Page 44 of Never Have I Ever
“Is Mattie here?” Grayson asks the guy working on a car in the garage. The hood is popped open, and his forehead and tank top are covered in grime. He gestures with his head over to the right, and Grayson thanks him.
His fingers are still clasping mine, even though we’re long gone from the men outside, and I don’t mind it. I like it. I try to remember that this doesn't mean anything. He's told me this so many times before.
We approach the door that the man gestured to, and Grayson knocks on it. “Hey, Mattie. It’s Grayson,” he says.
“Come in.” A deep voice says on the other side of the door.
Grayson faces me and pulls his hand away from mine. I frown, feeling the loss of his touch. “I’ll be right back. Stay here,” he tells me.
I nod, and he disappears into the office.
Why did Grayson bring me here? I look behind me, seeing the man Grayson was talking to before staring back at me with a face covered in dirt. He smirks at me, and the sight makes me feel uneasy. I turn around and keep my eyes on the door in front of me.
The door opens quickly after, and Grayson comes out, locking eyes with me. “Come on,” Grayson says, tugging on my hand and walking towards the back of the garage.
I follow him out of the garage from the back exit. He lets go of my hand and climbs onto a motorcycle, fitting a helmet on his head.
“Uh…” Does he want me to get on that?
He smirks, holding out a helmet to me. “Have you ever been on a motorcycle, angel?” he asks.
I shake my head, taking a step back. “I’m not getting on that,” I tell him, looking down at my outfit. “I’m wearing a dress.”
He smirks and takes that as his opportunity to look down my body. I feel the heat of his stare everywhere his eyes roam. “I know,” he says. “And you look gorgeous.”
I blush at the compliment but make no move to get onto the motorcycle.
He sighs. “Come on, Rosie,” he says. “Get on.”
I bite my lip, staring at Grayson on the motorcycle. What if we get in an accident or are arrested? Is the motorcycle even his, or are we stealing it? Oh my god.We.I’m an accomplice in this if he is stealing it. I can’t. I’m scared.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he says. “Just hold on tight.”
I sigh and say fuck it. I wanted fun, might as well have fun if I’m going to die. I take the helmet from him and place it on my head. He turns around, making sure it’s secure. He turns, facing the road as he grips the handles.
“You’ll be safe, Rosie. I promise,” he says. “Hold on.” I put my arms around his waist, interlocking my fingers together and clutching tight onto him. I squeeze him and let my head fall onto his shoulders.
He starts the bike and speeds off. I gasp when he accelerates, and his deep laugh vibrates through my chest. I snap my eyes closed, gripping tight onto him. It feels so much more dangerous than it did in the car, but I love how I’m experiencing another first with Grayson.
The ground shakes beneath us, and I feel everything. It’s like all of my senses are magnified. Maybe that’s because my eyes are shut closed, or maybe it’s because we’re traveling so fast, so recklessly, that I taste, hear and smell everything. I take the plunge and open my eyes, gasping when I see the whole world zooming past us.
“Go faster,” I whisper in his ear, clutching tighter onto him.
I feel his laughter deep in the pit of my stomach. “You don’t even have to ask, angel,” he says before pressing his foot down. Cars on our right, in front, and behind are vast memories by the time we overtake them. It's an indescribable feeling and like nothing I've ever seen or felt before.
My heart is in the back of my throat. I smell the trees and feel the air rushing past us. I can hear the white noise of the wind and the sound of the engine roaring as Grayson speeds up.
All of my emotions are doubled, tripled even. I’m alive. At this moment, I feel more alive than I ever have before. I feel it deep in my bones, and Grayson gave that to me.
I clutch tighter onto him as we speed past the road, letting my eyes explore everything around me. We move so fast against the whole world, making our way into a forest filled with trees, dirt, and grass all around.
When he slows down, I focus on the view in front of us. He climbs off the motorcycle and takes my hand. I clutch my palm in his, and he helps me off the motorcycle. The minute I do, I feel the ground sway beneath my feet. My eyes snap closed, and I grab onto Grayson, gripping his shoulders and waiting for everything to stop spinning.
He clutches my arms, holding me upright. “Whoa. You okay there, Rosie?”
I nod, opening my eyes and looking up at him. His brows are scrunched, and his eyes are dark and full of concern. “Just a little dizzy,” I tell him, smiling up at him.
He smirks. “Yeah,” he says, nodding. “Happens sometimes when you’ve been riding so fast and then stop suddenly.” He takes off my helmet and straps both of them to the bike. “C’mon,” he says, taking my hand in his and guiding us away.
