Just lucky

Chapter 1

     Trigger ⚠️: Profanity, gun violence, and kidnapping

As I ascended the hill, a familiar burning sensation surged through my thighs, reminding me of the physical exertion. Glancing at the map on my phone, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Sweat trickled down my thighs, and my calf muscles throbbed with dull ache. Doubts began to cloud my mind, questioning the wisdom of this endeavor. I had embarked on a quest to find a bike through an app, hoping for a moment of respite and freedom. However, luck seemed to evade me at every turn, as each bike I scanned was already reserved. Frustration mounting, I hastily crossed the street, clutching onto a glimmer of hope. Finally, after a twenty-minute search, there it was - a shiny white and blue bike, standing amidst a sea of others, beckoning me towards a fleeting victory.

"Finally, a free bike around this bitch."
I hurriedly made my way to the nearest bike, scanning the QR code with a triumphant smile. "Yup! Bike rented!" I exclaimed, relieved to have overcome that hurdle. As I stood next to the bike, I couldn't help but acknowledge the soreness in my legs. "Well, it seems I'll have to endure a little discomfort," I mused aloud, shrugging off the minor inconvenience.

Taking a deep breath, I leaned on the bike, feeling the warmth of the sun on my back and savoring the anticipation of the ride. But first, a refreshing stop for some water, or maybe even an iced coffee or a passion fruit tea. Suddenly, it felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and the sky above seemed brighter as if the clouds had dissipated.

"Excuse me? What's going on here?" a deep, gentle voice interrupted my thoughts. I glanced up and was taken aback by the sight before me. Standing there was someone who resembled a sun god – brown tight afro curls framing a chiseled face, flawless deep brown skin, and warm, gentle brown eyes. "Uh, sorry, what?" I stammered, slightly puzzled by this stranger's sudden interest in my activities.

"That's my bike," they calmly asserted, catching me off guard.

"Uh, well, it wasn't scanned, so technically it's not yours," I retorted, pulling the bike closer to me.

"I actually rode it here. You can see it parked with other bikes that belong to my friends," the person explained.

"But these bikes don't belong to anyone specifically, except to gogo bikes, the app we're renting them from. You can't just claim ownership by walking up to someone renting an unreserved bike," I pointed out, asserting my stance.

Why am I wasting my time arguing with this person? I thought to myself, growing frustrated. I should just hop on this bike and go. I've come too far to give up now. Nothing in the world will make me surrender MY bike.

Well, technically it's not mine, but it's a matter of 'first come, first served!' Determination surged within me as I prepared to stand my ground and claim what was rightfully mine, at least for the moment.

"You make a valid point. I'm sorry to have bothered you," the person admitted, their tone shifting to a more conciliatory one. They began to walk away, their posture slouched, and frustration evident as they kicked a rock in surrender. As I hopped onto the bike, a sense of relief washed over me. However, my respite was short-lived as I noticed a group of people approaching in my direction. I better hurry before I have to engage in another argument,  thinking anxiously. Just as I was about to pedal away, a voice pierced through the air from the crowd. It was a person with short, curly red hair, visibly upset. "How could you let them take the only bike with a basket? Where are we going to put the stray?" they exclaimed, clutching an injured brown kitten in their arms. The poor creature's paws were bent, and it whimpered in pain, unable to walk.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath, realizing I had a weakness. Empathy. If this is the case, I don't really need this bike. I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt. Without hesitation, I hopped off the bike and approached the person holding the injured brown kitten. "Here... it seems like you need it more than I do," I offered, extending the bike towards them. The person turned around, their expression a mix of surprise and disbelief. "Are you sure?" they asked, seemingly taken aback by the gesture. The crowd around us, their previous glare softening, nodded in agreement with my decision.