She's A Vandal (The Bikeriders)

How she's treated

(Benny's P.O.V.)
Speed, agility that is what racing is. Bikes with metal, aluminium with colourful chrome. The smell of petrol and the haze of dust that rose up when the raced by. The slight stench of CRC, a chemical that prevents rust. The cold air that pushes through your helmet. And from there on, motorbike to motorbike, the raced off. As a child I was mesmerized in place, watching Adeline fly past on the crossbike. She rode her bike hard without compromise. The crowd rubber necked on the straight as they flew past. The adrenaline pumping through the racers veins. They came 'round again and I saw that Adeline was in the lead. Everyone cheering on loudly, throwing arms in the air as they ran after the bikes that headed for the finish. Adeline made the bike skid to a halt, so she could look back at the other racers, after winning the race. She lifted her motorcycle goggles up against her helmet and grinned at Johnny who stopped beside her. "How'd you know how to race like that?" Johnny asked getting off his own motorcycle. "Learned it from my dad" she shrugged turning of her bike and leaning back. Johnny walked around her and the bike. Admiring the bike from it's wheels to the steering. Adeline gave me a half smirk, enjoying the attention Johnny gave to her bike. Asking question regarding it and Adeline happily answered. Explaining the things she had built and repaired on it. Adeline even allowed Johnny to have a go on it. Jokingly scolding him for nearly burning the clutch cause he didn't know how to start it. Eventually he got it going, with Adeline's help and took it for a ride. Me and her walked back to the others to enjoy their conversation. "So, Adeline what got you so into motorcycles?" Gail asked sipping on her beer. Adeline shrugged with a cheeky grin "well a girl's gotta put something exciting between her legs, no?". Everyone laughed loudly at her remark. Some even agreeing with her statement. But she eventually told us the reason. "My dad got me into motorcycles. Taught me how to ride on his Triumph. The one I got after he...." her face fell into sadness and she looked away from everyone. You could tell by her reaction, that something had happened to her dad. "his uhm.. crash" she softly continued. Everyone came to realize that her father must have been killed during a motorcycle crash. It was silent for a bit before Johnny rode up, calling for Adeline regarding something about her bike. "Oh no worries" she replied, "I'll fix it at my shop". "You have a mechanic shop?" Danny questioned, to which she nodded "it's on 7th street - Born Free Cycles" she answered explaining where it was, "should come by. Can give you a Harley-driver-discount". "What, like 0.1% off?" Zipco laughed, knowing the rivalry between Triumphs and Harleys, "I can do 10% discount. But don't come crying if you're missing some spark plugs". Johnny's wife, Barbara, leaned towards me to whisper "I like this one" as we both watched how the group got along with Adeline. "Me too" I replied.

After the picnic.

(Adeline's P.O.V.)
Like he had done before, Benny had now driven alongside me again. To make sure I got home safe. I parked my dirtbike beside the curb and got off. I looked up at Benny and thanked him for inviting me. Before taking my leave after saying our goodbyes. I walked inside my house, throwing my keys into the bowl. Before bowing down to undo my riding boots "how's your night?" I asked Jack who was in the livingroom, "not much" he replied, "how was your ride?". I breathed out before telling him it was good and explaining what I had seen. "How'd you get home?" He asked but before I could answer, the housephone rang. "Hold on" I told him and walked over, picking it up and hearing one of my night mechanics. Who needed some advice on a payment a customer declined. "Adeline I just asked you a question" Jack remarked clearly annoyed I was ignoring him. I continued to help my mechanic out, explaining what he needs to do, all the while Jack was getting more annoyed by the second. "Yes, I can completely understand where he is coming from. But he signed a contract-", "Adeline". I turned to Jack, covering the speaker, "just one second" then continued to talk with my mechanic and customer, "no, let's just.. uhm.. let's get him on a payment plan-", "Adeline", "every month he can pay $100 untill the bill's been paid". "Adeline". Everytime Jack spoke my name, I ciuld hear him getting angrier and irritated. Almost sneering and gritting his teeth together when he spoke. "Alright, I will come tomorrow at 7". Suddenly Jack screamed my name and threw the tv remote at a nearby wall. I immediatly stopped talking and looked at him in disbelief. Before regaining my composure and telling my mechanic that I would call him back. I hung uo the phone and turned towards Jack, who now had stood up and was stalking over to me, cornering me against the wall. "How many fucking times, do I have to ask you?" Jack questioned with a sneer, "I was on the phone, Jack" I argued back at him narrowing my eyes at him. "it's a simple fucking question" he continued leaning closer into my personal space, "who drove home with you?". I realized Jack had heard Benny's bike aswell as mine. "Benny" I simply replied, making it sound like it was no big deal, it wasn't in my opinion. But to him, it was. Jack scoffed and shook his head, wiping his hands over his face. "It was dark and you know how bad the dirtbikes headlights are. So Benny offered to accompany me, so other motorist could atleast see me" I explained, which wasn't a lie. The dirtbike does have terrible lights that make you hard to be seen by other road users. Jack looked at me and nodded "alright". The tone in his voice told me, that he was not satisfied with my answer. He lifted his hand and carressed my cheek "it's fine". His features narrowed in anger and then with a quick movement, gripped my neck and pushed my head back against the wall, gripping my cheeks in anger. "How many times do I have to tell you about him? Hmmm?" He asked as he clocksized his head. As if he was speaking to a little child. "How many fucking times!". Jack's fist collided with the wall beside my face as he banged against it in a fit of rage. "He's just a friend" I called back in anger regarding Benny and me, "oh, he's just a friend" Jack mocked, "he just want's to fuck you, like every other guy you give attention to" he sneered, "it's not-" I wanted to scream back, "shut up!" He loudly yelled, silencing me. I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. Anger filled tears began to form in my eyes. How dare he treat me like this. "Look at me" Jack spoke, his tone softer. I shook my head in disbelief and scoffed. "Look at me" he asked again. Still I refused to do so. "Adeline! Look at me!" He loudly commanded. Once again he gripped me, this time by my jaws and tilted my head back. Forcing me to look at him "if I ever see you with him again. I'll kill him". I watched him, unmoving. His features relaxed, shoulders untensing as he released me to carress my cheek. "I love you. And I'm sorry for getting angry" Jack spoke, as if he was truely ashamed for the way he had treated me. He wasn't, he never is. Leaning forward he kissed me. I tensed underneath him, but not enough for him to notice. "Let's go to bed. It's getting late".

Published: 11th of August 2024