All things denied….

A Gaby FanFic by PB

Chapter 11

“Hey Gaby!”

“Hi Erin!” Gaby turned to see Erin walk out from behind the counter.

“You look frozen,” Erin pointed out.

“It's friggin' cold this morning!” chattered Gabs.

“That sounds like Drew talking,” Erin pointed out with a mischievous smile.

“Sorry ... old habits ... how come you're all alone?” Gaby replied, looking at some bike parts on the store shelves.

“Don just ran over to grab a muffin ... he'll be back ... then we can start ... that's if the others are on time.” Seeing Gaby wasn't properly dressed for the ride, Erin suggested, “Hang on hon … I've got a spare jacket you can use.”

“Thanks!” an appreciative Gaby replied.

While waiting, Gaby checked out Erin's stock. In her mind most bike shops had similar stuff, a load of mountain bikes and a variety of assorted BMX, kids and road bikes. However, Erin's shop seemed to have more of a road slant than most shops she'd seen; then thinking about it she'd realized she'd seen there were only a few BMX`ers in town and one or two off road enthusiasts.

“Here you go” Erin passed Gaby a pink jacket, “Sorry about the colour.” As she opened it up, Gaby realised it was a Lampre jersey so as far as she was concerned it was a proper team jacket and that made it perfectly okay. By the time she had it on over all her other stuff most of the others had assembled.

“You've filled your bottles today?” Aidan asked as Gaby joined them out in the cold.

“Made sure … this time! ... Sorry for all the fuss last week.”

“We needed some excitement,” Frank added.

“Where're we going?” Gaby asked Diane as they started off into the cold morning.

“New Market!” Diane replied.

“I think we went there the other week … some horse place,” Gaby recalled.

“Yeah … they're into their horseflesh up there,” Frank added.

Their route took them onto the 340 north out of Grottoes. Diane advised that the northbound ride would be pretty flat as they followed the South River across Rockingham County and into Page County. There they turned to climb through the George Washington National Forest before swinging into New Market. Gaby soon settled into a steady cadence watching Aidan's back tire as they group headed past the Port Republic turn.

They kept up a steady eighteen to twenty mph as they rolled through Elkton and Gaby soon noticed a couple of twitchy looks amongst her companions. “ That could mean only one thing, sprint coming up! What did Diane say earlier , ‘ through Elkton and into Page County' , that'll be it … the county sign. ”

Gabs surreptitiously checked her state of readiness. “ Hmmm ... unless they leave it to the last minute I can break out and….” Gaby smiled to herself as she got ready.

“What's so funny Gaby?” Diane asked.

“Oh nothing ... just thinking about something Jules said last night.”

“Must've been good,” she mumbled.

“Just something about Mad's boyfriend … you had to be there,” Gaby explained trying to keep Diane off guard.

Up in front Aidan was looking a bit anxious and Gaby could see Erin's hand discreetly poised to change gear.

“Not much traffic here,” Gaby nonchalantly mentioned while she seemingly looked around at the countryside.

“They all use the Interstate … just a few locals use this road now-a-days,” explained Erin as she glanced back to Gaby.

Suddenly Gaby heard it, the check behind from Erin.

“See ya!” Gaby called over to Diane. She took a quick glance behind before gearing up a sprocket and launching herself out of Aidan's slipstream.

“Shit!” Someone exclaimed as Gaby cleared the front of the group, just as Diane was just about to make her own gear change. After bolting from the group, Gaby sat back down to gather herself. She spotted the sign about four hundred metres in front on a slight rise after a long deep dip.

She'd decided to power down the slop in order to gain momentum on the up side. A rattle of gears and heavy breathing announced that she had company and guessed it was Erin, Aidan and Diane – no probs. She realised that by sitting down, she probably had given them the impression she was knackered after her sprint. Figuring to let them get comfortable in their beliefs, Gaby continued to let them think just that! Keeping in the role of the struggling cyclist, she upped the revs a bit as a token bit of futile resistance and then waited as first one, then a second changed gear. “ Wait for it... wait for it... Kerchunk! Yep … three … time to go”.

Hearing the third gear change, Gaby pushed her own up shift lever, clunk and for a second time she was out of the saddle. The distance was closing rapidly and then with the speedometer showing forty the road reared up, the sign disappeared out of site over a false summit. She was temped to keep the drive going, but resisted the temptation to change gears, her hill climbing experience stopping her from gearing down too soon. The false summit was steeper than it looked but she kept out of the saddle and danced on the pedals all the way to the county border - a further twenty metres.

Gaby was another couple of hundred metres down the road before Erin came alongside.

“How ... ( puff ) ... did ... ( puff ) ... you ... ( puff ) ... know?”

“That'd be telling,” Gaby slyly replied.

“Gaby!” Erin shook her head.

“Well ... Diane said we were crossing into the next county earlier ... an' you lot told me when.”

“How?” Aidan inquired, coming up from behind them.

“Well ... you were all checking your gears and the traffic ... an' I was just watching you lot,” Gaby confided.

“I told you,” Diane stated as she pulled alongside the small group, “She's a smart one!”

“What do you reckon Erin?” Frank joined in as he pulled alongside. “You think she's up to it?”

“Up to what?” Gaby wanted to know. Her curiosity was beginning to show.

“Oh nothing,” Diane playfully offered. Gaby promptly stuck her tongue out at her. When Erin saw Gaby's reaction, she smiled to herself. “Drew finds it so natural to be Gaby. If I didn't know better....”

“Erin?” Gaby brought Erin out of her daydream.

“Looks a bit nasty over the pass,” Rob voiced.

For the first time since they left Grottoes Gaby took note of the weather. It was still pretty grey but over to the left it looked really nasty, well the clouds had that faintly bruised look that usually means snow. Not again.

“Better get going!” Frank suggested, “Hopefully we can beat it.”

The atmosphere in the group became more serious as a result of the change in the weather. The miles rolled away at a fast pace as they crossed and re-crossed the South River. Gaby noticed they passed the turn for the caves at Luray. Their route edged towards the tree line to their left as well as the apparent weather front. A few snowflakes were blowing about but other than a few small pockets they weren't settling.

The next junction put them on the 211 and Derek grunted, “Only five miles” as they headed into the gathering wind and started the climb through George Washington ‘Mount'.

Gaby reached back and clicked her taillight on. The other traffic was driving fully lit and Frank suggested everyone else do the same. As they dropped off the ‘mountain' and out of the trees the snow eased back to flurries and then out of the greyness the roofs of New Market appeared.

It was the idea of food and warmth that propelled the cyclists into the parking lot of “Lara's Pantry”. Once through the door, the heat made Gaby's body tingle as she started to thaw out.

“Heya” Derek called to the woman who looked up from the counter as they made their noisy entrance.

“Geez, you guys look frozen,” greeted a middle-aged woman that Gaby assumed was Lara.

“Bikini weather, it's not!” Aidan wisecracked.

“I got the back parlour reserved for you ... all nice an' toasty-like.” Lara was already pouring out several large coffees. “Coffee for everyone?” she called out, addressing the group in general.

“Nine coffees and a tea ... for Gaby ... thanks, Lara,” Frank replied.

Gaby blindly followed the others through what appeared to be a cross between a bakery and coffee shop. An elderly couple gave them a dirty look as they trooped through into the ‘back parlour' for disturbing their quiet time at Lara's. The ‘back room' was just a second room with tables. The best part was the roaring fire that Lara had promised!

By the time they were seated after peeling off their winter gear, Lara was bringing in the drinks.

“You folks sure picked a day to come out.”

“You know us Lara” Erin offered.

“That I do ... I told Hank to rustle up some hot food for y'all ... we got bacon and potato soup, that okay?”

“That'll be fine, Lara ... long as it's hot!” Frank replied.

Once the food arrived and everyone started ‘chowing down' on the hot soup, conversation resumed an air of normalcy. The bowls were huge and a plate of still warm fresh rolls had everyone engrossed for a while. It was when they were well into their second coffees that Gaby even remembered Frank's earlier question.

“What did Frank mean ... what am I up to?” Gaby asked a nearby Erin.

“Sorry?”

“Frank asked if I was up to something.”

“Not a clue.”

“Go on! Ask her! … Don't keep her in suspense!” Aidan urged.

“Okay … maybe I should!” Erin defiantly exclaimed. “Gabs … would you consider joining our team for the Atlanta Winter Classic?” The name sounded familiar to Gaby, but she couldn't place it.

“Join you?” Gaby asked.

“Yeah, it's in two weeks. We go down overnight Friday and come back on the Sunday.” Frank volunteered.

Gaby finally recalled there was an article in the comic the previous year about it. It's one of those mass participation events like they have with the big Euro tours. Suddenly, the idea of getting away from Grottoes and catching a bike race seemed like a good idea.

“I'd love to … but … I'd need to okay it with school and everyone,” Gaby replied. Her expression turned sour as she started to doubt that she'd get the necessary permission.

“All taken care of!” Diane announced to the shocked teenager.

“Yer kidding!” Gaby countered.

“I'd already talked to Jessica Bell! … She said she'd okay it if you wanted to go,” Diane enthusiastically replied.

“In that case ... count me in!” Gaby responded.

“Hey, Rob?”

“Frank?”

“Gaby's agreed to ride the Atlanta.”

“We'll have a chance then!” Rob allowed as he nonchalantly raised his coffee mug in a toast to Gaby.

“I'll get you measured up when we get back to town.” Derek added.

“I can't today ... I'm supposed to be going to Sandy's when I get home,” a dejected Gaby replied.

“I'll call her ... she'll be okay with it,” Diane offered.

As she mentally replayed the conversation, it began to dawn on Gaby just what they were going on about. “ Join the team ... Take part ... Ride the Atlanta ... Measure me up .”

“Um, Erin?” Gaby timidly asked.

“Uh huh,” a seemingly disinterested Erin answered.

“You mean you want me to ride in the race?” Gaby asked.

“If you want,” Erin replied with a shrug of her shoulder.

“I thought you meant ... just to go with you to watch,” Gaby explained.

“Well … you're quite welcome to tag along to watch … but we'd really thought you might like to ride with us,” Erin mentioned.

“Yesss!” an excited Gaby squealed as she pumped the air.

“Hey Erin! ... Bring her over this afternoon and Derek can get her measured up!” Diane called out.

“I can give you my jersey size now, Derek! ” Gaby offered thinking that's what they meant by measuring her.

“Jersey? ... You thought ... Diane tell her will ya?” an exasperated Derek chimed in.

“We need to measure you Gaby so we can build you that bike,” Diane casually mentioned.

“Build me a bike? ... What about Erin's GT?” Gaby's excitement was clearly building.

“No way … Gab-ay! … Our top rider gets a top bike!” Diane proudly offered, then quickly added, “Oops! … No disrespect intended, Erin.”

“None taken,” Erin grinned.

“The GT's fine … really!” Gaby protested. Deep down, Gaby knew what her parents would say and despite her own feelings, she found herself saying, “It's a waste Diane ... all that trouble for one race and the expense ... there's no way I could even afford to buy after the race.”

“Don't be so ridiculous, girl ... I'm offering you the bike! ... I never said anything about paying for it did I?” Diane admonished Gaby.

“No,” Gaby admitted.

“Listen to her Gabs , ” Erin calmly added.

“But it'll be wasted, just for one race.” Gaby replied.

“Definitely not wasted,” Derek casually added doing an incredible ‘Rainman' impression ala Dustin Hoffman.

“Please Gab?” Diane pleaded.

Gaby went through the motions of thinking about it, then gave into her competitive instincts as she announced her decision. “You talked me into it ... thank you ... everyone!”

“Told ya she'd do it!” Aidan beamed as he smiled at Gaby.

They left “Lara's Pantry” and New Market with a few flakes of snow still falling from the dark clouds covering northern Virginia. The thirty mile ride back across Rockingham County was hard work but nothing dampened Gaby's spirits. They were just south of Harrisonburg before they broke clear of the weather, which at times just coated the paved road while in other places the wind blew it around causing white out conditions and still in other areas it was only a few flakes. As they made their way back towards Port Republic, the skies cleared and the only signs of the winter weather were a few stray flakes and a slick road.

Due to the weather and the length of the ride, the group decided to skip the usual end-of-ride sprint and instead went off to their individual homes while anyone still had the stamina to make it. Gaby headed back with Erin. She was to drive Gaby out to the Briggs place as well as get necessary final permission from Mrs W for Gabs to attend the Winter Classic.

“So you're gonna drop her at the Jones' after this measure-up thing, Erin?” Mrs W queried.

“No problem Jocelyn,” Erin assured her. As she put down the phone, Erin turned her attention to a freshly-showered Gaby. “You got everything, hon?”

“Yeah ... I think so,” Gaby replied.

“C'mon then ... Don's gonna lock up the Cyclery ... so I don't have a reason to rush back into town.” Erin allowed.

Making their way out to Diane's place, Erin's pickup finally turned off the county road and instead of going up to the house, Erin and Gaby pulled straight into the Bigg's factory yard, where Diane waited for them.

“Let's get inside … Derek's all set up! ... You got your cycling shoes Gab?” Diane stated as Gaby opened the passenger door.

“Ummm …yeah ... in my bag,” Gaby replied as she grabbed her big shoulder bag.

“They may be a tad big ... but … I think I've some jeans that might be more practical than that skirt ... c'mon with me,” Diane offered. Soon they returned with Gaby sporting a pair of rolled up jeans, held up with a makeshift rope belt.

“C'mon then ... this is no time to start being shy!” Diane encouraged.

Gaby followed her through to Derek's computer room where he was already fiddling with stuff.

“Heya Gab … Erin!” Derek enthused as the ladies entered his domicile.

“Hi, Derek!“ Erin replied.

“Hiya,“ Gaby nervously added.

“Right!” Derek sharply stated. “Let's get started!”

Adjustments to her bike by her dad was one thing, but being measured for a custom frame was quite a new experience for Gaby. Diane and Derek were starting from scratch. Derek went on about biometrics and stuff and had Gaby change into her cycling shoes. Next, she was seated on a jig that only bore a passing resemblance to a bike frame. The whole thing was connected to Derek's computer and he played with several different positions before settling on what everyone felt was the measurements for the perfect frame for Gaby.

“Okay Gaby … we're done here! ... You can go to your sleepover now,” Diane grinned.

“Oh joy,” Gaby sarcastically mumbled.

“Thanks ... see you on Wednesday?” Gaby hopefully inquired.

“Weather permitting,” Diane agreed.

“C'mon … Miss Bond ... you're late enough for this affair as it is,” Erin cajoled.

Erin knew how Gaby felt about attending the sleepover and several times on the way over she asked Gaby if she'd rather spend the weekend with her. It was nearly five by the time they arrived at the Jones' place.

“You really okay with this, Drew?” Erin asked as Gaby gathered her stuff.

“I guess I'll survive ... by the way … thanks for inviting me to the race and everything!” Gaby replied.

“It's alright kid. Aidan was the first to come up with the idea. To tell you the truth ... I think he fancies Gaby!” Erin revealed.

“No way!” a blushing Gaby exclaimed.

“Way,” Erin confirmed.

A pool of light suddenly appeared in front of the pickup as a door opened.

(to be continued)

PB 22.04.08 © 2008
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