The night hummed with electricity, the sound of roaring engines and cheering crowds filling the crisp air. Mackenzie leaned against her race car, her fingers toying absentmindedly with the strap of her helmet. The track lights illuminated her sharp features, her dark hair tied back in a messy ponytail. She'd just finished the race, placing second—not her best, but she hadn't cared much tonight. Her focus had been off, her mind elsewhere.
She blamed it on the city. Or maybe on the memories tied to it.
This was the place where she'd spent those whirlwind months with Adienne—a mechanic who had taken Mackenzie's breath away with her sharp wit, easy smile, and a gaze that could see through her bravado. They'd spent endless nights together, laughing over beers, working on cars in dimly lit garages, and stealing glances that lingered a little too long. They'd been on the brink of something real, something more, until Mackenzie had been offered a major sponsorship that required her to leave town. She'd chosen her career, thinking Adienne would understand. She didn't.
It had been five years since Mackenzie left. Five years since she'd walked away from Adienne without fully explaining why. She had told herself it was for the best, that relationships and racing didn't mix. But she'd thought about her—too often for comfort, especially on nights like this when the neon lights of the track reminded her of the glint in Adienne's eyes.
"Still leaning on that car like you're waiting for an autograph," a voice cut through her thoughts, smooth as silk but laced with unmistakable sarcasm.
Mackenzie froze. She knew that voice. Slowly, she turned, and there she was.
Adienne stood a few feet away, her hands shoved into the pockets of her black leather jacket, her blonde hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She looked older, but in a way that only made her more striking. Her confident smirk was the same, though her eyes held a flicker of something Mackenzie couldn't quite place. Anger? Amusement? Curiosity? Maybe all three.
"Adi..." Mackenzie said, her voice quieter than she intended. Her grip tightened on her helmet as if it might ground her.
"Didn't think I'd be seeing you again, Aki," Adienne said, taking a few steps closer. Her tone was casual, but there was an edge to it, like she was testing the waters. "Figured you were too busy tearing up tracks across the world."
Mackenzie tried to smile, but it came out awkward. "Guess I'm full of surprises."
"Full of something, that's for sure," Adienne quipped, crossing her arms. Her eyes raked over Mackenzie, the tension between them crackling like static. "So, what brings you back? Another race? Or were you hoping to run into someone?"
Mackenzie hesitated. Adienne had always been direct, unafraid to call her out, and it was one of the things Mackenzie had admired—and feared—about her.
"I didn't know you'd be here," Mackenzie admitted. "But... I'm glad you are."
Adienne raised an eyebrow, her smirk fading slightly. "Glad, huh? Funny, you didn't seem so glad the last time we talked."
Mackenzie winced. "I know I messed up, Adi. I should've handled things differently."
"Differently?" Adienne's voice rose slightly, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You mean you should've said goodbye instead of just leaving? Or maybe you should've told me you didn't want anything serious before you let me think we had a shot at something real?"
"I didn't know how to say goodbye," Mackenzie said, her voice tinged with regret. "I thought it'd be easier if I just... left."
Adienne laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Easier for who, Aki? Because it sure as hell wasn't easy for me."
Mackenzie's chest tightened. She had replayed this conversation in her head countless times, imagining what she'd say if she ever saw Adienne again. None of it seemed good enough now.
"I'm sorry," Mackenzie said quietly, her voice earnest. "I was scared, Adi. Scared of what it would mean to stay, to choose you over everything I'd worked for. But walking away didn't make it easier. It just made me realize how much I lost."
Adienne's expression softened slightly, though her guard was still up. "Five years, Mackenzie. Five damn years, and now you decide to show up and say this?"
"I didn't plan this," Mackenzie admitted. "But seeing you here... I couldn't walk away again without saying something. Without trying."
Adienne studied her, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Trying for what? What exactly do you want, Aki?"
Mackenzie took a step closer, her heart pounding. "I want a chance to fix this. To fix us. If there's still an 'us' to fix."
Adienne's eyes searched Mackenzie's face, her resolve faltering for just a moment. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You don't just get to waltz back into my life and expect me to forget everything, Aki. You broke my heart."
"And I never stopped regretting it," Mackenzie said, her voice breaking slightly. "I know I hurt you. I know I don't deserve a second chance, but... I'm asking for one anyway."
The silence that followed felt deafening. Mackenzie could see the conflict in Adienne's eyes, the way she wanted to stay guarded but couldn't entirely hide the emotions bubbling beneath the surface.
Finally, Adienne shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're still reckless as hell, you know that?"
Mackenzie grinned, a flicker of hope sparking in her chest. "I'm a race car driver. Comes with the territory."
Adienne chuckled despite herself, the tension easing just enough to let a sliver of warmth through. "You're lucky I have a thing for recklessness."
Mackenzie took another step closer, the distance between them almost nonexistent now. Her voice dropped to a whisper, her gaze locked onto Adienne's. "Then be reckless with me. One more time."
Adienne hesitated for only a second before Mackenzie leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both desperate and tender. It was a collision of everything they'd held back—years of longing, regret, and a spark that had never really died. Adienne kissed her back just as fiercely, her hands tangling in Mackenzie's jacket as if anchoring herself to the moment.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together.
"Still racing through life like it's a green light," Adienne murmured, her voice soft but teasing.
Mackenzie smiled, her hand brushing a strand of hair from Adienne's face. "Only when it leads to you."
Adienne shook her head, laughing softly. "You're so damn cheesy."
Mackenzie stepped back slightly, reaching into her jacket pocket. She pulled out a folded piece of paper and held it out to Adienne. "Then let me make it official."
Adienne raised an eyebrow, unfolding the paper and reading the words written there in Mackenzie's familiar handwriting:
Hey,The neon's flashing like green lights, and I'm ready to speed through the night. Wanna be my ride or die tonight?
- Mackenzie Tan :)