The smell of motor oil and fresh-cut lumber filled the garage as Cameron leaned against the open hood of her 1976 Chevy pickup. The truck had seen better days, but she liked fixing things with her hands. Tightening the wrench, she wiped her brow, smudging grease across her temple.
Footsteps echoed outside, followed by the slam of a screen door. Mara appeared in the doorway, holding two coffee cups.
“You know, most people take their truck to a mechanic,” Mara teased, handing her a cup.
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing,” Cameron retorted, smirking as she sipped.
Mara grinned. “Anyway, there’s a new LGBTQ-friendly bar opening on 5th Street. Thought it might be time for you to get out of your cave.”
“And do what? Stand around awkwardly while you flirt with the bartender?”
“Hey, you might meet someone,” Mara countered.
Cameron laughed dryly. “Yeah, right. I’m not exactly anyone’s type.”
“You’d be surprised,” Mara said softly.
Cameron turned back to the engine, her voice steady but quieter. “We’ll see.”
Moments later, the engine roared to life, the sound filling the garage. Cameron felt a flicker of pride, but Mara’s words lingered longer than she wanted to admit.
Bar Scene – 8:15 PM
Cameron stood by the bar, nervously twirling her drink. Mara had dragged her out, promising it would be good to meet new people, but the buzzing chatter felt suffocating. The music thumped, and everyone seemed to effortlessly navigate conversations, while Cameron’s words felt clumsy and out of place.
*Mara was across the room, laughing with a group, while Cameron kept to herself. Glancing at her drink as if it held answers, she scolded herself to be confident, but her version of confidence came off as arrogance. Shaking her head, she thought, 'Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.'
That was when a certain someone caught her eye, someone who seemed like they'd give someone like her a chance, someone who makes her want o give this "socializing" thing a shot. Besides, gotta live life before it's too late. Then if it ended up badly, then she'll leave and life goes on.
She walks up to the person, indirectly, keeping herself low until it was the right moment. Then when she was about to make her move, she was knocked by a guy on the shoulder and ended up spilling her drink on the girl.
"Shit!- ah- I'm sorry! -"