Free His Number One Fan by Danyell Wallace

continue my way down then I make a slight right and I keep driving until Mason's grandma's house comes into view. I pull up into the yard and park beside Mason's car. I cut the engine and I sit there for a minute realizing that it was possible that his grandma wasn't home. I get out and l look around the yard and I start walking around the house where I would hopefully find Mason.
     
    A small white barn that could use a paint job comes into view. The large wooden doors were wide open and the sound of blues music could be heard. An older model Honda sat in the space with its hood popped up. As I get closer I can see Mason's shirtless form working underneath it. He had on a pair of old ripped jeans, work boots, and he had areas on his body that were covered in oil and sweat.
     
    “Shit!” He yells.  The rag he had in his hand was thrown to the ground. He looks up and sees he has an audience now. “Nyla?”
     
    “Hey.” I walk around to get a better view of what he was working on. “I see you got your tire fixed.”
     
    “Yeah a buddy of mine hooked my car up to his truck and brought it here for me. I just finished replacing the tire.” He responds.
     
    “So this must be your sister's car. Do you need any help?”
     
    He stands there looking at the sundress I had on before answering me. “You probably should take that dress off. I would hate to see what a little oil and sweat will do to it.”
     
    “I think I'll keep it on.”
     
    “Just know I gave you a fair warning. If anything gets on that cute little dress of yours. It’s not my fault.” With one more quick perusal of my body he turns his attention back to his task at hand. Giving me a back view of his body.
     
    My eyes trail over the muscles in his back and arms, and I watch as they tighten with every movement.
     
    “So what brings you here? Did you miss me that much that you couldn't wait until I got back?”
     
    I couldn't help the laugh that slips from my mouth.
     
    “Actually I wanted to see how your grandma was feeling. Is she home?”
     
    He turns his head and looks over his shoulder at me. He looks at me for several quiet moments before turning around again to his work. “She’s inside getting her rest. Doc prescribed some more medication and told her she needs to stay in bed.”
     
    “Did they say anything else?”
     
    “If they did she didn't tell me. Can you pass me that flash light and wrench that's behind you on that table?”
     
    I turn around and grab both items off the table and I hand them to him.
     
    “So what's the problem?” I ask referring to the car.
     
    “Nothing.  Now that I've fixed it. I'm changing the oil now and I'm just making sure everything else looks fine.”
     
    “Do you have a lot of other jobs lined up?”
     
    “Not really. I've turned a lot of jobs down. Most of my time has been spent with the band, since we have the tour coming up.”
     
    “So when you're not working. How are you...”
     
    “What paying the bills?” He asks with irritation in his voice.
     
    “I didn't mean it like that. You told me that you support your grandma and sister. I know it has to be tough.”
     
    “What do you know about struggling? I bet your parents get you anything you want. Including that dress you have on.”
     
    “I'm not some rich girl that gets whatever she wants. Yes, my parents have money but that doesn't mean I see a dime of it! Matter of fact I've worked my ass off to get the scholarships I've earned to put me through to the school of my choice. The day I told my parents that I didn't want to go to their alma mater. They told me I would have to figure out a way to pay for it. So I did.”
     
    “And what does that have to do with struggling? Huh?”
     
    “You know what? Fuck you Mason! I'm leaving. I have plans with Caleb anyway.”
     
    “Well I hope you're going home to change first.”
     
    “What's wrong with what I have on?”
     
    “It's dirty.” He responds.
     
    I look down at