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Greaseball was quite known to be an arrogant asshole thanks to him being the world champion. So it was no surprise to anybody when he showed up for a race. Sure his looks were just like people said they were and he did look good, but it really wasn't worth his attitude.
Well most coaches did think it was worth his attitude especially since they all wanted a chance to race with him. To feel what it's like to have a victory with the world champion. The only one who didn't seem phased at all was Dinah. The diner car seemed to get annoyed whenever people mentioned Greaseball to her.
“Why do you hate him so Dinah?” Carrie asked, just being curious. She knew her friend had some different opinions when it came to many things but she expected her to swoon just as much as all of them.
“Listen, a handsome face won't change his attitude is garbage. He doesn't see us as important. We're just the coaches that can make him look strong and important. In the end we are just tools to use and I know my own self worth. I'm worth more than he will give me.”
Carrie nodded and smiled. Typically Dinah being headstrong and she was right they did deserve to be treated with a little more respect. Those thoughts however did nothing to stop her from thinking the engine was hot. She had a feeling Dinah might have more trouble with keeping her composure than she would like to admit.
Dinah sighed a little knowing that the other girls were just excited to have a chance. She just didn't want to give someone like Greaseball the light of day. Especially when they were just out to use them.
While skating a voice made her stop even if it was for a bit. “Hey coach.” She felt a shiver going through her chassis at the low tone. Turning around she looked at the person that the voice belonged to only to feel her face pull into an annoyed look.
“I have a name you know.” She said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over each other while glaring the man down.
Greaseball on his part scoffed. “Aren't you a Sunshine. Anyways, what's your name coach?” he asked, a little intrigued by the fact that she was the only one not fully swooning just yet. Well at least in his eyes she would swoon soon enough.
“Dinah, not like you'll remember either way.” The coach rolled her eyes and turned around once more to get away from him. Engines like him really gave the sweet ones like Rusty a bad name. And Dinah wasn’t gonna let a loud diesel engine ruin her mood. “Anyways if that is all there is to this conversation I’ll be gone. You know I got better places to be.”
“Better places? Oh come on little coach give me one chance?”
“I just told you my name and the fact that you’re not using it tells me enough. You’re just one of those annoying engines that thinks he’s so much better than everybody while you know you still need coaches right? Without us you’re nothing.” Dinah finally moved away from him, not letting him get another chance to speak. Sure he looked hot but clearly he didn’t have any brains.
Greaseball was left behind with his mouth gaping open. Never had a coach been this sassy to him and honestly he thought it was kind of interesting. Sure his ego told him she was supposed to be fawning all over him but honestly he liked that she actually had the balls to stand up for herself. He needed her to give him an actual chance and he would get it no matter what he had to do for it.
Dinah went to the other coaches to see how her girls were doing. After all, Greaseball didn’t come alone and there were more rowdy diesel engines around now. And sure she talked to Carrie before but she didn’t know how Belle was holding up. Sure the bar car was sturdy but still Dinah was just worried for both her and Carrie. She found them at the race track where most engines practiced.
“So how are the two of you hanging on?” Dinah asked once she was close enough. She watched as Belle pried her eyes away from the track to look at her and smile
“Hey Dinah.” She said, giving the coach a hug before looking back at the track. “Honestly they’re loud but pretty hot. I swear they’re all pretty cool. I would do anything for a chance to race with any of them.”
“Well aren’t you lucky that they need a coach for the races anyways.” Carrie smiled before also giving Dinah a hug. “Although not gonna lie I know you don’t want to hear it Dinah but honestly Greaseball is pretty hot while training.”
Dinah rolled her eyes. “He’s also a jerk that doesn’t know how to deal with a coach so in the end he’s nothing. Listen, the conversation…no it wasn’t even a conversation, the interaction I had with him told me all I needed to know so I’m not a fan.”
She got both of their attention with that comment before they looked at each other and back at her. “He talked to you?” Belle just raised her brow in a way that said spill the tea girl.
“Yeah he said hey coach and I told him I had a name so the cocky bastard asked what my name was only to still call me coach while asking for a chance so at this point I really don’t like him and his stupid deep voice.” Dinah rolled her eyes once more, missing the way the other two just smirked knowingly at each other.
“I’m gonna say this just because I love you Dinah but honestly maybe you’re already swooning.” Carrie tried her best to not laugh at the same time while saying it.
Dinah looked so offended at her friend before looking back at the tracks where some of the diesels were skating rounds. “Whatever Carrie we both know I wouldn’t fall for a jerk like him. He needs to change his attitude and next to that it’s not like he cares anyways.” She hated how she wished he would care or would try for her. She knew it was unrealistic especially with people falling for him left and right but honestly it didn’t stop her from it.
The minute she stopped focusing on her own thoughts she watched as the devil himself skated onto the field. Sure she knew he would probably train here but she really didn’t need to see him. Before she could even look away from him he saw her and winked at her making her look more annoyed although she could feel her face going a bit red.
“Mhm so much for staying strong Dinah. One little wink and you’re down.” Belle said laughing knowing it wasn’t fully true but she just thought it was funny to watch the diner get annoyed over a simple engine. Especially one they both knew she would be into.
Dinah pretended to watch the other engines while her eyes were practically glued to the man that seemed to keep watching her. She threw him another glare to get the message across that she didn’t like him but the only effect it seemed to have is that he got a cocky smirk on his face while stretching. She watched as his muscles flexed and part of her wanted to know what it would feel like to feel them flexing against her hand. As soon as the thought showed up in her brain she pushed it aside. She couldn’t let this engine get to her head. She was better than that.
Stretching didn’t take long and watching him skate around didn’t help her at all. Her brain kept focusing on how amazing his muscles looked while he flexed them. And it kept distracting her from how annoying his personality was.
After a while she heard giggling next to her so she struggled to pull her eyes away from the diesel on the tracks to look at the two coaches next to her. “What's so funny?” She asked genuinely confused and a little annoyed she couldn't watch Greaseball while those two were giggling.
“Listen Dinah I know you clearly hate him so much but watching while biting your lip and not looking anywhere else doesn't give anybody the idea that you dislike him.” Belle laughed more while saying it. She loved Dinah but that diner could be so stubborn about things while clearly she was into him.
“I-no. I wasn't.” Dinah began trying to make them see that wasn't what she was doing but her face told a different story. Her face was burning up and her eyes kept glancing at the man on the tracks making her sigh. “Okay he's nice to look at.”
“We know. Why do you think we kept telling you that you wouldn't be able to hate him for too long.” Carrie smiled at her. “You know it's okay to enjoy watching him. No need to be ashamed.”
“I know but he's genuinely an awful person and I really don't want to stand here gaping over how his muscles look so nice when he's flexing and how the sun makes his stupid hair shine a bit brighter, making me want to ruffle it. Or how that stupid cocky smirk makes me just want to kiss him. He's all I ever wanted in an engine yet at the same time he's the most annoying engine around. I'm not sure if I should slap him or kiss him at this point.”
Both Carrie and Belle shared a look before making their opinion very known. “Kiss him, give him a chance. Maybe just maybe he could be the one.” Sure it might backfire but if it did they would catch her and make him pay for the pain he would try to cause their friend. “If it doesn't work out we'll just send CB after him. We all know he'd do anything to see you smile.”
Dinah let out a laugh. “That breaking van loves causing chaos too much. And if that wasn't the case he sure loves wrecking people way too much. So either way he will do it I know. And maybe I'll think about it.”
She barely finished her sentence before the other two giggled again. She looked confused and watched as they slowly looked behind her. “Hi coaches, hi Dinah.” A voice said, causing her to swiftly turn around only to be face to face with Greaseball again.
“So you do remember my name, that's impressive.” Dinah said letting the annoyance show again. Sure it wasn't fully there since her eyes still traveled over him but she felt like it was good enough.
“Of course I remember the name of the pretty coach. How can I forget it? Now I have a question for you.” Dinah nodded to let him know she was listening. “So would you like to go out with me?”
Dinah scoffed. “After one little interaction you already want to go on a date?” She asked, feeling herself burn up more. She liked the idea but she felt like she had to protect herself at least a little.
“Well what I noticed you seem to enjoy looking at me and I enjoy looking at you so I thought it would be a logical step.” Greaseball said, emphasizing his point by looking her up and down.
“So you just want me to end up in your bed? Not gonna happen.”
“Obviously you're too classy for that. But I do think it would be nice to go on a date. Give me one chance afterwards you can tell me you don't want to see me anymore.” He gave her his signature smirk.
Dinah sighed deeply knowing that one date couldn't hurt…right? “On one condition you win this race. You lose I won't go out with you, you win I'll think about it deal?”
“Deal.” Greaseball got a big grin on his face knowing that he had this. “Although let me guess you're not gonna help me win this race by being my coach?” When Dinah shook her head he sighed but nodded. “Alright I'll get another coach to race with and I'll win.” After that he walked away and left Dinah alone with Carrie and Belle.
Carrie squealed. “You're gonna go on a date with Greaseball look at you go Dinah.” She shook the girl in her excitement.
“Woah calm down Carrie.” The girl said back trying to regain her balance once more. “Besides, I'm not sure yet. It all depends on if he wins the race. What if he loses?”
“Girl be realistic Greaseball losing? What are you even on about? All of us know he's gonna win, especially with him wanting to go on a date with you so badly. So all you have to do is watch him win and drool all over his muscles while he's winning.” Belle couldn't contain her amused smile while wrapping an arm around Dinah. “So if anything, just get ready to say yes to the date and everything will be fine. He now has an extra reason to want to win.”
Dinah giggled a little excited herself. Sure she still thought it was probably a bad idea and the man clearly didn't know how to act towards a coach but something about him made her want to teach him. She would make sure he would treat her right.
In the days afterwards she went to check up on the training. She was curious to see who he chose as his partner for this race. Especially with him wanting to win. She was kind of surprised to see it being CB. But again the freight was pretty nimble so it made sense in a way. She watched as the two of them went over the track, a little surprised that they seemed so in tune already. Every curve in the track they seemed to take with ease never having to slow down much. She was impressed with it all.
Every day that she watched them they seemed to get more in sync if that was even possible. And every single training made her think that indeed it made a lot of sense if Greaseball would win this. Sure she wasn’t sure how good the others were but watching them going through the track like it’s nothing gave her the feeling that they at least had a good chance. And watching their confident faces she had the feeling both of them knew that as well.
When the day of the race arrived Dinah felt herself being more tense than normal. Although that shouldn’t be as much of a surprise considering that she knew the stakes and if anything a certain diesel engine seemed a lot more fired up about winning this race.
Dinah made sure to be on the front row so she had a good view of the race especially since she didn’t participate. The minute CB noticed her he waved, so she waved back at him with a smile. That caused Greaseball to look over as well and to give her a little smirk and a wink causing her to blush and smile a little. As soon as she pulled her eyes away from him Carrie and Belle sat next to her to watch as well. Most of the trains had their own compartments with them so they weren’t really needed.
Watching as the race started Dinah couldn’t help but feel the nerves in her body getting worse at every twist and turn the two made. Sure Greaseball sure made it look easy with how he moved over the track and just seemed to be in his element. CB just held onto him tightly and looked around to just make sure none of the other engines would try to harm him so he could keep Greaseball in first place.
The race itself was pretty interesting with some of the other engines trying to get past Greaseball. It never seemed to work thanks to him figuring out their moves and pushing them to the side or speeding up. At one point he even slowed down and let one go past him only to watch him having to stop before one of the curves where he could flawlessly get through. At one point there was another engine that got close to getting past them but Greaseball even seemed to have a strategy for that one, they sped up before going through the curve where CB braked and caused them both to go quicker through the curve. She wasn't sure how they did it but they seemed to drift through the curve before speeding up once more to get over the finish line.
Even after they finished Dinah still sat there in awe about the last trick. “That was really impressive.” She heard from beside her. Hearing the voice she turned and could only nod at Carrie who seemingly had said it.
“Well girl, get ready for Mr world champion since he will probably be here as soon as he can.” Belle sounded amused while saying it and Dinah couldn't really believe the fact that she was genuinely considering it.
“One date is all he gets.” She said partially hoping he would prove her wrong and show her that he would be worth it to keep dating. But for as long as she wasn't sure she would keep it on this one date.
“Of course it doesn't mean that you shouldn't get ready to tell him yes you know.” Belle seemed too amused with the situation and it made Dinah groan. “You know I love your suffering so before you say anything you knew this would happen.”
Sadly enough Dinah had to agree on that one. She knew her friends and knew both of them were like this. “Well wait until you're in my position. I'll make sure you'll pay the price.”
Belle just laughed it off. “We both know I'm just me by myself.”
“For now!” Carrie corrected her, giving her a little glare before laughing as well. “Anyways nervous already?”
“Nope, nothing could make me nervous about this. Maybe we're already gone with CB when he shows up.”
“Hey Dinah!” A voice shouted from further away making her jump and look up just to watch a certain engine make his way up to them. “Did you see?” He was so proud of himself.
“Yeah it was really impressive I gotta admit that.” Dinah answered, her own face lighting up with a smile before looking him up and down once more. “So you did win the race.”
“I sure did. It wasn't even all that difficult, especially since I know what this means. You'll give me the chance right?” Greaseball looked at her, hope present in his eyes and it made her feel like she was melting. Behind him CB made a face and Dinah almost lost it before once more looking at Greaseball.
“Fine one date.” She rolled her eyes the minute he got his smirk back on his face. “Don't get too used to coupling with me.”
Greaseball laughed. “We'll see about that pretty girl. After this date you might want more, who knows.”
Thinking back about how this was the start of her relationship with Greaseball Dinah couldn't be happier to still be with the silly engine no matter how arrogant he was sometimes. In the end they were made for each other and he was all hers just like she was all his.