In Summer We Started

9.

Luca

One minute I was speeding down the lane, and then the next, I was braking down hard because of a girl who'd just stepped in front of the road without looking. "What the f**k?" I muttered, shutting off the engine and getting off my bike to check if I'd done any damage. The girl pushed her hair away from her face, turning to stare at me. For a moment, I just stood there, frozen as if trapped in time. I remembered her in her black handless dress with a dipping low neckline, how she'd looked at me with a permanent scowl etched on her features. Valentina. What was she doing here? Before I could open my mouth to speak, she'd already started apologizing.

"I'm so sorry. I should have paid more attention to the road. Sorry for getting lost." I was both shocked and amazed by her statement because that was the least I expected from her. I expected her to defend herself like I knew she would. But this... I couldn't understand it. Was she okay? Had she hit her head pretty hard? Valentina kept her head down as she walked to the corner, and started down the sidewalk.

"Hey, what happened to the scowling girl?" He called her that to taunt her, but Valentina doesn't even flinch. She continues. Weird.

"Still hate this really cute guy?" I asked her, skipping after her. She didn't turn, but instead stopped and headed in the opposite direction. Through the low street lamp, I could see a tear slide down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away as if it had no place being there. Was something wrong? What happened? I farted around, confused, wondering what had put Valentina in this state. She wouldn't look at me. Did I do something to her? Something I wasn't aware of? Maybe it was the fact that I'd nearly killed her and she was still recovering from the shock. I followed closely behind her, grabbing her arm as she was about to make another turn that led right to her Grandma's house.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, searching her face for any marks or bruises. She had none. Her eyes were gloomy and her lip was pressed in a thin line.

Valentina roughly tugged her hand away, her expression hardening. "Leave me alone. I'm not your puppet."

"You're not. And I'm not doing that. Not right now. It wouldn't be fun, would it?"

She smiled faintly, shaking her head. "I guess not."

"Now, give me that mean look. It really suits you."

She c****d her head to the side, staring at me amusedly. "Well, I thought you didn't like it?"

I lifted my shoulder to my ears in a careless shrug. Turning to stare at my motorcycle which had been braked by the side of the road–far ahead, I asked, "Wanna take a ride? It could help to clear your head."

She twists her mouth. "I, uh... I'm not really sure I should.."

"Come on, it'll be fun," I said, unable to hide the excitement in my voice. I turned, heading back the way we'd come. Valentina followed but kept her distance, still reluctant about the whole idea of driving her.

"I'm not going to dump you in the river, you know. So, you don't have to be afraid."

"I've seen you ride that thing before. There's plenty to be scared of."

"You'll see. It doesn't do any harm." When we arrived at where the motorcycle was parked, I climbed on it first, putting on my helmet. She stood there, watching me. I handed her the other helmet, gesturing for her to wear it on her head. She was a bit hesitant. But, she took it from me, trying to figure out how to wear it. Perhaps, she was just distracted by her thoughts because before I could get down and help her, she'd clipped the helmet to her head. She'd watched me. Impressive!

Valentina hopped onto my bike, clutching my shoulder. When she had gotten comfortable, she gave me the signal and I fired up the engine, kick-starting the motorcycle. She screamed, caught off-guard.

"Hold on tight," I shouted and she took her hands off my shoulder, nervously wrapping it around my waist. I smiled as if the mere idea of her holding me was comforting. Then, I zoomed off.

We drove around for a while, the wind tousling Valentina's hair, her hands clutching my waist in a deathlike grip. I didn't go above the required speed limit, but I could still sense her fear. Asides from that, she was calm and I could feel her body relax against me. Riding was calming. I remembered one time when I so badly wanted to get away from my aunt's abuse and I climbed onto my motorcycle and just drove, stopping at the first place that came to mind. It was only after I'd come down from the motorcycle, my feet squishing the sand as the sound of the overlapping waves assailed my troubles, that I realized that I was at the beach. I fell on the sand, screaming out my frustration. My breath caught and I started crying. That particular day, my aunt had called me good for nothing just like my father, and told me I could never be worth anything. Her words had broken me–and still broke me–in places I never knew existed. As I cut across the intersection, I knew the right place to take her.

I braked to a stop, looking past the thin trail clouded by trees on either side, to the light reflecting off the blue waters. "We're here," I announced and got off the bike, but Valentina stayed put, her helmet still on.

"Where's this?" She asked, her voice muffled.

I removed the clip and took off her helmet, placing it on the control center. "Come on. I want to show you something." For a moment, she hesitated, staring down at the hand I offered. Then, she took it, and I pulled her out of her seat.

"Where's this place?" She asked, looking around. The area was quiet, well away from the road. People barely come here.

"You'll see," I said, running ahead and laughing. "Come on."

She hid her smile, shaking her head at me. "You're crazy. Has anyone told you that?"

I shrugged. "A couple of times. But, you'll get used to it. I'm going in," I said and disappeared through the line of trees, appearing on the other side where it was just sand and the beach for a thousand square miles. I heard her catch her breath beside me.

"Don't you ever leave me like that again," she coughed up the words.

"Noted. Do you like it here?" I asked, throwing her a look. She straightened her back, folding her arms as she surveyed the area. Her hair was tousled and I felt the need to reach out and smooth it down, but I didn't. I tightened my fingers.

"It's beautiful," she breathed, going ahead of me to the shore where the water splashed at her legs. She turned to me, her brows furrowed. "How'd you find this place?"

"Well, let's just say, I have my ways." I joined her, staring at the light dancing off the icy blue water. She was silent, lost in thought. The wind blew the tail end of her dress around her leg and she sighed heavily.

"Have you ever felt so lost before?" She asked, biting hard on her lips. "Or is it just me?"

I didn't answer her. Truth was, I didn't know what to say. I felt lost all the time so the feeling wasn't new to me. But, I wasn't about to tell her all that and bear the risk of her scurrying away. "Do you? I mean, feel lost?"

"Yeah." She nodded, staring off into space. The water rushed to her feet. "I'm beginning to feel a lot like that these days. Anyways..." she brightened up, shaking off her bad mood, "Thank you very much for taking me here. It's a really cool spot. I'm afraid I can't stay much longer. The sky is already so dark, and before my Grandma starts suspecting, I need to be home."

"Yeah, sure." I tried to hide my disappointment, toes digging into the wet sand. "Let's go. I just need to stop at a house party first to get a parcel from a friend."

"Okay. That's fine."

"Are you sure?" I queried.

"Yeah, sure." She smiled a tight-lipped smile.

We got to the house in record time and I jumped off the bike, the beat of the loud music pulsing even from where I was standing. "Stay here and don't talk to anyone. I'll be right back."

She nodded. I left, with Valentina drilling holes into my back. I felt self-conscious as I carefully climbed the porch steps, avoiding the empty cans and red cups littered all over the place. The whole place stank of burned-out cigarettes and beer. I pushed the front door open and entered, my eyes scanning the dimly lit area for Asher. He was nowhere near. I sighed, walking further into the once cozy living room, struggling through the crowd of drunks who moved their bodies to the beat. I had to find Asher quickly. Valentina was out there, alone, waiting for me.

"Hey, have you seen Asher?" I asked a guy who was playing foosball in one section of the spacious room. He just shrugged, playing around.

"Come on, man. It's your turn to play. Don't mess up the game," his opponent said, frowning. The guy I asked if he'd seen Asher looked up and laughed. He looked so out of it. His eyes were red and blurry.

"Hey, you need to chill out," another guy said, pushing him away. He took his spot, rubbing his hands in anticipation. I rolled my eyes, moving on in search of Asher. He had to be close by. I found him leaning on a fridge with a giggling girl clinging onto an arm as he clapped some of his friends who came on the back.

"Thanks, bro," he clapped the last of them and faced me.

"Do you have it?" I asked, glancing around. The house was full to the brim with partygoers shouting and clinking drinks. I couldn't hear all of this from outside. My head was starting to ache from all the noise, I was itching to get out of here.

"Sure. It's in there," he pointed at one of the double drawers in the brightly lit kitchen, and I went to it, pulling the drawer open. The package rested on a stack of unused pots and pans. I picked it up, muttering my thanks.

"See you later, Asher. And happy birthday once again."

"Thanks. See you later, bro," he said, lifting his cup.

"Goodnight." I threw over my shoulder, hurrying on. I slammed into a girl who was wrenching on the floor on my way out, and I got some of the vomit on my shirt. The girl looked at me with sympathetic eyes, and I swore, looking down at the slimy green on my t-shirt. All of a sudden, I regret coming here. s**t was messed up. My gaze darted around for something I could use to clean, but I couldn't find any. The guy who I'd asked about Asher was expired on the armchair, snoring his way to high heaven while the party went on. I caught sight of a napkin in his pocket, and took it, wiping the vomit off. It didn't go off completely, but it would have to do. Dumping the napkin on the floor, I made my way past the vomit, and out the front door. I was hit with the stench of cigarettes again, and I practically raced down the porch steps to where I'd left my motorcycle.

"Let me go, i***t. Let me go, or I swear I'll kill you. I already told you, I don't want anything to do with you." I was stopped short by Valentina's voice warning a guy who dragged her by the arm. I couldn't see who it was because her back was to me, but my blood had started to boil. Who was the dude anyway? Couldn't he respect a girl's wishes?

"What the f**k, man. Get the hell away from her," I shouted, racing blindly and throwing the first punch.