Worlds Apart 2
Not a continuation of #1 so much as a sequal. Set at the same time as the first part, this looks at Charley's life without the bros - and especially without Vinnie.
***
Lights glowed in the workshop of the Last Chance Garage. Charlene Davidson was working late. It was something she did frequently these days… it was to take her mind off things. Take her mind off how quiet it was. It had been like this ever since the bros had left. The abrupt and mysterious vanishing of multi-millionaire businessman Lawrence Limburger had been all over the local papers for a few weeks. There had been speculation that he had committed suicide, or fled to Europe – especially when police investigating his disappearance had started to discover all sorts of dodgy dealings in his financial background. But even that was dying down, now… the land had been bought up by some up-and-coming entrepreneur called… what was it? Dump? Frump? Some weird name like that, anyway. Now Limburger was old news. It would have been different if they’d known he had been a Plutarkian, an alien fish, and that he had left because the projected invasion of Earth which he had been laying the ground roots for had been cancelled due to trouble on Mars. The bros had been real angry that in the end he’d gotten away.
But then they’d been called back home. With the Freedom Fighters making a final push to overthrow their Plutarkian oppressors, the bros were needed on Mars. It had been hard to say goodbye to them. For the three years they’d been on Earth she’d gotten close to them, and they to her… still, that was all over now. She’d never see or hear from them again, no doubt. It was sad, and frustrating that there wasn’t anyone she could talk to about it, but… well, that was it. Time to move on.
Charley yawned and stretched. She should probably have gone to bed, but she’d reached a tricky part of her work, and she didn’t want to leave it just now… she could do with some help here…
“Vinnie?” she called out unthinkingly. There was, of course, no reply. Charley cursed.
“Get a grip, Charley-girl” she muttered. “Time you got your beauty sleep.” She was just about to lock up for the night when there was a footstep at the door. A tall young man was standing framed in it. The mechanic couldn’t help noticing he was decidedly good-looking…
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I hope so” the man replied. “Sorry to call so late, but I saw you were open and… well, something’s up with my bike. I could do with getting it fixed as soon as possible…” Charley nodded. Normally she’d have told him to come back in the morning, but he did have very nice eyes.
“Well, I was about to close, but… Okay, bring her in.”
“Thanks – you’re a wonder.” Charley gave him a bleary smile, which he returned with a gorgeous, lop-sided grin. He vanished for a moment, and came back wheeling in his motorcycle, a sleek red racing bike. The mechanic stared at it, and ran her hands over it.
“Uh… you okay?” its owner asked after a moment.
“What?” With a start, Charley realised she’s been staring into space. “Sorry, yes… I used to know a guy who had a bike a lot like that… just brought back a few memories, that’s all.”
“Old boyfriend?” Charley gaped at him, and then laughed.
“No, nothing like that. Just a close friend who had to… go away.” The young man sensed they were edging into sensitive territory, and quickly changed the subject.
“So, my bike…?” he asked. Charley nodded.
“I’ll have a look at it for you… I’ll need to take down some particulars… name, phone number…”
“Sheesh, girl, you move fast!” the man observed with a wink.
“I, uh, I mean so I can contact you about your bike…” she stammered, blushing fiercely. She looked up, and saw that he was trying not to laugh.
“The name’s Stuart… Stuart Hardy. If you’ve got a pen and paper, I’ll write my number down for you…” He did so, and Charley took it.
“Thank you. It’s Charley, by the way.”
“Huh?”
“My name – Charley Davidson… well, Charlene really.”
“Please to meet you, Charley” Stuart nodded. “Well… I’d best be going. I might still be able to get a bus home.” Charley nodded, and called out as he left,
“I’ll phone you”, adding hastily, “About the bike, I mean.”
Charley walked back into the workshop, whistling softly to herself. What with being busy helping the bros fight Limburger and his cohorts over the last few years she hadn’t had anything like a love life, and Stuart seemed very promising. Things were looking up… so why did she suddenly feel like a traitor?
Shaking off the feeling, she locked up and packed her tools away. She paused by Stuart’s bike… she was a beauty. Much like that other bike she’d known. She sighed, and went to turn out the light. As she did so, she turned back once more to look at the red motorcycle… she smiled wryly. It didn’t have A.I., of course, but even so she couldn’t resist calling out as she left the workshop,
“Goodnight… sweetheart.” If she expected an answer, there wasn’t one.
Wearily, Charley climbed the steps to her bedroom. There was a small table by her bed, and on it a framed photograph – her and the three bros. They were all squashed together rather, since it was a bit hard to fit three large mice – one of which was getting on for 7-foot – into one photo. Vinnie had his tail wrapped round her and was looking rather pleased with himself… as usual. Charley smiled, recalling the day it was taken. She’d thought it would be peaceful when they bros left… but it wasn’t. It was too quiet. She had gotten used to their noisy lifestyle – the racing, the laughter, the explosions, the rock music – so that by the end she didn’t really notice it. And now the sound she hadn’t been hearing had stopped… and the silence echoed.
Gently she reached out, and touched the picture of Vinnie’s face… that cute, silly smile frozen in eternity. She’d never again see it for real. She put the photo down carefully, and sat on the edge of the bed with her eyes closed. Then she got up again, and she went to her wardrobe…
About ten minutes later a biker with a mirrored visor to its helmet, and clad in magenta leathers, roared away from the Last Chance. It found its way to Quigley Field, where it dismounted and climbed up to the scoreboard.
Charley tugged off her helmet and gauntlets. She opened a storage compartment on her bike, and pulled out the photograph. It had been taken just by here. After a moment she dragged her gaze away from it and stared up at the stars… Somewhere out there was Mars, and somewhere on Mars were the bros… and Vinnie. What would he be doing now? Fighting, racing, having a root beer with his friends… even – and here she felt a slight lump in her throat – chatting up a girl? What time of day was it? Maybe it was night, there, too… Maybe he was asleep, liked she’d seen him sometimes… his features eased of tension, looking so young, so vulnerable…
She missed him… she missed him more than the others, even. She remembered the deep pit in her stomach when he said they were leaving, the awkward goodbye… like he wanted to tell her something, but couldn’t find the words…
She knew how he felt. She’d felt the same… There was something she had almost told him, but hadn’t had the nerve to. A feeling that had been growing for a long time… since not long after she’d first met him. Like someone had planted a seed, that had gradually been maturing into a flower. A flower that was destined to bloom in vain, it seemed.
It had taken a while to appreciate his physical attractions, human as she was, but beyond that there was something special about him. Something she couldn’t quite place her finger on. But friendship had grown into fondness, then into affection, and then at last… She took a deep breath. At last she had begun to suspect that she was in love with Vinnie.
Now, as she stared into the night sky, the millions of miles between Earth and Mars seeming to mock her, she couldn’t deny it any longer. It was far, far too late, and she cursed herself for saying nothing, for trying to suppress her feelings. The opportunity for happiness was long gone…
She rubbed her face, and was surprised to find it wet… Without realising it, she’d begun to cry. She smiled wryly and wiped the tears away.
“What would you think of me, crying like that, huh Vinnie?” she snorted, speaking aloud. “If you only knew how I felt about you, you’d be so smug your head would burst!” She laughed briefly, self-mockingly. She sighed, and glanced once more at the photograph, reaching out to tenderly touch the unmoving image of Vinnie. Then she put it away, mounted her bike, and was soon lost in the shadows.
Thank you!
Aha! Now is this the regular version, or the new director's cut? ;)
*reads through*
Mmmmm-hmm. I really love these two reflected stories. And I have to say, I do get the tingles over the way this one ends. :)
Oh, the new director's cut, released in a boxed set with WA #1, both with subtitles, short 'Making of' documentary and commentary by the cast.
hi how r u
they look good togiver
please write more!
Glad you want more, but I don't want to take these particular stories further - I don't really think there's anywhere they could go.
I written a fair number of other fanfics, though.
So good. Soooo good. ;-)
"I find hope and it gives me rest..."