Quinn crawled out from beneath the car, wiping oil-stained hands on the thighs of his jeans as he checked his watch. Five minutes to 9 PM.
Niko and Penny weren't at the garage today, so it had been just him and Hunter doing the final touch-ups before the test run. Niko was supposed to pick him up at 9:30.
He exhaled, hearing Hunter grumble from the other side of the car.
"Ugh! I seriously can't wait for the guys to test this beast. It's getting exhausting," Hunter muttered as he sprayed the final coat of paint.
Quinn couldn't disagree. He was exhausted too but in the satisfying, bone-deep way that came from building something so badass.
Minutes later, Hunter slid into the driver's seat and turned the key.
The car came alive with a roar so deep it vibrated Quinn's ribs. Then the engine let out a sharp, clean, powerful whine.
"Fucking yes!" Quinn yelped, laughing and clapping in triumph.
"This is a monster, Quinn!" Hunter crowed as he jumped out, grinning like a madman.
Quinn grinned back, warmth spreading through his chest. They'd done it. The car was perfect. And now… he actually had the night free.
It was finally time for that party with Niko.
Who knew where the night would take him?
"Heading to the party?" Hunter asked as he pulled the tarp over the car carefully. They grabbed their bags, switched off the lights, and stepped out into the cool night, locking the garage behind them.
"You… you know about the party?" Quinn asked, lifting a brow.
Hunter snorted. "Of course. Everyone from the club is going. It's one of Kai's insane parties. Dress to impress, Quinn. People go full runway-mode there."
Quinn's brief spark of excitement fizzled out immediately.
Kai's party...
So it wasn't some special invitation from Niko after all. Figures.
They split up once they reached their street on campus. Quinn headed back to his dorm. Sebastian wasn't in, as usual.
He took a long, steaming shower, letting the hot water melt away the grime and the knot in his chest. Then he dressed up. Even if his mood was off, he always dressed to impress. It was his armor.
Just as he finished smoothing down his shirt, his phone buzzed.
[Niko: Hey, I'm outside.]
Quinn's stomach flipped. He pocketed his phone, swiped on lip gloss, and hurried out, locking the door behind him.
Niko was waiting by his bike, helmet in hand, looking stupidly handsome like he didn't even have to try. He waved, and Quinn's chest tightened.
"Hey," Niko greeted, smiling bright and warm. "You look… amazing. Not that you don't always."
Heat rushed into Quinn's face, his freckles practically announcing how flustered he was. "Th-thank you," he managed, unable to stop the shy grin that tugged at his mouth.
Niko handed him the spare helmet. Quinn strapped it on, swung onto the bike behind him, and rested his hands lightly on Niko's shoulders.
The engine rumbled to life. In seconds they were slicing through the night air, leaving campus behind as the cold and exhilarating wind whipped past them.
In no time, they arrived at a penthouse already swarming with cars and bikes. Music pounded so hard it felt like the building itself was vibrating. Cheers, laughter, and screams collided with the beat, forming a chaotic symphony that made Quinn's chest tighten.
He and Niko hopped off the bike and pushed their way inside, walking past writhing bodies on the dance floor and couples making out against every wall.
The place was dark but alive with colourful lights slashing across the room, catching on glitter dusted over skin, hair, and clothes. Smoke from vapes and cigarettes curled through the air, mixing with heavy perfume and cologne.
Just as Hunter had warned, everyone was dressed like something out of a fashion apocalypse. A wild, dazzling mess of styles and shining skin. It was like the Hunger Games had thrown up in here, yet somehow everyone looked incredible.
Quinn swallowed hard.
He didn't belong here. He felt it instantly.
He wasn't the "party until dawn" type. He was the quietly-extroverted-but-actually-introverted type. The "social but only with the people he trusted" type.
His circle was small. Basically the motorsports club. Penny, Hunter, Niko. The ones who checked on him. The ones who dragged him out for lunch when he forgot to eat.
Everyone else? He stayed far away from.
"Do you want something to drink?" Niko asked, his hand brushing Quinn's lightly as he guided him toward the bar.
"Yeah…" Quinn muttered, hesitating. Alcohol wasn't his thing. He blacked out the few times he'd tried it, but tonight was about him and Niko.
So... it wouldn't hurt.
"Two shots of tequila," Niko told the bartender.
The bartender's curious, interested eyes lingered on Quinn a beat too long, and Quinn instantly looked away, heat crawling up his neck.
Niko nudged him playfully. "Oh, come on. Loosen up. We're here to have fun."
Quinn exhaled, forcing a smile even though his heartbeat was skittering under his skin. "Yeah. Okay."
The bartender slid the drinks toward them. Quinn picked up his shot, the cold glass grounding him just enough to calm the flutter in his chest.
"Cheers?" Niko raised his glass, blue eyes glinting with something sharp under the playful shine.
Excitement, nerves, mischief? Quinn couldn't quite tell.
"Cheers." Their glasses tapped.
Quinn took a sip. The burn hit him immediately and he scrunched up his face, coughing softly.
Niko laughed, setting his own glass down after only a sip.
"You know… we never really talked about that afternoon," he said, his voice dipping low.
Quinn froze, his glass halfway to the counter. "You mean… when I ran off after our kiss?"
Niko nodded.
"I thought you didn't like me," Quinn admitted with a small, embarrassed laugh.
Niko's brows shot up. "What?"
"Don't look so shocked." Quinn let out another breathy laugh, trying to brush off the years of insecurity. "I was still figuring myself out back then. And you—" He bit the inside of his cheek, his cheeks flushing. "You were already out. Confident. Hot. A literal wet dream to me. You had experience, options… anyone but me."
His voice cracked at the end, but he didn't try to hide it. Quinn never hid anything he felt, anyway.
"Anyone but you?" Niko repeated, brows lifting like he genuinely couldn't believe Quinn would say that.
He leaned in, his voice dropping. "Quinn… you do know you're gorgeous, right? I've noticed you for years."
Quinn felt his heart skip. His cheeks were hot. "I...I don't really think that."
"I've always noticed you, Quinn. Always. And I don't kiss people by accident." Niko's lips curled into a slow and confident smile. And Quinn melted under it.
To calm the storm buzzing in his chest, Quinn grabbed the glass and downed the tequila in one go, wincing as the burn hit him.
Niko laughed, amused. "Easy, Quinn. We've barely started."
But Quinn could tell Niko liked seeing him flustered. Feeling warm and dizzy already, he stood, too fast, and leaned close, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"C-Can you…" he whispered, his breath brushing Niko's lips, "kiss me again? I promise I won't run this time."