xp_logs | Sooraya and Alex: a near crash (Reply)

xp_dust posting in

Alex nearly crashes into Sooraya and after talking, actually reminds her something important.

"There we go." The buzz of a drill underscored the words as Alex drilled the last screw into his skateboard. Attaching a small motor he'd salvaged from a minibike at a junk yard. He held up the board, examining his handy work, then nodded to himself and strapped on his knees and elbow pads, then put his helmet on. Fully protected from his own stupidity, he put the board down and stood, one foot on the ground, one on the board, and he flipped the motor on. The board did not immediately go out from under him, which was a good sign; with a deep breath, he pushed off the ground and started down the driveway, the sound of the small motor and his laughter heralding his approach.

"So let me know if what works best for me to come down to Seattle?" Sooraya easily shifted her phone from one ear to another. "No, if the prices of the flights are too crazy I'll ask Clarice for a lift... I'm sure she won't mind."

Alex was focused on his feet and balance, and didn't notice Sooraya as soon as he probably really should have. "Oh sh-" He was about five feet away when he put his foot down hard on the ground, using his other foot to turn the skateboard. It shot off from under his foot and he lost his balance, stumbling back, while the board shot off onto the lawn, the friction of the grass eventually slowing it. Alex caught himself, laughing weakly, and giving Sooraya sheepish smile. "Sorry," he mouthed when he saw she was on the phone.

"Yeah, I just got run over by one of the more crazy people around here... you miss that?" Sooraya shifted the phone to her other ear as she glared at Alex. "But I'll call you back tomorrow okay?" The phone call was quickly wrapped and putting her hands in her sides Sooraya turned her glare to full power. "Seriously?"

"Hey, I tried very hard not to run you over," Alex said, resting on his elbows, but his apology was sincere. "Sorry, I really didn't mean to..." He waved his hand as he sat up. "I mean, obviously I try very hard not to run people over."

"Doesn't look that way from where I'm standing." Sooraya's eyes started to twinkle a little though and she had to fight keep up her serious expression. "What were you even doing?"

"Ah, well." He sat up, crossing his legs under himself. "I've been told several times over that I am by no means allowed to have a motorcycle. Ever. So I was thinking, one thing led to another, and well..." he waved a hand at the skateboard. "I attached a motor to one of my boards."

"Lorna might prefer you driving around on a skateboard then on a motorized death trap." She commented idly, a smile finally poking through. "Want me to talk to her?"

"Everything is a motorized death trap if you try hard enough." Words to live by. "I don't suppose you'd tell her that I'm perfectly responsible and can handle a motorcycle?"

"Uh no... not quite. More that the motorcycle might the least worst of many bad options. Including you 'upgrading'..." Sooraya supported the words with appropriate hand gestures. "... skateboards. And I am pretty sure this is not the first thing you tried to upgrade."

"Actually, it is." Alex chuckled. "Unless you count me putting old playing cards in my bike spokes when I was thirteen because it sounded cool. Not really an upgrade, but it was an improvement."

"But I'm guessing it won't remain that way?"

"A boy can dream." He shrugged, rocking back slightly. "You can't tell me you've never even thought about saying screw it and trying something ridiculous and dangerous."

"I think almost everyone has done that once or twice. Including me..." Sooraya laughed. "In practice I was more of the sane woman of the crew though."

"It doesn't count if you're trying to be the voice of reason. I mean just like... cut loose and say I'm going bungee jumping today. I mean, I'm saving that for my thirtieth, but you get what I'm saying. Be impulsive."

"You may have point there." Sooraya replied with a smile, but her eyes turned sad.

Alex was a lot of things, but oblivious wasn't one of them. "Hey, I'm sorry," he said, pushing himself up and tugging his helmet off. "I didn't mean to upset you. Unsurprisingly, my mouth moves faster than my brain sometimes."

"Don't worry about it, Alex. I'm not really upset." Sooraya quickly pushed the emotion away. "I just realized something and that saddened me a bit."

"What is it? If you want to talk about it, I mean."

"That it's a good thing that young people have that chance. But that there are also many who didn't or don't have that chance and I was wondering how much they are missing." Sooraya explained.

"You're a young people," Alex pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "You're younger than me. Do you feel like you're missing anything?"

"No, not really. But you've to admit, Alex... we're in something of a refuge. Many out there can't say that... really having to watch themselves." Sooraya explained.

Alex frowned back. "I'm aware. I spend all day going through terrible news stories sometimes and getting mad about it. But that's all the more reason to take advantage of downtime when you have it. No one is going to be helped by you burning yourself out."

"I know you do." Sooraya nodded. "And I know it's important to have downtime. There just don't seem to be many chances for that nowadays."

"Sometimes ya gotta make time," Alex said, shrugging. "Even if that time is three a.m. watching stupid movies with your dog while your wife is asleep."

"I used to do that with friends sometimes." Sooraya's eyes lit up at least a little at the memory. "Thanks Alex. I think I need a little reminding."