The race rules were simple: an in-field race where the first to finish threeps wins.


    "Hey, gorgeous, you sure you want to ride with him? Kruz drives like a maniac. Why not hop in with me? I''d hate for him to scare you."


    "Adrian, knock it off," Kruz shot back, leaning out of his car window. "This is my girl, Flora. Try anything, and my brother Connor will make sure you regret it." Connor''s reputation was enough to silence Adrian and the rest of these wild kids.


    Ten cars lined up at the starting line. At the sound of the gun, Adrian''s car took off first, the others hot on his trail.


    "Flora! Quick, tell me what to do!" Kruz shouted, his excitement barely contained as he gripped the wheel.


    Flora, casually leaning against the window, replied, "What''s the rush?"


    She had expected more from these kids, but...


    Sigh.


    It was all so underwhelming.


    And honestly, Kruz''s driving skills were pretty bad.


    Without Flora''s guidance, they were already nearly a hundred meters behind within the firstp, barely able to see Adrian''s car in the distance.


    They were solidly in second-tost ce, with thest car trailing behind like a bumper car.


    "Come on, Kruz, put some effort into it! Winning like this feels like cheating!"


    "Kruz, didn''t you say you''d leave us in the dust? Where''s that now?"


    "Hey, Mr. Kruz, guess your skills aren''t up to the challenge, huh?"


    "Dammit!" Kruz, frustrated, floored the elerator. "I''ll give you guys a twop head start! Just wait, I''ll catch up!"


    "Bring it on!"


    The group of teenagers, heads sticking out of their windows, whistled and jeered.


    Flora sighed.


    What a bunch of kids.


    "Yoohoo-"


    A mocking whistle cut through the noise as Adrian''s car pulled up alongside Kruz''s, already on its secondp.


    As they approached a bend, Adrian executed a sharp turn, smoothly cutting in front of Kruz.


    Kruz watched helplessly as Adrian''s hand


    th emerged from his v


    e times. Content ne


    pointing down,


    three times.


    So cocky!N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    So dismissive!


    "Dammit!" !"Kruz''s face turned red


    with frustration "I feel like we''re


    going the same speed, so when''t!


    catch up?"


    Flora turned to him, "Drop the ''almost,'' it''s a big difference."


    Kruz was terrible at handling curves.


    It took him nearly twice as long as everyone else, making it a miracle he wasn''t deadst.


    Kruz: "Flora! Instead of helping, you''re just making fun of me!"


    "Actually, you might want to consider a new hobby," Flora suggested seriously. "Racing isn''t your thing."


    "Flora!!!"


    Kruz was on the verge of tears.


    Flora stopped teasing, lowering her arm from the window to rest on her knee.


    "Turn right forty-five degrees, shift to fourth gear, hit the bend, then hard brake and jump!"


    Flora''s voice waszy, her backfortably against the seat, maintaining her rxed,posed demeanor.


    Her eyes, fixed ahead, were calm, but the slight curve of her lips hinted at mischief.


    Adrian, watching Kruz''s car fade in


    Vi rearview mirror, felt no thrill in his


    Beating Kruz was hardly a


    challenge.


    Honestly, it was a letdown.


    Sinceing back from Austenberg, Kruz had been bragging about meeting some top-tier racer.