Chapter 4

Nash wanted to make it up to Lourde, and so the following morning found him waiting for her at the crack on sunrise. Like clockwork, he heard Lourde descend the stairs for her morning run. She arrived at the foot of the stair, wearing her signature loose workout shorts, and today, a black tank top.

“Nash!” She exclaimed, shrinking back.

“I didn’t mean to spook you,” Nash stood and held up two bottles of water. “I was hoping to join you for a run?”

“Don’t you have school?” She caught the bottle that Nash tossed.

“I have time. Maybe we can go around the block a couple of times.”

Lourde eyed him protractedly. “If you want to do this, we do it properly. No ‘round the block’ nonsense. Deal.”

“Deal,” Nash rattled timidly.

Lourde was true to her word and led Nash on a tour of the neighbourhood. Up through the hills that gave some of the best lookouts over the bay, and back down again.

And then they did a second loop. Nash didn’t have time to take in the view or to say anything. He was too busy focusing on his breathing, of putting one foot in front of the other. It was exhilarating, intense, and arduous.

After the second loop, Nash was ready to collapse. Even Lourde was panting slightly and was covered in a thin sheen of sweat. “Another loop?” she smiled.

“God no. That’s it for me. Besides, I’m out of time.”

“Quiter,” she teased, stretching out one of her legs. Nash didn’t even bother pretending not to admire her toned form.

“I’ve got you a present, by the way. Wait here.” Nash rushed off, grabbed the parcel he’d bought the day before, and returned.

“Hair ties.” Lourde accepted the gift.

“Yeah,” Nash shuffled sheepishly. “You’re always complaining about losing them, so I figured I’d buy you a whole bunch. I didn’t know what colour you preferred so I got you fiery orange ones to match your eyes.”

Nash was considering blabbering on some more when Lourde pulled him in for a hug. He was all too aware of his cheek resting against her sweaty neck.

“Thanks.” she squeezed. “ I love them.”

“No problem. Nash inhaled.

The two of them entered the house to see Aisling and Nastasya having breakfast. Aisling moaned as Nash sat down and began wolfing down eggs.

“What’s that for,” Nastasya laughed.

“Just tired. Stayed up all night writing.” Aisling yawned, and Nash eyed her suspiciously.

“I’m gonna grab a quick shower, and then we can ride to school together. Yeah?”

“Sure,” Aisling smiled at him.

Nash had his drivers licence, and Nastasya herself drove to school. But he and Aisling preferred to ride to school. It had been somewhat of a tradition since childhood, and the bay was too beautiful to waste it by sitting in a car.

Besides, the town was small enough that a bike didn’t feel like much of a disadvantage over a car. He’d had his wheel repaired last week after Monday’s incident. Thankfully, Aisling didn’t see the damage, so no awkward questions were asked.

“Fancy a race?” Aisling asked, slipping on her boots.

“What kind of person used ‘fancy’ like that?” Nash buttoned up his shirt. “And yes, I do fancy a race.”

Thorne Academy was experimenting with what they called a semi-uniform. Students had to wear the pistachio green shirt, but could otherwise dress as they pleased. Aisling had paired it with a short canary-yellow skirt and dark leggings. Nash had just worn some dark blue jeans.

Their mom was a fashion designer, and she often stressed that half of the look was in getting the right fit. Nash had learnt how to get jeans that were form-fitting enough to look cool, but loose enough in the areas that mattered to be comfortable.

“Make sure to tell me what it’s like,” Aisling said.

“What’s what like?”

“Losing!” And she was off, pedalling like a madwoman. Nash kicked off and tried to keep pace with her. She was taking the back way, Nash realised. One of the winding roads that looped around Thorne Bay. While technically a longer route, it avoided the middle of town. Fewer crossroads meant less stopping.

With the roads open, Nash could let loose. Aisling wasn’t much into fitness, and despite her head start, he was closing the gap. He saw the opportunity for an overtake. A long, gradual curve to the left. He could take her on the outside. Nash engaged a higher gear, switched lanes and began pedalling as hard as he could.

A truck appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Just like the one that had hit him the previous week. Nash swerved. Hard. His shirt was violently ruffled by a wall of air as the truck roared past. He’d avoided the vehicle but was now facing entirely the wrong way. He careened into a field of hydrangeas, the flowers strawberry-red from the autumn chill.

Nash lay on his back, staring at the clear blue sky. All in all, it was a far less fatal crash than his last.

Aisling was by his side, saying something. She shook him back to reality. “Nash! Are you okay!”

“I’m fine,” he pulled himself up by her offered hand and didn’t let go. “One of those ... almost hit me last week, too.”

“It’s those new driverless things. They’re everywhere these days.” Aisling’s lip was curled in fury.

“Hey,” he squeezed her hand, it felt right in his. “I’m fine. Honestly.” Her gaze softened when it met his.

“Damnit.” Aisling glanced up and down the road, there were no cars in sight. “We’re alone, so I’m gonna be candid. I know I said no relationship. But when you walked in this morning, covered in sweat. I wanted to fuck you right their own the breakfast table.”

Nash was taken aback, he didn’t know what to say. He could feel himself flustering under her fervorous gaze. “And now look at you, what if something happened. What if.”

She cut herself short, and tackled him with her mouth, dropping them both onto a bed of flowers. It wasn’t a kiss, it was a taking of ownership. Her tongue went immediately for his mouth, and it felt so fucking right. Nash used his tongue to press hers there. As if to say ‘this is where it belongs, don’t you dare move it.’

They might have been there for a minute. Or two. Or ten. Before they were interrupted. It was by the voice of Pavla, accompanied hand in hand by Sandro.

“Are you guys okay? We saw your bikes on the side of the- oh.”

Aisling pulled herself free with a squelch. “It’s not what it looks like.” A line of saliva connecting their mouths.

Nash was so embarrassed that he barely heard a word as Aisling tried to explain things to Pavla and Sandro. He barely heard her as he got back on his bike and rode to school. All day, he kept to himself. He didn’t sit near or look at his sister or his two new friends.