The fresh smell of oil had infused into the white t-shirt Mason had worn to work that morning, ensuring that the scent remained as he walked the short journey across the car park. The smell lingered despite the mask he donned, but when he ripped away the blue cloth to inhale the fresh air, it was a smile that lifted his lips.

The rain had dampened the doors of his silver Toyota, and small pools had formed across the gravel. It had been a wet night, and the last three hours spent serving burgers, chips, and fries- any Brit would know the difference, was wiped away the moment he inserted the key into its ignition and released the handbrake.

To most, driving was simply a means of transport to get from destination A to B. It was tiresome and arduous and almost always combined with the negativity of traffic, accidents, and source of injury.

For Mason, however, it was all he had been trained to do. From the ripe age of 14, his parents had paid their dues to ensure their son had all the required experience to join the Formula 1 track. They saw it as his ticket to independence and gritty power. They envisioned driving as more than speed and oil, but the adrenaline would pulse through his veins. Though it was just a car to Mason and the rest of the world, to his parents, it was their dream.
They believed that the world had heard of Lewis Hamilton, now they would cry Mason Park's name.

At this moment, however, he needed to fill up on fuel. The red beacon on his dashboard began to flash in annoyance as he slowly crawled the last quarter mile to the petrol station at the end of the road from the American Style diner that employed him. The town of Rye was small and slept, and at 2 am, one would be lucky to detect a car on the road.

It was this reason Mason requested the night shift. He'd work the tiresome hours, serving fisherman leaving for the docks their morning coffees and the doughnuts to the truck drivers, delivering their goods to the town, just for mornings like this— for the quiet.

Once his car was filled, he gained speed to travel six miles east to the sea. The cliff face was Mason's favourite part of living on the coast. When the early autumn rays of the rising sun warmed his skin, he exited his vehicle to pull out the bass guitar that had been gifted to him when he was young. Out in the open, free from the burdens of work, studying, and his rigorous training programme, he was permitted to strum his chords that syphoned with the breeze.

His eyes closed as he felt each reverberation against his fingertips, the words of the band Lifehouse melodically tumbling from his lips, exposing the emotion concealed within his soul.

Mason felt that the weights he carried were finally lifted with each song, even if the effect was momentary. His mouth was crooked with a smile, and as he whispered the final words, he opened his eyes, permitting himself to imagine that his life mirrored the contentment he felt.

For a few seconds, Mason conjured a life free from affliction and pain. An existence that allowed music to be his compass when he had no other direction. It was a beguiling reality, of course, and the truth soon returned to him once the sun reached its midpoint.
A yawn stretched his lips, and with a final sigh, he returned his guitar to its case before making the final journey back to his home.
It had just passed 3 am, giving Mason approximately three hours of sleep before he would need to wake again.

The three hours passed quicker than it took Mason to strum his guitar. Then, as much as his body protested, he forced himself into the bathroom for a quick rinse, the hot water feeling heavenly for his aching muscles.
Once dressed in a black t-shirt and jogging bottoms, Mason collected his helmet and returned to his car, driving further inland to where his parents owned their garage. The wet grass became reformed tarmac, and the trees parted to expose the road, marking the starting point of the racing track his parents had created.

Though Mason couldn't quite describe his current emotion as excitable, his exhaustion soon evaporated from the stress of his concentration as he shifted into second gear. Mason had spent the last three summers engineering his car to its fullest potential, and it was what permitted his standard Toyota to reach speeds of 120 miles per hour without consequence.

His hands gripped onto the steering wheel as he twisted and turned through the trees, releasing the pressure he placed onto the accelerator as he drifted upon the upcoming bend.

Mason knew these roads like the back of his hand. It was where his mother had taught him the difference between a wrench and a spanner, and his father had presented his first set of keys. It was here his brother had learned the skills of driving; and where Mason fell in love with music that constantly played as his parents managed their garage.
It was his parents' love for motorsports and the art of manufacturing that echoed he had little choice but to pursue such a career path, and he knew deep down not many would have such an opportunity.

Mason's parents had wanted him to be an F1 racer; from the day of his birth. It was all they could talk about growing up, and no expense had been spared to ensure he had the experience that was required.
They had built the homemade road simply for their children's benefit. By Mason's seventh lap, he was cruising at seventy miles per hour with little challenge. With his father as his coach, he had been trained to the best of his ability. Still, the short hours of sleep had its effect, and his energy was quickly beginning to drain.

Though it was a rare occurrence, it had been a difficult shift at the diner, including a rowdy debate between two drivers and the restaurant running out of waffles before the breakfast rush began. Louise, the other waitress, was moved into the kitchen while Mason took and fulfilled orders.

Deep down, Mason knew it wouldn't have been so bad had he slept the few hours he needed before his shift, but he'd had the itch to practise his music. It was unallocated time, and so Mason had devoured his dinner before watching the sunset with his guitar. He didn't have an ounce of regret. He never did when it came to his music.

His speed dropped to fifty as he yawned and reduced further when a green Fiat suddenly swerved in the other direction. The contentment he secured with each drive was suddenly replaced with fear as Mason stamped on his pedals, forcing his brakes to squeal.

His breath deepened with each inhale as panic swept over his nervous system, forcing sweat to bead on his brow and his heart to flutter with anxiety. This was a private road. There shouldn't be any cars in the area unless they were accessing the garage, and Mason's father wouldn't arrive for another hour yet. The thought escalated his panic, and he twisted his key, unstrapping his belt before releasing himself from his vehicle.

The driver on the other side committed to similar action. From the short space between them, he observed the young woman mirror his movements, tossing her raven, mid-length curls over her shoulder as her mouth screwed up in scorn.

"What the hell were you thinking!" She demanded, strolling towards him with vigour. "This is a road! You could have killed me!"

"I was nowhere near you," Mason retorted as she scoffed. "I stopped as soon as I saw you,"

"You shouldn't have been going that fast in the first place!"

"It's a private road." Mason returned, pinching his lips together to hide his smirk when he saw the surprise and realisation soften her annoyance. "I can drive however fast I like. Now really, the question is, what are you doing here on private property? Or did you not see the sign?"

By this point, the pair had stepped into the middle of the road, both their arms crossed in an attempt to shield the morning chill. Despite being mid-October, the cold had seized the residents of Rye with a tight grip, allowing them to forget the summer that had warmed their coast mere weeks ago. Along with the Corona Virus pandemic that was yet to reduce its impact, it had been a difficult start to the year, and partly why Mason had maintained his distance.

"I saw it!" She snapped, tucking her hair behind her ear as she met his eyes. "I just need air for my tyres; this is a garage, isn't it?"

"It is," He nodded, "but it won't be open for another hour yet,"

"Damn it," She hissed quietly, glaring at the wheels of the lime green car behind her. "I need to get to the sixth form, but I'd rather get there in one piece."

"You go to the sixth form?" Mason asked, his curiosity piqued as he silently acknowledged he'd never seen the girl before.

"Yeah, I've been there for almost a term, but with all the isolating, I haven't had a proper chance to attend physically," She explained as he nodded his understanding. "Do you know if there are any other local garages around here or..."

"I can fill up your tyres," Mason offered. It was the least he could do after almost smashing into her, and though he could see her apprehension, he quickly assured her that he was trained.

"Alright then," She agreed, unlocking the car with her key. Next, he suggested that she tailed him to the air pump, and once she decided, complied with his instruction.

The tyres didn't take long to fill, but it allowed Mason to enquire about the peer he had joined his school. "So, where did you go to school before?" He asked as she concentrated on the air pump in his hand. "I haven't seen you at the sixth form before," He added.

"Erm, I'm from Birmingham," She explained, her accent notable in the intonation of her speech. "What year are you in?"

"I'm in the second year," He informed, checking the wheel for a final time before removing the pump. "If it's your first day, I can guide you if you like? The sat nav will add ten minutes to your journey if you follow its route."

She considered the thought for several moments, chewing her lower lip as he concentrated on her features. She had an oval face with bright brown eyes that expressed every emotion. She was average height, not much shorter than his 5 foot eight, and hair he initially thought to be black was, in fact, a very dark brown that burned in the sun.

She was beautiful.

"Why were you here?" The girl inquired, her tone suggesting that his answer would determine her reply.

"This is my parent's place," He reasoned as she nodded, and he was grateful that she didn't pry on why he was driving at such high speeds. Her insecurity was still visible, however, and upon reflection, Mason could understand why. He was still a stranger, and he could have very well killed her if he hadn't stopped.
She had every right to be apprehensive.
"I'm sorry for almost hitting you; I didn't expect anyone to be around..." He expressed sincerely, finally gaining a smile.

"Well, I only take apologies in the form of ice cream..." the girl hinted, and he chuckled, nodding in acceptance.

"Alright then, one ice cream it is, but right now, we need to leave. School starts in half an hour, and I can't be late again this term."

Her strange laugh bounced off the trees as she saluted in agreement, swivelling on her heel and returning to her lime-colored car. Copying her actions, Mason switched on his vehicle, inhaling the smell of petrol he adored before offering the girl a wave.
She raised thumbs, and he travelled a snail's pace towards her car, where she had lowered her window so that they could speak.

"Okay, follow me; we'll be taking the left exit at the fork," He instructed. She turned on her car's power and followed him down the dirt road that was surprisingly charming when he was driving at a speed that allowed him to soak in the earth's beauty. The sun flickered through the trees, refracting off every twig, trunk, and stone as the greenery brightened under the yellow glow.

The route Mason usually followed involved a scenic journey along the coast before heading inwards towards the town. Still, he chose to avoid it to reassure the stranger further that he was leading her to the school and not elsewhere.
The small student car park's emptiness indicated that the pair were early as they parked their vehicles, but Mason didn't mind this. Though he was usually late, he preferred to be early, and it was the only way to ensure a good parking spot.

"Thank you for leading me," The girl greeted as he climbed out of his car.

"It's nothing; I can show you to the office if you'd like?"

"No, erm, I think I've got it from here," she decided, glancing at the brick building that loomed above them.

"Alright then," he nodded in agreement, deciding not to press. "I'll meet you back here then? For the ice cream."

"Yep, I'm not letting you get away with that," She chuckled, her eyes bright. "I'm Anya by the way, Anya Kapoor,"

"Mason Park," He introduced. They didn't shake hands, the uncertainty mirrored in each of their actions, and somehow the awkwardness translated into chuckles of acknowledgment.

Being a small town, the population of students that attended secondary school and college was only 200. Most knew and had been raised with one another, having likely met at the only primary school in the area, and it was clear Anya would stick out like a sore thumb. Still, it wasn't a thought Mason needed to communicate. The curious glances and chatter that swept through the air as more students arrived was a testament to that. Anya, to his surprise, however, remained undeterred and with a final wave, confidently strolled towards the school.

Mason was not so lucky to have gotten to the building without interruption. Lucas, a blonde-haired boy who wore glasses and towered over most while also claiming the title of being his oldest friend, was waiting for him at the entrance. Mason had only nodded in acknowledgment before Lucas jumped into an analysis of the latest Cobra Kai episode he had watched. Customary greetings had been forgotten as of late- Lucas had only just subscribed to Netflix and was playing catch-up while Mason listened purely amused. Somehow, despite balancing A-levels and a part-time job, Lucas had just completed the second season over the weekend.
The pair were both fans of the 80s era, so the series based on one of their favourite movies ensured it was a must-watch. Fortunately, so far, the series had only proved itself to get better, and Mason had agreed to hold off binging the third season so that he and Lucas could watch it together at the same time. Of course, he hadn't expected to hold the promise for ten months, but time passed so quickly, he's barely had the time to watch the show, anyway.

"...Mateo just brings so much to the series, I hope he makes it," Lucas rambled on as they took their seats in their form room.

Every Monday, an hour would be spent discussing their futures, courses, subjects, and dreams. Mason already had his established. He was 18 and wanted to sing. However, his parents wanted him to race. His form teacher, Miss Charles, was quick to disagree with both paths, claiming neither was an absolute career path.

Due to legal reasons, Mason was forced to attend the sixth form, or else he would have made actual moves to start racing professionally. The moment he had turned 18, however, he'd entered every single race that his parents could afford and where sponsors could be found.
His parents envisioned that he'd win a competition and be supported to enter the world of motorsport. Unfortunately, a sponsor was what he needed; they couldn't afford to join him on their own, and so despite the rigorous training he currently endured, it was only the start of his racing career. He still had a long way to go.

His parents carried the motivation, and his singing would remain to be a hobby.
It was the compromise he had made, and though music continued to alter his heartbeat, and the words flowed as if sequenced in a previous life, it was the reality he was going to have to face.

A.N.
And that's chapter 1 completed!
I, well, I have no idea what to say, haha.
My nerves are through the roof, and I have so many thoughts, but this is the space for you!
Loved it, hated it? Feel free, to be honest; I genuinely appreciate your thoughts.
(That came out a lot more forceful than I intended, but I'm not taking it back, haha).
Thank you all for reading the first chapter; I genuinely look forward to seeing where this story goes!
Stay tuned- Aamenah x
Song- It is what it is- Lifehouse