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Joel wasn’t the most responsible rider in the group but he also wasn’t the worst. He followed the rules of the road, including the speed limits… usually (which were really just suggestions), and he never ran a red, he always stopped for pedestrians, and he didn’t even hide his plates. Except for that one time but the cop was being totally unfair and Joel just knew he was going to get pulled over.
Joel was mostly responsible, that was the point. He wore full riding gear because he promised his mom and Lizzie that he would “dress for the slide” as Lizzie put it. He also thought it looked cool and it matched his helmet. There was only one person in their group that didn’t used to wear gear and that was Grian because he said he couldn’t afford it all, which led to Mumbo buying it for him. Grian tried and failed to refuse it.
They had been out riding all day long. They stopped at cafes and gas stations and parks—it was a day trip with zero plan. They swam at a lake at one point and it wasn’t even 3pm yet. Where Joel’s less responsible side came in had nothing to do with riding, and was all about sun safety. Other than the fact that he discovered how sunburn prone he was, Joel learned that he was terrible at remembering to drink water. He’d had a total of four sips all day. Maybe more if he counted the lake water he inhaled upon being tackled by Jimmy.
When it started, they weren’t on the highway. It was a long stretch of road down the outskirts of their town. The potholes were endless but the landscape was rich with greenery and small town history. It was a shame that Joel had to focus on not passing out instead of admiring it. It started with lack of focus. He nearly ate shit over a pothole because he didn’t notice everyone else swerving around it. Someone laughed at him over the cardo, which then made a few people glance back at him. He didn’t respond and shook his head exasperatedly.
As they kept on, his focus dissipated completely. He wasn’t trying to watch his surroundings because he was busy fighting not to cry out in pain at the crazy cramps in his legs. Everyone was talking about a sign they passed a second ago, something to do. Maybe more food. Joel didn’t care where they stopped as long as it was soon. And while they slowed to turn down another road, Joel’s arms and back began to cramp up too. His calves were the worst but he couldn’t steer like this.
He took the turn far too wide and thanked this vacant little town for having no cars on the road. He would have hit somebody in the other lane. Many people in the group caught this despite Joel having lagged almost entirely to the back. They all exclaimed, someone laughed, someone else asked what the hell he did that for.
Joel graced them with an elegantly nervous chuckle and an, “Oops.”
“Are you okay, Joel?” Etho asked. “You seem out of it.”
“Yeah, yeah. Are we stopping anywhere soon? For unrelated reasons.”
The short pause after he spoke had Joel wondering if no words came out at all. Then he realized multiple people were looking back at him.
“Eyes on the road idiots!”
“We’re thinking about stopping at the azalea garden,” Etho said. “Did you miss that whole conversation?”
“Maybe.”
“Do you need to stop now?”
They would all stop for him if he asked. Etho was the ride leader today and he would make everyone stop even if they didn’t want to. But since they were heading home it would probably be fine. The leg cramps were coming in weak, infrequent waves, but the arm ones were still strong. It probably wasn't the safest to ride like this.
“No but I think I’m gonna turn round’ and head home,” Joel said solemnly.
There were no tough intersections, it wasn’t busy, and the sooner he got home the better. He checked behind him before slowing down to pull a U-turn.
“Are you bored of us or is something wrong?” Etho asked.
Joel huffed, finishing his turn and riding back the way they came.
“Maybe it’s both.” Joel’s leg cramped again as he started forward. “The heat’s a little too much for me.”
“Uh oh,” Skizz said, “don’t ride home alone like that, buddy.”
Skizz was one of the most experienced riders. Maybe the most experienced. Joel tended to listen to him about most riding-related things. But Joel wasn’t about to drag anyone away from the group, and he wasn’t going to stay either. Plus he was already a million years away from the others.
“I’ll be fine. You guys enjoy.”
The mics would stop working as they got too far away. Which wasn’t the most ideal if he thought about it, because he wouldn’t be able to tell someone he passed out if he did. Joel stayed within the speed limit, kept his eyes ahead, and wrangled his head back down to earth. For the next ten or so minutes Joel was stuck between wondering if he could make it home and wondering if he was going to throw up in his helmet.
At one moment, Joel was riding smoothly over an empty road. The next, he was passing a large van, swaying on his bike, leaning accidentally toward the shallow grassy ditch. He recovered with a small gasp. His mic crackled in his ear. Then his head dropped and he swayed again, too dizzy to steer or see. Joel had let up on the speed a while ago without realizing. Now, he weakly hit the brakes. He struggled to use his handbrake. It didn’t matter as he came to a full stop by sliding limply off his bike.
“Joel!”
He did a half-roll-half-somersault down the ditch and was glad for his full-body gear. Even if it was part of the issue that got him here. He landed in long cushiony grass and was shocked to blink his eyes open, finding that his bike didn’t follow. It was teetering over the edge of the ditch a few metres away.
“Joel? You with me?”
What the heck was Etho doing here?
He came jogging into the ditch after turning Joel’s bike off, relieved to see Joel awake. Joel flicked his helmet visor up, sitting with his back against the rise of the ditch as if he were relaxing in the summer sun. Now that he wasn’t moving, things were quieter, and he was sitting down, he felt a smidge better. This could barely even be called a crash.
Etho knelt next to Joel and slapped a hand down on his shoulder, “At least you slowed down.”
“Yeah,” Joel huffed, reaching up to slide his helmet off.
“Uh—”
“It’s fine, Etho, I didn’t break my neck or anything.”
Gosh, it felt nice to get that helmet off. He took his gloves off next so he could shake his hair out, Etho watching him with equal concern and relief.
“Take your jacket off,” Etho said. “I’ll grab my water for you.”
“Thanks,” Joel mumbled, struggling with stiff muscles to work the zipper.
He had to give up, leaning back with closed eyes.
When Etho came back he shook Joel’s shoulders lightly, pressing the cold water bottle against his neck. Joel leaned into it, blinking his eyes open and sighing in relief.
“That’s nice.”
“I’m sure it is. Now drink it,” Etho said, twisting the cap and handing it to Joel.
Joel took it and Etho finished undoing his jacket zipper for him. As he drank, Joel heard the mic within Etho’s helmet buzz.
“Yeah, yeah I might,” Etho said to whoever was on the other side.
“Who?” Joel asked, letting Etho take the water to help him get the jacket off.
“Skizz. He’s almost here. Don’t be surprised if a few others followed him.”
Joel hummed relieved to have the hot black jacket off.
“No, no, it he slowed down. Joel is fine and the bike is fine.” Etho handed Joel the water back again. “And he’s still sweating.”
“You didn’t call an ambulance, did you?” Joel asked.
“Not yet…”
“Don’t.”
“Skizz wants me to call one.”
Joel groaned. “Yeah but he’s always too worried. I can make it home, I just need a second to cool down I guess.”
Etho frowned. “You’re not driving yourself home.”
“It’s not much further.”
“Ohoho—no. Not happening,” Etho said as Skizz pulled over on the side of the road.
“I’m here!”
Skizz turned his bike off and flicked his visor up as he rushed into the ditch. Joel realized that they could have probably moved to appear less concerning. The incline was a nice seat though.
“Weren’t you supposed to be leading the ride?” Joel realized, looking at Etho.
Etho nodded. “Handed it off to Impulse.”
Skizz knelt on Joel’s other side, pulled his gloves off, and touched the bare skin on the back of Joel’s neck.
“Not good,” Skizz said.
“Hey Skizz.”
“Hey dummy.” Skizz picked up a half-finished yellow gatorade he had set on the grass and held it out to Joel. “Sorry, my germs are on it.”
“It’s fine,” Joel said. “Thank you.”
“No pain anywhere?”
Joel shook his head, then paused and lowered the gatorade. “I’m getting heat cramps like crazy, but not much from the fall.”
“Oh snap, where?”
“My calves and upper arms, right now.”
“Finish drinking that, then start stretching.”
“I’ll make the call,” Skizz said, far too gleefully, pulling his phone out.
Joel grabbed the phone with shocking speed for someone with cramping arms. Skizz gave him a warning look.
“That is not necessary,” Joel said.
“I think he’s fine,” Etho told Skizz.
“I don’t like it,” Skizz said, relenting and taking the phone Joel hesitantly handed back. “How are we getting him home?”
“He can be my backpack,” Etho said, looking smugly at Joel.
“It is a five minute ride.”
“More like ten,” Skizz said, “What about his bike?”
“Come with us so I can leave my bike at his and you can bring me back, then we’ll take his bike too.”
Joel sighed, “That’s a lot of work fellas. I can ride home.”
“Sounds good,” Skizz said, ignoring Joel with a hand clap.
“Someone might steal my bike.”
“We’ll be fast and take the keys.”
All of Joel’s protests fell to the dirt as he was forced to finish his gatorade, then stand. Joel swayed on his feet, leaning sideways into Etho unwillingly.
“I know we wanna get him out of the heat but… it might be safer to get a car. Or an ambulance.”
“I’m good,” Joel said, pushing off of Etho to take a wobbly step.
“I’ll make him hold on,” Etho said, guiding Joel towards his bike.
They got on together, Skizz ready to follow, and Joel let all of his weight fall forward onto Etho half out of necessity and half to be annoying. He would have fallen asleep (passed out) again if it weren’t for how short the drive was.