Beneath the Surface

Chapter 33 - New friends

The door of the trunk opens up, the fresh breeze hitting upon the back of my neck as I step out the car to help getting ready the bikes on the nearest parking at the edge of a small village two towns down from my city. Other cars parked as well making me wonder if those could be his friends' cars.

"Ready to meet them, baby.", he asks as his eyes fixate on carrying out the bike. I stand still seeing his muscular arms, sweather pulled up untill his elbows giving my heart something to race to.

"More than ever.", I grab the handlebars of my newly achieved bike by hand and ride it to the beginning of the path in between trees, fields and near small and simmering creeks.

The trunk shuts with a click, the car locks with a click and he is walking next to me.

"I believe you will like them.", he says opening the gate to the beginning of the trail, "and you'll love the place."

"I hope so.", I close the wooden barrier after me before stepping onto the bike, my new skill to lead the way.

I make sure to bike behind him and not get lost, bushes brushing against lower legs as they work hard getting me forward. The sounds around flutter in my ears as we accelerate on the soil paths thin to only have one biker at a time.

We make turn after turn, reaching a path next to a creek not holding much water. Only a small stream found its way, seeping through the surrounding greenery and other aquatic vegetation.

I want to take a look at it, show Joseph but by the time those thoughts have gotten to mind we are far gone from the place.

A good half hour, is how long we have been biking and my legs are screaming for mercy on the pedals. Knees weakening, body getting out of breath. The sky has started to darken under my supervision as the sun is starting to set. 

A field of high weeds lays ahead, Joseph makes no  other choice, he goes for the one option ahead, pedalling right through the vegetation leaving me with no other choice but to follow him, get over the fears and into the field.

"Joseph", I let out an involuntarily scream, rather of adrenaline than fear as I wave my left hand through the weeds on the sides, feeling their soft consistancy. "Just drive forward, we are almost there.", he replies, shouting as well for my ears to be able to catch his message.

The streaks above turn to orange glow slowly as we near the meeting place. The urge to get of the bike, run throught the fields with my hands in the air, spinning and hugging Joseph untill we both fall down, grows as I feel like a girl on my pinterest boards.

He leads me into a more open field, green grass instead of dried vegetation and the underground damp from dew still. He gets of, a downhill part approaching but places his bike on the ground instead, laying it down completely on its side next to other bikes.

I struggle to place mine down carefully so he gives me a helping hand. Standing on my legs feels weird after a long sitting ride, feet foggy, brain cloudy.

"Are those your friends's bikes?", I ask, desperate to put faces on the people only a fog in my head.

"Yep, they are."

He runs down the hill next to me, a group of people can be seen sitting in a circle on the bottem of the steep bump of terrain.

I spot 3 boy looking figures and one girl. The all look built like a teenager, body still not too muscular, silhouette still young.

We reach them and Joseph shouts a loud 'Hi!', to them all earning back smiles and happy looks.

I smile and wave at them with the hand not holding Joseph's, still wanting to place myself on the background.