You Gotta Love Life... Right?

Chapter 30

Maddi and Kira are having a screaming match over whether Dave Franco is hot or not while Morgan sits calmly on the couch, holding Phosphorus, and I make Fajitas for dinner.

"Guys, you really could agree to disagree." Morgan points out, picking up a random magazine and flipping through it, rubbing the cat on the head.

"Or whisper instead of yell, our neighbors already hate us to the moon and back." I add.

"We're moving out in a month anyway so... YES HE IS!!" Maddi screams.

I sigh and roll my eyes, flipping the chicken. Just then Jackson and Deacon walk through the door, talking about a hybrid between Captain America and Hulk.

"That would never work," I butt in, grabbing the seasoning and olive oil from the pantry, "they Hulk is practically a messed up version of Cap, so they'd probably explode or something, besides, why would you want a green Cap or a blonde Hulk?"

Deacon mocks my voice "Okay miss I-know-everything! You know the world of Marvel isn't logical!"

I shrug, "Okay, but just remember who's on your side for Loki-is-the-better-Asgardian argument..." I wave the spatula at him and he shuts up.

"Are you making dinner?" Jackson asks.

"Yes, would you boys like to stay? Also, did you come in together?"

"Yes we'd like to stay!" Deacon yells, hoping up onto the counter, "And we ran into each other in the lobby."

"Okay, as long as you help, you can eat too." I toss him a green pepper as Kira and Maddi realize what's happening and immediately start protesting.

"I'm not eating food if he touched it!" Maddi yells.

"What are you, seven?" I hand him a knife too, and he gets to work without argument. Jackson hugs me from behind, staying away from the pan, and kisses me on the cheek.

"I didn't know you could cook." He grabs another pepper and stand beside Deacon at the cutting board.

"Oh please, they're Fajitas. Besides, how else would these three eat? Morgan's always gone, Kira doesn't like cooking unless it's donuts, and Maddi's idea of dinner of dinner is cake."

"Hey!" They all protest, "You wouldn't eat lunch if it wasn't for us! Give us some credit." Kira says. I dump some soft tacos on a plate, and motion for Maddi to set the table.

"Now, it's been a long time since we all sat down and had a meal together," I say in a mock mother's voice, "I hope you all remember your table manners."

After dinner Jackson pulls me aside, "Hey, can you drive me home? I'd walk but I have to be back at my house for a birthday party by eight, and I stayed longer than I expected."

I laugh, "Yeah, you probably won't make it in time." I grab my phone and bike keys off the shelf and yell to everyone that I'll be back. We jog down to the elevator and fight to press the button like a pair of little kids. When we get down to the garage and I grab my extra helmet.

"I hope this fits," I toss it to him and grab my own, "it fits everyone else." He pulls it over his head and nods.

"What do you drive in the winter?" He asks, walking around the Gold Wing, my prized possession.

"Usually I take Kira's car; we usually go to the same places on a regular basis because of school anyway." I answer and pull my helmet over my head and hop on the bike.

"I've never ridden..." Jackson starts.

"Really? You seem like a dirt bike guy." He shrugs and shakes his head quickly, but climbs on behind me and hugs my waist tightly.

"I trust you." He says, more to himself than me, and I start the bike. I turn out of the garage and onto the street, picking up speed. I turn again, but onto a backroad that doesn't get used very often, slowing down and letting the momentum of the bike drive itself, passing the forest, which looks beautiful at this time of night. The arms around my waist relax as I turn back toward the city and head to Jackson's house.

When we get there, he hands me back the helmet, and I store it under the seat, "How was that?" I ask, as his younger sister comes out of the house and waves to us. I wave back and she runs inside to tell his mom he's home.

"It was good." He says, "Better than I expected..."

"Well, let me know if you ever want a ride." I smirk and give him a kiss. He returns it and I get back on my bike, heading for home the long way.

I'm about two blocks away from home when I come to an intersection. I edge myself out carefully, keeping an eye on a transport truck across the street. I cross the intersection and am almost to the other side when I hear a honk to my left. A second truck has pulled up on the side of me, and the driver looks tired. I sigh and keep driving, hoping he'll be responsible and shut up.

I get to the other side quickly but I can see the truck following behind me. I turn a corner and straighten out just as the truck accelerates and crashes right into my bike knocking me onto the side of the road. Rage burns through my veins but the pain hits me, and my vision wavers. Intense pain shoots through my ribs and I realize if it weren't for adrenaline I might be dead. I hear a screech, loud voices, and a yell, and then my vision goes black.