The Biker's Impossible Girl

CHAPTER 4: Wrong Ride, Wrong Guy

Ria's POV

If someone asked me what my biggest talent was, I'd probably answer...

Making bad decisions without realizing they were bad decisions.

It wasn't intentional.

I just had a special gift for turning ordinary days into unforgettable disasters.

Take yesterday, for example.

I forgot the fruit tarts I bought as an apology.

Then I gave Zephyr a random candy from my purse instead.

The worst part?

He actually accepted it.

I still couldn't believe it.

I rolled over on my bed and buried my face in my pillow.

"Why didn't he throw it away?"

Normal people would've thrown it away.

Actually, normal people wouldn't have accepted it in the first place.

But Zephyr wasn't normal.

He was a six-foot-something biker who looked like he could scare a ghost back into its grave.

And somehow...

He kept talking to me.

Not nicely.

But still.

That counted.

I smiled to myself before quickly shaking my head.

"No, Aurelia."

I sat up and pointed at my reflection in the mirror.

"Do not overthink."

I narrowed my eyes at myself.

"He's just being polite."

A pause.

"...Actually, no. He's not polite."

Another pause.

"Maybe he's just... less scary now."

That sounded better.

Satisfied with my own explanation, I got dressed and left my apartment.

Lyra had invited me to meet her at a café a few blocks away.

Easy.

Nothing could possibly go wrong during a simple walk.

I had spoken too soon.

I wasn't even halfway there when I noticed a tiny orange kitten sitting beside the sidewalk.

It looked so small that my heart immediately melted.

"Oh..."

I crouched in front of it.

"Hello, little potato."

The kitten blinked.

"You have tiny ears."

It blinked again.

"Do you live here?"

Silence.

I nodded.

"I understand. You're the quiet type."

A woman walking past me gave me a strange look.

I smiled awkwardly.

"I'm talking to the cat."

She walked away faster.

"...People are so judgmental."

I sighed and carefully scratched the kitten behind its ear.

It purred.

Mission accomplished.

Unfortunately...

While I was busy making friends with a cat, I didn't notice my phone vibrating inside my bag.

By the time I checked it, I had seven missed calls from Lyra.

"Oh no."

I answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Ria!"

"I can explain."

"You've been missing for thirty minutes!"

"I found a kitten."

Silence.

"...A kitten."

"Yes."

"So you forgot about me because of a cat?"

I looked at the kitten.

Then back at my phone.

"...When you say it like that, I sound like a bad friend."

"You are."

"I'll buy you coffee."

"You said that last week."

"And I meant it."

"You forgot."

"...Right."

After apologizing for the fifth time, Lyra finally forgave me.

She had already gone home because I took too long.

Which meant...

I had absolutely no reason to stay outside anymore.

I stretched my arms and started walking back toward my apartment.

The streets were quieter now.

The sun had already begun to set, painting the sky with shades of orange and purple.

I loved evenings.

Everything felt peaceful.

Until I heard the deep rumble of a motorcycle engine.

I turned around.

A black motorcycle slowly stopped a few feet away from me.

The rider wore a black helmet.

Black leather jacket.

Black gloves.

Black boots.

I smiled.

"Oh."

It had to be Zephyr.

Who else dressed like they were attending a funeral every single day?

Without thinking twice, I walked toward the motorcycle.

The rider didn't say anything.

See?

Definitely Zephyr.

He wasn't exactly the chatty type.

I climbed onto the back seat and adjusted my bag.

"Can you take me home?"

The rider remained silent.

"I promise I won't accidentally scratch your bike this time."

Still nothing.

I laughed awkwardly.

"Too soon?"

The motorcycle slowly started moving.

I sighed happily.

"Thank you."

A few minutes passed.

Something felt...

Different.

I frowned.

Zephyr's motorcycle usually smelled faintly of gasoline and leather.

This one smelled like expensive cologne.

Very expensive.

I tilted my head.

"Did you change perfume?"

No answer.

Weird.

Then I noticed the leather vest.

There was a patch on the back.

I squinted.

Wait...

That wasn't the Nocturne Ravens emblem.

I blinked.

I looked again.

My smile slowly disappeared.

"...Excuse me."

The motorcycle kept moving.

I swallowed.

"Um..."

The rider finally spoke.

"Yes?"

My heart stopped.

That...

Wasn't Zephyr's voice.

Very slowly...

Very carefully...

I looked at the side mirror.

The rider turned his head just enough for me to see unfamiliar gray eyes behind the helmet visor.

I froze.

"Oh..."

A long silence followed.

Then I whispered the only thing my brain could come up with.

"...I think I got on the wrong motorcycle."

The rider chuckled.

A low, amused sound.

"I noticed."

"I... think I got on the wrong motorcycle."

The rider let out another amused chuckle before slowly pulling over to the side of the road. The engine went quiet, but my heartbeat certainly didn't.

Very carefully, I climbed off the motorcycle.

The rider removed his helmet, revealing a handsome man who looked a few years older than me. His ash-gray eyes sparkled with amusement, and a crooked smile rested on his face as if he had just witnessed the funniest thing all week.

He folded his arms.

"So..."

I smiled awkwardly.

"Hi."

"You seriously climbed onto a stranger's motorcycle."

"...Yes."

"You didn't even ask my name."

"I thought you were someone else."

"I figured."

I scratched the back of my neck.

"My defense is... your jacket is black."

He looked down at his jacket.

"So is half the city's."

"Exactly."

He laughed.

I pointed at him.

"See? You understand."

"No."

"I don't."

"You just admitted you're bad at recognizing people."

"That's... also true."

He shook his head, still smiling.

"I've met reckless people before."

He looked me up and down.

"But you're the first one who accidentally kidnaps herself."

I blinked.

"...That sounds bad when you say it out loud."

"It should."

I sighed dramatically.

"This is going to keep me awake tonight."

"It should."

He extended his hand politely.

"I'm Rowan."

I shook it.

"Aurelia."

He tilted his head.

"So, Aurelia... do you always trust random bikers?"

"I didn't think you were random."

"You thought I was your boyfriend?"

My eyes became as wide as saucers.

"What?!"

He burst out laughing.

"No!"

"I thought you were Zephyr!"

The moment his name left my mouth, Rowan's smile faded just a little.

"So... you know Zephyr Draven."

I nodded without thinking.

"Kind of."

"Kind of?"

"I accidentally scratched his motorcycle."

"...Excuse me?"

"And I put a Barbie sticker on it."

Rowan stared.

I smiled weakly.

"It makes more sense with context."

"I don't think it does."

Before I could explain, the familiar roar of several motorcycles echoed down the street.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

My stomach dropped.

I knew that sound.

The motorcycles stopped a few feet away from us.

The riders removed their helmets one by one.

Cassian.

A few members of the Nocturne Ravens.

And finally...

Zephyr.

He didn't say a word.

He simply looked at me.

Then at Rowan.

Then back at me.

"...Oh."

I swallowed hard.

"Hi?"

Nobody answered.

Even the wind felt awkward.

Cassian rubbed his forehead.

"I leave you alone for one hour."

I smiled nervously.

"It wasn't even an hour."

"That's not the point."

"I know."

"It never is with you."

Zephyr walked toward us with slow, steady steps.

His face was unreadable.

For some reason...

That was much scarier than when he looked angry.

He stopped in front of me.

"What are you doing?"

I immediately raised both hands.

"I can explain."

"I'm listening."

"I thought he was you."

Silence.

I pointed at Rowan.

"You both wear black."

Still silence.

"You both ride motorcycles."

Nothing.

"And... I wasn't wearing my glasses."

Cassian blinked.

"You don't wear glasses."

"...Exactly."

Everyone stared at me.

I closed my eyes.

"That sounded smarter in my head."

Cassian sighed so deeply that I almost felt guilty.

Almost.

Rowan scratched his chin, clearly trying not to laugh.

"I told her she climbed onto the wrong bike."

"I know," Zephyr replied without taking his eyes off me.

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

I looked at Cassian.

"Is he mad?"

Cassian whispered back, "Very."

"He doesn't look mad."

"That's how you know he's mad."

"Oh."

Double oh.

Zephyr looked at Rowan.

"You can leave."

Rowan smiled.

"I wasn't planning on keeping her."

"I know."

"But she's entertaining."

I raised my hand.

"Thank you."

Zephyr slowly looked at me.

I immediately lowered my hand.

"Sorry."

Rowan laughed again before putting his helmet back on.

He started his motorcycle but looked at me one last time.

"Try asking before climbing onto someone's bike next time."

"I will."

"And make sure it's the right biker."

"I definitely will."

He nodded toward Zephyr.

"Take care of your little troublemaker."

I froze.

"My what?"

Before I could ask another question, Rowan rode away.

I stood there, blinking.

Did he just—

No.

Surely not.

The street became quiet again.

I looked at Zephyr.

He looked at me.

Neither of us spoke.

The silence became so uncomfortable that I decided to fix it.

"I almost got kidnapped."

Cassian covered his face.

"No," he muttered.

"You got on his bike willingly."

"Details."

"They're important details."

I frowned.

"I prefer my version."

Zephyr pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You climbed onto a stranger's motorcycle."

"I thought it was yours."

"Without checking."

"I trusted my instincts."

"They failed."

"...Very badly."

He nodded once.

"Exactly."

I sighed.

"I already feel embarrassed. You don't have to make it worse."

For the first time since arriving...

His expression softened just a little.

"You're impossible."

I smiled.

"I've heard that before."

"I know."

"You've said it before."

"I know."

I pointed at him.

"You're repeating yourself."

"And you're repeating your mistakes."

"...Fair."

Cassian tossed me a spare helmet.

"Here."

I caught it.

"What's this for?"

He looked at me like I had asked the dumbest question in the world.

"So you can ride home."

I smiled.

"Oh!"

I turned toward Zephyr.

"So... are you giving me a ride?"

"No."

My smile disappeared.

"Oh."

A second later, he sighed.

"Get on."

My smile returned instantly.

"Oh!"

Cassian laughed.

"You really enjoy confusing her."

"I don't."

"You do."

"I don't."

I climbed onto the back of Zephyr's motorcycle.

This time...

I checked three times to make sure it was actually him.

I even tapped his shoulder.

"Just confirming."

"What?"

"You're Zephyr, right?"

He closed his eyes for a second.

"...Yes."

"Okay, good."

Cassian burst into laughter.

"I can't believe you actually had to answer that."

"I can't believe I had to ask," I mumbled.

Zephyr started the engine.

Before we drove away, he spoke without turning around.

"Hold on."

I blinked.

"Huh?"

"If you fall..."

He paused.

"I'm not catching you."

I smiled to myself.

"That's okay."

"...Why are you smiling?"

"Because you sound like you care."

"I don't."

"Mhm."

"...Stop talking."

"I'll try."

Five seconds later...

"So, do motorcycles always—"

"Ria."

"...Sorry."

The motorcycle disappeared into the evening traffic.

I smiled behind the helmet.

Today had been embarrassing.

Extremely embarrassing.

But somehow...

I had a feeling this wouldn't be the last ridiculous adventure I'd have with Zephyr Draven.

And judging by the way he sighed every time I spoke...

Something told me I was slowly becoming his favorite headache.