It Seems Like Serious Trouble Getting Closer

Martin almost forgot to pay, he was so absorbed in the events across the street. There seemed to be something serious going on there, as some people were passing by, quickening their pace and pretending not to see anything, while others stopped curious. Some even took out their phones to capture the events that were happening.

Martin couldn't cross the road right away. There was no pedestrian crossing and car traffic was quite heavy, so the mechanic was walking on his side of the street, trying to see something between the passing cars and the gathered onlookers. But it was more difficult than he thought. Even though he stood on his tiptoes and jumped and cocked his head, he only saw something happening, but he couldn't see what it was. Curiosity mixed with irritation in him.

Probably if the event had involved someone else, Martin would have passed him by indifferently. He wasn't one of those people who stood watching the house burn. If he had been the first to the scene, he would have called for help. He was not in the habit of joining onlookers, and always passed the scene of accidents and similar events, leaving them to the specialists present. This time, however, someone he knew and admired was involved in the incident, so how could he pass by?

Eventually, he managed to find a break in the traffic due to the change of traffic lights at a nearby intersection and ran across the road just as Steve, his expression sullen and angry, passed through the group of people parting in front of him. It looked like it was all over.

Martin breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever was happening, Steve looked like he was okay. The mechanic's heart was still beating faster, but the most important thing was that Paxton, although in a bad mood, wasn't hurt.

"Oh!" Steve stopped suddenly, his hand on the door handle of the car. His eyes, which for a moment enveloped the crowd, caught Martin's face in it. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on the track? "

"I missed my bus," confessed Martin.

"Allen will kill you."

"I know," he admitted.

"Jump in. Maybe it will end up with minor injuries. "

Yesterday, Martin may have been reluctant to drive the car together. Today he did not feel comfortable being so close to his idol either, but the hope that Allen would not tear his head off after all, and the bizarre atmosphere in this place meant that man did not have to repeat the invitation.

Steve started aggressively without waiting for Martin to buckle up. Paxton was clearly pissed off, and fast, aggressive driving was his way of relieving the tension. Martin did not feel comfortable sitting in the car, which broke the speed limit so significantly, and instinctively grabbed the seat belt on his chest.

Paxton apparently noticed his movement and took his foot off the throttle.

"Sorry," he said. Apparently, he noticed something else because he added, "There are some things in the glove compartment to do the dressings. Get your hand in order. "

"Thank you, but there's no need to, it's just ..."

"You work with sand, asphalt and chemicals. Bandage it, if you please. "

"Of course. Sorry." Martin huddled in his chair but reached for his wound care supplies. It wasn't a beautifully packed first aid kit, rather a total mess, but he found everything he needed there. Paxton was surprisingly well stocked with such utensils.

Steve was driving much slower now, but he was still clearly pissed. He reached in his pocket for a pack of cigarettes. He pulled out the last one and put it in his mouth. He wanted to light it, but he glanced at Martin, cursed something under his breath, and threw the cigarette out the window. Exactly like yesterday.

"You should too…" Martin said shyly. "Your mouth ..."

There was a crack on Paxton's lip, as if from a punch. That teenager who fell onto the pavement might not have given up without a fight.

"I'll take care of it when we get there. Do not worry. What's your name?"

"Martin," he announced. Actually, Allen introduced him yesterday, but it wasn't surprising to Martin that someone like Steve didn't remember the name of some new mechanic.

"Martin," Paxton repeated softly, as if he wanted to remember the name this time. "Shit, I want a cigarette."

"It's hard to quit smoking, isn't it? Especially with such a stressful job. "

Paxton gave him an unbelievable glance.

"Who told you this job was stressful? Racing is the most relaxing thing I know. One of three" he added.

"Of three?" the intrigued mechanic asked. Maybe if he thought about it, he would have come up with one more, but not two.

"I assume you are of legal age, otherwise Allen would not hire you. Can't you guess the other one? "

"Second, you mean ...? You mean sex? I was thinking about him, but ... "

His confusion seemed to amuse Paxton. His mouth curved slightly in a wry sardonic smile.

This reaction embarrassed Martin. Of course, he had experienced sex, of course he knew it was relaxing, but he was not used to talking about it with strangers. He didn't really talk to anyone about it. It just wasn't a good topic for socializing.

"And the third thing?" he asked, fearful of an answer, but he really had no idea what that might be.

"Good fight," Steve brushed his slit lip with his thumb.

Martin immediately remembered the teenager flying out of the alley. The boy was clearly of high school age so he didn't stand a chance against a strong adult like Paxton, but the driver didn't seem like someone who would enjoy beating teenagers. Besides, Steve ran down the aisle visibly alerted, and was also injured himself, which could have meant hitting the kid in self-defense. Martin was terribly curious about what happened there, but never dared to ask.

Anyway, the opportunity to do so soon passed because they were already there. But Paxton did not come to the Fergus Stables. He stopped the car at the side of the road and ordered:

"Get out. I have to get some cigarettes. "

Martin definitely didn't mind. He got out and, closing the door, thanked him politely for the lift.

Steve Paxton was the strangest man Martin had met so far. He was an excellent racing driver, he looked great on TV and on the track, but in life he was an example of a rude asshole. Just from what Martin noticed, although Paxton was arrogant, unfriendly and rude, the people in the stable respected and liked him. It really was weird.

But Martin had to admit to himself that he liked him too. Steve Paxton might be an unmanaged bastard at times, but he undeniably had his charm.

Plus, thanks to him, Martin was only a few minutes late to work. They had only known each other (as if) the second day, and Paxton had already given him lift twice, though he didn't have to. Maybe he was quite a nice guy after all?

As soon as Martin showed up among the mechanics, he was ready to be scolded by Allen. The chief mechanic was a great man, but he hated anything in the world as much as someone being late. The boy humbly greeted him and bowed his head, apologizing. He was expecting a storm, but Abe was just shutting his mouth without uttering a word. A cold sweat splashed across Martin's back as he had expected it to be the calm before the storm.

"What happened to your hand?" the chief mechanic asked suddenly, looking at his bandaged right hand.

"Oh, this? That's nothing." Martin quickly assured him. "The hand is completely functional. It's just a scratch that I bandaged so that I wouldn't accidentally stain the wound. "

"Are you sure?"

"Of course," said Martin.

"Then get the hell to work and don't stay like the last fool!"

"Yes, sir!"

So he set to his duties, which were not at all difficult yet. After all, no one will give a rookie like him, who has only had one day of work behind him, a really responsible task. Even so, Martin was in cloud nine.

Steve showed up in the pit box two hours later and did a few laps to get the telemetry data. His cut lip did not escape the attention of the people, so comments and rumors appeared among the mechanics. Teddy even nudged Martin and with a stupid smile asked:

"Hey, you didn't punch him, did you? Right hand, left lip ... "

"You must've been joking," said Martin indignantly. The very thought that he could hit his idol was unimaginable to Martin. No fan in their life would ever dare to do something so outrageous.

"Relax, I was just kidding. A kid like you wouldn't stand a chance in a fight with Steve. He just looks weak. Underneath his tough skin are steel muscles. "

"He doesn't look weak at all," Martin said quietly.

"Hey, look, look!" Larry ran up excitedly. "Steve is number one on the Hot Search list! Look what I found! There is even a recording! "

Martin and Teddy looked at their friend's phone. The Hot Search topic was "Steve Paxton beat a child." Martin had just seen serious trouble getting closer to Paxton.