A Little Bit Of Joy | ✔

Chapter Thirty Five : The Boy And The Girl's Forever

"That would be eight dollars ma'am," I said politely as she gave me a ten dollar bill.

"You're JJ, aren't you?" The soft eyes of the woman was twinkling. I nodded while returning her the change. "Take care honey, I hope things are turning out good for you."

"It is and thank you." I smiled as she left. This was regular, blessings from strangers or acquaintances and I was used to it. A constant reminder that I was dying, but I knew that their intentions was to not upset me. It was merely to show that they cared. The bells dinged again and in came Uncle Desmond. I beamed at him. "Good morning Uncle Desmond! Here are your lilies!"

"Aye JJ, efficient like always." He fished the money out. "How's the old man?"

"Grumpy like always, still a big softie in the inside," I replied casually and he nodded in agreement. "How's your wife uncle?"

"She's . . . good. She still misses those little, naughty brats that used to fool her for more ice cream," he said wistfully.

"I'll bring them around to the dairy, I sure will," I promised and he laughed, shaking his head.

"That's kind of you JJ." He carried the flowers in his arms with a lasting smile. Just as he walked out, a familiar tall figure with sparkling sea-coloured eyes and tousled mushroom brown coloured hair lumbered inside. I suppressed a girlish squeal and rushed towards to him.

"I'm free Joy," Logan said with a ghost of a smile, his dimples teasing my heart. "The cops couldn't do anything to me except wish me luck because my uncle fled."

"He ran away?"

"Yeah, he felt threatened probably. I'm eighteen now and once Jamal's father said that this could be taken to court, he fled."

"He just-like fled? Without doing anything?" I asked incredulously and he shrugged.

"He thought that this could take a long time and must have decided it's not worth his time. It-It doesn't matter now." He sighed wearily, pulling me close to him. "It's finally over Joy."

I wriggled out of his arms. "I know! We have been waiting for this since forever! We'll celebrate Logan, but I got to go right now." I went behind the counter to pick up my cotton jacket. "Grandpa's coming. You can go home and freshen up."

"I did and met your grandpa on the way. He said I could work from tomorrow," he announced and grabbed my wrist to stop me from hurrying. "Where are you going Joy?"

I didn't want to tell him, that was why I was trying to escape. "Well . . . " I trailed off and he raised his thick eyebrow challengingly. I surrendered. God, he made me give in too easily. "I-I'm going to check out the place where I'll be spending my . . . my final days." He watched me as he swallowed slowly, the information sinking in. I continued in a blunt manner, "You know I'm going to die right?"

"Yeah," he said quickly and released my hand. Almost too quickly. "I'm coming with you to-to this place."

"You don't have to--- "

"I can, can't I?" His gaze on me was passionate and full of fire. I couldn't help but nod silently. "I'm coming then."

"Fine," I gave in and right then the bells chimed. "Oh look, grandpa's here!" I scurried towards grandpa to give him a quick hug. Grandpa ruffled my hair lovingly. "We got to go! Bye, grandpa! Sorry, grandpa!"

And like a storm, I exited the shop. I could hear grandpa asking me to slow down and his quiet laugh. Logan followed me like a lost puppy, partly amused.

"I don't want grandpa to know where we're going. I don't want to remind him that I'm dying," I explained as we crossed the street.

"We aren't taking your bicycle? I'll ride it, you can sit back," Logan offered, surprising me.

"You will?" I asked doubtfully while he simply shrugged. "Alrighty then!"

We strode briskly back towards the shop where the bicycle was locked to the green bench. I unlocked it and Logan climbed on it. Once he adjusted the seat according to his height, I made myself comfortable behind him.

I wrapped my arms around his torso, his grey shirt crisp and cool underneath my hands. I felt his body tense as I rested my cheek on his back. I cooed playfully in his ear, "Take me Logan."

Logan's neck turned the brightest shade of pink and I giggled against his shirt. He started gingerly and I wondered whether I was heavy that he couldn't go faster. I had to bite my lip from screaming, "Faster, faster!" That would be too much, even for me.

"Logan? After I die, I want you to have my bicycle," I declared and the bicycle came to a screeching halt. Logan glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide. "What? We can talk while you ride, there's no harm."

He muttered something disapproving under his breath which I couldn't comprehend, but he began to push the pedals again.

"I don't know what to do with this. I won't sell it, obviously. Shaun's getting a car once his internship is done, mum and dad have a car, Gemma hates riding the bicycle- the metal always somehow scrapes her thigh she says, grandpa has his truck . . . I thought it would be best if you have my bicycle. It'll be useful to you since you're attending the community college or-or for jobs and stuff," I reasoned out and another thing came to my mind. I added hastily, "This could be my gift for your eighteenth birthday! It's not much, I mean it's used--- "

"It's fine, thank you," Logan interrupted gently. "But I-I can't take it."

"Why? You don't like it?"

Logan shook his head. "No, it's not that. I . . . I know how much this bicycle means to you."

"Yeah, you're right and that's why I'm giving this to you and not Jamal. This bicycle's kind of like my own pet, you know? I want you to have it and you better take care of it. If you don't . . . I'll haunt you as a ghost." I laughed at my own lame attempt of a joke, but I heard Logan's soft chuckle. "And can you go faster? This is tortoise pace!"

He snorted haughtily, the tension in his body vanishing within seconds and before I could blink, we were gliding like a lightning down the lane.

"Oh my God! You-You---!" I was cut off by Logan's raucous laughter, his body vibrating against my own. The sound of his laughter was boyish and carefree, deep yet chirpy. An involuntary smile broke my face and without whining more, I tightened my arms around him and closed my eyes in peace.

I would remember this if there was a forever and right now- I believed that forever did exist. A forever world where Logan and I rode on a bicycle around the radiant little coastal town, basking in the warm sunshine that kissed our back, light breeze that tickled our neck, rosy blood that flowed in our cheeks and hot breaths that mingled in the salty air. We didn't exist here, we lived.

I opened my eyes and smiled widely at Logan.