Adventurous (An Original Story)

I grab my backpack and shove a flashlight, sleeping bag, cellphone, and my wallet into it. I zip up my jacket and sling my backpack over my shoulder. I tiptoe down the hall and pause at the top of the stairs, listening. The silence gnaws at my ears, making them ring. I lick my lips and look over my shoulder at my parents' bedroom door. The familiar ray of light isn't shining from underneath the doorway or through the keyhole, they're asleep. I've been trying to get up the courage to do this for a long time. I'm not turning back now. So I take a deep breath and make my way down the carpeted stairs. When I reach the front door, I slip out, quietly. The outside air is nippy as the evening breeze brushes against my cheek, making me shiver. The streetlamp at the end of my block illuminates the night. I walk towards it -Our meeting place- I pull my sleeve up and peak at my watch- 1:23. Jared should be here anytime now. When I reach the lamp I stand underneath it, waiting. I here something and look up in time to see him enter the ring of light. He wears a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. His dark hair and clothes camouflage him well.
"You ready?" He asks, shoving his hands into his shirt pockets. I look back at my house. It looks lonely...dark.
"...Yeah, I guess." I say, reluctantly.
We make our way across the street and turn to the right. We walk a few houses down until we reach Jared's. The garage door is open and inside sits his dad's motorcycle.
"You have the key?" I ask. He reaches into his pocket and pulls it out. The silver key catches the light from the streetlamp behind me and glistens in the darkness, a shiver runs down my spin as it does.
"We'll have to walk it a block or so. Otherwise it might wake my parents." Jared says, backing the bike out of the garage. We walk in silence, a dog barks somewhere in the distance but otherwise the night is quiet.
"Is this stupid?" I finally ask, breaking the silence. I look over at Jared, waiting for his answer.
"Yes." He replies. I examine his face for amusement. But find nothing.
"Then why are we doing it?"
"Because, we're just two stupid kids looking for a good time." Now a smile spreads across his face. It makes me smile too. I feel a little better...more confident. Seeing how brave Jared is makes me want to be more like him.

We reach the bridge connecting our small town to the city on the other side of the river. I look over the railing at the dark water below, it splashes up against the cement and mist sprays me in the face. On the other end of the bridge is the city, the streets vacant. It makes me feel like we're the only two alive. Jared swings his leg over the motorcycle and sits, propping it up with his left foot. He pats the seat behind him, looking at me. I walk slowly up to the bike. I swing my right leg over and settle in. I rap my arms tightly around Jared's waste. I close my eyes and jump as he kick starts the bike. It roars to life and vibrates beneath us. Jared looks back and smiles. You can tell he likes the rush it gives him to be on something so...alive. He revs the engine and then takes off. I jerk back from the sudden start but then regain my balance. We speed across the bridge and into the city. We weave in and out of streets and around buildings. Our destination: the old rundown theater on the other side of the city. Thus the need for the motorcycle, walking would take to long. Jared is a skilled rider, his dad lets him take the bike out a lot. I've only been on it once before tonight though, Jared had begged me and I finally gave in. And after that I promised that I would never get on this bike again...but here I am, speeding through the city, at night, with Jared. Just two sixteen-year-olds.