The Ride of My Life (an Ansel Elgort story)

Chapter 25

Ansel's POV

We go into the go-karting place and buy tickets to race.

"Better get your game face on, Lucy." I say.

"Good thing you have a lot of confidence so your self esteem won't be hurt when you lose." Lucy says.

"Ouch. Just wait. We all know I'll be the one to win." I try to come up with something half-smartass and half-flirty but she's just too adorable. She distracts me. My thoughts are jumbled when I'm around her.

Once we're seated in the karts, the anticipation is crazy. There are about 10 other people surrounding us in their own karts.

"On your marks..... Get set!!..... GOOO!" The announcer shouts and I automatically put the pedal to the metal.

As far as I can see I'm in the lead right now.

I feel a breeze and see two karts on either side of me zoom past. So much for being first. Neither of them were Lucy, though.

We go quite a distance of the racetrack. Other strangers pass me but Lucy has yet to be seen.

I wonder if something happened. What if she ran off the track and is hurt? What if her kart broke down and she's sitting there all alone? Okay, I'm over thinking this. She probably just got a slow car.

With only a little bit left until the finish line, I'm feeling good. My cockiness didn't go to waste after all. Lucy's definitely not going to beat me.

All of a sudden, a kart zooms around and in front of me. Lucy.

We both cross the finish line, but Lucy was just seconds before me.

We stop and get out of the karts.

"What was that?! Where were you?" I ask her.

"Right behind you! The whole time!" She says, laughing.

"Get over here!" I say, laughing with her. I put my arms around her and we sway, holding on to each other.

"Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. Will I ever learn?"

"Probably not. But that's okay." She says.

"Well I have one thing to say. I demand a rematch!"

"Really? Are you sure you want to be humiliated again?" She teases.

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Lucy's POV

We race a few more times, me winning all of them. I think Ansel let me win on a couple, though.

We're walking back indoors to the arcade when Ansel catches sight of water bumper cars.

"Aw, look! We have to do that!" Ansel exclaims. He sounds like a kid in a candy store.

"No way! I'll get wet and I have a white shirt on!" I reject.

"Oh c'mon, you won't get wet!" He says with a convincing look.

"Okay, but if I do-"

"If you get wet, you can borrow a shirt of mine. I have plenty in the car. But, you won't get wet! I promise," He says. Now, I almost want to get wet, just so I can wear one of Ansel's shirts.

We get seated in the boats and the lady tells us the rules. No putting your arms or legs out of the boat, no trying to tip other people, etc. She lets us go and immediately I feel water hit my back. I turn around, expecting it to be Ansel, but some little rascal kid did it. I didn't know the 'boat' had built in water guns when I agreed to do this.

I turn my boat around and aim for the kid. I see another stream of water pointed at him. I look over and see Ansel.

"Teamwork!" Ansel says. I laugh.

The kid is laughing, and we feel that we've gotten him back successfully, so we stop aiming at the kid and aim at each other.

"Ansel Elgort, I swear!" I shoot my water gun at his hair, making it soaked. And where does he point? Well, right at my shirt. "Ansel stop!!" I manage to say between laughs.

Soon enough, times up and we get out of our little boats. Ansel is still laughing while I try to get some of the water out of my shirt.

"You are a turd, you know it?" I say, giving Ansel a fake-angry pout.

"Did I really make you that wet?!" He winks.

"Get your mind out of the gutter and give me that shirt you promised me!"

As we walk back to Ansel's car, I notice he isn't even that wet. I should've forgotten about that kid and gone straight for Ansel.

"Here you go, ma'am," he says, handing me a blue t-shirt.

"Thank you, sir." I say and go into his car to change. I have no doubt in my mind that he is watching me, but I don't even care.

When I'm finished, he joins me in the car and we take off.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, my parents are having a little party tonight. Just a few family friends and stuff. Do you want to come?" He asks.

"That sounds awesome. I'd love to," I smile. The thought of Ansel introducing me to the rest of his family makes me happy and hopeful for the future. "But how do you know I'm not already planning a surprise for you with your family?"

"Because I know my family, they don't think ahead that far. I'm always one step ahead of them." We both laugh.

He pulls into my driveway and parks the car.

"So, come to my house at about six?"

"I'll be there." I lean over and give him a peck on the cheek. I smile, and then decide to give him a kiss on the lips. "That one was for the road."