“Noah,” Kaj called, “get on and come with us.” He pointed with his chin to the red bicycle lying on the ground.
They were behind a pizza restaurant, in a pebbled yard with some perennial bushes that didn’t seem to have any particular use other than to adorn the area. There was also a truck parked on the street that served as the perfect cover.It would be easy to do what Kaj was suggesting.
One of the things about Denmark, especially in small areas like this town, was that people were too trusting. They leave their bikes everywhere, unattended for hours with no locks or any other security devices.
What nobody ever thought about was vengeful kids who had no problem taking matters into their own hands when adults failed to do what was right and necessary. Not that any injustice made it okay to do this, but given the circumstances, it was... tempting.
“Where?” Noah frowned, still hesitant. Would this even make a difference?
“I don’t know.” Kaj shrugged. “We’re just going for a ride. Then leave them at the port? Toss them down the cliff?”
“That sounds like fun.” Val nodded enthusiastically.
“And out of town. Mom would kill me.”
“She doesn’t have to know. You’re all coming for a sleepover later, anyway.”
Noah stared at his friends—the evil blond triad. He was so grateful for them that there were no words to describe his feelings, but he could also tell the difference between right and wrong. And this was definitely closer to the latter.
“Don’t overthink it too much. This is just karma acting through us.” Kaj grinned, a devilish spark shining in his always stunning ice-blue eyes.
“Okay.” Noah bit the inside of his cheek, glancing back again to confirm there were no witnesses to their mischief. “But only if we come home before curfew. I don’t want your dad scolding us.”
“Deal!”
Laughing like a pack of hyenas, the four kids got onto the bikes of their archenemies and rode away as fast as they could. With Kaj in the lead, they zigzagged through the narrow streets that branched out from the more crowded areas of town toward the shore, and soon they were on the bike path beside the sea.
The air smelled of fresh hay, salt, and flowers. The cool breeze contrasted with the warmer temperature, creating the perfect atmosphere for what became a competition of who could get to the port first.
Noah beamed, an overwhelming warm sensation filling his chest. It’d taken him a while to find his place, but he finally belonged.
Back in Odense, he only had female friends. Boys rarely wanted to play with him because he wasn’t into sports and didn’t like video games. After moving here, he still didn’t get along with the jocks—clearly—and girls didn’t seem to fancy the idea of having him around anymore. They said it was weird. Puberty was such a strange phase.
However, these three had no issues befriending Noah. Val and Kaj had known each other since before they could even crawl, meeting Theo later on, in kindergarten. And now, they had opened their arms, welcoming him like one of their own. They’d spent the last few months talking about their families, hobbies, Noah’s life before moving in with Grandma, and everything he needed to know about the town—the best ice cream shop, their hidden spot at the beach, who to avoid, the most stunning places for bike rides…
They were a small group of waywards who didn’t follow any rules. Val, Theo, and Kaj were part of the town’s swim team, though they rarely hung out with the popular kids. Noah, on the other hand, was better at cheering for them. The universe had granted him brains and musical talent, but his lack of physical coordination was outstanding. The days he didn’t bump into something or trip over an invisible line on the floor were odd.
They had things in common, too—their taste in music, their love for One Piece, and their passion for remote-controlled cars, something Noah hadn’t discovered until he met them. It was just the four of them in Kaj’s dad’s garage when they weren’t at the pool, but those days were so much fun. For some reason, cutting the aluminum pieces, shaping them for the chassis, discussing the color they’d paint the cars, and playing with the electronic parts, turned the time they spent together, building something from scratch, into the perfect bonding experience. He loved it.
The brisk breeze whipped around his hair as they pedaled at full speed down the lane. He missed his friends, the big libraries, and the comic shops from his hometown, but what he’d found in this remote corner of the world was unparalleled.
“Having fun?” Kaj asked, flashing a boyish grin when Noah caught up with him.
“Yeah!”
“Told you!”
“This is still wrong,” he countered. “But also sort of exciting!”
Kaj laughed wholeheartedly. “Who are you and what have you done with my friend?”
Following that day, Noah felt like he could finally stop watching his back all the time.
It was awkward, and although the bullies’ glares followed him in the hallway at school, they didn’t harass him anymore. On Mondays and Wednesdays—the days he walked alone while his friends went to swim training—no one had tried to intimidatehim, either. So, whatever had happened to those kids at home after “losing” their bikes had the desired effect. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
“Do you need anything else, guys?” Kaj’s dad popped his head through the kitchen door. “More soda, juice, chips?”
“You asked five minutes ago,” Kaj grumbled, rolling his eyes. “Leave us alone. We’re not babies. If we need anything else, I can grab it myself.”
