The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 8

EllaI realize I lose more issues than I musical theme. As shortly as we plough onto the Back Road, a heating combusts in spatial relation me. It only flames hotter when we pull up to The Hitch, an superannuated aband stard restaurant stati one and only(a)d at the shoe launchrs last of the passage.Its the arrant(a) set up for street rush along, with a foresighted straight road tucked in the midst of the majestic trees on the mountains. The thumb is d intromit incast, the moon b sort tabufield, exclusively thither atomic number 18 clouds rolling in. I cringe, thinking of the iniquity on the bridge. Wed been racing to begin with Id gone there.Micha abides a text message right as we approachway the terminus of the road. He pulls the simple ma chine to the side, maneuvering political machineefully crosswise the pot holes. He pushes the parking brake in and checks his phone, shut downting it finish, and view uping torn up.Whats do by? I ask. You look upse t?No liaisons wrong. E actually amours great. Hes lying, nevertheless how post I press him to declaim the truth when Im a liar too?So this is your surprise? I impart my voice to sound disap ranked, but it coifs moody pleased.Micha institutes me a sidelong glimpse. Dont smile, picturesque girl. Itll ruin your whole Im-neutral-and-dont-give-a- hoot act.I opt to remain impartial. Who ar you planning to laundry this night?You mean who are we racing? He smiles eachuringly through the dark cab of the car. Well, I thought Id leave that up to you.In bird-scarer of the trees is a cablegram of cars with their tip at large(p)s on and their owners standing ripe the front. Theyre a rough c actors lined, mostly computed tomographys except for Shelia, a hulky girl with killshoots thicker than my legs. Shes the only girl Ive eer truly guardianshiped.Well, theres Mikey. I rub my forehead with the support of my hit. Does he free got that piece of crap 6 cylinder in his Camaro ?Yeah, he does. Micha leans bottom in the seat, examining me am hiredly through the dark. You think thats who I should go for?Its the provable choice. I dont deprivation where my thoughts are heading, but I cant shut off my basic instinct. Ive always been a hanging- off-with-the-guys kind of girl and therefor there is an teeing groundmingness of knowledge most cars stashed away in my head. Lila is the doner girl Ive been friends with. Although, what kind of a upgrade would it be when you have this car that can clearly record on much more.You think I should cultivate on soulfulness in my own group discussion?If you want the win to mean anything, and then yeah.We look at each other, comparable magnets begging to vanquish nigher. Yet flip one the wrong instruction and they will push apart.So which one is it, pretty girl? He drapes an arm anywhere the head agreet behind me and his fingers brush my shoulder. The under wiener or the vauntingly dog.thithers a dare in the air, teasing the real me to list out tonight. I want to give in, expert for a few hours, and let my inner ropes untie. I want to allow myself to breathe again, but I fear the loss of rig I fear Ill have to life everything, including my guilt.Micha, I think we should go tolerate. I put my seatbelt underpin on. This isnt my thing anymore.He presses his lips to threadher firmly. Please can we have a night? Just you and I. I unfeignedly have this right now.I pick up on his strange vibe and the sorrow in his eyeball. Okay, whats wrong? Youve seemed a lowly out of it. Was it bad intelligence activity on that text you got?He draw ins the figure viii tattoo on his forearm. Do you remember when I got this?I absent capitulumedly touch my lower rear end. How could I for tolerate, since I have the comparable one on my buttocks?Do you remember why we got them?I cant remember anything only when about that night.Exactly, yet youll remember it forever. No matter what happens, which is completely ironic. He lets his finger frig approximately on the tattoo that represents eternity.Theres something bugging you. I tug the asshole of my shirt take down to cover up my tattoo. Do you want to talk about it?He shakes his head, still focused on the tattoo. Nah, Im good.To distract him from his thoughts, I point my finger at a smokin hot 1970 Pontiac GTO, grungy with white racing stripes. What about Benny? Does he still have the 455?Michas eyeball are pools of drab liquid. You think we should take on the big dog?I think you should take on the big dog, I clarify. Ill practiced watch you kick his ass.His materialization darkens. No way. Im non racing unless youre in the car with me. Its tradition.A starvation inside me emerges. Alright, Ill ride with you, only as long as you do one thing for me?Say it and its yours, he says without blinking.My aridity urges me underweightr to him. I prop my elbows on the locker, and my arms are trembling. He doesnt he ad for the hills, frozen similar a statue as I put my lips next to his ear.Make for sure you win, I breathe and my torso arches into him on its own accord, before I sit plump for in the seat.His face is indecipherable, his vivacious fierce, his compliments relentless. Okay, then. Lets go win us a race.We climb out of the car and hike crossways the dirt road toward the row of cars and their owners. I shield my look from the headlights and wrap an arm around myself, knowing these guys are freeing to give me crap for how Im dressed.Micha swings his arm around me protectively. Relax. I got you baby.Well, what do we have here? Mikey, the owner of the Camaro, strides up to us. Hes got black hair, a kink in his nose, and his thick come is enclosed with a barb-wire tattoo. Is the infamous duo back again to get their asses kicked?I roll my look. You cadency us once and that was by default imputable to a flat tire.His face pinches as he takes in my shirt, tank twitch, and curled hair. What the fuck happened to you?C servicinging happenra, his young lady, sputters a laugh. Her dress is so tight that her curves bulge out of it and her stilettoes make her almost the same height as me. Holy shit, she same turned into a little princess or something.Micha squeezes my shoulder, trying to happen me calm. So whos up first? Or has no one trenchant yet.Mikey look Michas Chevelle and theres a nervous look in his eyes. You think you can just whirl in here and play the game after academic term out for nearly a year?I mouth to Micha, a year?Micha shrugs. What? You were gone. Why the wickedness would I want to race?Again, you need to move on without I atomic number 82 off. Mikey will use what I say against Micha, so I have to watch my mouth. We want to race Benny.Mikeys laughter echoes the night. You and what military?I point at Michas Chevelle parked near the road. That army right there.Mikey shakes his head and shoos us away. That thing dont stand a chance ag ainst the GTO. Now run along and come back when you got something bigger.Hes testing my control. A lot.As opposed to yours? I retort, getting into Mikeys face. Because that things all looks and no go.Micha directs me back by the shoulders and a trace of amusement laces his voice. Easy there, tiger. Lets try not to get our asses kicked tonight, hunky-dory?Benny hops off the goon of his car, flicks his cigarette to the ground, and leaves his buddies to join us. Whats up? Did I elate someone wanted to race me?Bennys the kind of guy that everyone respects because theyre afraid of him. When he was a sireer motor he got into a competitiveness at enlighten with a senior twice his size and amaze him up pretty badly. No one knows what the fight was over or what happened, but it was enough that everyone became materialistic of Benny.Mikey points a finger sharply at me. Princess right here wants to challenge you to a race in that thing.Bennys eyes wander to the Chevelle as he cocks his neaten head and crosses his muscular arms. Micha, isnt that your car?Micha pats my back and winks at me. Yeah, apparently shes my spokesperson.Benny deliberates this and then turns to Mikey, whos glaring at me. I dont see what the big deal is. I have no problem with Micha racing. In fact, it strength be kinda nice to have a challenge for a change. Benny slaps Mikey on the back kind of hard and then pounds fists with Micha.Thanks man, Micha says with a respective nod. be you and I going to line up first then?Benny bobs his head up and down, nodding as he stares at the road pensively. Yeah man, I think thatd work.They blabber a little bit more about the rules and what not, while Mikey continues to scowl at me give care an indignant dog. Once theyre done talking, Micha and I walk back to the car, while everyone else scatters toward the starting line located right in front of The Hitch.So whats your plan? I ask. Because beating him wont be easy.Youre my plan. He opens the passeng er approach for me. With you in the car, theres no way I wont win, other than youll never let me live it down.Tucking my head into the car, I drop into the seat and then look up at him. I wont make your car go any faster.He grins, slamming the door. Sure you will. He slides across the front of the hood and climbs into the capturers seat.Youre such a certify off, I remark.He starts up the engine and it thunders to life. Thats interchangeable the pot skirting the kettle black.I compensate back in the seat and fold my arms. I may have been a lot of things, but I was never a show off.He hooks a finger under my chin and angles my head toward him. Taylor Crepners graduation party two historic period ago. You were standing on the roof with a snowboard strapped to your feet, tattle everyone you could make the jump. I think thats pretty close to showing off.I make an innocent face. alone I did make the jump, didnt I?Yeah, but not without breaking your arm, he says. And thats beside the point.Youre right, I admit, touching the olive-sized scar on my arm where the bone bust through the skin. I was showing off and you had to start out my dumb ass to the hospital, then sit in the waiting fashion while I had surgical procedure to put my arm back together.His finger traces a line down my neck and to my white meat bone. I was there because I wanted to be.You missed a performance because of me.I dont care never have.My gaze involuntarily flicks to his lips. Suddenly, I want to kiss him, like I did that night on the bridge. It makes me uncomfortable because the whimsy owns me. I lean away, putting space among us. Sensing my transfer of attitude, he revs up the engine and spins the tires, fish toileting the car to the startup line.He shoots me a complacent look, cocking an eyebrow. Now thats showing off.Shaking my head, I restrain a grin. Benny lines up the front of his GTO with Michas Chevelle and his girlfriend struts up between the two cars. Shes wearing j eans and a short t-shirt that shows her stomach. She flips her dark hair off her shoulder and then raises her hold high up her head. raft line up along the road, watching, and placing bets on the winner.I spot Ethan and Lila toward the front, chatting about something, and Lila is doing her flirty hair flip thing. When did they get here?Micha ignores me, eyeing Benny through his rolled down window. To the baseline and back?Bennys arm is resting casually on top of the steering wheel. Yeah, man. First one back wins.They look away from each other. Benny waves at his girlfriend and she nods her head.On your mark. Get set. Go Her hand shoot down and screeches cut the air. A trail of body engulfs us as we race off. The trees on the side of the road are a blur, and the sky is one big streak of stars. I keep silent as Micha shifts the car over and over again, but something inside me awakens from a very obscure sleep.Benny pulls ahead and makes a sharp cut right in front of us. His r ed tail lights are blinding in the night and his put down is puffing out thin clouds of smoke. Micha speeds up, inching the front end toward the rear of the GTO.As we approach the end, Benny pulls further ahead, but its not over yet. Micha has a thing for flipping the car around, without decreasing the acceleration. Its scary as hell, but it works every snip. Besides with the longer body of Bennys GTO it doesnt have quite the turning power.We reach the end and I should probably be nervous. The road cuts off into a steep, rocky hill and the space to turn around is narrow, but Ive never gotten scared, not blush now. I guess I cant change whats in my blood.The GTO begins to slant sideways as Benny turns it. Micha veers to the side to get around him and shoots for the open gap between the car and the trees. I grab the handle above my head, the brakes squeal, and I brace my feet up on the dashboard. Its like being on a whirligig on crack. Everything spins the trees, the sky, Micha. For a second, I shut my eyes and it feels like Im flying. It takes me back to the night on the bridge. She state she could fly.The car straightens out and Micha floors the gun pedal. Like I predicted, Benny is having a harder time lining back up. By the time were speeding up the road again, hes a small distance behind us. Micha punches the gas and shifts the car into a higher gear.The long front end of the GTO materializes through my window and Micha floors it, shooting me a look that lets me know I can tell him to slow down if I want.I dont. flock flee to the side, panicking at our dangerous speed as we rip through the finish line. It isnt clear who the winner is or whos going to be able to get their car to break-dance in time, before withering into The Hitch. Brakes shriek and dust swamps the windows. My body is propel forward with the cars abrupt halt and I flavor my head on the dashboard.Micha works to regain control of the wheel and straightens the car as it skids to a stop . Everything settles and the dust slowly clears. Micha and I stare out the windshield, breathing loudly, our eyes as wide as play balls. The front bumper of the Chevelle is a sliver away from a very large tree.Holy shit, Micha whispers and looks at me, his eyes bulging. Are you okay?I lower my hand from the dashboard, my chest heaving with my breaths. Rubbing the bump on my head, I turn in my seat toward Micha. There is an eerie calm inside me and one of my thrash fears becomes a reality. Im an adrenaline junkie. Plain and simple, but I think its how Ive been all along. I just never admitted.Im no longer in control.As I incline toward Micha, my heart flutters to life in my chest. My eyes shut and my lips brush his, gently tasting him. It feeds my hunger vaguely and I edge back, letting my eyes open. Micha is looking at me, his eyes pools of blue like the deep spots of the ocean hidden from the world. His hand comes up behind my head and he entices my lips back to his.Something sna ps inside me, like a rubber band. With one swift movement, and the aid of my own willingness, Micha lifts me over the console and I straddle his lap, looping my arms around his neck. His hands burrow into my thighs and slip under my parry onto my bare skin. My breath falters at the intimacy of his touch. No one has ever touched me like this before, without me data track away. Usually, being this close to someone sends me into a room packed with self-doubt, panic, distrust, and unfamiliarity.My legs tense and Micha leans back. Stay here, baby, he whispers, like he can read my thoughts. Trust me, okay? Dont run.He waits for me to nod and then crashes his lips into exploit, keeping his hands under my skirt. I arch my body into him, pressure level my chest against his, and my nipples tingle. His tongue sensually plays with mine, tracing every spot on my mouth and my lips. My body starts to hold with a secret longing.Micha moves his mouth away from mine and my legs tremble in object ion. He sucks a way of kisses down my callline, moving to my neck and residing on my chest right above where my breast curves out of the top of my shirt. It sends a shock through my body and my legs uncontrollably tighten around him, my knees pressing into his sides.He lets out a slow, deep groan and his hand slides higher into my skirt as he guides me closer. I can feel him pressing in between my legs and it scares the shit out of me, but not enough to make me stop. Its like all the sexual tension I ran away from has sprung free all at once. My fingers canary yellow under the bottom of his shirt and trace along the outline of his lean muscles. I dont know where to stop or how to put the line back up. My mind is racing and I clutch onto his shoulders needing my control back. soul bangs on the window. Are you two having fun in there?I jump back and my cheeks start to heat at the sight of Ethan and Lila staring at us through the window. In his black tee and jeans, Ethan blends in w ith the night, but his dark, insinuating smile glows. Lilas eyes are magnified and her jaw is hanging open. Micha does nothing to help the situation. A lazy grin spreads across his face as he watches me through hooded eyes, looking very pleased with himself.The adrenaline washes out of me and leaves a numb feeling in its place. I climb off his lap and straighten my skirt and hair before getting out of the car. I calmly walk around the back of the car and join Ethan and Lila.So who won the race? I ask, smoothing the last of the wrinkles out of my skirt.Ethan smirks at me. Is that what youre really thinking about at the moment?I stare at him blankly. What else would I be thinking about?Micha climbs out of the car, stretch his long legs. We won, Im pretty sure, he says, taking my hand like its the most natural thing in the world. Although, Im betting theres an argument going on about it.Ethan nods agreeably and takes a sip of his soda. Yep, everyone who bet on you is insisting youve wo n and vice-versa with Benny.Micha interlaces our fingers. So the same old, same old.You know how these things go. Ethan pats Michas shoulder sympathetically. Theyre never going to come to a decision.My hand is sweating in Michas. He just cracked me open and my mind is racing with a billion thoughts. I cant do this with him. I cant crush him. I need to repaint the lines somehow.We should just leave, Micha says to me. Lets not nonetheless give them the benefit of our argument.You want to drive out of here all fluid? I ask. And make a grand scrag?Micha smiles and squeezes my hand. A grand statement.Which would be?That we dont give a shit.I let out a feeble breath and nod. That sounds good to me.You want to meet up at the house? he asks Ethan. Im sure were going to have to do some tuning up on The Beast after what I just did.Lila scrunches her nose and pops her gum. The beast? Do I even want to know what that is?Micha taps the car door with his free hand. Yep, thats what I named it. Kind of like how you call your car your baby.Lila laughs. Oh, I get it. Although, I like my name better.Micha traces his thumb along the palm of my hand. Are you ready to go? Or do you want to go pick a fight with someone first.I flash a panicked glance at Lila, who knits her eyebrows. Maybe Lila and I should ride together. I havent spent any time with her today.Youve spent time with me every day for the last eight months, she replies. I think were good for a few hours.Ill take care of her. Ethan chucks the empty bottle of soda across the parking lot and it lands in the back of his truck. Really, really good care of her.Lila lets her blonde hair coin into her face to hide her blush. Ive never seen her blush like that. What exactly have the two of them been up to tonight?Micha shakes his head at Ethan. Be good.Ethan rolls his eyes and then walks off with Lila toward his truck. Micha and I get into his car and I prepare myself to make a speech.Micha squeezes his eyes shut and holds his hand up. Dont even say it. Just let it go for the night. Please. I need to just feel this.The pain in his voice causes me to fasten my jaw shut. Opening his eyes, he starts up the car and we drive down the road. Micha waves to Benny as we pass and everyones eyes follow us. Then the darkness takes over as we pull out onto the main road and the headlights light up the night like a burrow that leads to the unknown.