Silver Lining ❥ daerin

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎: 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫

𝚂̷𝚊̷𝚐̷𝚎̷

Sitting in my room, I replayed the conversation with Calista over and over in my head. She races. It all made sense now—the motorcycle, the luxurious car parked in her driveway. How did I not piece it together sooner? I stared blankly at my computer screen, unable to focus on anything else. I felt like I'd stumbled upon some secret Calista hadn't meant to share, but there she was, casually telling me she was a racer as if it were no big deal. But it was a big deal—at least to me.

Curiosity got the better of me, and before I knew it, I was typing her name into the search bar. A flood of articles and videos popped up instantly. I scrolled through the headlines, my eyes widening as I took it all in:

'Calista Avellino: The Fearless Prodigy of the Racing World'

Rebellious Racer Takes the Championship by Storm'

The New Face of Danger on the Track.'

Fearless? Rebellious? I clicked on one of the videos, my stomach fluttering with nervous anticipation as the screen filled with clips of Calista behind the wheel. The roar of engines filled my room, and I watched, transfixed, as she maneuvered her car through tight corners, accelerating with a kind of confidence and precision that left me breathless. She weaved through competitors effortlessly, almost like she wasn't afraid of anything. It was hard to believe the Calista I'd met—who always seemed so calm and reserved—was the same person being described as a daredevil on the track.

But as I watched more clips, I started to notice something. Sure, she was fast, and yes, her driving was undeniably risky at times, but she didn't strike me as rebellious. Not in the way the media portrayed her. There was something controlled about the way she handled herself, even in the most chaotic moments of the race. It was almost like she calculated every move. The articles painted her as a rule-breaker, but the more I watched, the more I saw someone in full control of

her world.

I couldn't stop. I watched race after race, reading every comment and absorbing every bit of information I could find. Calista was one of the most sought-out racers in the country right now, someone everyone seemed to be watching closely, waiting for her next move. It felt strange knowing I'd been standing right there with her just hours ago, completely oblivious to the fact that she was this... famous.

The more I watched, the more I admired her. There was a raw intensity in her driving that was hard to look away from, but there was also this strange feeling creeping up inside me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it—whether it was admiration, curiosity, or something else entirely—but whatever it was, it had me glued to the screen.

Then it hit me. The race. I glanced at the clock and realised how much time I'd spent watching videos of her. I needed to get ready. Today, I'd see her race for real, not just on a screen. The thought made my heart skip a beat. I wasn't just watching some random driver—I was going to watch Calista. The Calista who lives next door.

I scrambled to get dressed, feeling the nerves creep in as I thought about heading to the track. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew I had to see it for myself—the way she became a different person on the track. The way she turned into someone who was all about speed, precision, and maybe a little bit of rebellion.

Grabbing my bag, I gave myself one last look in the mirror. My mind raced as fast as the cars in those videos. Today wasn't just about watching a race; it was about seeing Calista in her element—completely unfiltered. And something about that had me both excited and anxious.