Work was… interesting. For anyone who was watching me jump scare myself anytime made a sound. I wasn't trying to be overly tense… I just couldn't help myself. Honestly, when the day ended it was a relief.
Larry's shift ended half an hour after mine. I seriously thought about making a break for it… but was sure he'd find me.
"Relax Max, you're going to see a bike shop." Lust comforted as I pretended to scroll on my phone. I couldn't even answer because… no headphones to pretend I was in a call.
"We should take our time, at least you received a response from the insurance. Things are looking up." Greed said, he was awkwardly patting my shoulder.
Yeah, an email response after I'd cc'd every name we could find on their home page. I should get a call tomorrow to discuss what was going to happen moving forward. Not exactly what I wanted to hear after weeks of getting ghosted.
"In the meantime, we could look up different bikes so we have an idea of what you want Max." Pride recommended as he looked at the clock. That was actually a good idea. I hadn't ridden a bike in… years.
I started searching bikes, then bikes for in city. Just like that I was down the rabbit hole. Dang, there were bikes that you didn't even have to pedal anymore… how was this not a moped?
"Ready?" Larry asked.
I didn't scream, but I probably lost half my soul. I clutched my phone to my chest staring up at Larry. I hadn't even heard him walk in… or noticed him standing over me? Was he a freaking ninja?! "Oh, yeah, ready." I agreed, nodding as he raised a brow.
I stuffed everything into my backpack as I followed after him. I wasn't sure what I was expecting Larry to drive, but I wasn't exactly surprised seeing the decked out jeep. Horns. His black jeep, with red trim had horns. No top, probably because he was too tall, no doors cause, who needed doors? It seemed… very in character, but also… the glittering, sparkling, pink princess car seat seemed… out of place.
I tried not to stare at the car seat as I climbed in. Larry pulled on some sunglasses, then… drove like we were in the apocalypse. I held onto the oh shit handle was I slid as far as my seatbelt could go!
Larry went full throttle out of the parking lot! Easily going forty miles an hour until he slammed on the breaks for the sign, the whiplash made me shut my eyes. Could I get off now? Nope, he took off before I could even sit up.
I don't know if it was divine providence, or happenstance that we didn't hit a single red light. Regardless, I was praying to every god I'd ever heard of that we would survive the trip. He was weaving between cars, sometimes I couldn't even see licenses plates we were so close to the car in front of us!
I hung only my seat belt, praying it didn't snap. I was praying a lot today… if I survived this maybe I should ask Robby which church he attended… Wrath was clinging to my shoulder laughing like a maniac.
"YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Wrath screamed as we made another sharp turn. Blinkers were apparently not an option.
Yep! The curb was still there! I wanted to scream as we hit the fourth curb. The jeep actually tilted his turn was so sharp!
No way a child could survive this kind of driving! Our sudden halt caused my seatbelt to lock for the tenth, maybe eleventh time.
"Weak." Larry snorted as he turned the jeep off. He didn't pull the keys out or anything, he just leapt out of the car.
I was so stiff, it took a moment to remember how to move my arms. My legs felt like jelly as I slid out of the car, still holding onto the seat so I didn't fall on my face. I… might want to walk back. My stomach was rolling like it was still on the world's fastest rollercoaster.
I don't know how long it took me to remember that I was in fact not made of jelly, but Larry was still waiting for me.
"Let's go." Larry said then walked off. I was a bit wobbly, but I managed to follow.
The store was aptly named "Bikes". With stores on either side, it wasn't very big, but every wall had bikes. Some partially some fully assembled. There were helmets, shoes, backpacks… I was not prepared.
I clutched my stomach as it rolled, then again… riding a bike home seemed the safer option.
"Hey Larry! Brought in another victim for us have you?" A petite blond asked from behind the glass counter.
"Yep, he's weak." Larry agreed as he leaned on the counter.
"Larry, keep that up and I'll tattle! Now, what kind of bike are you looking for…?" Her voice trailed off expectantly.
"Uh, Max, I'm Max. I um, kind of new…" I explained as I stood up a bit straighter. Wrath was looking along the walls like a kid in a candy store. Well, looks like bike rides were in my future.
"Oh! Not to worry Max! Will this be a bike for leisure, exercise, or joining friends on an adventure?" She asked with a beaming smile. I didn't trust that smile… Pretty sure I was about to get fleeced.
"I need… transportation, my uh, car got totaled… and insurance is, well yeah, so bike until I can get another car." I wanted to smack myself, I was way oversharing.
"Relax Max, this time we really can walk away. No rush." Pride reminded as he sat on my shoulder. He looked a bit green, so at least I wasn't the only one getting car sick.
"Okay, so you'll be looking at street bikes." She went into a long, very informative monologue. I followed along, nodding. Lots of lightweight, aluminum bikes. Though, not sure I'd want anything that had racing in the name. That… wasn't exactly my speed.
"I'm not really looking for a racing bike." I finally said when she took a breath.
"Oh, it may have racing in the name, but this model isn't recommended. It has racing because it's ergonomically designed…"
I stared at her, glanced at the bike, yeah… maybe I was being difficult… but I just didn't like it. Neon green, bright yellow handles, just… very bright. Like a neon sign asking to get robbed.
"Tell her you're looking for something that you can put you backpack on." Pride recommended nodding to a sturdier looking bike.
"Actually, do you have something that can, carry groceries? Or that I can attach my backpack to." I asked as her tirade continued.
She looked startled, then glanced at my backpack. Her smile didn't faulter as she led me toward the bikes Pride had noticed.
45 minutes later, I settled on a bike that was much more reasonably priced, had a small platform behind the seat that I could attach my backpack, or even a full basket too. It was heavier than the racing bikes, but if I took a fall, yeah, I didn't want lightweight or delicate.
"Helmet." Larry reminded.
I muffled the startled sound… but they still heard it. I'd forgotten all about him.
"Of course! Max, do you have your own gear already?" She asked with another one of her blinding smiles.
I bit my cheek to keep my sigh in, we'd already been here for over an hour… Sloth was dangling from my backpack. Lust and Envy were looking at shoes, Wrath was jogging around the counter. Pride and Greed still looked worse for wear. Gluttony… was complaining about how hungry he was.
I didn't even blame him, if my stomach wasn't still rolling I'd probably be hungry too. As it stands, I just wanted to escape.
"No, uh, let's just go with the basic helmet." I said with a quick glance at the time.
"Will you be riding before sunrise or after sunset?" She asked.
I felt like I was wilting away under that smile. "Uh, yes, I probably will." I conceded.
Larry gave a short cough, then looked at the clock over the counter pointedly. The employee jolted, then rushed along. I was grateful when only fifteen minutes later I was ringing up my purchases.
As I wheeled my newly assembled bike out, I had 48 hours to return so test drive would be good. I also cringed realized I'd just spent over $500, which all things considered, wasn't bad. Still, money was tight until payday. Or… until the cheque reflected in my balance.
Larry picked the bike up by the frame as he headed to his jeep! I almost had a heart attack thinking about getting back inside… or telling him my address.
"I can uh, test drive! Test drive it home, thanks!" I said giving chase. Pride and Greed looked positively ill. Wrath… was already bouncing on the passenger seat.
Larry glanced over his shoulder, bike already being lifted into the back. "Test drive shouldn't be more than 3 miles. How far away do you live?"
My heart fell right into my rolling stomach. It was definitely more than 3 miles to get home… I pulled up the directions on my phone… 14 miles… that was… a long test drive. Especially since I hadn't ridden a bike in over 10 years.
"Get in." Larry called, he was smirking!
I half crawled, half jumped into the passenger seat. "Uh, could we uh, um… I… want to live?" I finally said as he started the jeep up.
Larry burst out laughing… then he… kept laughing. I was actually getting offended after a solid minute of him laughing. He was teering up, using his sleeve to wipe away the evidence!
"It's not that funny." I muttered as I pulled on the seat belt. I refuse to believe not one person has complained about his driving. Heck, someone could have died from a heart attack!
I flinched when he finally threw the car into gear. Then… he drove like a sane person. I opened one eye as we waited to merge with traffic.
"What?! Dude!!! No!!!!!" Wrath wailed as he fell into the seat. "Dude!!!! That's the most fun we've had in ages!!!!! Ugh!!! What a buzzkill!"
I slowly relaxed into the seat, suspiciously waiting for the apocalyptic driving to start… but it didn't. "Uh, thanks. I uh, get carsick easy." I explained as Wrath continued to throw a fit.
"Weak." Larry chuckled. Then he started playing music, jazz. I wasn't expecting that, but I wasn't complaining either. The ride back was much more comfortable. Though my stomach still didn't enjoy it much.
Larry lifted the bike out of the back, then peeled off like the hounds of hell were after him. It was… surprisingly anticlimactic.
"So… now we have to get it up the stairs and figure out where we're going to keep it." Pride reminded.
I glanced at the stairs that looked sketchy on the best of days… with a nod, I juggled the two bags of accessories, my backpack, a helmet, and the bike up the narrow stairs.
Two men were smoking in the hall way, I ducked my head as I squeezed by. Their glares promised more than words would be had if I touched them.
Finally, I was able to get the door open, and the bike inside. That was way more effort than it should have been.