l

o'clock in the morning. My feet ached terri

em tonight, but I honestly wasn't interested in that kind of outing. My father had been hit by a motorcycle

t on my bed, pulled out my pencils and sketchbook, and stared at the blank pa

r every detail and

inished the main outlines. That was when his intense gaze came t

es on the paper. A gaze so intense it looked lik

spine just from looking at it. All the desire and

ment doorbell pulled m

as if the apartment were her own. Honestly, she pr

ith the guys in thirty minutes," she said,

after last night," I said

, we promised t

my protests and tossed a pair of short

erious? It's col

ature will rise quickly,

e clothes, and went to

e

void getting caught by the police. Though it was sometimes a close call, but I'd never been caught.

just as I did every night I planned to r

ing the race." I got off my bike, took off my helmet, and slipped on my sunglasses. I loved the impressi

d the Mustang

g your opponents," I said

hem. You know I'm not that cru

r, smiling; she definitel

heir brand-new little Suzukis. I watched the newcomers,

nguage told me she felt embarassed. Her friend, on the other hand, looked completely at

g at?" Ayden asked,

e new kids and t

it?" Ayden said with a smi

s really about to make me

y

I called out as I

ver, these brats acting as

little race?"

and around?" The little blond sh

buddy over there is looking for

ati, hoping to make them feel comfortable. If I pointed

e him on whenever," th

say in twenty

es!" He c

hing, to where Derek and Sophie

did with Tom, did you?" Sophie

It was Derek who wanted

, who only turned his

aid, leaving me with Sophie,

e

ces knew my bike was the one to fear. Those two had just shown up to show off in front of

recognized almost everyone here. I grew up in this environment since childhood; my only other

and grab a beer when the blonde from the clu

She asked, gazing at m

lied, running my t

es, we ended up pressed

time now?" She asked, he

ace in ten minu

enough, isn't it

k where the newcomers were, only t

g herself against me. My eyes found that other girl-the one who ha

t straight

l

chat with the boys; their macho, narcissistic

les in front of me, my eyes drifted to a couple

t of details in the sketch I drew earlier. Once more, I found myself com

es on. His face was turned in my direction, and

in, I couldn't look away, caught by that strange rush of sensations building inside me

y we'd come with asked, slip

, breaking my gaze fr

ars," I answered, crossing my arms

you'll miss the start," he said,

e

d that girl just pull away wh

o the girl next to me, who by n

r?" She asked, her

ssed my lips to hers. Honestly, though, my mind was elsewhere right

phie, Ayden, and the others

d she didn't seem to notice me at all, ev

e kids?" Ayden shouted as I

d pulled off

in, are you?" Sophie called ou

motivated I was to give th

l

struggled to concentrate on what Marina was saying, the roa

claimed, clearly thrilled. "He has an inc

cycle as it rolled to a stop beside the two gu

rm right away-I'd drawn it s

centerpiece a Tibetan face reimagined in a pop-rock style, tongue sticking out, surrounded by

ll, mouth wide open and teeth bared as if it were about to

arm, I was completely mesmerized by the artwork cover

catching me as I tried to t

ed me with

inally mana

er leaving the man on the motorcycle. "He'

man on the motorcycle, and a

e-then, just as a gunshot rang