The Golden Boy

3-Her Eyes Meet Mine

The days were starting to blend together. Each one felt like a slow-motion replay of the last, and the weight of everything—the lies, the pills, the pressure—was becoming harder to ignore. I'd wake up every morning, feeling like I was putting on armor just to get through the day. At school, it was all about keeping up appearances, maintaining that perfect image everyone expected. But inside, I felt like I was one misstep away from everything falling apart.

The only time I really felt in control was during those moments behind the wheel, when the roar of the engine drowned out the noise in my head. The problem was, even that escape was starting to feel temporary. Racing used to be the place where I could forget about everything, where the adrenaline rush made me feel alive. Now, it was like I was chasing something I couldn't catch, and the pills were becoming more than just a crutch.

It was during one of those endless, repetitive school days that I saw her.

I was sitting in the cafeteria with Liam, Jaxon, and Asher, doing the usual: laughing at some joke Asher had made, throwing out casual comments about the weekend race. I was going through the motions, playing my part. That's when she walked in.

She didn't stroll in like she owned the place—there was none of that. Instead, she moved quietly, with an air of confidence that came from within. She wasn't like the other girls I was used to seeing at school, the ones who giggled at everything and shot flirty glances my way. No, she had something different, something I couldn't put my finger on. She was new—definitely new. I would've remembered seeing her before.

Her eyes met mine, just for a second, but that was all it took. There was something in the way she looked at me—like she could see right through all the layers, right past the charm I wore like a mask. It was like she was looking at me, not the version of Ryder that everyone else saw.

I tried to play it cool, leaning back in my chair and breaking eye contact, but I felt an unexpected surge of curiosity. Who was she? Why did she seem so unfazed by everything around her?

"Who's that?" Asher muttered, following my gaze.

"No clue," Liam answered before I could, glancing over his shoulder. "Must be new. Pretty cute, though."

"Definitely," Asher agreed, flashing one of his signature smirks. "Think she'll fall for Ryder's charm by the end of the day?"

I forced a grin. It was easy to play along with their teasing, but deep down, I was already thinking about how she looked at me. There was something different in her eyes, something... real.

For the rest of the day, I couldn't stop thinking about her. Every time I passed through the halls, I caught myself scanning the crowd, hoping to catch another glimpse. I didn't even know her name, but somehow, she was already in my head, crowding out the usual noise.

It wasn't until after lunch that I saw her again, standing by her locker, flipping through a textbook like she wasn't surrounded by chaos. I don't know what made me do it—maybe it was the way she carried herself, like she didn't care about impressing anyone. Maybe it was the fact that I was tired of pretending, tired of the game I played every day. Whatever it was, I found myself walking toward her before I could stop myself.

She looked up as I approached, her eyes meeting mine again. There it was—that same look. She wasn't impressed, but she wasn't dismissing me either. She just... looked. Like she was curious but wasn't going to show it too easily.

"Hey," I said, leaning casually against the locker next to hers. "You're new, right?"

She nodded, closing her textbook and tucking it under her arm. "Yeah. First day."

Her voice was soft but steady, like she wasn't the least bit intimidated by me or the attention. It was refreshing, actually—being around someone who didn't already have a predetermined opinion of who I was supposed to be.

"I'm Ryder," I introduced myself, offering a small smile. "Welcome to the circus."

She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that felt real, not forced. "Circus, huh? That sounds about right."

I chuckled, realizing I liked the way she didn't jump to be overly friendly or impressed. There was no eager attempt to fit in, no quick offer of friendship. She was just... herself. "It's a bit of a zoo around here, but you'll get used to it. What's your name?"

"Lila," she said simply, her eyes still locked on mine. There was something about the way she looked at me—like she was waiting for something, but I didn't know what. It wasn't like the way most people looked at me, expecting me to say something funny or charming. She just... waited.

"Well, Lila, if you ever need a tour guide, I know my way around," I offered, trying to keep my tone light. "Or if you want to escape the chaos, I've got a fast car."

She raised an eyebrow, not in a flirty way, but more like she was genuinely intrigued by the offer. "Fast car, huh? You a racer or something?"

I smiled, surprised she caught on so quickly. "Something like that."

"Sounds dangerous," she said, her tone teasing, but there was an edge of curiosity behind her words. "What's the rush?"

The question hit deeper than she probably meant it to. What was the rush? I had been asking myself that question for weeks now—ever since the pills started to feel more like a necessity than a choice. I hesitated, searching for the usual quick, clever response, but nothing came.

"Sometimes, you just need to feel like you're outrunning something," I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended. It was more honest than I had been in a long time.

She studied me for a moment, and I half expected her to laugh it off or throw back a sarcastic comment. But instead, she just nodded like she understood. Like she really understood.

"Well," she said, finally breaking the silence, "maybe one day I'll take you up on that ride."

Before I could say anything else, she turned and walked down the hallway, leaving me standing there feeling... different. Lighter, almost.

For the first time in a long time, someone had looked at me without seeing the mask I wore, without expecting anything from me. Lila didn't know about the pills, about the racing, or the secrets I was hiding. But I had a feeling she could see the cracks forming beneath the surface—and somehow, she wasn't scared away.

As I watched her disappear into the crowd, I realized something that both excited and terrified me.

I wanted her to see more.

The problem was, I wasn't sure if I was ready to show her everything that was lurking in the shadows of my perfect life.