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 Four: Evenings Are Torture

Natalia felt safe and secure in Josh's arms even as he spoke of retribution against one who caused the two of them so much pain. She felt like she was the only thing in the world that mattered to him. "Josh?"

"Yes Natalia," he whispered, not letting her go.

"Thank you," she said softly, "For everything. You've always stood by me when it mattered."

He frowned, "Not that one time. And for that I am sorry." He kissed her forehead, "I'll never leave you when you need me ever again."

Natalia smiled up at him, "You won't need to. I will not let myself be that weak ever again." She stood up, as if to show him that she was not weak, and saw the look in his eyes change. "Josh? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said smiling, "It's just that I never noticed just how strong you are. How strong you've always been." He stood in front of her, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Is there anything you want to do?"

"Yes," she said as she moved his right hand down her to her waist, and then grabbed his left hand in hers. "I want to dance."

Josh laughed, "We don't have any music." He loved the light that shone in her eyes when she was happy. "I'm sorry for earlier. I should never have let myself get out of control."

"It was my fault too," she said smiling sadly, "I had a part in it as well." She moved to turn on the CD player. "Here," she whispered, "Something to dance to." As the CD started to play they heard the calming voice of Rob Thomas sing through the instruments on the matchbox twenty hit 'Bright Lights'. Josh twirled her around, made her laugh and smile. Made her cry tears that he hoped were of joy. He pulled her in closer, enjoying the feel of her so close to him. The song that played had no meaning to either of them, but it had meaning to others that they knew.

Josh sighed as he felt Natalia lay her head on his left shoulder. "You know you're beautiful Natalia," he whispered gently into her ear. They swayed slowly with the song as it played. The dance was innocent, nothing was promised but the innocent love that Natalia had had for Josh for years.

"I know you think that I am," she replied. Eagerly she pulled back to twirl, the flannel pajama pants flaring out slightly. Josh laughed as he saw just how happy she looked as she spun around in front of him. "If I went away, like in this song, would you miss me? Want me to come home?"

He stopped, still holding her, as he thought up his answer. "I'd like to think that I would. I know that I would wish you well, and hope that whatever you had left to do would get done so you could come back to wherever 'home' is to you," he said gently, mulling over the answer he had given.

"I guess that means yes," Natalia whispered as she smiled softly. The music dwindled down, and then switched to a different song. "I think they left the player on shuffle and repeat. I wonder what'll play next."

"Beats me," Josh told her, "I usually don't listen to matchbox twenty."

Natalia laughed, "But you love 'Crutch'." She laughed again when she heard what song started to play, "Not much of a shuffle, that's 'Unwell' and it's really close to 'Bright Lights'."

Josh laughed, "Well... I am feeling unwell myself. We haven't eaten at all today." And, as if to agree with him, Josh's stomach started to growl loudly.

"Are you sure you never ate a tiger as a kid?" she asked jokingly. She poked at his stomach to see if she could get a reaction out of him.

"Quit you," he grumbled, as he caught her hand. He playfully snapped at it like a wild cat. She shrieked and pulled her hand back as quickly as she could.

"You did," Natalia said laughing. "You even act like one when you are hungry." She yelped as he reached out to grab her.

"Natalia," he growled, "If you don't let me eat, I'll eat you..."

"Josh!" Natalia exclaimed, "I thought you said we'd stop."

He blinked, "Stop? I... shit! I'm sorry Nat. I really am." He shook his head, "I didn't mean for that last bit to come across with the innuendo that it did."

"It's okay," she said. She walked over to the kitchen. "What do you want for lunch?"

Josh smiled, "Pizza. Pepperoni and sausage. Extra cheese."

"That I can make here? We can't order in because we weren't at school."

"Damn, I'd hoped you'd have forgotten that part," he said as he walked over to stand behind her. "Chicken?"

Natalia laughed, "The only chicken we have is stir fry." She looked at Josh's face, "Would you like to try? It has rice."

He stuck out his tongue, "Foreign food..." Even so he moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "If you insist, I'll try it."

"It won't kill you. It might actually be healthy for you," she said as she felt his lips descend on her neck. "Josh..."

He nipped at her neck, gently pulling the flesh into his mouth. "Yes?" he asked between kissing her and marking her as his own. He loved the way her skin tasted, and how she reacted to his gentle kisses.

"Don't," she warned, "If my mother sees..." She trailed off not knowing what to say. She had never felt anything like his kisses before. "I, oh God, please stop."

"Sorry. I couldn't help it," he said sheepishly. He kept kissing her neck. "I think that you should grow your hair out. It would stop me from taking advantage of kissing your neck."

Natalia frowned, "I happen to like having my hair short." She shuddered as he gently bit the soft flesh of her neck. Groaning she warned him again, "Don't. I cannot afford any markings... you know I don't have any turtleneck tops."

"I'll stop," he said smiling against her neck, "For now..."

"Meany," Natalia said as she turned around to kiss him. She laughed as he pulled her into his arms. "Mm... I think I like this."

Josh laughed a bit. "I know. I like this as well," he murmured into her mouth as he kissed her. If only you knew how much, my beautiful. He knew that she could feel that he was having, as mom would say, below the belt trouble.

She pressed into him, "Having trouble?" She laughed and pulled him in for another kiss.

"Yes," he growled. He groaned as she pulled away. "Why?"

Natalia opened the freezer to get out the stir fry mix. "Josh would you get the rice out of the cupboard?" she asked as she busied herself with getting the fry pan ready to cook.

"You didn't answer me," he said even as he did as he was told. "Why did you pull away?"

"Silly," she said, "I can't cook when we're hugging." She got the chicken out as they talked. Natalia threw the chicken into the pan, and poured a bit of teriyaki sauce on it.

Josh was amazed at how easy she made it look. Natalia could be a master chef if she had wanted to. "You are so amazing," he said. "I wish there was more that I could do for you..."

"I bet you'd say that if I was re-heating pizza too," Natalia laughed. She threw the rice into the microwave and then went back to the stove to add the vegetables to the stir fry. She was patient as the mixture cooked, even if she constantly moved the pan.

He leaned against the counter behind her, "Anything you need?"

"Is that an open ended question, or just about cooking?"

Josh cleared his throat, "Cooking." He watched as she expertly flipped the contents of the pan by just shaking it.

Natalia smiled as she turned her head to face him, "You could set the table. You know where the dishes and silverware are."

"Sure," Josh replied. He grabbed two plates, and a set of silverware for each. "What would you like to drink?"

Natalia turned the stove's heat down, "Water."

"All right," he said as he grabbed a glass for each of them. He fixed her water fist, then grabbed a glass of root beer. He walked over to the player after setting the drinks on the table. "How about some rock?"

She looked over at him, "You mean ZZ Top, or Bon Jovi?"

"I was thinking Def Leppard," he told her, "but I'm open to negotiations." Josh the proceeded to walk over towards her.

"Really? How about Led Zepplin or the Eagles?" Natalia suggested. She turned off the stove and took the pan off the stove and moved it to a pot holder on the table.

Josh smiled at her roguishly. "I'll get Physical Graffiti."

"Good boy," she said as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Disc one, last track."

"Kashmir?" he asked, "Surfing the gutter much recently?"

Natalia gasped, "Josh! I can't believe you!" She watched as he put the CD on. Sighing Natalia groaned as she felt Josh walk up behind her.

"I have been," he admitted. He whispered softly in her ear. "I've been surfing the gutter ever since last night."

"Food," she said, "Eat now."

Josh smiled and sat down, "Sounds like you're having some trouble."

"Meany," she retorted. She steadfastly refused to even think about what he had said before she ordered him to sit down for his meal. Damn you Josh. I wish to God you didn't stop me earlier.

"I'm a meany again? What did I do?" he asked teasingly.

Natalia glared at him, "You're just being mean that's what you've done." Damn you damn you, was the only thought that ran through her head.

Josh stood up, pushed in his chair, and walked over to stand behind her. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, "I love you Nat. No matter how much you want to kill me, remember that."

"Josh," she whispered, "I know that." She motioned that he should sit back down. "Let's finish eating."

He did so. "Nat?"

"Yes?"

"I am thankful that I have you," he said as he smiled. Together, they silently finished their meal.

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Author's Notes: One page shorter than the others... I was having a lot of trouble getting this chapter out. Next one won't be as tough... (I hope!) I know that the delay for this probably wasn't even noticed, but what can I say. This is one of the only things that I have written that has absolutely no reviews! :( Meh... Please review if you like :), dislike :(, or have found any mistakes (?).