Description
"Christ," I say, putting my kickstand down and getting out of the seat. "I almost killed you, buddy." I take my helmet off before I approach him (Her? Do animals even care to adhere to gendered pronouns? Liam would start lecturing me on assuming genders and stuff if he were here, but it's not like the dog can tell me and I'm hardly going to take a peek to find out for myself, so) because I saw on Animal Planet once that dogs get scared when they can't see your face. The Dog Whisperer is never wrong, therefore the helmet must go. "What's your name, buddy?" "Achilles," Says a voice from behind me, making me jump. "Jesus shit, that's, like, two near-miss heart-attacks in the last ten minutes." "Sorry." It's a guy. Broad shoulders, nice chest, chiseled face and his arms. He's smiling, though, despite the fact that I almost just killed his dog, so maybe all is not lost. "Yeah," I sigh, "Maybe don't let your animals into the street where unsuspecting motorcycle operators might accidentally hit them and consequently be scarred for life." He chuckles, "You're funny, kid." "Kid? I'm seventeen, firecracker. Can't be much younger than you." "Firecracker," He muses, "That's a new one." "Yeah, well there's more where that came from." I step back, letting him repossess Achilles' leash, sliding my helmet back on as I remount my bike. "Before you go," He says, "Can I get a name? A number? I have to repay you, obviously, for not killing my dog." "Addison," I say, "You're weird." "Nah," He says, "I'm Alex. Alex Santiago." I nod, flicking my face mask down and revving my bike back to life as he retreats to the sidewalk. "Maybe I'll see you around, then, Santiago." He grins, white teeth flashing against olive skin. "Maybe you will." Or a story about a (passably) charming girl who knows too many Snapple facts and falls in love with a boy.
Of Dogs and Hooligans and Motorcycles
