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"𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫"

An illegal street race. That's where we found ourselves tonight.

Aydan and Nicolo had spoken with a few of the guys and invited us all to the race tonight. I've only been to a few, but they've all been in different places. Since the cops are continuously discovering out the locations, they usually switch it around.

I had parked my car further away from the area in case the cops were called and I needed to flee, so they wouldn't be able to take my licence plate if I had to leave my car.

I got out of my car and walked up to the crowd. The others were still on their way, so it was only me currently here.

The location for tonight was only a short drive from our small town, and it was a new area for me.

It appeared to be a deserted racetrack, ideal for a street race.

Locals, most of whom are college or high school students, gathered to gamble money on who would win, and some simply there for the thrill and excitement of it.

Walking over to the bleachers, placed just in front of the tracks, I took a seat on the first row at the front so when the others come we can go find some other seats.

Music was blasting from speakers, and people were conversing with one another.

When I looked around, I noticed that some men and women were preparing for a race. There were three rounds, each with a new person competing against the other.

"Stalking me, Ella?"

I was startled by the abrupt voice from beside me. Looking over to my right, I saw none other than Roman.

His black locks rested on top of his head, some cascading down his forehead, and he wore the same clothes I saw him in today. I smiled slightly as I stared into his mesmerising eyes.

"I think it's the other way round, Roman."

He turned away from me with a faint smirk on the corner of his plump lips.

"Are you racing?" I ask.

He nods his head once, and I glance at him with surprise.

"Really? Who are you competing with?"

Without glancing at me, he indicates with his finger for me to move closer to him. I scoot closer, our thighs almost touching, and I could smell his enticing scent.

I kept my attention on my shoes as he lowered his head down to my ear.

His cool breath hit the side of my neck, spreading shivers of heat through my body.

"See the blue-haired guy?"

I raise my eyes and immediately recognise the person he's referring to. There was a boy not far ahead of us, with a wide grin plastered on his lips and a storm of obnoxiousness on his features.

"Yes," I reply quietly.

"Him." He finishes and leans away.

I linger a little longer staring at the boy, taking in the girls that surrounded him and the confidence he exuded.

I had a feeling this guy wasn't going to be full of self-assurance after the race. Roman's lack of reluctance or concern indicated to me that he was confident in his ability to win.

I cast a glance over to Roman and noticed him typing on his phone; I averted my sight and took another look around the area.

"Bella!"

I turn to the side and find three of my closest friends approaching me.

I grin and rise from my seat, turning back to Roman and softly tapping his shoulder to get his attention.

His amber eyes, which are brighter under the dim streetlight above us, lock with mine.

"Good luck." I smile.

He looks at me for a moment before nodding once and replying, "Thanks, Ella."

I turn around and walk over to my friends, who are all wearing big smiles on their faces.

"What's got you all smiley?" I mention, raising an eyebrow.

"Aydan got us McDonald's" Kara grins.

My gaze was drawn down to the hefty bag dangling from Nicolo's fingers, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I love you?" Looking up at Aydan with a happy glint.

"No, you haven't actually." He shrugs.

"Well, you know now."

He snickers as he drapes his arm around my shoulder and leads the way up the staircase to a seat.

Kara and Nicolo trail close behind, and the four of us take a seat in the top row, facing the track as we dive into the greasy delicacy.

I felt Nicolo alongside me, poke my shoulder, and my attention was drawn to him as I dropped a nugget into my mouth.

"Is that Roman?" He focuses his attention on Roman's figure, shaking hands with a man as they stood next to a glossy black car with two silver stripes through the middle.

I confirm with a nod of my head.

"Yes, it is. I was speaking with him before you came."

Nicolo nods slowly as if he's deep in thought, but I shrug it off and keep eating.

Both the blue-haired boy and Roman got into their cars. Blue-haired boy's eyes were fixed on Roman, not missing the sly smirk on his lips.

Roman, on the other hand, appeared to be as comfortable and composed as ever.

The brunette sways her hips and carries her long legs towards the start of the race, clad in a short pleated white skirt and merely a plain black bikini top.

With a sultry smile on her lips, she stands in the midst, her body just at the point between both cars.

The two vehicles roar to life; both were extensively tinted, most likely illegally, but Nicolo and mine were as well.

The car of the blue-haired guy was, in fact, a dark lustrous blue with a single white stripe down the centre.

His engine continued to thunder, and I found myself shovelling more fries into my mouth while faintly grinning at how badly this was going to turn out for him.

Then an older looking boy with a wireless gold microphone yelled into it and began counting down, while the audience, including ourselves, shouted the numbers.

We stood until it was down to three, then hollered until it was down to two, then one, and the cars raced by the girl like a blast of wind.

Music blared from the speakers, and people shouted and clapped for them.

As she bit into her burger, Kara cheered from beside Nicolo, her feet hopping up and down on the concrete. I laughed at the sight and returned my attention to the vehicles.

Roman drove with intensity and composure as the dark blue approached the slick black.

"Fuck, he's good," Aydan mumbles, his eyes wide and observant watching the sleek black car.

"Right!" Nicolo agreed as he sipped on his milkshake.

My gaze followed the cars around another bend, where the dark blue caught up to the black and was just edging past it, but as they took yet another corner, the blue car had dropped away, and the black had flown past it and right through the black and white chequered stripe on the road.

Everyone else, including myself, grinned and stood, clapping loudly and cheering for Roman's victory.

"Knew he would win," Aydan says proudly with a small grin.

"Who is he anyway?" Kara asks her features etched with a curious glance.

The cars came to a halt, and Theo, who I had just noticed was present, stepped over to Roman and shook his hand with a wide grin.

Roman stepped calmly out of the car, without a trace of emotion on his face, but his posture was imposing.

"Roman Agnello," Nicolo tells her.

And then her head whips to mine, her face flushed with surprise and a mischievous smile on her lips.

"Roman?" She inquires, a smirk on her face as she raises her eyebrow at me.

Pressing my lips together and shaking my head, I silently instruct her not to say anything. She winks and looks away, her gaze falling on Roman, who is now surrounded by girls and boys congratulating him.

"Arabella and I are heading down," Kara states as she approaches me and takes my hand.

They both nod and continue to eat, while Kara links her arm through mine and leads us back down the stairs together.

"Now I see why you were so intrigued by him, Jesus. He's a fucking god."

I giggle and shake my head in her direction.

"But his friend, mhm, I'm defiantly going to hit that."

"You should," I remark, indicating to Theo, who is standing next to a man who was handing him cash.

"Go over, I'm going to get some water," I say, nudging her shoulder.

"Are you sure?"

I hum and smile and she pecks my cheek and walks over to blondie.

I looked over to the table that held bottles of water and found myself walking over there, and once I made it, I only then notice the boy standing beside it.

I take a gulp from the bottle after flipping the lid open.

"Congrats," I glance at him.

His lips twitch to the sides, his attention fixed on what's in front of him rather than on me.

"Did you doubt I would win?"

"Not for a second," I say as I focus only on the road in front of us.

It falls silent between us, a pleasant silence, but it is broken when police sirens could be heard from a distance.

Everyone became on high alert and began scrambling right away.

"Shit," I muttered as I realised how far away I was from my car and that the sirens looked to be coming from the parking lot.

Nicolo and I locked gazes, I motioned for him to leave and used hand gestures to assure him I'd call him, he stared at me with apprehension, but as the sirens approached, I waved my hands for him to leave, which he did.

Roman moved away from me; he appeared to be relatively calm about the situation, but I guess I wasn't freaking out either.

He extended his hand in front of me, offering me to accept it. My gaze fell on his, mischief dancing in his eyes, and I took his hand in mine and let him lead us away.

We moved away from everyone who was rushing to leave, and he led us through some trees that were concealed in the darkness, the police sirens becoming increasingly quieter as we progressed.

"You're not murdering me are you?"

The deep, velvety rumble surrounded my ears, shuddering my skin with ecstasy, the same chuckle I heard the night we met.

"If I were, it wouldn't be here."

"That makes me feel a lot better," I mumble.

Despite the darkness, I was able to detect a small smirk on his lips.

The sound of water could be heard slowly as we made our way through the little forest. The gentle sound of water swishing drew my attention, and soon I was staring at a river right in front of me.

The moonlight shone down on it, allowing it to be seen and free of the shadows. I strolled over to it, the water gently cascading on the rocks.

I sat on the edge, feeling Roman approach me. The stream was light, and it didn't appear to be very shallow, about four feet deep.

My hand was gently dipped into the water, the cool water coating my fingertips. I smiled as I backed away.

It was peaceful here. There was nothing but the sound of water slowly running and a few owls whispering in the distance.

"I like it," I say quietly, my gaze falling on him.

I observed how the moonlight reflected off his features, contrasting them, darkening the sharpened areas, and giving him the appearance of a Greek sculpture.

The way the light shadows the sharp angles of his cheekbones, his soft black locks merging in with the night, his jaw sharpened to a point and his cheeks hollow, allowing his luscious reddish lips to be seen so vividly.

"Peaceful, no?" His accent, strong in his voice as he asked.

I nod and return my gaze to the gentle river.

"It is."