Page 130 of Crash Course

Plus, he and Theo have both been on the road, and the final race to determine who claims the open ARI seat next year is this weekend. It’s going to change not one of their futures, but both.

Megan and I have been putting our heads together for any insight that could give Jameson an advantage for this race and track.

“This is some party,” Bree comments dryly, stepping inside the sim lab and looking around.

The room is smaller than most of the classrooms and full of racing sims and old cabinets. Students camp out here when the library is full or they need a space to decompress.

Exams feel less important than everything else going on, but I’ve heard the combination of written and applied evaluations are grueling. So, I’ve had my nose buried in textbooks and manuals for the past few days. I even fell asleep on a book last night. When I woke up, Dad was pulling it out from under my face and tucking a blanket around me.

“You bring snacks?” Megan calls.

Bree crosses to Megan with a bakery box and pulls the top back.

She groans. “I haven’t had a carb in hours.”

“The horror.”

Raj is across the room next, Zane on his heels. “You’re a goddess,” Raj declares.

I go to see what they’re looking at and find half a dozen chocolate cupcakes in a box. I lift one out and take the chocolate piece off the top, popping it into my mouth and letting its decadent sweetness dissolve on my tongue.

“Is it actually worth it?” Bree prompts. “You look like you haven’t had a shower in days. All to get a contact high off some fast cars.”

“Yes,” we all chorus.

Before this semester, I never appreciated how much different it would be to go through the experience with other people. Not just classmates but friends.

But it’s not only for the cars. It’s for us. For the feeling that we’re all working on a dream together. That no matter where our lives take us, we’ll all have these moments to look back on.

“My cousin thinks he can get me into his F1 team,” Zane announces. “After grad, I mean.”

“Wow. That’s huge.” Raj’s eyes are round.

“You upset you weren’t short-listed for the ARI internship?” Megan asks.

Zane folds his arms. “I’ve been thinking about that since you went to São Paulo. After school, I want to go somewhere where I can control what happens. It would be easier with a smaller team, less pressure.”

“That’s really mature of you, Zane.” Megan’s voice has an unusual amount of respect in it. “What about you?” She nods to Raj.

“Oh. I’ve already started talking to professors at U of M about putting in an application for graduate school after next year.” He shrugs sheepishly. “I’m not sure I want to spend my life on the grid.”

“Megan?” I prompt.

My friend frowns, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I want this internship. I want to prove I didn’t make a mistake.”

Her longing echoes in my chest. At the start of the semester, all I wanted was to get what I needed from the academy and get out. From the moment I started believing I could be part of this world, really part of it, it made me want more.

Except, after last weekend, maybe there is a price I can’t pay.

I suddenly feel cold.

“What are you going to do on your break?” Bree asks.

We exchange looks.

“I’m going on vacation with my family,” Raj says. “It’s still hard being away from them for a semester at a time.”

“We’ll have two weeks of bliss. No early-morning classes, no Vogel, no grease under our fingernails,” Megan adds.