Untamed

Taking a chance

I let out a groan of frustration when I noticed two familiar sparkling blue eyes. There is only one person I know with eyes this blue. 

“Usually, I get moans instead of groans,” Travis said all smug.

"You really don't get it when a girl is not interested," I said to which he only shrugged his shoulders.

“What are you doing here anyway?” I asked him. This was really starting to look as if he was following me around and that these encounters weren’t coincidental.

“I can ask you the same question.” He replied. Shutting off the motorcycle’s engine.

“Do you two know each other?” Miley softly asked from beside me.

Travis must have heard her question because his eyes shifted from me to Miley and Hailey. I imagined him wondering who they were.

“We are acquainted,” I answered.

His eyes gazed back at me. "I believe we are more than acquainted, sugar. We broke the record of times we actually stumbled into each other." He remarked. 

"It's coincidental." I opinioned. 

He smiled. "So, what are you girls up to?" He asked, looking from Hailey to me. 

"We are actually on our way home," Hailey responded which made him look at me. 

“Do you need a ride?” He then asked.

“We actually just called a cab.” I know it was a lie but I had no intention of taking a ride with him.  

“Scared?” He asked.

“Of you?” He chuckled.

“No, I meant the bike.” He tapped the body of the motorcycle which he was straddling it with his legs.

“I trust the bike more than I trust you.”

“I don’t blame you but haven’t I showed you that you can trust me?” I arched an eyebrow.

“I only met you a few days ago. Why would I trust you?”

“Point taken.” He turned the key in the ignition which brought this extraordinary beast back to life. I understand now why Camille worked so hard on saving up for one of her own.

“Just know sugar. I will make it the best few minutes of your life if you take a ride with me.” I caught a glimpse of Hailey nodding at me and gesturing for me to take the leap. Even Miley was giving me the go-ahead. I barely know them. Why should I even trust them?

Travis held a spare helmet out to me. Patiently waiting for me to get over my fear of entrusting people with my life. “Fine, but no funny business.” I grabbed the helmet from his hand and slipped it on.

I caught Hailey’s grin. “Hope to see you again soon.” She said before gesturing for Miley to follow her.

I hopped onto the bike with him and I placed my hands on his hips and smiled at the feeling of the rumbling of the bike. It ignited a certain exhilaration from inside of me. “You ready?” He yelled over the growling of the bike.

“Been ready,” I replied, shutting the visor.

He pulled off making me wrap my arms more firmly around him. I looked at the passing cars and smiled when all of the colours and objects faded past us in a blink of an eye. I loved the rush of adrenaline pumping through my veins. He pushed the bike a little bit faster, once he noticed my excitement. Nothing compared. Not even my skateboard when I'm in the air doing a trick. Camille was definitely the daredevil between me and her. And I never understood her obsession with her bike until I had my first taste.

My excitement died a little when the dorm came into view.

He pulled up in front of the dorms and killed the engine before I got off.

He caught me around the waist when my legs wobbled when my feet touched the ground. “Thanks,” I muttered, feeling a sharp tingle catching fire from where he touched me. He didn’t let go of me straight away until he was sure that I wasn’t going to tip over.

“It’s probably all that adrenaline pumping through my veins,” I noted. Wishing that he would let go of me.

He slowly unwrapped his arm from around my waist and held onto my arm making sure that I was fine before letting go of me completely. My body suddenly craved his warm touch that it almost knocked my feet out from underneath me but I forced myself to keep a straight face.

“You know, sugar. You should really give me a chance. I am not the guy you think I am.”

“So, you are not a good guy?” I asked.

He gave me a startled look. “Do you think that I am a good guy?”

I shrugged. “Aren’t you?”

He frowned but nodded. “Well, I am not.” His eyebrows shot up in questioning. “That flame you’ve got inside of you, cheering you on to be a good guy. Well, mine was extinguished years ago and I only bring poison to a relationship. You might want to reconsider your intentions of wanting to get to know me.”

“You might not believe me but I know how it feels to wear a mask and pretend that I am fine while inside I am losing the battle. We all have our own battles”

“You wear yours pretty well.” I referred to his easy-going personality and not letting his monster’s win.

“I’ve learned to accept my s**t and move on. If I keep on nudging it then I will never get what I want. I will let them win and I am not really good at losing.” I chuckled.

“I don’t know much about you but your eyes aren’t lifeless or cold. So, I know you still have a beating heart. Maybe your mind that is a bit confused and you just have to learn to let things go before they consume you.” I took a step back when started the engine of the bike.

I handed him the helmet back. “We are all souls craving to be wanted.” He said winking at me before shutting his visor and pulling out of the parking lot. Leaving me standing there and staring at him in awe.

I headed inside after regaining my composure. Most of the girls were seated in the lounge area watching television. Ruby was in our room. Reading a book as per usual while there was no sign of Janelle. “Hey!” Ruby greeted. Almost happy to see me. “You survived your first day.” She continued. Shutting her book and pushing herself upright.

I grabbed my shower bag, a towel and my sleepwear. “It wasn’t that dramatic as I thought it would be.” She smiled.

I paused before I headed out to the showers. “What really happened between you and Janelle?” I asked, knowing that Janelle told me her version this morning. 

The spark in her eyes dimmed and I almost felt bad for asking. “As you can see, I’m not really part of the cool kids because I’m weird. Thanks to my brain that talks too fast and when I speak. I don’t make sense at all. I became the number one target for people to pick on. Her best friend, Isabella dared her to prank me and it was horrible for me but funny for the rest of the school.” I hate bullies. Always have.

“Has she ever tried to tell that it wasn’t her?” Ruby nodded.

“It’s just an excuse.”

“Have you ever considered that maybe she is talking the truth?” I didn’t want to come between them and restart a war that hurt them both but they are living together now and have to get over it one way or another.

I left the room and headed to the showers. I greeted the other girls on my way and found Janelle getting dressed. “Oh, hey.” She greeted.

“Hey.” My eyes gazed around and I noticed that the showers were empty. “For a moment, I thought that you were lost and I had to send security to go and find you.” I chuckled at her poking fun.

“Where were you?” She then asked.

I started removing my clothes, cringing at the feeling of my clothes sticking to my sweaty layer of skin. “I am a curious girl in a big unknown city,” I answered, shrugging my shoulders.

“Holy, crap! What happened to your hip?” I looked down the length of my body and noticed the purplish bruise running from my hip down to my butt. 

“Oh,” I mumbled. Brushing my hand over the bruise. It was still a bit sensitive but it wasn't a big deal. I think my body was just used to getting hurt by now. “I got it the other day when some jackass knocked me over with a volleyball while I was on my skateboard.”

“That must have been quite a fall.” I didn’t miss the humour in Janelle’s voice when she spoke.

I just glanced at her over my shoulder where she giggled and left the room.