Ten Days ✿ Shawn Mendes a.u.

Day 3

My jaw dropped. I had never seen anything like this before. Everywhere I looked I saw red and white stripes, rubber tyres, steel beams and tarmac.

Shawn seemed to say something but I couldn't understand a word because my ears were buzzing with engine spluttering, coughing and whining. In the distance a go-kart skidded, piercing the air with an ear deafening scream.

"What?" I shouted back. "I can't hear anything." I turned to Shawn. He was beaming from ear to ear, his cheeks flushed a healthy, warm shade of dark pink.

"Oh yeah it's the engines." Shawn shouted. "I said: welcome to go karting!" He threw his hands out sideways, sending me a goofy smile.

I laughed heartily. "Thanks."

I followed Shawn's gaze to the actual track itself which was boarded by concrete and tyres. The karts whizzed dizzyingly past, some overtaking and some even crashing into the barrier.

I couldn't help but feel my mouth go dry. I had never done anything close to as exciting and dangerous as this and I wasn't going to lie, I was nervous.

"Shawn?" I called, pulling him down so that he could hear me. "Are you sure it's safe? It looks...dangerous."

Shawn laughed and pinched my cheeks. "That's half the fun Primrose."

"What?" I said worriedly.

"You'll be fine." Shawn reassured me. "C'mon let's get kitted up."

I broke into a sweat. My heart pounded, and my hand began to feel clammy against my bouncing knee as I waited for the big men to bring our suits. The very act of watching the racers was hurting my eyes, and my heart felt like it was threatening to burst from my ribcage.

We clutched our suit and helmet as a man in a red fleece explained how to use the karts and how to speed up, brake, what to do if you crashed and how to overtake someone. Following that were the health and safety rules.

"Rose." Shawn whispered, leaning over so that I could hear him. "Are you nervous?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and met his cool eyes. They were pools of amusement.

"No." I lied.

"Really? Because your knuckles are white."

I looked down at my hands which were clutching my suit. Indeed, they were white.

"Don't worry." He whispered, "I'm going to be right here." He said, squeezing my shoulders.

After we had filled in some slips of paper, we put on our helmets and suits.

I felt extremely stupid in my boiler suit which was about two sizes too large for me. But Shawn obviously looked great in his, and he was buzzing and ready to go.

I could feel Shawn's gaze burning into my skin, not helping the fact that my cheeks were already hot and pink from being in the hot suit.

"You look really cute." Shawn said, regarding my outfit. He ran his fingers through his long hair, pulling it away from his damp forehead.

I blushed hotly. "I look ridiculous."

Just then, the strange man from before shoved a pair of gloves into our hands. I put them on, cringing as soon as my fingers touched the dampness inside.

"Yours are wet inside too, right?" Shawn whispered, with wide eyes.

I giggled and nodded.