x's

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

k's

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

he race started. I got off my bike, took off my helmet, and slipped on my sunglasses. I loved the impress

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 embarrassed. 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

n's

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,

k's

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

x's

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,

k's

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

x's

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