D A R K O 'S P.O.V

My tires screeched to a halt as I crossed the finish line. Owen turned to me, his brunette hair popping out of his helmet as he took it off, before switching off his engine.

"Dude, why'd you throw that race off?" He said, his face warped with confusion. "You were so far ahead, but you slowed down and let me win! Is everything all right?"

"I'm fine," I said, flatly.

I wasn't fine. I had driven away from Bella's house to my own, before firing up my motorcycle to meet Owen at The Tracks. I still don't know what Bella's done, and it's making me paranoid as all hell. Fuck Bella.

Owen had flicked his kickstand with his foot, before he walked to me, peeling off his biker gloves. "You can talk to me, dude. What's wrong?"

"It's really nothing. Don't worry about me." Can he stop please?

Owen lifted a brow. "Darko, please. Whatever's happening, you need to do something about it, or you could be a danger on the racetrack. If there's anything I can do to help-"

"I said I'm fine!"

Owen's eyes widened. I sighed sharply, before running my fingers through my dampened hair.

"Just pissed at someone, alright? Is that enough for you?"

He lifted a brow. "Dude, calm down. I'm just a concerned friend, worried about you."

I grunted, throwing my hands on my face. Groaning, I dragged them down my cheeks before I made eye contact with Owen, who was staring at me, his gaze lingering.

"I've never seen you like this - It's scary. Can I ask... what happened? You seemed fine at school today. Does it have to do with Taylor's outburst in physics?"

I shook my head. "Just... it's complicated, dude. I'm pissed at Bella."

Owen threw his head back, groaning. "Ugh, I don't like her. "

I lifted a brow. "You don't?"

Owen scoffed. "Of course I don't! She's so two-faced, and I've heard about all of the shit she's done to so many people."

I snorted. "I'm glad I'm not the only one that sees it. Bella's so fucking awful."

Owen smiled. "So, she's pissing you off. Did she do anything to you?"

I looked away, letting out a long sigh. "Shit's complicated dude. It'll take too long to explain, and most of it is just mind-blowing stuff."

Owen turned to me, his eyes widening slightly. "I've got time. Come on, tell me!"

"Nah dude..."

Owen frowned. "Dude, we may have only been talking for two days, but I do consider you a friend. Friends are there for each other, and I wanna-"

I sighed. "Look, I'll tell you so that you stop being sappy. But, you need to promise me you won't tell anybody, and that if you do, I won't talk to you ever again, and I will seriously hurt you."

His eyes widened. "Uh... I promise. Please don't tell me you murdered someone and Bella's gonna rat you out, or something like that."

I laughed. "Oh, god, no. I wish she were dead though."

Shutting my eyes, I rolled my head back, taking a deep breath. I looked at him, his expression waiting. Good god, why is this so hard?

"It's okay," He said, his smile reassuring me, "whatever the situation is, I'm sure it's not that bad."

I sighed. "It's just hard, okay? I haven't told anybody this, and for me to tell someone I've only talked to within such a small period... it's beyond difficult."

"It's okay. Take your time. I've got nothing except it."

Taking a long breath, I gripped the handlebars on my bike in a vain attempt to feel secure again.

Well, here goes nothing.

"I'mgayandIhaveahugecrushonTaylor." I gabbled. Owen raised an eyebrow.

"What did you say?"

"I'm gay," I said, saying my words slowly, "and I have a huge crush on Taylor."

As the words left my mouth, I realised that Owen was the very first person I had told about my real sexuality. Did I just make the biggest mistake telling someone so new to me something this personal?

He sat there, his face wrapped with a grin. He shook his head before staring off into the race track, tittering.

"The school's renown lady-killer is gay? Haha! Good one, mate. So, what was the real issue?"

I lifted a brow as he glanced back at me. Realisation dawning on him, he clasped his mouth, his eyes wider than the Grand Canyon after a category ten earthquake.

"Oh my God... you're serious..." he said, his words muffled against his palm. I sighed.

"Yeah... I am."

Owen continued to sit there, words unable to escape his open lips. I sighed.

"Bella found out that I like him, and she thinks Taylor feels the same way. She's threatening to out me in front of everyone - my family, my friends, the general public - unless I keep my mouth shut and I stay away from Taylor."

He shook his head.

"So, what are you going to do?" he said, his hands finally leaving his face. I tried to shrug non-nonchalantly, but I felt myself get anxious again.

"I don't know. I accidentally lashed out at her about an hour ago, and she's gone and done something bad. I still need to figure out what she did. I'm so worried about it Owen; what if she outed me to my brother? Or to the rest of the bikers? I don't think I'd be able to handle how you reacted several more times."

Owen looked at me, before looking at his own hands. He shook his head, before taking a breath and relaxing.

"Well, that explains why you've been out of it while racing..." He said, patting my back. "Take my reaction with a grain of salt. I just can't believe it - you had so many female options, and you've slept with girls before, and-"

"And," I said, cutting him off, "I felt nothing. I hooked up with them as a cover-up. I didn't enjoy one second of any of it."

I got up. "Look, just forget I said anything. It was a waste of time opening up."

I went to leave, but Owen grabbed me by the shoulder. "Dude, no need to be like that. I never said I hated you or that I don't appreciate your honesty. It's just mind-blowing, like you said. I'm sorry if how I reacted offended you."

I nudged his hand off and turned to face him. He had a welcoming smirk on his lips, before he tore his attention from me, and back onto the helmet that was on his lap.

"Tell me everything that's happened, Darko."

~~~~~~~~~

After about half an hour, I explained it all; the shit that happened at Lyra's party, the broken-into car, Nicole's involvement, and my stolen gift. Owen's face grew angrier as each moment passed.

"I hate her even more now," Owen said, glowering. "I didn't think it was possible, yet here I am, wanting to punch her in the face."

I laughed. "Tell me about it."

"So, let me get this straight," he said, "you can't be near Taylor, and you can't speak to him when she's around. She's got enough dirt on you to ruin your reputation and your relationships with your family, right?"

I nodded. He frowned, before sighing.

"He's clueless!" I huffed. "I even got my initials carved into the bottom of it - how stupid can he be?"

Owen shrugged. "You could always send him a photo of the receipt. Better yet, you could just message him, saying that it was your present and that Bella stole it."

I grimaced. "Why the hell would I do that?"

"Well, you said it yourself. If your theory of Taylor being into you is true, then what's the harm in saying it to him? Hell, even if he rejects you, at least you'll have closure."

I shook my head. "Even if Taylor felt the same, I wouldn't be able to act on it. Bella would get in the way, and I'd be thrown out of the closet faster than you can say 'Bella is a bitch.' Look, I'm just going to accept that Bella has won for the time being. There's nothing I can do that would help."

Owen stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Yes, maybe there's nothing you can do! But what if..."

He trailed off. Narrowing my brows, I looked at him, his face wrapped in thought.

"I've got an idea."

He got up and walked to his bike. Confused, I followed him, grabbing my jacket as I got off of mine.

He was scribbling something on a sheet of paper he fetched out of his bag. Peering over his shoulder, I could barely see what he was writing.

"What are you doing?" I asked, unable to see. He folded the paper and got on his bike, putting on his helmet.

"You'll see. Just, trust me."

He sped off, a dust cloud kicking up from his back wheel. Coughing and waving the dirty air in front of me, I saw his hunched figure jet out of The Tracks. What on Earth is he up to?

I walked back and sat on my bike, pulling out my phone. The sounds of distant tires skidding the dirt from other races filled the air.

That's when it hit me. I just came out to someone about my sexuality for the first time - on my own terms.

It was weird - my friendship with Owen. We've only really talked to each other for two days at most, yet I feel more comfortable talking to him than I do my own family sometimes.

Hell, I don't even know his last name, yet I trust him more than my own father.

That flicker I felt when Owen and I first started talking died quickly. I love Taylor too much even to consider other guys.

Owen was right. Bottling stuff up was awful - I'm glad he got me to open up. It felt nice to confide in someone that wasn't Taylor, or Lyra.

My eyes drifted back to my phone. Reaching behind to my butt pocket, I fished out my wallet, prying it open. I produced the porcelain piano receipt.

Maybe Owen was right.

Regardless if Taylor liked me back or not, I needed his answer. I needed that closure, before I go and do something stupid again.

I was about to snap a photo when Connor appeared out of nowhere, laughing heartily with those three brutes from Sunday.

"See you around, lads," he said, chuckling. The three giants waved him off before walking away. Connor noticed me and smiled, before sauntering to me.

"Hey, DK boy. How were ya races today?" He asked, his grin wide. I shrugged.

"They were okay. What's with you? You're never this happy."

Connor laughed before cupping my shoulder. "I just bought the rights to own this place! You, my fellow racing enthusiast, are talking to the new owner of The Tracks."

I beamed. "Holy shit dude, that's awesome! Congratulations!"

He smirked before standing proudly. "Prepare to see some major upgrades around the place here, as well as more surprises, like celebrity appearances, more official races, and stuff like-"

My phone began buzzing, cutting Connor off mid-sentence. I glanced down at my screen - It was Stefan.

"Hey look, I gotta take this. Sorry dude."

Connor smiled. "No worries lad. I have to go and finish some paperwork. Great chatting to you!"

I waved to him as he walked off. Answering the call, I brought the phone to my ear.

"Hey Stefan, I'm at The Tracks, I'll be home soon."

There was silence on the other end. Feeling myself become antsy, I spoke.

"Stefan bud? You there?"

"Please tell me what Bella told Lyra is wrong."

I froze. Oh my fucking God. Did Bella actually fucking tell Lyra?

"Uh..." I spluttered. I heard Stefan scoff.

"Get home, now. We need to fucking talk about this, and I don't want to do it on the phone."

He hung up.

I felt my heart flare up as I ran my fingers through my hair. Dread trickled down my spine like a careful spider sliding down its silk. I gritted my teeth as I shoved my phone in my pocket, hastily revving my engine alive. My stomach tossed and turned, like the swirling, bubbly water inside a shaken drinking bottle.

This... this can't be fucking happening!

==============================================

Yes, it took me a month and a bit to update. Again, I am sorry. On the bright side, however, I have finished my exams *horraaayyy* for the time being. I have my very final exams in about a months time. :D More frequent updates SHOULD be happening, as of now.

What do you all think of Owen? Fun fact: he wasn't going to be this major of a character in the very first draft of this novel. Oh well. I'll probably go into depth about him when I finish this.

Speaking of finishing - I've mapped out the next TEN chapters of this book. It's going to end in the early thirties. I'm so freaking excited to write that final chapter. Should I consider a sequel?

Stay tuned to see the stuff between Darko and Stefan. ;D

Vote/comment/share/fanboy/fangirl!

- Much love, Tyler <3