Chapter 1

I zipped my my overalls, looked in the mirror, and cringed. I don't know why I always did that to myself; these overalls made everyone who wore them horrible.

Instead of thinking it anymore, I started to work. Mr. Altone wasn't too strict a boss when it came to time, but I still couldn't shake the habit of getting there a few minutes early.

"It's almost noon and there's my girl," Mr. Altone called out once I arrived. "One of my star pupils."

"Oh come on Mr. A... stop making the guys feel bad about themselves." I said with a smile.

The Italian man chuckled and patted my back then led me towards the back of the shop. I'm pretty sure I glowed once I laid eyes on Ruby. She was a glistening, bright red colored classic 1967 Chevy Impala.

"Now, you didn't happen to see Dean on your way in, did you?" Mr. Altone broke my moment of happiness and I rolled my eyes.

"No, Mr. A; I never see Dean and I tell you that everyday."

"And one day that might change."

"You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different result."

"Oh, I know. I lost my marbles as soon as I lost my and my hair turned gray." I looked at his dark hair and bushy moustache littered with gray strands of hair.

"It's not that bad, I'm sure Mrs. Altone thinks you're the same fox you were when she met you."

"Oh I know she does," he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I closed my eyes, "Okay, no need to go into detail."

Suddenly, I felt something dark fall over everything in the room. Mr. A and I turned to the door and there stood Dean.

"Right on time, of course. My other star pupil." Mr. A cracked a smile and Dean came closer.

"Well, I know you two have everything you need so I'll let you get to it. I need to go supervise those idiots."

He left and we started on the car. Dean and I had been working on this car for months now and of all the time we'd worked together he'd never spoken one word to me. At first I thought it was personal, that was before I realized he hadn't talked to anyone since he set foot in this place a year ago. Everyone else believed he thought he was better than us or something, but I worked with him everyday and I could see in his concentration and love for the job.

It was always the same thing since we got this project out the junkyard. I came in early, Dean came in on time and we worked on Ruby; him on the exterior; me inside the hood. Never talking, never getting in each others way, until six.

Today though, I broke the silence for the first time, "Hey, Dean?" I called. He looked up at me and I noticed something I never had before. He had different colors in his eyes.* They were mesmerizing.

"Could I – uh – get a little bit of help? The radiator is stuck; I'm pretty sure it might be broken again."

He nodded, seemingly still a little shocked I was talking to him, and came over next to me. He stood so close that his body heat radiated onto me and forced me to stupidly take a sudden step back. I felt myself turn red as he took a sideways look at me before he brought his attention back to the car.

He pointed to the radiator and glanced at me as if seeking assurance. I nodded my head.

"Think you can pull it out?" It was his turn to nod. He was leaning down to pull it out then looked at me with one eyebrow, when I didn't respond he took hold of my shoulders and gently guided me off to the side.

With that he faced the car, rolled up his sleeves, and gripped the radiator. Then, in one swift movement, he yanked the car part out with a slight groan. He set the part on the ground and gave me a closed mouth grin then got back to work as if nothing had happened.

•

•

•

I wiped off my hands after having tried to save the radiator for the last hour.

"Did you save it?" Mr. Altone asked. I smiled solemnly.

"Afraid not," I set the towel down, "we're going to have to call it."

"I really don't wanna do that," he groaned, "...alright I'll can call the company tonight."

"Alright Mr. A, I'm about to clock out; I'll see you tomorrow."

"No, I'll see you next week. We're closed for Christmas remember?"

"Oh... yeah, I'll see you next week I guess."

I finally clocked out and went home. I'd stayed late, so I heard my footsteps against the concrete as I trudged through the empty garage. Once home, I took a shower before checking the fridge. Okay, no food.

Instead of going to the store, I decided to head to Martha's Diner. I loved it there. I walked in and sat at the counter, not too long after the waitress – Lexi – walked up to me.

"What'll it be Lyn?" She asked cheerily.

"Well, my oddly chipper friend, I'd like my usual, some pie, and a Coke ASAP."

"You just love bossing me around don't you?" She asked as she wrote down my order and stuck the pen behind her ear. Then, stuck my order up for the chef to see.

"You never listen to me any other time, at least here you have to do what I say because I'm the costumer, and the costumer is always right." I replied with a smirk.

Suddenly she sighed, "Are you going home for Christmas, Lyn? I'm sure your momma misses you."

"I'd bet money that the drunk bitch's doesn't even realize it's Christmas, or that she has a daughter that could come home for it."

"You haven't talked to the woman in almost two years, how do you know she hasn't changed?"

"She was incapable of change then when I was there, what evidence is there to make me think she'd change if she was free from anyone tying her down?"

"I don't know, but at least call her."

I ignored her advice and she rolled her eyes. When the chef rung the bell she set my food in front of me and walked away. I ate and started home without saying goodbye.

I dragged on through the night thinking of what Lexi had said. Maybe I should go see my mom, wait-what? No, no, no I couldn't let my friends talk me into something that stupid.

I was so caught up in my head that I didn't notice the curb until I was on the ground. I groaned and wiped off my clothes as I stood. I shook my head to get rid of my thoughts before deciding to take a shortcut down an alley. Two blocks down I heard a scream resonate through the air.

My curiosity took over and I peeked around the corner that the noise had come from. Upon looking I noticed a man sitting up against a wall; he was tall with dark hair and blue eyes that shone in the darkness.

I allowed the blonde in my to wander and stepped closer to the man. He became more recognizable the closer I stepped until I realized that I knew exactly who he was.

"Dean?" His head shot up and I rushed towards him. His face was bruised and he flinched as I reached for him.

"Holy shit, Dean, do you need help?" He shook his head vigorously, "I don't like it when people lie to me, come on I'll take you to my house."

I helped him stand up and noticed a slight limp in his right foot, "Sprained ankle?" He nodded, "I think you'll be fine. I'll fix you up, my house is less than a block away."

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Author's Note:

This is my very first book posted on Prose and I am glad to have a chance to share this story with this amazing community.

*Important–The coloration of Dean's (Henry Cavill's) eyes is known as heterochromia iridum. Dean (Henry) has partial heterochromia or sectoral heterochromia, when part of one iris is a different color from its remainder. His eyes are blue and you can't see in most pictures but his left eye is fully brown in the top left corner.