What was I doing? I must have been crazy. Showing up at Andrew's place not once, not twice, but weekly. It seems like every day I was off and had no plans or was painting, Andrew seemed to be on my mind a lot. The more I hung out with the guy the more intrigued I became by his unique personality. Andrew was a strange one for sure and a bit unrefined, but that's all. Still, it made me think about all those rumors and stories she told about his violence and his disrespectful ways towards women.

She had to be talking about a completely different person, or maybe, it simply wasn't the truth. Even throughout high school, Jasmine was no stranger to gossip and never really fact-checked before spreading a few of her own. Jasmine could come off as a bleak person when it came to certain forms of attention and if someone pissed her off, she held a tight grudge and always took the smallest things out of context.

Perhaps that was Andrew's case as well.

Nonetheless, he did have darkness within him. Spending time with him I never really sensed danger but rather small red flags of disturbance. For example, the fist-size holes in certain sections of his wall, all sealed with plaster and cured. Some of them looked fresh and the paint cans in his laundry room were proof of such. Or the fact that his bathroom had no mirror over the sink. Only a shape of faded paint and holes of where it once was. Things like this I find very strange but felt too awkward to ask. Was I afraid of his answer? Or his reaction?

I was in the middle of mixing some very unique colors for painting when my phone began its text frenzy. I ignored the few five dings only because I thought it was Jasmine or Beckett and honestly, I was afraid to see what they thought of him. I released a long sigh and closed my eyes, remembering Evelyn's ritual.

"Happy thoughts," I exhaled. "Bad Ju Ju go away."

Pouring the color in its squeeze bottle to be stored for later, I was nearly done when my phone continued its onslaught.

"Who the fuck is that!"

Wiping my hands off I snatched up my phone and looked at all twenty-six messages, they were all from one person and literally one word per text. The latest one read: Wake the fuck up already.

I shook my head and responded to his obnoxious series of conversations in the best way I knew possible. Starting with defending my strange but very pleasant sleep schedule that had no real issue.

Meet me at Ocean Beach in thirty minutes. I got something for you!

Considering my location in San Francisco, that was a thirty-minute drive in itself... IF you have a car. Taking a bus would make it forty minutes. Has he lost his mind? Making haste, I pulled off my apron and grabbed my satchel. Evelyn smiled and waved at me from the couch as I rushed out the door. With no car of my own and no way in hell that I'm taking two hours to walk, I used my spare money and took the bus. To my surprise, I was able to score one of those fancier buses that were extra long and detached in the middle to expand around curves. It held a more expensive bill but it would be a one-way trip, no bus hopping.

They were cleaner as well, not that all San Francisco buses were covered with grime and dirt. Riding them was just a tad bit more pleasant. I found next to an elder lady reading a book by Nancy Thayer called Between Husbands and Friends. I don't know why I found the title silly and a bit ironic considering my odd situation that had absolutely no love life.

The bus turned and the sound of steam and gears echoed next to me. I grabbed the bar next to me as the black accordion doors expanded between our seats, pulling us away from each other. She paid no mind, her nose deep into her novel. Meanwhile, I watched in a sense of confusing terror as the bus morphed during the turn and reassemble itself again. It wasn't until our seats were one again that she looked up at me, probably from me staring at her.

"Well, that was weird," I confirmed about the moving seats.

That got an amusing little giggle out of her.

By the time I reached my destination, I was relieved to get off that bus and my butt was sore in the process. I'll admit it was fun but that will probably be the last time I sit where it disconnects. That made my anxiety act up a little like it was going to eat me or something.

Andrew was found just beyond the bus stop leaning against the fence railing that led to the beach park below. His entire weight on his elbows and his lean legs were stretched out and crossed over each other. With thick sunglasses one, he had his head tilted straight back and staring up at the sky. He must have read my mind because the second I acknowledged his presence he looked at me.

"What the fuck took you so long?" a hint of sarcasm in his tone, like everything else.

"Oh you know, you only gave me thirty minutes to meet up on the other side of San Francisco." I spat, "Is there a purpose in that anywhere."

"Yep." he smiled as he put his big arm around my shoulder and his hand right over my face, blinding me.

"Andrew?"

"Relax, just follow my lead."

Unwillingly I did as he asked with his hand pressed over my eyes. I never liked surprises, in my family, it always came with something bad following behind it. A catch that I'm never usually aware of until the last second. I kept on of my hands wrapped around his wrist, slowly trying to adjust myself so I could sneak a peak. My other hand was resting in his, I could feel his fingers lace over mine in a gentle grasp. Seconds after we stopped his arm lifted and my eyes met the bright sun once again.

Two bicycles were propped up against the fence along the wide beach sidewalk. Looking around people enjoyed their day taking pictures and having picnics. The waters were never safe to swim in due to dangerous rip currents our section of California holds, but that doesn't mean you still can't enjoy the landscape.

I focused on the bikes in front of me and excited butterflies swelled up in my stomach. The smaller one was a beautiful sky blue with a sandy trim and seat. On the back was a special and decent sized wicker basket attached with its own personal latch. The bigger of the two had no basket and was as red as a poppy flower, one that I assumed was his.

"Bicycles." I finally said.

Andrew reached into my satchel and pulled out my notebook still folded open to my bucket list. With his finger, he tapped on wish number thirteen and it became clear to me what his plan for today was.

"Oh, I don't know about this." I suddenly backed away.

Andrew's arm found its way around my waist and pulled me forward as he walked towards the bikes. "No. We're not doing that I'm too scared bullshit. This is what you wanted, I know because you stare at that damn list every single day. Do you want to complete it? Well, this is the first step."

"Couldn't we have started with an easier one." I panicked as my hands took the handlebars.

"Trust me this is the easiest thing in the world," Andrew replied. "You ever heard of that expression, it's just like riding a bike?"

Despite an overwhelming fear growing I threw one leg over the bike and positioned it where I could mount the seat. Andrew stepped in front of me and wedged the front wheel between his legs, holding the bike steady as I slipped up on the cushion.

"Now put your feet on the pedals." He instructed, "And sit there a moment, get a feel of your balance and relax."

"What if it tips?"

"I'm holding the bike in place."

"What if I fall off?" I worried.

"I won't let that happen." Andrew places his hands over mine resting on the handlebars. "Look at me."

Shaking and stiff as a board, I looked up at him hovering over me. He leaned down until our foreheads were practically touching."

"Take your time...you've got this."

I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. My hands tightening around the rubber handles. "First step?"

Andrew smiled and gave me a nod. "First step."

This chapter is dedicated to WriterNat_A who has been a reader and commented since chapter one! I am grateful and happy that you are enjoying it and always look forward to hearing your thoughts. Stay awesome!

Below is an example of Cora's bicycle.