Bad For You: A Bryce Hall Story

5- Motocross Days

A few days later, Tayler had a dirt bike competition. He brought you along because you were the only one allowed to drive and usually he liked having you take pics for him. Bryce was there too, but mostly goofing around on the back track with all the rest of the people just learning.

Tayler had been riding since he was a kid and even though your parents hated it, they accepted that he would rather ride motocross than keep playing football. You really wish you had the guts to tell them the truth that you'd rather do just about anything than keep playing volleyball. The only trouble is you didn't have a clue what you'd rather do. You stood up to snap some pics and cheer for Tayler after he landed a big jump and heard cheering from behind you and turned to see Kelianne walk up.

You: "Hey! What are you doing here?"

Kelianne: "Tayler mentioned the competition to me like 5x last night while we were facetiming so I took that as a hint that he wanted me to watch."

You: *laughing*
"Just friends, huh? That sure sounds like girlfriend duty to me."

Kelianne: "Mostly."

You: "Wait. What?"

Kelianne: "I don't even know anymore. I love the kid and god knows I try to understand him, but he's just all over the place. One minute I'm like a sister to him and the next he is kissing me-"

You: "SHUT UP! He did NOT?!?! Tell me everything."

Kelianne: *laughing at how invested you are*
"It was only twice and the first time he was drunk, but the second time was just a few weeks ago and he was stone-cold sober. Then never mentioned it again."

You: "Have you tried to tell him how you feel?"

Kelianne: "I've hinted, I guess. I don't know. I figured if he wanted to be with me then he would."

You: "Boys are idiots and my brothers are the kings of the idiots."

Kelianne: *motioning towards where Bryce is pushing his bike back against the fence*
"Runs in the friend group, huh"

You: "Bryce? No. Definitely not."

Kelianne: "C'mon... I know you like him."

You: "He's my brother's friend. And a total-"

Kelianne: "He likes you too, ya know?"

You sat completely stunned by what would make her think that as you are both interrupted by Bryce walking up.

Bryce: "How's my guy doing out there?"

Kelianne: "He's in second after that last race. I'm gonna take him this water before the next one starts."

She ran off with a smile carrying a bottle of water for Tayler. You watched him smile as he chugged it and saw her lean into him as she praised him. You really hoped Tayler woke up eventually and saw what was right in front of him. Bryce reached across you and grabbed the bottle from your hand and started to gulp it. There was something so intimate about him drinking after you completely unphased. You watched as he chugged it and the muscles in his neck flexed under the sweaty skin. God, he was so much hotter than he had any business being.

After he'd drained the entire bottle he leaned back on his elbows in the grass and let the sun beat down on his face. Everything in you wanted to lay next to him but you didn't have the guts to. Instead, you panicked and blurted out:
"You owe me another water."

Bryce: *laughing*
"I'll get you whatever you want, sweets."

You: "Just water, thanks."

Bryce leaned over way closer to you than he ever had in public and whispered:
"You sure about that?"

God, you hoped he couldn't hear your heart about to beat out of your chest or feel the struggle you were having not pushing the extra inch to crash your lips against his. Bryce moved even closer and at the last second swerved past you to reach in the cooler behind you to grab another bottle of water. He took a big gulp then handed the half-empty bottle to you with a wink. You nervously took a sip imagining it was his lips that were quenching your thirst instead.

Tayler must have noticed the vibe between the two of you because when you looked over to see if he was watching, you saw a much more frightening sight. Tayler had left Kelianne mid-sentence and was marching over with her following as quickly as her short legs could keep up.

Tayler: "Time to go, my dude."

Bryce: "You still have another whole race to go..."

Tayler: *lying*
"I know. Kelianne needs a ride home. Her mom called."

Kelianne didn't dare argue with him and grabbed her stuff and played along as Bryce followed her towards his car.