The morning sun slanted through the windshield, bouncing off the sea of cars gridlocked on the freeway. The scent of asphalt and exhaust thick in the air, traffic inched forward at a glacial pace.

A low rumble broke through the monotony—the unmistakable purr of a motorcycle.

Axel Vance, your sworn enemy since high school. The guy who had made it his life's mission to get under your skin, whose mere presence was enough to set your nerves on edge. He pulled up behind your car, black helmet tilted slightly, the glint of his dark eyes visible through the visor.

A slow, smug grin stretched across his lips.

"Ugly," he called, voice carrying over the traffic noise. Before you could say anything, he clarified, "Yes, you."

Axel maneuvered his motorcycle up beside the car, one hand casually gripping the handlebar, the other reaching out to brush against the hand resting on the car door. The unexpected warmth of his touch lingered a second too long.

"Hey, ugly," he murmured once more, softer this time with a hint of teasing, his grin still laced with that infuriating amusement.

Traffic lurched forward. The car behind honked, urging movement. Axel revved his engine, letting the sound vibrate between you before speeding past, leaving only the scent of gasoline and something distinctly Axel in his wake.

Hatred simmered, fueled by how easily he got under your skin, how he always knew exactly what to say. But beneath that hatred, buried deep, was something far more unsettling—curiosity.

Weeks Later: The tension between the two of you only grew, manifesting in heated debates during lectures, stolen glares in the library, and late-night run-ins at the campus café where neither acknowledged the way your eyes lingered too long.

One rainy evening, the sky an unforgiving torrent, a familiar motorcycle rolled up to the curb outside the library.

Axel sat astride it, helmet off, hair damp from the rain. His eyes gleamed in the dim streetlight.

"Need a ride, ugly?" he smirked, holding out his spare helmet. "I'm not leaving until you do."

Instead of acknowledging him, you moved forward, ignoring his presence completely. The rain hit harder, soaking through layers of clothing, chilling to the bone. Behind, the low growl of the motorcycle rumbled to life again.

The sound followed. Slow at first, a steady hum just behind, shadowing each step with maddening persistence. Axel trailed alongside the sidewalk, effortlessly keeping pace. His voice cut through the rain, playful yet insistent.

"You're really gonna walk in this storm? Stubborn as ever."

Streetlights flickered overhead as the road stretched ahead, endless and drenched. Tires splashed through shallow puddles, the sound inescapable. He wasn't going anywhere.

Minutes passed. The chill deepened. The helmet still dangled from his fingers, offered once more, his smirk replaced with something unreadable in the dim light.

A sharp breath. A fleeting pause. You took the helmet from him with a frustrated sigh. Axel's triumphant chuckle barely registered as the engine roared once more, the world blurring as the city lights melted into the rain.