Speak Now

Chapter 8: A bike to remember

I keep coming back to that moment
Where it all fell apart
So I try and drink my emotions
Till I can't feel my heart

-Middle of the Night, The Vamps

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At first I have my qualms about hurrying off to a strange place with a stranger boy, but I soon abandon any attempt to diminish them when I see the motorcycle standing outside.

"No" I laugh nervously, and back away. Tristan smirks, and pats the leather seat in silent invitation.

"Oh come on mon cher," He grins,"My baby won't hurt you."

"Your...ugh no way," I shake my head,"I thought you have a car."

Nervously I study the machine in front of me. It's silver handles glisten under the rays of the dying sun, the black leather seat glimmering as if recently polished. I admire the grip of the wheels on the dark pavement.

I admit silently to myself that it looks highly sophisticated, the contraptions on its wheels glistening like polished silver.

"Also," Tristan adds, as he flicks the stand off,"It's a sports bike, which means we can totally impress those losers on cars and whatnot."

He places both feet on opposite sides of the bike and raises his hands in silent mocking,"Just imagine bystanders pointing at you and thinking 'Good grief! Those kids are wild as hell.'"

I cross my arms, half smiling,"And that's a good thing because?"

Tristan smiles as me, his eyes widened in excitement,"But secretly, in their hearts, they'll feel jealousy for not having the opportunity to drive a heavy bike for a class project."

He wiggles his eyebrows,"So what do you say? I've even got a helmet."

Unhooking a helmet from behind the bike, he offers it to me,"Here."

I've never been on a motorcycle before. I've loathed them for their loud noise and the chaos they leave in their wake. Not my type. But when Tristan waves the helmet in my face, I see myself fifty years from now, remembering this very moment, when I wasn't afraid.

"Okay" I breathe out, and clasp the helmet over my head. Then, hesitating, I climb onto the leather seat behind Tris, feeling surprised at how comfortable it is.

"Hold on." Tris says,"We're gonna blast off."

As he starts the engine, something in me shatters, and I am as loud as the engine, as prominent and noticeable, as fearless and unafraid. I smile crazily as we head onto the road.

As soon as we are on the hard tarmac, Tristan accelerates and I feel myself lurch back tentatively. Gasping I hold onto Tristan, as we speed up.

The world speeds by us, a constant blur of lights and shapes. I see a few kids point as us as we whiz by.

I feel my hair flickering in the wind, and I have a sudden urge to laugh. The air seems to slap my face, and I lift my face, letting it wash over me.

"What do you think mon cher?" Tris shouts, half turning to grin at me,"Should we go faster?"

Laughing, I yell,"Yes" and he consents. Soon everything is blurry and loud and nothing makes sense. The wind is in my lungs, in my hair and it gently caresses my face.

I watch the world go by. Kristen's Kitchen passes by, a throng of people going in and out. We turn a corner and then into a street.

Tristan leans over, and I clutch him tighter. We swerve to avoid a group of girls skipping rope and then a park passes by.