A grey sky blanketed the cityscape, extending nearly to the horizon as William walked to the convenience store. It was warm and windless. The sound of a motorcycle engine caught his attention and he let his gaze wander to a figure in black parking a bike. The thunderous engine slowed to a subtle purr before shutting off, the rider’s foot kicking the stand down, bringing the motorcycle to a rest. Just as he noticed the leather jacket, tight jeans, and empty backpack, the biker’s arms lifted the helmet and inky black hair fell down to hang just above narrow, feminine shoulders. A slightly pale face revealed itself with a small, slightly upturned nose and dark, alluring eyes. The air felt warmer.

  She turned her head toward him and they made eye contact. She had caught him. She smirked and the glint in her eyes sent a shiver down his spine. He snapped his eyes away, trying to act natural and calm his suddenly quick heartbeat as he approached the store’s entrance, running his fingers through his light hair nervously.

  He was almost free; all he had to do was push – and he almost walked into the door. It wouldn’t open. “You’re supposed to pull.” He jumped slightly as he heard a deep, feminine voice, smooth like velvet close to his ear. She was less than an arm’s length from him, watching him with amusement. He blinked, quickly turning back to the door. He didn’t think he’d been staring, but in the brief time he’d looked at her face, it felt like a long time.

  Noticing the handle designed in such a way that it should have been obvious to pull rather than push, he wanted to kick himself. “Oh, um...” he shook his head quickly. “Yeah.” He fumbled to pull it open, hoping the warmth in his cheeks wasn’t visible. He didn’t notice her smirk as he made his way inside, but he did feel the light touch on his hand before nervously retracting his own from the door handle.

  Making his way inside, he could barely remember what he’d come for and came to a sudden stop as he realized he’d been walking aimlessly. He looked around. Luckily, no one seemed to pay him any mind and that woman was nowhere in sight. He ignored the small disappointment in his chest and began his search among the aisles.

  There it was. A package of popcorn kernels. He grabbed it and stared for a brief moment at the package in his hands in satisfaction. “Huh. Never seen that before.” His head snapped to the side. It was her, standing just an arm’s length away with a six pack of beer in hand, staring at the package in his hand. He blinked at her in panicked shock. She was like a ghost. “How do you put the chocolate in it? I’ve never seen that.” Her eyes drifted from the package and met his wide gaze. He couldn’t move. He opened and closed his mouth silently a couple times before any words came out. In his panic, he could have sworn he saw a slight smirk curl at the edge of her lips, that light glinting in her eye again.

  “U-umm, it’s uh – ahem – you uh, melt it.” he could feel the heat growing in his cheeks. He desperately wanted to kick himself. “It – uh, it comes with some chocolate you melt into it – the, um, the kernel – after popping the kernels.” Better, but he still wanted to hit himself. Had he the stomach to meet her dark eyes, he’d have seen the amusement dancing in them.

  “Hmm.” she hummed thoughtfully, lightly. “I’ll have to try it some time.” she commented. He blinked at her and glanced back at the shelf. There was still more in stock, but she made no move to grab it. “So, you just came here for some popcorn? Whatcha doin’? Watching a movie?” she asked him and he realized with dread and excitement that this encounter would last a bit longer than he expected.

  “Um, yeah. I took the bus.” he said, dumbly, kicking himself on the inside again. She cocked a confused eyebrow.

  “Why didn’t you just walk to a closer store?” The heat in his cheeks grew a bit.

  “Um... they – I’ve only found this particular popcorn at this location.” he said, somewhat embarrassed, feeling like a child for trekking so far just for a sweeter alternative to normal popcorn. But she didn’t look condescending at all.

  “They really not have this at any stores closer to you?” she asked. He shook his head.

  “None near 5th sreet that I’ve seen.” She looked at him in genuine surprise.

  “5th street!? You came that far?” He winced and began to fidget as his embarrassment grew.

  “Uh... yeah.” She blinked at him in astonishment before sighing gently and a slight smile grew on her face. “Well, good luck with that.” She walked past him and the small wave of air from her passing hit him harder than it should have. After swallowing, he turned around quickly, just in time to catch her disappear around the corner. He sighed in disappointment, feeling like his fingers had just gripped a falling glass of water, only for it to slide out from his desperate, bumbling grasp and now all he could do was watch it smash into the floor.

  He sighed, his shoulders sagging. As he dejectedly carried his popcorn to the cash register, disappointed to see no familiar dark bob of hair, he found the floor the most interesting thing to look at even as he left the store, intent on leaving.

  “Hey!” His head snapped to the side and his breath caught. There she was, sitting on her bike, yet to leave her parking spot. “You on your way home? 5th street?” He blinked, many questions racing through his head along with his suddenly quick heart rate.

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  “Uh, yeah.”

  “I’m going that way anyway. Want a ride?” she asked. He stared at her like a deer in headlights. “Do I really gross you out that much?” she asked. He heard the teasing lilt in her voice, but still scrambled to correct her.

  “No! No!” he said as he approached her with hesitant steps, barely noticing the widening of her subtle smirk. “Um... I don’t wanna trouble you...” he said lamely.

  “No trouble at all.” she said, and he could’ve sworn there was a slight purr in her voice.

  “Uh... are you sure?” he asked, desperate to say yes yet searching for an excuse to say no.

  She chuckled at him. “You’re cute.” she said, almost like dismissively. He blushed and stood mesmerized by the swing of her leg over her bike as she sat down. She looked at him. “What’s your name cutie?” she asked. His face warmed further, the butterflies in his stomach purred.

  “William.”

  “Well Will, nice to meet you. I’m Amy.” she said, extending her bare hand. He shook it and met her eye briefly. After standing still, watching her slip her glove over her hand, she slipped her backpack off her shoulders and turned to him. “Ya wanna wear this for me? You can slip your popcorn in here too.” He did as told and accepted the helmet she passed him only to look at her in confusion. “Well?” she asked, twisting her body to pat the seat behind her and he took a mental snapshot of the image.

  He looked down at the helmet in his hands then back at her. “Um, what about you?” he asked, lifting the helmet.

  “I only have one.” She said. He frowned.

  “Shouldn’t – um - shouldn’t you wear it?” She eyed him somewhat amusedly.

  “Aw, are you worried for me? Don’t worry. I won’t kill us.” She patted the seat again. “Hop on handsome.” He blinked, glancing down at himself. Between his boyish face and slightly loose fitting clothes along with his messy hair, he wondered what she could possibly find handsome about him. But not one to test someone else’s patience and praying she couldn’t see his burning face, he awkwardly stepped through and sat behind her, doing his best to avoid touching her.

  As he slid the helmet on, taking note of the unique scent of padding inside, he was jolted by the sudden starting of the bike, its engine vibrating his whole body. He searched for something to grab onto, doing his best to keep some distance between them as she prepared to leave. She turned her head a little. “Grab onto me.” she said. He hesitated, then lightly rested his hands on her hips only for her to grab them and pull his hands forward. “Wrap around me, like in the movies.” He blushingly complied. Thankfully, she didn’t tell him to scoot forward though.

  As they began to move, he tensed, unused to the feeling of riding backseat on two wheels. He could just barely hear her giggle over the sound of the engine, feeling her abdomen tense and vibrate in laughter.

  She weaved through traffic effortlessly. She wasn’t reckless, but she still managed to scare him a few times. As he grew more comfortable, everything began to blurr. The dim, orange sunlight, hidden by the trees and houses surrounding them, the sound of the engine and traffic and wind, the feel of the wind on his skin. He closed his eyes. He could see the appeal of motorcycles now.

  When he opened his eyes, he couldn’t help but stare at the sliver of her cheek that he could see. She was beautiful, like a mysterious enchantress. He loved the way her hair blew in the wind, revealing her ear and the back of her neck. The image of her sparking, dark eyes and mischievous smirk played across his mind, the feeling of her abdomen against his arms, her back against his chest unignorable. He blushed and tried to subtly wriggle his pelvis futher back from her. He felt her stomach tense briefly, like she’d loosed a small puff of air.

  Shortly after, she came to a stop more harshly than usual and he slid into her. His face heated up and he tried to wriggle back again but she turned her head to speak. “You’re fine there. Stay close.” He swore he’d seen a smirk at the corner of her mouth. His face was on fire and he sat tense, as if the tension would keep her from noticing his predicament. The vibration in her sternum and barely audible laugh was just icing on the cake. He was mortified.

  The rest of the ride passed awkwardly for him, yet he was disappointed when they stopped in front of his apartment building, the engined dropping to a more quiet purr before she cut it. He quickly slid his hips away from her but more slowly and mournfully untangled his arms from around her and dismounted the bike. When he took the helmet off, he was greeted by her resting smile, softly illuminated by the street lamps in the twilight. He handed the helmet and backpack back to her. “Um, thanks... for the ride.” he said awkwardly.

  “No problem.” Her voice sounded even smoother somehow. Her eyes watched him like someone staring into a bonfire.

  “Um...” He didn’t want to go, but he didn’t know what to say. So, he flailed. “Have a good night.” he turned somewhat quickly but only made it two steps before stopping suddenly. His eyes were glued to the ground at his feet. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t keep walking but he couldn’t turn around. His mouth was empty.

  Finally, after several seconds that felt more like several minutes of silently working up his courage, he turned around to see her exactly where he left her, her eyes boring into him with that spark shining brightly.

  “Do you... wanna... come in...?” He asked, only to lose his nerve at the last second and bail. “I mean, if – if you need to use the bathroom or something...?” He averted his gaze, unable to meet hers.

  “Sure.” His eyes snapped up to hers. They’d changed. Whereas before her eyes were unreadable, now they smiled and the light burned brighter in them. He breathed a sigh, eyes glued to hers, unable to hide the small smile of excitement from the corners of his lips.

  She dismounted her bike and slowly, like a dangerous viper holding his eyes hostage, sauntered over to him, stopping almost uncomfortably close. He realized just then, seeing her backpack slung over her shoulders, that he had forgotten his popcorn. She hadn’t bothered to remind him of that. “Well?” she asked, a smirk on her face, but not as potent as the one dancing in her eyes.

  He’d been caught.