Street Heat

Chapter One - Starting Line

The moment I pull up, I feel the shift in the air. All eyes snap to my car, and I can't help but smile. My baby blue '95 Mitsubishi Eclipse glides into the lot, the custom butterfly livery catching the neon lights. I hear whispers and see heads turning in my direction. The crowd parts like I'm royalty, and it felt like I was for a moment.

Yeah, they know who I am.

I rev the engine once, just for show, and park with a smooth swing into my spot. The Eclipse purrs beneath me as I kill the engine. It's more than just a car, it's my reputation, my pride. And judging by the faces around me, they're expecting me to take another win tonight. The door swings open, and I step out, greeted by familiar faces and nods of respect. I wave to a few people, offering quick smiles. Everyone's cool with me. Whether it's respect and admiration, or just knowing I don't mess around on the track, I don't care. I love this. The attention, the energy. 

"Lottie!" I hear Magnus before I see him. Turning, I catch him weaving through the crowd with a grin plastered across his face. His brown hair's tucked under a bandana, and he's got that laid-back swagger like he always does. He was my best friend. We've been close since middle school. No one ever came between us, and will never. "Took your sweet time getting here," Magnus teases, giving me a light punch on the arm. "Thought maybe you were giving the rest of us a head start."

"What can I say? Gotta make an entrance." I smirk, leaning against the hood of my car.

"Well, mission accomplished," he says, nodding toward the crowd that's still buzzing around my car. "Everyone's betting on you to win."

"As they should," I wink at him. The confidence wasn't an act, it was earned. I've never been one to lose my cool on the track, and I plan on keeping it that way tonight. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a familiar figure leaning against a Mustang, Roman. Tall, with dark brown, messy hair that always looks like he just rolled out of bed, but in a way that works for him. His sharp jawline and striking green eyes seem to cut through the crowd, making it impossible not to notice him. He's watching me with that infuriating grin of his, arms crossed like he owns the place. He doesn't say anything, but his eyes are doing enough talking for both of us. The tension between us? It's been there for a while, simmering under the surface. He's the kind of guy who knows how to get under your skin, and he's been trying to get under mine for months. I feel my pulse quicken as I meet his gaze. There's something about the way he looks at me, like he knows exactly what he's doing, like he's waiting for me to make the first move. I roll my eyes and push off the hood, turning back to Magnus. "Let's do this."

"You hyped or what? Big money at stake tonight." Magnus asks, already heading toward his car, a beat-up Nissan with more heart than horsepower.

"Oh, you bet," I replied, heading toward my Eclipse. I spare one last glance at Roman. He doesn't say a word, just gives me a nod, like we both know how this night's going to end. I slide into the driver's seat, grip the steering wheel, and feel the familiar rush of adrenaline start to build. The engines are revving now, Magnus is parked at the starting line beside me, I tighten my grip on the wheel, my heart pounding to the beat of the engine. I felt my nerves bubbling.

"You ready for this?" Magnus's voice crackles over my radio. We've done this a hundred times, but tonight feels different. I glanced through the rearview mirror, catching sight of Roman leaning against his Mustang. He's not racing tonight, but his presence is undeniable like a magnet pulling me in. I shake it off, focusing on the task ahead.