The adrenaline from speaking to Alexander is still rushing through my body, pumping my blood through my veins and making my heart beat faster. When he walked away, Sam turned to me and only exclaimed, "Holy fuck!" which I still don't know if it's a good or a bad thing.

Snake was staring at me with nothing but admiration written in his eyes, with a cheek splitting grin plastered on his face. "Holy fuck indeed," he said, still smiling at me.

I couldn't deal with these two when I had to calm my heart down before I get a heart attack. I don't know what came into me. I guess the atmosphere around me made me bold and I was sure he wouldn't do anything to me when there were so many people around.

And when he walked away just like that, it felt even better. Because if he wants to walk all over me with his meaningless words and empty threats, I'll show him that I'm not that small as he might think. And if he thinks he's innovative with his threats, I have another news for him, because even he'd be surprised how creative people could get with their ideas.

"Let's get closer, the race will start soon," Snake says, grabbing Sam's hand and pulling her closer. Sam grabs my hand and pulls me after them so we go through the mass of people until we're in the front and I have a clear view of the scene in front of me.

I have never seen so many motorcycles in my life. Or tattoos. Or piercings. Or leather jackets.

Jesus, it's like watching a movie in real life. It doesn't feel real, it doesn't even look real, but people cheering around and their laughter makes it oh, so real. Along with the revving of the machines which makes my blood pump in anticipation and my lips dry in expectation.

I see girls wearing less than me hanging mostly around the guys on the motorcycles now, some of them being intimately close, others just talking and laughing as if it's the most natural thing in the world to do. I was jealous at how good they felt in their own skin. They were barely covered and they didn't even show a trace of discomfort. They didn't even seem to be cold at all, while I was literally shivering, cursing Sam for making me wear this horrendous outfit.

Alexander isn't alone either. He has three girls around him, which surprises me and I start guessing if one of them is Sophie, his girlfriend, but they all seem flirtatious enough with him that they could all be his girlfriends. And the thought of him having a girlfriend almost makes me burst out laughing because I can't imagine him ever showing his affection to someone.

Can he even offer more than his cold words and even colder stares? I doubt.

Someone blocks my view of Alexander when he drives close to where I'm standing so I can't see past him.

"Yo, Sam. Long time no see, eh?" the guy greets Sam with an arrogant smile.

He has brown eyes, not as dark as Alexander's, but the warm brown colour that looks much more friendly.

"Ryder," Sam says. "Oh, sorry. You're Spider now. I forgot, sorry." I have to look at Sam's face because her words are so empty and cold, I have to make sure she isn't actually joking, but seeing her face stone-hard ensures me she's anything but fond of this guy.

Ryder or Spider or whoever this is chuckles without looking offended.

He's actually ... cute, if I could say that for someone looking all badass with leather jacket, dark jeans and black boots. He doesn't have any visible tattoos and his face is clear of piercings. His dark brown hair, mixed with strays of blond in it, is spiked up, but it doesn't seem he uses any gel to do the magic, his hair just seems to naturally have that lift. Weird, but it suits him.

I honestly wonder why so many of these people are called after animals.

"Still a feisty thing, I see. Not much changed, I guess." He shakes his head in amusement, which I can't tell if it's fake or real.

Sam snorts. "Still the asshole you've always been, I see. So not much has changed, no."

"Oh, come on now, Sam. You're not still mad about the past, are you?" Ryder/Spider asks Sam mockingly.

Sam only glares at him.

Ryder chuckles and shakes his head. Then he transfers his attention on me, blinking lazily as he inspects my body, his gaze travelling up and down. I can't help myself but put my arms in front of my body to protect it from his unwelcomed stare.

"Who's the sweet thing here?" He nods at me and directs his question at Sam.

I take a tiny step back, trying to mix myself in the crowd and get lost. I'm still so uncomfortable around people, especially around guys and Ryder/Spider's attention is just making me feel uneasy.

Also, being addressed as a sweet thing isn't really flattering, at least not to me. It sounds cheesy and it only makes me disgusted.

"None of your business," Sam barks back and steps left so she hides a part of my body.

This only makes Ryder/Spider's eyebrows lift up in amusement. He leans forward on his motorcycle, resting his arms on the handlebar, still staring straight at me. I avert my eyes down on the ground, unable to hold his stare. "I'm not gonna hurt her if that's what you're afraid of."

Sam crosses her arms in front of her, her posture determined. It doesn't seem like she'll give up her fight anytime soon. "If I was you, Spider, I'd walk the fuck away in less than two seconds."

"Yeah?" Ryder/Spider asks arrogantly. "Thank God you're not me then, huh?"

Sam suddenly launches forward and Snake has to grab her from behind to stop her from attacking Spider. "I suggest you drive away, punk," Snake warns Spider in a cold tone.

Looking at Snake, it's hard not to fear him. He's big and bulky, a lot taller than Sam and me. His arms are pure muscle and that alone would make me shiver in fear, but when he opens his mouth and that dark, low tone comes out ... I'd sprint.

But not Spider. He seems to challenge Snake and even encourage him to get even madder.

"Wanna go for a ride with me, sweet thing?" he addresses me once again.

Before I can say anything back, Sam answers for me. "No, she doesn't. Leave, Spider, there's nothing here for you."

Spider doesn't look at Sam. He stares right at me, biting down on his bottom lip as his gaze once again falls on my body. I shiver and it's not because of the cold this time. "She can speak for herself. I doubt she's mute. I saw her speaking to Sin before."

Sam snorts and throws her hands up in the air. "And that fucking explains all, huh? It's about Sin, isn't it? After all this time it's still about Sin, huh?" When Spider doesn't answer her soon enough, she takes that as an answer. "You're so fucking pathetic, Spider. Grow up already. You're making me think you're in love with the guy by how much you obsess over him. The fangirl club is over there." She points her chin towards somewhere towards the crowd.

Spider straightens up on his motorcycle and finally turns his attention to Sam, all traces of his amusement and cockiness gone, he's now glaring at Sam in full force. "Sin can go fuck himself for all I care."

"It doesn't look like that," Sam challenges him even further, calling him out.

Spider chooses to ignore her. "So, what are you saying?" he revs the engine, pronouncing the meaning of his words. "Want to go for a ride of your life?" he asks me.

I shake my head. "No, thanks," I reply before Sam could interject again.

He raises his eyebrows up and cocks his head on the side. "You sure?"

I nod this time. "Completely."

Alexander drives to Spider then, stopping right next to him. "Spider. Are you gonna race or are you pussying out?"

Upon hearing Alexander's words, a small smile falls on Spider's lips and he slowly turns his head so he can look at him. "Nah, man. Just chatting up this sweet little thing here, asking her if she wants to join me."

Alexander's eyes search me for a second and his face gets clouded, his lips curl up in disgust as he shakes his head to himself. "I might start to think you're losing the touch with the ladies. Or that's your excuse for not participating in a race against me? Too afraid?" Alexander stares right at Spider, his gaze intense and focused only on him.

Spider laughs throatily. "Aw, man. You're delusional. Some women just like the chase." Spider pauses, before he clicks his tongue, and continues, "Ah, but I forgot you wouldn't know how that works."

Spider chances one last look at me, sending me a wink that makes me want to vomit, before he turns back around, looks at Alexander and then drives away, revving his engine on purpose, sending us all in a cloud smoke.

I turn my head to my shoulder so I don't inhale much of it when others just seem used to it.

But through the smoke, Alexander's glare he's sending towards me is clearly visible to me. I glare at him back, not backing down. What the hell is his problem? I hear him drive away after a few seconds, too, thankfully.

The smoke is slowly clearing around us, but it still makes it hard to breathe for me and my eyes water a bit. I try to play it cool, though, so I don't stand out among everyone who's clearly used to this scene.

People have moved forward now and when I look beside me, Sam is not standing there anymore. I start to panic and look around in every direction, trying to spot her or Snake.

I stand on my tiptoes, craning my neck, searching through the heads of people, but none of them looks even close to being Sam. Or Snake.

My heart starts beating faster in my chest and I move closer to the crowd, mixing myself in it and trying to look where Sam went.

But it seems like I've lost her.

The loud sound of revving machines is heard and when I look at the scene everyone's eyes are glued at, I count ten guys on motorcycles waiting in a straight line, each of them with a girl behind them, each of them focused ahead of them.

They're not wearing any helmets so I can spot Alexander in a line next to Spider. He's not hard to miss, even with guys that look similar to being around him.

A loud gunshot is heard then, echoing up in the sky, startling me, making me jump up, but the people around me start to cheer and yell and bounce on their feet in excitement.

All guys rush forward on their motorcycles, all at once. It's fascinating, but the machines are so loud, it makes it hard for me to enjoy and focus clearly on the scene. Some people start running forward, following after the guys, but they're too fast, of course, and others stay behind, yelling loudly.

I don't move from my spot. I watch after them until they all disappear around the block, leaving only the loud sound of machines heard behind them.

It's hard to miss the excitement in the air. It's filled with anticipation and giddiness, people around are high on expectation and excitement. They're loud and their laughter can be heard all around.

I see why this could make someone addicted.

I stay alone and watch the people around me interact. I might be dressed like I belong here, but everything on me screams that I don't come even close to belonging to a scene like this.

"Yo, babe, you look a bit lonely. Want something to drink?"

I didn't know this was directed at me until someone touched my arm gently, travelling his finger up and down my arm.

I look down at his finger touching my leather-covered arm and I move it away from his touch. "I'm good, thanks," I say and focus my gaze forward again, ignoring the guy without even looking at him. I want to show him my disinterest.

"Come on, now. Such a pretty thing shouldn't be all alone in a place like this. Come join our group over there." The guy doesn't get the memo and keeps speaking to me.

I shake my head, not bothering to look at him. I pray the guys will drive by on their motorcycles soon so the guy would lose his interest.

The guy suddenly grabs my chin and janks my head to the side so I'm forced to look at him now. He's holding my jaw strongly, making it hurt, and I let out a squeal of both surprise and hurt.

He gets in my face. I can smell something gross in his breath and it makes my stomach roll in disgust. "I'm playing nice here, gorgeous. But I might stop if I'll get ignored like that."

I seal my lips together, not knowing if it's wise to reply anything or to just keep quiet. What will piss him off more?

"Piss off, Beast. She's with me."

Like magic, Sam appears from somewhere, saving me. God, thank you.

The guy's eyes flicker above my head and then back at me. He releases me after a few seconds of inspecting me and I stumble away from him. But the guy – Beast as Sam called him – grins at me, looking apologetic. "Sorry about that. You should've said you're here with Sam." He shakes his head at me as if it's my fault he basically attacked me.

I don't say anything in return, only wrap my arms around myself, feeling my body tremble in shock.

Beast then nods at Sam, putting his hands in his jeans pockets. "Wanna join us for a drink, Sam?"

Sam then looks at me as if her answer was depending on me. I bite my lip, hoping I won't say anything I shouldn't, but I risk it. "I just want to go back home now," I say quietly.

Sam stares at me and then sighs in defeat. "Another time."

"Alright. See ya around," Beast says

Sam only nods at him and I hear his retreating steps right after.

"Wanna wait until the end of the race at least?" Sam asks.

I only shake my head in return. I only want to go back home, where I can be safe in my room.

This is not really my scene. I don't belong here and I can't kid myself that I do.

"Come on, then."

She doesn't have to say it twice.