Dusting Off A Heart

Chapter 27 - A Bike Ride

With the wind slapping her face, she pedaled her way to the club that Dane was in. Thinking about the socializing that would happen ( which means getting stared at ) is not doing any good for Lauren as well. She decided to just brush it off and shake it off her head.

Just pedal faster for goodness' sake.

After a while she finally arrived on the main road in which to the right there it is. The Venus Club. The loud thump of the music inside is even heard. She is thinking a way of going in and picking Dane up.

Should she just call him? Say that she was outside?

Should she go inside?? No. A total no to that. Avoid socializing with drunk-people at all cost. Besides, she doesn't have any fake ID like Dane has....or any connection to even enter the club.

Her phone is ringing Dane's number....

He doesn't pick up....

She rings him again....

Still not picking up....

Until the last time she will try to ring Dane, the third time he doesn't pick up, she would just go home.

It finally connects.

"I...iii just thought the third time...is a charmer...no? hehe..." said Dane, slurring, obviously intoxicated, although it seems he is less drunk than before. Lauren just almost throw her phone to the streets out of anger, but her rational mind, fortunately, took over.

"Besides....i like my ringto—"

"I'm outside. Hurry. I don't like being out in the open in such a cold night. 5 minutes."

"..." there was no reply after that, but the phone have not hang up yet.

"Hey! You still there?" Ask Lauren, feeling a bit annoyed because she is being ignored.

"um......yeayea...I just...uumm...." Slur Dane, "Just what?" "I just...thought you wouldn't...really do it..."

Yeah, Dane. She didn't actually she would do it too.

"I'm heading out..." said Dane.

A moment later, Dane in his blue polo shirt and his still perfectly spiked hair appears from inside the club. He looks like he's searching for someone, until his eyes laid on Lauren. He awkwardly walked into Lauren's direction.

"Um....thanks for picking me up.." Said Dane scratching the back of his head.

"Just hurry up" said Lauren getting on of her bike.

"Wait...you....a bicycle?"

"Yes. Me. A bicycle. You. Get in."

Dane still stares at her confusingly. He is a 165 pound man, being carried with a bicycle by a small woman...he doesn't even think law of physics will support this activity.

"If you're worried I can't pedal my bike with a bear [Dane] on my bike's hitchhiker seat, I can do it."

Dane still looking confused and unsure.

"Okay bye" Lauren was about to pedal her way out of there. It is a waste of time anyway, said Lauren to herself.

"Okay-okay.,,But you're sure.....about thi—okayokay yeaaaaa...okay." He was cut off by Lauren's glare and sit on the hitchhiker's seat on the back of the bicycle.

Dane, first of all, didn't think for one bit that Lauren would actually come. He was just opening his phone at that time, saw her number and name, and decided to give her a text message—while he was drunk.

He was planning to go home with his friends...call an uber and get a ride together.

Now that he is not so intoxicated, he felt so stupid for sending that message to her. What would she think of him? She must've hate his guts. But...she was here anyway, picking him up. That means....maybe she doesn't hate him that much?

He looks at the girl pedaling the bike in front of him. Her ponytailed black hair and a few strands flowing in the wind. As he observed her, she must've just came from the swimming practice.

Huh. The swimming club is one of a good sport club in their school. It comes third in rank after the school's soccer and football team. But Dane heard that only the male swimmers participate to the contest these days. It said that the female swimmers doesn't even show up at practice anymore, because of the chauvinistic coach with his bad manner and let alone letting any woman to compete.

But here's Lauren, still coming to the practice.

"You're still going to swim practice?"

Lauren was not expecting a conversation with this ratchet mole rat. But it is not nice to ignore.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"What do you mean by 'Why?'" Lauren shoots back.

"I mean, you know, from what I heard...the coach can be a little pain in the ass for the women.."

"Well, yeah he is. But I like swimming because I like the activity, not because I like the coach."

She got a point there.

"So...did he let you compete? That's why you're still practicing?"

"Wow. Honestly Dane, I didn't think you would be this nosy."

Dane rolled his eyes. Yes, maybe he was being nosy. But he was truly curious.

"Consider that me-being-friendly."

"Yea sure." Lauren stopped pedaling and tipped her bike a bit. "Here's your stop."

Dane is already in front of his house. None of the window is lit up, his mom is at her mom's house anyway (grandma). He was actually planning to spend a night at Cole or his other friends' house. After what happens a few days back with his father, he was reluctant to come home. Even more when his mom said earlier that his dad might be home.

But Lauren's is not to blame. He doesn't say where he want to go before.

"Thanks for the ride."

Lauren shrugs, "Sure." And as she was about to pedal away, Dane asked : "Not going to have a tea inside for a moment? Maybe a dinner?" He said, a bit of joking, referring to the last time he went to her house, her dad offer him to eat dinner.

Lauren wheeze not so loudly. "Maybe. If you want me to slap you again." Dane suddenly laughs at that. Lauren didn't expect it. She meant to said it sarcastically, but maybe Dane is still intoxicated... so he doesn't have a very clear mind?

"Okay bye. See u never." Dane said as he was laughing, unlocking the door to his house.

Lauren pedaled her way out of Dane's front yard, letting out a chuckle. A smile playing on her lips.

Went better than I expected.