The Summer of Our Lives (bxb)

The Motorcycle

I woke up with a smile on my face. For the first time in a week, I fell asleep instantly instead of tossing and turning all night. 

The gum wrapper with Lyndon's number was still on my nightstand still folded.

I reached over and picked it up and touched it gently. I thought about throwing it away but quickly placed it back down and stood up to get ready for the day.

Now that I had a car, I could go anywhere I wanted.

I got dressed and headed out to my new car, I felt like a proud parent as I sat in the driver's seat.

I pondered for a second about where I would go, the possibilities were endless.

After a few minutes, I decided that I would just drive and see where the day would take me. 

I put the key into the ignition and turned it. The car didn't start. 

What? I thought to myself and tried again. Nothing. 

"Damnit." I said out loud as I took the key out and put it back into the key hole and turned. Nothing! 

I groaned and got out of the car. Of course, I should have known better than to trust shady people. 

And of course I just blew three thousand dollars on this stupid car. 

I went back inside the house to grab the gum wrapper that had Lyndon's name on it. I guess I did need it after all.

I sat down next to the phone and dialed slowly.

It was a little bit before someone picked it up. "Yeah?" It was Lyndon.

"Um, hey. It's Shane. From yesterday, I have to talk to you about your car." I nervously said.

"What's wrong with it?" He asked, "It broke down today." I replied.

"Oh, I knew it was gonna do that." He responded.

"What?" I said, feeling extremely annoyed now. 

"Yeah, that's why I wanted to sell it." He said. 

"Well, I need my money back!" I shouted into the phone.

I was shocked after I said that. That wasn't like me. 

"Alright, alright. Look, why don't you come over?" He said.

"Really?" I asked. "Yeah, I'll be in the garage." He gave me his address before we said goodbye and hung up.

I stared at the piece of paper that I wrote his address on. I was surprised to see that he lived a few blocks over. I didn't really want to go but I needed my money back.

I walked outside and stood on the porch. It seemed hotter than yesterday as I walked over to his house. 

He said he would be in the garage, I could hear the music before I reached his house. The thumping tune of a rap song filled my ears. 

Time for some action, just a fraction of friction

I got the clearance to run the interference

Into your satellite, shinin' a battle light

I sighed as I got closer to the garage. I stopped when I saw him shirtless on one knee with a wrench, he was mumbling the lyrics of the song as he turned different screws on the tire. 

"Hey. Hey!" I shouted over the loud music. Lyndon lifted his head up from the tire. "Who are you?" 

I could barely hear him, "I'm Shane! We met yesterday!" 

He got up and turned the radio down on his workbench. "Were you the one who called me?" 

How could he not remember something that happened twenty minutes ago? 

I nodded, "Yeah, your car broke down on me. You said you knew it was going to do that?" I could feel myself getting angry all over again. 

He stared at me a little bit before he answered. "Let me give your money back." 

He completely ignored my question, I realized, I felt my face get red with anger. 

But, it suddenly faded when he reached into his pocket and pulled out the wad of cash I gave him yesterday.

I watched as his oiled stained hands shuffled through the money as he quickly counted it.

Under his breath I could hear him mumbling along with the next song on the radio that was still thumping.

Let me see what you'll do

It's a sin to kill a man

But I'll be damned if I don't take a stand

"Here you go." He handed the money over to me. 

My heart was pounding as I took the money, I blushed as our fingertips brushed, I wish I could hold his hand, for someone who rode a motorcycle, his hands looked soft. 

"Anything else?" Lyndon asked and picked up his wrench from the ground. 

"You ride?" I said and pointed to his motorcycle.

"Oh, yeah." His face seemed to soften as he patted the seat. "I've had this for two years. It's a '69 Harley." 

"It's pretty nice." I said, and I meant it. It was a shiny black that gleamed in the sunlight. I reached out and touched the handlebar. 

"I've never ridden one before." I said. "Really? You look like you've done some crazy things." Lyndon smiled. 

I blushed, I wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Kind of, this past week has been a struggle for me."

"Sorry to hear that." He got back down on his knee and started to work on the tire.

At this moment, I wanted to tell him everything. He just seemed so comforting to talk to, but I didn't want to scare him away when we just started talking. 

"Well, I have to get to the store. I'll see you around?" I said. 

"Yeah, see you." He replied, no longer interested in me. 

The second I walked away he turned the radio back up, blasting hip-hop all around the neighborhood.

Now you can't see I'm real great?

Check out the story to the glory of the real estate

Well, that was something I could do without. I wasn't a big fan of hip-hop but when I thought of it, it definitely sounded like something Lyndon would be in too. 

I thought about Lyndon for a little bit until I realized I was blushing again over him. 

He was different from everyone. I could tell, he carried himself in a way that I've never seen before.

And I was quickly falling in love with him, there was a spark between us, I could feel it. 

I wonder if he noticed it too. I bet he did, this was something that couldn't be denied.