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“Maybe one more lap?” I ask hopefully. Tex obliges me, of course, and we begin another circuit.
We’re about halfway round when the roar of an engine coming too close and too fast startles me. I freeze, rigid with terror.
“Cariño...Callie...baby!” Tex panics.
Behind him, a tall figure clad all in black leather swings his leg off a motorbike and strides towards us. Fear whooshes through me, slowing my senses and racing my heart. The figure is wearing a full face helmet with a blacked-out visor.
Screams fill my ears before all the world goes dark...
* * *
It’s the rumble of the engine that wakes me. I was so excited waiting for this moment that I didn’t really expect to fall asleep. But I had.
It isn’t hard to sneak out of the flat. I’m fairly certain the guys are still out somewhere, but I try to be stealthy anyway.
I didn’t leave them a note. I don’t want to worry or scare them, but sometimes they’re too overprotective. More like brothers, treating me as their baby sister, than my best friends. I want them to be more than my friends though. All of them.
The secrecy has been part of the appeal the last few months; messaging late at night, falling in love slowly. That’s how I knew what I was feeling was real. It doesn’t feel like it does with the guys, but at least he returns my feelings.
It’s easier to fall in love when you’re loved. So when he messaged and asked if we could finally meet, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. His job unfortunately means that we have to have a late night meeting, and he isn’t able to take me on a traditional date, but I don’t mind the sacrifice. He’s worth it. Love is worth it. He said he’d pick me up on his motorcycle, and the roar of his approaching engine was what woke me.
On the street, I spot his bike straight away. It’s all black, like his leathers, and even his helmet and visor are darkened out. I wave, feeling a little foolish that he’s not gotten off the bike to come and greet me, but relax and smile a little when he waves back.
Relieved, I approach the bike, expecting him to at least flip the visor up to say hi to me. We’ve never met face to face, just exchanged pictures, and I’m so eager to finally ‘meet’ him for real.
Just as I come to a stop beside him – wondering what to do, if I’m dressed right, if he likes what he sees – he nods...to me? To someone behind me? Pain explodes through the back of my skull. I drop to my knees, and bile races up my throat. The world tilts as I hit the concrete. A second blow makes my head spin. I can't work out what's happening. Everything is dark. Someone is lifting me, and I'm thrown into the back of a vehicle. My arms and legs are bent behind me as I land. Have I been tied up?
The roar of the motorcycle is the last thing I hear.
* * *
“Shit! Shit! What’s wrong with her?” I hear Devon’s panicked shouts as I slowly come round. Devon? That doesn’t seem right. I’m sure I was with Tex when...when I saw the motorcyclist get off his bike and come towards me.
I groan.
“She’s coming to,” Tex calls, and I relax a little knowing that he is with me. I push up from the...sofa? That’s not right. We were...I think hard...outside. Oh god, I finally had the courage to go outside and I only went and fainted! I feel so stupid.
Stupid, useless, pathetic,I berate myself.
“Hey, stop that,” Tex murmurs softly, removing my hands from my face. “You’re okay. When you fainted we brought you inside. You’re safe.”
“We?” I ask.
“Me and Devon. He just pulled up on his bike and was coming over to say hi when you fainted,” Tex explains.
Devon. It was Dev on the bike? Did he always have a bike, or is that new? I frown in confusion as memories and false memories wage war in my mind, tricking me.
And then he comes into the room, dressed in his leathers still, although he has removed the helmet. He approaches me and I flinch. I can’t help it; it’s instinctive.
He curses and I wince, feeling bad.
“What the fuck? Why is she doing that?” With every raised, angry word, I shrink back a little further. Both physically, and in on myself. The anger on his face terrifies me, the hurt kills me.
“It’s got to be the leathers. I don’t think she’s seen you in them since...you know,” Tex guesses, always fast to work me out.
“Fuck!” Devon barks. He spins on his heel and storms away into his room, slamming the door behind him.
“Sorry.” It’s not even a whisper out of my mouth. I don’t even know if my lips were moving.
