Make Me Stay

8| THE RIDE

The next week was rather uneventful, and I busied myself with Paolo who sometimes brought his children with him. His wife was a real state agent and they had three cute and messy triplets. I used to call them little Paolo and little Paola because they shared their father's exact same brown eyes and ginger hair... and also because with my system I didn't have to distinguish between the two boys, which I couldn't.

I also talked to Lynn who wanted to hang out because as she said "If I stay longer with all these guys, I'll become one myself."

And then there was Ashton who told me he was having problems with his girlfriend and needed to talk to me face to face. So that's where I was heading now. To the town's meeting point, the river.

The last sun rays of summer were shinning and it was an extremely hot day, so I decided to go on foot instead of taking the car. Soon I'd be wearing eight pieces of clothing and I wouldn't be able to walk nor wear the army green romper I was wearing today.

I used to spend the last days of summer at Lexi's eighteenth birthday house in Grand Bend. Speaking of who, she wasn't talking to me. I sent her a hundred texts and called her, but I guess she needed more time.

I was crossing the street while my attention was on the screen trying to make out how Google maps worked when suddenly I was on the floor.

Pain spreading from my side, my knees and my neck to the rest of my body. I had just been run over. I moved my body randomly in a way anyone would think I was an octopus but actually, I was trying to get up. Keyword, trying.

The sound of the engine stopped and the next thing I know is that I'm pulled up by two strong and very tattooed arms until I was eye leveled with a pair of steel blue orbs. Very familiar steel blue eyes.

"I can't believe it." He said moving his hands to my shoulders. He scanned my body for any damage and held me to keep my balance.

"Sorry Quin for running you over." I mimicked him while I tried to focus my attention anywhere but the place his fingertips touched my skin.

He looked at me in disbelief "I have to apologise? You were the one who didn't notice the red light."

"What red light, there isn't even a-" but he was indeed right "ops?"

"You're lucky I braked in time, if this was someone else you would be dead."

It wasn't the choice of words he used what startled me, it was the way he said it as if he was asking the menu in a restaurant. I freed myself from the curious effects of his touch and took a step back.

"I'm fine, it wasn't a grave impact anyways." But I still felt my knee sore.

Without another word he turned around and headed to his bike. Was he seriously going to leave me?

"You're not giving me a ride? after all you did run me over!"

"You said you were fine." He turned his head and involuntarily checked again for any wounds.

"Yes, but..."

His glare now became stronger and he tightened his hold in the handlebar and I felt myself getting smaller as in Mario Bros.

"I don't have time for this." He said after a long silence.

"Can't you just drop me?" I pouted.

His eyes moved to my lips. "No, there's somewhere I have to be and stop doing that."

He was about to leave when I came up with a masterplan.

"Ouch, ouch! My knee, I can't- ouch - I can't walk!" I started limping in an extremely exagerated way hoping he would at least consider my request.