From all my fifteen years of growing up with Michael, I knew from the start he was a very competetive person. He never backed down to a challenge, either to prove he wouldn't punk out or just to hoist his 'manly' ego higher onto Cloud Nine. Regardless, I felt my anxiety spike as soon as I saw the look on my older brother's face. To David's challenge, in his eyes I could read 'well, may the best man win.'
"Michael, please, come on, let's just go home." I begged him, and he never took his eyes off of David and Star. "Either get on or stay here, Sophie. Your choice." He retorted, kicking his bike to life. I definitely didn't want to stay there by myself, but I was scared of what lengths Michael would go to just to impress some girl. I had to make a quick decision, and I knew I would regret either one.
I groaned, seating myself on the back of Michael's bike just as David had started his own bike. "We're goin' for a ride, bud." A low voice had said, and I looked over to see it was Dwyane who had spoken. I had caught his eye last minute, and he winked with a wicked smirk before pulling out behind the others. I barely had enough time to grip Michael's jacket before he took off.
We did pretty much everything that my mother would kill us for if she knew we had done it. We went down stairs to the beach, rode in the sand and barely missed bystanders lying about, we rode under the boardwalk, nearly hitting our heads on the banisters up top, we even rode in the woods, far away from any civilization I knew of. The salty sea air stung my eyes, and the speeds we were reaching would have us pulled over any minute. But then again, I couldn't really say it wasn't fun. I found myself laughing out loud and squealing in delight as we took on turns just a little too fast to be safe.
Until Michael skidded and we toppled over on top of each other. I nearly had screamed from the pain in my leg as it was crushed under the bike, but Michael was able to get up easily before he launched himself at David. "No!" I heard Star scream, as well as the sound of a fist coming in contact with something else. I wasn't paying much attention, I was still trying to get myself from under his bike.
A hand reached out to me, curling around my left bicep and pulling me out as the bike was lifted off of me with another hand. I was brought to my feet, though it was hard to stand. My leg was bleeding, and I had a small yet long cut from my mid-thigh to my knee. I needed support from the person who was holding me and it turns out that person just so happened to be Dwayne.
"Th-thank you..." I said, noticing his eyes trailing down my leg and focusing on the cut. He swallowed thickly, tearing his eyes away and turning to face the other direction, shaking his head. "No problem." His voice was shaky, and I furrowed my brows. How could someone like him have a problem with blood? I mean, he probably had to deal with it at least a couple of times on that bike of his, right?
"Sophie? Hey, Soph, are you ok?" Michael asked, coming out of his rage with David - for almost killing us, a rage I definitely could understand - and he practically ripped me from Dwayne's grip. "Don't touch her." He growled, looking at my leg. "God, you're bleeding; we need to get you home." I nodded, and he lifted his bike to pick it up when a hand clapped him on the shoulder. "You have unfinished business here, Michael. Don't start what you can't finish."
It was Mr. Dee Snider, with his bushy blonde hair, and I furrowed my brows. "I think he can leave to take his little sister home." I interjected, pushing his hand off of Michael's shoulder. David smiled down at me with a dark chuckle, "One of my boys would be more than happy to take you home, Sophie." Michael scoffed, "the hell they are, I'm taking her home."
Star spoke up suddenly, "Michael, maybe it would be best if one of them just took her home. She would be in good hands." Was this girl serious? "She's in good hands with me. Her brother." Michael said. "Well, Michael if you plan on seeing Star ever again, you'll come with us and leave your sister in the capable hands of..." He thought for a minute before grinning wide, "Dwayne." That shut Michael up real quick. Leaving me gaping at him in just complete shock and a little bit of betrayal.
What a refutable brother I have coming to my rescue. He turns me down for a girl he just met. Gotta love family.
"What about Laddie?" I heard Dwayne ask from behind us, "I can ride with Marko." Laddie's childish voice said. I had almost forgotten he was there. He jumped off of Dwayne's bike and walked over, hopping on the bike of the longer-haired blue-green eyed boy. So that was Marko. I shivered as the cold air of the wind blew, considering I was in shorts and a short sleeved top.
"If mom asks," Michael said, picking up his bike, "say I left to go fill out one more application and you just wanted to come home, ok?" I rolled my eyes at him, "yeah, yeah, sure. You're my knight in shining armor." I mumbled under my breath, heading over to Dwayne's bike as they all took off, leaving us there.
I rubbed my bare arms, and Dwayne didn't even look as he shrugged off his jacket, leaving him with a bare torso and something really hard for me not to stare at. He placed it around my shoulders, and I furrowed my brows, "won't you be cold?" I inquired and he shook his head, "I'll be alright." He retorted. Climbing on his bike.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked, taking both myself and him aback a little. He sighed, "you took such good care of Laddie, and brought him back safe. I just figured I'd return the favor." He stated somberly, showing no emotion. How could this guy be so cocky one minute and then so... sanguid the next? Regardless, I got on the back of his bike and wrapped my arms around his waist. He was warm to the touch, and I sighed to calm myself. "Well, thank you. I really appreciate you doing this." I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.
The drive back was a lot less scary than the drive up here. It was smooth sailing - Dwayne drove quickly and efficiently, without really seeming like he was going too fast at all. We made it to my house, with my instructions, within fifteen minutes. Whereas with Michael it took at least twenty-five. All the lights were off, which meant it would be easy to hide my injury from my mom when I got in. I thanked him once more for my ride home, blushing as he grinned and winked at me once more before walking up to my door. He waited there too on his bike, until I got to my door. It was only when I turned around that I remembered I still had his jacket around my shoulders.
"Wait! You forgot your jacket- and you're gone."
Thank you so much for the reviews and favorites and follows! Tell me some stuff you may want to see in the next chapter, I want some ideas from you guys :) XO - Kari
