Passage 2

Wish always drove alone. It gave her time to think and process the events of the day. Unfortunately, that meant she was alone when it broke down on the side of the road. 

"Looks like the radiator," The tow truck driver said. 

"Is that bad?" Asked Wish, who knew next to nothing about cars. 

"Not too, it can be fixed. You got a good mechanic?" 

"No... I mean, I don't know. Is there a good one around here?" 

"Sure, I'll take you to Michael's place! Best mechanic around here. Hop in, I'll give you a lift." 

"Really?" Wish asked. "Oh, thank you!" 

She rode to the mechanic in worried silence. This was a mistake she hadn't expected from the day. Her father would be furious at her for being late! But she was grateful the tow truck driver knew a place where she could get her car fixed. 

Grateful, at least, until she saw that sign. 

"Wait, Michael Pirson's?" 

"Yes, I believe that is his last name. I've only ever called him Michael when they lived here," The diver responded. "Is that a problem?" 

"Yes! I mean, no..." 

"His brother runs the place now. He'll fix your car up, no problem, miss." 

"Yes, I know... I just... I knew Michael's son." 

"Jason? Good kid, strange name. Well, here we are!" 

Wish paid the diver and thanked him, leaving the truck. 

The old shop was a little run down, with its rusty neon sign still proudly proclaiming, "Michael's Mechanics". She hadn't realized until then how much she'd missed the place. She'd used to escape here, as a kid. Something about the dirty, oily floors and rows of tools was magical for a kid, especially a kid who just lost her mother. 

She watched her car being unloaded into the garage. As she did, she picked up some kind of car tool. She wasn't sure what it was, but it felt smooth and heavy in her hands. 

"You're holding it wrong." 

Wish dropped the tool, and it clattered to the floor. Her eyes were huge, and her mouth was open. 

"Good to see you too, Wish," Jason smiled. 

"Um... wait, what are you doing here?!" She demanded. 

"Fixing your car, apparently." Jason said, moving smoothly over to the car.

"No, I meant... You moved away with your dad and your sister then years ago. Why are you back?" 

"Haven moved to an apartment with one of her friends. I came back to take over the shop." 

"What about your uncle?" 

Jason shrugged. "He's been stuck here long enough. He's got his own life, you know?" 

Jason popped the hood and started working on her car. 

"So..." 

"So?" He asked, his voice muffled by the car. 

"So, do I get an apology?" Wish asked, crossing her arms. 

"For what?" Jason asked, turning from the car with a laugh. 

"Hmm, I don't know, maybe for leaving? With no goodbye? To New York? For ten years?!" Wish scoffed, her voice angry. 

"I left a note," Jason offered lamely. Wish was not convinced. 

"Honestly, Glace, after all we've been through together-" 

"What? All what, Wish? Meeting the hospital, both our mother's dying? Going to their funerals together? Both of us dealing with our dads, both of us grieving? That's no kind of relationship and you know it." Jason said finally, turning back to the car. 

Wish was surprised but still angry. 

"So, what, you come crawling back with your tail between your legs after all this time? Couldn't make it in New York? Pathetic." 

Jason turned back around, completely done with the conversation. 

"Wish, I'm happy to see you, really. But whatever we had is over, ok? I got over it a long time ago. I thought you did too." 

"Then why are you back here!" Wish yelled. 

"Because my dad died! He left the shop to me in his will. I had to come back! If it was up to me, I'd be on the other side of the world! Believe me, I never wanted to see you again!" Jason yelled, burying his face in the engine. 

Wish didn't say another word as Jason finished her car. He didn't speak either. Wish had never expected to see him again but, now that she had, she was surprised at how many walls had grown between them over the years. 

As for Jason, he was drained from the whole experience. He'd intended not to see Wish until he had to, and he certainly wasn't expecting it tonight. 

"It's done," He said after a while. "No charge." 

"I can pay-" 

"I said no charge." 

Wish decided to swallow her pride. 

"Thank you." 

"You're welcome." 

Jason tossed her the keys, and Wish got inside. As she was pulling away, she leaned out the window. 

"Jason." 

"Yeah?" He asked. 

"I'm sorry about your dad." 

"Me too," He replied. And Wish drove away.