The Ride of My Life (an Ansel Elgort story)

Chapter 24

Ansel's POV

It's been several days since the big surprise. I've tried to let Lucy have a lot of time to spend with her brother. We've been texting and talking on the phone, but I haven't seen her in person since that night.

I miss her so much.

I'm falling in love with her and I'm not even afraid to say it.

She's the only girl I've ever dated that would let me kiss her in the rain.
She's the only girl I've ever dated that I would want to kiss in the rain.

I decide not to wait any longer. I have to see her. I have to.

"Hello?" She answers, when I call.

"Lucy, are you doing anything today?" I ask.

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"I want to take you on a date. Could you be ready by two?"

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Lucy's POV

Two?! That's only 10 minutes!

"Uhmmm. Yeah. Two will work." I say, hesitantly.

"Great! I'll see you then." Ansel says. We hang up and almost immediately after my phone rings again.

"I forgot to say, don't dress up." He says, as if he read my mind. Then we hang up.

I look down at my outfit. White tank-top, neon pink shorts, and black converse. Eh, it'll do.

I grab my purse and go downstairs to wait.

"Where are you going?" my mom questions.

"Out," I say.

"With?"

"Ansel."

"Oh okay. That's good." She says.

My mom knows I don't really have many friends, so why she asked is a mystery to me.

Chloe and Natalie aren't really my friends. They're mainly acquaintances. I can truly say Ansel is my best friend. And I can also say, Ansel is probably the best thing that's ever happened to me.

The doorbell rings soon after and my mom beats me to it. She opens it and Ansel appears. As soon as our eyes meet, we both smile.

"Hello, Mrs. Taylor," he says. Ansel never fails to amaze me with his manners.

"Ansel, I told you you can call me Debbie! So where will you two be going?" She asks. The only reason she's this interested in my life is because she thinks Ansel is a good influence on me. Or because she thinks he's cute.

"Ah, well, you see, it's kind of a surprise. But, I can tell you," he says and whispers our plans in my mom's ear.

"How fun! You two will have a blast!"

"That's the plan, have a good afternoon, Mrs. Taylor!" Ansel says.

"It's Debbie!" She calls as we walk onto the porch and close the door. I can't help but laugh.

"What? Why are you laughing?" Ansel says smiling.

"She's so smitten with you. I'm surprised she didn't just go ahead and take my place on this date," I say still giggling.

"What can I say? I'm a charmer."

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We're driving through a part of town that I am not familiar with at all. Ansel tells me to close my eyes so I can't see where we are, like I'd even know.

"Alright," Ansel says and I feel the car stop. "Okay. Three, two, one, open!"

I do as I'm told and see we're at a go-karting place.

"Go-karts? You made a wrong choice for this date, I must say." I say, matter-of-fact-ly.

"And why is that?" Ansel asks.

"Because. I'm the best known go-kart driver of all time."

"Oh really? I bet I'll beat you in a race." He flirts.

"In your dreams, Elgort."

"Oh, it's on, Taylor, it's on."