I Don't Love You Too

Chapter 5 - Bicycles

I woke up at seven on the dot the next morning and lept out of bed. I'm usually never like this, but that day was different. I was going to see Merida again. At school, yes, but that didn't matter. I had a plan for today.

I jumped up and plugged my phone into my stereo, playing 'Of The Night' as I scrambled out of my pyjamas (yes, I know, what guy wears pyjamas, these days, well I do, okay?) and into my school uniform. I straightened my tie and tried to sort out my hair whilst looking into the mirror on my wall. It was hopeless. My hair just stayed like it always did, sticking out and all over the place, apart from the braid on the right hand side I got done in the summer. It's kind of nice, it's unusual. I like it, even if Jack takes the piss. I just retaliate with the fact that he dyes his hair, so if anyone's the girl, it's him.

I was ready for school in record time and today I decided that I wasn't going to catch my bus. I was going to pick up Merida instead. And I knew just the thing.

The garage was cold and dusty when I opened it with the rusty key hanging on the hook. I hadn't been in here for a while, this place had always crept me out very slightly. I searched through the piles of junk and the scattered boxes and found the exact object I was looking for.

My father and my mother had taken bike rides all the time. It was a huge hobby of theirs, and for my mother's birthday present one year my father had brought a tandem. For anyone who doesn't know, it's basically a two-person bike. My mother had loved it and they'd spent hours and hours on it together before I was born and they had started fighting. She left without notice or explanation and it had broken my father's heart. He never used the tandem anymore.

When I asked him about it when I was seven and growing up enough to understand why I didn't have a mother anymore, he scolded me and didn't tell me until he'd fully calmed down. He's only just got over her leaving, and I'm sixteen now. He only told me the story last year, but he still won't ride it. Not with me anyway. He makes sure it's always polished, oiled and in perfect condition though. The saddles are immaculate, the handlebars always gleaming. He whistles the same tune when he polishes, I've noticed. He sings under his breath when he thinks I don't hear him.

"I'll swim and sail on savage seas,

With ne'er a fear of drowning.

And gladly ride the waves of life,

If you will marry me."

I picked up the tandem and spun the wheel, just to check it was working, even though I knew it would be. Now the hardest part would be persuading my dad to let me use it for the day.

"Dad?"

He was in his office again, studying criminal reports and CCTV footage for the police. He used to work on the streets but he gave that up a while ago. Just after Mum left, actually.

"Yes, son?"

He didn't face me, just kept studying the folders. Regardless, I continued.

"I, I was wondering - well, I'd quite like to - only if you said so of course, if I could - um, well, it's be really nice if I was allowed to -"

"Spit it out son."

"I - er, I'd like to take Merida on the tandem this morning."

There was an extremely uncomfortable silence as soon as I spoke. My father turned to face me with a look of complete seriousness etched into his stony features.

"Hiccup. Do you like Merida?"

I nodded whilst blushing furiously beneath my light scattering of freckles.