Wings in Alabama

Chapter 8

I pushed the bike out onto the driveway. I'd decided on my dad's Casting Crowns T-shirt and a pair of jeans with my Nikes. I'd let my hair fall down my back, hoping for a hot and sporty appearance. Good grief, I was turning into Stephenie!

I hopped on the seat and checked my watch. Ten twenty-seven. I had about fourteen more minutes to meet up with Ashton. I pushed on the pedals and sped down the road. My hair whipped behind me, playing a game with the wind. I pedaled faster and took in my surroundings.

I was just leaving a neighborhood, the ballpark was about a block away. I watched a kid play in her front yard with a sparkly pink plastic ball with her dad watching on the front porch. A flash of the same memory entered my sight and I was sure I felt a tear.

I remembered my dad watching Emily play in our own front yard. I was sitting next to my dad with my mom trying to braid my hair.

"You're so difficult, Rylee," she'd said. "Keep still, I'll never get this braid in."

My dad had laughed and answered in my place. "No, Caroline, let her fuss. You're gonna turn her into a stuck up creep."

Mom had rolled her eyes and we all laughed. Emily later toddled over to Dad and climbed into his lap, and that image stayed in my mind. One big happy family.

I suddenly jumped back to the present and reality. I shrieked and a tree came into view. I swerved the handle, but I was too late. The bike's front tire hit a large root, and the bike lurched forward.

"Rylee!"

I turned my head at the sound of Ashton's voice. I shrieked as the impact sent me flying forward into the air and into a bush.

"Rylee! Oh my gosh, Rylee!"

Branches scratched my face and clothes. I pushed myself into a sitting position and I saw Ashton running toward me. He reached into the prickly bush and grabbed my hand to pull me up. He pulled me up as I pushed my clumsy butt off the ground. I let Ashton guide me out of the bush as I wiped the scratches on my face with the back of my hand.

"Whoa, Rylee, you okay? What the heck happened?"

I was just about to explain what when a girl appeared beside Ashton. She was nicely tanned with pretty golden locks that fell to her elbows with forest green eyes and sharp eyebrows. I could obviously tell she wore make-up. "Babe, what's going on?"

"Nothing, she's a friend," he said. The way he spoke about me hurt. Yeah, he'd called me his friend, but his tone... it stung. It's like he waved me off like I was nothing. I bit my lip and waved at the girl. She rolled her eyes at me and pecked him on the cheek. This girl was obviously trying to make sure I wasn't competition.

"Umm, Rylee, this is Lucy. I forgot I'd made plans with her before you. We can all hang out together, though, right?" He looked between me and Lucy. When he turned back to me, Lucy glared at me.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" She mouthed. My eyes widened and I knew instantly that this was not a girl to be messed with. "Umm, actually, I gotta go. Just forgot a family thing, can't get out of it. Bye, Ashton."

I bit my tounge and pushed my hair over myshoulder to hide my tears. I picked the bike back up and hopped on the seat. I heard Lucy whisper something to Ashton as a tear got caught in the wind.