Saving Grace (On Hold)

Not What I Expected

Dedicated to KatRuby for her lovely comments and support with this story, thank you so much hun!

“Get on,” Noah demanded. Rain drops splattered over him, his brown hair dripping with droplets that then slid down his face before dropping onto his leather jacket. He was soaked through to the bone, much like I was. I stood shivering silently, my blonde hair plastered to the sides of my face rain drops dripping in rapid succession down my body. My skirt sagged against my legs, tights so waterlogged I was pretty sure they’d soaked up enough water to fill a swimming pool. My normally soft jumper was turned itchy and I wished I’d thought ahead to bring an umbrella.

I suppose I should explain why Noah was sat in front of me straddling his motorbike demanding that he give me a ride. Lucas and Lucy had practice - why teams started so early, I wasn’t entirely sure - leaving me to walk home alone. I could have taken Lucas’ car and then dove back to pick him up later but I was terrified to drive on what I considered to be the wrong side of the road. I had no other choice but to walk.

I’d been half way home before the rain started. Now, when I say rain I mean rain. None of this soft falling light rain. Oh no, this was hard and heavy. The wind only made it worse and I was soaked within seconds. I promised myself I’d be home soon, repeating it firmly in my head in some desperate attempt to convince myself. I was wrong though and pretty sure I wasn’t even walking in the right direction. 

That’s where Noah appeared, almost like an apparition through the thick sleets of rain that poured unmercifully down upon us. Why he was riding his motorbike without a helmet during this weather I wasn’t sure but I’d been internally praying somebody would drive past and offer to help, the fact it was Noah only made me that much more thankful. The slight hitch? He wanted me to ride the death trap he called transport.

“Get on.” Noah demanded again, his tone reaching closer and closer to a growl. I had a feeling he wasn’t used to people not doing as he said. I hesitated, hugging myself to try and conserve any body heat I had left. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to get on the bike, as much as it pained to admit I had day dreamed about it all day but that kinda revolved around some romantic notion that clearly wasn’t happening here.

“Grace,” I looked up from the floor startled. Noah hadn’t said my name before and I liked the way it sounded coming from his mouth. I felt a scary attraction to the dishevelled boy in front of me, despite only meeting him a week ago, I’d barely thought about anything else since and I was not the type to get hung up on a guy like him. I stared into his chocolate brown eyes, much like my own and nodded slowly in response. 

“Get on. Now.” He growled, nodding toward the small stretch of seat behind him. I taunted with the thought of saying no but despite my anxiety of riding a motorbike my desire to get warm won out and I found myself agreeing.

I took a deep breath and unwound my arms slowly, water still dripping steadily as I moved towards the motorbike. Noah turned to face forward as I hitched one leg up over and straddled the bike. I struggled to find a place to put my hands and jumped slightly when I felt warm hands grip my own. Noah pulled my arms around his front so I was attached in some weird backwards bear hug, I couldn’t say I minded being this close and gripped a little tighter as the engine rumbled to life underneath me. Within seconds we were flying down the streets and I hid my head into the back of Noah’s neck terrified of the thought of trees and houses flying past us. The rain was worse on the back of the bike, hitting us harder as we drove fast in an attempt to escape the worst of it.