Chapter 9: New Neighbors 2 (Jason+Chloe)

(Pov Jason)

Jason pinched the pliers as he dislodged another line from the engine. It wasn't usually necessary, but apparently it was for this particular type of engine to get to the spark plugs.

“Thanks again for stopping. We aren't that used to working on car engines, unfortunately. So we had no idea what to do.” The tomboyish brunette gave him an apologetic smile.

“No problem. It seems like you have a puncture on one of the oil lines and two of your spark plugs have stopped working.” Jason pointed to the offending parts. “I am pretty sure I have some spare parts that we can jury rig to work until you get to a proper mechanic.” Jason looked over the loosened spark plug. ”Actually, I think I have just the spark plugs like this in the car.”

Jason walked back to his car, which was parked on the other side of the back country road. Opening the back door, he started rummaging through the various empty bags, old tools, and parts. Eventually, he found what he was looking for: an oil leak and a new spark plug. Opening the box, he took out the spark plug and compared it to the one that he had taken from the engine. He blew slightly on the old spark plug before rubbing it with an old piece of cloth he had in the back to get some of the grime off it. It was a match.

He picked up the oil line as he started walking back. “Well, it appears we're in luck. I found a replacement spark plug and an oil tube. Only the one spark plug, though. It should improve the problem, but it won't solve it.” Jason gave an apologetic shrug.

“Thank you. I mean it. We would probably have made it to town, but I am not that sure. Though it would probably have been better to turn around.”

Jason looked at her after he sat down so he could easily reach them as he worked. “Ohhh. There isn't much around here. Where did you come from?”

The woman pointed up the hill. “We were just visiting someone in the lodge up there.”

Jason's eyebrows rose slightly. “Oh, so you guys must know Jasmine or her roommate then?”

The woman's eyebrows furrowed slightly. “We were visiting Jasmine, yes.” She hesitated a bit before presenting her hand. “I am sorry, I completely forgot to introduce myself. I am Sky Smith.”

Jason studied her hand for a second before he tried to wipe off the dirt and small spots of oil. “I am Jason Smallers. I am sorry, I should have remembered to, that was terribly rude of me.”

“Don't worry about it, we practically stopped you, so it's on us. You would happen from the Smallers' farm, would you?” Her gaze was looking over him with what Jason figured was curiosity.

“I am actually. Why do you ask?” Jason had started replacing the spark plugs when he heard the two others who had been doing something in the car come out.

“Well, you see. We are actually some of your new neighbors, so to speak. We are part of the team that will be working in your barn for the next few months. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smallers.”

Jason chuckled lightly. “Please call me Jason. Mr.Smallers is my father.”

The two others introduced themselves as Carla and Sideny. With Sidney being rather forward until Sky coughed and seemed to give her a look that caused the woman's spine to straighten. The trio kept asking questions about the farm and the barn as Jason worked. They helped, of course, handing him tools and parts, shining lights and so on. He did learn that Sky had known Jasmine for years and that the trio had worked for West Star for years, and were on the brink of some major promotion. One, they would probably get once the project here was completed.

Jason nodded at Sky. “You mind trying the ignition?”

Sky, who was already sitting ready in the driver's seat, turned the key. The engine puttered on the first attempt and on the second. Then it finally started on the third attempt.

“So there is a mechanic on the north side of town. They do good work, and I think you can get there with any more problems.”

“Thanks again, Jason.” His name sounded almost formal in the way Sky said it. “You have been a great help. Just holler if you need any help, ok. We will mostly be on the property, so we aren't that far away. I promise it won't be a bother, we owe you after all.”

Jason waved dismissively. “Don't worry about it, it was the least I could do, wouldn't want you stranded out here or waiting too long for Triple-A.”

Carla smiled softly at him. “Well, either way, thank you, Jason.”

Sky looked at the other two. “Right, we should get going.”

—--------------------------

(Pov Chloe)

Chloe had spent hours since she learned the name of that woman researching her. She had even used some of her boss's connections to try to gather information on her. It had taken far more effort than she had expected, but it had eventually yielded results.

She tapped her closed pen on her computer as she reread her notes. She had learned that Jasmine Burns was twenty-five and had attended the University of Washington. She had apparently studied a combination of business management, logistics, and political science. It was an odd combination, at least she had never heard of anyone doing that particular combination of classes. The Burns family was also supposedly Rich, with a capital R, and was among the major owners and managers of the West Star conglomerate. Jasmine had taken on a managerial role in the company after graduation. It hadn't come out of nowhere. The woman had done internships in the company for years before graduation.

Chloe rocked her chair from side to side as she continued reading the information she had accumulated. Her jaw tensed slightly as she reached the only other managerial role she had found for Jasmine. At least it was the only one people talked about.

She had been a regional manager in southern Idaho a year ago when a gang kept attacking their assets. Mostly a series of robberies, but there were other crimes too. Jasmine had taken over there, and then suddenly it had stopped. Most of the gang members had also disappeared, and most of their safe houses had burned to the ground. The police suspected gang warfare had driven them to ground.

Worse still, she had heard from an old friend of her moms that West Star's internal security was exceptional. The man had been with the FBI and had said that, in the few times their work had overlapped with something affecting West Star, the conglomerate had been more effective than they were. Feeding them everything from names and images to addresses and tracking data. The feds' investigations into them had found nothing.

Chloe had chuckled slightly after that conversation. It was no wonder the man had been fired. “loose lips sink ships and all that.” she remembered murmuring to herself.

One of Chloe's eyebrows raised slightly. She highly doubted the woman was involved in wiping out a gang. For a second she considered if Jasmine might have fed information to the gang's rivals. No, the police and feds would have found that out. The coincidence remained strange, if only for the timing.

What could she want with Jason? A slight knot had tied itself in Chloe's chest. Was this truly just a case of some rich girl finding a attractive guy, and if so why someone so far outside her own social orbit? A thought flashed through her head.

“No, it has to be. Nothing else makes sense.” She murmured to herself.

BZZZZZ BZZZZZ

Her phone buzzed, shaking the desk slightly. Looking down, she saw a message from Paris. Chloe smiled slightly, reading the message. The distraction would be good for her.

—----------------------------

(Pov Jason)

The door slammed shut as Jason got out of the car and walked over towards the bonfire pit. The sounds of rowdy teenagers and music filled the air, and laughter emanated from nearly every direction. As he got closer, the smell of grilled meat and vegetables began to mix with the smell of smoke.

It was a little strange throwing a party on a Monday in April, but someone decided to anyway. It wasn't like people didn't need the distraction. It wasn't large, maybe only a dozen or so people. Jason didn't know most of them well; he knew who they were off course, but he didn't KNOW them. He doubted he would get to know too many of them tonight, either; he wasn't drinking, and they were. Getting to truly know the drunk people while sober or getting into the spirit of the night wasn't exactly easy.

No, he was here mostly for one reason. Some of his friends needed a designated driver. Though Jason also needed a distraction, so it was a win-win. After all, while he wasn't drinking, people watching the drunks was many things, but boring wasn't one of them. It also meant Jason didn't have to go about buying alcohol, which he had never dared to do, and he could save the money.

Looking around, he made eye contact with Sam, who was waving him over. Walking over, he saw that the redheaded boy in a stained hoodie was sitting on a small prepared bench made out of small pieces of logs that would probably have been better used as fuel for the fire.

Jason nodded to him as he approached. “Hey man, how are you?”

Sam nodded back. “I am fine. Slightly too tipsy for six pm, but what can you do? Thanks again for driving, man, I really appreciate it.”

Talking to Sam was, as always, fun, as they mostly nerded out over Warhammer lore. Sam had also thoroughly regaled Jason with his love for monster girls and his desire to meet a real one. Jason's left eyebrow had felt glued to his hairline as Sam talked about how they were real. It had taken a lot of effort for Jason not to scoff at that, but he had managed to restrain himself. Barely.

Sam's head was scanning the crowd before he frantically started waving someone over. As Jason followed his gaze, he saw Chloe, who was making her way over to them.

Plopping down on the far too small bench, Jason could feel the heat emanating from Chloe's body even though there wasn't any direct contact. He shuffled slightly, trying not to intrude on her personal space, but the small bench didn't have much space left.

Sam waved frantically with his beer bottle, pointing it at Chloe. “Chloeeee, Cholester, Chlo Chlo.” Sam's voice was cheery. “I need to ask you something?”

Chloe looked like she was suppressing a smile. “First of all, never call me Chloester, EVER again. But yeah sure, what is it?”

“Sure, sure,” Sam waved at her dismissively, having seemingly not registered the first thing she said. “So this guy, Sam, shook Jason lightly, “won't believe me when I say monstergirlss are real.” He slurred slightly.

Chloe rolled her eyes. “I wouldn't believe you either, Sam.” She drew a breath. “And don't call them that, they're called homunculi. They aren't your personal fantasy or whatever this is.” Chloe looked over at Jason. “Don't worry about it, there aren't that many of them, well, anywhere outside Scandinavia. Not knowing about them isn't that big a deal.”

Jason looked at Sam and bowed slightly. “I bow in the dust of thy wisdom, oh, great elder. My grand mistake of doubting you has left a stain on my honor that shall never wash away.”

Sam turned his nose up into the air and assumed a tone that was as grand as Jason had ever heard it. “I, in my grand magnanimity, forgive you, oh, lowly one. As long as you swear eternal service to me.”

Chloe was chuckling as she watched the two of them. Smiling as she seemed to take in the scene.

As the sun started setting, Chloe squirmed slightly, her eyebrows furrowed, her gaze moving between him and the bonfire. “You ok, Chloe?”

Her gaze locked with his, and a smile played at her lips. “Yeah, I am fine. I was just thinking.” She scratched her neck before subtly sighing. “So how was work this weekend? Did the big tipper drop by?”

Jason decided not to push the issue. “Work was good, and no, she didn't. I did see her on Sunday, though.”

Chloe spoke in a very high, tense tone. “You did? Why, what happened?”

Jason looked at the fire pit. “Not much she asked me to show her around town. I figured it was just like she needed a guide. But apparently it might have been a date.”

“A WHAT!” she almost shouted before drawing a deep breath. “She asked you out? What happened?”

Jason told her what happened on Sunday. Chloe's face passed through a wide range of expressions Jason couldn't quite place, finally settling on a strange, paleish color towards the end.

“I don't know, the entire experience felt weird, not bad, just weird." Jason had shrunk slightly, the strange expressions on Chloe's face causing tension to enter his shoulders.

Chloe took a deep breath. “So let me get this straight. To start off, she pressures you into being her free guide, then she tries to decide what you should eat. AND last, but definitely not least. She ends the night by assaulting you.” Her tone got harder as she spoke.

Jason's hands were fidgeting, the slightly clammy sensation on them suddenly very noticeable. “Assault is a strong...”

Chloe's hand flew up, a finger silencing Jason. “Did you consent to the kiss? No, you explicitly said she did it without asking. Abusing a position of power, so she could get leverage. You're younger than her, It's just so Fed up.” She huffed. “She's only some rich girl who decided to find a target that was fun to play with. Someone she can discard like a used piece of meat when she's done. SHE doesn't even know you.” 

Jason looked at her. “I don't think it was like that, Chloe.” Jason sighed. “And even if it was. Feeling wanted. I don't know. It felt… nice? I am not sure how to explain it. I don't really feel like that, well, ever. Even if it's temporary, is it really that bad?”

Chloe's face was a flurry of emotions. Slight amounts of moisture collecting in her eyes, her body deflating. Her voice was small and vulnerable in a way Jason had never heard before. “You don't feel... wanted?” Her gaze looked towards the fire before going back to him. “I don't… you… I.” She drew a breath before getting up. “I just remembered something I… I need to go.”

Jason moved to stand up as Chloe walked off. “Hey Chloe, are you ok?”

“I am fine.” Her tone was flat as she answered without looking back.

“What just happened?” Jason murmured to himself.