Full Throttle

Going Public

I pulled off my helmet and waited at the side for Julien's kart to pull in. I'd beaten him, obviously, and set a track record at the venue we were at; although I'd told them not to keep it as the record. Julien got up off the kart and took his helmet off, shaking out his blonde hair and running a hand through the slightly sweaty strands.
"I told you I'd win," I taunted. He stuck his tongue out and walked towards me, his arm sliding around my waist as we walked back to the main meeting area.
"Hello, did you enjoy the track?" the woman at the desk, Sofia, asked us.
"It was great, I'll definitely be coming here again," I said.
"It has been a pleasure to have you here. Do you mind if we get a photo to put on our website?"
"Sure," I nodded, standing behind Sofia and holding up my helmet. Julien took the picture and gave the phone back.
"Thank you for coming, hope to see you again soon!"
"Thank you, au revoir!"

"I can't believe that you drove those when you were 7," Julien said to me as we left.
"Oh no, the ones I had were much faster. I'll have to ask my dad for some videos of me kart racing."
"That would be good. What do you want to do now?"
"I'm not too sure. Want to get a takeaway?"
"Absolutely. We could eat on the beach as well, if you want?"
"Sounds good. I'm paying," I said, walking in the direction of the sea-front.
"No, you are not paying. I shall pay."
"No, I will pay."
"I will not allow you to pay. It's only a takeaway, let me get it."
"Exactly! It's only a takeaway, so why don't you let me pay for it."
"Because a lady should never pay."
"That's some patriarchal bullshit right there," I argued, crossing my arms.
"Maybe so, but I am still paying."
"No, you are not!"
"I am!"
"Am not!"
"Am!"
"Am not!"
"I am paying!" I insisted.
"Jessie, you aren't paying."
"Yes, I a-" I was cut off by Julien picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder.
"Put me down!" I cried.
"Nope, I'm paying. You cannot do anything about it," he laughed as I struggled.
"Julien!"
"How's pizza sound? I fancy a pizza; do you fancy a pizza?"
"Put me down!"
"Pizza it is."

"Nick is going to kill me," I said, licking the sauce of my fingers as Julien finished the last slice.
"So, don't tell him," he chuckled.
"He'll find out."
"Blame me, then. It was my idea."
"Aww, taking the fall for me. How sweet."
"Jessie," Julien started.
"Julien."
He turned to me.
"I was wondering, I know that we haven't exactly known each other for too long, but I can feel a connection between us, and I hope that you feel it too. Spending time with you makes me feel warm, and I enjoy every second that I'm around you. Now, I promise that there is no ulterior motive. I don't want you for your money or your fame or to drag you down, I want you for you. I am ready to give you my all. Jessica Elizabeth Diana Osbourne, will you honour me by being my girlfriend?"
I sat frozen, my heart beating at a million miles per hour as I tried to form the word that I wanted to say. Eventually, I did.
"Yes!"
His face lit up, a smile spreading across his face and I threw my arms around him.
"Oh, je suis trés heureux que toi a dit oui!" He pulled back and held my face between both of his hands. My eyes fluttered downwards to his lips, and back up again to meet his eyes.
"May I kiss you?" he whispered; his face so very close to mine.
"Yes."
The kiss was gentle, it was tender. It was uncertain and sweet and everything that a first kiss should be. It was kind. It was trusting. It was innocent. Our lips separated, our foreheads meeting each other as we shared, just for a second, the brief passing of time that followed. I looked up into his eyes again, finding the same tangle of emotion in the heavy-lidded gaze that was returned to me. His hands left my face to lift me onto his lap. My arms wrapped themselves around the back of his neck, my legs either side of his as I felt his hands rest on my waist. I brought our lips together again. His hands tightened their grip on my waist, one of them running up under my shirt and over my back, making me gasp and my skin prickle at the sudden cold touch. Julien took that chance to deepen the kiss, and I moved further towards him, repositioning myself on him lap. My hands ran down from his shoulders, balling up the fabric of his shirt over his chest in an attempt to bring myself even closer to him. We pulled away, breathing heavily.
"Well, that was," I paused, trying to find the right words.
"Heavy," Julien finished, gulping down air. I nodded and smiled as I placed my hands on either sides of his face and kissed him lightly, just for a second.
"You do trust me, though, don't you? When I say that I'm only here for you, I mean it," Julien assured me, his hands still resting on my waist. I nodded to him.
"Good," he breathed. "So you won't mind me tickling you, then?"
"No!" I squealed, twisting my body to try to evade him. I failed, obviously, and ended up falling on the floor in a fit of giggles and shrieks as he tickled my sides.
"No! Julien, stop! Julien!" I roared, trying to bat his hands away as he continued his attack. He stopped, and I was left trying to catch my breath, glaring at him as he laughed to himself.
"It's not funny!" I huffed, blowing a piece of my hair out of my face.
"It is."
"It is not!"
"Chérie, do you really want to argue with me again?"
I scowled at him, making him laugh once more.
"Come on," he said, taking my hand and hauling me up, "let's take a picture together with the sunset. You can post it on your Instagram."
"I think people will be suspicious if I post a picture with somebody they don't know."
"Then, tell them."
"No, that will mean that you're in the public eye, and that's not fun."
"I don't care. I want people to know that you are no longer on the market; that you are with me and I with you."
I rolled my eyes, not displaying how sweet I thought he was, and agreed.