001

Ethan POV

"Damn you Ethan. You demon, you knew Jessica was mine and you still took her. Damned mother fucker." Ryan screamed at my face.

I smirked at him trying to make him more mad. I had noticed he had a wierd crush on Jessica, a worker at the cafe by the racing field.

"Oh. Was she yours? then why did she accept my proposal. You should be ashamed you couldn't even tell her you had a crush on her. what a kid you are." I smiled.

His gaze burned with rage, but it was less of my concerns, I just enjoyed seeing him riled up and always ready to eat me up with his big mouth. "Fuck you Ethan, you just can't stay out of my way for a second. Can you?" He sounded so frustrated and my heart couldn't help but break.

"Yeah, Fuck me baby." I smirked at him. "Actually, we are on the verge of dating, we aren't even dating yet."

"Really?" His eyes lit up like a kid I just handed a lollipop. "then can you get out of my way for just this once." He smiled— his annoying attractive smile that could always melt me, but I don't give in to him easily.

"Why don't we compete, the winner gets Jessica. What did you think?" I knew he was going to wear a frown on his damn cute face.

He looked like a sad puppy, I chuckled as he folded his arms sasily. "I knew you were going to say that. Nothing from you always turns out good."

"Did you accept the deal or not?"

"I don't. I don't care, I'm going to pursue Jessica and makes sure she dates me."

I leaned back against the railing, crossing my arms, watching him struggle to contain his frustration. “Ah, so stubborn, that's typically Ryan.” I teased.

He stepped closer whispering with a low dangerously voice. “And you, Ethan, you know exactly why I can’t stand you. You always…know exactly how to push my buttons and you ends up succeeding.”

I raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Maybe that’s because I like seeing you lose your cool, it's interesting.”

“God, you’re infuriating!” He threw his hands up, pacing a little. “Fine. We will compete, but don’t think for a second I’m going easy on you.”

I laughed, the sound teasing. “Oh, don’t worry, I wouldn’t want you to.”

He stopped, looking at me square in the eye. “This isn’t a joke, Ethan. Whoever wins…wins and I’ll make sure Jessica sees exactly who’s the better man here and you better don't play all your annoying tricks you use on girls.”

I tilted my head, mock thinking. “Hmm… that sounds fair, but just remember, losing isn’t an option for me either.”

He smirked, confidently and challenging. “Good, then let’s see who’s really worthy of her attention. Ready to get schooled?”

I stepped closer, my eyes in a tight smile matching his intensity. “Bring it on, Ryan but just try not to cry like a baby when I win.” oh, that looks, the look he always gave me when I teased him. It made my heart race.

"Tsk, says who I always defeat."

I scoffed, leaning in until my nose almost brushed his. “Always defeat? Don’t flatter yourself, last I remember, you’ve never beaten me once.”

His jaw tightened, his fists balling at his sides. “That’s because you cheat, Ethan, every damn time.”

My lips curled in a smirk, tapping his chest with two of my fingers just to watch him twitch. “No, Ryan, let's say I just know how to win. That's a big difference.”

“Keep talking,” he growled, shoving my hand off. “When I cross that finish line first, we’ll see who’s laughing.”

I tilted my head, mocking him with a pout. “Aw, you sound so confident, and almost adorable but too bad confidence doesn’t equal skill.”

His eyes darkened, and for a second, the air between us turned heavy, almost suffocating. Then, he broke into that stupidly charming grin—the one that always disarmed me if I let it.

“You’re going down, Ethan,” he said, his voice steady now, dripping with challenge.

I smirked, but my chest tightened at the thought of him with Jessica. “We’ll see about that.”

He stepped back, pointing at me like he was sealing a deal. “Tomorrow, meet me at the field, and I want no excuses.”

“Tomorrow,” I echoed, my grin never fading.

He gave me one last glare, then turned and walked off with tense shoulders and determination radiating off him.

I watched him go, my smirk still plastered on my face—though my heart was beating a little too fast for comfort.

****

The next day, the racing field buzzed with noise. Some racers where practicing around, engines revved and groups of people clustered around, waiting for the showdown. I knew words had spread fast that I versus Ryan were going to have a match.

People always want to watch I and Ryan race, funny how they call us rivals, I don't take Ryan as my rival, but I know the cutie does.

I adjusted my gloves, pretending to be calm, but inside my chest, my heartbeat pounded like a drum and it wasn't because of Jessica, at least, not really, it was Ryan, it was always because of that damned name. Ryan.

He arrived late as usual, with that confident strut of his, drawing attention like he owned the place. When his eyes locked with mine, he smirked and I hated how that stupid smirk twisted something in my stomach.

“Hope you warmed up,” he said, stopping in front of me, helmet dangling from his hand.

I gave him a slow once over, deliberately taking my time. “Don’t worry about me, Ryan. Worry about yourself and even if I do want a show, I would hate to see you embarrass your ass in front of Jessica.”

His lips twitched like he was fighting a grin. “Funny how I was going to say the same to you.”

We both stood there, neither backing down, the noise of the crowd fading as our focus narrowed to just the two of us. For a moment, I almost forgot Jessica even existed.

Almost.

The referee called us over, and Ryan finally tore his gaze from me. “Let’s settle this,” he muttered.

I slipped on my helmet, smirking under the visor. “With pleasure.”

My bike engine roared to life as I watched Ryan rev his to life and then the world shrank to just the track, the heat, and the boy beside me who drove me insane in every way possible he could.