Jayden exhaled sharply. "Woah, that’s a lot."
"Yeah," Rick agreed. "But it’s worth it."
For a long mont, Jayden just stared at the bike, it’s design alone giving him a rush of excitent. He imagined what it’ll be like riding it.
Then he spoke with quiet determination. "Two weeks."
Rick blinked. "Huh?"
"Give two weeks," Jayden repeated, eting the shopkeeper’s gaze. "I’ll have the paynt for the bike."
Rick scoffed. "Are you on drugs, kids? This isn’t so cheap toy. And 850k isn’t sothing you just stumble upon."
Jayden nodded. "I know that. It’s why I told you to give two weeks. Don’t sell it to anyone else."
Rick’s eyes widened. "Wait... you’re serious?"
Jayden smirked. "Dead serious."
The shopkeeper looked him up and down, clearly trying to reconcile the teenager before him with the confidence of soone making such an outrageous claim. "Are you ssing with ?"
Jayden shook his head. "No. Give two weeks. If I don’t have the credits by then, you can sell the bike to soone else. I just need you to reserve it for . Can you do that?"
Rick was at a loss for words. Finally, he managed, "Uh... sure. But..."
"Thank you," Jayden interrupted. "I’ll be taking my leave now."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the shop, casting one last longing look at the galactic bike before jogging back ho, his mind already racing with plans to secure the astronomical sum.
After he got back from Jade’s city’s forest the previous day, he began thinking of how he could secure his own personal ride. Getting a hovercar was next to impossible because he didn’t have a licence yet... and hovercars were extrely costly. Even more than bikes.
But Jayden was determined, he needed to have the hoverbike, by any ans necessary.
The Astral Rider would be his. No matter what it took.
The front door clicked shut behind Jayden as he entered the house, his stomach growling loudly enough to rival a bear’s. The rich aroma of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee hit him like a tidal wave, drawing him straight to the kitchen like a moth to fla.
Harleen stood at the cooker, her dark hair pulled into a ssy bun as she expertly flipped pancakes with one hand while stirring a pot of scrambled eggs with the other. Tasha lounged at the counter, idly scrolling through her holotab while nibbling on a piece of bacon.
"Morning, Harleen. Morning, Tasha," Jayden greeted, already reaching past them to snag three strips of bacon from the cooling rack.
Harleen chuckled without turning around. "Soone’s hungry."
Tasha’s nose wrinkled as she looked up from her phone. "You could’ve at least showered first," she chuckled, waving a hand in front of her face dramatically. "You sll like alcohol."
Jayden froze mid-chew, the bacon suddenly turning to ash in his mouth. The party. The alcohol. The fact he’d gone straight from bed to his morning workout without so much as glancing at a toothbrush. His eyes darted to Tasha, who was grinning like the cat that got the cream. And a sudden realization hit him.
She knows.
About the party. About them sneaking out. About them sneaking in.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he reached for the orange juice. "Um... where’s Jessica?"
Harleen sighed, wiping her hands on her apron. "Still in bed, poor thing. She was burning up when I checked on her earlier. I should probably—"
"Oh she’s fine, Mom," Tasha interrupted, her voice dripping with faux innocence. "Just a little headache. You know...the kind you get when you’re hungover." She paused aningfully. "Right, Jayden?"
Jayden choked on his juice, the liquid burning his sinuses as he coughed violently. Tasha’s grin widened as she took another bite of bacon, her eyes sparkling with malicious amusent. She was enjoying every bit of what she was doing.
He stared at her with a silent plea, hoping she won’t rat him out and get him in trouble.
"Um.. yeah. But it’s probably just from stress." he replied. "She must have been pushing herself too hard in preparation for the tournants."
Harleen exhaled. "I guess that makes sense."
Tasha smirked. Then she opened her mouth to speak. "You’re probably right. But..."
"I’ll go check on her," Jayden said quickly, setting his glass down with more force than necessary.
Harleen smiled gratefully. "That would be lovely, dear."
As Jayden turned to leave, Tasha caught his eye, a devilish grin drawn across her face. And when Harleen wasn’t looking, she opened her mouth to speak... but didn’t make a sound. Just a silent, but clear ssage saying: "I own you"
Jayden sighed deeply and walked up the stairs, wondering what he’d done to Tasha to deserve so much cruelty.
He walked through the hallway and finally paused outside the girl’s bedroom, knocking softly.
"Who’s there?" Jessica’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
"It’s Jayden. Can I co in?" he responded.
Jessica let out a groan. "No. I don’t want you seeing like this."
"Shy?" Jayden teased.
"More like embarrassed," ca the muffled reply.
Chuckling, Jayden pushed the door open anyway.
The room was dim, curtains drawn against the morning light. Jessica was a lump under the blankets, only a ss of dark hair visible atop the pillow. At the sound of the door, she bolted upright—then imdiately regretted it, clutching her head with a whimper.
Jayden’s breath caught.
Even hungover, even with her hair sticking up in every direction, even with dark circles under her bloodshot eyes—she was beautiful. The morning light filtering through the curtains caught the gold flecks in her brown eyes, and the way she clutched the blankets to her chest like a shield was downright adorable.
"Wha—I said don’t co in!" Jessica squeaked, throwing an arm over her face.
Jayden crossed the room in three strides, perching on the edge of her bed. "Sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "I just couldn’t resist seeing your face."
Jessica groaned and hurled a pillow at him. "My face looks like shit."
Jayden caught it effortlessly, setting it aside before reaching out to tuck a wild curl behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her flushed cheek. "No," he said softly. "Your face looks pretty."
Jessica’s blush deepened as she turned away. "You’re just saying that."
"How are you feeling?" Jayden asked, his thumb brushing lightly under her eye.
Jessica groaned dramatically, flopping back onto the pillows. "Like a pack of Howlers are tap-dancing in my skull." She peeked up at him through her lashes. "Wait! How are you not dying right now?"
Jayden smirked. "I didn’t get drunk, rember? Guess alcohol doesn’t affect like it does to normal people."
Jessica scoffed. "Showoff." she said, throwing another pillow.
He caught it with a laugh, but his expression softened as he took in her pained wince. Reaching into his pocket, he produced two pills and a water bottle he’d snagged from the kitchen.
"Here," he said, helping her sit up. "Painkillers. And drink all of that.. hydration helps."
Jessica took the pills gratefully, her fingers brushing against his as she accepted the water. Their eyes t, and for a mont, neither looked away.
Then Jayden cleared his throat ruining whatever chemistry was about to happen, "Alright, i have to go freshen up and do so things. I’ll co back to check on you, okay?"
Jessica nodded with a smile. "Okay." she muttered softly
Jayden leaned in, brushing a kiss against her forehead before standing. "Get better soon."
As he left the room, he couldn’t help but smile. Hangovers and mischievous girlfriend aside—last night had been worth it.
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