"Let me look at you again."
Maya and I sat in her car outside of the Kennedy Institute.
Today was the day.
This interview would determine whether I got into the program or whether I went to school at all. Needless to say, I'm nervous as hell.
Maya fussed with my hair. She was just as nervous as I was if not more. We'd been living together for a few weeks, and things are great between us. We learned something new about each other every day. In the last few weeks, I've learned that Maya is terrified of bugs, like standing on top of the toilet seat to get away from a spider terrified. Oh, that was a fun morning.
As happy as Maya is about me living there, I don't think anyone is as happy as Charlie. Every morning, I wake up to him curled up on my chest. It can be kind of a pain; he's gotten fat over the last few months.
"There," Maya said, sitting back. "You look great."
"Thanks," I breathed, looking up at the building. The modern building sat on its own concrete plot in the middle of Glendale. It was much smaller than East Chapel, but that's one of the things I liked about it.
Maya reached over her center console, threading her fingers through mine. She drove me here for moral support, you know. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to sell all the other cars, and buy a new SUV. A little early birthday gift to myself.
"Everything is going to be great, they're going to love you."
"How do you know?" I asked, nervously. I tossed and turned all night thinking about today. I want this so badly, it just seems like the perfect fit. I can't even imagine going anywhere else.
"Because you're the best," she shrugged. "And I love you, and I'm a pretty hard sell."
I pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. "I love you too."
Grinning, she asked, "When you get in we're going to celebrate, what do you want? You can have anything you want."
"Something that's not Thanksgiving leftovers," I said jokingly.
"Yes." Squeezing my cheek, she said, "No more Thanksgiving leftovers."
"Or birthday cake?"
"Or birthday cake." With my birthday being so close to Thanksgiving we did it in one fell swoop. It was definitely the most festive birthday I've ever had, turkey and birthday cake is a strange, but delicious combination. As much as I loved Maya's homemade cake and the green bean casserole I made, I'm ready for something new.
"More for me then," she hummed. "So what do you want?"
I thought about it for a moment, "I want a cheeseburger."
"That's it?"
"And chili cheese fries. And a waffle. And a milkshake."
She nodded, laughing. "Interesting combination, but I think we can do that."
"And if I don't get in?" I asked already expecting the worst.
"That's not going to happen," Maya assured me. "There is no if, or won't, because you will. And when that happens you will have a cheeseburger, chili cheese fries, a waffle, and a milkshake." She pulled me towards her giving me a kiss, "Everything is going to be okay."
I glanced at the time on the radio. Nine-forty five, my interview is at ten. "I should go. I don't want to be late."
"You're going to blow them away. I'll be waiting here when you get done."
I gave her a goodbye kiss before stepping out into the cold. Though the snow was nothing but dirty icy clumps in the grass, it still felt like it was below freezing outside.
Maya likes snow. No, she loves snow. So much so that she made get out of bed at two a.m to go stand in the freshly fallen snow. We're going to New York in a few weeks, and I hope it snows for her.
With my hands in my coat pockets, I shuffled to the door trying my best not to slip on any patches of ice.
The inside was cooler than I expected it to be. The front door opened to a large hallway of heavy looking metal doors. Each with a number spray painted on the front, and a small window so you could see inside the classroom. There were no classes in session since it was Saturday, but that didn't stop me from peeking in the windows anyway. They were full of equipment that I itched to touch. They were things that I didn't have, that I didn't know how to use, and seeing them only solidified that I had to go here.
I was still peering in the classroom windows when a voice came from behind me. "Can I help you?"
Startled, I spun around. A short dark-haired woman stood behind me. She wore a bright, multi-colored jumpsuit and shiny silver earrings hung from her ears like tiny chandeliers.
"I--I, uh, I have an interview today," I stammered.
Her eyes lit up. "Oh, you must be Nick Ainsworth. We've been expecting you." She held out her hand for me to shake. "I'm Rebecca, I'll show you the way."
"It's nice to meet you, Rebecca."
I followed behind Rebecca as she led me down the hall and into a warm office space. "I was surprised to see that we had an interview today." She sat at her large wood desk. "He never schedules appointments on Saturdays." He.
Okay, so my interview is with a man. Only a small detail, but a little something was better than nothing.
"Have a seat, I'll let you know when he's ready."
"Okay," I breathed, going to sit in one of the chairs against the wall. My leg bounced anxiously as I waited to be called back. I was so nervous, I was afraid I was going to be sick.
I ran my hands through my hair messing up all of Maya's hard work. I rushed to fix it, but it was hard without a mirror.
"Nick," Rebecca said over the counter.
"Yes," I answered, alert.
"You can go in now."
I nodded. Standing up straight, I wiped the sweat from my palms on my slacks. They were Maya's idea, the sweater too. It was navy and it felt like a blanket. She told me I looked handsome, and that's really the only thing I needed to hear.
"And hey," Rebecca stopped me before I went into the meeting room. "Don't be nervous."
That's easier said than done.
I pushed open the office door; my heart beating out of my chest. A man in a black sweater and khaki pants stood at the large window his back turned to me. He was average height and his dark hair was slicked back.
The door closed behind me with a loud click. The man finally turned to face me.
"Troy," I asked shocked. "You--you work here. Are you like a teacher or something?" Maybe Car World is just a second job, but he's always there...like, always.
He walked around the desk, shoving his hands in his pockets as he leaned against it. "Not exactly," he hummed. "I'm the founder."
"The founder?" My head was spinning. Troy, the guy who stocks motor oil, founded the Kennedy Automotive Institute. There's really no surprises left in this world.
Instead of answering the question, he laughed. "You should see the look on your face right now." He opened his jaw, mocking me. Laughing, he said, "You look like I told you I was Santa Clause."
I shook my head, "I'm sorry, this is all so...so... mind-boggling."
"I understand." He leaned against his desk with a sigh. "Finding out the guy who helps you pick out leather upholstery founded a college can boggle the brain."
"So do you work at Car World for fun?"
"Oh no I own that too," he said, nonchalantly. "Or all of them I should say. Fun fact: Car World is a chain."
Amazed, I asked."How do you have the time? Do you sleep?" Now that my insomnia had slacked off I've realized that sleep takes up a lot of time, eight hours if you do it right.
"Yes, I sleep," he smirked, running a hand over his goatee. "I'm only at the store a few days a week, and I pop in here in the mornings to make sure everything is running smoothly."
My brows knitted together confused. "But why work there if you don't have to?"
He shrugged. "It's fun. And I get to know my customers better." He gestured toward me. "Look at us we've come full circle, but I have to say I was surprised when you told me you were applying here. I know it must have been shocking for your parents when they found out you didn't want to go to Harvard or something."
"Uh, sort of. My dad thinks I'm an idiot for not wanting to follow in his footsteps and open hotels."
"My old man was the same way," he nodded. "Granted it took me a while to find my way to this."
"How did you find your way to this, exactly?" This was my college interview and I was asking him most of the questions.
"Rehab," he answered bluntly. "Typical answer right, finding your divine purpose in a rehabilitation center." He went on. "But I wouldn't change it. You see I was like you."
"Like me?"
"Well, not just like you, you seem to be a lot smarter than I was. A lot more...sure. I didn't know what I was doing." He huffed thinking of his past self. "I just did what I thought I should be doing, what my father wanted me to do, so I went to Harvard, just like him. I was going to be an investor like my dad, the next Warren Buffett, or whatever. But I was also going to do every drug I could get my hands on along the way. It took two previous rehab stints, and an overdose, to get me to want to get clean. I was at my third, and final, rehab. It was smaller, more intensive, than the other ones I had been too. It was stricter too, they actually required something of me, and that included mandatory classes."
"Why would they make you take classes?" I asked fully engrossed in his story. I took a seat in one of his plush office chairs, my coat resting on my lap.
"So we could find a better coping mechanism than say popping half a bottle of pills or drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels." He took a deep breath, "Pottery wasn't really my style so I picked auto shop, and I fell in love."
Troy sighed wistfully. "It's my first love, really. But don't tell my wife I said that."
I chuckled. "I won't."
"Good, Rebecca would have my head if she found out."
"Rebecca? Like the lady at the desk?"
"Lady at the desk," he laughed. "She'll get a kick out of that, but yeah, that's my darling wife."
"Does she work at Car World too?"
"Oh, no, she would never. Just here. I met her at the first shop I worked at." he smiled to himself. "She hated me. Thought I was an entitled prick, her words not mine, but I eventually wore her down. And once she got to know me, she couldn't resist my charm. What about you are you married?" He looked in a plain manila folder, "It doesn't say you're married on your application."
"No, I'm only eighteen." Only eighteen and a week really.
"You'd be surprised, I've had guys and girls your age come through here with spouses and kids."
"Well, I'm not. I do have a girlfriend, but we're not engaged or anything." Maya would probably have a heart attack if I proposed to her. Me telling her I love her almost sent her over the edge, I don't want to think about what an engagement ring would do.
"Look, Nick, I know you know your shit. You've spent thousands of dollars in my store, a good chunk of it in the last few months, but I want to know why you want to come here."
"Because I want to learn." It was simple. "For as long as I can remember, I've wanted every car I've laid my eyes on. No matter the condition, good or bad, I wanted to make them better. And so far, I've done a pretty good job, but I can do better. I want to do better. No, I want to be perfect." I took a deep breath. "I can't do it on my own, I've taught myself as much as I can through books and youtube videos, I need help."
For a moment, Troy was quiet, thinking.
Clapping his hands together he said, "Okay, you're in."
I felt all the air leave my body. "I'm in."
"Yeah, I was planning to let you in regardless, but I had to ask to make sure you didn't think this was an easy way out of a four-year degree. This isn't going to be easy, Nick. It's going to be frustrating and dirty. You're going to get very oily and gross, so warn your girlfriend."
"Oh, she'll be fine." My excitement threatened to boil over, I couldn't even think about Maya being upset over my oily sneakers. I just got into my dream school. "I know it's going to be hard, but I'm willing to do what it takes."
"I look forward to teaching you."
I shook his hand, fervently. "I can't wait."
"I love how that car turned out," he complimented. "I bet it looks even better in person."
"Oh, do you want to see it?" I offered without a thought. "My girlfriend is outside with the car, you should come to check it out."
"I would love too. Let me just tell Rebecca."
We left Troy's office, he was excited to see my work and I was even more excited to show him.
Rebecca sat at the desk, playing one of those candy games on her phone. Saturdays must be slow for them.
She turned towards us, setting her phone down. "Oh, you've finished already." She looked down at her watch, "I thought it would at least be thirty more minutes."
"No, Rebecca," Troy clapped me on the shoulder, "This one was easy."
"That's great." Unexpectedly, she hugged me. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," I grinned, hugging her back.
"Where are you going?" she asked turning her attention to Troy who was rifling through the desk drawers. "You won't find any candy the kids ate them all."
He scoffed disappointed, "Those kids eat everything."
"You have kids?"
"Kids, human garbage disposals, whatever you want to call them," Troy grumbled, disappointed about the candy.
Rebecca rolled her eyes at him. "Yes, we have two beautiful twin boys, Corey and Caleb. They're eight."
"And eat like two eighteen-year-old boys. It's a good thing we're rich or they'd eat us out of house and home," he complained. He'd slipped on his coat before we left his office. The gray jacket looked a lot like the one I was wearing...actually, I think it's the exact same one.
Rebecca smacked his stomach. "Do you ever get tired of the sound of your own voice."
He smiled down at her, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Nope." She pursed her lips together. "I'm going to check out Nick's car, I'll be right back."
"You better, we have to go pick up the kids from the sitters," she warned him.
"I won't be long, I promise."
"Let's go before she sets a timer," he whispered, steering me out of the office.
Troy told me about the classes and programs while we walked outside. I was most excited about the classic car's course. September couldn't come soon enough.
As promised, Maya was waiting in the same parking spot she was before. She sat with her leg propped up on the seat.
"Woah, it looks even better than in the pictures," Troy said approaching the car. "I love this color you went with."
"Thanks, the wrap you suggested set perfectly." Maya was so focused on whatever was on her phone she didn't notice that Troy and I were standing there. I knocked on the window to get her attention.
She jumped, startled. Rolling down her window, she said, "You're done already?"
Leaning down, I said, "Yeah, baby, I got in." Her eyes widened, I stopped her before she could get too excited. "Don't say anything yet, I want to introduce you to someone."
"Who is it?" she whispered back to me.
"Get out and you'll see."
She looked at me warily but she turned the car off and got out anyway. Troy was checking out the restored bumper. Shivering, Maya stepped around the car with me.
"Hey, Troy, I want you to meet my girlfriend," I called to him getting his attention.
"Wait a minute, Troy from Car World," Maya said surprised. "You teach here?"
He was just as surprised to see her as she was to see him. "Yes, Maya from Spins, I do teach here...sometimes, when I have the time."
I should have known that they knew each other. His store is right next door to her job. "He's the founder of the college," I told her.
"Really?" Her brows furrowed, together. "I knew you owned Car World, but I had no idea you had a school too."
"I like to keep a low profile," Troy shuffled trying to keep warm. "Your boyfriend here really hooked you up. I remember seeing, or rather hearing it, in the mall parking lot. This doesn't even look like the same vehicle."
"That's exactly what I said," she laughed, "I'm still not convinced that it is the same one. It looks so...perfect, I'm scared that I'm going to mess it up."
"If you mess it up I'll fix it again," I told her putting my arm around her. For someone who loves the snow, she doesn't handle the cold very well.
"Do you mind if I look on the inside?" Troy asked her.
"Yeah, of course, go ahead," Maya encouraged him. Troy got in the passenger side door, while Maya and I stayed outside.
Quickly, Maya kissed me. "I'm so proud of you," she exhaled. "I told you, I told you everything was going to be okay."
I grinned down at her, pinching one of her cheeks making her wrinkle her nose. "You called it, I'll give you that."
"It looks like you're going to get your celebration meal," She cuddled up to me. "I was thinking we could go to the diner for dinner tonight, and then we could go to the movies, you know to celebrate."
"That sounds like a great idea, baby."
"Did I tell you I'm proud of you because I am. I am so proud of you."
"I love you," I whispered to her. "I love you more than anything."
"I love you too."
"Okay, Rebecca, okay, I will be inside in just a second. Let me just say goodbye to the kid, and I will be ready to go." Troy sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Nick, Maya, I hope to see the both of you very soon, but I have to go pick up my two rascals from the sitter."
"Oh, tell Rebecca, I said hello," said Maya.
My brows furrowed, "You know Rebecca?"
"Yeah, she comes to the store sometimes."
"She likes James," Troy added. "The boys like looking at Terry's tattoos."
Maya chuckled. "Funny, that's the reason I like going there too."
"Goodbye, I'll be in touch," he said pointing at me.
"Okay," I called back to him. "See you later!"
Troy went back inside, sure to give us a wave before shutting the door before doing so. With her arms wrapped around my waist, Maya said, "Let's go celebrate your new beginning."
Grinning, I placed my forehead against hers. "Our new beginning."
I have the girl. I have home, an actual home, a place where I have peace and stability. And now I'm going to the school of my dreams. This new chapter is shaping up to be a sweet one.
*Alexa play Start of Something New from The High School Musical Soundtrack* This may be the end of this story, but there's so much more to come. Tell me your favorite part of Reckless Entitlement in the comments.
Check out my other stories: East Chapel Academy and Cole & Jamie
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