Chapter 88

" Don't look at me like that, " he said, looking around our surrounding and purposely avoiding my eyes. He knew I wasn't happy but he was trying to calm me down before I even said anything. 

" I'm pretty sure I just saw someone selling cocaine, " I commented, my eyes still fixed on him, refusing to let him take the matter as lightly as he wanted me to. I wasn't even sure why he was doing that, and something told me he perhaps just wanted to anger his dad even more. But he was putting his life on the line to achieve it and I wasn't going to support him in any way. 

" Don't be a pessimist. "

" I'm being realistic. "

" I only do this for the racing, nothing more. "

" I don't like this Austin..I really don't. "

He let out a huff of breath, run his hand through his hair, then he held the lapels of the jacket I had on and used them to pull me closer to him. I took that single step willingly, expectantly. Because I had been reading his body language and it had been clear he intended to do something of the sort. I swallowed, tried to remind myself that I couldn't be swayed by him and his charm. A difficult task, especially when he finally looked at me with grey eyes that sought my approval as if it was something precious to him. I knew it was important for me to support him but I also couldn't turn a blind eye to the dangers of his preferred pastime activity. 

" But I like it, " he said in this low voice which made it clear he was speaking from the heart. He hang his head for a couple of seconds, and when he looked up again I saw the confirmation I needed. 

Being there clearly mattered to him more than I would have expected. 

" I love this the same way you love studying, " he added. Miles and Will along with the other three passed by us and I kept my eyes on them until they were gone from sight. Sighing, I started looking at the other people around there. It was definitely not my type of scene. And I knew that it wasn't Austin's either. He didn't look like it, but he was just as much of an introvert as I was. He didn't like forming bonds and connections with other people and he also didn't like going to social events unless it was necessary for him to do so. 

He wasn't there for the fun, he just wanted to race I suppose. And my own happiness came from seeing him happy. At the moment he looked down, and it was because of how I had absorbed the news of him being some kind of street racer. My approval mattered a lot to him . And I didn't want him to go out there and get hurt because his mind had been elsewhere, I was willing to view things from his perspective and understand that he had a passion and was just trying to satisfy it as best he could. 

" Fine, " I have in, pursing my lips and closing eyes for a bit. 

" I get that you like doing this. But that doesn't give you the right to be reckless. Like, where the hell is your safety equipment?"

He openly smiled, and I watched as he began zipping up my jacket. 

" I'm not playing with you, you could get seriously injured doing things like this. "

I recalled how he normally rode his bike back at home, that crazy speed that made me constantly worried each time he wasn't around me because I knew anything could happen. And I also realized there were very high chances of him riding even faster now that it was a matter of competing. And it was also dark, that didn't help to make me feel any better. 

" I don't need them, trust me, I got this. " He cupped my cheek, kissed the corner of my lips and used his free hand to hold my own. I like that he looked a lot better and knowing that my opinion mattered so much was truly heartwarming. But I was still very worried for him.

" How many times have you done this sort of thing?" 

" More than I can count. It's okay, I promise. "

" Have you ever gotten hurt? Don't lie to me!" 

He bit his lower lip and looked aside, then he looked at me again and assured me it was okay. And I knew his refusal to respond meant he most likely had. 

" Just trust me, it's about to start but I need you to tell me you're okay with this first. "

" I'm not okay with it.."

" Kyle!--"

" -But I'm happy if you are. Just please don't get hurt. "

" Aaww, I like it when you get all caring. "

" This is actually me when I'm annoyed, spot the difference. "

He hugged me, then he chuckled and asked me to stop worrying so much because he had everything under control. And that all I had to do was cheer him on because my support mattered most to him. There was no way for me to hold out when he became all genuine and open like that. I held him as well, my arms tight around him because I was still nervous and scared on his behalf. He seed completely calm, like he had indeed done it a thousand times so there was no way for him to worry about anything. And I recalled that everyone else had sounded pretty confident about his skills which meant he truly was aware of what he was doing. We could discuss everything later on, at the moment I was just going to be what he wanted me to. And I was going to root for him and pray that he would be safe because if he dared to get even slightly hurt I doubt I'd be able to let him ever get on his bike again. 

Him comparing his racing to my studying meant it was very meaningful to him. Plus it had been ages since I had seen him take such interest in anything. 

" I'm rooting for you. " 

The words were spoken into his ear, then I kissed his temple and rubbed my hand over his back to reassure him that I did have faith in him. He told me he loved me, I had noticed that he took joy from saying that to me and used any opportunity he could get just to utter  those words to me. I wanted to once again tell him to be safe but I didn't want him thinking I was stressing over that issue..which I was. 

Since we were kids we had always looked out first and protected each other. I wasn't going to let him get out there and get hurt while I just stood idly by..so if he raced and it happened that my core was against it entirely then I was going to have to find a way to get him to see reason. 

I narrowed my gaze a little into the distance, not sure whether I was seeing what, or who, I thought I was. Austin didn't seem to be in a hurry to break the hug so I let him stay right where he was. The couple a few feet away had seemed familiar at first glance and now that I was focusing on them more, I realized that I wasn't seeing things. It really was Chelsea and Dave. They were standing along with a few other people, and Chelsea was seated on this great looking bike with Dave standing beside her, his arm around her shoulder as he talked to the other guys they were with. I recalled the conversation Miles and the others had been having before we stepped away. 

The name Dave had popped up. 

I hadn't thought much of it because it was a fairly common name and all, but I instantly knew he had been the same one they had been referring to. He was holding a helmet in his left hand, and I was convinced the bike Chelsea was on was his. I suppose the world was smaller than most would expect it to be. Austin pulled away, then he asked me whether I was warm enough because my skin was too cold. But that was natural when it came to me, I didn't even have to be necessarily cold, my skin was just sensitive when it came to weather conditions. 

" I'm okay, but next time you should wear a scarf or something. You'll be riding at top speed, the wind will slam your chest like crazy. "

" Copy that. " 

I subtly smiled, my eyes falling to Chelsea again, and he must have realized I was observing something because he turned towards the same direction. And not long after, he frowned. 

" That's the girl from the store, right?" 

I recalled that he had indeed met Chelsea, nodding I looked away from her and started asking him about the race. How it worked and whether there was anything about it I ought to know. 

" There's nothing, I swear all you have to do is stand and wait for me to win. "

" You sound pretty confident. " He gave me a quick kiss.

" I am. This is nothing!"

The sureness in his tone put me a little bit at ease. And before I knew it, it was time for them to begin.