Six hours earlier. 2:00 PM.
The school day had officially ended. Stacey stood before the heavy wooden door of Teacher Mila's office, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. In her hand, she gripped a notebook so tightly her knuckles turned white.
This is it, she thought. I've held this in all year. Today, I tell her.
She took a jagged breath and knocked. From the other side, a soft, melodic voice answered. "Come in."
Stacey stepped inside and clicked the door shut behind her. Mila was perched on the edge of her desk, looking radiant as always. She offered a warm, easy smile. "Hey, Stacey. Come, have a seat."
Stacey sat, her eyes darting everywhere but Mila's face. "I... I'm sorry about earlier this morning. I don't know what came over me."
"It's okay, sweetie," Mila said gently. "We're here to learn, and you really are an outstanding student. Especially in aerodynamics. You're so close to a perfect score."
"Right. Okay..." Stacey muttered.
Mila tilted her head, an eyebrow arching in concern. "Is everything alright, honey?"
Stacey felt the sweat slicking her palms. Her face was flushing a deep, hot crimson. Her mind was screaming at her: Do it! Now! You didn't come here for homework!
"Mila," Stacey whispered, her voice trembling. "I have something... something very personal to tell you."
Mila's expression shifted to one of genuine surprise. "Okay. I'm listening, mami."
Stacey tried to maintain her usual tough-girl mask, but it was crumbling. She was shaking. She was terrified.
"I... I think I'm in love with you."
CUT.
8:15 PM. LAKETOWN BAR.
The pink Corvette slid into a parking spot in front of a massive, glowing venue. Neon lights in shades of pink, electric blue, and slate gray washed over the pavement. The silence surrounding the area was eerie, almost heavy.
"We're here, mami," Clarice said, turning off the engine. "Well? What do you think?"
Jane stared out the window, stunned by the sheer scale and beauty of the place. "It's... it's incredible. But where is everyone?"
Clarice leaned back, a smug, playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Babe, did you really think I'd want a crowd? It's just you and me tonight."
Jane's head snapped toward her. "What? Are you serious?"
"Yas! Totally! It's going to be so much fun. The whole bar, the lounge—I booked it for two hours just for us. Can you believe it? Now, get out of the car."
Clarice hopped out first and moved with lightning speed to Jane's side. She opened the door and extended a gloved hand. "Here, let me help you."
Jane rolled her eyes, though her heart was thumping. "Oh, stop it. I can manage."
She tried to stand, but the moment her weight hit the pavement, a sharp crack echoed through the quiet night. The heel of her shoe snapped clean off. Jane stumbled, her balance vanishing, but Clarice's hands were there instantly, catching her firmly by the shoulders.
"Whoa! Are you okay? You almost took a dive there!" Clarice looked genuinely panicked for a split second.
Jane's face burned with embarrassment as she looked down at the wreckage of her shoe. "Shit! My heel broke! Damn it, now what?"
Clarice let out a sudden, bright laugh. "Wow. Someone is definitely wearing heels for the first time."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. What am I supposed to do now? I can't walk like this."
Clarice smiled, her eyes softening. "Babe, I have an extra pair of shoes in the car. They aren't exactly 'date attire,' but I think you'll like them. Hang on."
She ran to the trunk and pulled out a pair of black leather riding boots. They were slightly scuffed, smelling of old leather and oil. "Here. Want to try these?"
Jane's eyes widened as she took them. "Wait... are these the 2002 Japan GP Limited Edition? Where did you even get these?"
"My mom used to wear them when I was a kid," Clarice said, her voice dropping an octave. "But... well, I'll tell you more later. They're mine now, and I'm giving them to you."
Jane looked up, a genuine smile breaking through her defenses. "Wow, Clarice. That's... that's really nice of you. I'll give them back at the end of the night."
"No need. They're yours. Now, sit back on the seat. Let me put them on for you."
Jane hesitated. "You don't have to help me..."
Clarice looked up at her with a mischievous, knowing grin. "Maybe not. But I know you want me to."
Both of them flushed. Clarice knelt down, slid the broken heels off, and eased Jane's feet into the sturdy boots. Jane let out a long, relieved sigh. "God, that's so much better. Those heels were a nightmare."
"I'm glad you like them, babe. It's actually really hot to see you in them. It doesn't match the dress at all, but... good thing nobody else is here to see, right?"
Jane laughed. "Haha! Seriously! You totally bought me over with these."
Clarice took Jane's hand and pulled her up. "Come on. The date is just starting."
They stepped inside the bar, and Jane froze in her tracks. The place was a neon-soaked dream. A sparkling disco ball hung from the ceiling, throwing shards of light over Pride flags on the walls and vintage posters of the REACTOR ZEK races. In the center of the room sat a single table, adorned with fresh flowers, flickering candles, and a perfectly set dinner.
"Ta-da! I organized all of this for us. Do you like it?"
Jane's jaw dropped. "This is amazing! Clarice, you're incredible! This is exactly my vibe! Well... almost, haha."
Clarice laughed and pulled out a chair. "Please, have a seat, Mademoiselle," she said in a mock-serious, posh accent.
Jane gave her a dry look. "Mademoiselle?"
She sat down, and Clarice took the seat opposite her. "So, Jane. What do you feel like eating tonight?"
"Uמה... isn't there a waiter or something?"
"Nope. The food is right there on the bar, buffet style. We can take whatever we want. Just tell me if you're hungry and I'll get it for you."
Jane blushed again. "Clarice, stop. This is too much. You don't have to do everything for me. I can get my own food."
Clarice chuckled. "Babe, you aren't doing anything tonight. You sit there and enjoy yourself. I'm taking care of everything. Got it?"
Jane stared at her. For a moment, the room went silent. "Clarice..."
"It's okay, Jane. I'm doing this because I want to. Truly. Anyway, let's get down to business. You probably have a lot of questions, don't you?"
"I do. Don't you?"
Clarice reached across the table, her hand gently covering Jane's. "A million of them, haha."
"Then let me ask you one thing, Clarice. And answer me honestly."
Clarice arched an eyebrow. "Ooh, the tension is rising. I'm curious."
"How can you ask me to lend you a bike for free when you can afford an elaborate production like this?"
Clarice's smirk didn't falter. "Okay... good question."
2:10 PM. HOURS EARLIER.
The air in the office was thick and suffocating. Mila and Stacey stared at each other in a deafening silence. Stacey was trembling, sweat beaded on her forehead, while Mila looked completely paralyzed by shock.
"Sweetie, listen... I'm flattered, but..."
Stacey's eyes were fixed on the floor. Suddenly, she snapped. She stood up so fast her chair screeched against the floor. "Save it! Save the cliché speech about how it's not appropriate and blah, blah, blah!"
Mila froze, the words dying in her throat. Stacey grabbed her notebook and turned away. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking, saying that to you."
Stacey marched toward the door. Mila watched her, her heart aching, desperate to find the right words to stop her, to talk to her—but her sense of morality held her back. She stayed frozen. Stacey was gone.
Stacey leaned against the outside of the door, her expression cold, but tears were already carving paths down her cheeks. Stupid! Stupid! she screamed in her head. What were you thinking? Confessing? She's thirty! She probably thinks I'm some pathetic nineteen-year-old kid.
On the other side of the door, Mila stood up. Her hand reached for the handle, but she stopped. What have I done? Why did I react like that? She didn't deserve that... how am I ever going to look her in the eye again?
Both women leaned against the door for a single, agonizing moment, separated only by a few inches of wood. Then, Stacey walked away.
Mila finally gathered her courage and yanked the door open, hoping to see her. But the hallway was empty.
Mila's face fell, filled with a sharp, hollow pain. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I'm such an idiot."
As Stacey walked out of the school gates, she pulled out her phone and put on her headphones. She sent a quick text to Jane: Don't wait for me at the shop. I'm going home to sleep. Sorry. We'll talk later.
She shoved the phone into her pocket, cranked the heavy metal to a deafening volume, and kept walking.
8:30 PM. THE BAR.
The silence between Jane and Clarice stretched. Clarice's hand was still resting on Jane's, but the warmth had turned into a heavy, electric tension. The neon lights seemed to hum louder in the quiet.
"The truth is," Clarice began, her voice steady but lacking its usual playful edge. "I might look like a wealthy woman to you, but I'm really not. And there's a reason I asked for the bike for free."
"I'm listening..."
Clarice took a slow, deliberate sip of her wine.
"I want to train for the upcoming REACTOR ZEK. I have two months left."
Jane blinked, confused. "But... there are only ten spots. How are you so sure we'll both get in?"
Clarice looked down. Her smile vanished completely. "That's the thing. I know this sounds crazy, and I know it's not what you want to hear, but... I don't have a way to get us both in."
Jane's body went rigid.
She stared at Clarice. Her fingers slowly curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. She didn't speak. She just watched Clarice, her gaze turning icy.
"What did you just say?" Jane's voice was low, vibrating with a dangerous edge.
Clarice stood up, reaching out across the table. "Just calm down for a second. You didn't let me finish. Just listen to me."
"What?!" Jane stood up, her chair clattering back. "What is there to say?! You just lied to my face!"
Clarice rubbed her head, her confidence momentarily flickering. "Please... it was a lot to drop on you at once. I was going to tell you at the end of the night. Just listen."
Jane crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "Listen, listen, listen! I'm listening! I'm not deaf, Clarice! Talk!"
"Please don't yell. I don't want to ruin the atmosphere over a mistake I blurted out."
"Then speak, Clarice."
Clarice's eyes turned downcast. Stupid, stupid, stupid! she cursed herself. Why can't you keep your mouth shut? I've ruined everything.
She took a deep, shaky breath. "Okay. But don't panic. There's... only one spot left. That's it. Only one of us can enter the race."
Jane froze. The neon lights blurred in her vision.
Fuck...
TO BE CONTINUED...