Beyond the finish line

Before the lights went out

The first time Jeremy told Aiah he was going to drive in Formula One, she laughed in his face.

Not because she didn't believe him.

That was probably the worst part.

She believed him too much.

They were seventeen, sitting on the hood of his father's old car outside a convenience store, sharing a bag of chips that Aiah had insisted she wasn't hungry for before proceeding to eat half of it.

Jeremy had just come back from another race weekend.

He smelled faintly of sweat, rubber, and whatever cheap body spray teenage boys thought could cover both.

Aiah was still in her school uniform.

Her tie was loose around her neck, her sleeves folded to her elbows, and her backpack sat abandoned by her feet.

"I'm serious."

Aiah crunched another chip.

"Mhm."

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I'm stupid."

"I always look at you like you're stupid."

Jeremy stared at her.

Aiah grinned.

Then he shoved her shoulder.

"Asshole."

"Future Formula One driver," he corrected.

That made her laugh harder.

Jeremy rolled his eyes and reached for the bag of chips, only for Aiah to pull it away.

"Hey."

"Future Formula One drivers need to watch their diet."

"You literally bought those with my money."

"Consider it an investment."

"In what?"

"Me."

Jeremy snorted.

For a few seconds, they sat there in comfortable silence.

Cars passed every now and then. Somewhere behind them, the convenience store doors slid open and shut.

It wasn't glamorous.

There were no cameras.

No paddock passes.

No screaming fans.

No team principals.

No contracts worth millions.

Just Jeremy.

And Aiah.

The same way it had been for years.

Then Jeremy's voice became quieter.

"I'm gonna make it, Ai."

Aiah stopped eating.

She turned her head.

Jeremy wasn't looking at her anymore.

His eyes were somewhere ahead, staring at a future neither of them could actually see yet.

"I'm gonna get there."

There wasn't a trace of his usual teasing.

He meant it.

Aiah studied him for a moment.

Then she folded the chip bag closed and placed it between them.

"Okay."