The state I'm in COMPLETED

The ride

I woke up early, my desk buried under stacks of books and notes, the reality of finals creeping closer. But no amount of caffeine could erase the exhaustion from last night. Sleep deprivation was definitely not helping my concentration.

I was screwed.

Mom kept giving me strange looks. According to her, I had gone to bed at eleven, so why was I this exhausted?

I poured myself a second cup of coffee, determined to power through my studies. I had a meeting with the boys and Cathrine at five, and I could not be late tonight.

Flipping through my literature notes, I underlined passages from The Passion by Jeanette Winterson—one of our teacher's favourites.

"What is luck? But the ability to exploit accidents."

"Wherever love is, I want to be. I will follow it as surely as the land-locked salmon finds the sea."

"Gambling is not a vice; it is an expression of our humanness. We gamble. Some do it at the gaming table, some do not. You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play."

I found myself captivated by the words, getting lost in the simple truth of them. Before I knew it, it was almost three.

I had finished my literature notes, but Psycholinguistics would have to wait. I needed to get ready. My hair was an absolute mess, and I had to find something appropriate for this little ride.

Stepping into the shower, my thoughts drifted to Harry.

Why had he invited me?

I tried not to read too much into it, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get him out of my head. There was something about him—his enigmatic presence, the way he seemed to hold back, as if he was carrying a weight no one else could see.

Why do I even care?

I shook the thought away as I got dressed: jeans, a white t-shirt, and my red Converse. I threw on my burgundy scarf for some colour and grabbed my black leather jacket. My long hair, in desperate need of a trim, was quickly straightened before I grabbed my phone and texted Cathrine.

She was already waiting for me outside.

Mom barely batted an eye when I told her I was meeting Leo. She didn't need any more details.

"Someone's looking good," I teased as soon as I saw Cathrine.

It was true—she looked effortlessly stunning in her jeans and tank top, her wavy blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She had brought a cardigan in case she got cold, but she didn't seem to need it.

She smirked. "Right back at you, girl."

I flipped my hair dramatically. "What can I say? This is my completely natural look—effortless."

We both laughed as she switched on the radio.

John Newman's Can You Love Me Again blasted through the speakers, and before we knew it, we were singing at the top of our lungs.

For the first time in a while, life felt fun.

By the time we arrived at the garage where Leo worked, I immediately noticed something off.

There was only one bike.

Leo's.

Did Harry forget? Or did he change his mind?

I stepped out of Cathrine's car and walked over to Leo, who was busy tinkering with something on his motorcycle.

"Well, well, well. Look who's here," I joked, making Cathrine laugh.

Leo straightened up, grinning. "If it isn't the pain in my ass."

He pulled me into a hug, kissing my cheek before doing the same to Cathrine.

"So, I'll leave you to it. I've got studying to do," I said casually. "Cathrine, keys please—"

Before I could finish my sentence, the distant roar of an engine cut through the air.

I turned just in time to see a sleek black motorcycle pulling up.

Harry.

He maneuvered the heavy bike effortlessly, his every movement controlled, precise. When he finally came to a stop and removed his helmet, I swore the world slowed down for a second.

Dressed in black jeans, a fitted t-shirt, and a leather jacket, he was breathtaking. His perfectly messy hair framed his sharp features, and his tattoos peeked from beneath his sleeves, teasing just enough to keep you looking.

I tore my gaze away, forcing myself to look at Leo instead.

Get a grip, Val.

When I looked back at Harry, I caught something strange in his expression. His jade-green eyes flickered toward me for the briefest moment before he quickly looked away, almost as if something was wrong.

"Hey," he said, his voice quiet.

"Hi," I replied, still trying to sound normal.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a helmet. "Here's your helmet, as promised."

I took it from him. "Thanks."

"Anytime." He paused, then smirked. "Hop on. Let's get going."

Before I could react, Leo cut in. "Eager much?" He smirked before handing Cathrine a helmet, too.

She grinned and got onto Leo's bike.

I hesitated for just a second before climbing onto Harry's.

As soon as the engines roared to life, he glanced back at me. "Hold on. You could fall off."

I didn't even think twice.

I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the warmth of his body through his jacket. He sped up, and my grip instinctively tightened.

The wind whipped around us, carrying the scent of the sea as we rode along the coastal roads. The city lights blurred into streaks, and for the first time in a long time, I felt free.

No exams. No expectations. No rules.

Just the ride.

Leo overtook us, signalling for us to stop at the old harbour.

When we finally pulled over, I hesitated before letting go of Harry. I didn't want to. It felt safe.

I turned toward Cathrine.

Judging by her expression, she felt the same.

Leo took off his helmet, running a hand through his hair before flashing me a mischievous grin.

"Let's go for a walk, Val."