Mending Broken Hearts

2. Unexpected Encounters

As the final bell rings, I shoot a text to Coach that I won't make practice. No way can I handle drills right now. My teammates will cover for me. Milo and Amir wanted me to chill while they go to training, but staying upright is enough of a battle.

I make my way slowly to where my trusty bike is locked up, the fresh air helping clear some mental cobwebs. Just as I'm debating trying to power through and meet the guys, a overwhelming craving halts my thoughts — tacos.

I hop on my bike and start pedaling towards the Taco Bell a few blocks over, its glowing sign like a beacon through my haze. I pick up speed going downhill, the wind on my face only amplifying my one-track taco mission.

Rolling through a crosswalk, screeching brakes pierce my ears as a car stops just short of plowing into me. I wobble off my bike to steady myself, squinting through the driver's side window to curse them out. But I freeze when I spot wide, apologetic eyes in a delicate face framed by long dark hair...

My gaze catches on a student parking pass dangling from her mirror. Senior. Suddenly her reckless driving makes more sense if she's one of those rich kids who think they own campus.

I brace to tear into her anyway when she cranks down the window in a panic.

"Oh god, I didn't see you! Are you okay?" Her words spill out in genuine concern, giving me pause.

I steady myself against my bike, take in this girl who nearly mowed me down yet looks at me like it would shatter her world to have caused harm. Oddly, I feel my defensiveness crack.

"All good," I hear myself murmur. Her shoulders slack in relief as she looks at me over critically one more time before apparently deciding I'm in one piece.

As the light turns green, I linger a beat too long holding her gaze, both rattled and intrigued. She doesn't look the spoiled type. Before I can rethink it, she takes off, brake lights flashing apology one more time.

I watch her car recede into the distance, my taco craving suddenly a faded memory. Just who was that girl? And why do I feel like she looked as curiously back at me as I did at her.

After the bizarre encounter, I pedal hard the last few blocks to Taco Bell, half convinced I hallucinated that wide-eyed girl. But I can still picture her face, equal parts flustered and curiously fascinated after nearly slamming her expensive ride into me.

By the time I finish cramming five small ass tacos, I pedal home with baja blast freeze in the drink pouch, careful not to spill that shit. I pedaled to Milo's place since I knew his ass was home after practice. The sky was turning some orange color by the time I pulled up. He opened the door with that same chill expression on his face. We dapped and I walked into the living room, where the scent of fucking Old Spice emanated from him, mixing with the lingering aroma of Taco Bell that I brought with me.

I sink into the buttery soft couch while Milo crashes next to me, fresh from the shower in sweats and an understated sweater that, in my altered state, has me staring longer than usual.

"So how'd it go today?" he asks. "Mathis bust you even after you played sick?"

I groan, the fluorescent lights and teacher's droning voice flooding back. "I survived. But definitely ain't ready for a repeat of his loud ass."

Milo chuckles in sympathy. "Yeah can't catch a break with him lurking to call you out."

"Speaking of catching breaks..." I hesitate, then figure what the hell. "Almost got slammed by some girl flying through a stop sign earlier."

Milo's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh shit, for real? She hot at least?"

I heard the doorbell ring again – of course this dumb ass uses the doorbell. I watched Milo answer the door to Amir rushing in past him. "Guys, guess what?" He hopped on the other side next to me with his phone in his hand. Milo sat back down quietly mumbling the greeting Amir never made. He shoved his phone into my slow blinking eyes and I'm dead ass almost asleep when the bright screen immediately jolts me awake. It's just a text from a random girl in his Algebra 2 class.

"She's literally asking you for the homework, bro," I told him, shooting him a glare.

"Yeah? And?" Amir raised an eyebrow.

I roll my eyes, shoving Amir's phone back at him. "Dumbass, she just wants answers to copy. Ain't nothing special."

Amir scowls, mumbling something about me not understanding women's subtle signs. I flip him off, fighting back a smirk.

Milo's gaze bounces curiously between me and Amir. "Yo, tell us more about that girl who nearly ran your ass over earlier."

Amir perks up. "Aye fucking yo? She at least cute or what?"

I rub my neck, shrugging. "I guess? Big startled Bambi eyes though, like she was staring into my soul."

Amir makes a face. "Ugh, chicks with blue eyes freak me out."

Milo studies me, his signature inscrutable expression giving nothing away as usual. "She has brown curly hair too by chance?"

I nod, eyebrows raising for him to elaborate. Milo hums thoughtfully instead.

"Could be anyone though," Amir interjects with an exaggerated yawn. "There's lots of bitches with android looking ass blue eyes."

These dudes really turned my bizarre almost-death experience into an interrogation.

Milo's eyes stay locked on me, still silently assessing. Then he seems to decide something, cracking one of his rare grins. "Never thought you would get some by almost dying for it." I get the sense he knows more than he's letting on. But I just snorted, glad to be moving on. I also notice he hasn't talked about any girl at all.  

The night crept on us and I felt my phone buzzing, scaring the shit out of me. I save myself from another potential death by a Doritos chip to fish it out. Amir joked that it was probably my mom, who I knew that was the only fucking contact on my phone. Sorry I don't have rosters like you two sluts. She texts me on my whereabouts and I tell her I'm coming home. Milo nudged me saying, "It's getting pretty dark out, don't want nothing crazy happening to you."

"Yeah," Amir added, "like when that android almost splattered yo ass!" He laughed at his own joke and I rolled my eyes, tossing a pillow at him. It missed him since the living room got pretty dark, but I laughed a more nervous one as I got up from the couch. I dap the boys up before I go, bracing myself for the ride home.

Shit, Milo was not kidding. It's damn near pitch black but I pedal and counted on street lights to guide me to my house which is about two blocks away from these two. Smoke filled my nostrils as I biked all the way home. Two guys wearing hoodies are talking among themselves and because I never grew up in this type of neighborhood, I prayed I didn't get my shit taken. The bike was the only thing I got myself using work AND allowance money. So far, so good.

A few moments later, I halted my ride once I'm safely on my house's ground. But my skin crawled as I heard footsteps approaching. Oh shit, I thought, walking my bike in the open garage. I hoped I was hallucinating because I was not trying to give my shit up. Now for this bike, I'd give my life for it. Ain't no replacing it or anything.

The sound of footsteps echoing through the dimly lit alley snapped me out of my thoughts. My heart quickened as I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see nothing but shadows. But the footsteps were real, and before I could react, I felt a sharp sting as smoke was blown directly into my face by one of the approaching figures.

Coughing and spluttering, I stumbled backward, my hands instinctively reaching for my face. The acrid scent of the smoke filled my nostrils, making it hard to breathe. As my vision cleared, I saw two guys standing before me, their faces obscured by the darkness.

"What the hell do you want?" I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse from the smoke.

The taller of the two stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Just a little something to help you relax, man," he said, his voice dripping with malice.

I backed away, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew I was outnumbered, and my bike, my only means of escape, was lying just a few feet away. I couldn't afford to lose it, not in this neighborhood.

a/n: Wattpad is TRIPPING. I had this story tagged but for some odd fucking reason, they wiped out the tag and listed it as random. I don't know why they do that shit.