It was now finally a week later on Tuesday, and it was nearly time for Aiden and I to leave and go to the tracks. Aiden and I had been really good this week after last Monday, he seemed to be the perfect friend and my feelings for him were undeniably growing. I had tried to tell myself to stop liking him, nothing would ever happen but I couldn't. He had supported me and been there for me so many times now, that was something that I couldn't just choose to forget.

Dale and Charlie had practically spent all weekend with me and Dale was easily one of my best friends. Charlie and Luke had been getting along extremely well lately too and I know how much that means to Charlie. I was seriously happy for her. Jordan and I seemed to speak heaps in English, Charlie absolutely adored him and it was cute, I understood why they loved each other so much. Aiden hasn't come to any of the 3 English Lit classes this week, and I had completely forgotten to tell him that I had moved into his class. I wondered why he wasn't showing up but I assumed it was because he just hates English or something.

My heart pounded erratically at the thought of not only going to the tracks again, but also being alone with Aiden in the car and I tried not to get too excited. Like he promised, he had been driving me to and from school on his bike, but that was different.

I had already dressed, I didn't want to stand out as much as I did last time but I also wanted to be comfortable so I had stuck with a pair of extra skinny, black jeans and a tank top that showed a good amount of cleavage to be 'hot', but still be comfortable. I put on light makeup, not wanting to stand out and put my hair up in a plain, high, ponytail. My phone chimes almost on queue and I grab it from my charger and head outside.

Once again, Aiden and I exit our houses at the same time and he smirks at me, my heart flips and I smile back, heading over to his garage where his car assumably lived. I see Aiden look at me up and down, and although it seemed like he was checking me out, I knew he was checking if my outfit 'appropriate'.

"Get changed," he demands casually without even looking at my face.

My jaw drops. Asshole.

I had dressed really modestly compared to what I remember the girls wearing. Hell, I even dressed more modestly than I usually do on a day to day basis.

My feminist side once again makes herself known and I instantly want to wear what I'm wearing simply because Aiden said to get changed.

"No," I argue after a minute. Aiden only now looks up to meet my eyes.

"Why the fuck not?" he demands again.

"Because 1, I'm comfortable, 2, I'm covered, 3, you don't get to tell me what to wear," I argue. I was right, screw him. I was way more conservative than the other girls there!! No guy would hit on me when there were so many beautiful girls who were so much more inviting than me.

"For fuck's sake Em, I'm trying to protect you," Aiden rolls his eyes.

My heart flutters intensely in my chest at his words but I choose to ignore them; "I get that, but seriously I'm not going to get hit on when there are so many beautiful girls there wearing a lot less than I am," I repeat my thoughts.

Aiden mumbles something under his breath but I don't get any of it; "what?" I ask.

"Nothing. Get in the car," he replies gruffly. I smirk in triumph and climb into the passenger seat. My triumph is short-lived when Aiden also gets in the car but doesn't make any move to talk to me. Was he seriously pissed at me that I wouldn't get changed?

***

We had just arrived at the tracks, I had attempted to make conversation but got shut down so I eventually just gave up, I think he was MANstruating. Thankfully my period had ended, only a lot of chocolate and painkillers got me through. I look around and instantly feel excited, not only would this insufferable silence end because I would have Toby and the guys, but I was back at the tracks and my body was already filling up with the familiar adrenaline.

I make a move to get out of the car, purposely not even glancing at Aiden, 2 can play this game. Before I can make any real move, I feel my wrist get grabbed, and I get pulled back in the car. I look at Aiden expectantly; "don't leave my side, I mean it Collins."

I roll my eyes but nod, what is with guys and their testosterone believing someone couldn't get harmed by their side? I had experienced it with Luke my whole life and had lately seen Aiden believe the same thing.

I get out of the car and wait for Aiden who smirks at my obedience. Together we walk towards where I'm expecting the guys to be. I was glad that Aiden wasn't annoyed anymore, and if he wasn't then I wouldn't be either. I wanted to enjoy my time here.

I spot the guys easily, and as soon as Toby sees me, he smiles brightly and runs over to us before casually throwing his arm around my shoulder. I giggle at his antics but make no move to get out of his grasp, I loved hanging out with Toby. In a way, he kind of reminded me of Miles before Maddi died.

"I've missed you Mills," Toby enthuses.

"I've missed you as well, where would I be without my BFFL?" I giggle, Toby winks in response and Aiden looks at us questionably.

"What's a BFFL?" he asks.

Toby looks at me cheekily and I laugh, "sorry Black, that's confidential." I wink confidently, Aiden smirks at my cockiness but I walk over to the rest of the guys before he has the chance to say anything.

"Looking hot Em," Blake flirts cheekily.

"Don't I always?" I wink back, in the same joking tone.

"Touche," Blake smirks opening his arms for a quick hug. I laugh and wrap my arms around his waist briefly before turning to a smiling Carter.

"Hey Em, ignore the asshole," he replies, his arms also open for a hug.

I laugh, hugging him back for jumping into the back of his ute. Aiden follows straight away, and soon enough all of us were in the back of Carter's truck, waiting for the first race to start.

"So how does this even work?" I ask no one in particular.

"People challenge each other to races and put money on it, a lot of other people also bet and while the winner gets majority of the winnings, everyone who bets on them also gets some, varying on how many people bet against them," Aiden replies quickly.

I nod my head in understanding; "how come people still challenge you if you always win?" I ask curiously. Toby had told me before about how Aiden never lost and it always made me wonder why people would still challenge him if they knew he was going to win.

"Arrogance," Carter shrugs easily. I nod again.

"Next up we have Ben and Mitchell, bets have been placed and the race will start in one minute," the announcer calls out. Everyone tries to get closer to the arena so they have a better view, I wasn't entirely sure how Carter managed to get such a good spot. Maybe competitors and friends got an advantage when choosing where to situate themselves or their vehicles.

I look around, zoning out from the guy's conversation about who had the better chance at winning. The girls were still wearing next to nothing and I was thankful that it was really warm and none of them would freeze.

The crowd counting down from 10 brings me back to reality and I feel the excitement and adrenaline building up once again. A girl wearing even less than some of these other girls stands between the 2 cars and raises a green flag when the countdown gets to 1. The cars instantly zoom past her, blowing her hair back in what looks like an uncomfortable way.

The cheering around me gets louder and I smile brightly, all the excitement seeming to be contagious. I jump with the guys and cheer, not even knowing who I was cheering for, and before long, the cars come to a stop, and Ben is announced the winner.

"Fuck yes!!" Toby yells excitedly.

After the initial cheering dies down, the announcer calls upon the next competitors. Apparently at the beginning of the night are all set races that have been challenged and planned and therefore bids are made earlier. After the end of the set race, then people get the chance to challenge people with no warning.

We watch a few more races, the adrenaline and excitement only increasing before I finally hear Aiden's name; "next up we have the undefeated driver Aiden competing a few times tonight, and soon he'll be racing against long time rival Bates."

Everyone around me cheers accept the boys, they share a tensed look but don't say anything, probably on my account. I find myself wondering what the deal was with this Bates guy, but don't question it. Although I would never admit it, I was actually a little offended I had never heard of this guy before now. I had told Aiden everything and I thought he had told me just as much. I feel Aiden's arms snake around my waist and bring me closer to him breaking me out of my trance and making my heart go haywire. Once our bodies are melded together Aiden whispers in my ear; "I'll be back soon, just a couple of races. Stay with the guys."

Before I get a chance to respond he expertly jumps out of Carter's truck and walks towards his car. Every step confidence oozes out from him and I'm very aware I'm not the only girl entranced by him. Girls try to get his attention from every which way but he ignores them all and I can't ignore how the action makes my heart flutter happily.

"Excited Mills?" Toby enthuses breaking me out of my trance, obviously clueless to me ogling at his best friend.

"I'm nervous!!" I admit, my heart hammering wildly against my rib cage.

"Don't sweat it Em, he'll be fine," Carter smiles sweetly, my nervousness fades slightly at his reassurance, but i'm still nervous.

"Yeah, these first races will be a cakewalk for our boy, and he always beats Bates as well. I don't even know why they're known as rivals, it's not like Bates has ever won," Blake smirks proudly.

"It's because he's known as second best only after Aiden and even the tracks need some drama," Carter smiles, Toby fist pumps him and I smile at the best friends.

Before too long, Aidens car is lined up beside someone I remembered hearing was named something like Tim.

The count down from 10 ends, the girl raises her flag and Aiden and Tim are zooming down the track. The boys cheer loudly but don't look too excited about the huge lead Aiden has on Tim. I guess Blake was right and these first few races would be easy.

As Blake said, Aiden won all 3 races as easy as anything, I cheered every time but towards the end, it was obvious who would win and I expected it. It was nice to see how much Toby, Blake, and even Carter admired Aiden, it was obvious how proud they all were of him and it made my heart warm.

"Now, for our last set race tonight, we have long time rivals Aiden versus Bates, get ready everyone because this will be a race worth watching," the announcer yells. The cheering is as loud as it was the first time the announcer mentioned the rivals and I found myself even more nervous.

"Don't stress Em, he'll be fine," I hear from beside me, I jump a little at the sudden voice but smile when I see a smiling Carter.

Before I can say anything, the countdown from 10 begins and I find myself chewing on my finger nervously. Carter notices and offers me a comforting smile but he doesn't say anything and instead cheers with everyone else.

As soon as the girl lifts up the flag the 2 cars zoom off the line, I hear cheering all around but I find myself being unable to join in. This race was obviously and noticeably closer than all of the other races Aiden had competed in today. The cars were almost neck and neck, as the corner nears Aiden slows down a little, probably to drift and Bates takes full advantage of this.

He speeds up around the corner and swiftly swerves so it was now Bates in the inside, he was now just in the lead and the finish line was not far away. I bite my finger harder and if I wasn't so caught up in the situation, it may have actually hurt. As the corner ends, Aiden speeds up. Now Aiden and Bates were neck and neck but the finish line couldn't be further than 300 feet away. Both Aiden and Bates speed up even more and I'm almost certain their feet are pressing the accelerators to the floor of the car. Now it wasn't up to skill because the last stretch was straight, it was now solely up to car. In the last 100 feet or so the head of Aidens car overtakes the head of Bates and before I know it Aiden wins.

Everyone around me cheers loudly and its the loudest I've ever heard the tracks but I freeze. He won, thank fuck he won.

As the cars come to a stop I see Bates get out angrily and kick the ground, even though Aiden was far away, I could practically feel his evident smirk. I stay frozen as both Aiden and Bates drive their cars back to where they were. The guys all cheer and holler loudly but it's not until I see Aiden maybe 100 feet away getting out of his car that my excitement catches up to me.

I cheer just as loudly as the guys and before I realize exactly what's happening I jump out of the truck and sprint over to where Aiden is heading towards us. When he sees me he smirks cockily and waits for me to reach him. As soon as I reach him I jump into his arms and he catches me effortlessly. I knew that he expected me to jump on him, he had been used to my excitable ways by now just as Luke and even Dale had.

"That was amazing!!" I yell as soon as he puts me down, Aiden continues smirking.

"That's what they call me Collins," he replies.

"He almost won and then you sped and beat him and oh my god that was amazing!! You actually won!!" I continue yelling excitedly, Aiden continues smirking.

"You didn't think I would?" he asks jokingly.

I laugh at him but before I can say much the guys reach us and all congratulate Aiden. I stand there listing to all their talk and smiling when suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to face whoever tapped me and see an extremely creepy middle-aged man smirking at me. I turn towards the guys for help but notice them about 20 feet away talking to some other group of 3 guys and 1 girl.

I turn back to face creepy knowing I'd have to deal with this one myself and his smirk widens; "you going home with anyone tonight baby?"

Before I can make up something he continues his verbal assault, "come on baby, ooof that ass, I could show you the best night of your life."

"Sorry, I have a boyfriend," I reply awkwardly. Why was it that he was the one harassing me but I was apologizing? Fuck being a girl is shit sometimes.

"That Aiden kid? Come on baby, he doesn't have to know. It can be our secret," he continues, licking his lips and making me impossibly more uncomfortable.

"No, someone else," I stammer. I probably would have been smarter to just accept it but I noticed a few girls listening in the conversation and I didn't think Aiden would appreciate me making him sound taken in front of all these gorgeous girls looking for a good time with him.

"Then where is he aye? Come on baby, a body as sexy as yours with an ass and tits like that shouldn't go to waste for a night. Come with me and I'll make certain it doesn't."

I freeze in both fright and astonishment. This guy couldn't be serious could he?

I go to respond but before I can, creepy is on the ground holding his black eye. I look up and see Aiden ready to pounce but I quickly stop him before he can any other damage.

"Aiden," I yell, "let's just go."

I don't know if it was my face and the begging it portrayed but Aiden takes a few deep breaths to calm himself down and nods.

Before we walk away I turn to creepy and muster up all the hate I can, Aiden watches my every move, wondering what I'm about to do.

I face him and look him dead in his black eye; "no means no asshole."

Aiden smirks at me and kicks him one last time in the stomach before grabbing my elbow and dragging me away. The guys follow along with the other group they were talking to and we once again end up at Carter's car.

I noticed the guys I recognized as Bates watching the whole exchange with a mischievous smirk and an uneasy feeling makes itself comfortabke at the pit of my stomach but I ignore it and turn to face the guys.