CHAPTER 5 A Ride to Remember
519 Words
The motorcycle sped through the city streets as the evening breeze blew through their hair.
At first, Jade Wilson sat stiffly behind Andrew Kings, afraid to move.
"Relax," Andrew called over his shoulder.
"I'm trying!"
The motorcycle suddenly turned a corner.
Jade let out a small scream and instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist.
Andrew smiled to himself.
"See? Much better."
"Don't laugh at me!"
"I'm not."
He was.
Jade could tell from the amusement in his voice.
For the first time in weeks, she found herself forgetting all her worries.
No gossip.
No Vanessa.
No whispers.
Just the two of them and the open road.
A few minutes later, Andrew stopped in front of a small ice cream shop.
Jade looked surprised.
"I thought you were taking me home."
"I was."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are we here?"
Andrew removed his helmet.
"Because I wanted ice cream."
Jade laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
"I hear that a lot."
They entered the shop and ordered their ice cream before sitting near the window.
The atmosphere felt comfortable.
Natural.
Almost like they had known each other for years.
"So," Andrew said, leaning back in his chair. "Tell me something about yourself."
Jade smiled.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
She rolled her eyes.
"That's not specific."
Andrew thought for a moment.
"What makes you happy?"
The question surprised her.
Nobody had asked her that before.
She looked down at her ice cream.
"Books."
Andrew chuckled.
"Of course."
"What's wrong with books?"
"Nothing."
"You sound judgmental."
"I am judgmental."
Jade laughed again.
The sound made something warm settle inside Andrew's chest.
And that feeling scared him.
Because he wasn't supposed to care.
This was just a bet.
A game.
Nothing more.
Yet lately, it didn't feel like a game anymore.
Meanwhile, across town, Vanessa sat in her bedroom surrounded by her friends.
Her expression was dark.
"They went out together?" she asked.
One of the girls nodded.
"People saw them leave after school."
Vanessa clenched her jaw.
She had never been ignored before.
Never been replaced.
And certainly not by someone like Jade.
"This ends now," she said coldly.
Her friends exchanged nervous glances.
Whenever Vanessa spoke in that tone, trouble followed.
"What are you going to do?" one asked.
Vanessa smirked.
"If Jade wants attention..."
She leaned back in her chair.
"I'll give her attention."
Back at the ice cream shop, neither Jade nor Andrew knew what was coming.
They talked for almost an hour.
About school.
Movies.
Childhood memories.
Dreams.
For once, Andrew wasn't pretending to be the school's bad boy.
And for once, Jade wasn't afraid to be herself.
As the sun disappeared below the horizon, Andrew finally stood.
"I should get you home."
Jade nodded.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Today."
Andrew looked at her for a moment.7
Longer than he should have.
Then he smiled softly.
"Anytime."
Neither of them noticed the person taking pictures of them from across the street.
Pictures that would be all over school by morning.
And when those pictures spread, so would the rumors.
The real trouble was only beginning.
- Writer
