002

Ethan POV

The flag dropped as the referee blew the whistle.

In an instant, both our bikes shot forward. Our engines roared and our tyres bit into the track. The crowd roared and cheered, but all I focused on was the pounding of my heart and Ryan’s bike right beside mine.

He leaned forward, cutting close on the first bend. That was typically Ryan. He was always reckless and desperate to get ahead of me. I smirked under my helmet, taking the corner tighter and slipping right back beside him.

“You’re not shaking me off that easily,” I muttered to him, mostly to referring to our status.

The track blurred by and the wind pulled hard at my racing suit. Every time I moved a little ahead, Ryan pushed harder. His bike stayed just over my shoulder. Ryan made it feel like more than a race. It felt like... a fight, and I of course wouldn't let him win, he wasn't getting Jessica, not when I don't even want him close to any girl.

Halfway through, he shot me a glance, his visor catching the sunlight. Even through the helmet, I saw his smirk. He opened the throttle, trying to pull away. I sighed at his recklessness. He really was annoying, but I had a soft spot for annoying kids.

If he knew I called him a kid, he would be furious and funny how I enjoyed that.

“Oh no you don’t,” I hissed, revving harder, the vibration rattled through my body. I matched him side by side, our bikes so close our foot pegs almost touched.

The crowd was losing it, their cheers echoing across the field. But for me, the world had shrunk to Ryan’s bike and the voice in my head screaming that I would not let him win.

The final stretch came into view. I saw the finish line. My hands gripped tighter on the bars, my body leaned forward and I pushed everything into that last burst of speed, trying to cut him off.

Ryan did the same, we struggled side by side, neither of us giving each an inch.

And then—

We crossed the finish line.

It was a ...dead tie. The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers. They always expected us to tie, even if I knew I could beat him.

I yanked off my helmet gasping, sweat dripping down my face. Ryan was already off his bike with his helmet in hand. His hair was a messy, cute disaster. His eyes locked on mine and I felt like kissing him.

“Tsk,” I breathed out, laughing despite my exhaustion. “Unfortunately, it’s a tie. What a shame, no one gets Jessica.”

He shook his head and stepped closer, his chest still rising and falling. “Figured that out. When it’s you, Ethan, I never get a clean win. I lose and you lose, so it doesn’t matter.” I could see he was holding himself back. If anyone knew Ryan best, it was me.

I smirked, though my heart was still racing harder than it had during the race. “Maybe because deep down, you don’t want to beat me.” I teased.

His jaw clenched, but his eyes lingered.

Ryan tossed his helmet to the ground, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t start with your nonsense, Ethan. A tie isn’t a win.”

I leaned casually against my bike. I gave him an infuriating smirk. “Neither is it a loss, I guess that makes us equals.”

He scoffed, stepping closer. “Don’t flatter yourself. You knew I had you by an inch.”

“Funny,” I said, tilting my head. “Because from where I crossed, it looked like I was the one ahead of you.”

The crowd was still buzzing, chanting both our names. But all I could see was him, standing too close, his small frame daring me to touch him. His eyes burned with that mix of rage and anger that pulled me closer. This boy really knew how to mess with my heart.

“Jessica’s going to laugh at this, especially you,” he muttered, shaking his head.

“Jessica?” I teased, leaning in just enough to annoy him. “I'm sure you almost forgot she was part of this deal, you sure this wasn’t more about me?”

He froze for a second, then glared at me, his jaw tightened. “You wish.” He rolled his eyes. “Psycho,” he whispered, more to himself, but I caught it.

I grinned, satisfied at the crack in his composure. “Maybe I do wish.” I wanted to rile him up a bit more.

His breath hitched so faintly I almost missed it. Then he shoved past my bike, grabbing his helmet from the floor. “This isn’t over, Ethan. Next time, I’m not letting it end in a tie. I—MUST—BEAT—YOU—ETHAN FUCKING DONALD.”

“Tsk. Cute and fierce. Absolutely my type.” I watched him walk off, a slow smile spreading across my face.

Ryan stomped toward the parking lot, his shoulders stiff and his helmet dangling from his hand. He looked like an angry cat barely holding itself back from clawing. How did I even end falling for him?

I couldn’t resist the urge to call him back. “Careful, Ryan,” I called after him, loud enough for the crowd to hear. “If you frown any harder, people might think you actually care about me more than Jessica.”

Heads turned toward his furious back. A few people laughed, and Ryan froze mid-step.

He spun around, his eyes burning with..rage, he flipped me off. “Shut the hell up, Ethan! Stop acting like everything I do is about you.”

I smirked, pushing off my bike and strolling toward him. “Oh? Funny, because everything you do seems to revolve around me — racing me, yelling at me, competing with me. If I wasn’t a guy…” I leaned in closer so only he could hear, “…I might think you were in love with me.”

His nostrils flared and his jaw tightened for a second. I swear he looked like he was going to punch me right there in front of everyone. Instead, he gave me that dangerously calm smile that meant trouble.

“One day, Ethan,” he said in a whisper, “I’ll wipe that smirk off your face for good, and when I do, trust me Jessica won’t even remember the first letter of your name.”

I chuckled, brushing an imaginary dust off my shoulder. I stepped away from the bike. “You’ve been saying that since high school, and yet…” I spread my arms wide, grinning. “…here we are. Still tied and still stuck with each other.” That was actually a joke, because I had chased this spoiled kid from high school till now, making sure I followed him everywhere he went.

His glare burned into me, but he didn’t fire back. He just shook his head, muttered something under his breath, and stormed off. Why was he so cute when stomping?

I watched him go, my smirk lingering even as my chest tightened. Because no matter what I told myself, no matter how much I teased him — Ryan wasn’t just a rival.

“Damn, Ethan, you really love poking the bear, huh?”

I turned to see Kyle, one of my closest friends, jogging over with two water bottles in hand. He handed me one, shaking his head. “Ryan looked like he was a second away from ripping your throat out.”

I smirked, taking a long sip. “And yet, he didn’t. That’s what makes it fun.”

“Fun?” Kyle raised a brow. “Man, the way you two go at each other, it’s like you’ve got more chemistry between you than you and Jessica ever will.”

I laughed at that, though it was hollow. “You’re crazy.”

“Am I?” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Be honest, Ethan. Do you even care about Jessica, or do you just care about beating Ryan?”

I didn’t answer right away. My fingers tightened around the water bottle as I watched Ryan in the distance, my shoulders tense as he disappeared behind the line of bikes. I swallowed hard, my mind getting the answer my mouth refused to spit.

“I care about winning,” I said finally, forcing a smirk. “That’s all.”

Kyle gave me a long look, like he knew I was lying, then let it go. “Whatever you say, champ.”

Before I could retort, my other friend Marcus jogged up with wide eyes. “Yo, Ethan, you might wanna hear this.”

I frowned. “What?”

Marcus hesitated, glancing at Kyle, then back at me. “Word is… Jessica wasn’t even watching the race. She was spotted leaving with someone else.”

My smirk slipped for the first time that day.

“Leaving… with who?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. Ryan was going to go at the other person and I didn't like the sound of It.

Marcus lowered his tone. “Some guy none of us know. He looked tall, maybe your height. He wore a dark jacket, and....... he didn’t look like a local.”

Kyle whistled low. “Damn, that’s awkward.”

“Then that’s great.” I smirked. I couldn’t hide the smile threatening to escape my lips.

“Huh. What do you mean?” Kyle asked.

“Well, find out yourself.”