IGNITE

twelve.

੭୧ 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 ੭୧

Terror.

It encapsulated every fibre of my being as I clung desperately to Greyson, my eyes tightly shut against the onslaught of wind that threatened to hurl me off of the back of this death trap.

That was my other name for his motorcycle. Death Trap.

My heart hammered in my chest hard enough that I was fairly certain Grey could feel it against his back while my head rested against his shoulder, my grip on him growing tighter by the second. I wasn't sure if I could bring myself to loosen my grip on the boy, not when my entire body screamed that I was going to die at any moment.

"Piper, I swear, if you don't loosen your grip on me, you're walking home." Grey's warning was a low threat, one that only made me tighten my arms around him.

"I-I can't!" I shouted over the rumble of the engine. I wasn't sure I had ever been as terrified as I was on this bike. Or that I ever wanted to be in this situation again. My entire body felt stiff and rigid with fear as we turned into a parking lot, pulling to a stop.

Grey planted his feet, bringing the motorcycle to a halt. I stayed rooted in my spot for a long moment, waiting for my body to relax, to feel normal, but it didn't, and the moment that Grey nudged my leg with his, I stiffened. "Piper, you're fine."

In one quick movement, I was off of the bike, scrambling to put as much distance between the Death Trap and I before bracing my hands on my knees and gasping for breath. My entire body trembled as I tried to breathe, knees shaking as if they were ready to buckle.

Greyson made no move to follow me. Instead, he dismounted from his bike, removing his helmet and crossing his arms, leaning against it and shooting me a frown. "Seriously?"

My hands shook as I took a slow breath fumbling with the strap of my helmet until Greyson leaned forward and tugged it free for me. I swiped my hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ears, an unsteady laugh leaving me as I shook my head. "Seriously. I'm walking home."

"Piper," he pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a sigh that told me he regretted inviting me far more than I regretted accepting. "Get on the damn bike."

I shook my head again, taking a step away from Grey and his Death Trap. "I am walking home." I repeated. "You are going to get me killed on that thing."

A shadow flickered in Grey's eyes, his features settling into a carefully blank mask. "Fine, walk." His tone turned curt, mean, as he reached for his helmet. "I don't know what I expected from an entitled brat, anyway. You should've just stayed home like I said."

Struggling to maintain composure, I nodded, hands tucked carefully into my sweater's pockets. I turned my back to him as I started for the road.

It was fine. I would rather walk back to the house than ride on that thing again.

✧

My entire body was shaking by the time I returned home, the once–warm air replaced by a biting chill and the night sky adorned with a myriad of stars. The boys were gathered around the kitchen island, their voices hushed until I caught Ryan's eyes, and their attention sharply turned toward me.

"Piper, where the hell have you been?" Ethan demanded, rushing across the room to inspect me for injuries. "Have we not talked about walking home alone? And leaving Cyrus' side at The Pit? What were you thinking?"

I rolled my eyes at Ethan's motherly lecture, my patience wearing thin as I opened my mouth to response, but Cyrus spoke from across the room, his voice tinged with a concern that had my eyes widening.