Becoming Flynn - a kissing booth fan fiction

Sixteen

A/N: Thanks for your patience, I haven't been well. As a reward for the long wait, here's a long chapter. Hope you like it.

I finally found the motorcycle I wanted and now it's mine. I wanted something I could work on myself, something kinda retro looking and cool. I probably look like an idiot riding along with a massive grin on my face, but I don't care. The fact that I can jump on my bike whenever I want and go wherever I want is amazing.

On days when I don't have football practice I ride my bike to school and there are a few benefits to this besides the joy of riding itself. Firstly, it gets me out of driving Lee and Elle to school, which means I don't have to start my day listening to those two chattering about the latest freshman gossip. Secondly, the bike is like a magnet, in that once I park in the lot at school, it takes all of about 30 seconds before I'm surrounded. The bike is definitely good for my social life, that's for sure.

But the best thing about riding my motorcycle to school isn't the attention I get from girls or being free of responsibilities. It's getting the chance to explore in the precious couple of hours between when school finishes and when my parents get home from work. I roam endlessly, the bike allowing me to travel further afield than I've been able to before. Weirdly though, my greatest discovery ends up being pretty close to home.

I'm winding my way through the hills, getting more and more confident cornering on the bike, when I spot a parking lot off to the side of the road. Indicating, I pull over and come to a stop before I notice a trail leading off to the right. There's no signpost to tell me where it leads, but I figure there's got to be a point to it being there, so I start down the path. Five or so minutes later, I realize where I am, the big white letters of the Hollywood sign stretching up above me.

But the tacky landmark beloved by tourists to the 'City of Angels' isn't what captures my attention, it's the view from in front of it. Today, with minimal smog over the city, it's clear and breathtaking. Laid out below me, the city sprawl stretches out to meet the ocean, and beyond that, the water reaches the horizon. I pause, taking it all in and wonder how much better it would look once the sun sets and the lights come on.

What I notice next is how quiet it is up here, above all the chaos and frustration of the constant traffic, not even the faint sound of a horn beeping in the distance reaches me. I sit on the dry grass just off the path and enjoy this little moment of peace. I've never been someone who needed constant company, I quite enjoy being with my own thoughts and having the space to form them properly. I can't believe nobody else is here, but I'm absolutely glad for it. After awhile I check the time on my phone and sigh. I need to be getting home, but resolve to come back soon, maybe after dark one night this weekend.

Pulling into the driveway at home, I see Mom has beaten me home and prepare myself for questions about where I've been. Instead, when I walk into the kitchen, she grabs me in a hug instead, her face tear-streaked. A shiver of panic runs through me as I wrap my arms around her back.

"Mom, what's happened?"

"Oh honey, it's Joni. She's back in hospital."

"Okay..." this was nothing new. Elle's Mom had been in and out of hospital for the last few years.

"The doctors told Mike today that she probably won't come out again."

The realization of what those words meant hit me like a lightning bolt.
"You mean she's going to die?"

Mom drew back to look at my face. "Not tomorrow, not next week, but yeah, she's going to be in hospital now until the end."

I had the sudden urge to hit something and took a step back from Mom, rubbing my hands through my hair. "Does Elle know?"