Chapter 3

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed - you've persuaded me to post another chapter! Enjoy!

"Here we are."

Rikki opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows. Spread out in front of her was the motor-cross track. She snorted. "Zane, you and Nate hang out here every day."

"I know," said Zane, "but remember when I asked you for a ride? You said 'maybe some other time'. Well, now's that time."

"Zane!" Rikki protested as he thrust a helmet into her hands.

"It'll be fine," Zane assured her. "You aren't scared of me, are you?" he asked, echoing his own words from the time before.

Rikki looked at the helmet. Zane had gotten into his bike-gear, all ready to go. She considered… and finally relented. "Fine," she said, "but any accidents are your fault."

"Don't you trust me?" Zane asked, slipping the helmet over her head and clipping it into place.

"What, I don't get a good luck kiss?" Rikki asked, smirking beneath the helmet.

"You can have one after," said Zane. "Think of it as insurance." He put on his helmet and they both slipped the goggles into place. Zane mounted his bike and Rikki got on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. The engine started up. "It'll be fine!" Zane yelled over the growl of the engine.

"Just go already!" Rikki yelled back.

Zane drove off down the track. The ride was incredible: the speed was immense, the wind streamed past her, and no matter how many twists and turns they went through, Rikki still felt safe. She knew Zane would be careful. "That all you got?" she shouted. Zane gave the bike a fresh burst of speed in response. They were moving so fast that Rikki held on tighter, enjoying the speed.

But at one turn, everything went wrong. The bike became unbalanced and swerved to avoid the bank of dirt. It skidded and both Rikki and Zane fell off onto the ground. Zane blinked a few times but hardly registered his initial pain. He scrambled over to Rikki who was lying a few paces away from the bike. Zane pulled her head onto his lap and took off the helmet. Rikki's eyes were closed.

"No, Rikki," he said, the panic creeping into his voice. "No, please, Rikki, please!"

He cradled her head in his lap, brushing the stray curls off her face. He couldn't bear it if…

"Zane?" Rikki's eyes fluttered open. "Ugh, what happened? I feel like I fell on a pile of bricks."

"Rikki!" Zane exclaimed and kissed her in his relief. "Oh, Rikki."

"Was that insurance?" Rikki asked, a mocking smile creeping onto her face.

Zane just grinned. "Are you alright?" he asked, a serious looking coming onto his face.

"I'll be a bit bruised, but I don't think I've broken anything," Rikki replied.

Zane took her in a crushing embrace. "Oh, I'm so glad. For a minute then I thought-"

"I'm fine," Rikki interrupted, leaning up and kissing him to stop him saying what he had feared. "Hey, it's going to be okay."

Zane smiled and a single tear ran down his dirt-streaked face. Rikki lifted one hand. "I wonder…" she said and gently wiped the tear away.

"So tears don't change you," said Zane, though unwilling to admit he had almost been crying.

"I guess not," said Rikki. There was a silence where the two stayed in that position, Rikki's head on Zane's lap. When they finally got up, Rikki stumbled and Zane insisted on carrying her as he picked her up bridal-style. He left the bike and carried her up to the top of the motor-cross track, setting her down again on one of the seats. He fetched a drink from the container, carefully wiping the water off it on the hem of his t-shirt and handed it to Rikki.

"Thanks," Rikki smiled, taking a sip. Zane sat down by her and squeezed her hand. Rikki put the drink down and leaned over, resting her head on Zane's shoulder. Emma and Cleo had been so against Zane for such a long time, always thinking he couldn't be trusted, but Rikki knew he could. As he rested his head on top of hers, Rikki thought about the time when Cleo had asked, "What do you see in Zane?" At the time, Rikki had just smiled and said, "He just gets me." And he still did.

"You should probably get checked out in case you're hurt," said Zane eventually.

Rikki didn't say anything. She looked into the distance and sighed. Her pale blonde curls rested against the sides of her face and her blue eyes were thoughtful. "Mmm," she said.

Zane pulled her gently onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her head. "I guess you couldn't go to a doctor in case they asked any questions."

"I'll ask Lewis," Rikki replied. "He'll probably want to play doctor."

"Yeah," said Zane quietly. "Hey, do you want to come over to my place tonight? Movie sound good?"

"Sure," Rikki grinned. "I'd love to." She turned her head and kissed him quickly before turning back and letting her head fall against his chest.

Zane gave that sideways smile he always had when Rikki was around. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. He didn't want to break the beautiful silence.

"Emma, isn't it?"

Emma looked down later that day in the JuiceNet to the nearby table. She had taken over an extra shift that day. Sam was at the table with his laptop in front of him and an empty glass.

"Yeah, what can I do for you?" Emma asked.

"Another banana beatbox?" Sam suggested, holding out his glass. Emma smiled and took it back to the kitchen. Ash watched from the counter. He didn't like how friendly Sam was being but he brushed it off. He was sure it was nothing.

Emma returned to Sam's table with a refilled glass of banana beatbox. Ash frowned as he watched the two of them talk animatedly. He had to cut in. But with what? He thought of the flowers in the back room and smiled. He went to fetch them and brought them back in a bundle of ribbon. Flattening his hair down, he walked over to Emma and got down on one knee. "Emma? These are for you. I was wondering if you want to eat out tonight at the seaside restaurant with me?"

Emma grinned and took the flowers. "I'd love to," she said.

Ash got up and kissed her cheek. "I'll pick you up at six," he whispered in her ear.

Emma spun around the cool room. Ash had never been so romantic! She couldn't wait for their date. She wondered what she should wear…

She picked up her phone.

"Cleo?"

There was a moment of hesitation on the other end of the line where there was some laughing before Cleo answered. "Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"Hanging out with Lewis," Cleo giggled.

"Tickling?" Emma asked.

"Yeah."

"Look, I need your help," Emma confessed. "Ash has asked me on a date but I don't know what to wear!"

"Where is it?" Cleo asked. "Stop it, Lewis!"

"At the restaurant near the beach," Emma replied.

"Hmm, definitely a dress," Cleo mused. "Bring all your dresses round mine at about four and I'll help you decide."

"Okay, see you."

"Bye. LEWIS!" Cleo hung up.