That Night

Chapter four

Jessamine went to go get her helmet off the table. She stuck it on her head, and was completely blind. She didn't dare move, turning in circles, and falling on her butt. She could hear the laughter of her brother, and she felt her cheeks flame.

"You're supposed to raise the visor first," Vulcan said.

"I would have, if I'd known that was what I was supposed to do!"

"You're telling me, Myron never took you on a motorcycle ride?"

Jessamine shook her head solemnly. "Nope. Not one time."

"Huh. I remember when me, Lil's, and Khoen were younger, Myron and Addeline used to take us on rides all throughout the city. It was my favorite part of the day. When Addie got pregnant, Myron stopped taking us. Of course, you know Addie. She didn't listen, and when it was dark enough to assume the house was asleep, she would take us anyway. Myron never suspected a thing!"

She smiled. "She had her fun I bet... I wonder what Myron would have done if he found out.”

Vulcan just shrugged. He went back to fixing his gear. He went over to the table and grabbed the key. 

“You ready to take your first ride?”

“You know it!”

Her brother got on first, then motioned her to climb behind him. She wrapped her arms around his mid section, and took a deep, readying breath. Her brother kicked the gears into place, them pressed the clutch in, and pressed the start button. The bike roared, then purred quietly.  She could feel the rumble underneath, small vibrations sent up her spine. She shivered.

The bike moved forward, slow at first, but it quickly sped up. At first, she squeezed her eyes shut, but she braved an eye open, and couldn’t breath. 

Riding a bike was nothing like riding in a car. She could feel the wind, even through her thick jacket. She could see the colors of the world rush by in bright vibrancy. She loosened her arms and smiled like an i***t. She loved every minute of it, and was almost reluctant to go home. 

Once they were back in the garage, she slid from the bike, her knees wobbled a bit. She pulled the helmet from atop her sweaty head.

“How was that for a first?”

Without a second thought, she grinned from ear to ear. “That was amazing!”

“I’m glad that it was a rewarding experience.”

“You have no idea. We should take Alessa next time! She would love this!”

“I bet she would. Hey, its almost dinner time,” he said, looking at his watch. 

“Oh good. I’m hungry.”

“Me too. Here,” he took the jacket and the helmet and headed towards he closet.

“Where’s Harley?” Jessamine asked, suddenly remembering that his boyfriend  was supposed to going them for dinner tonight. 

That made him pause. “Actually, I don’t know.”

“I’ll grab your phone,” She offered.

She went to the small table in the corner and grabbed both her and her brothers phones. Hers had a few messages on it, and her brothers had one. She checked her messages, and suddenly felt uncomfortable.

On her Createin’ account, there was a persistent young man who was always trying to get her to call him, send him pictures, talk dirty to him. Jessamine freaked and blocked him, though he found a way around that and was asking every other day. No matter what Jessamine said or threatened, the man would not stop. It went from peaceful and gentle, to the man actually getting more violent. He seemed to know where she lived, and although all of her older brothers had pitched in and protected her, she still found notes and trinkets in her room in her bed. 

The message read: ‘I know you’re there, cmon talk to me!’

She quickly responded with a simple no, and shut her phone off. She didn’t need distractions, since dinner and socializing would take all is her energy and focus. 

Harley was complicated. He didn’t seem to like her particularly from the first time they had met, although Jessamine had done nothing writing. She had hardly even spoke to the man. He would glare at her, or trip her. But sometimes, he was very nice and gentle with her. He would praise hat on her natural beauty, he would plait her hair, and sometimes, he would even draw with her. 

Her brother didn’t seem to notice his boyfriends’ mood swings. He seemed used to them. They were a good couple, and they worked well together, but Jessamine couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something seriously wrong with him.

“Did you find my phone?” Vulcan called. 

“Yeah... you have a message.... and a phone call?”

“You sound like you cant believe people call me,” he replied.

“No it’s not that, its just... I’m a little distracted.”

He peered at her. “Did something happen?”

She wanted to o tell him that the man was messaging her again, and that she was actually starting to get scared, but she didnt want to be coddled or protected. Too much was happening to her, and she didnt want to add anything else to the list. 

“No, nothing happened. It’s just, my mind keeps replaying what happened at school.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I still cant believe that he almost killed you today....”

“Vulcan, I’m okay. I just got banged up.”

He looked dubious, so she gave him her most reassuring smile. She then walked down to the kitchen, where the wonderful aromas of chicken Alfredo and garlic bread, as well as her aunts cobbler assaulted her nose. It almost seemed as if today were a normal day, rather than a hectic day.

“Jess,” her sister said. “Where have you been?”

“I went on a motorbike ride.... Why?”

“Dad was looking for you... and he asked me if I had seen you.”

Jessamine sighed. “I have a feeling that I am going to get tired of all this protecting and whatnot...”

“I’m sure you are, but you did just get the s**t beat out of you.”

“Alessa, I dont want to be protected. I just want to live... And maybe take Dylan to jail for this.”

“Well, for now, you’ll have to put up with it.”

“Great,” she muttered.

She went to her dresser and extracted her favorite pair of shorts, then went to her closet and got her tee shirt. She changed out of her dirty clothes and into new ones just as her father yelled “Dinner!” Up the stairs.

Jessamine took a deep breath and started to head down.