Hybrid

Already a Hero

I'm totally running late. I have about four minutes to get ready for the first day of senior year. I don't know how my alarm didn't go off but it didn't. It's like the recurring nightmare I have of showing up too late to take my final exam. I always wake up with my heart racing after that dream. Failure is not an option.

I panic as I know the bus won't wait if I'm not there. And if I miss the bus that's a two mile walk. Even though I'm the fastest runner on the sprint team, I don't want to be a sweat ball in class on the first day of senior year.

"Mom, I have to leave in two minutes. Why didn't you wake me?" No answer. I throw on some clothes and brush out my hair. No time to shower. I race into the kitchen. There's a note.

"Starting my new job today. Good luck on your first day too! Here's lunch. Hugs, Mom."

Oh right. I grab the lunch, my backpack, and I race out the door. Mom decided to go back to work this year. I totally forgot. Now that I'm practically out of the house and my brother has been gone for two years, she says it's time to get a full-time job. I'm not sure it's the best idea she's ever had as I run as fast as I can to the bus stop, but I'm happy she's getting to live her own life again.

I turn the corner and trip over a bicycle that's just sitting in the middle of the sidewalk. Who parks their bike in the middle of the sidewalk? I look up as the bus leaves the stop. Crap! Can this day get any worse and it hasn't even started? 

"Hey, are you okay?" I look up and see a guy my age, with the most beautiful blue eyes, looking down at me.

I shake my head of those baby blues. "Does it look like I'm okay?"

He bends over and picks me up in his arms. I look into his concerned, ice-blue eyes again as he puts me back on my feet. Well, that works, I guess.

He gives me a once over. "I don't see any injuries."

"Lucky for you."

He smiles. "I'm feeling pretty lucky today actually. "

I take a longer look at him. Besides the blue eyes I could swim inside all day and the gorgeous smile, he has a sense of humor and he doesn't look like a complete imbecile. Looks can be deceiving though.

"Do I know you?" I ask. He doesn't look familiar. But I should know him since he's around my age and lives near me.

"No, we just moved in. I haven't met anyone yet. I was just going to head to school. Do you go to Stevenson?"

"I was heading there when I had a run in with your bicycle."

"I'm so sorry about that. I shouldn't have left it in the middle of the sidewalk. I forgot something and had to go back for it." 

"Okay, well, nice to meet you neighbor. I need to start walking if I'm going to get to class on time."

"Do you want a ride?"

I laugh. "You're offering to take me on your bike? That's sweet but I'll pass."

"Why? I can put our backpacks on the back and you can take the seat. I'll do all the pedaling. I even have a helmet you can borrow."

I contemplate this solution. If I don't take him up on his offer, it could take me a half hour to walk to school and I will definitely be late.

"I promise to take good care of you."

Something about him makes me believe him. "As long as you're not an axe murderer."

"Not as of this morning." He winks at me and takes my backpack and very meticulously attaches it along with his own bag to his bike rack with bungee cords. He runs into his garage and grabs a second helmet and hands it to me. I'm staring at our bags. They look a little precarious to me.