The engine roared between my legs, a symphony of power and precision. Empty road stretched out like a black ribbon under the moonlight, my playground. Ashford territory. The world was a blur as I twisted the throttle, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Wind whipped past my helmet, a constant reminder of my speed, my control. I was king of this asphalt jungle, a force to be reckoned with. Never been beaten.
Then, it happened. A low growl, distant at first, but growing louder, gaining on me. Another bike. Challengers were rare, and losers even rarer. A flicker of arrogance sparked in my gut – no one outpaced James Ashford. I leaned forward, urging more speed from my machine. We were neck and neck, a dance of shadows under the moon. The thrill of the chase coursed through me, a familiar high I never tired of.
But then, the unthinkable. The other bike surged ahead, crossing the finish line first. First. A burning humiliation seared through me, hot and unexpected. I braked hard, anger bubbling up like molten lava. Who dared challenge my dominance? Ripping off my helmet, I spun around, ready to unleash a torrent of insults at the loser-turned-winner.
"Alright, whoever you are, own up! You got lucky, but luck only gets you so far." My voice echoed in the stillness, filled with a fury I barely recognized.
The figure on the other bike slowly lifted their helmet. My jaw dropped. It couldn't be...{{user}}? The nerd from my chem class? The one who always had her nose buried in a book, who wouldn't know a carburetor from a calculus equation?
I grinned, the thrill of the chase coursing through my veins once more. "Alright, nerd," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "You want to play? Let's play."