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Chapter 3

Avery

I didn't expect him to return with a jacket and helmet. He said he wasn't going to hurt me, and something about his voice when he said it made me believe it. I thought about it for all of two seconds before I wore the helmet and jacket. When he stretched his hands out, I was still unsure, but what else could go wrong with my life? I didn't expect him to take me for a ride.

I hadn't been to the seaside in years, ever since my mom died; honestly, I haven't been anywhere except school and home. When he brought me back and stopped a few minutes away from home, I understood he was just feeling sorry for me. I didn't expect him to lift me off the bike. I thanked him and walked away.

That night I remained quiet throughout dinner.

“When will your vacation begin?” My dad asked.

“I am not sure. Mr. Winston will let you know," I said, keeping my head down.

Mr. Winston, the Dean of the College, was the only one by my side. He knew everything, so if I had extra lessons, he would call my dad and let him know I would be late. That was the only way I avoided a beating.

“Very well. If you don't want to keep walking for the rest of your school semester, you have my permission. You'll find a job and get yourself a car,” he said.

“ What?” Alexis yelled. I saw her mother touch her hand.

“I mean, that's great, Avery,“ she said, smiling her fake smile. I knew I wouldn't be able to find a job; Renee and Alexis would make sure I didn't, so I didn't say anything to my father. Any interest my father showed in me or any kindness was never accepted by Renee and Alexis.

When I left for school that morning, the minute I turned the corner, I stopped short. He was there, sitting on a bike. This one was different; it was white and blue, and it had blue lights on it. As I was about to pass him, he pushed out his arms, stopping me. He had the jacket and helmet in his hands. I looked at him; he was wearing a white fitted shirt and sweatpants. The helmet covering his face. The tattoo on his neck was barely visible under the street lights.

“Umm, look, you don't have to do this. I'm fine. I really appreciate what you did yesterday, but it's okay.”.

He pushed the helmet and jacket into my hands. I guess I wasn't going to avoid this, and if I were to make a scene, I'm sure everyone would hear. I wore the helmet and jacket. He did the same thing again and stretched his hand out to me. I took his hand, and he helped me up. He waited until I wrapped my arms around him and then started the bike.

He rode once again to the seaside and stopped. He lifted me off, and I stood by the rails along the cliff, watching the sunrise. He just stood quietly beside me. He didn't say a single word. I just stood there looking at the sunrise and the serene beauty of the early morning. It's been a while since I've seen a sunrise like this. He walked over to the bike and started it.

I wore the helmet and walked over to him. He didn't ask me; he took my hand and helped me up. He waited for me to wrap my arms around him, then we left.

I guess he understood that no one could see me because he stopped in a secluded corner before the college gates and helped me off. I returned the jacket and helmet. I stood looking at him.

”Why are you doing this?” I asked him.

“Because I want to." That was all he said before riding away. All throughout the day, I kept mulling that answer over. As I left campus and was heading home, Alexis pulled up next to me.

“You actually think anyone would hire you?. What kind of car would you get?. Watch your fucking step and stay the hell away from Zach,“ she said, pushing me.

She got into her BMW and drove off, heading towards town. I just shook my head. Twenty minutes into my walk, he pulled up next to me.

For six weeks he's been doing this. Every morning when I leave at Five, he is always waiting around the corner. Every afternoon he would pull up next to me. After the first week, I gave up trying to figure him out. He never spoke or took his helmet off. He never touched me or asked me anything. He never even made a move on me. And it had me baffled as to why he would do something like this. He doesn't seem to be from Ryedale, because if he were, he'd stay far away from me.

It was a sort of silent comfort, I guess. One day I refused to get onto the bike and just kept walking. I didn't expect it. He pulled up next to me and stopped the bike. He grabbed me and put the jacket and helmet on me. He picked me up and put me on the bike. After that, I never refused again. One Thursday I was heading home, but he didn't show up. I was almost home when I heard him. He stopped beside me.

“Sorry I'm late; I got caught up with work," he said. This was the most he's ever spoken since we've been doing this, whatever this was. I could admit I was starting to care about him even though I had no idea who he was. He has never taken off the helmet, and I always wondered why.

I looked at him, trying to visualize the person under the helmet. I know he had a tattoo on his chest because I accidentally saw it one day, when it was raining.

“What is your name?”. I asked him.

He turned his head sideways and looked at me. I kept looking at him.

“Jake," he said.

“Okay," I said. I smiled now I knew his name. I was about to say something when I saw the car coming towards us.

“No, no, no, no,,no” , I whispered. The car pulled up beside him.

“My my my, What is happening here? It seems like you too, lovebirds, are arguing." Renee said, looking at Jake and then at me. I looked at him.

“Number one Pennington is at the end of this road. There are only four houses that way; you should find it easily," I said, walking away.

“Oh, you're looking for that place. Why don't you follow me?” I heard Renee say.

Jake

I was busy with meetings; it wasn't until I noticed the time. Shit she was already on the road. When she asked my name, I hesitated a bit but told her. She didn't say anything; fuck, did she really just smile at me?. I saw the fear and panic when the car pulled up. When she started giving me directions, I understood.

By some miracle, she said number one. That was my place. When her stepmother said I should follow her, I couldn't do anything.

“Sure, thanks," I said.

“Do you know that girl?”. She asked me

“ No. I just needed directions ? . Do you know her?”.

“Oh no, I don't. I've never seen her before; she's probably new to the area, “she said before getting into her car.

This fucking woman just denied knowing the girl whose father she was with. I didn't like that look on her face; I knew trouble was coming. I had no choice but to follow her. I started the bike and rode off. She was driving behind me. I stopped and looked at her.

“Where's number one?” I asked her.

“The house at the end,"  she said. I nodded and rode off. The gates opened the minute I rode up, so I rode straight into my compound. I stopped halfway and watched the car turn around and head back to town. Shit. They were probably going to hit her. I gave it a few minutes. I was about to leave when I saw the car heading towards their place.

I got onto the bike and rode out. When I passed their place, I passed in time to see her stepmother grab by her hair. Fuck. What the hell was happening in that place?. Did I want this girl? I can admit she was interesting, and the past few weeks have been different, but was I really going to do this?. Who the fuck was I kidding, sure as hell not myself. I wanted her.

There wasn't anything I could do at that moment. I didn't sleep all night; I was consumed by worry as to what they would do to her. By four the next morning, I was on the road waiting for her, but she didn't show up. I checked back around two, but she wasn't heading home either. Where the fuck was she?

The next week I didn't see her, and I was starting to get worried. By the second week, I was getting really fucking pissed. I was starting to think they did something to her. The only thing stopping me from barging over there to look for her was the fact that she could be there and I would cause them to hurt her more.

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