Eight

DYLAN'S POV

I couldn't stop smiling. Tyler told me a million times already that I looked like a buffon but I didn't care. I felt like I was on cloud nine.

The thought of Morgan wearing my jacket just made me super elated. Guys usually gave their girlfriends their varsity jacket and the fact that Morgan was wearing mine was a sure sign that she was going to be my girlfriend. I could already picture the both of us walking down the hall with my jacket wrapped around her while she held my hand. That would be so much better than getting into the NBA.

"...just impossible."

I blinked back a few times as I stared blankly at Tyler. He was saying something but I had only caught the last two words and so I had no idea what he was talking about. He realized all too soon that I was tuning him out and shot me a nasty glare.

"You were thinking of Morgan again, weren't you." It was more of an accusing statement than a question. My silence gave the answer away.

"May I just say that the only reason why she's with your jacket is cause you ruined her brother's and she had no other choice. If it were a normal circumstance, she would have burned it the moment you handed it to her."

"That is true, but the fact remains she's with it. Now, what were you saying?" I moved closer to where he was standing by the kitchen counter with Isaac's jacket spread out on it. Tyler had insisted on taking a look at it. It's not like he could fix it or anything; he just wanted to see how much damage I caused.

"I said, you can't have it fixed by Wednesday. It's impossible. Marco's always busy."

"I know that..."

"Plus, doesn't it take like two hundred bucks to get rid of the stains on leather? How the hell are you planning on affording that? I know for a fact that you blew your allowance on those fuzzy marshmellos and Evie wouldn't give it to u even if you begged."

"That is where my dad comes in," I replied with a grin. Tyler groaned exaggeratedly and rolled his eyes so hard I thought he'd find his brain back there.

"Don't sass me," I said before he could say anything. I could see how hard he was struggling to keep his mouth shut. My intense glare made it possible for him to keep it that way.

"He's gonna give me the money I need to fix the jacket so I'm not bothered about that." I grabbed it from the counter and hung it over my shoulder. Then I started making my way to the living room with Tyler behind me.

"What I'm bothered about though is Marco keeping his mouth shut and not telling my mom that I ruined my shirt again." Tyler snickered and muttered something I couldn't quite hear. I turned to look at him but his attention was on the video game before us. He already got me twice so I wasn't even interested in the game anymore.

We played our video game in silence for a while with Tyler beating me in every level.

In the middle of our game, Tyler got a message. He frowned after reading it.

"My mom just told me that I have to be back before dinner cause she has date ro attend."

"Your mom's going on a date? And she told you?" I asked setting my controller down. Tyler carried the bowl of popcorn that was placed before us and started munching away.

"She said she had a 'work thing'," he replied air quoting work thing, "but I know it's a date. She's been doing that for quite sometime now. "

Tyler looked different as he said that but knowing him, I knew he was pissed.

"Aren't you going to say something to her?"

"I mean I want to, but I can't. Remember what happened the last time when I just accused her of going on a date when in reality she was doing a 'work thing'? She got all emotional after we had an argument and started crying saying I didn't trust her and I started to feel like shit. I don't want a repeat of what happened so I'm just gonna hold my comment for when I do have evidence. And I'll make sure to shut that shit down when I do." I nodded in agreement with him. I couldn't imagine my mom dating someone else after my dad dies. I would shut that shit down.

"Anyways, if we are going to meet Marco today we better go now. Once it's six, I'm heading home. I'm on baby sitting duty."

We left for Maroc's in my truck. His shop smelled like leather, polish and oil. It was choky but I was getting kinda used to it. Tyler on the other hand didn't like it as much.

We met Marco by his station where he was working on a boot.

"Can you fix it?" I asked him after he finished examining the jacket I handed to him.

"Of course I can fix it," he replied setting it aside and going back to the work he was doing.

"What he meant was can you fix it by Wednesday?" I and Marco stared at Tyler before I moved my gaze back to Marco looking expectant.

"No," was his simple reply.

"What? 'No' as in 'no I can't' or 'no' as in 'no I won't'?" I asked. Tyler had already carried the jacket from the counter where Marco kept it and he looked like he was getting ready to just walk away.

"No I can't so no I won't." That reply sent a chill down my spine.

"What? Can...why...?" I was stumbling over my words. Tyler placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it lightly before turning to face the owner of the workshop.

"Can you at least tell us why? He's a faithful customer. Tell us why you can't do him this one solid."

Marco sighed and removed the gloves his was wearing and rubbed his forehead before answering.

"Just like you I have other faithful customers who don't know how to take proper care of their leather items. I have been asked to clean up fifty leather stains by the third week. They all paid the VIP fee." He said that last part after I thought of asking if I could pay the VIP fee. It was like he read my mind.

"Even if you pay the VIP fee I wouldn't get back to you until I'm done with the ones I have. And there is no space left in the VVIP category anymore either. Apparently a lot of people don't know how to handle leather. I would love to tell them to not get it but that would be bad business for me."

I felt like dying inside. I didn't know which scared me the most: the thought of Morgan never talking to me again or the thought of her ridiculously jacked brother pounding me into next week.

"Are you going to wait till then or will you go and meet someone who isn't a pro to do it for you?" Marco asked. I looked at Tyler and he nodded slightly.

I guess I'm being pounded into next week sooner than I thought.

This is what happens when you have long arms and have a gigantic crush on the sister of the captain of the basketball team who also happens to be your rival at everything.

"Fine. I'll leave it here." Marco nodded and put back his gloves. Tyler and I turned around and started making our way out of the workshop.

We passed by the tailoring department. Only two people were working while the remaining three were just playing around with their phones.

Why can't Marco be free like this? Or better still, why can't they just take the stain out for me? I don't think it's really that difficult to remove leather stains. I bet taking out the stains wouldn't take up as much time as sewing.

Right then, probably the brightest idea I have ever come up with struck me. I turned around and started marching back to Marco's station.

"Dude, where are you going? I have to be home soon." I ignored my best friend and kept walking until I got to where Marco was.

"Did you forget something, kid?"

Tyler was by my side just in time for him to hear me ask, "How long will it take to sew a new jacket?"