Chapter 4

A Fat Man Named Revz

Tuesday : March 4th 2025

“Uh miss, is everything okay?” 

Ruby’s attention was finally broken away from the paper as the teenaged boy addressed her. He wore the normal Hungry Jacks uniform and was pushing a broom as he cleaned up around the multitude of tables around the restaurant. He seemed somewhere between genuinely concerned and overly curious, maybe a hint of having a crush too. 

“Oh, yeah, everything is fine! I'm just studying this paperwork!” Ruby replied cheerfully, with a beaming smile. 

“You realize you've been here a couple of hours right?” The boy asked, and rightfully so.

“Yeah, if you need me to go I can, it's just, I get free refills as long as I stay, right?” Ruby replied, shaking the plastic cup. She would need all the caffeine she could get as she memorized as much of the Steel Princess character as she could in a short time. 

“No, no… you don't have to leave, I'm just curious. What is your name?” The boy asked shyly

“Ruby, yours?” 

“Matthew, but my friends call me Matty.” 

“Well, it's nice to meet you Matty! If I get in your way or you need me to leave, just tell me, okay?” Ruby told the boy, Matty. Last thing she wanted was getting thrown out mid study session, but she also didn't want some random boy flirting with her either. So being polite yet to the point seemed to be the way to go.

“Nice to meet you too Ruby. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.” With that, Matty went on his way, continuing to clean things up. Ruby sighed in relief and then turned her head back down towards the script before another customer walking in stole her attention. 

Ding ding.

A obese man with black hair, likely an American, walked into the restaurant. At first glance, he looked like the stereotypical image of the Corvette driving Florida man. Younger middle age, dirty white trainers, old fashioned aviator sunglasses, and a stained polo with khaki pants. With the Grand Prix so close, it wasn't abnormal to see tourists wandering about, but it was strange to see one so… weathered. This dude looked like he had just walked in from a hurricane despite the bright sunny evening outside. He was soaking wet, and not from sweat either. 

“This is like the equivalent of Burger King right? Can I get whatever the equivalent to a whopper is and diet coke please?” Even the man's voice was defeated, like he was down on his luck. 

“What's up with that poor bastard?” Matty said, under his breath but loud enough Ruby could hear? Ruby shrugged as the man took a seat and started emptying out his pockets. His cell phone, an old fashioned dumb flip phone, was dead. The paper map, which was folded into a square, was ruined and was falling apart. His wallet and everything in it was just as soaked. It was such an odd scene that Ruby’s curiosity got the better of her. Standing up, she went outside to her UTE and retrieved a towel for the poor man. 

“Hey, uh… here. You look like a mess? Everything okay?” As Ruby handed the man the towel, he looked at her like she was an angel sent straight from God. He took the towel with a nod and started drying himself off before speaking.

“Thank you so much. Yeah, just the victim of a practical joke gone wrong.” The man explained. Curious Ruby sat down across from him, eager to hear what happened to this man. 

“Practical joke? I don't see anyone laughing?” Ruby exclaimed. Matty too was hanging around to hear the man's story, curiosity getting the better of him too.

“Nah, my boss thought it would be funny to push me into the fountain in the park over there, but she fried all my stuff and now I'm lost…” the man explained and Ruby had to bite her tongue to not snicker a little.  The idea of this rotund individual falling into a fountain was quite amusing if a little cruel.

“Your boss sounds like a dick.” Ruby eventually said, allowing the chuckles to sneak out a little on the last word.

“She can be, she definitely has her moments. I'm Dylan by the way, but everyone calls me Revz, with a Z.” The man explained and Ruby raised an eyebrow.

“Revz? That's A weird nickname?”

“I build engines, so comes with the trade I guess.” Suddenly Ruby’s eyes lit up. Engine builder? This guy is a part of a race team?

“Oh wow?! Okay, well I guess that makes more sense! I'm Ruby, Ruby Starfire!” she said, introducing herself properly.

“Starfire? With a name like that, you would be a superhero or something?” Revz replied with a laugh, a smile returning to his face. 

“I try to be a hero a little bit everyday, but I don't know about the super part…” Ruby giggled.

“Well today you're my hero, thank you for the towel.” 

“There goes my hero, watch him as he goes…” Matty gives his own little cover of the Foo Fighters as brought over a tray with the hamburger and fries, getting a much more hearty chuckle out of the American. 

“Hehehe, Foo Fighters, love it. You sing for everyone kid?”

“Thank mate, me and some friends have a little garage band, but it's mostly just us.”

“You got a good voice Matty! I've got a friend who's always looking for cover bands for filming projects. Do you know any Rolling Stones songs?”

“Uh, I mean, we could probably learn them, but The Rolling Stones are a hard act to follow.” Matty giggled, rubbing the back of his head nervously. Meanwhile back in the kitchen, one of Matty’s coworkers piped up.

“You should hear him in the shower mate, he sounds less like a road-killed koala…”

“Hey fuck off mate…” Poor Matty barked back but both Ruby and Revz were laughing at this point. 

“Hey, don't listen to him kid…” Revz tried to say, but Matty was already rolling up his sleeves and heading towards the back to sort things out with his coworker.

“I hope this isn't your first time in Australia, I promise we aren't always this mean…” Ruby giggled.

“Nah, it's fine. So eh, Ruby, what's the best way to get to Phillip Island.” Ruby tilted her head as she took a sip out of her drink. A sly smile came across her lips as she saw a new door swing wide open for her. 

“I could take you there!” With a few words and a giggle, she pounced on the opportunity like a cat onto a mouse. A brand new adventure was about to kick off!