Just Like Every Other Friday Night
"Justin. When are you leaving?"
"As soon as I put my pants on."
"You're not wearing pants?"
"Not at the moment. But I will be as soon as I find them."
It was hard to find anything in our bedroom. Clean clothes, dirty ones, papers, empty plastic bags. You name it, its probably in there!
"There." I came out of the bedroom wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of old Wranglers.
"You had to wear the Wranglers, didn't you?" Nick asked.
"What!? You really think I'd go out four-wheelin' in a good pair of jeans?"
"Yes?" he asked jokingly.
"You're wrong." I headed towards the front door. "Catch ya later, cuz!"
At the truck, I made sure my quad was tied down tight, and the straps wouldn't wiggle lose wile I was driving, then I jumped in my truck and tore out the drive. Looking at the clock, and knowing we had to meet at six, I headed off for Nicole's. It wasn't even five minutes later and Nicole was attached to my side, as we flew down the road toward some Joe's house. Lemons are beautiful. Once there, I backed the quad out of the truck, and gave Nicole her helmet. Joe came sideways on two wheels around the front of his garage, stopping no more then an inch from my leg.
"Whats goin' on!?" he helled over the rumble of the two engines.
"Waitin' on your ass so we can get movin'!"
"Trav get a hold of you?" I asked Joe.
"Yea! Hes meetin' us up at the old train station. We'll take the tracks straight there first."
"Sweet, sweet! Lets get goin', then!" Nicole said. Putting my helmet on, I threw my leg over the side of the quad and waited for Nicole to sit and grab onto something. I looked over my shoulder to see if she was ready. She nodded, and when I went to wave Joe on, he was already gone. I flew through the first three gears within the first a hundred and fifty yards of the train track that ran smack through the center of Joe's property. Joe was about fifty yards ahead, and that margin was getting bigger. I was in third gear, moving about forty-five to fifty miles per hour. flipping the clutch, I mashed it into fourth, and continued on. About half way down the tracks, Joe and I were side-by-side.
I pushed the radio button. "Side by side, now, son!" With that, Joe rocketed back out in front of me by ten feet.
"Eat my dust!" Joe came back across the radio.
"Haha! This is only fourth!" I radioed in.
"Take it to the next level, then!" came across the radio, about half cut out by what I was saying.
"Nicole! I don't see you up front!" Joe always punched fun at Nicole for being the only girl in the group.
"You just wait, Joe!" Nicole gripped my body tight. "Punch it, Justin!"
I let off the accelerator and flipped the clutch one last time. As Nicole and I pulled up to to the old station, Joe was flying up behind us. Joe tore off his helmet as he slid to a stop.
"Nice drivin', son!"
"Thank you, son!" I returned.
Just then, Travis came sliding up. "Damn, guys! Thanks for callin' me an' lettin' me know you were leavin'!"
"JOE!" Nicole turned and punched Joe in the arm.
"Shit, girl!"
"You said he was meetin' us here!"
"He did! Didn't he!?" Joe defended himself.
"You said you talked to him." I stated.
"I did!" Joe screamed still defending himself.
"Yea..." Travis jumped in. "Last night!" We all just looked at Joe.
"What!?" Joe yelled.
"Well... I didn't come here to argue, I came here to get muddy!" Nicole slammed her helmet on and jumped on the quad. I jumped on behind her so I wouldn't be left standing there. As soon as I sat down, she tore off into the pit to our right.
In three hours, there wasn't a mud puddle in that four acre pit we didn't slam through at least five times. Around nine, I was driving, and I radioed in to Joe and Travis telling them Nicole and I were headed home.
I sped back down the tracks toward my truck. Nicole had her arms wrapped around me, and I knew that she was getting antsy. I didn't even let her off went we got back to the truck. I just drove right up into the truck. I threw the straps over, and she latched them and I pulled them tight. She was already in the middle seat when I opened the driver side door.
About half way home, I looked down at her head on my chest. She looked up and gave me the look I know all too well. Top speed of my truck wasn't fast enough for the two of us. One-eighteen was way too slow. I whipped down my driveway to the barn. Somehow, we made it up to the hay loft before our passions got the best of us.
She was just about asleep when I rolled over and noticed that the sun was just coming up. I looked at my watch, and it was almost five thirty. I rolled back over, wrapped my arms around Nicole, and fell asleep.
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