FirstDaysAlwaysDisappoint {open}

[mikku]

The giggle Alex gave made Robin give a quick frown, it wasn't that funny, was it? If Robin had heard herself, she probably would have laughed to, so she changed her face to a smile and added, "Yeah, I'll do that." There, she was only in town a couple of days and she had already made a friend! She'd have to check by here later in the week, after she had gotten her schedule worked out at her job(she hadn't even gotten one yet!)

A ride? Robin looked carefully around her and thought. Her aunt wouldn't mind her getting a lift from a friend, as long as it wasn't a boy, really.(She seemed to have something against boys, Robin had never asked why.) She already knew her answer, but just in case she looked ahead at the horizon. The storm clouds were getting bigger, and the last thing Robin wanted to do was get stuck in the rain. Not that she exactly hated the rain, she actually enjoyed it in small amounts. It was that hard, 'your clothes sticking to you in the cold' kind of rain that she hated.

The idea of the cold made Robin decide finally. She gave a final look around the parking lot, at all the cars in all their hundreds of colors and makes, then at Alex. "Sure, I'll just have to call my aunt and tell her not to drive out here." She pulled out her cell phone as she spoke and started to type out a message on the keypad. She usually got text messages fairly quickly, quicker then her voice mail anyway. After the message sent, she looked around at the lot again. "Which one's your's?"

[alex]

"Cool," Alex replied cheerfully, and set about closing up the shop as Robin texted. Sure, she'd only be out a few minutes, but better safe than sorry. As usual she had to jump to pull down the garage doors. It figured--she made an invisibility coat, but hadn't gotten around to mechanizing the door. It would have to go on her list. Not that she had a list, though she probably should. Never got around to doing the practical things when there were robots to be made. But still, the shop needed an automated garage door. The thing was impossible for her without a stepladder, and dragging that out was just humiliating. If only she was a few inches taller...well, then she'd still be pretty short. Maybe she should start wearing platforms. No, still probably not a good idea.

At Robin's question, Alex gestured to her car. "The black mini," she clarified, refraining from its more usual name of 'the batmobile'. She had a feeling Robin wouldn't get the joke, even if her name was did help it. Hee hee, Robin. Alex unlocked it via remote, and walked over to the drivers' seat. The mini cooper was an older make, but obviously well cared for--working at an auto body had its advantages, after all, and she had installed a few nice toys that weren't standard feature in anything. Things t hat most places would frown upon, likely, but they were cool. "So where we heading?" she asked Robin, hopping in and starting the car up. Ah, she loved that sound.

[mikku]

The car looked absolutely amazing to Robin. Of course, it was a little old looking to her, but that only added to it's charm in her eyes. "Wow..." was all she said, stepping towards the other side of the mini as Alex sat down in the driver's seat. She took another look around the parking lot and gave a little gulp, all the beautiful cars made her wish she had a car of her own.

The thought that sprang to her head next was all the maintenance having one would require. Robin could barely take care of a Goldfish, what chance did she have with a car? Maybe she'd get one when she moved back home, she was only staying for a year after all. Although, Cardiff was starting to grow on her, she hoped she could stay a little longer...

Her mind snapped back to attention when Alex spoke up. "Oh, right..." She said, opening the door and shuffling into the passenger's side. Wait, why was Alex in the Passenger... Robin almost slapped herself when she realized she was on the wrong side. "Sorry!" she exclaimed, running to the other side as quickly as possible and jumping into the seat.

"uh..." Robin thought for a second as she shut the door. "You know that big sheep farm out just outside the city? It's the little brown house next to it, the one with the old-fashioned car in the driveway. She paused and looked back at Alex. "You know, the ones they used to drive back in the thirties?"

[alex]

Truth be told, Alex didn't often notice great cars any more. Part of it was from working in an auto body, part her distaste for combustion engines. Honestly, she paid more attention to a nice little hybrid than a Lotus. It was a bit of a pity, really. Even her awesome little mini had lost a lot of its charm. Alex gave a small, inward smile at the teen's amazement. She needed people like Robin to remind her how Awesome her job was. It might not be prestigious, but it was secure, paid well, and had a few nice perks. Like getting her hands dirty, or telling BMW owners that no, their babies wouldn't be ready for another week, and yes, the crash had been their fault. Never got old.

Robin's mistake earned her a quiet snicker. Nothing louder or more pointed, because Alex had done it herself enough times when she was new to Wales. Europeans did everything backwards. Not that this was a surprise, of course. Or that Alex minded. At first the novelty kept her going, and now it was simply habit. She was sure a trip back to Boston would be weird for the first few days, as she settled back. One reason to avoid going.

"I think I know the one you're talking about," Alex recalled cheerfully. Of course, the only reason she remembered it was because it made her eyes itch every time she went by. That, and the sheep jokes. They did have a nice car, too, and one she'd been meaning to look over some time. Well, maybe she would actually get an opportunity. That was a cheering thought. Oh yeah, it was good she had offered Robin a ride--several fat rain drops splattered against her windshield. Alex turned on her wipers and drove off into the city. Well, at least this would keep the sheep-smell down.

((Aaand we're done.))