The Artist’s Wolf
Evie Olivia Niven
Chapter 1: Meeting the Wolf
“I hear he’s been in prison. Not just juvie, but actual prison!”
Aislinn Lexington glanced up from her sketchpad and glanced over at the group standing not too far from her. The perky blonde who had spoken, the head cheerleader, was clinging to the captain of the football team. Edward “Eddie” Montard had lived next door to Aislinn her whole life and put a claim on her, insisting she was his girlfriend. Of course, he never acted like it. Eddie was always in a crowd of people, mostly girls. He probably just knew I don’t like being the center of attention, she thought, pushing a feeling of unease down deep. Besides, she didn’t consider him to really be her boyfriend, so what did it matter?
Lifting her head, Aislinn glanced in the direction the crowd was looking. Across the parking lot, securing a helmet to the back of a motorcycle, was the new student who had just been transferred in. He was tall, easily over six feet, lean and perhaps a bit muscular, though she couldn’t be sure while he was wearing a jacket. Dark hair was long, spilling over his shoulders. Aislinn noticed his features: lovely eyes, narrow nose, somewhat full lips, high cheekbones, slightly pointed and definitely stubborn chin. His expression was neither happy nor sad, angry nor joyous, merely indifferent and slightly cold. She shivered as his dark eyes traveled over her for the briefest second.
“He’s like, almost twenty or something,” Eddie said. “He must have been held back quite a bit. Of course, if you’re in jail, you’re going to get held back.”
An chorus of laughter and giggles greeted his statement. Aislinn rolled her eyes. She was the quiet, shy, good girl who never complained, never rebelled, never did anything even remotely defiant. They paid no attention to her, to the rolling of her eyes, and she wondered if they’d even notice it if she did say something.
“Nice to not be the oldest people in class, huh, Ais?” Eddie called over to her.
I hate being called that, she thought, but she didn’t voice it out loud. Indeed, both she and Eddie were older than the rest of their fellow Seniors; he was nineteen, and she was a little over eighteen. Eddie had been held back at least once, somewhere along the line, so Aislinn felt he had no right to talk. Her case was different, however. The year she had been set to go into Kindergarten, she had gotten seriously ill with pneumonia. When she was young, she had been weak and sickly, and the illness had kept her off her feet for a long time. She had eventually recovered, and gone to school the next year, and now her sicknesses were a thing of the past.
It was just about time for class. Aislinn put away her sketchpad and stood up, glancing over to Eddie and the crowd. She froze; they were standing in front of the new guy, and they wouldn’t let him pass. No, she thought, shaking her head. If he really wanted them to get out of his way, he’d make them. Aislinn moved slowly closer, not really wanting to get involved, but curious about the strange nonetheless. Something about him sent a chill down her spine.
“Hey, man,” Eddie said, grinning arrogantly. “You can’t just walk in here, you know. You gotta pay homage to the great Eddie Montard.”
The stranger raised a feathery brow, skeptical. “Funny. That wasn’t in the handbook they sent me.”
A few people in the crowd snickered, but they were quickly silenced by a wave from Eddie. Aislinn was just thinking that she ought to just forget this and go to class when Eddie noticed her. He beckoned to her, and she went forward reluctantly, until he grabbed her, dragging her close to his side. The arrogant grin was back on his face, but the stranger wasn’t looking at Eddie. He was looking at her.
“I’m Eddie Montard,” Eddie said. “This is my girl, Aislinn. Show some respect, boy.”
Again, that eyebrow went up. The stranger was silent for long moments, staring Eddie straight in the face. A lopsided grin finally appeared on his face, and he reached out, catching hold of Aislinn’s hand. Before she could stop him, he had bent down and kissed her knuckles gently, in a fashion she could only describe as knightly. Eddie scowled, pulling her away from the stranger, who straightened, his lopsided grin taking on an arrogant air.
“Seems like I’m not the one who needed to show her respect,” he said, keeping his voice low.
“You need to show me some respect,” Eddie snarled. “What’s your name, boy?”
“Gabriel,” the stranger replied. “Gabriel Wolfe.”
Without another word, he pushed through the crowd and headed into the school. The whole crowd turned to stare after him, and so Aislinn indulged herself in the act as well, something she dearly wanted to do. His eyes and voice had been so very cold, and yet ... there was something about him. Like a knight in shining armor, she thought. Except he’s more like the knight who’s been wrongly accused by some evil lord, stripped of his armor, and left to fend for himself. Aislinn didn’t know where the image came from, but it was there.
“Hey,” the head cheerleader spoke up. “Isn’t Gabriel an angel?”
Gabriel glared down at his schedule and slammed his locker shut. He didn’t want to be here. The only reason he was here was because his parole officer hadn’t given him much choice. Stupid man, he thought, shouldering his backpack. His parole officer was convinced that Gabriel was still mixed up in drugs, alcohol, sex, and all the other stuff that had gotten him into jail in the first place. Gabriel himself was the only one who knew he was clean; he hadn’t even had any sex since getting out of jail. Before it had been a game, something he did because it was fun. Now those girls in their short skirts and tight tops seemed so dirty and trashy.
So maybe he’d had something of an epiphany while he was in jail. It might have changed his lifestyle, but it hadn’t changed him all that much. Very little made him smile or laugh anymore; not that his laughter had ever been anything other than hollow before. Gabriel didn’t have a great deal to live for, except for an odd new ambition to turn his life around and make something of himself.
He had caught sight of her, and for a moment he had smiled; a real, genuine smile. She’d been sitting on the curb, her head bent over a sketchpad, her thin brows furrowed in concentration. A slight breeze had caught her long hair, hair the color of cinnamon that fell to the middle of her back. In that moment she had glanced up, and he’d caught a glimpse of her face. Not especially beautiful by most standards, but there was something there nonetheless. Her eyes were large, maybe a bit too large, almond-shaped and pale, cornflower blue, surrounded by long, dreamy lashes. Her nose was small, pertly upturned, and he had seen on closer inspection that it was spattered with strawberry freckles. And her mouth ... she had a delectably full, sensual mouth that wouldn’t quite fit her face for another few years yet.
A bit plain to most eyes, perhaps, but intriguing to Gabriel. Then he had seen the group standing before him, and his smile had faded. The one called Eddie was so typical; an arrogant, irritating bastard. But when the little plain-faced artist had suddenly been pulled to his side, that was the real shock. His girlfriend, Gabriel thought, shaking his head. She looked like she had some depth to her, but she’s probably as shallow as the rest of them.
It didn’t matter. That girl and her ass of a boyfriend were not his concern. Right now, he needed to find his homeroom. The school was big and noisy. It almost made Gabriel wish he was still in jail. Finally, he did manage to find his homeroom, room 205, and he took a deep breath, reaching for the door. He was paying attention, and apparently, whoever it was who ran into him, also reaching for the door, wasn’t either.
“Oh, oh, I’m sorry!” A breathless voice squeaked.
Gabriel turned. Much to his dismay, the little artist was standing next to him. He hadn’t realized at first just how tiny she was. Her blue eyes were very wide, and she was pale beneath her freckles. What was her name again? he thought, watching her back away from him nervously. Ah, yes, Aislinn.
“It’s fine,” he grunted, reaching for the door again.
He was going to just go in, but something in him made him step back, holding the door open for her. She smiled at him timidly, and Gabriel was tempted to smile back. He imagined if she just let go and laughed, her face would light up a pitch-black room. Damnit, he thought, shaking his head. Such stupid, sentimental thoughts aren’t like me.
“Um, you’re ... Gabriel, right?” Aislinn asked quietly.
“Yeah,” he answered shortly.
She graced him with another shy smile. “Well then, welcome, Gabriel. And thank you.”
With that, she slipped through the door. Gabriel stared after her for a moment, then walked into the room himself. He had to have imagined it. She’d been quiet and polite, not like most girls he knew. Maybe he’d been wrong; maybe she did have depth. But if that was the case, why was she dating a scumbag like Eddie?
Chapter 2: The Artist’s Assignment
Aislinn sat back and studied the canvas before her. The picture of the ballet dancers felt like it was missing something. It seemed that all of her pictures were like that lately. For some reason, she felt as though her well of inspiration had dried out. With a sigh, she set down her paintbrush and began to pack up her things. Usually, she worked to the very end, then got a late pass from her teacher, but there was no motivation to do so today. Art was her last period on Mondays.
The art teacher clapped her hands sharply, twice. That was the signal for the class to stop what they were doing and listen to her. Aislinn slid her backpack onto her shoulders, then turned on her stool to face the teacher. Everyone else in the class was watching her attentively, as well.
“I have a new long-term assignment for you,” the teacher said. “This month, from the moment I finish, until, oh, let’s say ... just before Halloween ... I want all of you to find something, an inanimate object ... i.e. something that doesn’t move on its own and does not breathe. You will learn everything you can about that object, you will draw sketches, you will do a painting, oil, acrylic, or watercolor, your choice, and you will hand in a report on everything you learned.”
There were a few groans, a few snickers, some whispers here and there. Most of the class thought the teacher was a loony. Aislinn agreed that she did tend to be a bit loopy, but she was also brilliant. This was a strange assignment, to be sure, but maybe it was what she needed. Now, what kind of inanimate object should I choose? she wondered. Not that I haven’t drawn things that are inanimate, but this should be something I haven’t done before. Something that is involved and complicated.
She was sure that if she asked Eddie, he’d tell her to draw his football or helmet or something. Aislinn wanted something interesting. She shifted her backpack more comfortably on her shoulders and stepped out into the cool autumn air. If she moved quickly, she could catch the bus before Eddie came and decided to drive her home. Right now she didn’t feel like dealing with him. Aislinn was turning towards the buses when something caught her eye.
Gabriel’s motorcycle looked strange amid all the cars. He’s not there, she thought, unconsciously moving closer. I wonder if he was kept after class or something. Maybe he was already starting trouble. Well, it didn’t matter, after all she was only looking. Aislinn crouched beside the motorcycle, a mere two feet away, and studied it closely. There was an odd sensuality to it. She could be that to Gabriel it wasn’t just cold metal and a motor. Just as her paints and canvas were a lot more to her than simply paint and canvas.
Setting down her backpack, Aislinn retrieved a pencil and her sketchpad from it. She flipped open to a fresh page and began sketching. It felt awkward at first; the motorcycle was like nothing she’d ever tried to draw before. But as always she fell into it, her concentration becoming so deep that she didn’t hear the footsteps that came up behind her.
“What are you doing?”
The soft, cold voice speaking behind her made her jump. Aislinn dropped her sketchpad and leapt to her feet, whirling. She stumbled back a step when she saw Gabriel, his arms folded over his chest, looking somewhat impatient. He bent over and lifted her sketchpad, studying it for a long moment before holding it out to her.
“I ... I’m sorry...” Aislinn stammered. “I was just ... well you see my art teacher ... she gave us an assignment and...”
She trailed off, her gaze drifting over his shoulder. Eddie was standing on the steps of the school, and he had noticed her. He was frowning, beckoning for her to come over to him. In a minute or two, he’d start over here, and then she’d have no choice but to walk home with him. Aislinn began stuffing her sketchpad back into her backpack, while Gabriel walked around her, settling down on his bike.
“You want a ride?” he asked.
The question startled her, and she turned her head to look at him. He’d started up his motorcycle, making it a little difficult to hear, and he was holding out his helmet to her. Aislinn glanced back over her shoulder to see Eddie striding towards them. The scowl on his face was not promising. Again, she turned to Gabriel, who was still waiting, an eyebrow raised inquisitively.
“Yes,” Aislinn said suddenly.
She reached out, taking the helmet with shaking hands, and pulled it on. Eddie was starting to run towards them now. Aislinn slid onto the bike, wrapping her arms around Gabriel’s waist and holding onto him tight. What am I doing? she wondered frantically as Gabriel sped out of the parking space. I don’t know this guy; he’s supposedly a criminal. What is wrong with me? But she didn’t really feel any fear. Turning her head to watch Eddie become smaller and smaller as they raced away, she could feel only a thrill of excitement.
She wasn’t certain for a long time where they were going. When Gabriel finally did pull over, she felt a little sick. Aislinn was not used to motorcycles. She stumbled off and pulled the helmet off, shaking her hair back. With a groan, she slumped down to the sidewalk and sat for long moments, gulping in deep breaths of air to calm her stomach. Gabriel sat down next to her and waited until she lifted her head before speaking.
“So, what was that all about?” he asked.
“Oh, I just ... I didn’t feel like dealing with him today,” Aislinn replied.
Gabriel huffed. “I meant the drawing.”
“Oh!” Aislinn exclaimed softly, her cheeks turning red. “Well, it’s the assignment, you see. Our teacher wanted us to choose an inanimate object. She wants us to spend a month learning everything we can about it.”
“That’s a strange assignment,” Gabriel commented, glancing around. “Come on, get up. I’ll buy you some ice cream; it will cool your stomach.”
Aislinn blinked at him, unable to move. He was scowling at her, his expression impatient, and yet he’d just offered to buy her some ice cream? He’s as mercurial as the sea, she thought, standing up from the sidewalk. I would think he’s trying to be friendly, but he’s glaring at me like I’ve killed someone he loves, or something. She followed Gabriel as he walked into the nearby Friendly’s restaurant. A waitress greeted them cheerfully and took them to a seat in the non-smoking section.
“I gave it up,” Gabriel said quietly, although Aislinn hadn’t actually asked the question.
“That’s good,” Aislinn answered, her voice equally soft and her eyes on the placemat. “It’s such a bad habit, really.”
He gave her an imperceptible nod, then dropped his head to look at the menu. Aislinn shifted uncomfortably on the seat until the waitress came back. Gabriel looked up from the menu at last and motioned for her to order first. He’s polite, even if he does look pissed at me, she thought. Eddie never, ever lets me order first.
“Just a small sundae,” Aislinn said softly. “Chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel.”
“Hunny,” the waitress said, her voice slightly nasally, with what sounded like a Brooklyn accent. “You’re so skinny.” The waitress herself was a bit pudgy. She turned to eye Gabriel. “You should tell your girlfriend to eat more, handsome.”
“We’re not dating,” Aislinn and Gabriel said in unison.
The waitress looked back and forth between them, then shrugged. She took Gabriel’s order (a bacon cheeseburger and a large chocolate milkshake), then left the table. That left them once more in uncomfortable silence, and Aislinn wracked her brain, looking for something to talk about. She cleared her throat, drawing Gabriel’s attention.
“You shouldn’t eat things like that,” she said softly. “It’s really bad for you.”
“Speaking of bad for you,” Gabriel said. “Why the hell are you dating a creep like that? You look too intelligent for someone like him.”
Aislinn was a bit taken aback by that. “Oh, well, we’re not really ... I mean, that is to say, Eddie says we’re dating, but ... I don’t really consider him to be ... we don’t really do things couples do. It’s just something he says.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?” Gabriel asked.
“I don’t know,” Aislinn replied, shrugging. “I guess I don’t pay much attention. It seems so trivial.”
“Your happiness shouldn’t be trivial,” Gabriel said quietly.
Aislinn didn’t know how to respond. Fortunately, she didn’t have to, because the waitress was back with their food. She set Aislinn’s sundae down in front of her, along with a spoon, then put down the plate of food for Gabriel and a giant, overflowing milkshake. Picking up her spoon, Aislinn peered at the cheeseburger. Her parents were health food nuts, and she never ate stuff like that, but it did look kind of tasty.
Gabriel glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow. She looked down, swirling her spoon idly, and shrugged.
“My parents don’t let me eat that sort of thing,” she explained. “I guess I don’t understand the appeal because I’ve never had any of it.”
“Here,” Gabriel said, holding up the cheeseburger.
Aislinn stared at him. He waited for her, much more patiently than she would have expected him to, and she leaned forward, taking a small bite. It was interesting; cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato all on one burger. She sat back, licking a bit of tomato juice from her lips, her expression thoughtful.
“Well?” Gabriel asked.
“It’s good,” she said, smiling shyly. “Although I can’t imagine eating all of that.”
Gabriel chuckled. “I have a healthy appetite. So, tell me about this assignment of yours.”
It was only a small hint of laughter, but it was laughter nonetheless, and it brought a smile to her face. Aislinn had begun to think that Gabriel didn’t have any moods other than angry, impatient, and indifferent. She settled back in the booth, alternating between eating her ice cream and talking about the project her art teacher had assigned to her. Gabriel seemed to be listening to her intently, something that felt odd, but good. Eddie hardly even looked at her when she talked. Suddenly she was glad she’d gone out on a limb and accepted his offer of a ride.
Although he’d enjoyed her company that afternoon, Gabriel wished that Aislinn would loosen her grip just a little. She didn’t seem overly fond of his motorcycle as far as actually riding on it went. So he was glad when they finally pulled up in front of her house. It was a quaint little thing in the middle of the suburbs, perfectly whitewashed with charming dark green shutters and flower boxes beneath the windows. Gabriel guessed that, aside from the flower beds in the front, there was probably a garden in the back. The yard was even surrounded by a white picket fence.
“Nice place,” Gabriel commented dryly.
“If you like postcards,” Aislinn answered as she pulled off the helmet. “It’s cozy and homey, I suppose, but it can feel a little too typical.”
Gabriel chuckled. “Spoken like a true artist.”
Aislinn turned to hand the helmet back to him, and he had to fight a smile. Her hair was badly tousled and her cheeks were red; she looked lovely. He wasn’t really sure what possessed him to speak, but before he knew it, he was talking, silently cursing his wayward mouth.
“Today was my day off, but usually I work in the afternoons,” he explained. “I work at a garage ... fixing cars and motorcycles. If you really want to choose motorcycles for your project, you can visit the garage tomorrow. If you’d like.”
It was a mistake. He never should have said it. The way her pale blue eyes lit up, her lips curving into a smile that made her face glow ... it was too much. For the most part, when he had seen her in the morning, in the few classes they shared, and during their time together this afternoon, she had seemed so quiet and morose. There was true happiness in her expression now.
“That would be perfect!” Aislinn exclaimed. “Wait here, I’m going to go ask my parents if it’s okay!”
Before he could stop her, she was racing into the house. Gabriel groaned and sat back, pulling on his helmet. That was really stupid, he thought. I shouldn’t be getting involved with a little goody-two-shoes like her. He was going to just leave, before she came back out, but movement at the corner of his vision caught his attention. Eddie was watching him from the driveway of the house next door, leaning against a little red sports car with the same air of possession he’d used with Aislinn. That decided him; Gabriel wasn’t going anywhere.
When Aislinn came back out, she seemed more alive than he had ever seen her. She practically skipped down the front walkway to where he sat, waiting. If she noticed Eddie glaring at them both, she didn’t show it.
“They said it was okay,” she said breathlessly, gracing him with a dazzling smile.
“Good,” Gabriel said. “Dress in old clothes tomorrow. I’ll get you some coveralls that will fit you, but there’s no reason to risk it.”
Aislinn nodded. “Okay. And ... thanks so much, Gabriel! You know, everyone was saying today that you were cold and scary, but I don’t think you are at all.”
Gabriel didn’t know how to respond to that, and fortunately he didn’t have to. Aislinn skipped back into her house, humming cheerfully to herself. In a way, he was relieved that she was gone, and yet he was also disappointed. There was definitely more there than he had first assumed; intelligence and creativity, yes, but naiveté, kindness, innocence, and playfulness. So many things that had been overshadowed by Eddie, and who knew how long that had been going on.
Sparing a last lopsided grin for Eddie, who was still glaring, Gabriel finally started up his bike and drove away. I’m asking for trouble with this one, he thought, sighing inwardly. Why should I care about that girl or her stupid project? But when she’d looked him in the eye earlier in the day, and welcomed him to the school, he’d felt a sudden surge of protectiveness. The only other woman to ever have earned his protectiveness had been his younger sister. But he’d failed to protect her, and now she was dead. Just one afternoon, Gabriel thought. I’ll take her with me tomorrow because I already said I would, but after that ... it’s better for both of us if I stay out of her life.
Chapter 3: Engines and Grease
Aislinn sat on the steps in front of the school, her eyes trained on the parking lot, her sketchpad forgotten in her lap. As Gabriel had told her, she had worn a pair of faded old jeans with holes at the knees, a plain black T-shirt that was a little tighter on her than she was comfortable with (she’d had it since she was twelve), and a pair of scuffed-up work boots that she wore when working in the garden. Even though the bus had dropped her off only moments ago (she’d refused a ride from Eddie), she was beginning to panic. What if he doesn’t come? Aislinn thought. Would he do that? They say he was in jail ... maybe he’s mean, maybe he likes to see people sad...
The thoughts were ridiculous, and she shoved them away. She didn’t know why she was getting so worked up about this, and decided that it was only because she wanted to do well on her assignment. However, a thrill went through her when she heard the roaring of a motorcycle, and she turned her head to see Gabriel driving into the parking lot. Aislinn tucked her sketchpad away and stood up. Before she could move forward even a step, though, someone grabbed her from behind.
“Where do you think you’re going?” She heard Eddie demand.
Aislinn struggled against his hold. “Hey, let go! Knock it off, Eddie!”
“I won’t have you parading around with that grease ball punk,” Eddie growled. “You’re mine! You can’t be hanging around other guys like a ho!”
“I am not!” Aislinn exclaimed, horrified. “I don’t belong to you, and I can hang around anyone I want! Now let me go!”
“Do as the girl says.”
The soft, deep voice had a dangerous edge. Aislinn lifted her head to see Gabriel, feet braced, arms folded across his chest, face fixed in a scowl. She felt the tension in the air, so thick you could cut it with a knife, as he and Eddie glared at each other. Finally, Eddie let her go, pushing her away violently. As he stomped into the school, Aislinn stumbled, windmilling wildly to keep her feet. Gabriel closed the distance between them in two quick strides and caught her before she fell.
“Are you all right?” Gabriel asked, keeping a firm hold on her while she got her bearings.
“I think so,” Aislinn answered quietly, straightening and pulling out of his grip. “I mean, yeah. I’ll be fine.”
She brushed strands of hair that had come loose from her braid away from her face and picked up her backpack. As she headed into the school, Gabriel walked beside her, shortening his stride to match hers.
“Why do you let him treat you like that?” He asked.
“Eddie and I have been friends since we were little,” Aislinn said quietly. “He’s just been going through a phase. He’ll get over it.”
Gabriel glanced at her skeptically but didn’t express whatever was on his mind. It wasn’t any of his business anyway, Aislinn thought. I’ve known Eddie a long time, and I certainly know him better than an ex-convict. She immediately felt guilty for the thought.
If he noticed her strange unease, Gabriel said nothing. He walked with her until she reached her locker, then walked away to head to his own. He hadn’t said anything about this afternoon, Aislinn thought. I really hope he hasn’t changed his mind. Her momentary thoughts rarely stuck with her; she was no longer thinking of the time he’d spent in jail. Gabriel was nice. Maybe not to other people, but to her. He just didn’t know Eddie, so of course she couldn’t blame him for his assumption.
Gabriel sat on his bike, waiting. Judging by the state of the clothes she’d been wearing this morning, Astrid hadn’t had a change of mind. He’d almost been hoping that she would, until he’d arrived to find Eddie holding onto her, speaking to her like she was some kind of possession. Why does she let him get away with it? he wondered. Well, they’ve been friends since childhood, she must have some kind of blind spot. Gabriel, however, had no such problem, and he relished the idea of making Eddie jealous. He only hoped he wouldn’t take it out on Aislinn.
The sound of running footsteps caught his attention, and he looked up. Aislinn was running across the parking lot, glancing over her shoulder time and again like an escaping convict. Gabriel chuckled, reaching back to retrieve the helmet for her while he waited for her to reach him. She pulled to a halt in front of him, bracing her hands on her thighs, taking a moment to catch her breath.
“Ais, get back here!”
Aislinn lifted her head at the shout and groaned. Gabriel peered over his shoulder to see Eddie striding towards them. The man’s persistence, I’ll give him that, he thought, holding out the helmet for Aislinn. She took it and pulled it on, then climbed up on the motorcycle behind him. Lifting his hand to wave to Eddie, Gabriel started up his motorcycle and raced out of the parking lot, just as he’d done the day before. He could hear Aislinn’s laughter, even over the wind and the roar of the bike.
It wasn’t a long ride to the garage where he worked, but Aislinn still stumbled drunkenly when she climbed down off the bike.
“You’ll get used to it,” Gabriel said, chuckling softly.
Aislinn grinned sheepishly. “I don’t think I will. So, this is where you work, right?”
“Yeah,” Gabriel replied. “Come on, first let’s find you some coveralls, before we do anything else.”
With his bike secure, Gabriel led Aislinn into the garage. It was loud inside, and his boss, Tifo, was shouting at someone. Probably the new guy, he thought, shaking his head. He led Aislinn into the small room in the back, crammed with a few dented, rusty old lockers and a sink that spat out water that was only slightly cleaner than grease. Gabriel pulled his coveralls from his locker, then paused, wondering what to do. He finally stuck his head out of the door, raising his voice to be heard.
“Hey, Tifo, man!” He shouted. “You’re about the same size as my guest! Let her use your spare!”
“Are you crazy?” Tifo demanded, then paused. “Wait, did you say ‘her’? You got a girl over there?”
Gabriel rolled his eyes as Tifo trotted into the back room. He was small, only an inch or so taller than Aislinn, who was probably about five four if Gabriel had to guess. However, Tifo was stocky and muscular. His thick biceps were covered with tattoos. His face was narrow and angular, showing a little bit of Latino heritage, and he wore a long goatee split into two braids. Gabriel had met him in jail.
“Welllll...” Tifo said, grinning. “She’s cute, Gabe, real cute. Looks too innocent for your tastes, though. Not your normal, that’s for sure.”
Gabriel sighed. “Just let her use the damn coveralls.”
“Sure thing,” Tifo clucked, pulling open his locker. He pulled out a pair of grease-stained orange coveralls and tossed them to her. “Here you go, sweetcheeks. Don’t distract my boy from his work.”
Aislinn caught the coveralls, giggling. Tifo winked at her and waggled his eyebrows lasciviously, then left to attend to the new guy, shouting at the poor kid the whole walk back to him. Gabriel waited while Aislinn climbed into the coveralls. They were still rather large on her, and she had to roll up the bottoms of the legs and sleeves. Eyebrows raised, she turned to him and held her arms out for inspection.
“Well?” Aislinn asked.
“Stylin’,” Gabriel replied, grinning.
“Thanks,” Astrid said. Her shy smile turned into a sly grin. “So, what’s your ‘normal’ ... Gabe?”
“That’s another habit I gave up,” Gabriel told her, ruffling her hair. “Come on... ‘sweetcheeks’ ... let’s get to work.”
The afternoon passed disappointingly quickly for Gabriel. Aislinn had started off by drawing some quick sketches of his bike and several others that were in the shop, while he worked on the things that needed to be done the most. Afterwards, he began to teach her, slowly, about each part of the motorcycle and why it was there. He had to laugh, watching her take notes. Gabriel thought it was adorable, if a little bit excessive. But she was attentive and bright, and learned quickly.
The engine in his motorcycle fascinated her, so he brought her over to where Tifo was working on the engine of a car. The motor was running, for the moment, and Gabriel brought Aislinn over there to have a quick peek at what it looked like. The problem he’d been having, all afternoon in fact, was that there was something oddly sexy about a small, innocent young woman in oversized coveralls. He’d been watching her more than he was proud of, and as she leaned over, he couldn’t help but look. It turned out to be fortunate that he was; when Aislinn lost her balance and started to fall forward, Gabriel reacted instinctively, throwing his arms around her and pulling her away.
They landed together on the floor a few feet away, and Gabriel had to brace himself to keep his weight off of her. He could feel her shaking and could feel her heart pounding furiously. His own was in his throat, thumping loudly. Sitting back on his heels, he pulled her up with him, and froze. Gabriel had just thrown his arms around her haphazardly, and beneath his hand, he could feel the soft mound of her breast. Pushing her away, he forced himself to his feet. I’m not going to apologize, he thought. I didn’t do it on purpose.
But Aislinn didn’t say anything about it. She pushed herself to her feet and turned to face him, her cheeks a little red.
“Thanks,” Aislinn said softly. “Seems like you’re saving me a lot lately.”
Gabriel chuckled. “You should be more careful.”
“I know,” Aislinn said. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”
Gabriel shook his head. At least now he knew better than to show her any running engines. At that moment, Tifo came over, telling him he was already running fifteen minutes over and he’d better not expect overtime for it. So he and Aislinn went into the back room, washing their hands as best they could in the grubby water that spurted from the sink, and pulling off their coveralls. Gabriel noticed the expression on Aislinn’s face as she studied the grease beneath her nails. Someone has a bit of princess in her, he thought, laughing to himself.
“Ready to go?” Gabriel asked.
Aislinn nodded. “You bet. I’m starving! Hey, why don’t you stay for dinner?”
“Uh, no,” Gabriel said, shaking his head. “I smell like grease.”
“So do I,” Aislinn pointed out.
“It’s your house,” Gabriel reminded her. “You can smell however you like.”
She continued to try to convince him until they were on his motorcycle once more, and she couldn’t be heard easily over the engine and the wind. Maybe if circumstances were different, he would have been able to accept her offer. But Gabriel didn’t think her parents would approve too much of him, and he didn’t feel like sitting through a dinner with them. Besides, he was still feeling a little uncomfortable from the earlier incident, even though she hadn’t said anything.
It was getting dark when he pulled up in front of Aislinn’s house. She slid off the bike, stumbling a lot less this time, and pulled off her helmet. Her braid was a complete mess, strands sticking out wildly here and there, and grease smudged her face and fingers. However, when she smiled at him, he didn’t notice any of that.
“Thanks so much, Gabriel,” Aislinn said. “That was a lot of fun! You’re a good teacher ... I’ve already learned a lot.”
“Good, I’m glad,” Gabriel told her. “Um ... you know ... I’m sure Tifo wouldn’t mind if ... you know ... if you came again.”
Aislinn’s eyes lit up. “Could I really? Really!?”
“Yeah,” Gabriel answered, smiling. “Sure.”
He was nearly thrown off his bike as she hugged him enthusiastically. Unsure what to do, Gabriel sat still while she clung to him, waiting for her to let go. When she did let go at last, she paused, her head tilted slightly to the side, a curious expression on her face. Aislinn surprised him by leaning over and kissing him gently on the cheek. As she sprinted into her house, he could only stare, a slight, crooked smile on his lips. She makes a complete fool out of me, Gabriel thought. To think I used to be a hardened criminal.
“Don’t you even think about moving in on my girl.”
Gabriel sighed and turned his head to glare at Eddie. He was not in the mood for the idiot right now. Pulling on his helmet, he started up the bike, ready to just drive off.
“She’s too good for you, trailer trash!” Eddie shouted above the roar of the engine.
Gabriel flipped up his visor. “I know that.” He said calmly. “But she’s too good for you, too.”
He dropped his visor again, revving up his motor so that Eddie’s next words were drowned out. She’s too good for both of us, Gabriel thought as he drove away, leaving Eddie in the dust, cursing furiously. But I’ll bet I’ve touched her more than you have. The thought made him grin. Okay, so maybe it had been an accidental touch, but it was probably still more than Eddie had ever had the chance for. Gabriel had the feeling that his little artist had more fire than she let on, and he could bet she packed quite a punch.
Aislinn sat on her bed, running a brush slowly through her damp hair. Her head was a whirlwind of thoughts. It had been easy, during dinner, to brush those thoughts away and focus on telling her parents about the day (except for the motor incident). But now, alone in her room, her mind had gone back to earlier, when Gabriel had pulled her away from the running engine. His hand had been on her breast. She knew it wasn’t on purpose, but the memory made her shiver.
Eddie had tried, on more than one occasion, to touch her. When firm ‘no’s were not enough anymore, she’d moved to firm punches in the stomach. Of course, she’d only had to do that once. But those times Aislinn had not wanted to be touched. When Gabriel’s hand had been on her, she hadn’t said anything, because she hadn’t wanted him to move it. The thought excited her and terrified her at the same time. He must not have noticed, though, because he’d said nothing.
Pulling her shirt away from her body, Aislinn peered down the front of it. Well, who would notice these things, anyway? she wondered. They’re so small he most likely didn’t know that they’re my breasts. She was a small B, and Eddie had always complained about how her breasts were too small. She wondered if Gabriel thought they were too small, too. I hope not, Aislinn thought. It was another one of those scary thoughts, and she forced all of them to the back of her mind as she crawled under the covers, so she could get some sleep.
Over the next month, Aislinn became a regular sight at the garage. She became fast friends with Tifo and several of the other workers. Tifo spent a good deal of time yelling at them for shirking their work to watch Aislinn draw the bikes (mostly Gabriel’s) until he was caught watching himself. There were no more incidents like the one with the engine, either. And although he remained cool and distant to everyone else at school, Gabriel warmed up to Aislinn as much as he ever had to anyone else (which admittedly wasn’t much).
It was the day before she was to turn in her project, and he’d noticed that she seemed to be a little bit gloomy about something. As she climbed down off of his bike (much easier than she had a month earlier), Gabriel reached out and grabbed her wrist. Aislinn turned back to him, forcing a smile to her face.
“What’s the matter?” Gabriel asked. “You’ve been down all day.”
Aislinn shrugged. “I ... I don’t know ... it’s just ... well, this is the last day of the project and ... I’ve been enjoying myself so much and ... I’ve made friends ... I...”
“Hey, calm down,” Gabriel said, smiling. “Don’t worry about it. I think Tifo will kill me if I don’t bring you back to visit.”
“Oh,” Aislinn said.
Gabriel frowned. “There’s something else bothering you.”
Aislinn fidgeted beneath his gaze. Whatever it was that was bothering her, it was making her cheeks turn pink. Gabriel gave her wrist a gentle tug, pulling her closer to him. She looked up, flashing a wan smile, but it faded instantly. With a sigh, she gave a slight nod and began to speak.
“Eddie tried to kiss me last night,” she explained. “I stopped him, though. I don’t want him to kiss me.”