When I Say "I love you..."

Chapter 5

It was Saturday and my father thought that my sister and I could use some vitamin D. I didn’t mind this. I thought it was a good day. Andy had made plans to go see a movie later though. My Dad guaranteed that we would be back in time to be sure that she and I wouldn’t miss it. In fact we were supposed to be back right around three so we all packed lunches and snacks and took our full water bottles. It wasn’t even cloudy outside. Which was ironic, especially because the news said that there was supposedly a thunderstorm on the way. Not that there was single puff of dust in the sky. So we all packed up the suburban even Mom, who would take my Audi to the end of the trail. This way we didn’t have to bike ride all the way back to the Suburban.

She didn’t do a lot of the sports stuff, like Andy, she was all about socializing, but not really exercising. The most she did was this, and yoga. She rarely went to the gym anymore or YMCA for swimming. Those were all before she was 36. She was in great shape though. My mother was blond with blue eyes that were bright like Andy’s. My Dad’s hair was receding so he usually wore a cap, but it looked like it was a sandy blonde, darker than my mom’s. He had green eyes that were darker like mine are compared to Andy’s. My hair though, was darker than both of theirs. He used to have freckles until his mid-twenties Mom tells us when Andy complains. My mom and Andy looked a lot alike, though.

As we got everything out we all stretched a little, and put on a light layer of sunscreen. After I put my hair up we were all off, and down the trail. It was still sunny out and there were little puffs of clouds in the sky now, but they were random. I could see shadows of birds swooping across the trail and sometimes gliding. I heard all the birds about.

We had driven away from the beach and the opposite way towards the Eastern part of California. The trail we usually took was close to home, but the one we were on today was a larger trail that connected some of the towns. More people rode on this one. I saw a few strangers out on their bikes. Some of them were listening to their music with MP3s or iPods. I just liked to listen to the sound of the animals around me and the wind that ruffled leaves all the time. This was my favorite trail because of the canopy of trees that always hung over head.

I don’t know how far we went, but we had already taken three breaks and were in the middle of our fourth one. I was in the lead with Dad right behind me and Mom and Andy were right behind him. I put my water back on its holder and finished eating my energy bar. Than I got back on. Everyone else was ready too, so we were back on the trail.

The first part of the ride was uphill, but the second part of it was down hill, and, luckily, this was the part that we were waiting for. All of a sudden I felt something hit my cheek. I wiped it. It was wet. I looked up and overhead I noticed the clouds that were forming in the sky. I hadn’t even noticed the goosebumps that covered me when the gray in the sky blocked my sunny heat source. I kept riding though. Maybe it would sprinkle until we got to the car. No. It. Did. Not.

I was riding down the hill fast and I felt another sprinkle hit my head two seconds apart from the other. Now that I looked in the distance I could see sheets of pouring rain falling from the sagging clouds. I looked back at the others. I waited for them all to get closer so I could talk to them.

“It’s raining!” I shouted between the distance that spread us apart.

“I know!” Andy wailed. Her clothes were sprinkled everywhere. I had worn just a sports bra today thinking it would be warm all day. How naive!

“We have to go faster!” Dad howled over the rolling thunder in the distance. I nodded and began pedaling hard in response.

Through the rain I could make out one person that was on the trail too. They were coming closer. I couldn’t tell who it was because of the hooded sweat-shirt they had cleverly worn. They stopped in the middle of the trail and appeared to be waiting for us. When I got closer I recognized the green eyes as Damen’s.

“What are you doing out here?” He questioned examining my soaked family.

“We got stuck in the middle of the trail, and our car’s at the end.” I told him and he looked at us all as if counting.

“My car isn’t far away if you guys want a ride.” By now it was so dark out with clouds that I could hardly make out shapes of trees. I could see leaves flying everywhere too. I thought about saying yes, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. He was still a stranger. However, I didn’t want to take another two hours in this. I knew none of them did either. We had already taken twenty minutes of it. So, I nodded my head.

“Ya, I think that’s a good idea.” Just then my father caught up. I told him that this was Damen and he was going to give us a ride to the car. My Dad gave him a thanks and said that he’d get the others if I’d start over there.

“How is your car any closer than ours?” I asked Damen.

“I don’t go much farther than half of the trail when I ride.”

“Why were you out in the pouring rain?” I asked. He smiled.

“Just so I can pick up unsuspecting teenagers from the rain.” I laughed and had to fight the shivers that were starting. What if I got sick? I looked back and I could make out the shadows of my father, mother, and Andria. They couldn’t be farther than a few feet away but their shapes were almost impossible to see.

“It’s up hear on the left.” He enlightened me as we came to an intersection. I nodded so he knew that I heard what he said.

“Alright, I’ll wait for them so they know where we have to go. Can you go get it started?” This time he nodded and started slowly through the mud to get off the trail. Finally everyone was together and we all got off the trail. Then we crossed the street to a parking lot where Damen was getting a Chevy Silverado ready to go. My Dad stood in the bed of the truck while Damen handed them to him. We wheeled our bikes to him, and soon the assembly line was successful in taking care of all the bikes. We all piled into the now warm truck. I was still freezing though. I ended up in the back with my father and sister. Mom had taken shotgun with Damen, and was putting that seat heater in action. Damen had a blanket under a seat that he said we could use. Mom informed Damen where the car was.

Soon, we were all able to pile into the Audi. Putting a bike in the back with me and Andy. The others were in the trunk, a tight fit. With the heater on full blast in the car I was in the driver’s seat ready to pull out. I rolled down my window and Damen rolled down his passenger’s window. I called out a thanks and he waved shouting to us.

“You’re welcome,” He said.

I got us all home safely and I was pretty sure I was sick. Andy and I decided that the movie could wait instead. We were going to go tomorrow night instead. Who would have thought that the news would be right for a change, and I would be sick tonight. Of all things, who knew that Damen would be the one to save us from the rain. I was pretty sure I forgave him for ruining my shirt now.

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