RIDE YOU DOWN

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Raven

“Raven!”

“Raven, over here!” Ms Mora, the chairwoman of the town, the wife of all the wives, the woman of all the women, the mother of all the mothers, waved at me as I drove around the park where they all sat.

And when I mean all, I mean.. The husband, the older men, the young men, the young wife, the single ladies, and of course, Mr Jake my neighbor who has made sure to do everything in his power to ignore me.

After that evening at his garage, kicking me out like that with no explanation, he made it his life goal to stay at least a hundred meters away from me.

I became like poison to him. Even during Corona coronavirus pandemic, we were advised to stay a few feet away not one hundred.

Trust me, I am not angry or anything, I just think he is overreacting and besides, I don’t even know why he is acting this way, not that I care or anything, I just… Ah whatever.

I parked my bike and took off my helmet, with my eyes glued on Jake whose eyes didn't peel off me, I forgot to lose the buckle and ended up yanking the band that held my hair together, making my hair pull loose like a f*****g tree.

Ugh, why was I looking at him? Why was he looking at me? I thought he was avoiding me?

Moron!

“Ms Mora!” I called out to the middle-aged woman, probably in her late forties heading to the fifties yet fit like a model, long grey hair, blue eyes, soft skin like a baby, lips shaped like a heart. She is beautiful, still rocking. “How are you doing today?”

“My love, I’m great,” she yelled back.

Still sitting on my bike, trying hard not to look at my neighbor who wouldn't peel his eyes off me. He just kept staring at me like I was a f*****g art displayed on the streets.

The way his eyes settled on me, respectful, calm, intriguing, it was as though he found a foreign object and he just wanted to know what it was, he looked mesmerized, curious and before I could pick the final feeling that spread on his face, he looked away.

“Come here and join us!” Ms Mora added, yanking me out of my thoughts.

“What?”

“Come closer, we need to discuss something with you.” She yelled again.

“Raven, do not make, Ms Mora yell, come closer!” Mr Luca one of the older men called for me.

I hopped off my bike and made my way towards them, with my helmet in my hands.

I ignored Jake. “Good evening everyone.” I greeted.

“Good evening, Raven,” they chorused.

“What is the occasion? Did something happen?” I asked, my eyes bouncing off everyone before settling on a particular lady. Joyce, mid twenties, pastry chef, blonde hair, black eyes, low nose, beautiful pink lips, slender, yoga freak, has a son, no husband, no baby father. I am not interested in her, I have never been interested in her until this moment, the moment her hands slightly touched Jake and she blushed at how he smiled at her and didn’t tell her not to worry about it when she apologized.

What the?

She is flirting with him.

Why is she flirting with him?

Wait? Why am I angry at the face that she is flirting with him?

Why does it bother me? It’s not like Jake is anything to me. We just shared a kiss… it was barely a kiss.

Wait, why the f**k is he smiling at her like that? He doesn't smile at me like that… ugh… What the f**k is wrong with me?

“Uhm Ms Mora? Can you text me whatever is being said here today, I need to head back to work.” I muttered. Fingers crossed, hoping she will please let me go before I lose my f*****g mind.

“So we're all sitting here don’t have work to do?” Jake’s voice was the last I expected to hear. He didn't sound mean or harsh, he sounded so neutral and it’s annoying because I don’t know what the f**k goes through his head as he spoke to me.

Is he trying to pick a fight? Is he trying to tell me to stay?

What does he want? And why is he finally speaking to me after all this time?

“Hm, I don’t know about others but I know you don’t.” I fired back.

“Right, why not get back to whatever you are doing so we can finish this up and Ms Mora can TEXT you because I believe she has nothing better to do when she gets home.” He lifted his brows, his eyes staying on mine, a knowing smirk plastered on his face.

He enjoys teasing me… pushing me to the wall.

“You know what, why don’t you shut the f**k up before I use my helmet to smash that smug off your face.” I threatened.

“Come on, Birdy, I’d love to see you try, if you manage to get a hit, I might as well repair your bike till you grow old.”

Birdy! Birdy! That darn nickname.

My fist tightened around my helmet, I was about to surge towards him when I noticed the eyes that settled on me before they turned to Jake.

“You two need to get a room.” Ms Mora added.

My cheek suddenly felt hot, my belly ached for joy, and I suddenly felt myself dripping between my legs.

The thought of Jake in my bedroom, shirtless, sweaty, panting, under me consumed me, and I almost lost my senses.

“Over my dead body!” I growled immediately, glaring at Ms Mora.

Fuck, I didn't mean it like that.

I sneaked a peek at Jake, his face was buried down. He wasn't looking at me anymore.

Fuck, he hates me now.

Ugh… I was only trying to hide the blush on my cheek, I didn't mean for it to sound so… ugh…

“Well, you two might need to work on whatever is going on.” Mr Jason added, another husband.

“Why,” I blurted.

“Because you would be dancing together at the festival!” Ms Mora announced.

“What?” Jake and I blurted at the same time.