[UNEDITED]
Without a second glance, we both took off down the pathway, endeavouring into the forest weaving through trees. Adam's grip on my hand was tight, and I worried about my sweaty palms.
"Where are we?" I asked, gazing at the shrubs moulding into a cave around us, engulfing us in a sunset-darkness.
I didn't recognise it at all.
His dark eyes stared ahead as an unreadable emotion was plastered to his face, "This is my escape route, it's a bit of a walk but we'll come to a road soon." He clarified.
I rubbed my nose with my free hand, pushing down the onslaught of worry bubbling up in my gut, "My dad's gonna kill me when he finds out." I stated, biting my lip.
"He's not gonna find out."
I peered at my shoes as I took giant leaps, hoping to keep up with Adam's unruly pace. "He'll probably kill me and then die himself," I paused for a moment, "he is old, Adam, he's not a lively as he used to be."
I heard Adam release a small chuckle.
"Before all that nasty business," I began, "I'm gonna be lectured on how God is always watching, and I'm gonna feel so bad, and he's gonna be sat there for hours, and he won't physically kill me, obviously. But he'll emotionally drain me to the point of death, so God can't condemn him for murder, you know? And throughout his long and painful moaning I'll be sat there, wishing how I would just suddenly die right then and there because it's gonna be that bad altogether." I ranted, unknowingly clenching his hand.
"Sounds like death is the only viable option."
"Yeah."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a smirk spread on his face as he dropped my hand, I pulled it away from him, hesitantly, feeling the spikes of coldness prick on my palm.
He bent down over a few shrubs, "It's here, give me a minute."
My eyebrows knotted together as he began tearing through the foliage, as though he was digging for buried treasure.
Then it clicked, and I bent down too, pushing through the leaves as well. My hand then collided with something sticky, and oddly warm, I shivered, pulling it back.
And screamed.
I backed away from the shrub, shaking my hand furiously, and squeezed my eyes shut. Blood pounded through my ears, yet I could still hear Adam's chortles.
I felt the slug detach itself from me flying off elsewhere, and for a moment my jolts stopped as I assessed my hand. Searching for any trace of the slug.
"Oh--haha, I c-can't-- that was..."
I glared at Adam, who was laid on his back, gazing up at the sky. A Cheshire Cat grin crinkled his eyes, and he had wrapped his arms around his tensed stomach as the sound of his undying laughter, bounced around us maniacally.
"Shut up." I muttered, uselessly. Wiping the remnants of slim on my jeans, cringing all the while.
He sighed after a moment, as if catching and gripping onto his laughter, not letting the feeling slip away. Nonetheless, he slowly sat up. Turning his head and gazing at my red face, sending him into a smaller laughing fit all over again.
"Oh, shut up." I repeated, attempting to be serious, but even I could not stop the smile spreading on my face.
His laughter quickly died away and he grabbed the motorbike from under the shrubs expertly. Lifting himself up as he did so. I sighed, crawling up from my hands and knees, brushing off the dry dirt it had left.
He holds the bike by the handlebars as he slowly walked with it, his breaths shallow yet thunderous in the silent air.
I looked closely at the motorbike, trying to remember what it was like the last time I saw it, something seemed different.
Then I realised it was a completely different bike.
"Is that," I hesitated, caused Adam's eyes to peer curiously into mine, "Is that a different bike?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
He looked down at it too, and nodded silently.
I released a breathy laugh, "Do you just have them hidden around the town?" I joked, shaking my head.
He was serious as he looked at me, "Yes."
I gawked at him, "You're not serious." I stated.
"No, I am. They're everywhere."
I was taken-back for a moment, "Why?"
He threw me a look, "It's best for me to know my quickest escape route."
"Escape from what?" I met his eyes, shielded by locks of his thick, black hair, and studied him curiously.
He rolled his eyes, "Rainbows and sunshine."
I almost slapped his arm, but knew not to.
He stopped suddenly, and only then did I notice we had come to the side of a road, still engulfed in trees, it was somewhat indistinguishable.
"You know what to do." He said.
He then slid on his helmet after detaching it from the back and handed me mine. I copied his actions, waiting for him to get onto the bike itself. Without any further discussion we both drove off he dirt road. I wrapped my arms around his torso subconsciously, observing the blur of trees dashing past us.
Soon enough we were on a main, cement road, accompanied by other cars and the trees dissolved into grey buildings. After a few minutes, Adam slowed turning into the a small car park. Noticing that we were in the other side of town.
Turned off the engine near the corner, closest to the neon lights on the side of the building, it was clearly a diner, from the small roof to the neon red wording. A sign clearly spelled Jimmy's Diner, hung over the double doors.
I slid my helmet off, only now noticing Adam was already stood up, his helmet off as well as he glanced down at his buzzing phone, his eyebrows were furrowed as thick locks of his black hair fell messily over his forehead.
He looked angry for a second, and I caught a glimpse of what looked to be a reminder buzzing on his phone.
"Fuck it." He swore, running a hand through his hair.
I looked at him confused, for a moment, "What?"
His eyes shifted to mine quickly, before he began patting on his pockets, and he swore again. "Nothing," he claimed, not a moment later he murmured under his breath, "I'll just have to miss it."
I was almost positive I wasn't meant to hear that part, so immediately my curiosity spiked, but deteriorated quickly when I saw the look on his face. So I didn't say another word and followed him into the quiet diner.
I was surprised at how unique and vintage the diner looked, it was as though it had been thrusted out of the 80s and shoved into modern world.
To say the least, I loved it. Adam sauntered in, holding the metal door open for me. I peeked over a metal banister half my height and gazed at the voluptuous crimson red booths, littered next to the windows. I sighed and looked back over to Adam who flashed me a reassuring grin.
Suddenly, a bell rang and a fat man came out from behind the one of two doors behind the counter, from which I assumed was the kitchen. "Adam!" He bellowed, raising his arms out wide as a jovial grin washed onto his face.
Adam didn't spare a second before being dragged into the man's welcoming arms, "Hey, Jimmy." Adam chuckled, patting his back.
I was stunned to say the least, watching Adam do something as normal as hugging was abnormal. A good abnormal, though.
"How have you been, Little Man?" Jimmy chuckled, pulling away from the 6ft 2Â Adam, who towered above his small chubby self, his greying hair matted against the speckled bald patches on his head, as he kept a firm grip on Adam's shoulder.
Adam brushed off the comment, as though it was usual. "I'm good, Jimbo," He joked, "How's Theresa?" He asked, as his eyes glazed over and I was sure he had forgotten I was even there. I shuffled backwards a few steps, awkwardly.
"She's been great, she would love to see you again. You should consider coming over for dinner sometime."
He scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, that sounds nice--"
Jimmy suddenly looked to me. "And who's this pretty lady you've got hidden back there."
He stuck a hand out towards me, I quickly wiped the sweat off my hand and shook his with a friendly smile. "Jimmy, this is Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is Jimmy." Adam introduced.
"Lovely to meet you, Gabrielle."
I smiled at the jolly, little man, "You too."