Gaby Book 26 On The Edge by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2021 Madeline Bell Seventeen - it's a birthday overshadowed by its predecessor and successor and Gaby's looks set to follow that pattern. There are however big decisions to be made, should she grab life by the horns and experience everything it has to offer or take the more conservative, safer route through life. This volume, the 26th in the Gaby series has all the elements of classic Gaby, bike riding, teenage angst, developing relationships, grist to the mill for our heroine as life in the Ahrtal ticks on.

 
"Seat over here Gab!” Daz called out.

I had been aiming for a spot next to Tali and Josh but that was around the back, Darren was seating himself with his back to the street which was easier to get to. Queen finished playing and I lost my apparent mesmerism of the tables occupants, conversations, greetings and tales picked up as if nothing had happened. Well maybe it hadn't, maybe I just imagined it.

If that was true though, how come there was a waiter pulling the chair out for me with the cheesiest grin you've ever seen plastered across his face.

"Signora.”
"Gracias.”

He pushed the chair in as I seated myself before speaking again.

"Qué le gustaría beber?”
I know this one, "Er vino tinto por favor.”

Well its worth a go, right?

"Vaso o jarra?”
Erm, "Jarra?”
”Bien, un momento por favor.”

"Your Spanish is pretty good,” Daz mentioned, "what was all that about?”
"Not really, i think i ordered a drink.”
"Huh, the rest of us must be invisible,” he grumped.

I gave a shrug, its not like i've got any control over the waiting staff is it? The fact that Pedro or whatever he's called was back with a carafe and glass before i'd stowed my bag was a bit, er disconcerting, pouring me a generous amount before scurrying off.

"Invisible,” Daz repeated.

 
"You two okay down here?” Dad asked from behind us, "There's room down the end if you want to move.”
"We're fine, eh Gab?” Daz hinted.
"Er yeah, dandy,” i agreed.

I looked along the table, most of Apollinaris were away down the opposite end, me and Daz were sat amongst a host of strangers, some i recognised from earlier but others were maybe support staff, a girl a few seats along gave me a wink before rolling her eyes.

"Just go easy on the grape juice eh kiddo.”
"I only thought i was getting a small glass.”
"If you say so, you got a drink Darren?”
"Not yet.”
"I'll send one down.”
"Thanks Mr B.”
"I'd best get back, looks like George is after me.”

 
It wasn't until food started arriving that introductions with our fellow diners were made, Henk and Lars to my left, Guido, Simon and José opposite. The food, inevitably more paella, was served in huge steel pan things placed strategically along the table, plates arrived in short order and there was no hesitation in people digging in. In theory at least, we've been eating healthily all week, okay we've cheated a couple of times but when you ride as much and at the intensity we have this week, you soon lose a few extra calories, this evening then is a bit of an end of session blow out for everyone here.

Oh there was wine and beer being consumed but this won't descend into a drunken mess, if you want to be part of this level of racing, you can't afford to do that. Don't get me wrong, bikies can party with the best but not at this end of the season, there's too much hanging on being serious about the racing. My bet is that most of the table will be on soft drinks most of the evening.

The food was pretty reasonable, maybe a bit oily but there was a good mix of shellfish, crustaceans and 'pescado' amongst the rice and vegetable matter. There was panecillo if you wanted it, i snagged a couple just on principal, well the chances of there being anything left later was fairly remote.

"You have enough?” Lars queried, waving the serving spoon over the pan. We'd settled on German to speak as my Swedish amounts to zilch and he had picked up some Deutsch when he rode for a Swiss team.
"If theres any more fish floating about in there,” i hinted.
"I think I saw a couple of pieces,” he allowed exploring the paella with the spoon, "Ah, here we go, rice too?”
"Maybe a bit.”
"You ill Gab?” Darren chimed in seeing what Lars put on my plate.
"Just being polite.”
"Never stops you any other time.”

Any other time I've not been wearing new, tight denim trousers.

"Feeling a bit bloated,” I suggested.
"God, you sound like my sister, 'I'm bloated, its my period', always some flippin' excuse for not doing stuff.”
"They can be quite bad.”
"Not Esme's, she uses it as an excuse to get out of stuff then she'll be down at the stables mucking out and stuff without complaining.”
"Maybe its gone off a bit?”
"Nah, its the same every month.”

Not really a conversation I wanted to pursue.

"So you back to college on Monday?”
"Yeah worst luck, you?”
"Uh huh,” I agreed as I pushed rice around my plate with a lump of panecillo, "Yep, management and employment law, joy.”
"Thought you were doing catering?”
"Hospitality, we can specialise in year two. You?”
"Just A's.”

Of course i know how the UK system works but i've not gone through it myself having done my own secondary education in Germany.

"So how's it gonna work with races then?”
"I'll come to Germany for the big events but i do my own programme at home the rest of the time.”
"Bit like Josh, Tal and Gret then.”
"And you and Mand.”
"Never thought about it like that, but yeah, i guess.

In truth, i've always thought of us, and Ron before she moved up, as the 'main' team, based as we are at the team HQ. But i suppose, in reality, thats just me being elitist.

 
An interesting evening was had by all, chatting with the guys about racing and bikes and stuff, getting some new insights and experiences into the lexicon. The novelty of my gender and palmares was soon forgotten as everything from sharing rooms to brake block efficacy were discussed in the multilingual exchange. The level in my carafe reduced even as beer was replaced by cola and juice elsewhere, i swear it filled itself up.

It was nice to dine in some different company for a change, i wouldn't go as far as suggest we became bosom pals but i'll look for them in the results at least, who knows, we may cross paths in the future. To be honest, it probably helped that things didn't pan out like i'd hoped earlier, in the end i hadn't dented any egos other than my own, they could live with Josh getting the better of them but maybe a 'slip of a girl' would be a step too far for harmony! Plates were cleared, pans removed, coffee splashed into cups and the tables occupants became more mobile.

"You drink that whole carafe?” Ron asked slipping into the seat Lars had just vacated.
"Might've.”
"Your dad'll go potty.”
"I've been practicing.”
"Practicing what?”
"Drinkin'”
"Right, coz thats a good thing,” Ron snorted.
"I'm seventeen you know.”
"We know, doesn't mean you have to drink though.”
"But i want to.”
"What you want is more coffee,” she stated, "Daz, can you get that waiter guy? Daz?”
"Eh?” he moved his attention from eavesdropping on our tablemates to fearsome Grönberg.
"Waiter, coffee?”
"Oh right, sure.”

Okay, i'll admit it, i was feeling a little – er, light headed, a status it would probably be best that my parents and George remain unaware of. And now i thought about it, i was getting a bit warm and...

"Toilet!”
"Next to the bar.”
"Outta my way!”
 

"Better?” Ron enquired.
"Uh huh,” i managed still knelt honouring the porcelain god.
"Everything okay?”

Mum.

"Yeah Jen, think she overdid the paella.”
"Bwuh!”
"Hmm, well if you're playing nursemaid make sure she drinks plenty.”
"Will do.”

"Where'd you two get to?” Daz demanded, "Coffee'll be cold."
"Where you think?” Ron asked, "Gab was feeling a bit off.”
"My sister does that too, she thinks the rents don't know.”
"I'm not making myself throw up,” i snapped.
"Matter of opinion,” Ron muttered.
"Just saying,” Daz said, "You want fresh coffee?”
"Water might be better,” Ron suggested.
"Lemonade, settles my stomach,” i groaned.

 
"So what happened to you tonight, thought you'd be up for a bop.”

Ron's ministrations prevented further visits to the facilities, we ended up sat in a corner with the 'party' going on around us.

"Bad stomach,” i suggested to my roomy.
"You will stuff yourself.”

Not tonight i didn't.

"Yeah, whatever.”

I hope i don't look like i feel or i'll get it both barrels in the morning. I stumbled into our room and pausing only to dump my case on the floor, collapsed onto the bed.

"Let me guess,” Mand started, "The bit that didn't agree was in a glass or several glasses?”
"Don't wanna talk about it.”
"Gaby Bond, you really don't make a good lush.”
"I can't help it, i'm only little.”
"So don't drink so much.”
"I didn't mean to.”
"So i suppose you're finishing your packing in the morning?”
"Gnf.”
"Gaby?”
"Eh? S'mornin' already?”
"Never mind.”
 

"Gab!”

A couple of brain cells tried to connect but gave up.

"Bond! Come on, get your bum in gear!”

That noise, its there again.

"Gab-ee, wake up, your Dad'll go ballistic if we're not ready.”

The synapses finally connected.

"Wassup?” I groaned still with eyes firmly shut.
"Finally!” Mand sighed, "Come on, you need to get up, we've got like ten minutes to get down for breakfast and you still need to finish packing.”

Packing, breakfast? It took a moment but then it all came flooding back, the meal, the wine, being sick, and on top of that we're flying back to Germany this morning. My mouth felt like i'd been sucking a sponge, my head throbbed, I didn't want to think about getting vertical.
 

We made it to breakfast – just. Mand rammed my stuff in the case while I had the fastest shower on record. Of course, Dad was tapping his foot when we got to the bus with our bags, but we were there before he blew a gasket so being a little tardy into the breakfast room wasn't so bad.

"Thought you'd overslept,” Gret opined.
"Someone did,” Mand pointedly told the others, "I had to pack her case.”
"I did say thank you.”
"You'll be late for your own fun'ral like” Josh suggested.
"That's good right?”
"Here, get this down you,” Tali instructed as she plonked a cup of coffee in front of me.
"Er thanks.”
"Ot oh,” Gret hissed, "George is coming over..”

"Morning everyone.”
"Morning Boss,” well I thought i'd get that in early, the others variously grunted greetings to our Uber Director.
"I hope you've all found this week useful, it's a bit short as a training block but its a good bit of base work. Dave'll be talking to you all about this years programme in the next couple of weeks, we've had some interesting invitations thanks to last years results and indeed, Gaby's expolits here on the island. I probably won't see you all together again for a while so have a good season and we'll keep the sponsors happy eh?

Safe journeys, tschuss.”

George scuttled off, no doubt to harangue Dad with something or other and we returned to our Frühstück.

It suddenly occurred to me that someone was missing, "Where's Daz?”
"In his bed if he has any sense,” Gret offered.
"Shouldn't he be here, Dad'll be spitting feathers if we're late.”
"You really were out of it last night Bond,” Tali chuckled.
"Huh?”
"His flights not till this afternoon hen,” Josh filled in, "Mike's dropping him off on the way to the ferry.”
"Right, I knew that.”

Well it does sort of make sense. But what else did I miss? Its not like I was totally blotto is it, I'll admit to a maybe bit tipsy but I walked to the taxi and up to our room when we got back so I couldn't've been too bad.

By the time we'd finished with breakfast, collected the rest of our stuff from the fourth floor and returned down to reception, the rest of Team Apollinaris were up and about. I don't envy them their return to Germany, ferry back to Spain and a solid two days drive across Iberia and back to the Rhein although there was some muttering about getting in a days riding in the Alps on the way, it could be Thursday before they reach the Ahrtal.
Of course, all our bikes, well except for Darrens, are travelling with them so we, once again are travelling fairly light.

"See you later in the week kiddo.”
"Yes Mum.”
"And remember to take that dress into the cleaners.”
"I will,” I sighed.
"You okay, you're still looking a little green around the gills.”
"I'm fine, really, bit tired is all.”
"Well at least you can have a sleep on the plane.”
"I guess.”

Yeah, deep joy, four hours cooped up in one of Air Berlin's flying cattle trucks, just what I need.

 
Despite the coffee and the shower and six hours sleep, I was still feeling a bit queasy as we set off for the airport, just how much vino did I consume last night? I know I didn't eat a gargantuan amount and in any case, most of that stayed at the cantina. Maybe I ought to find something to eat at the airport, half a Brotchen with chocolate spread won't keep me going for long.

Ten days ago, when we arrived, it was all very exciting, but this morning the atmosphere on the minibus is quite subdued. Even Dad isn't his usual chirpy self, I guess its not been much of a break, if any, for the management team, sorting bikes and bodies each evening and supervising our activities during the day. The riders get all the glory, the backroom guys and girls get all the stress of keeping us on the road.

Dad dropped the five of us and the luggage at the terminal before going to return the bus. We were far from being the only bleary eyed travellers though, it looked like half of those travelling had bikes in bags or cases, just as well the rest appeared to have no more than hand luggage. Dad reappeared quite quickly and we started the whole check in, security lark.

 
Of course, its Sunday, everyone and their dog wants to fly out today so the airport was heaving, seating was at a premium, we ended up variously perched, leaning against and otherwise taking space around a single seat and one of those table bits. We had time for coffee at least, I really wasn't feeling on top of things, maybe i've picked up some sort of a bug. Time seemed to be on a go slow but eventually the flight back to Frankfurt was called allowing us to leave the multilingual jungle in exchange for an almost entirely German language queue at the Air Berlin loading gate.

We shuffled along with the rest and soon enough we were making our way across the apron to our plane. You'd think seating six of us would be simple enough but despite the seats being in rows of six, we were spread over four banks of seats and three different rows one of which was seven rows from the others. Still I'm not complaining, I scored a window seat even if I was on my own, extra bonus, the middle seat was a no show so I wasn't gonna be squidged by anyone either.

I made myself comfy, maybe I can actually get a bit of kip. We rolled out to the runway as part of a procession of departing flights but there wasn't much delay before the engines roared to maximum and we were thrust along the concrete. A slight jerk as we lifted then a steep banking climb which gave me a great view south over Mount Teide but that was soon replaced by an ocean of water. The seatbelt light blinked off and I closed my eyes, head resting against the window curtain, four hours back to Germany, five if you count the time change.
 
Maddy Bell © 04.04.2021