The Mechanic Pt. 03

"Hey, there she is!"

Riley turned round to see her friends walking up to her. They were in on the plan and had been waiting for Riley and Rowan to arrive. They had been so excited they would finally meet Rowan, although the boys were much better at hiding it than the girls. Riley had pleaded with them not to make a scene and be on their best behaviour. She felt nervous about all of them being here. Although only Sarah was pivotal, the others couldn't just be stripped out of her master plan for impressing Rowan. However, this did mean springing her friends on Rowan all at once, without warning. But then, she'd have to bite the bullet sometime, if she and Rowan were going to be together. She reprimanded herself for getting ahead of herself. They were still very far from being together.

"Damn girl, you look stunning!" Finn said, provoking a poke in his ribs from his girlfriend, Sarah. "Ouch. I just meant to say, Rowan is a lucky lady. If I were her I'd be trying very hard to get even luckier tonight, if you know what I mean." He grinned sleazily.

"Everyone knows what you mean, honey. And Riley is not going to put out tonight!" Sarah gave both of them a stern look. As if Riley needed reminding. She had a feeling that despite the challenging task she had set herself tonight, the main ordeal would be to resist getting physical with Rowan.

"Where is she, anyway?" asked Jenny, barely containing her excitement at meeting her friend's enigmatic heartthrob.

"Over there." Her boyfriend, Ollie, nodded towards the bar. Out of the four friends, he was the only one who had met Rowan before, having called her out drunkenly in the pub for not calling Riley back. Understandably, he seemed a bit on edge about seeing her again.

"So you actually did it. She is here, wearing the tux and all," Sarah said, beaming like a proud mother praising her child's incomprehensibly scribbled drawing.

Riley nodded, now getting really nervous about the moment Rowan and her friends would meet. What if they didn't behave? What if Rowan didn't? She didn't have much time to consider this, as Rowan was now coming over with the drinks. She was clearly surprised to see Riley surrounded by a group of people.

"I don't think I brought enough drinks," she said casually while giving Riley a curious glance. Did she look annoyed? Riley couldn't tell.

"So you are the infamous Rowan," Sarah couldn't help jumping in there, looking Rowan up and down, assessing what Riley saw in her. She gave Riley an approving look, as if Rowan wasn't standing right in front of her. Riley was mortified; there it was, someone was misbehaving already.

"Infamous?" Rowan chuckled, "I know I may look like I belong in a Mafia movie, but infamous...?"

"James Bond, more like," Finn countered.

"I don't usually dress like this - you know, can't blow my cover - but this one here had me convinced I would stand out without this." Rowan deliberately looked around the room at the crowd, which was, on average, dressed much more casually. "Clearly, I'm not standing out at all now," she grinned.

Riley smiled and shrugged. Rowan would stand out wherever she went, whatever she wore. Riley cursed herself for swooning like a schoolgirl.

"Rowan, let me introduce you to my friends," she said quickly. She addressed each of them in turn while Rowan shook their hands and said it was nice to meet them.

When she got to Ollie, Rowan interrupted her: "Oliver, right? I remember you." She grinned cheekily at him and Ollie looked away embarrassed. Riley was amazed to see her cavalier charm didn't only work on naive straight girls like she had once believed herself to be.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I had a few too many that night. I shouldn't have said all of that," Ollie mumbled.

"It's all good. Drunk people are the most honest. Isn't that what they say?" She winked at Ollie, who actually blushed a little. Riley felt her own cheeks redden too. Ollie's drunken confessions had told Rowan everything she needed to know about Riley's true feelings for her.

"You guys are so late. We almost thought you weren't coming," Jenny said then, her voice containing a hint of worry and her eyes questioning Riley.

"Well, someone wasn't ready when she was being picked up...," Riley said with a nod towards Rowan.

Rowan huffed. "Do you see how many pieces this thing has?" She gestured at the tux. "And then I had to find my shoes. I figured you would send me back up if I'd worn sneakers."

"You're absolutely right. And then you had to have a little moment about the Mustang." Riley looked at her friends and added: "There may have been some drooling..."

"It wasn't just the car that caused that," Rowan countered with a sly grin, easily taking back control of the situation and making Riley blush again.

"Drooling or not, you missed the opportunity to enjoy my lovely company. I have to run. I'll catch you in the intermission," Sarah said then. She gave Finn a quick kiss and rushed off.

When none of the friends seemed surprised by this, Rowan gave Riley a questioning look. She didn't ask anything, though. In fact, she hadn't asked much at all; not what they were here to see; why she needed to wear a tux; why all her friends were here too. She seemed relaxed and quite happy to take things as they came. She wasn't being particularly affectionate or romantic towards Riley, but what could she expect, really, from someone who didn't date? Thankfully, there were still Rowan's cheeky flirtations, which made Riley feel that she was at least somewhat enjoying herself.

An announcement was made that the show was about to start and the group made their way into the theatre. As they sat down, Rowan took in the setting on the stage. Several people were already milling around, sorting through their sheet music and tuning their instruments.

"An orchestra? I should have known...," Rowan mused.

"Yeah," Riley replied, "what do you think? Is it alright?" Why did she have to ask that? She had been doing so well, playing it cool. But her need for a sign of appreciation had gotten the better of her. She needed to know that Rowan was having a good time; that she wasn't regretting being here; ideally, that Riley's actions were beginning to melt Rowan's stoic no-romance attitude.

Thankfully, Rowan smiled at her. "Yeah, it's alright." Riley had hoped for a little more but Rowan seemed genuine, so that would have to do for now.

"Hey, isn't that Harley, I mean your friend, Sarah, on the stage?" Rowan pointed towards the string section, where Sarah had entered and was now settling down with her cello.

Riley nodded. "She's part of the orchestra. What did you call her? Harley?"

Rowan smiled. "That's just the motorbike she reminds me of, so that's what I've called her in my head."

"You remember that?" Riley asked, strangely moved that - despite her obviously frequent habit of picking up girls in bars - Rowan remembered such a small detail about the conversations they'd had when they had first met. She allowed herself to think that bode well for tonight.

"Of course I remember. I never forget a motorbike," Rowan said in the same way people say they never forget a face. It made Riley smile. Somehow she knew it was true; Rowan would forget faces, but not bikes.

Riley, of course, remembered that night well too, having replayed it so many times in her head; how Rowan had given such accurate choices of motorbikes that matches her and her friends' personalities; how she had surprised Riley by asking what music she would play for her. Did the mechanic remember what Riley had answered?

The lights in the audience were dimmed and the conductor entered the stage. The audience applauded and then quieted down. Soon, the tones of the first of Vivaldi's Four Seasons swept through the theatre.

After a while, still nervous about how this date was received, Riley glanced at Rowan, whose eyes were glued to the stage. Riley, on the other hand, struggled to drag hers away from the mechanic's handsome profile. A strand of her dark hair had escaped and hung nonchalantly across her forehead. The stage lights reflected enchantingly in her brown eyes, adding to the mesmerising draw she had on Riley.

Rowan's tattooed hand was resting lightly on the armrest between their chairs, so close Riley would touch it if she moved but an inch. She felt sorely tempted to hold Rowan's hand. Could she do that? Was that too date-y? Another wave of insecurity rushed through her and she decided against it. Instead she shuffled in her seat so her leg brushed against Rowan's knee, which was man-spread in her direction. When Rowan didn't retreat, Riley allowed her knees to gently lean against Rowan's, enjoying the physical contact. She directed her gaze firmly at the stage so as to not make 'a thing' out of it and scare Rowan off.

Vivaldi was followed by Brahms and Chopin, each piece briefly introduced by the conductor, who made it accessible even to those not very familiar with classical music. When the orchestra broke up for the intermission, so also broke Riley and Rowan's tenuous contact. When they were leaving for the foyer, Riley felt Rowan's hand lightly touch her lower back to steady her as she made her way up the stairs. It sent shivers down her spine and Riley wished the stairs would go on forever.

"What did you think, Rowan?" Jenny took the words out of Riley's mouth as they were gathered in the foyer, sipping their drinks. In a way, Riley was glad she didn't have to ask the question and risk coming across insecure again.

Rowan swallowed the last bite of the canape she'd been eating. Riley saw that she had another two in a napkin. She gave Rowan an amused look, which the mechanic returned with an apologetic grin.

"You didn't tell me anything about what we were doing. I didn't have dinner. I thought that might have been part of the plan," she whispered to Riley, before turning to Jenny and saying sincerely: "That was great. And Sarah is clearly very talented."

"Have you ever been to something like this before?" Finn asked. Riley felt her hackles going up. He was being so rude, implying a mechanic surely wouldn't frequent theatres and classical music performances. Or was Riley just being sensitive?

Rowan certainly didn't seem fazed by the question. "I have, a few times," she said vaguely. Once again, Riley pictured her at fancy events with Diana, being the older woman's most dazzling accessory; better than a limited edition Gucci bag.

Her thoughts were stopped from going down that depressing trail by Sarah joining them. Everyone congratulated her on a great performance, which Sarah accepted with exaggerated bows.

"Right, I need the bathroom like there's no tomorrow," Sarah said unceremoniously. Riley nodded. This was her cue.

"I'll join you," she said quickly, shooting a quick glance at Rowan. She'd be alright, wouldn't she? Jenny and the boys knew what to do. They wouldn't let Rowan run off, or let her come looking for Riley. They had strict instructions to usher Rowan back to her seat when the show was about to continue.

Sarah and Riley made a beeline for the restrooms before veering off towards the backstage area as soon as they were out of sight.

"I've put your music out and Jim here is happy to be your page turner. The conductor will announce you first thing after the break. So we should be all ready to go."

Riley nodded nervously. Of course, she'd been on stage quite a few times and it was far from her first rodeo when it came to playing with an orchestra, but this time she was the special guest and she was trying to impress a special guest of her own.

"Are you okay, sweetie? Nervous?" Sarah asked kindly. Riley nodded again.

"You'll be great. You are going to sweep her off her feet."

Riley smiled and hugged Sarah gratefully. She was so glad to have her friend with her on the stage for this. It felt good to have her support, musically and emotionally.

"I better go and take my place. See you up there. Good luck!" At that Sarah left her to fret nervously at the side of the stage, while more and more musicians went back onstage. She could also see the audience slowly trickle back into the theatre. She couldn't see Rowan from where she was standing, so she just had to trust her friends to have brought her back in, despite Riley not having reappeared in the foyer.

The conductor went on next and after the applause had quieted down, he started his announcement. Riley heard him introduce her and the piece they were going to play next. He told the audience how its composer, Gershwin, had been inspired by the mechanical noises on a train journey, which to Riley seemed such a nice parallel with Rowan's excitement for engine sounds. She hoped the piece would resonate with Rowan as much as it reminded Riley of her: its multi-layered, bold, and unapologetic character; how it stood out from the rest of the concert - from anything else around it, just as Rowan herself did.

The applause swelled again and Riley knew it was time to go on. 'Don't stumble', she urged herself. This was so much more nerve-racking than any other time she'd played. She made it to the piano unscathed and faced the audience for a quick acknowledgement. She couldn't see into the crowd with the bright lights in her face but made a deliberate effort to look in the direction of her friends and her date.

Sitting down, her hands hovering over the keys, Riley saw they were trembling slightly. That was normal; she always had that. It would stop after the first note. She nodded at the page-turner, at the conductor: ready. And she started.

As soon as her fingers touched the keys, Riley's nerves dissipated. She lost herself in the music and felt the familiar thrill when the orchestra joined in. Even Rowan disappeared from her mind as her fingers touched the keys lovingly in ever-changing combinations, creating those unique jazz-like sequences that characterised this 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

As usual, it was over too quickly. Riley could have played on forever; she enjoyed the challenge this piece provided, the sense of accomplishment when she nailed it. In a daze, Riley took a bow, only vaguely aware of the volume of the standing ovation she received.

It wasn't until she was backstage again that she slowly came back to her senses. When planning this evening, she had never thought past this moment. This was what it had all been about; she wasn't sure what to do next. After a moment's reflection, she decided she would sneak back into the audience and find her seat, like nothing had happened. However, as she emerged from the stage door, she was startled by a familiar husky voice: "So this is where you disappeared off to..."

Rowan was leaning casually against the wall, clearly waiting for her. Riley smiled shyly. Now that her great moment of surprise had passed, she had no bravado left to face Rowan. She wished she had at least prepared a little bit; knew at least one thing to say afterwards.

"That was it, wasn't it? The piece you said you would play for me?" Rowan looked at her intently, no hint of her usual amusement or cockiness on her face. Riley nodded, still not knowing what to add.

Rowan took her hand and gently pulled her closer. She intertwined her fingers with Riley's. Riley's nerves surged back in full force. She decided there and then that this was even scarier than getting on that stage.

"I can see why you picked it. That was great... Thank you." Rowan's dark eyes held her gaze with an unprecedented intensity and Riley could see a whirlwind of emotions in them. What was the mechanic thinking? More than ever, Riley was dying to know what was going on inside Rowan's head.

"Really...," Rowan added after a moment, "that was beautiful. I can't believe you just did that for me."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it," Riley replied meekly. What happened to her brilliant plans to sweep Rowan off her feet? It appeared she was the one being swept off her feet again. And unlike her, Rowan didn't even have to make any grand gestures; all she had to do was look into Riley's eyes. What was wrong with her!?

Riley suddenly felt very insecure about standing in the empty foyer, in such close proximity to this stunning woman, who she sensed was having some pretty intense feelings in this very moment too. Megan's warnings came back to her again: 'Don't be alone with her.' Riley felt the temptation grow with every second Rowan was still looking at her, letting her eyes roam over Riley's lips. She was doing her magic again: flirting with her eyes, with her body; making Riley weak at the knees without saying a single word.

"Shall we go back inside?" Riley asked softly, not wanting - but needing - this moment to end.

"If we have to..." Rowan smiled, a hint of sadness shining through.

Fighting the urge to usher Rowan into the nearest restroom cubicle instead, Riley nodded and started towards the theatre hall, not letting go of Rowan's hand. They slipped quietly back into their seats, Riley receiving meaningful glances from her friends upon seeing their connected hands. Riley willed them not to comment, not to make a scene that would undoubtedly burst this beautiful bubble she found herself in. But her concerns were ungrounded; her friends didn't say anything and Rowan seemed happy to keep holding her hand, resting it lightly on Riley's thigh. Riley was acutely aware of the back of Rowan's hand on her leg. She could feel its warmth, despite the fabric of her dress preventing their skin from touching.

As the sweet tones of the violins swept over the audience, Riley looked at Rowan in the semi-darkness. This time Rowan turned to meet her eyes and smiled at her. Riley smiled back, feeling a surge of affection for this woman, who still remained such a mystery to her. Encouraged by the intimacy of the moment, Riley laid her head on Rowan's broad shoulder, still half expecting to be gently shrugged off. Instead, she felt Rowan briefly touching her head to Riley's, before directing her gaze back to the stage.

Riley stayed there for the remainder of the concert, despite her ear being pressed into the mechanic's muscular shoulder, providing a distorted musical experience. She couldn't believe that she was sitting here so closely connected with Rowan, so date-y, so couple-y. Riley enjoyed it to the fullest, knowing full on well that it may not last.

When they walked out a while later, Rowan sure seemed to have gotten into the date spirit, letting Riley hold her arm. She seemed a bit lost in thought and wasn't her usual boisterous self. Riley hoped that she was in awe of the music and, even better, of Riley playing for her; instead of wondering how she got here and figuring out a way out.

"Allow me," Rowan said, as they reached the car, before gallantly opening the driver's door for Riley. Riley stepped inside and turned round just in time to catch Rowan looking at her backside. Rowan was back to being herself, it seemed. She grinned cheekily, unperturbed about the fact she'd been caught red-handed. Not a complete gentleman after all then.

The drive home was spent with Riley grasping Rowan's hand after every time she had to switch gears. She knew she was being needy but she couldn't help it. It was so great feeling Rowan's skin, after all this time she'd been fantasising about it. Rowan sported a grin like a schoolboy, which formed a stark contrast with her pensive mood earlier. Somehow, this made Riley less nervous. At least now she was getting an idea of what was going on in Rowan's head; seeing her steal glances at Riley's long legs as she moved the pedals.

"Can I take her round the block?" Rowan asked when Riley stopped the car outside the garage. "Just to see what she feels like?"

Riley sensed that Rowan wasn't being ambiguous this time; she really was talking about the car. It was just like her that the car was the primary thing on her mind now. It reminded Riley of the moment they had come back to the garage after the test drive all those weeks ago; how she had been lost and forgotten to her motorbike alter-ego.