Chapter 20 Riding My （Pink） Bike Down The Hood
Riding My (Pink) Bike Down The Hood
Until.
We heard a lawnmower cutting over our music, and all of a sudden, I have this half-naked prick strutting around like he doesn’t know what he’s doing.
I was reading my book, and I must admit seeing his back twist and move like that…
Awakened something inside me, but I wasn’t about to be distraught by god-like muscles.
I’m reading my book. At least that’s what I’m trying to do since I’ve picked it up from the grass from when I observed him a little too much that I like to admit.
I’m reading the words in front of me. This is a good book. Oh, how interesting, she went inside the coffee shop, and I wonder what happens next…
My stupid eyes glance upwards and catch sight of him dousing himself off with a hose because of the heat, and Whatta Man by Salt N’ Peppa might as well be playing in the background because why is it happening in slow motion?
And he just ran his hand through his hair.
Oh dear Lord… I really try to get back to the book, but he has some type of hold on me.
That’s when slow motion stops, and he immediately looks at me, which causes my smart self to pick up the book higher and bury my face in it.
Soon enough, I hear him and the lawnmower come closer.
“Having a good time there, Brown?”
Uh, quick! Respond.
“Yes, I’m doing this thing called reading, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it?” I smile ironically at him, and he crosses his arms over his pecks. That was good, right? Not at all suspicious?
“Ah, funny. I don’t know how you do that, though…”
“What?”
“Have the ability to read it upside down, I’ve been trying to learn for years…”
The book falls from my hands, and I rush over to put it in place. Meanwhile, he’s readjusting his gloves and strutting away.
“I hate you!” I shout over the book and hear his laughter.
“Sure doesn’t feel like it, perv!”
I don’t even need to look to know that Allison is grinning ear to ear.
“Don’t say anything.” I lay back down, book covering my face once again, and she laughs.
A few minutes pass before it crosses my mind.
“What are we doing today?”
Allison shuts down her phone and raises her sunglasses, letting them sit on top of her head.
“We could cross something off the list.” She suggests, and I don’t like how my eyes tried to search for West when she said that. In some deep, dark, twisted way, it has become a bit of our thing…
“I don’t know…” I trail off, trying not to deal with the reality that West is now in fact my friend and that friends like doing things together.
“I know I’m no Evil Spawn, but I don’t fall very short.” She jokes, and I turn serious.
“Alls no, you know you’re one of the most important people in my life.”
She rolls her eyes as if that was obviously known, but I know her.
She isn’t jealous of West, but I feel like she feels like, after all these years, I’m inching closer to West than her, and beneath all that confidence is a terrifying insecurity that she’s going to end up alone.
And I could never. I don’t think I could ever walk through life without her by my side, daring me to do stupid shit.
“Well, duh, look at you being all sentimental!” She side-hugs me, and this time I roll my eyes. “Pull up the list.”
I open my phone and then go to the Never list.
“I could learn how to ride a bike?” I squint, and sure enough, she shakes me from the side.
“That’s perfect! But wait… I wouldn’t want to steal that moment from your dad… Let’s call him, and I’ll watch from the side.” She shrugs, and soon enough, we’re putting our tops and shorts back on.
I’m actually glad West is busy mowing the lawn, because I wouldn’t want him to joke about all the times I’m going to fall for sure.
“Mr. B, I’ve done it once again. Mads is ready to ride a bike!” She exaggeratedly gestures towards me, and I sigh, regretting this by the minute.
“Really? I’m getting the safety pads!” And he moves all clumsily towards the garage.
How could she leave him?
It’s something I hate to admit, but still think about at least once a day.
It hits me when I least expect it, too. Mainly when I’m with Dad.
But sometimes when I’m at Mailview’s only beach, where they supposedly had their first kiss.
When I see my friends’ parents interact and be, you know, together.
I don’t know, life really likes to kick me around sometimes.
I shake my head and hear my dad ringing his old bike’s bell, smiling all excited.
Last time I rode a bike, I must’ve been around six or seven.
For some, it might have looked like a learning experience; for me personally, it was my own personal hell, where I ended up full of bruises even though I wore everything safety-related.
I got frustrated, kicked the bike, hurt my foot, my parents had to take me to the hospital, and they told me I sprained my ankle.
In elementary school, I threw myself down four stairs so I would be hurt for P.E.
and wouldn’t have to learn how to ride a bike. The signs that I was crazy were there.
And now, my head is shooting off alarms that I should lick the ground and catch some type of cold so I don’t have to do this.
I’m in the middle of one of Mailview’s less-travelled dirt paths, and I’m praying that some brat doesn’t appear out of nowhere to point their tiny finger at the 17-year-old who can’t ride a bike without, erm, support.
My dad is holding onto the back of the bike, and I’m all geared up. Allison is… Recording.
“You can do this, Mads!”
“Allison, I’m not six for fuck’s sake, stop recording!”
“Language! You’re doing so good, honey!” The man switches tones as if it’s nothing, and I painfully and slowly peddle.
“Dad, I don’t think I can do this…” I glance sideways at my best friend. “Allison, I swear to god!”
“Sorry, I just really wanna catch you on camera!” She points excitedly, and I roll my eyes.
“Don’t focus on her, Maddie, focus on me, I got you…”
I squint my eyes, but then remember I should have them open.
Just peddle. I keep glancing at the ground, and then I lose balance.
“I got you, don’t look at the ground, look forward!”
“I am looking forward!” I shout back, my helmet pressing against my head. “Oh, I hate this…”
I start peddling with more will, but still feel helpless with my dad holding onto my bike.
“Dad, this is leading us nowhere, we’re both sweating and tired, and it’s too hot outside to-”
“OH MY GOD, you’re doing it!” Allison shouts from afar. Wait afar?!
I look behind, and for two whole miraculous seconds, I look at my dad’s and my best friend’s face all lit up, and it feels amazing…
Wait, I’m alone… I immediately lose balance and almost fall to the ground, hitting my leg while trying not to fall, and still end up with my butt on the dirt.
I stare at my dad and Allison, and they’re reticent, waiting for my reaction. To be honest, my first reaction should be to hold on to my leg and wince in pain. But a laugh bubbles out of me. I cover my mouth. And then I smile until my cheeks hurt.
“I did it!” I put my hands in the air, and they celebrate too, running towards me.
They both help me up, and my dad kisses the top of my head.
“I’m so proud of you!”
“Dad, you can’t just throw that word around and- Are you crying?”
He wipes his eyes and hugs me tight.
“I’m not throwing anything around. I am proud of you. You, Maddie, are someone to be proud of.” He kisses the top of my head again and gives Allison the space to take the air out of my lungs after tackling me.
“Dude!” She screams in my face, and I can’t help but feel like I’m beaming.
“Madelaine! Wow, you finally did it…” Amanda Devadhikar. Right.
“Amanda, hi…”
“Hi…”
And these are the most aggressive words you can hear out of a girl’s mouth when they have despised each other since childhood.
Yes, I already told you she doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her, but the fact is, her rich ass used to bully me every summer I came here.
She’s the only one who has a mansion around here because her dad is some neurosurgeon and her mom is a high-profile child therapist. Pretty ironic if you ask me, considering her brain and soul are rotten.
She is richer, has a higher education, has a bigger house, is taller, and has legs for miles, strong and thick Indian hair, also sings, is athletic, is probably gonna be valedictorian, join some law firm who represents the devil, and mostly has both parents, which, thanks to my mom, was a bully miracle for her, gave her more material to work on.
Now, I don’t want to defend West, but he never knew about how horrible she was and still is.
Around him, she’s only passive-aggressive.
And makes those kinds of petty comments only a girl could pick up on.
Those kinds of comments I would seem neurotic to report, so I never told my dad either.
“Where’s your boyfriend? Shouldn’t he be here for your big moment?” Her dense eyelashes feign curiosity, and I avoid rolling my eyes and speaking through my teeth.
“He’s spending time with Riden.” Allison helps me get up, and I take a step forward.
“West and I are independent; it’s something we admire in each other.
We’re just one of those couples who don’t need to be attached by the hip.
” I shrug, and it’s like I’ve slapped her, because when they were together, they were together.
He almost seemed like he was being held captive by her enormous nails wrapping around his arms.
“So glad to hear that.” She takes a step forward and, without my dad noticing or Allison by the way, she lowers her voice.
“It’s cute that you’re still pretending, but everyone knows you are full of bullshit, Madelaine.
You can’t let a man into your life because behind that resting bitch face, you’re still that little girl who got abandoned.
But the town is going to figure it out eventually, or you’ll self-combust, one of the two.
” She steps away and smiles her fake smile at my dad.
“I still find it so odd that you call him West, but every couple has its ways…” She walks past me, and Allison mumbles curse words as she leaves. “Nice seeing you, Mr. Brown.”
She walks out, and I can’t help but scream.
“West and I love each other! And we’re going to the sunset party at the River Cafe later!”
She dismisses me with her hand, and then she’s gone.
“What a nice girl.”
“What a bitch.” Allison and I say at the same time, while Dad looks at us, confused.
“Seventeen years and I still don’t understand you girls.” He huffs, taking the bike home with Alls and me on his heels.
Me: West, we’re going to the sunset party
Me: And we’re going to be the clingiest couple there has ever been in this town
Evil Spawn: yes maam