Landon’s POV
The roar of engines drowned out everything else.
I adjusted my racing gloves and slid into the driver’s seat of my GT-R.
The familiar scent of leather wrapped around me like an old friend.
This was my happy place.
I pulled the harness across my chest and fastened it.
Click.
Outside my windshield, mechanics hurried away from the cars.
The race marshal walked down the line, making final checks.
Across from me… Paxton leaned against his Ferrari with that same smug grin on his stupid face, he lost to me once and became a sore loser.
The moment our eyes met, he smiled wider and he mouthed something.
“You’re losing today.”
I simply looked away.
Talking before a race was pointless.
The finish line always answered for us.
Someone against my window, i rolled it down halfway and Kai one of my very few friends leaned in with a grin.
“You sure you’re good?”
“When have I not been?”
He laughed.
“I ask you before every race.”
“And I give the same answer.”
His smile faded slightly.
“You look distracted.”
“I’m not.” I lied and tried not to stare at Odessa looking like a temptation wrapped in what she was wearing.
His eyes followed mine and I looked away immediately and rolled the window back up before he could say anything else.
Idiot.
I hadn’t meant to look at her, but somehow my eyes always found her anyway.
Odessa stood beside Maya and Naomi near the barrier.
Even from this distance, I could recognize her immediately, her white top clung to her skin and her hair made a stark contrast with the top.
What was she doing here?
This wasn’t somewhere people like her came for fun, I looked at Noami and scoffed, she was always here so maybe she’s the reason Odessa is here too.
She didn’t belong here, I watched a man ogle her openly and I gripped the steering wheel tighter.
Why hadn’t her friends taken her somewhere normal?
A movement across the track pulled me back.
Paxton was staring at her and then he looked back at me and then smirked.
I wanted to kill him.
The loudspeaker crackled.
“Drivers!”
The crowd erupted.
“Get ready!”
I took one slow breath and focused.
The marshal walked to the centre of the track holding a black flag.
Every engine around me came alive and the ground vibrated beneath the tires.
The sound echoed through my chest and my fingers tightened around the wheel.
Three.
Two.
One.
The flag dropped and i slammed my foot onto the accelerator.
The GT-R launched forward with brutal force.
The seat pushed hard against my back as the engine roared.
Beside me, Paxton’s Ferrari exploded off the line just as fast.
For the first few seconds we were perfectly even.
The crowd became nothing more than blurred shapes outside my window.
One hundred kilometres per hour.
One twenty.
One forty.
The first corner rushed toward us.
Paxton cut inside first, his Ferrari slipped ahead by half a car length, I actually expected it because his car was lighter.
I eased off the throttle for half a second, turned sharply and then let the rear of the GT-R slide.
The tires screeched against the asphalt.
Smoke burst behind me.
The car drifted perfectly around the corner before snapping back into line.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
I caught a glimpse of Paxton in my mirror, he was still ahea of me but barely, he was really putting his all this time aroun.
“Not bad,” I muttered.
The next straight stretched ahead, I shifted gears and the engine roared louder.
The speedometer climbed relentlessly.
The Ferrari was still in front but the gap between was shrinking little by little.
We entered the S-curves almost side by side.
Our mirrors came within inches of touching.
The crowd roared as sparks flew from the edge of his car scraping the barrier.
He corrected immediately and so did I and as we exited the final curve of the first lap i pulled level with him.
Our windows were almost perfectly aligned.
He turned his head, our eyes met for the briefest moment.
Then he grinned and deliberately edged his car toward mine.
My jaw tightened.
“You’re playing dirty.”
The Ferrari nudged closer, if he came another inch then we’d both spin out.
I refused to flinch.
Instead I held my line.
Our cars raced side by side down the straight road, neither of us willing to give the other an inch.
Paxton tried to force me toward the barrier but I didn’t move.
Everything as silent, all I could hear was the deafening roar of our engines.
He wanted me to panic.
The next corner was less than fifty meters away.
At the last possible second, I slammed on the brakes.
The GT-R dipped forward before I flicked the steering wheel.
The rear tires broke loose instantly.
The car slid sideways through the corner in one smooth motion.
Paxton overshot the turn but I smiled.
“Got you.”
I hit the accelerator and the GT-R shot out of the drift like a bullet.
I was in front now and the crowd erupted into cheers.
I saw flashes from phones lighting up the night.
People were standing on top of cars, screaming my name.
“Landon!”
“Harlway!”
“Go!”
I ignored every single voice, there were still two laps left so it was still too early to celebrate.
Paxton stayed glued to my rear bumper.
He wasn’t giving up.
The second lap disappeared in a blur of corners and straightaways.
Every time he closed the gap i pulled away again.
Every time I thought I’d lost him, his headlights filled my mirrors, how annoying.
Exactly like the guy driving it.
The final lap banner came into view.
The loudspeaker echoed across the track.
“FINAL LAP!”
The crowd somehow became even louder.
I tightened my grip on the wheel.
This was it, the long back straight.
Sure enough, Paxton pulled out beside me till we were neck and neck again.
He looked across at me and his smirk as gone.
I didn’t even look back.
I was watching the final corner.
The most dangerous turn on the circuit.
Most drivers slowed down here for safety but I rarely did.
The corner rushed toward us, Paxton braked but I didn’t.
I tapped the brake and turned hard, the GT-R rotated beautifully.
The rear stepped out just enough.
Perfect.
I was already accelerating before the car had straightened.
The Ferrari couldn’t match it.
The finish line flashed ahead beneath bright floodlights.
I buried my foot into the accelerator and the engine screeched one final time.
Then I crossed the line.
The crowd were going crazy with cheers and people shouted my name from every direction.
I slowed the car and rolled toward the pit area.
When I climbed out Kai was already running toward me.
“You absolute maniac!”
He threw an arm around my shoulders.
“I thought you were going to kill both of you in that last corner.”
“I knew what I was doing.”
“You’re insane.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
Behind us Paxton climbed out of his Ferrari, he ripped his helmet off and threw it onto the hood of his car.
The loud clang echoed through the pit lane.
His eyes found mine and then he looked away with a curse under his breath.
He got back into his Ferrari and sped out of the venue.
What a looser Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Kai let out a low whistle.
“Someone’s a sore loser.”
“He’ll survive.”
“You just destroyed his winning streak.”
“I know.”
“And in front of half the city.”
“I know.”
Kai laughed.
“I almost feel bad for him.”
“I actually don’t.”
He clapped me on the shoulder before wandering off to celebrate with the others.
I stayed where I was watching the crowd slowly spill onto the track.
Then I saw Odessa.
She was weaving through the people, looking around as if searching for someone.
I didn’t need a psychic to know it was me, I sighed quietly and she spotted me almost immediately.
Her face lit up with relief before she hurried over.
She stopped a few feet away, slightly out of breath.
“You won.”
“I noticed.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I was trying to congratulate you.”
“Thanks.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks pinky.”
The noise around us faded into the background.
She looked down at the ground.
“I’ve been meaning to say something.”
I folded my arms.
“What?”
“You were right.”
I frowned.
“About what?” “When I came to the boxing gym.”
Her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag.
“I shouldn’t have asked about your fights.”
I looked at her quietly.
“I crossed a line.”
“You did.”
“I know so I’m sorry.”
The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard, this was getting awkward, I rubbed the back of my neck.
“I wasn’t exactly nice either.”
She looked up.
“I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
A small smile appeared on her face.
“So we’re both stubborn.”
“Looks like it.”
She laughed softly.
“Our tutoring sessions” I said
She tilted her head.
“What about them?”
“The library is useless I guess.”
She nodded.
“Too noisy and too crowded.”
“And people keep interrupting.”
“That’s true.”
I hesitated for a second then I spoke before I could change my mind.
“Come to my house after school tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened.
“Your house?”
“It’s quieter.”
She stared at me in complete surprise.
“Are… are you sure?”
“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have said it.”
She smiled sheepishly “Okay.”
I nodded once.
“Four o’clock.”
I turned toward my car.
“I’ll give you the address, and don’t be late.” I said and she just stood there with her eyes wide.
I chuckled and got on my bike