BUT MY POOR CAR

Alexithymiaa: -Steph was standing outside of Target with her car parallel parked out front. She had her head down staring at her phone as she tried to find a reputable towing company, but all of the reviews for local places were pretty mixed since most tow companies were so rough around the edges. Her poor beautiful car had small traces of smoke coming out from underneath the hood. // Noah pulled up to the bagel place that Tae had suggested they go to, already questioning their evenings choices, but he was willing to at least try it before he whined and complained all night. Reaching into the backseat of his car, he grabbed the box of girl scout cookie's he'd bought earlier, tossing it into her lap. "Here."-
Covet: Felix pulled up across the street from Steph's car was, and climbed out of his vehicle before walking across the street. "Smoke? Jesus Red, what did you do?" He asked walking over to go open up the hood to let the smoke vent out the rest of the way. // Tae smiled and held onto the box of cookies tightly, "Thank you, and these are going to be stashed away and hidden from you." She told him. "And... if the bagels aren't up to your NYC standards we'll go get ice cream afterwords, my treat."
Alexithymiaa: "I don't knowwwww!" She whined, clearly stressed over her poor car's condition right now. "It was working perfectly fine all day and when I came out to head home, it wouldn't start. And I tried it a few times and then I saw the smoke so I didn't want to stay in the car." // "Wow really? You don't trust me? I see how it is." He said as he got out of the car, walking around to her side to open the door for her so he could help her out since she was still sort of crippled. "Let's just get one thing straight, I'm not from the city. And second, they won't because bagels outside of New York suck."-
Covet: "Well, smoke could mean a variety of things, but probably something oil related. Did you call a tow truck?" Felix asked her keeping the hood opened up for now, looking in as if the car would tell him what's wrong. // "There's no such thing as trust when girl scout cookies are involved." Tae said to him, in a serious, flat tone. Then she gave him an eye roll as she got out of the car, "Well excuse me, as far as I'm concerned all of New York is NYC, and you mean to tell me that there aren't just as good of bagels in New Jersey?"
Alexithymiaa: "No...." She started, her face turning into a pout. "All of the reviews online of the few local places weren't very good. I don't want to call just anyone. They're going to scratch it. And then we'll have even more problems because we'll have a murder to cover up AND a car that won't start." She crossed her arms over her chest, staring at her car. "What if we just like... put it in neutral and pushed it back to the house?" // "Touche." He said in regards to her girl scout cookie comment, slipping his arm around her shoulders so he could guide her into the bagel place and out of the frigid cold. "That's like saying all of California is Los Angeles. I grew up in like a suburban beach community." He said to her, inhaling to enjoy bagel smell and just instantly becoming disappointed. "No. There aren't."-
Covet: "Look for someone who's tripple A certified. They're insured so if they fuck up your car, they'll pay for any of the damages to be fixed." He said then looked at her, "We're not pushing this back to the house, do you know how many hills are between here and there, and I've got only one good arm you've already told me I can't over do it. I'm pretty sure that would overdo it." // "Okay but the only other thing in California worth while is Peir 39 in Frisco, and Disneyland. So California might as well be called Los Angeles." Tae said then started to make her way up to the counter, before turning to look at his face. " C'mon, you haven't even tried it."
Alexithymiaa: -She returned her attention to her phone, continuing her web search for a trustworthy tow truck. "Well no, you're not going to push it. I'll do it. Or... I'll call Nick. Or..." She trailed off, trying to figure out which of her friends were still in Portland that were bigger dudes. // "Have you ever even been to California? So much of Cali is great. San Diego? Carmel?" He asked her quickly, stepping up to the counter behind her. "I can smell it... isn't that enough?"-
Covet: "I love you, and your enthusiasm, but you're not going to push this yourself. Just find the highest rated one and tell them what the issue is and that's it's a very delicate special car." He said then pulled out his own phone. "In the mean time, I'm going to see if Benjamin is available to come look at this. At the very least he's going to know what's wrong with it." // Tae stopped and turned to look at him. "I used to live outside of LA, when I was younger. We moved here when I was like, eight years old. Yes, I've been to California." She told him, "No, you have to try it." Tae said getting up to the counter. "Can I get your Turkey bacon club on the everything bagel."
Alexithymiaa: "If anything happens to this car, it's your fault." She shot back, hitting the call button on one of the better rated places and putting the phone up to her ear, waiting for it to ring. "Look at it as in with his eyes and not his hands, right?" She shot back quickly until someone answered her phone call. // "I didnt know you lived in California..." He trailed off, mulling over that little detail and making a note to commit it to memory. "Uhhh... can i get a bacon egg and cheese with salt and pepper on an egg everything bagel?" He asked, pulling out his wallet. "And an orange juice." He added quickly, passing over his debit card to be rung up.-
Covet: "Everything is going to be fine. And yes with his eyes unless he can reassure us he knows what's wrong with it." Felix said to her as he texted back and forth with Benjamin. "He said he's on his way over." he said to Steph. // "Mhhm, I mostly remember all of it, but Obviously most of my life was lived here." She said to him then waited for her food, "Breakfast for dinner?" Tae asked Noah.
Alexithymiaa: -Giving the details of their location to thw tow company, she hung up and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to keep herself warm as she stared at her car. "I don't like this..." // "I have limited memories before the last like.... six or seven years so I get it." He said as he waited by the counter for their order to be ready. "There is no better way to eat a bagel. Oddly enough it's the easier kind of thing to make." He said as he watched them literally unwrap a circular disc of eggs and put it in the microwave with a complete look of horror on his face.-
Alexithymiaa: (No really. Eistein Bros nukes premade eggs and Ive never been so sick in my life. Never again, Florida. Never again.)
Covet: [eew gross]
Alexithymiaa: (It happened while Cat was getting his balls chopped off and I will forever believe it was karma)
Covet: "Well, yeah... There's nothing to like about this situation But it is what it is, so we're going to make the best of it, right?" Felix said looking at her, leaning up against the car. // "You don't remember anything from before you were the age of ten or eleven?" She asked him with a slight look of concern. "Are you sure Hockey is a good idea there. And I beg to differ, The best way to eat a bagel is the traditional way, My Dad taught me correctly."
Covet: [bahaha yeah probably]
Alexithymiaa: -She flinched when he leaned up against the car, coiling her hands back into her chest as she struggled not to lose her shit over it. "What exactly is there to make the best of? My poor car is dead right now. This car was my first true love. I would sell most of my family to save this car." // Noah shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Not nothing, just limited. I remember significant events, but not a whole lot. I haven't actually been hit in the head that many times." He said as their food came out, taking it from the server behind the counter and wandering to find themselves a table. "What, schmeared with cream cheese?"-
Covet: "Your car isn't dead. It just needs repaired." Felix told her. "It's just a little hiccup, and once it's fixed it will be right as rain again. Car problems happen all the time." // "Are you sure about that?" She asked then laughed, "and Lox. Salmon and cream cheese just goes really well together, which is why Philly rolls are my favorite sushi rolls too."
Alexithymiaa: "I'd still sell most of my family to save this car..." She mumbled, more of a jab at her family than anything else. "I'm not emotionally equipped to handle car problems happening all the time." // Taking a seat with their order, he started to unwrap his egg sandwich, disappointed that it wasnt dripping in melted cheese and bacon grease. "Okay fine, I can admit that. But out here? You're not going to find good bagels. You see this?" He asked her, pushing his fingers into the rubbery bagel. "Not a good start. And I've never really been big into sushi."-
Covet: "You won't have them all the time, but they do come up. Even for me, infact I need to get some new tires for my jeep this spring too." He told her as he watched Benjamin pull up in his work in progress muscle car. // Benjamin climbed out and made his way over to the vehicle looking at the two of them. " So, what seems to be the issue?" He asked, not knowing what had happened yet. // "Yes, I see it, and it's not normally like that, but maybe today is just an off day, she said like a liar. "Well, you better get big on it, because that's a make or break thing right there." Tae told him with a smirk.
Alexithymiaa: "New tires are a lot different than being stranded because it won't start..." She said quietly as Benji pulled up, wrapping her arms around her middle to hug herself, the unsettling feeling growing worse as he got out. "It was running fine earlier, and now it won't turn over." She said to him, uncomfortably dropping her arms and then fiddling with her hands. "Just... don't.. er.. nevermind." She settled into silence, struggling with the idea of him touching the car. // "Sometimes it's slimey though." He complained as he picked up the first half of his sandwich, taking a big bite which he instantly regretted. "Ugh what is this? It literally tastes like Kraft cheese melted onto rubber."-
Covet: "And there's smoke coming out of it too." Felix added as he looked at his Dad. // Benji smiled and made his way over to look under the hood, looking over at Steph, "Mind if I check a couple of things?" He asked her because he could see she was tense. "It's just the fluids, I promise." // "Then don't order the slimey things. Not all of it is slimey, maybe try one of the tempura fried rolls." Tae told him, then looked at her own sandwhich, "Mine's not bad, and it still tastes good."
Alexithymiaa: -She bit the inside of her cheek, her eyes dropping down to examine Benji's clothing in search of zippers, exposed metal buttons, and grommets that might scratch at the paint. "Yeah just don't.... lean on the paint. Or actually, just tell me what you're looking for, and I'll check." She said as she walked over, rolling up the sleeves on her white fucking sweater, please don't touch the oil in that sweater. // "Well I dont know whats slimey. How am I supposed to know what's slimey?" He asked, all riled up about his shitty bagel. "I've smashed my face into bloody ice that tastes better than this egg sandwich."-
Covet: "Steph, he's a mechanic, can you just let him do his thing for a sec." Felix said looking at her sweater, "For the sake of your sweater." // Benji took his jacket off and actually laid the soft lining side over the car, so if anything spilled or what not it wouldn't get on the paint. "I kind of have to agree with him, I'm sure you could do it, but that's a white sweater and oil's not so white." He said, "But please supervise me, I've got no issue with that." He said. // "Um, ask me silly." She said with a laugh. "Then stop eating it, and we'll go get ice cream instead." Tae told Noah, almost regretting her decision to come here.
Alexithymiaa: "Right, but-" She cut herself off, twisting her hands together uncomfortably and taking a deep breath. "Okay. My brother last changed the oil about three months ago and he also replaced the clutch." She glanced quickly over at Felix, still feeling pretty unsure. // "Fine, next time we order in you can order me something and I'll try whatever you order. None of the slimey stuff. Spicy is okay though." He set the bagel down, his inner conflict of being hungry, but this being awful weighing on him. "I'm starving though, I cant JUST eat ice cream."-
Covet: Felix put his arm around Steph and pulled her in close as he watched. // Benji looked at the fluids and then frowned, "Have you noticed any puddles under it at all?" // "There's plenty of spicy I can please you with." Tae said with a nod. "Okay then we'll order a pizza when we get back to the house?"
Alexithymiaa: -She leaned into Felix as she watched Benji, giving a little shrug. "Honestly I haven't noticed. I've been a little preoccupied lately and most of the time I'm getting in and out of my car in a rush. Why, is something leaking? Am I low?' She started to ask with a quickened pace. // "Oh yeah?" Noah asked, his interested clearly perking up. "Wait so you want to disappoint me with one thing and go right into the next instant disappointment? Can't we order something that Portland doesn't make like complete shit?"-
Covet: "Your oil is low, so you might have a slow leak, which caused all the smoke when your engine overheated, but your antifreeze in your radiator is completely drained, so I imagine you've got a hole or a crack somewhere in it." Benji said. "It shouldn't be too much of a fix, it can be done in a day, and a new radiator costs about two to three hundred bucks." He said putting the things back as he looked at the two of them. "You call a tow truck?" // "The only thing portland doesn't make like shit, is it's street van food, and all of those are closed this late, so...your options are limited." Tae told him.
Alexithymiaa: "What?" She asked a little frantically, looking down at her car instantly worried HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. "Yeah... I called awhile ago, they should be here soon. Thanks.... for looking at it." She said in a small voice, her mind wandering about her car. "This car is important." // "Whyyyyy?" He whined, letting his hand fall back as he closed his eyes. "I just want to eat something that doesnt suck. Why is that so much to ask of this stupid town?" He asked sarcastically before letting his arms fall dramatically onto the table in front of hhim. "What am I supposed to do?"-
Covet: Felix smiled at her and rubbed her shoulder. "See, it could be worse." // Benji furrowed his brow, "Let's not say that when dealing with a beautiful car like this. Radiator cracks happen over time, especially in older classic vehicles. The metal wears down over time and becomes brittle because of the antifreeze. Your new radiators are coated to be protected from this." He explained, seeming to be fairly knowledgable on the subject. // "Oh, you want to eat something that doesn't suck... I guess that takes me out of the picture." She said with a smirk. " Starve I guess?" She said with a shrug.
Alexithymiaa: "Yeah, why would you say that?" She asked him quickly to Felix without realizing she took Benji's side. "So you're pretty familiar with older classics..." She started, her eyes jumping over to the car he'd pulled up in. "Normally my brother is the only person allowed to touch this car... but he's not going to be in town for another couple of weeks and neither of us like the idea of taking our bikes with bad weather. Is this something you can fit into your schedule in the next few days?" // "Why do you have to do this to me?" He asked with a straight face, picking up his sandwich and literally throwing it across the room and into the trash can. Thankfully he got it in and didnt make a mess, but the potential. "I'll just nuke something when we get home, I guess since I dont have a fucking choice. Are you done with your rubber bagel?"-
Covet: "Sorry..." Felix said looking between the two of them. // "I can see what I can do, the shop I work for might be able to get the part in by then, and I'll do the install for free, so the only thing you have to worry about is purchasing the new radiator." Benji said. "If you trust me that is, I promise I won't harm your baby, I've got a cover that lays around all of this area, " He said pointing to the area of the car around the hood. "So all of it is protected." // "Yeah I'm done, let's go get ice cream and get home." Tae said getting up to throw her garbage away in the trash.
Alexithymiaa: "That's not necessary, I'll pay you whatever the labor costs on a repair like this." They weren't buds, BENJI. Shes too proud anyway. "I don't trust you, but I also don't really have a choice so... if anything happens to this car I will literally stab you. Repeatedly. For every scratch I find." She said quickly, watching the tow truck pull up. "And him too. Ugh, I can't watch him do this to my car.." She said, turning away and burying her face into Felix's side, refusing to watch the tow truck begin to hook up to her car. // He stood up from his seat, giving his chair a little kick to scoot it into the table they'd been sitting at and reaching his arm over to swing around her shoulders. "Chocolate? No, strawberry. Maybe cookies and cream. Or peanut butter."-
Covet: "Let's keep the murder threats to a minimum tonight, they start calling it premeditated when you do that." He told her and rubbed her head, watching as Benji got his jacket and put it back on so the tow truck could do it's thing. "Alright, but I really would like to do it free of cost for you. I'll keep in touch and we can make sure to get this fixed quickly." // Tae rolled her eyes at him, "we can get them all if you want." She said as she nudged him out the door because she just wanted him to stop complaining.
Alexithymiaa: "I've watched too much Law and Order to get caught." She mumbled against his side like that would be a reassuring statement. Hearing his words, she turned her head to look at him. "I appreciate the sentiment, but it's fine. I want to pay normal labor costs.No discounts, no freebies, no favors. Just please let me know about the part so we can get this taken care of." She said and then turned away to walk toward the Jeep because she couldn't look at her car hooked up to the truck. // Jokes on you Tae, always forever complaining. "That's a lot of ice cream." He said quickly, turning to head a few doors down so they could go get their ice cream to go. He would hhonestly try to steal some of hers too though.-