Name Blame, the Bonding Game

The Avenue's Abyss

Oliver-

"Is he still locked up?" I ask Leif as I work on my bike since my father had to replace the equipment I'd killed at the gym a few nights ago, and he's band me from going in for a while. He's gone as far as confiscating my keys to the place.

"I think so." He answers, "Why?"

"Because that's where he needs to be that's why." I growl as I continue working pointlessly on something that doesn't need to be fixed.

"That's our friend you're talking about." Leif says.

"Was our friend, or was my friend rather." I retort throwing the wrench down angrily.

"Let's go for a ride." Leif says, "We can tear around the race track and give you something to work on."

"Finding an outlet other than a punching bag." I agree and we both ride, in the truck that I got from my parents with both bikes in the bed, to the race track a few miles away from the garage that Joe's father owns. When we get there, Harry, Joe, and Zack are already waiting in the empty lot with their bikes and the trucks that they brought their bikes in.

"What are you doing here?" I ask them.

"Someone had to have the keys to the track. Just so happens, my father manages the track." Zack says. Jingling the keys.

"Let's just ride." Harry says. "Three laps, per pair. First up Oliver and Zack."

"It's on." Zack says revving his bike up.

Harry blasts music through the tracks speaker.

"Ready." Joe yells holding up a flag.

"Set." Leif shouts. Zack and I both rev our bike engines.

"Go!" Harry yells into the microphone from the commentator's box. I let all my anger go out and pour into the race. I tear up the track letting all my frustration out, and trying to stay balanced with the new cast that the doctor had to give me since my last one got soaked. At least this one is waterproof, don't have to worry about that happening again.

I complete my final lap and Zack comes in at the same time. I don't even slow the bike as I tear around the track a fourth time. The a fifth, and a sixth. I continue to go faster and faster until my bike front wheel locks heading straight for the wall. I dive off of it and into the grass careful not to land on my wrist. I lay in the grass as I hear my bike crash into the wall.

"Crap." I mutter to myself as I sit up.

"You wanted a project Stone." Leif says walking up to give me a hand up.

"I didn't want a totaled bike." I clarify.

"Good thing we fix our own bikes." Harry says, "Or you'd have one heck of a bill." I look over and my bike looks salvageable but not that great, good news, it didn't hit the wall like I thought. Bad news. It's pretty much dead.

"I'm going to take this to the shop." I tell them picking it up and walking it to the truck. Joe and Leif help me lift it since I've only got use of one wrist.

"We'll meet you there." Joe says as Leif puts his own bike in with mine. I nod and get in with Leif.

"Feeling any better?" Leif asks as we ride back to the garage to fix my bike.

"No, not really but I'll be fine." I tell him. "What are the girls doing today?

"Not sure, Lynda is home doing homework to avoid Rosalyn." Leif shrugs. Ross, Hanna, Jen, and Beth are probably out together doing something. "Now, you wanna tell me what has peaked your interest in my sister? Or do I have to force it out of you?" He asks me arching a brow and picking up a socket wrench when we finally make it to the garage.