"Get out of the way, you bum!!" the taxi driver shouted, his hands out the window, flinging his pointer finger.
"Sorry, sorry," Ash said, forcing his feet and knees harder on the pedals.
I can't lose, I can't lose, Ash repeated to himself, knowing he probably would.
His bike wailed down the road, weaving past pedestrians left and right, braking on thin ice. Sometimes he thought he would die, sometimes he felt like he was flying, and other times he hoped no police officer would see him.
The streets were crowded. The sun was at its all-time high, and many people were leaving their jobs, ready to go home. Rush hour made the sidewalks and roads even more chaotic.
Almost there, Ash thought.
All I have to do is take a left, then a right, and I'll be there. After turning right, he could see in front of him the pizza place: Jetts Blazed.
It was famous for its very thin-crust pizza and how you could customize it to your liking. They even had a great deal: five dollars for five slices.
Ash looked at the pizza joint, housed next to other restaurants and shops. It was less crowded than he had expected. Usually, there was a line.
What he saw next brought great disappointment—Aurora was already at the door, waiting.
"So it seems you beat me again," Ash said, smiling at her.
"Yeah, you were close though," Aurora replied with a grin, knowing she had won fair and square.
"Now where's that bum? Is he here too?" Ash asked, a little annoyed.
"Nah, you beat him."
"Really? That's surprising. I took the long path—I was trying something new. I thought I could still beat him that way."
"Yeah, he took the faster path, but it seems he got stuck or something. Let's just wait—or do you want to start ordering?"
"Why wait for a loser? We won, so we should eat," Ash said, moving his bike to the stand and locking it.
After six minutes, Jordan opened the door of the restaurant to see his friends already eating.
"At least you could have waited!!" Jordan sprinted to their usual spot.
They always sat in the corner, where they could see outside the window. They liked the view, but mostly, they were watching their bikes.
"Wait—you guys got my order..." Jordan said, unable to wait as he sat down. On his right was Ash, and in front of him was Aurora.
"It was Aurora's idea. I said you could wait, but she said you'd get too mad and grumpy, so thank me," Ash said with a large smirk, chopping down his second slice of pizza.
"Thank you, Aurora. You're the best. You're best at everything—you can do anything!" Jordan said, full-out praising her. His words irritated Ash.
"Okay, Jordan, thanks," Aurora said, not even looking at him, taking small bites of her pizza.
As Jordan took his first bite, his face turned cold—just as cold as the pizza.
"Ha ha ha, that was my idea! I told you I ordered the pizza for you… first," Ash said, taking a large bite with a fist-size chunk, smiling happily.
That's what you get for doing that to me last time, Ash thought, grinning.
"Thanks… Ash," Jordan said, eating his pizza less enthusiastically.
"So, Jordan, what took you so long?" Aurora asked, curious.
"Well, Aurora… right when we all went our own paths, it all started with this old man… and this guy named Richy…"