Biker Gurl Blues

Summary: Natalia Cole is part of a BMX Biker club at her school. She's one of the two female members on the seven person team. She is best friends with the club leader Josh Mickales, who has a few secrets from his best girl, and decides to put a gamble on their relationship. Natalia has never come in at less than second place, and she only lost to Josh himself. This is the story of how the BMX club fell apart and fell in love...

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Chapter One: The Bet

It was a beautiful September afternoon. The second week of school, and the leaves had yet to change. Two teenaged friends rode their bikes down the small town streets. One a black-haired girl, the other a brown-haired boy. They laughed and joked with each other, picking on their clothing and smiling over how they were sure they'd win the next competition with little to no difficulty.

"I bet you Natalia Cole that you can not get a date from outside of the BMX biker group in this school," Josh Mickales said.

Natalia stared, shocked, "How could you Josh!?"

"Easy. I don't think you can, and I'm willing to put up some stakes as well."

"Ah... Alright. If I win you drop out of the next competition we compete in as a group," Natalia said, she felt confident in her stance that she could get a date.

Josh smirked, "And if I win... I get whatever I want from you."

Natalia never felt so exposed in her life as she did then. Josh had never looked at her that way, or even talked about her like that before and it creeped her out a bit. She knew she was beautiful, Josh had even said it himself. Short black hair, falling over porcelain skin. Bright dichromatic eyes, one blue the other green, and an open smile that tended to never hide any faults. She was five foot six, and was told that she could be a model if she really put her mind to it. Even so, Natalia tended to wear BMX logo t-shirts, she wore tight ones and tighter pants if it could be accomplished. When competing, she wore one of three pairs that were slightly baggy so she wouldn't sweat so much. Josh Mickales knew that most of the guys in their school that weren't in the BMX circles would pass her over before even looking at her.

"What's wrong Nat? Cat got your tongue?" Josh asked laughing. He looked at her as the late September afternoon sunlight fell across her face. She stuck said tongue out at him and blew him a raspberry. "Don't do that Nat... You may give me some bad ideas."

"You never get bad ideas Josh," Natalia said somewhat sensually, not realizing what he meant by his words. She smiled and tried her best to speed up and try to entice him into a race. "Come on Josh, let's race!"

Josh looked at her and smiled, "You're on Natalia. As long as we are on with the bet, that is."

"You're on Josh," she said mimicking him. She watched as he stopped his bike. "What are you playing at now?"

"Ladies first," Josh laughed. "Five seconds is all I'm going to give you so you'd better get going."

Natalia sped off, and mentally counted off five seconds. Twice. He must be using the 'Mississippi' style of counting. Suddenly she heard his bike tires squeal through the rocks and sand along the side of the road. Shit, she thought, he's after me already. She laughed as he pretended as if he wasn't trying to beat her. Sometimes I wonder why I don't just admit the fact that I love him. Wait... Did I just think what I think I thought? She stopped to try in figure it out.

"What's wrong Nat? I know you love to race," Josh said as he stopped. He looked at her with concern in his eyes. "C'mon beautiful, let's get you home. It's getting late, and I know we've both got homework."

Mutely Natalia agreed with him as she nodded her head. She always felt as if he did things like this mainly out of concern for her, and the knowledge that her family would never let him live it down if anything happened to her. "Would you like to stay for a few hours? My father is out of town, mom is working late tonight, and I think my little brother will be home in half an hour."

"Feel like you're going to need some company?" Josh asked sincerely. He knew that when Natalia was alone she tended to suffer from depression, and her family preferred that she always had someone with her at all times of the day.

"Yes. I know I'll need some company. Do you mind?"

He smiled at her, "No I don't mind. You know I'd do anything to make sure you're all right." Even more than I truly let on as well. I wish I could come right out and say what's on my mind. "Come on Nat," he whispered, "let's get going." Beautiful girls should never be depressed. I wish I knew what happened to make you this way Natalia.

"Thank you Josh. You know I'd probably go crazy without you watching over me," Natalia said as she hopped off of her bike. She waited while Josh did the same. When they were serious about going home they never rode their bikes. To them the bikes were a symbol of team practice and fun, not transportation.

"It's okay biker girl... Wait sorry, biker gurl," Josh laughed as he walked next to his bike. He knew that she preferred using the 'leet-speak' tag instead of the real words. My biker gurl, no matter what. He smiled as he remember when she had originally given him her e-mail address. It had read: . He remembered laughing at her, but he also remembered leaning over to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"D'you always have to bring that up? Geez, it was the only version of that particular name that was left," Natalia was slightly flustered over her username at the free server where her blog was hosted. She could feel her cheeks starting to flush.

"C'mon beautiful," he laughed, "I didn't mean to embarrass you." They walked in silence the last mile to Natalia's house. Upon reaching the garage Josh watched as Natalia put her bike up, and lock it for safety. He locked his but left it out in front of the garage. She led him inside through the door in the garage, and checked the answering machine. Two messages for her mother, one call from her father, and one call from her little brother saying he'd be home soon.

"Welcome again my friend," Natalia said without emotion. She could feel Josh's eyes on her back and turned. "I'm allowed to be a bit emotionless today. When my mom gets home she gets to deal with setting up my first session of in-school suspension. And I know your parents won't be happy with the fact you've got it the same day."

Josh nodded, "Mummy won't be to happy, but you forget, my father left us."

"Sorry. I did forget. He left around the same time I started to, well have my problems."

Josh frowned, she would not explain to him what happened. And from what he understood, she wouldn't even discuss it with her family either. Natalia wouldn't even tell the school nurse or guidance counselor. She went to a psychiatrist instead, and remained tight lipped around everyone else. "Nat why won't you tell me what happened?"

"I can't. I'm not ready to deal with it outside of my safe haven. I wish I could, but it's been ripping me in two."

He watched as she withdrew into the shell she escaped from only to go to school. Natalia what happened to you my beautiful? I can't help you if you won't tell me what happened. He sat down on the couch, "Come here Nat. Come and sit with me. We'll do our homework during in-school."

"Josh," she sighed with a tell tale hint of something he could not grasp. Nevertheless she sat down next to him and they turned on the television. Josh suppressed the need to change it directly to ESPN2.

"Anything you want to watch other than sports?" Josh asked. He knew it was a safe question, and there were few things on the Cole's cable that would set off one of Natalia's fits.

"A movie. I think I left A Walk to Remember in the player. It is rewound too."

Josh suppressed a smile, "You're killing me Nat. Romance? But if it'll make you feel better..."

"It will."

"All right then. We'll watch A Walk to Remember," Josh said as he felt Natalia snuggle into him. Can she see that I really like her? Or is she just planing on falling asleep on top of me?

"Josh," Natalia said, "don't let me fall asleep on you again."

Smiling Josh whispered back to his tired friend, "I won't." Thirty minutes into the movie he could feel Natalia's breathing slow. Poor thing, she's always too tired. She fell asleep on his lap and Josh smiled softly. After Natalia's little brother Michael got home, Josh sat him down with supper and his homework.

"So are you babysitting Nat again?" Michael asked innocent as the nine year old he is.

"In a way. I'm going to call your mother. I should know the routine by now," Josh said as he picked up the phone. He dialed the number for the firm where Mrs. Ellen Cole worked.

"Nelson and Cole Law Firm. How may I direct your call?" the receptionist asked.

"Could you please connect me to Mrs. Cole?"

"Hold one moment." The phone rang twice and Mrs. Cole answered, "Ellen Cole."

"Mrs. Cole, this is Josh Mickales. Natalia's friend."

"Hello Josh," Mrs. Cole said over the phone, "let me guess, Nat fell asleep on you again, and you'll be staying the night?"

Josh laughed a bit, "You know the situation very well Mrs. Cole. It is our usual after school activity."

"Very well. Call your mother and let her know. I hope that Nat has good news for once."

"Don't be too mad at her. It was my fault this time."

"All right young man. Now call your mother. And don't do anything inappropriate with my daughter."

"Not without her permission at least," Josh said laughing. He heard Mrs. Cole's answering laugh and knew that at least this time, he wouldn't get reamed.

"Good night Josh, take care of my kids," Mrs. Cole said right before hanging up the phone.

Josh heard the click from the other side and sighed. Time to call mom and let her know as well. He pushed the talk button twice and started to dial his house. After three rings the answering machine picked up. Frowning he left a message for his mother, "Mom, it's Josh. I'll be staying at Natalia's again tonight. I'll see you tomorrow." He frowned and hung up the phone. "Well Mike, seems like you and I get to have a bit of fun tonight. Wanna play Monopoly?"

"Sure. What about Nat?" Michael asked.

"She's sleeping on the couch. So my opponent which will you be?" Josh asked as he got out the Monopoly game set. He knew that Michael always picked the same token, the battleship.

"Battleship! You should know that by now Josh."

Josh smiled at the kid, "One of these days half-pint... One of these days. All right then, I'll be the cannon." Together they set up for a quick game. Shuffle and divide all of the properties, fifteen hundred dollars each, and one roll of the dice to decide who goes first.

"Six! I get to go first!" Michael said overjoyed. He already had Boardwalk and Park Place, and Josh feared that he'd start by putting houses on them. "And I'll start by putting houses on Boardwalk and Park Place."

Josh groaned, I think this may be the shortest game of Monopoly ever. "All right then. Pony up the cash and I'll hand over the buildings. Two right?"

"Yep. One for each," Michael was smiling, bubbling up with the knowledge that he'd win this. Josh watched as he carefully placed the two small green buildings on the properties.

"I think you're going to win this one easily my friend," Josh said laughing a bit. He heard a some noise from the couch and looked over. Natalia was waking up from her nap. "Be right back Mike," Josh said as he stood up to check on her. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "Morning sleepy. Have a nice nap?"

"I thought you said you wouldn't let me fall asleep?" Natalia said while yawning. Michael stood up and walked over to his sister. "Hey squirt, what have you been doing?"

"My homework. Josh fixed me some supper, and we were playing Monopoly. I guess we can try again sometime," Michael said, "Why don't we watch some TV? I heard that they're starting the try outs for the X-Games."

Josh looked at Natalia to see what her face revealed. She didn't look too upset with the idea. He really didn't know what was going through her mind, and didn't want to know anything more than she wanted to relax. "Well Nat?" Josh asked her softly.

Natalia smiled up at him, "Yeah, lets." She moved a bit so he could reclaim his seat, and then laid back down on his lap when he was comfortable. She noticed that her brother Michael sat on the other love-seat. "What's wrong squirt?"

Michael looked a bit uncomfortable with the thought of sitting on the same couch where his sister was lying on top of a guy, "I just want to have the entire seat to myself."

Josh smiled at Natalia and together the three of them settled down into a routine that was as old as they could remember. Michael fell asleep after an hour, and Josh carried him to his bedroom, helped him get changed, and tucked into bed. Josh walked back out to be with Natalia.

"Josh," she whispered.

"Uh?"

She smiled at him, "I'm going to go get my shower. I'll be back in twenty."

"All right. I'll be here," he said as he watched his best friend walk out of the room. I've got to get to the other bathroom before she finds out just how turned on I am. He got up and walked out of the living room to the spare bathroom. It's going to be another long night.

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Author's Notes: Well folks what did you think? I know I'm supposed to be working on Tiger Girl, but right now I'm having trouble 'finding' Kaitlin. So until I 'find' Kaitlin and Griever, this will be what I'm working on. There may be some adult scenes, and as I'm posting this at Fiction Press and deviantART all adult chapters will be posted under my AdultFanFiction user account (Ellycat Pious). C'mon and let me know what's running through your minds.

Statistics: 2,387 Words. 69 Paragraphs. 6 pages.