"You're kidding, right?"
Ryan straddles his powder blue Vespa and spreads his hands, palms up. "About what?"
Troy emits a hysterical giggle. "I'm not climbing on the back of that thing."
"Why not?"
"Do I look like a girl?"
Ryan purses his lips. "No," he says testily, "but you'll have to sacrifice your precious masculinity for twenty minutes if you want a ride."
Troy scowls ferociously and mumbles something Ryan doesn't catch.
"Pardon me?"
"What if someone sees me?" Troy hisses.
Ryan puts on his helmet. "Troy, it's twilight. Either get on, or walk."
Glowering, Troy slides onto the seat.
xXx
"Ryan, wait."
Ryan exhales in exasperation. "What now?"
"You have the handlebars, but what am I supposed to hold onto?"
"My waist?"
Troy looks a little sick. "Ryan, I'm not a –"
"Girl. I'm aware. Listen, I'm doing you a favor here, taking you home because your truck's out of commission. You should be grateful, not whining."
Troy frowns. "I am," he says mulishly, "but –"
"It's getting dark. Let's go!"
Without waiting for a reply, Ryan starts the Vespa and peels out of the parking lot. He feels Troy's hands fly to his hips, and smirks behind his visor.
xXx
Troy's heart hammers in his chest as they zoom out of the car park and onto the street. He grips Ryan harder. The other boy isn't fat by any stretch of the imagination, but his hips feel full and comforting under Troy's fingers.
They pass verdant manicured gardens, treehouses not unlike Troy's own, real houses too, blurring into one another as the Vespa accelerates. The light is fading fast now, and halfway home the streetlights come on. Troy holds on tight as Ryan turns, feels the boy's muscles ripple beneath his palms and thinks, This isn't so bad after all.
xXx
The Vespa decelerates and Troy's heart sinks. He'd found the ride home even more exhilarating than driving in his truck with the windows rolled down. He attributes this to the bike and not the driver, but a lingering doubt will nevertheless niggle away at his subconscious for a long time afterwards.
Ryan flips up his visor and yells "So?" over the engine's roar.
"It was decent," Troy concedes gruffly, removing his hands from the other boy's waist and climbing off.
Ryan smiles like he knows something Troy doesn't, but all he says before peeling away is, "Have a nice night."