Spencer sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. “I don’t know how to ride a bike.” Ashley stared for a moment, before bursting out in laughter again. “Har har, I’m glad I amuse you,” Spencer said drily.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Did you just say you don’t know how to ride a bike??” Ashley chortled.

Spencer stood on the sidewalk with her arms crossed, pretending to be insulted at Ashley’s laughter but secretly finding it really endearing. Her laugh seemed more real than any of the fake titters she often heard at school. “Are you done?”

“Yes,” Ashley answered seriously. “Look, just get on the bike and hold on to me. And go with the flow when we turn or whatnot, or you could throw us off balance and that would be a major ouchie.”

“That’s your version of Bike Riding 101?” Spencer asked incredulously as she got on the bike, happily wrapping her arms around Ashley, glad for the excuse. “And where’s your helmet? What about the whole ‘safety first’ lecture you gave me.”

“I only have one right now and I think you need it more than I do,” Ashley shrugged, kicking the bike to life. The machine roared to life before settling to a loud rumble that Spencer felt at her core. The vibrations, plus the fact that she was pressed up tight against Ashley, was giving her a lot of dirty thoughts. “Hang on,” Ashley shouted over the noise, breaking into Spencer’s perverted daydreams.

The bike accelerated suddenly, leaving Spencer’s stomach behind. “Oh my god!”

“Where do you live, Spence?” Ashley said, turning slightly to look at Spencer’s terrified face.

Spencer repeated her address before screaming “Can you please pay attention to where you’re going Ashley!”

Ashley laughed and took a sharp turn. She loved the exhilaration she got from her bike. It was as close to flying as she could get. Sure, she loved riding in her sport cars, but there’s something about a bike that you just can’t replicate in a car. It’s the danger that comes with riding a bike, Ashley decided as they roared towards Spencer’s house.

They got there in no time at all, even though Spencer lived on the other side of town. Ashley cut the bike’s engine and silence filled the night air again. “You still alive back there, Spence?”