Dark Horse: Academy Elite Series Book 1

Chapter One

There was no questioning my parents' love. The scar of losing them will always motivate me to be the best version of myself. I hadn't been to Germany since we moved away when I was five years old. I'm eighteen now. But it was even more beautiful than I remember. When everything is said and done, will you be happy with your life? My father's words to me after every race. And all I ever said back was, As long as you're there, my life will be grand.

But I'm all alone. All I have is my dream. If I didn't have that, I'd be lost in a world that tries to tear me down. And that is certainly never going to happen as long I am in control. But I'm still alone. I have nobody to cheer me on. Nobody that matters, I thought.

The taxi had dropped me off, leaving me to fend for myself.

Yeah, because I've done so well for myself so far.

Everything felt familiar and different at the same time. New buildings everywhere I looked. Vines wrapping the walls like stitchings in a dress.

"Hello? Sir? Can you help me find this address?"

Amelia, he doesn't understand you. He's German. "Hallo?" I repeated in German. My accent I had when I was little was a bit rusty. "Uh, Ich bin Amelia."

His eyes sparkled against the sun. Like staring into a pool during the summer. Flowy blonde hair breaking free from the constraints. "You can't understand me because I'm practically speaking Mandarin."

His one eye twitched like he was amused or something. Germans and their fascination in tormenting Americans.

"I understand you perfectly fine, American. I just don't feel like wasting my time speaking to you."

"Clearly. If that were the case, you would've left me to fend all alone minutes ago."

"You don't know me."

"I know boys will be boys."

He stepped closer to me, his breath in my face. "I am not a boy. Perhaps open your eyes."

"I'd rather stare up at the sun and go completely blind."

"Evolutionsbremse!"

Pushing him away with, "Heißluffgeblӓse!"

"So, you do know how to speak German?"

I refuse to sink to his level. The audacity of this man. I fixated on the bridge of his nose. "Did I hurt your feelings, American? Cat got your tongue?" he smiled.

"Sorry, I thought I was talking to an adult."

"And your proof that god has a sense of humor."

"Remind me: Am I supposed to care?"

"You're the American lost in Germany speaking broken German, you tell me?"

Without sinking to a new low, I walked in the opposite direction of him. I was used to walking alone. Ever since my parents died, I did it as a coping method. I had to get back into shape after my injuries and walking always calmed my nerves. And here I wanted to throttle the playboy looking asshole. Ugh, it's like he knows he's that good looking. Not that I think that. He's very vexing.

I found the house I was searching for about an hour or so later. "Home."

After a long journey and a run in with Germany's biggest asshole, I need to refresh and wash the day away. It's not like he knows who I am. No one does. Well, that's not entirely true, now is it? They don't know who my father is. And I didn't get to where I am today because I'm a Slaymaker. No, my hardwork and dedication got me here. I didn't need my rich parents to buy me a spot at this Academy. And no one was going to sabotage my dreams, even if that means I'm casted out by the other drivers.

It took a bit for the shower to warm up. Testing the water with my hand, I accept my fate and hop on in. The water hitting my skin was like being wrapped up in a blanket, warm and comforting. It felt like I was in there forever when a cool breeze washed over me.

"You."

"I didn't realize breaking into homes was a new German tradition."

"Get out of my house."

"Your house? Funny, I didn't see a sign that said, 'Asshole lives here'." I smiled as I stood my ground.

He took a step closer to me. "Get out."

"You should really come with a warning label, Rich Boy."

"You see that door? I want you on the other side of it."

I tossed him a siren-eyed look before hand delivering my victory over him. "If you wanted to sleep with me, all you had to do was ask? Foreplay could use a bit of work though."

His jaw tightened with every second he stared at me. "If I wanted a bitch, I would've gotten a dog."

"Take a picture, it'll last longer."

"What you lack in beauty, you make up for in stupidity."

"This has been absolutely satisfying, but I never signed up to be part of a snooze fest. My training starts in a few days and you're on my last nerve."

"Get out of my house."

"It's not. Feel free to call your lawyers, Rich Boy."

"That's not my name."

"And I don't plan on learning it."

"Bitch."

"Asshole."

I didn't know why some stranger got under my skin. For crying out loud, I was flaunting my confidence. But he was different. Not the kind of difference that makes people whisper or point at you. No, but someone that actually stands to ruin everything I've worked my ass off. And of course, he's German.

And he's living in the house I was raised in? Right, the family that my father mentioned in his letter. But that doesn't mean I have to like it? I came here to become a Formula 1 Driver and won't let some egotistical rich boy destroy that. It's do or die. Dreams don't happen if you sit back and wait for them. I have to make my parents proud even if I push everyone away. Even if I find happiness somewhere else, I have to do this. I have to try.

My parents believed me even when I wanted to walk away from everything. I yanked the towel off of the hook and wrapped it around me like a snake and slithered out of the bathroom, dismissing The German and his cold blue eyes.