Ashton's PoV

My mind was a mess. How did this weirdo know I raced? Literally only the three people beside me knew I did this and I didn't take anyone else at college to be bike fans, especially not speedway - most people didn't even know what it was. Yet here they were, telling me they knew Sirgani was out to get me and was willing to hurt me. Was this all some elaborate scheme thought up by Sirgani to throw me off my game? Was this weirdo actually him pretending to be someone from my college so that I'd be distracted? I bet it was. This was something he'd do.

"Hey!" Luke shouted at me to get my attention. We were stood at the nacho stand and I must have zoned out before ordering. I quickly ordered my nachos with extra cheese and jalapeños and went back to my phone. This was the last straw. I was going to respond with something rude to show this person texting me wasn't affecting me at all and that it hadn't distracted me from my game. I was going to win this race whether he wanted me to or not.

Soon after, we were heading to the track to get ready for the race to begin. I said bye to the guys as I put my helmet on and headed to the starting line where my bike was already waiting for me. Unfortunately, Sirgani and his yellow bike were already there waiting for me too. He lifted the visor of his helmet and gave me a smirk as I got on my bike.

"Nice to see you back, Irwin. Shame you'll just lose again." Sirgani jeered in the hope to make me overthink and throw the race. I simply put my best fake smile on and got on my bike.

"Ha. Yeah, that's what you think. You're going to get a taste of your own medicine." I smirked back as he growled, but his face softened in a second.

"You'll end up in hospital this time Irwin. It was a mistake that I didn't manage it last time." I thought back to the injuries I had suffered and although I hadn't needed to go to hospital, those injuries hurt for a while. I was bruised in many places, my skin scraped and scabbed from falling off the bike and I'm sure I'd sprained my ankle but he seemed to think that wasn't good enough. For months I was in agony, my bruises making a lot of things difficult to do. I dropped out of school properly, making sure no one saw me so they couldn't guess what had happened, I stopped biking and went into a downward spiral. For Sirgani to wish worse on me this time was insulting and I wasn't handling it. I threw my foot out and kicked at his bike, causing it to tip over. He stuck his foot out quickly to steady the bike and got back onto it comfortably. "This is going to be easy." Sirgani laughed as he lowered his visor and we got ready for the start of he race.

Before I knew it, we had begun. Sirgani and I were neck and neck for three of the laps, occasionally taking lead before the other would catch up and overtake. As we crossed the line for the final time, Sirgani finally pulled ahead after taking a corner and cutting in front. I could almost hear him laughing from here. I couldn't let him win. I yanked the accelerator and sped back to level with him. He looked over to me in what seemed like slow motion as my brain came up with every scenario where he won and what he would say to me. I'd never live this down. Without thinking, and in a blind panic to stop what my mind has conjured coming true, I swerved my bike into Sirgani's one, causing him to wobble and slow down. It was incredibly short lived though, and even the happy feeling I had as he slowed had already faded as I watched him catch back up again and level with me just before the final stretch. I could see his shoulders shaking with laughter already and the fire building in my stomach exploded. I needed this race. I needed this win. I needed to be rid of Sirgani forever. One of us would have to take the other out and I knew I had to do it fast or else-
With a quick glance behind him, Sirgani quickly kicked my front tyre causing me to veer off the track. My bike and I fell to the side, skidding along the sandy ground before coming to a halt as it crashed into the barricade. I could feel the pain radiating worse than before. Something was definitely bad this time. I desperately tried to move but I couldn't. My bike had ended up on top of me and was crushing me into the dusty floor. Groups of people ran towards me yelling and shouting, trying to move the bike off me before the paramedics could check me over. For some reason, despite all the drama, all I could think about was the text message and how right it was. Maybe it wasn't Sirgani. Maybe someone really was trying to warn me and I didn't fucking listen. Now look at me, more than likely I've got crush injuries and broken bones. I should have paid attention to the messages like I had before, then none of this would have happened. God I'm an idiot.

"Ash?" Calum's voice rang out through the hubbub and panic surrounding me. "You alright man? That Sirgani's a fucking nasty piece of work." He knelt beside me so I could see his face and although he tried his best to hide it, I could see the fear in his eyes.

"Nah man, I think It's worse this time. Shit." I rolled my eyes in frustration. How could I lose focus like that and throw the race? All I could imagine was his dumb ass laughing and smirking as he held up the trophy knowing I was out of the picture for longer again because of him. Fuck him.

"Hey, you wanna know something funny?" Cal said with a sudden grin on his face. "Guess who was running down to come and see you after you crashed? You'll never guess!" He smiled at me almost excitedly.

"Who?" I asked quickly, not wanting to play any games. Calum laughed as he readied himself to reveal it to me.

"Earphones!"