay longer, if you need me to? I don't want you to have to rush out of the house and lose a chance at a better life, but..."

  That was a real thing, she knew. Him leaving would mean that they didn't have rent each month. Not unless she went out and earned it, which would be hard to do, making minimum wage. The man had been there for her though and while it was a bit scary, she really did have other plans in the works. Or she could, if she scrambled, right?

&nbs
p; "Thank you. For staying so long. I really appreciate it. I'll be ready by then."

  How she didn't know, but she smiled and pretended to be confident, even as her stomach dropped out from under her. Mike was... She hadn't really thought much about it before, but he wasn't just her step-father, but the only person that had ever really bothered to be there for her. At least over the long haul. Still, she was an adult now and needed to stand on her own two feet.

  You didn't get to live with a safety net forever after all.

  That bit of mental imagery didn't really help her feel better, and Mike laid back down, as if the effort of keeping them all going was just too much for him, and he couldn't take it anymore. And there he was, planning to hold out for months longer, so that she'd be able to keep going.

  On the way to school she cried. Just a little, and not for herself. It was for him. For the man that had put himself out there for some girl that he didn't have to claim, staying with a woman he couldn't stand, to make it happen. She hadn't ruined his life, but she really wasn't helping him either, was she? She managed to get herself under control before she got into the student parking lot, and settled herself at the far end, leaving the closer places for the people with nicer cars.

  It wasn't a rule, but that was pretty much how things went. The people that could afford, or rather whose parents bought them, really nice cars, all had them close to the building. The junkers, and starter cars filled in the rest of the place. No one really told them to do it, or even complained on the rare occasion when someone changed that up, but in the main, it happened.

  That meant she walked past Darla's red convertible, which had its white top up today, just as she got out. It would have been perfect timing, if she was actually waiting for her.