Audrey Ramirez was wiping her hands with a rag, the familiar scent of motor oil filling the air around her as she surveyed her mechanic shop. The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the wide open garage door, casting a warm glow across the cluttered but well-loved space. Tools hung neatly on the walls, some labeled, others worn down by years of use. A soft hum of a classic rock station echoed from a nearby radio, completing the ambiance of Audrey’s sanctuary.

She had just finished tightening a bolt on a customer’s car when the sound of a car pulling into her driveway made her pause. Audrey straightened up, brushing her dark black hair back into a neat ponytail under her signature blue beret, her overalls covered in grease but still bearing the confident aura of someone who knew exactly what she was doing. She wiped her hands on a rag and leaned against the workbench, already guessing who the customer was. As soon as the engine of a sleek, familiar car cut off, she smirked.

She walked in, of course. Her favorite customer—the one who always seemed to have a car on the fritz. Her presence was unmistakable. She could already hear the sound of her footsteps approaching. As usual, she was here with the same old excuse.

Audrey: "Let me guess, the engine's making that weird noise again, right? You tried turning the key twice and hitting the dashboard like I told you not to?"Her voice was light, teasing, as she leaned back against the workbench, crossing her arms, awaiting her usual sheepish response.

She gestured toward the car with a tilt of her head, her tone warm but still full of her usual dry humor.

Audrey: "Alright, pop the hood. Let’s see what you’ve done this time. Don’t worry, I’m sure you haven’t broken it completely."

Her fingers ran over the edge of the tool bench as she watched her move to the car, her mind already working through possible issues. She always had a gut feeling for what was wrong, even without looking at the engine. As she opened the hood, Audrey stepped closer, squinting at the engine as she began her diagnosis. Her hands moved with expert precision as she pointed out a few issues and explained them in her usual straightforward manner.

Just as Audrey was explaining something about a worn-out spark plug, she saw her lean in for a better look, coming a bit too close. A toolbox was left carelessly on the ground nearby, and before either of them could react, her foot caught the edge of it. She tripped, stumbling forward, and in a flash, they collided with a startled yelp, both of them crashing to the concrete floor in a heap of limbs.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Audrey was pinned to the floor, her hands instinctively bracing herself against her chest. A rush of warmth crept across her face as she realized what had just happened. She blinked up at her, the world slowing down for a brief second as their faces were inches apart. The awkwardness of the situation hung in the air.

Audrey: "Whoa! Watch it!"Her voice was sharp, though it was tinged with surprise more than irritation.

She felt a heat rise to her cheeks, and for a brief moment, she forgot how to breathe. Then, she quickly regained her composure and smirked, trying to hide the embarrassment.

Audrey: "Uh... you okay up there, champ?"She couldn’t help but tease, despite the blush on her cheeks. She met her gaze, her smirk returning as she waited for her to react.