Car troubles

"Why? Why won't my car start!?" I'm crying and screaming in my car. "I'm going to be so late!"

I keep turning the key and it clicks once. Why? Again just a single click. What's wrong?! I can't fix this. I don't have the money. I begin sobbing on my steering wheel.

Pull yourself together Katie. It's better to show up late then not at all. It's not that far of a walk. Just 5 miles. I can do that. Maybe. 

It feels like forever but I just make it past Tate's house. His truck was there but I don't know him that well to bother him. I mean I could trade baking him something but I don't have a lot of things at home I can bake with either. I keep walking. It'll work out.

Not long before I hear a truck slowing down behind me. I step off to the side for it to pass but it slows down beside me. Tate is leaning over to hand crank the window down. His smiling face pops up.

"Heading to work?" He asks.

"Y-yea I'm off to work." I try smiling back to hide the pain in my legs from walking faster then I'm use to.

"I don't blame you for walking this morning, it's beautiful out." He says looking out the windows of his old truck.

"Yea. It's beautiful out." I say out of breath and I can feel the sweat starting to accumulate. 

"Katie?" He asks firmly.

"W-what?" Did I do something wrong?

"Is your car broke down? Do you need a ride to work?" Tate tips his head.

"Psshhh. I'm fine. Totally. Fine." Gosh it's hard to breath.

"Come on, get in." He parks the truck.

"I can't ask you-" I try pleading with him.

"I'm heading to town anyways." Tate waves me up.

I look down the road then up at the truck. I might as well.

"Thank you." I say quietly as I climb up inside.

"You're welcome." He smiles. He had a white t-shirt with some greese and paint stains and faded blue jeans on today.

"You ah, work today?" I ask.

"Yea but the motor brushes are going out on my dryer so I have to drop it off to Mike for a rebuild. Luckily I have a back up one and my 8 o-clock canceled so I have a moment before my 9:30 shows up."

"Ah. That's good you have a back up." I reply. He talks like I should know Mike or dryer repairs.

"When do you get off?" Tate asks.

"I uh... Why do you want to know?" I can't tell him when I get off. With everything he has been doing I'm sure he will try to drive me home.

"Well if it's real late it's best you don't walk down our road." His face gets a little dark.

"W-why is that?" I ask.

"The wolves that run the woods are said not to be scared of humans is all. Better safe than sorry thing." He says trying to lighten the mood.

We make it to my job, I thank him for driving me then he follows me inside saying he wants to grab some pie if they have it. I hurry into the back but can hear the conversation up front.

"Hey Becca, when does Katie get off." Tate asks Becca at the diner's bar.

"Can't tell you that. Not after Milly had the stalker guy." Becca replies wrapping silverware.

"You know I'm not crazy. You've known me my whole life!" Tate exclaims.

"All the more reason to keep her away from you mutt! If she didn't tell you. I can't tell you." Becca is holding her ground.

"That was low... Come on. Her car won't start-"

"Then I can drive her home. She is working a double today anyways. Now knowing you, you're fully booked on this lovely Wednesday so you better go tater tot!" The tease in Becca's voice was thick.

Tate does a fake laugh and I hear the chime to the door go off. I make my way out to the front to help with set up before the lunch rush.

"I'm sorry for being late." I apologize to Becca who was working the front by herself.

"Ehh it wasn't busy. So your car won't start?" She asks.

"Yea. I'm not sure what's wrong with it." I reply helping wrap silverware. Wait when did I tell Tate my car wouldn't start? Maybe he just assumed.

"That sucks. Since you are working a double do you want me to swing by and let Jax out?" Becca asks.

"I can't ask you to-"

"You want him to be upset about messing on the floor again?" Becca side eyes me.

"No." I agree to let her walk him.

"So. You and Tater tot?" Becca looks at me slyly.

"He... He's just being nice right?" I ask. Becca has been kind to me since I moved here. Like a friend or at least what a friend would be like I think. I never really had any.

"Yea he is being nice to you." She says with a small smile.

"Y-you seem close with him." I say.

"Yea we are practically siblings with how much our families drag us around to everything." Becca replies before going to help a customer.

The rest of the day goes fine. I gave Becca my keys once she got off work. I finish my second shift and Becca drives me home. I walk Jax in the yard before heading to bed with Jax.

I wake up and head to the kitchen. Through the back windows I see my car hood up. Someone in jeans is leaning over the cars engine. Tate stands up, shirtless again, he waves to me. 

"I replaced your starter. Do you want to try starting her up?" Tate says smiling while wiping greese from his hands with a red cloth.

Jax starts barking and wanting out. 

"Jax at what point is it being too nice?" I ask my boy.