Racing Hearts

Chapter 9: [Flashback] The First Race

Flashback: When Serena and Eli Met

The sound of angry engines and the scent of burning rubber filled the air. It was Serena’s first time at a car race, and she could already feel her nerves buzzing with the energy around her. The track ahead of her was packed with spectators, each one eager for the thrilling, heart-stopping race about to begin. Cars were lined up at the starting grid, engines revving with anticipation.

Beside her, Nicole, her best friend and the one who had dragged her to this event, was practically bouncing with excitement. She had been a racing enthusiast for years, though Serena had never quite understood the appeal of watching cars speed around a track. But today, Nicole had insisted Serena tag along, saying something about “broadening horizons” and “living a little.”

“This is going to be epic!” Nicole squealed, clutching Serena’s arm. “Elioth Zephyr Draegon is racing today. He’s one of the best drivers out there!”

Serena chuckled at her friend’s enthusiasm, shaking her head. “I’m just here to keep you company, remember? I don’t know anything about racing.”

“Trust me, by the end of this race, you’ll be a fan,” Nicole said with a grin. She leaned in closer, her eyes twinkling. “And wait until you see Eli. He’s not just a good racer—he’s gorgeous.”

Serena rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t help but smile. Nicole had a tendency to develop crushes on athletes and celebrities, and it seemed this Elioth Draegon was her latest obsession. Still, Serena wasn’t expecting much. Racing wasn’t really her thing, and besides, she wasn’t here to admire drivers.

As the race announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers, Serena felt a slight chill of excitement run down her spine despite herself. Maybe there was something to this whole racing thing after all. The energy in the air was infectious, and even though she wasn’t invested in the outcome, she found herself eager to see what the fuss was about.

The cars roared to life as the race began. The crowd surged with anticipation, their cheers blending with the deafening sounds of engines. Serena found herself holding her breath as the cars shot forward, speeding around the first turn with terrifying precision. The sheer speed of it all was mesmerizing—something about the danger, the skill it took to navigate those tight curves at breakneck speeds.

And then there was one car, sleek and dark, that stood out from the rest. It moved with a grace and control that made it seem like it was flying across the track, not just driving. Even Serena, who knew next to nothing about racing, could tell there was something different about this driver. His movements were sharp, calculated, like he was one with the machine.

“That’s him!” Nicole yelled over the noise, pointing excitedly. “That’s Eli!”

Serena’s gaze followed the car as it wove through the pack, quickly making its way to the front. There was something almost hypnotic about the way he drove, the way he handled every turn with such precision and ease. For the first time, Serena understood why people got so caught up in this sport. It wasn’t just about speed—it was about control, about pushing yourself and your car to the limit.

The race continued, with Elioth pulling further and further ahead. The crowd around them seemed to be on the edge of their seats, holding their breath with every turn he took. Serena could feel the tension building, the excitement growing with each passing second.

And then, as if in slow motion, something changed.

Serena saw it happen just before the crowd erupted in gasps. One of the cars behind Elioth, a red car that had been trying to catch up, made a mistake. It swerved too wide on a turn, and in a split second, it collided with the edge of Elioth’s car.

Serena’s heart stopped as Elioth’s car spun out of control, skidding across the track. The crowd let out a collective scream, and Serena could feel her stomach drop as she watched the scene unfold.

But Elioth didn’t panic.

With a skill that seemed almost superhuman, he managed to regain control of the car. He pulled it back onto the track, narrowly avoiding what could have been a devastating crash. The crowd erupted into cheers, and Serena found herself letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“He’s amazing,” Nicole whispered, her eyes wide with admiration.

Serena nodded, still in shock at what she had just witnessed. She had never seen anything like it—the sheer bravery, the precision it took to recover from something like that. For the first time that day, Serena understood why Nicole had been so excited about coming here. This wasn’t just a race. It was a battle of skill, of nerves, of sheer willpower.

As the race continued, Serena found herself watching Elioth’s car more closely, her heart racing with each turn he took. There was something magnetic about the way he drove, something that made it impossible to look away. And as the final lap approached, with Elioth firmly in the lead, Serena realized that Nicole had been right.

She was hooked.

The race ended with Elioth crossing the finish line first, the crowd exploding into applause. Nicole was cheering so loudly that Serena’s ears rang, but she couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t expected to enjoy this day, but here she was, standing in the middle of a sea of racing fans, feeling like she had just witnessed something incredible.

“Come on!” Nicole grabbed Serena’s arm, pulling her toward the gates where fans were already gathering to meet the racers. “We’ve got to get a closer look!”

Serena laughed, letting her friend drag her along. “Are you serious? We’re actually going to meet them?”

“Well, I am. You can just stand there and admire from afar if you want,” Nicole teased, flashing her a grin.

As they made their way to the area where the drivers would emerge, Serena could feel the energy of the crowd buzzing around them. It was infectious, and despite herself, she felt a little thrill of excitement. Maybe meeting the driver wouldn’t be so bad after all.

After a few minutes of waiting, the racers began to filter out, still in their racing suits, wiping sweat from their faces. And then she saw him.

Elioth Zephyr Draegon.

Even from a distance, Serena could see why Nicole had been so enamored. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a confident stride. His dark hair was damp with sweat, but it only added to his rugged appeal. And his eyes—sharp and intense, just like the way he drove—swept across the crowd as if he was searching for something.

Or someone.

Nicole was already moving forward, waving enthusiastically. “Eli! Elioth! Over here!”

Serena felt a jolt of embarrassment as her friend practically screamed his name, but Elioth’s gaze shifted toward them. For a moment, Serena thought he might look past them, that they were just two more faces in a sea of fans. But then his eyes locked onto hers.

It was brief, just a flicker of recognition, but in that split second, Serena felt something she couldn’t quite explain. There was an intensity in his gaze that made her heart skip a beat, like he could see right through her, like he knew something about her that even she didn’t know.

Elioth’s lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile, and then he nodded in their direction before turning to greet the rest of the fans.

“Did you see that?” Nicole whispered excitedly, grabbing Serena’s arm. “He looked right at us!”

Serena laughed, shaking her head. “He probably looked at everyone, Nicole.”

“No way,” Nicole insisted. “He totally noticed us. Or, you know, maybe just you.” teasingly.

Serena rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny the strange feeling that had settled in her chest. It was ridiculous, really. He was a famous racer, and she was just another face in the crowd. But for some reason, that brief moment of connection—whether real or imagined—stayed with her long after they had left the track.

As they walked back to their car, Nicole chattered excitedly about the race, about how amazing Elioth was, but Serena’s mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t shake the image of him, the way he had driven with such precision, the way his eyes had briefly met hers.

It was silly, she told herself. She was just another spectator. But as they drove away from the track, Serena couldn’t help but wonder if, somehow, that moment had meant more than she was willing to admit.

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xoxo