The next day at school, Alex arrived with one mission: find Isabela and apologize. He knew he had made a mistake by leaving her waiting in the library, and although the idea of facing her made him nervous, he couldn't ignore what had happened. He didn't want her to think he didn't care about the project, or worse, that he didn't care about her.
As he walked through the courtyard, he saw her sitting on one of the benches under the shade of a tree. She had a thick-covered book in her hands, and although the hustle and bustle of her friends filled the place, she seemed to be completely absorbed in her reading. Alex paused for a moment, hesitating. What if she didn't want to talk to him? What if she was already fed up with his lack of commitment?
He took a deep breath and walked over with a firm step. "Isabela, can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked, his voice betraying a slight nervousness.
She looked up, visibly surprised to see him there. She closed the book carefully and looked at him, her face showing a mix of curiosity and neutrality. "Sure, what's wrong?"
Alex rubbed the back of her neck, searching for the right words. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday. Things got complicated and I couldn't make it to the library. I didn't mean to stand you up, really."
Isabela nodded slowly, though her expression was still somewhat distant. "It's okay, Alex. But you should have told me. I wasted a lot of time waiting."
The tone of her voice was calm, but Alex could hear the slight reproach in her words. She felt the weight of guilt like a slab on her shoulders and decided to fix it immediately. "You're right. It wasn't right of me. How about we meet up after school today? I promise to be there this time. No matter what happens."
Isabela watched him for a moment, as if she was evaluating his sincerity. Finally, she closed her book and crossed her arms. "Okay. But if you stand me up again, forget about the project."
"Understood," Alex replied, nodding quickly. "Don't worry, I'll be there. It won't happen again."
Isabela looked at him for a moment longer before getting up from the bench. "Fine. See you in the library, then."
As she walked away to join her friends, Alex breathed a sigh of relief. Although it hadn't been easy, he felt like he'd taken the first step toward making things right. Now he just had to make sure he kept his promise.
-x.X.x-
Throughout classes, Alex couldn't quite focus. His mind kept going back to his conversation with Isabela. He didn't want to screw it up again, and although he knew her priority was the project, he couldn't help but feel eager to talk to her more. There was something about the way she looked at him, the way her voice sounded calm but firm, that made him want to try harder.
David, sitting next to him at lunch, was quick to notice his uneasiness. "Hey, what's wrong with you? You look like a nervous dog before going to the vet."
Alex looked at him with a mix of annoyance and resignation. "It's because of Isabela. She made it clear that if I stand her up again, the project is over."
David laughed. "Well, what did you expect? If you leave the prettiest girl in school waiting, she's obviously going to be upset. You're lucky she still wants to work with you."
"I know," Alex muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But it's not just that. I want this to go well. Not just because of the project, but because... well, because she seems like a nice person."
David looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Ah, I see where you're going, Rivera. Are you trying to impress Isabela? Good luck, buddy. But first, learn how to talk to her without looking like you're going to faint."
Alex gently pushed him away, though he couldn't help but smile. "Shut up, idiot."
-x.X.x-
That afternoon, Alex arrived at the library ten minutes earlier than agreed. He was determined not to make the same mistake twice, so he sat down at one of the tables in the back and took out his notebook. While he waited, he tried to calm his nerves by going over the notes he'd taken on renewable energy. However, he was having a hard time concentrating. The thought of Isabela arriving and possibly still being upset with him kept him restless.
When he saw Isabela enter, he felt his heart race. She had her backpack slung over her shoulder and a couple of books in her hand. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her calm walk contrasted with Alex's inner chaos. She gave him a slight smile as she reached the table, which gave him a small sigh of relief.
"Well, here I am. Shall we begin?" she said, taking out a notebook and organizing his notes with meticulous movements.
"Yeah, sure," Alex replied, trying to sound confident, although his voice trembled slightly. He was grateful that Isabela didn't seem to notice. As she unfolded her notes, he forced himself to look at his notes, although he couldn't help but cast small glances at her from time to time.
The topic of the project, renewable energy and the implementation of solar systems in urban areas, seemed to be something Isabela was familiar with. She took control of the conversation naturally, while Alex tried to keep up.
"So, we could divide the work into three parts: the theory behind solar panels, the economic and environmental benefits, and the difficulties of implementing them in a city like this," she explained as she wrote in her notebook with precise handwriting.
Alex nodded quickly, although he felt a little overwhelmed. "That sounds good. I could do some research on the economic benefits, if you like."
"Perfect," Isabela replied, looking up for a moment before continuing to write. "I can do the theoretical part. Although I'm not an expert, I've always found it interesting how panels convert light into electricity. Did you know they use something called the photoelectric effect? It's something that scientists like Albert Einstein studied."
Alex tried to look interested, although he barely understood what she was talking about. "Yes, I've heard about it… something like that," she said, nervously moving her pen between her fingers.
Isabela looked up, arching an eyebrow with a slight smile. "Really? Because it sounds like you have no idea what I'm talking about."
Alex let out a nervous laugh. "Well, maybe not much. But I promise to catch up. I don't want to be a dead weight on the project."
She shook her head, her expression softening a bit. "Don't worry. We all have to start somewhere. Besides, it's always more interesting to explain something when someone actually wants to learn."
As they moved forward with planning the project, the conversation became more natural. Although Isabela was an introvert, she seemed to enjoy explaining the concepts, while Alex asked questions to keep things interesting. Despite his nerves, he began to relax a bit, especially when she laughed softly at his awkward comments.
"So, how does this photoelectric effect thing work?" Alex asked, leaning slightly towards her. "Sounds like something out of science fiction."
"It's not as complicated as it sounds," Isabela replied, smiling slightly. "When light hits a surface like silicon, it releases electrons. Basically, those electrons generate electricity. It's like magic, but with science."
Alex nodded, though he wasn't sure he fully understood. "Magic with science. I like the sound of it."
Isabela laughed softly. "It's not magic, Alex. But it is fascinating."
Even as the project progressed, Alex couldn't help but feel nervous whenever Isabela looked directly at him. There was something about her calm gaze that made him feel like he was being evaluated, but not in an unpleasant way. It was like she was trying to figure him out.
When they finished structuring the project, Isabela closed her notebook and stretched slightly, letting out a sigh of relief. It was then that she noticed Alex's hands. Though he had tried to wash them before arriving, they were still slightly stained with grease and oil.
"What happened to your hands?" he asked, pointing at them.
Alex glanced at them quickly, feeling embarrassed. "Ah, this... is for the garage. I work there after school."
"A mechanic's shop?" Isabela asked, leaning forward slightly, visibly interested.
"Yeah, something like that," Alex replied, playing with his pen to cover up his nerves. "It's a small place near my house. I help out with cars and, well, I'm also learning some mechanics."
Isabela looked intrigued, her eyes shining with curiosity. "That sounds interesting. I've always thought that fixing cars must be like solving a giant puzzle. Do you like it?"
The comment took him by surprise, but cheered him up. "Yeah, quite a bit. In fact… I'm working on a car of my own. It's an old Honda Civic that was given to me. It's in pretty bad shape, but I'm fixing it up little by little."
Isabela's eyes lit up. "Really? That sounds amazing. It must be a lot of work."
Alex nodded, smiling a little more confidently. "It is, but it's also exciting. It's like my personal project. Something I want to build from scratch."
Isabela nodded slowly, her expression showing genuine interest. "It must feel great to know that you're creating something with your own hands. I've always admired people who have that kind of patience."
Alex felt more relaxed talking about the car, though he was still nervous about Isabela's attention. "Yeah, it's hard, but I think it'll be worth it when I finish it. Maybe one day I can show it to you... if I ever finish it."
"I'd love to see it," Isabela replied, smiling slightly. "You'll have to explain how it all works, though. I don't know anything about mechanics."
"Deal," Alex said, smiling back.
As they finally said goodbye, Alex felt like something had changed. Although he still felt nervous around her, he noticed there was a connection, something he hadn't expected. As Isabela walked out of the library, he gave her one last smile.
"See you tomorrow, Alex. And remember, don't be late," she said before disappearing through the door.
Alex sat for a moment, processing what had just happened. Although it had been a simple encounter, it had meant a lot to him. Not just because of the project, but because he felt like he was starting to get to know Isabela beyond the surface. With a slight smile, she packed her things and left the library, thinking that, perhaps, things were starting to change for the better.
-x.X.x-
When Alex arrived at the workshop that afternoon, she expected to find Marcos working on the Civic, perhaps welding something or checking a part. However, what she found was a very different sight. Marcos was sitting in a chair, with Vanessa on top of him, both of them laughing loudly as she tried to steal the tools from his hands.
"Give me that! You don't know how to use it," Vanessa said, pulling at a wrench as Marcos tried to keep it out of her reach.
"This isn't a toy, woman! If you break something, I'm not fixing it!" Marcos replied, though it was clear he had no intention of stopping her.
Alex froze in the doorway, feeling like he was interrupting something he shouldn't. "Uh... I guess I can come back later," he muttered, taking a step back.
Vanessa was the first to notice her presence. "Oh, look who's here! The mechanic's apprentice," she said with a mischievous smile, while still sitting comfortably on Marcos' lap.
Marcos looked up and gestured for her to come closer. "Alex! Don't worry, we're not doing anything illegal... yet."
Alex huffed uncomfortably, but entered the workshop anyway. "If you need privacy, I can leave."
Vanessa let out a laugh as she climbed off Marcos's legs. "Privacy? Please, kid. Marcos doesn't need privacy, he needs to learn how to work without me stealing his attention."
"Hey!" Marcos protested, though his smile gave it away. "I work hard, but you give me little choice when you're here flirting with me."
Vanessa crossed her arms, feigning indignation. "Flirting? Please! If it weren't for me, this workshop would fall apart. I'm the only reason you're still sane."
Marcos looked at her with an amused glint in his eyes. "Oh, right. Because having you on top of me all day definitely helps a lot."
Vanessa smiled triumphantly. "Exactly. Now, stop complaining and tell the guy why you called him."
Marcos rubbed his hands together and looked at Alex with a smile that didn't bode well. "Well, kid, I have some big news. I found an amazing deal to upgrade your Civic's brakes. A complete kit: four-piston brake calipers, ventilated discs, and new pads. They're not Brembo, but they're almost as good. With that, your car will stop like a champ."
Alex's eyes lit up. "That sounds great. How much are they?"
Marcos paused, enjoying the moment. "Six hundred dollars."
Alex's world seemed to stop. "Six hundred!? Are you crazy? How am I going to pay for that?"
Vanessa, who was leaning on one of the tables, let out a mocking laugh. "Oh, poor guy. Have you never heard of a loan? Or better yet, having a rich girlfriend?"
Alex ignored her and turned to Marcos. "Why would you buy something so expensive without consulting me?"
Marcos threw up his hands, as if he were innocent. "Because it's a good deal. Usually this kit costs more than eight hundred. I got it from a contact for six hundred. If I didn't take it now, someone else would."
"That's still a fortune!" Alex protested, putting his hands on his head.
"Ah, but it's an investment," Marcos replied, with a smile that was both confident and mischievous. "Think about this: if you ever want to race seriously, you need good brakes. There's no point in going fast if you can't stop."
Vanessa, still laughing, added, "And besides, Marcos never spends that much, even on me. You should feel special."
Alex sighed, resigned. He knew Marcos was right, but the price was a huge blow to his pocketbook. "Okay... but how am I supposed to pay for that?"
Marcos looked at him with a confident smile. "Well, I heard you got a new job at the gas station. So now you owe me six hundred dollars. But don't worry, I'm not going to charge you interest. As long as you pay me back before I retire, we're good."
Alex huffed, frustrated but aware that he had no other choice. "This is crazy. But it's okay. I'll pay you back… eventually."
Marcos opened a large box on the table and began pulling out parts. "Check this out, kid. These brake calipers are solid. They're not from a famous brand, but they have four pistons, which means better force distribution when braking. The discs are ventilated, which helps dissipate heat. And the pads are ceramic, so you won't have to worry about squealing or too much dust on the tires."
Alex looked at the parts closely, impressed by their quality, but still with the price tag hanging over his head. "And when do we install them?"
"We need to sort out the engine first," Marcos said, nodding at the Civic. "If the car won't start, the brakes are useless."
Vanessa walked over and picked up one of the brake calipers, examining it curiously. "They look nice. Maybe we should use them on my car."
Marcos raised an eyebrow. "Your car? Please. All you do with your car is fill it with makeup and shopping bags."
Vanessa shot him a challenging look. "Someone has to keep this shop looking fancy!"
Alex couldn't help but laugh at their dynamic, though he was still processing the debt he had just taken on. "Well, I hope this pays off."
"Trust me, it will," Marcos assured, patting him on the shoulder.
As they finished going through the parts and organizing the tools, David appeared at the door of the shop, pedaling his bike and breathing heavily. "Alex! We have to go! Freddy said to be early for tonight's shift."
Alex glanced at the clock and stood up immediately. "Right! I totally forgot."
Marcos looked at him with a smirk. "Ah, the guy with two jobs. Go ahead, but don't forget that you owe me six hundred dollars. If you need advice on how to survive the night shift, don't ask me. Vanessa is the expert on staying up all night."
Vanessa laughed. "Right, because I spend my nights watching you don't fall asleep on the couch."
Alex and David left the shop laughing and joking. As they pedaled to the gas station, Alex couldn't help but think about how much he had on his plate: a grueling job, a car that felt like a bottomless pit, and now a considerable amount of debt. But despite everything, he couldn't help but smile.
End of Chapter 8.