Danger 6

The morning chill clung to the air as I walked across the campus, my breath forming soft clouds in front of me. The familiar crunch of leaves under my boots was oddly soothing, a small reminder of normalcy in a life that felt anything but normal. I adjusted the strap of my messenger bag, my fingers brushing against its worn leather, and glanced up at the towering clock tower. It was almost eight, and the campus was already buzzing with activity.

On the outside, I was just another student blending in with the crowd—headphones in, bag slung over one shoulder, hair pulled back in a no-nonsense ponytail. Nobody would guess I had spent the night memorizing the map of an illegal race circuit, every turn and potential hazard etched into my mind.

I inhaled deeply, pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind. Here on campus, I couldn’t afford to slip. Nobody knew about my double life, and I intended to keep it that way. To everyone here, I was Sierra Carter, the quiet overachiever who worked a mysterious part-time job and somehow managed to land on the dean’s list every semester.

The economics building came into view, its glass facade reflecting the soft morning sunlight. I pulled open the door and stepped inside, greeted by the hum of conversation and the faint aroma of coffee from a nearby café cart.

“Sierra!”

I turned to see Mika waving at me from the hallway, her dark curls bouncing with every step. She was balancing two coffee cups and a bag of muffins, her usual breakfast haul.

“Morning, Mika,” I said, smiling despite myself.

“Morning, Queen of Numbers,” she teased, handing me one of the cups. “I figured you’d need this. You look like you haven’t slept.”

“Thanks,” I said, accepting the cup gratefully. “Rough night.”

Mika didn’t pry. She never did. She assumed my sleepless nights were due to studying or my job, and I let her believe that. It was easier than explaining the truth.

As we walked to the lecture hall together, Mika launched into a rant about the student council elections.

“You know you’d win if you ran, right?” she said, nudging me with her elbow.

“Not this again,” I groaned.

“I’m serious!” she insisted. “You’re smart, organized, and people respect you. You’d be a natural leader.”

“I’m not interested,” I said firmly. “I have enough on my plate without adding student politics to the mix.”

Mika rolled her eyes but didn’t push further as we reached our seats.

---

Class passed in a blur of lectures and note-taking. Despite the chaos of my personal life, school was something I could control. Here, I knew the rules. I knew how to succeed.

After class, I headed to the library for a group study session. A few classmates were already waiting, their books and laptops spread out across the table.

“Sierra, can you help me with this section?” one of them asked as I sat down.

“Sure,” I said, pulling out my notebook. “What’s the problem?”

As I explained the assignment, I noticed how the others leaned in, their expressions attentive. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. Somehow, I always ended up leading these sessions, even though I never volunteered.

“You should really run for student council,” one of them said out of the blue.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Not happening.”

“Why not? You’re a natural leader.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine where I am,” I said, hoping to end the conversation.

They didn’t push, but their words lingered in my mind long after the session ended.

---

The sun was setting by the time I left the library, casting the campus in hues of orange and pink. Students milled about, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

I paused by the fountain in the center of campus, letting the cool spray of water hit my face. For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to live fully in this world. To be just another student, with no secrets or double life.

But reality always found its way back. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts.

Mika: Family dinner tonight. You’re coming. No excuses.

I smiled at her insistence. Mika’s family had always been welcoming, and though I usually avoided getting too close to people, her persistence made it hard to say no.

---

Dinner at Mika’s house was a comforting chaos. Her younger siblings ran around the table, their laughter mixing with the clatter of plates and the hum of conversation.

“Sierra, you need to eat more,” Mika’s mom said, piling more food onto my plate.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, smiling as I accepted the extra helping.

Mika leaned over, whispering, “They love you more than me, you know.”

“That’s because I don’t steal cookies from the jar when no one’s looking,” I shot back, earning a laugh from her.

For a few hours, I let myself forget about the map in my bag and the race that loomed ahead. Here, surrounded by warmth and laughter, it was easy to pretend that life was simpler than it was.

But as the evening wore on, the weight of my secret life crept back in.

---

Later that night, I sat alone in my apartment, the map spread out on the table once more. The route felt familiar now, almost second nature, but my chest tightened with the thought of what lay ahead.

“Why do you do this to yourself?” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

Because you don’t have a choice, my mind answered.

I thought of Liam, of the hospital bills piling up, and of the look in Mika’s eyes when she talked about how much he needed me. This was my reality—a life divided in two, with no clear path to bridge the gap.

As I traced the lines of the circuit one last time, a sense of determination settled over me. This wasn’t just about the race. It was about survival, about family, and about holding onto the people I loved, no matter the cost.

Tomorrow, I’d go back to being Sierra Carter, the dean’s list student with a bright future. But for now, I was the Queen of the Circuit, ready to take on whatever the night demanded.