“Damn bro, where’d you get this?” 

I click the unlock button on my key, hearing the crisp double-beep of my shiny silver sports car as the lights flash on and off twice. It’s parked next to an old, banged-up sedan and an SUV with the paint peeling off the sides, and the rest of the cars on the street. I give Nelson a sly smile, reaching the car and opening the passenger door for him. 

“My dad bought it for me.” 

“Fuck dude,” he said, drawing out the profanity for as long as it took him to sit down on the plush leather seat. He reclined it back, practically laying down in the car. “This is legit!” 

“No shit,” I chuckle, slamming the door shut and making the car wobble on its wheels. I walk around the front of the car, running my hand across the flawless hood, leaving fingerprint marks on it. 

I’ll just have it washed later. 

I open the driver’s door, getting in and running my hand along the steering wheel before slamming it into the horn, hearing the blast echo through the empty street. Nelson laughs next to me. 

“Bro, you’ll wake up the oldies from their midday naps.” 

“Ah, who gives a shit?” 

I slide the key into the ignition and twist, hearing the engine hum to life. I whistle in delight, letting it run for a little on its own. 

“Sounds fuckin’ powerful,” Nelson remarked, adjusting the chair back to a sitting position. 

“Dealer said it can go from zero to sixty miles in two seconds.” 

“Bullshit.” 

I shift the car into neutral, stepping on the accelerator and listening to the engine roar. “I’ll prove it.” 

“Nah bro,” he shook his head. “What if the cops catch you?” 

“The cops?” I let out a guffaw, beeping the horn a few more times. “Dude, this street’s fuckin’ dead. All the time. All these cars’ve been sat here for years. You think the cops are gonna patrol it?” 

“I believe you man, don’t worry. Let’s just go for a normal drive, yeah?” 

I slug him on the shoulder and he winces with pain. “You’re just a pussy.” 

“I’m not a fuckin’ pussy, bro.” 

“Then why you bein’ such a bitch?” 

“I’m not, fuck off! Just go then!” 

I smirk at him, shifting into gear and disengaging the handbrake, pulling out of my parking spot. I stare down the long road, no speed bumps to be seen, and the nearest intersection way too far ahead to be of any concern. 

“Use the stopwatch.” 

“I don’t got one.” 

I roll my eyes. “The stopwatch on your phone, dipshit.” 

“Oh, yeah.” He fishes his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and swiping left on his home screen, then right twice, tapping the clock app. “Cool, ready.” 

“Go!” I shout, shifting into drive and slamming my foot down on the accelerator. As we barrel down the road, I watch the speedometer. 

Forty miles. 

Fifty. 

Sixty! 

“Time!” I shout, keeping my foot on the accelerator. 

“One-point-nine seconds!” he shouts. 

“Fuck yeah,” I whoop, keeping my eyes on my speed. 

Sixty-one. 

Sixty-two. 

“Bro, gonna slow down now?” 

Sixty-three. 

“I knew you were a fuckin’ pussy!” 

Sixty-four. 

“No, dude, the fuckin’ intersection!” 

I look up from the speedometer for a moment to glance at the road, noting that the intersection was, indeed, approaching very fast. 

“Bro, calm down! Nobody drives through—” 

A car appeared at the very edge of the intersection. My eyes widen, and I look down at the dashboard again. 

Sixty-five miles an hour. 

I stomp my foot down onto the brake pedal so hard that it shudders under the force. I feel the car start slowing down. 

It’s not enough. 

My eyes widen as the car drives across the intersection. I spin the wheel rapidly, trying to veer us out of the path of collision. 

Too rapidly. 

The car skids to the side, spinning out of control. Just before we collide, a bizarre thought floats through my head. 

My dad’s gonna kill me for this.