Pretty-UglyGal

9. Bikes

The sky was hazy. A layer of white smog hung over the sky like a too thick coat of paint; It dripped, and blended into the tainted blue atmosphere.

I, myself was walking along the crackling sidewalk avoiding pools of water here and there. My black backpack swayed from the duotangs and textbooks it held. The air felt stagnant.

Suddenly, I felt a fresh, cold, breeze prickling from behind; On it's cusp came a beckoning voice full of bravado, and energy, "Hey Crumpet!"

I looked just in time to see a flash of teal, and have the wind smack my cheek in a chaste kiss.

A clump of fluffy brown hair had overtaken me on a vintage looking teal bike; The bike's spokes spun like mad as if racing against me. Soon the bike and its spokes had surpassed me, and I watched as it pulled into the gates of Northridge Secondary, and was secured to a fence. It's rider dismounted with a bounce, and leaned against the gate, waiting, "Hurry up Crumpet!"

I walked slowly, it gave my eyes time to adjust to the sight before me. Today, Tamara wore a heavily creased shirt with a worn looking picture of Gordon Lightfoot. It was paired with shapeless, frumpy elastic waist banded pants, and of course her white Velcro trainers. I may have gawked a little.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" I asked reflectively.

"I thought I'd give you a taste of your own medicine, Sam. Besides, it suits you."

"How so?"

"Well for one much like a Crumpet you seem hard, and standard, and plain, however I know if I can crack the surface I will find that you're soft, and sweet, and wonderful."

"I uhm... Was that a compliment?" I felt awkward, and felt my cheeks heat.

"You don't have to say anything" she said.

The strange girl with the strange hair, with the strange outfit, and the strange compliments, removed her camel leather satchel from her bike basket, and entered the school leaving me behind in the dim, smoggy day to figure out what the hell just happened.