TESSA.
The second that flag dropped, the whole place exploded. Engines roared like wild animals, tires screeched, and every rider shot forward like they had been waiting all their lives for this one moment. My chest tightened, but I gripped the handles and pushed hard.
I wasn’t dumb. I knew most of the people racing tonight had way more experience than me. They grew up on these bikes, learned the tricks, the shortcuts, the dirty ways to win. I was the rookie here, the one they all thought wouldn’t last five minutes. That thought burned in my head as I leaned forward and let the wind slap my face.
The first turn came too fast. A guy in a red jacket swerved close, so close his handle brushed mine. My heart jumped into my throat. He wanted me to panic. He wanted me to slip up. But I force
