me, a simple ace, writing Kari and Jade: what???? the fuck is flirting??? H O W
Kari rang the bell on the counter and stepped back, hands in the back pockets of her jeans. The repair shop was big and filled with an organised sort of chaos. Tools and cars and spare parts everywhere. Loud music that she doubted anyone could hear over.
Stepping forward, she rang the bell again, looking around.
A guy twisted to look over at her, hands deep in the engine of a car. “Get that, will you Jade?” he yelled, turning back to his work.
“Little bit busy over here!” someone yelled back.
“Ain’t we all,” someone else called back, laughing.
Kari shifted her weight, tilting her head.
“Fine, fine!” Someone stepped around the side of a pillar, wiping her hands on a towel across her shoulder. “What can I help you with?” She smiled at Kari.
This had to be Jade. She was slim, almost lost in the bulky suit she wore, a cap shadowing her face and keeping her hair out of sight. Kari caught sight of a flash of nail polish as she tied the rag onto a hoop at her belt. Was she genuinely wearing makeup, in a place like this?
“Can I?” She stopped on the opposite side of the counter from Kari. “What is it, car trouble?”
“Uh-” Kari closed her eyes, shaking her head. “No, I – I'm here to pick up a bike. A – friend's bike.”
“That so.” Jade quirked a small smile. “Name, registration plate...?”
“Ash Esparza.” Kari glanced down at her phone. “I don’t - hang on, I’ll just find the...”
“Oh, I know it, xie's one of our regulars.” Jade ran her hand down the records book in front of her. “Ah... got it. Ok, she’s done.” She looked up, meeting Kari’s eyes. “I’ll just wheel her out. You’re driving her back?”
Kari nodded. “Yeah, Ash is busy, so...” She clicked her jaw shut and refused to look away, although she shifted her hands into her jacket pockets and tightened them there.
Jade laughed and pushed away from the desk. “At least you look like you can drive one of these babies. I swear, some of the people xie sends to pick up the bike...” She shook her head.
Kari waited at the desk, assuming that was where she was supposed to stay.
“You got the money to pay for this for xir?”
Kari frowned. “Ash didn’t say anything about that.”
“Well.” Jade reappeared, pushing Ash’s motorbike. “The money’s got to come from somewhere.” She stopped beside Kari and kicked the stand down with a backward flick of her foot, and was suddenly in Kari’s space when she straightened up. “What do you suggest?”
Kari blinked, feeling her breath brush across her cheek.
The grease on Jade’s face was sticky splatters, but somehow looked intentional. Like it was all a part of her makeup routine – and she was wearing makeup under it, Kari could see, and-
“I have money on me.” Kari blinked, stepping back and turning slightly to pull her bag from her back. “Xie can pay me back later.”
Jade laughed, the sound like a bell ringing through the workshop. “It’s fine! I’m just messing. We’ll just email Ash the reference and xie can transfer it.”
“That... makes sense.” Kari rolled her bag back up onto her shoulders. “Thank you.”
“And if you ever need your own bike serviced-” Jade held out Ash’s keys, “You know where to come.”
“I... don’t have a bike.” Kari shook her head, holding out her hand, palm up, for the keys.
“Well there is a crying shame,” Jade said, placing the keys in Kari’s hand and letting her fingers linger there. “If Ash ever sends you back, then.”
“I’ve been thinking of getting one,” Kari said, though the thought hadn’t crossed her mind until then. “Maybe you could – I could... come here for advice?”
Jade smiled as Kari closed her hand about the keys, pulling her hand back just before Kari caught it. “We do know what we like about here.” She lifted her cap off and ran her hand back through her hair to smooth it down.
Kari wasn’t sure if the black streaks were because of her hands or if they’d been there anyway, if maybe she’d dyed streaks like oil through her hair for the aesthetic, but it was striking and she was staring. Fuck.
Kari forced a grin and swung onto the bike, tugging the helmet Ash had loaned her out of her bag. “Maybe you can teach me sometime.” She was grateful for her dark skin, and now the helmet covering her face in case the burning she could feel was obvious. Get it together, Kari. This wasn’t how she did things.
“I’d like that.” Jade stepped back, cap back on her head and hands in the back pocket of her suit.
Kari made sure the bag was shut and slid it onto her back, then put the keys in and kicked the bike into gear as she rolled down the ramp. She lifted a hand in farewell and tried not to make it look like she was running away as she turned onto the street and melded into the traffic.
