I turned the corner, my car entering the parking lot. The old parking lot where we used to race. Memories flooded back to me. Memories of the time I hit Suri, the time I beat Aaron in his first race here, our first kiss.
I slammed my foot into the brake, parking the car way too fast. The Celica jerked forward a bit with the sudden motion.
I shove the door open, stepping out and looking over at the field with tear stained cheeks.
I freeze when I see him there.
Slowly, I close the door, pulling my jacket tighter around me as I quietly made my way around the back of my car. I shove my hands into my pockets, the air only growing colder. Was it supposed to be this cold in California? Probably not.
I glance down at the ground as I start to near Aaron, who looks out at the clouds solemnly, leaning against the side of his Dodge Dart.
I glance at him, looking him up and down and stopping a few feet behind him. He wears his baggy jeans, a hoodie over his shirt. He looks tired, his messy hair messier than usual. It must be his college exam time, by the looks of it.
Before I even knew it, more tears were filling my eyes, and I let out a small sob, instantly silencing myself afterwards.
Aaron whirls around, a look of fear on his face. But when he registers its just me, he lets out a sigh of relief. He glances quickly back at me, then quickly looks away. He crosses his arms over his chest.
"You okay?" I ask, him turning back to the field. I take a shaky breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. He nods, but I know he's lying to me. I sniff and wipe at the tears threatening to roll down my face.
Without a second thought, I rush forward, pressing my body into his back. All the tears I was holding in escape, and I don't stop them. I wrap my arms around his waist, pushing the side of my face into his upper back. I can smell his cologne on his clothes, and it makes me feel a twinge of sadness. Gosh, I missed him.
Sobs rack my body, and I gasp and cry harder. I hold onto him, tightly. I feel his hands move from across his chest, sliding down until his fingers interlock with mine. My hands feel instantly warm at his touch.
"What happened to us?" I manage in between sobs.
Aaron snaps at this, pulling free of my arms gently and turning around to face me. He immediately had his hands on my waist. Aaron gingerly lifts my chin a little, so my tear stained face was looking into his. I sniff, biting back tears, and Aaron breaks down at that moment. He pulls me in, wrapping his strong arms around me.
"Nothing happened to us," he murmurs, and I know he doesn't see what I see in this.
I shake my head, keeping it rested on his chest. My eyes are wide open, staring blankly past his arms and into the parking lot.
"It's not the same anymore, Aaron," I say, my breath catching. Aaron lightly rubs my shoulder, exhaling a deep breath. He gently rests his chin on the top of my head, and he stays quiet.
Now I know he knows and sees what has happened; what has come between us.
"I don't think taking this racing thing was a good idea..." I mumble, "it's just another rock that will come between us."
Aaron pulls away, and I look up at him. His blue eyes sparkle with tears, and he shakes his head profusely.
"No, Luna, this is good. This is your dream isn't it?" He says. I back away from him, glancing around as I think over this. I sniff and wipe my eyes.
"I'm not going to let you throw away your dreams just because you think this is happening too fast. Just because of me," he argues.
I look up at him.
"It's not just you, Aaron," I tell him, "it's my family, my friends. I feel like I'll lose everyone because of this..."
Aaron grabs both my shoulders, rubbing his thumbs along my skin. I stare into his eyes, more tears falling down my cheeks.
"This is a chance you will never get again," he says, "I know it's stressful, and a little scary, but nothing will happen to your friends and your family. And me. If they give up on you that fast, then you don't deserve them, and they don't deserve you."
I nod, believing him. He was right. If they let go that easy on me, then they never even cared in the first place.
"Yeah, I guess your right," I say, and he adjusts his arm so that he has one arm wrapped around my waist, standing next to me now.
"It'll be okay," he says, leaning down and giving me a peck on the cheek. I give him a tight smile, but quickly look down.
He was right.
Wasn't he?
YOU ARE READING
Adrenaline Racer
Teen Fiction***Sequel to Street Racer*** Luna Lake had worked her whole life to be accepted by her family. She lived in a family of police officers, pressured to be someone she wasn't. She found escape in racing, but her cover wouldn't stay secret forever. But...
