[center][h3]_______________ ♡ 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓭 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓔𝔁-𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭 ♡[/h3] _______________ [/center] Summer had been running errands for her mother when she heard the tyre pop. [quote] [i][color=f49ac2]“Well, shit.”[/color][/i][/quote] The racer red Mini Cooper had been the first gift she’d bought herself once she’d settled in financially at OverZealous - A reputable marketing and advertising company. The first few pay-checks had been spent dragging herself out of her overdraft but once she was back on her feet, she’d slid her debit card across the dealership desk with a proud smile. Growing up in a single-parent household with enough sisters to start a 5 a side football team, Summer wasn’t accustomed to excess. She’d grown up on hand-me-downs, leftovers and thrift stores. A brand new Mini Cooper was definitely not within her grasp before taking on the role at OverZealous. It became one of her most prized possessions; A symbol of her hard graft and evidence that she didn’t have to use her power of persuasion to achieve her dreams. The pot hole responsible for her blown tyre felt no remorse for adding to Summers already overflowing emotional baggage. She mentally cursed the lack of road maintenance in Elysian Heights, wishing she was already in the City where roads were freshly laid and public transport was plentiful. Running errands was only supposed to take a couple of hours, leaving her plenty of time to drive to the funeral… [quote] [color=f49ac2][i]“Shit, the funeral…”[/i][/color] [/quote] She’d instantly called the Garage from the car, the dial tone beeping through the speakers, and she begged them to squeeze her in for a tyre change. They’d been hesitant. Told her they’d been ‘crazy busy’ the last couple of days. [quote] [i]“There’s a big funeral in Elysian Heights today, ya know - Loads of randoms visiting town for the parade yesterday…”[/i] the garage receptionist had explained.[/quote] Summer had slowed to a stop at a red light and stared blankly at the road ahead. Eyes draining of life as the word “funeral” repeated in the echo chamber of her mind, she felt her chest tighten. Summer’s stomach coiled inside her, rigid with knowing. She knew Austin’s death would become a spectacle. Town gossip. An event where opportunists could come to Elysian Heights and mutate a powered death into anything but what it should be: A tragedy. The receptionist said she doubted they could even squeeze her in today and the emotions began to bubble over. Eyes flicking to the green light, Summer shifted the stick into first gear and found the biting point, the handicapped Mini struggling to pull off. Her knuckles whitened on the wheel, teeth biting down on her lower lip. She needed her car. She needed it for today. She needed it for tomorrow. Elysian Heights wasn’t abundant with alternative garages… Her options ran dry as quickly as the tyre drained of air. Summer resented her power at times like these. The right thing would be to thank the receptionist for her time and punch the red button. Let it go. But today wasn’t just any other day, okay? It was Austin’s funeral and her heart ached enough without this added stress. So she made the decision to use her unfair advantage. Begrudgingly, Summer sucked air through her teeth and switched up a gear, already driving the route to the garage. She narrowed her eyes, summoned the inner power that crackled beneath her skin. It sparked to life and tingled at her fingertips as she flicked the indicator and spun the wheel. [quote] [color=f49ac2][i]“You know what?”[/i][/color] Summer said slowly, her voice taking on an otherworldly tone. It became deeper, more commanding. It echoed, against all scientific odds. [color=f49ac2][i]“I think you’re going to find the time to fit me in today. I’d really appreciate it. You’re going to meet me in a moment and you’ll make sure someone can take a look at this blown tyre. You’ll replace it. And then you’ll charge me extra for the inconvenience.”[/i][/color][/quote] Silence fell. The other end of the line deathly quiet. Summer pressed her lips together in a hard line, the instant guilt of using her power feeling like bile in her throat. She’d made it acceptable in her mind, adding the extra charge. It evened the playing field. Sort of. After what felt like an eternity, the receptionist sighed, her voice pouring back through the speaker. [quote] [i]“I’m going to squeeze you in. Head on over now, we’ll get the tyre looked at… But I have to tell you, we’ll have to charge a premium for the rush.”[/i][/quote] Her voice was vacant. It often sounded that way, after someone had been persuaded. A flat, emotionless tone. It racked Summer with guilt each and every time. But she pressed her foot down further on the accelerator, the Mini’s flat tyre cursing her, and she let a huff of relief hiss from her lips. [quote] [color=f49ac2][i]“Thank you so much,”[/i][/color] Summer switched gears again, [color=f49ac2][i]“I’ll leave you guys the biggest tip.[/i]”[/color][/quote] [center]______________________ [/center] [h3]"Bay 3, opening bay 3!"[/h3] The receptionist hadn’t lied. The garage was amass with organised chaos. All the crashing, banging, clanging and the shouts of mechanics hard at work made for a layered orchestra of activity. Summer had greeted the girl at the front desk with the warmest smile she could manage. A twinge of guilt plucked at the strings of her heart, the persuasion hadn’t yet dissipated and when Summer introduced herself, she watched the residue of her influence cloud the receptionists face. Over the girl’s shoulder, past the mechanic that was taking a look at the paperwork, Summer spotted a face she recognised. Amongst the thrum of people, she saw Jaxon. A lightbulb illuminated in her mind. They’d been at high school together! Not friends. Not close. But they’d known eachother well enough to recognise one another in the hallways. She tried to catch his eye before saying to the mechanic holding her chart, [quote] [color=f49ac2][i]“Is that… Jaxon?”[/i][/color] Summer said hesitantly, angling her head to get a better look. [color=f49ac2][i]“I know him! We went to school together.” [/i][/color][/quote] It wasn’t meant to come off as a name-drop. She was just surprised to see him. But the garage staff member peeled off in Jaxon’s direction anyway. Summer settled her bill in advance with the receptionist, thumbing her pin in, ignoring the excessive charge for a singular tyre change. She told herself it was worth it. Worth it for the karma. Worth it for the inconvenience. Worth it for Austin’s funeral. Declining a receipt, she placed a healthy wedge of bills on the desk as a tip. Then, she looked up in Jaxon’s general direction and waited.