"Izzy," I say quietly, hoping she’ll give me something, anything at all.
Her eyes glance toward me, but she doesn’t smile. She doesn’t even seem happy to see me. She snaps her book shut and shoves it into her bag.
"You in a hurry?" I ask, trying to keep my tone light. The last thing I want is for her to see how bothered I am.
"Just..." she trails off, biting her lip again, but this time it seems she's avoiding saying something. "Yeah, I’ve got stuff to do."
I take a step closer, hoping I can break through whatever she’s keeping locked away. "Stuff? Or are you just avoiding me again?"
Her jaw tightens, and I can see her pull back, just a little, but enough to make me wonder what she’s really thinking. She doesn’t push me away, but she doesn’t exactly let me in, either.
"You’re not the only one with things to do, Xavier." Her voice is flat, but there's a trace of something in it, as if she’s hiding more than just the words.
I pause, trying to keep my frustration in check. "I’m not asking you to drop everything. I want things to be normal between us. We’re both racers. We’ve been through a hell of a lot together. Why does this feel so much harder than it should?"
Her eyes drift to the floor, and I swear I can see the weight in her shoulders. She’s holding something back, maybe even from herself. "I know you don’t get it," she says, her voice quieter this time. "But sometimes it’s easier to keep things the way they are. No complications."
I take a step closer, determined to get through to her, but she flinches ever so slightly. It’s subtle, almost imperceptible, but I catch it. It’s like she’s bracing herself for me to push, for me to say more.
"I’m not asking for any complications," I reply, my voice rougher now. "I’m asking for something real. We’re already in this, Izzy, whether we admit it or not. I’m not just going to let you shut me out because it’s easier."
She looks up at me then, and for a second, I see something in her eyes. Something soft, something real. But just as quickly as it appears, it’s gone, replaced by the same wall I’ve been hitting for weeks.
"I don’t want to make it harder than it already is," she says, her words coming out like she’s carrying a burden she doesn’t know how to drop.
I try to steady my breathing, the frustration creeping back in, but I can’t push her. Not like this. Not when I don’t even know what’s really going on behind that guarded look of hers.
"I’m not going anywhere," I say firmly, even though I’m unsure whether I’m convincing her or myself. "If you need space, I can give it to you. But don’t expect me to pretend I don’t care."
She doesn’t answer right away. I can see her fingers twitch against the strap of her bag like she’s torn between saying something and saying nothing at all. I wait, giving her the space she needs, but it feels like an eternity.
Finally, she meets my gaze, and for the first time today, there’s a slight tremor in her eyes. "I’m not ready," she whispers, the words barely audible, yet they hit me hard, like a punch to the gut.
My chest tightens at her admission, but I nod slowly, accepting it even as it stings. I can’t force her. I won’t. I have to keep showing up. Even if she keeps pushing me away, I’ll be here.
"Alright," I say quietly, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the ache in my chest. "But I’m still here. Whenever you’re ready."
She doesn’t say anything in return, but I catch her eyes lingering on me for just a split second longer before she turns away and walks down the hall.
It’s not much, but it’s something. And for now, something is better than nothing.
Chapter Five
Xavier
The scent of gasoline and dirt fills the air, mingling with the roar of engines as cars line up for the next heat. The track lights blaze against the night sky, illuminating the dust that swirls with every rev.
I should be focused. I should be dialing in, getting my head right for the race. Instead, my eyes keep scanning the crowd, searching for one person. Izzy.
She’s been different lately, pulling away, shutting me out. At first, I thought it was just the stress of the season, but it’s more than that. I can feel it in the way she barely looks at me, the way she brushes off my texts, and how she doesn’t stay after the races anymore. Something’s wrong, and I don’t know how to fix it when she won’t even tell me what’s broken.
The roar of engines fills the air, a familiar sound that gets my blood pumping. Tonight feels different, though. It’s race night, and I’m gearing up for another race, but my mind keeps drifting to Izzy. We’ve been dancing around each other all week, and tonight I’ve got a feeling things might finally crack open between us. Even with the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off.
I climb into my car, tightening my gloves as I roll my shoulders. Focus, man. You can deal with Izzy later. Right now, I have a race to win.
Engines rumble around me as cars pack tightly in the lineup. The moment the green flag drops, everything else fades. The track becomes my world. The engine vibrates through the seat, dirt kicks up behind my tires, and adrenaline surges through my veins as I push harder into each turn.
Lap after lap, I battle for position, sliding up, cutting down, fighting for every inch. The roar of the crowd barely registers. It’s just me, the car, and the checkered flag ahead.
