Chapter 20

Three of us walk over to the ping pong table. Taylor stands at the other end and Mia and I opposite him.

''Becky do you know how to play because Mia can't?'' he asks.

''Sure but I'm not so good.'' I respond while picking up my paddle and lightly bouncing the ball.

''I'm gonna win right baby?'' Taylor asks his girlfriend.

''I'm with Becky. Girl power!'' she respond disappointing Taylor a bit.

He urges me to serve and our ping pong game begins. Mia cheers me up drawing attention to our game. The goal is to get 21 points and I have 10 while my opponent has 15. He is good. I bet Mia wants to rethink about her girl power cheer. Mia excuses herself and returns with dark chocolate. She feeds it to me and says chocolate brings good luck. I eat the yummy snack.

'' You got this Becky! We are going to win this okay,'' I nod at her encouraging words.

The game continues and I add on 5 points getting a tie with Taylor. He is not happy about that and focuses harder on the game. He keeps hitting the ball and me failing to bounce it right back. It's now 20 on 15. Taylor has on the cockiest smile on his face right now after all he only has to get one more point. Mia holds my shoulders and tells me that I can do it. I serve the ball. I score 21 points in the next few minutes causing Mia and I to shout out of happiness, jumping and dancing. Taylor throws his paddle in disbelief that I actually won him. We keep dancing and jumping.

''This reminds me of you guys and Fine dancing on Becky's birthday,'' he starts laughing while pulling out his phone. ''I have it on video.'' we walk towards him and look at his phone screen. I felt so mortified, unable to believe that I actually did that. Mia found a lot of humor in the video and complimented us that we could be an upcoming band. She asks Taylor to send her the video and he does so immediately. I too request for the video. He hands me his phone and I give him mine so that we put in our contact numbers. Mia and I do the same thing. Within a minute I receive the video. Taylor and Mia take us out of there and back in the car.

''I think we should go back before your parents return home,'' I say.

''It's no big deal, they have a spare key.'' Mia answers. Taylor parks the car at a parking lot that was protected by a fence. It was so quiet when we stepped outside the car and only two more cars were parked there.

''What is this place?'' I asked curiously.

''Can you ride a bike?'' Mia asks. You do not answer a question with another question.

''No,'' I answer bluntly.

''I'll be happy to teach you,'' Mia smirks at me. I follow behind them as they walked in. The racing field was huge and there were even seats for an audience but there wasn't an audience thank God. It would be so embarrassing for anyone except Mia and Taylor to see me ride a bike that I didn't know how to ride. It would be better if we were bicycle racing. Three of us walked to a shade where a muscular figure stood. The man was dressed in jeans and a shirt. Mia greeted the man with a hug. He looked like he was in his mid forties but had an intimidating look, a lot of tattoos imprinted on both of his muscular arms.

''Long time Mia,'' he hugged her and Taylor too then he looked at me and I smiled awkwardly at him. I was nervous. ''I see you brought a friend.'' he shook my hands and I took it as a cue to introduce myself.

''Becky,''

''James,''

''We want to teach her how to ride then we start a race but a friendly one,'' Taylor informs James.

''Of course no problem, you are always welcome here.''

''Thanks James.'' Mia thanks her... friend.

We follow him to where he keep the sports bikes and he asks us to pick any three of our choices. we all pick the huge sports Bikes in color black with their black helmets. James enters a certain room and returns with three pairs of sports shoes. We thank him and wear them. I drag the bike to the tarmac racing ground with my friends on my left side. Mia begins to teach me how to ride it. I learn after several trials and get a glimpse on how to drive it.

''Are you ready?'' Mia asks shouts. I do not respond but simply look ahead. I know I'll be last but I do want to try something new even if it's risky.

''1,2,3...'' Taylor shouts and by the end of 3 our bikes roar and dash off. We drive in circles for about five rounds having great fun, laughing and teasing each other. Mia was enjoying this much more. I get the feeling that she is a pro at this and still has her energy in tact for not playing ping pong. We finish the race with Mia emerging first, Taylor second and me last. I did not feel disappointed because I had a great time and I'm grateful for having such awesome friends to brighten up my day.

We return the bikes as well as the shoes to James.

''Thank you James,'' I utter.

''Come back again Becky, have a nice day kids.'' he tells us and we wave him bye. Taylor drives us back to Mia's house. Her parents are home by the time we return.

''Where were you?'' Lara asks looking at our sweaty bodies.

''We were showing Becky around,'' Taylor responds.

''Okay, go freshen up.'' she says exactly what we were going to do. I am so exhausted and a cold shower will do. Mia takes a shower before me and I follow after her enjoying the cold water pouring down my skin. This time I wash my hair not tie it up like I did at Benjamin's house. I step out of the shower only to find Mia blow drying her hair. I dry my body with the towel and smear my skin with my peaches lotion. I missed it, my peaches shower gel too. I put on a pair of black jeans and Fine's sweater hoping she has no problem with me wearing it again. Mia does my hair for me and curls it at the tips. I thank her and we head downstairs. We have our dinner and leave Mr. and Mrs. Fisher to have some alone time watching a movie.

Mia is looking through her drawer when I walk inside the room.

''What are you doing?'' I ask while sitting on the bed.

''I'm looking for a nice outfit for you to wear on your date with Benjamin tomorrow,''

''We're not going on a date he just said I had plans so that I wouldn't go jogging with your mom and dad tomorrow.'' I state the truth, what I think is the truth.

''No he will pick you up tomorrow probably back to his house,''

''I doubt it.'' I don't think he will.

''Why don't you call him and find out?'' she urges me.

''I don't have his number.'' I say and my phone rings.

''It could be him,'' Mia says happily looking at the unknown number. My heart races as I say hello to the unknown person on the other line.

''Hey Becky,'' Ella's voice peers from the phone. I feel a little bit disappointed that Benjamin is not the one calling me, he has my number but I guess he only took it as per Ella's request.

''Hi Ella,'' I greet her.

''I'm sorry for disturbing you but I just wanted to ask you if you could come over tomorrow,'' she apologizes and requests.

''Ugh....''

''I would like your friends to come over too, you can take it as I wanna thank them and also return the sweater I took from the boy.'' she continues.

''Okay we will be there thank you.'' Mia smiles when I say that.

''Text me the address and I'll pick you,''

''Oh no I know the place, we shall drive there no problem.'' I dismiss her generosity.

''Ok, bye''

''Bye'' she hangs up and I save her number on my phone.

''I better get our outfits ready,'' she says while heading back to what she was doing earlier before I interrupted her. ''Oh and text Taylor too.'' she tells me and I text him.

Me : Mia and I made plans for tomorrow.

Taylor: Where?

Me: Ella's house, she invited us.

Taylor: Okay

Mia sets the clothes aside for our visit tomorrow.