Chapter 10- Redemption

"Place your foot onto this pedal here to make the bike move, and these controls here are quite similar to a bicycle, these are for breaks, this is for more gas… try it," Zayd said climbing off his bike

I sat down feeling the controls, the rest of the group was feeding a few ducks nearby while arguing about politics. Zayd gracefully placed his hands on top of mine guiding them. The fact that he had trusted me enough to let me ride his baby. He sat behind me breaking whenever I would lose control and slowly I managed to master one skill at a time from acceleration to the breaks and blinkers. He then allowed me to ride on my own and after a few rounds handed me a cold bottle of water. He had already spilt some of it on top of his head. I chugged the water down catching my breath, of all days the sun choose to be at its worst on this Saturday morning. It felt strange not having to wake up for a tutoring class or spend the day sneaking in crackers cause the tutoring session was a non-ending one and we weren't allowed any breaks or food.

"You`ll get the hang of it," Erica said handing me a key, " You can use my old beast, she's quite handy on the track."

"I can't…"

"Rule number one, never say no…" Raees said placing his hands into his pockets, "What the little science geek did to you was bad, don't you want redemption."

I took the keys hesitantly, "Thank -you…"

She pulled me in for a hug. "One more thing," Zayd said yelling from the track, I signed you up for the competition, your name is Zainul…"

"What's up with you and names that start with z`s!" Erica said with an eye roll

Yusra and Devin joined us for lunch later and after sunset, Erica took me to her house where I picked up her motorcycle. Old? It was the exact same one Zayd had owned, on the race track. This one however was a beautiful ocean blue. She smiled checking it before giving me the go-ahead.

"Can I keep it here?

"I don't want Zain to find out."

"Fine by me… Zayd will have to drop you off then. My mother doesn't want me out when the sun is gone."

She tapped her helmet 3 times signalling a goodbye. Zayd waiting near his bike stopped before me placing his school blazer around me, "Girls shouldn't be exposed to the cold…"

"Thank you…" I said wrapping myself up, "Do you think I`ll do it?"

"You're an art student now…that alone is a risk. Never hesitate from now on."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Would you like to study tonight?"

"You study on Saturday?"

"I`m the top student…I have to, not all of us are as gifted as your boy Zain."

"Do you think I`m just like him?"

"I do."

"I think you are too…"

"Do you perhaps have a thing for Zain?" he asked looking away

"I always believed that one day our very complicated relationship would turn into a powerful unbreakable one, but all that fame and status got into his head. Not to mention my mom and his mom taking his side."

"That isn't an answer."

"I`m too young to know what I like."

"So you don't know," he said scratching his head, "I`ll be asking you the same question every year even in uni…can we go to the same uni?"

"We`ll have to see when we get there."

"No rush…" he replied handing me my helmet, "Shall we tackle our books?"

"You don't have to ask me twice."

No complicated formulas, or laws. It was more essay-based content that required creative thinking. Believe it or not, I ended up passing out in the middle of our session.

"It's time to leave, it's almost midnight …" Zayd said shaking me a little

"Where…"

"The library is closing, you passed out an hour after reading through some of your economics notes."

I frowned rubbing my eyes, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"This isn't a boot camp…allow for your body to rest when it needs to," he said stacking my books onto one another.

I stood stretching. Whenever I would fall asleep I'd get a good slap from my tutor or if I slept while Zain was studying with me he'd wake me up by pouring a bottle of water onto my face. I still felt very weary on our ride home, I think for a few minutes I may have passed out on Zayd's back. I arrived home happy that my mother was on a business trip and after gulping down litres of water I passed out on the couch.

Zain's mother had come over the next morning with my breakfast.

"Any plans for today since you won't be preparing for the physics competition?"

"Might meet up with a few friends and ask about the content I missed," I said stuffing my mouth with one of the buns she brought over

"Okay be home early, your mother doesn't want you out too late."

I smiled swallowing some of the food. I waved goodbye and after giving my belly a good rub and slap I showered and then proceeded to grab my biker keys and helmet. Taking the bus to Erica's place.

She opened up her garage, uncovered the bike and I took off in it. I know for a fact that Zain's Sunday practice only starts in the evening so I'll have the entire race track to myself.

"You think Erica would let you fly of on your own on only day 2?" Zayd said patting my shoulder, "Besides… believe it or not Zain and I had a coach so you'll need one to."

"Was it the same coach?"

"Yes…not the point though.

"We need to get you your licence first…never come here without me."

The sun hit his face as he spoke. He reached his hand above in an attempt to shade his eyes. I stared for a while before being asked to place my helmet on. We rode around the track casually before he asked me to race with him. Anxious, I followed his instruction. He was correct racing was a lot more difficult than riding.

"We have to leave, Zain will be here soon."

He smirked removing his helmet before splashing some of his drinking water over his head, "I have to study anyway…not that I care."

"You sound bitter about it."

"If you ask me I'd prefer that you say little about him."

"Noted."

It isn't like I enjoy having to hear his name as well.