"You have a bike?" I ask, impressed.
Liam chuckles.
"You're only seeing it now? It's noisy, though!"
Well, whatever sound it's making, I couldn't hear it until now. Gosh, I already love that bike. It's a big red bike, a Japanese brand, and it's roaring like a tiger. I feel like I'm seeing the best toy of my life, and I really want to play with it. I bite my thumb, unable to take my eyes off this beauty. Would he let me drive it if I ask...?
Liam chuckles.
"Wow, I didn't think my bike would have that much of an effect on you."
"Please tell me we're going somewhere with this gorgeous thing," I say.
"Yeah, here."
I grab his biker's jacket. Oh, that good smell of leather... I love it. Liam nods and helps me get behind him. Okay, next time I need to ask if I can try driving it... Crap, this helmet is going to be a nightmare to put on with my hair. I stick my head in, but Liam doesn't wear a helmet or even a jacket. Did he not have a spare? I'd like to think he hasn't had someone behind him in a while, but...
"It's not that far," he says a bit loud over the sound of his bike, "but I figured it might be better for you if we get to Jones' territory fast!"
I space out for a second.
"Wait, what? Whose territory?"
"Jones, the Jones family. It's another family of werewolves, Sylviana's house was... I mean-- is on their territory. Why?"
Jones. I did not expect to hear that name again. Could it be a mere coincidence? Did I use the name Jones back then simply because it's rather common? Though, that's a big coincidence to think about. The previous witch's house is on the territory of a household name I used as an alias? How much did I really know before I lost my memories? I know I couldn't have met Sylviana, she was dead before I came here, but still... I picked the name Jones when I went to that library. Was that a clue? If so, a clue for... whom?
"Mara?" he calls me.
"Sorry, it's nothing. Let's go."
Liam gives me a suspicious glance, but I flip the helmet visor down, hiding my eyes. He gives up and starts driving. Damn, I'm on a bike with Liam, of all people, but I'm going to ask myself hundreds of questions instead of enjoying this now...
The ride on his bike makes me feel a lot better... in a lot of ways. First, I think my headache lessens a bit. Maybe it's because I'm protected from the rain with the helmet and jacket, but it definitely isn't as bad as it was a while ago. Or maybe the ride soothes me in a way. It's pleasant, to say the least. Despite the rain, the roar of the engine makes a reassuring noise, and the driver is actually pretty good. I had heard it's not recommended to use a bike in rainy weather, but Liam doesn't seem to care one bit.
Even without his helmet, he rides his bike as if they were just one being. What disturbs me the most is that I love both. The good leather smell and the heat are getting to my head. Moreover, I have to hold on to him for the ride, and it is the first time we have enjoyed such proximity since we met. I feel the heat of his back, despite the clothes between us and the rain. I know I could just hold on to the back handle of the bike, but damn, this is one rare opportunity where he can't brush me off... I hold on to him and, a bit shamelessly, rest my head against his back to look at the city passing next to us.
We have left the docks to get back to the heart of Silver City. I can't help but feel a bit strange, seeing all those tall buildings from down here. I used to watch them from my hospital room's window, think about how tall they are, and wonder how it would feel to walk next to them. Now that I'm here, it's a bit of an eerie feeling. Dozens of windows lined up, some with lights on because of the dark clouds above us. The neon signs mix into funky colors, making some pretty images with the bike's speed. I don't think I'll ever get tired of this. I hate the rain, but I have to admit, it suits the atmosphere of this city.
Finally, Liam stops in front of a different neighborhood. Here, all the buildings are either gray or covered in graffiti. It looks like a giant skate park or one of those backdrops in gangster movies. We left the skyscrapers behind us too. Here, the tallest buildings are ten floors at most. There are strangely a lot of people in the streets. Standing in front of the shops, sipping bottles of beer in front of pubs, and smoking cigarettes, no one seems to care about the downpour. It lessened, actually, but it's still heavy rain.
Liam stops in an empty parking lot, and I have to get off first and unwillingly take off the helmet. Damn it, my hair is an absolute mess... I try to tame it a bit while Liam puts a lock on his wheel, and actually, I'm hiding my blushing a bit too. We were so close during the ride, it's a bit awkward now. Liam too, I feel like he's taking a bit too much time just to park his bike. When he finally gets up, his eyes look elsewhere.
"Alright, let's go..."
I follow him, keeping his biker jacket on me. I really like the feeling of that heavy leather on my shoulders, the mixed smell of leather and Liam. ...Is that creepy?
He guides me toward a street full of houses, all in a row but of various colors. It's probably a lovely street under good weather, but now it's just averagely gloomy. Just as we get into the street, I can already tell which house we are going to. It really stands out, with all the green. It has a rather impressive fence, with ivy or bushes covering it all. To my surprise, we get in without any issues. The gate is open, and I was expecting something magical to happen, but we just step into a large garden. The grass is growing freely, with wildflowers everywhere. On the side, rows of vegetable crops have been taken care of and seem to be growing fine. Same for the little greenhouse, nothing inside indicates that its owner has passed.
"The neighbors have been taking care of the garden," explains Liam as he notices my gaze. "Most of what Sylviana was growing is still doing fine thanks to them, so they can use the vegetables and herbs..."
"Is that alright?"
He nods.
"She liked to grow everything she consumed herself. A lot of people on this street have started doing the same, actually. This street is one of the greenest in Silver City..."
Now that he mentions it, all the houses we walked by had little gardens that looked well taken care of. I guess she did leave her mark around here... Maybe everything is growing faster and better because an Earth Witch was living in the area too.
