Page 11 of Pedal to the Metal

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“Hey, I’ve never said I was disappointed. I’m damn proud of all of you but you guys need to let the attitude go. Look, Ace has Kynlee who is great, but he’s acts like a jerk to her all the time and what for? Bowie and you both got your hearts broken but you know what the world is still turning. Y’all need to grow a pair and grow up, the world is tough but acting like this isn’t going to get you anywhere," he says giving me a hard glare.

“You done now?” I ask, and I know it’s rude, but truth be told Axell hit a nerve. I should tell him thank you or at least give him a smile but instead I just roll back under the car.

“You know seeing you with Londynn this past weekend gave Sadie and I hope for you. You’ve been alone for too long and she’s a great girl. I know I said to stay away but you protected her without hesitation. I guess I was just hoping that maybe I’d getmy old brother back.” He says, and I can hear the hint of sadness in his tone.

“Well, don’t hope, it just causes you to dream up fantasies that will never happen," I say while getting back to work.

****

By the time I leave work it’s late, but I don’t want to go home so I decide to go for a drive. Once I’m in my car I turn up the radio and roll down the windows. I’m driving without paying attention before I finally realize where I’m heading. Lookout point as we always called it. In high school we all used to come up here and hang out rather it was after the races or just to make out with our girlfriends. It was like our little escape from the world. I continue the drive up but to my surprise it’s not empty. It’s pretty late on a Thursday night so I expected it to be empty but to my surprise I see a red Audi R8 parked up ahead. As my headlights light up the area a head full of honey colored hair shines back at me. Londynn.

To say I’m shocked to see Londynn here is an understatement. The rich girl from the rich part of town has no business being up here at lookout point late at night by herself in an overpriced car. I park next to Londynn and get out of my car, slowly I walk towards her. I stop beside her car. The Audi is in perfect shape I’m afraid to touch it let alone sit on it but Londynn scoots over. When I don’t move she tells me in a whisper, “sit…please.” I don’t say anything because she looks like something is on her mind. I study her profile her mouth is in a straight line not even a hint of smile playing on her lips. Her eyes stay focused on the city lights in front of us, but I was right about that light being gone from them. Something about her seems so sad and lost.

We sit in silence until I can’t take it anymore. , “I didn’t know you rich kids knew about lookout point.”

“We know about it but not too many will come to it. I’ve always been intrigued by it," she says still not looking at me.

I shake my head because I’m not sure who would be intrigued by this place, but I’ll admit that the view is killer. “You know it could be dangerous for you out here all by yourself.”

“It could be, but I’ve been out here every night this week and you’re the first person I’ve seen, and I don’t think you’re a threat.”

I chuckle because a lot of people would have a different opinion. “You know a lot of people would disagree with you on that.”

She shakes her head and finally turns those dark hazel eyes on me, “They’d be wrong. You have a reputation and an image just like the rest of us, but those things don’t make you who you are.”

Something about how she says those words makes me feel like she knows a lot more about reputations and images than she’d like. “Now what would you know about a reputation and image princess.”

“More than you know," she says coldly before turning to face the city again.

We sit in an awkward silence for some time before I finally apologize which causes her to laugh but it’s still a little forced. “So why do you come up here?” I ask her.

“I’ve always liked the city lights. I think they remind me that were not alone even in those moments that we feel so hopeless and alone if you come up here and see all those lights, from homes and cars and businesses it reminds you that this world is a big place, full of people. No matter what I’m going through someone else is probably going through something worse and someone might feel exactly like me. Alone and lost and pressured. Each one of those lights represents a person who might just feel like I do.” She falls quiet after that whileher words sink into my brain. Londynn Parrish feels alone and lost and pressured. Who would have thought that the girl, who seemed perfect, wasn’t? After a while Londynn slides from the hood of her car and tells me it’s getting late and she should be getting home.

I open her car door for her but before she climbs inside she turns back to me, those eyes are searching my face and I know she’s worried I’ll tell everyone about what she said up here tonight but I’d never do that. “Don’t worry it’ll be our little secret," I tell her. I see the relief flood her face then she tip-toes and kisses my cheek. The fresh scent of daisies engulfs me for a moment before she slides into her driver seat. I’m so stunned by the kiss that I barely remember shutting her door. I lay back on the hood of my car while the day replays in my mind.

Chapter 7

Londynn

It’s been two days since I’ve seen Jagger at lookout point and I’d let a part of my guard down. Now looking back on it I’m not sure why I even told him everything I did that night. I wish I could understand what came over me. And the kiss! Why had I kissed his cheek? Tonight is Friday night, and of course there are street races but I’m refusing to go. Instead, I’m staying in with a bowl of popcorn and a soda while I watch 80s teen movies.

I had just got comfortable on my bed withThe Breakfast Clubplaying when it occurred to me that the rebel from the film reminded me a little of Jagger and it was an 80s movie, kind of like Jagger’s choice of music and his given name. Shaking my head, I pause the movie, maybe I should grab a book instead. I’m about to get up when Farrah, Connor, Creed, Alivia and Jagger walk into my bedroom. I want to bury my head in the pillows and scream at this unannounced visit.

“Okay doll face! You are going to get up and get dressed because we are going to the races!” Farrah exclaims while Alivia is already in my closet pulling things for me to wear.

I sigh and roll my eyes, “I told you earlier when you asked I wasn’t feeling up to it tonight, so why are all of you here?”

“Because you need to get out of the house” Creed says while stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

I shake my head but take in the group in my room. Jagger James is standing in my pale pink, princess like room. It must look so predictable to him, little does he know that my favorite color is red and that I want a black, white and red bedroom but I’ll have one someday. Then another thought occurs to me my hair is a mess, I have no makeup on and I’m wearingHello Kittypj's. Now I really want to scream, this is not how I everwanted Jagger to see me. Especially when he’s leaning against my door frame looking like some kind of sex God. It should seriously be illegal for anyone to be as good looking as he is.

He has on dark denim jeans that hang off his hips in just the right way with a simple white t-shirt. I can see the chain and outline of a necklace that is under his shirt and it makes me curious what it is. His eyes never leave mine and I’m feeling flushed and breathless for no reason what so ever. Finally, I shake my head in an attempt to clear it and turn my head back to Farrah, “I don’t want to go. I don’t want to fight with Ryce again. It’s useless and stressful.”

“Technically you didn’t fight with him, Jagger almost did but then he just beat Ryce which is why I’m going to the races tonight. So, come on! Let’s go!” Alivia says.

I shake my head but before I can say anything Farrah sits next to me on my bed. “Don’t! Don’t go there in that head of yours. You need to go out, you need to take time away from this life and figure things out for yourself. As far as Ryce is concerned he’s just another douchebag dumbass that didn’t realize what he had when he had it. Any guy who could cheat on you doesn’t deserve you! So, let’s make you look super-hot, well hotter than your normal and you can prance those long legs past him and make him realize what he lost.”

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